The twelve days of Christmas...

WARNING.  If you are religious, and pious, don't read this.  As an avowed pagan, I am going to write about Christmas--one of my favorite holidays.

Did you know, that Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, lights, tinsel, carols, turkey, etc., are all a part of traditions begun (largely) in the nineteenth century?

And, there is a story, among historians interested in the Roman Empire, that later Roman emperors chose December 25 as a day for pagan winter festivals to essentially celebrate on one day, perhaps to escape the chaos of multiple days of celebration during the winter season.

It is fascinating to me, how modern traditions evolved.  Truly, I don't think that people in general care about these things.

Let's take Christmas trees...

It was Prince Albert, who transplanted the pagan custom of greenery at Christmas, which was ritually practiced in Germany, to England.  On the Christtmas trees in the palace, Albert had candles placed on most of the branches, and that's how we got lights in the trees.  By the end of the nineteenth century, trees became an integral part of this winter festival. 

A pagan festival, if you want to get technical. 

So, when did this holiday get mixed up with the birth of Christ? Hmm. That’s a good question, and one that shouldn’t be answered glibly. One steps on an awful lot of toes, when one speaks of religion, and I’m most definitely not an expert. 

It wasn't until 1870, that Christmas became a national holiday in the United States!  Seriously!

So, okay Dear Reader, I’ll leave it alone. I hope you all believe what you will about this. But, what I do find fascinating, is how the celebration of the day has changed radically over time. Let’s take, for example, the so called “twelve days of Christmas.”  first, it was called "Christmastide", rather than the shortened version of the word, and was a festival (around 4-5 hundred years ago.

Day one:  

December 25.  Celebrating the birth of the Christ.  Epiphany.  Advent.

First, no Christmas Eve.  This was (and is) a day for people to celebrate the arrival of the Christ.  Now, this is a myth with which we are intimately familiar in the West, so I don't want to beat it to death.  During the night prior to the 25th, there is a service (like today), celebrating the birth.....  This is accompanied by singing and worship, in a church decorated in red and green--usually holly berries and the accompanying vines.  This combination of red and green.  Why? 

Here is what one person says:

It actually started centuries ago, when the colors were used to commemorate a different holiday. Ancient Celtic peoples revered red- and green-colored holly plants for being evergreen and believed holly was meant to keep Earth beautiful during the dead of winter. So when they and other cultures celebrated the winter solstice, they decorated their homes with holly to bring protection and good luck to their families in the coming year.

           .https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/the-real-reason-why-christmas-colors-are-green-and-red/#:~:text=The%20History%20of%20This%20Classic,during%20the%20dead%20of%20winter.

And what holiday was that?  Why, the Winter Solstice, of course!

December 26  TWO

"Boxing Day"  a.k.a. The day of St. Stephen.

Here's a description of who he was:

In many countries December 26 commerates the life of St. Stephen, a Christian deacon in Jerusalem who was known for his service to the poor and his status as the first Christian martyr (he was stoned to death in AD 36).

https://www.britannica.com/topic/St-Stephens-Day 

Eww!

That's what I've always wanted for myself...to be stoned to death.

Boxing Day is also still celebrated in countries like Canada and England.  It is a custom whereby people exchange gifts, and visit each other's houses for drinks and meals and other merry making.

December 27th  THREE

This day apparently celebrates the life and work of St John the Apostle, whom the Catholic Church named the patron of love, loyalty, friendships....  Etc. Etc. Etc.  He was also the guy who wrote the fun and entertaining story of Revelation.  On this day, a huge feast was usually given in honor of this man, the first apostle, or at least one of the earliest.

December 28th  FOUR

This was called the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and was a day of solemn introspection for the devout.  The day was dedicated to the memory of the children, who had been murdered prior to the birth of the Christ, by King Herod.  You remember the story in the Bible? The one where Herod, the old boy, was threatened by the myth of the Messiah?

December 29th  FIVE

Now, this day honors Thomas Becket, of the court of Henry II (England).  Becket, a rather licentious youth, was in his maturity, made the archbishop of Canterbury by the King in order to make the catholics in England more amenable to his will.  Becket, a reformed sinner, became more pure than God, and refused.  You can imagine how well Henry dealt with that! Poor guy.  Becket was later canonized by the Catholics. 

December 30th  SIX

It's family day!  This was the day to celebrate the 'holy family' of Joseph, Mary, and their baby.  It also celebrated the idea of the christian family--in an idealized state.

December 31st  SEVEN

This was the day of St. Silvester.

Silvester?  Really?

This guy was apparently the pope who served during the scandal of the Donatist schism, and something called the "arian heresy."

Alright.  So what in the hell was the Donatist schism?  Well, it was mainly a differentiation of interpretations of Christianity, between a faction of believers and Rome.  Basically, the Donatists believed that only those of the 'blameless life' (whatever that means), belonged to their church.  Really.  Well, you're gonna have to look forever to find anyone who fits that description.

And, okay.  What was the 'arian heresy'?  Hmmm.  Well, it turns out it's rather interesting, and modern in sensibility, which is odd, since it originated from the 3rd century.  

Arianism began in Egypt, during the administration of the emperor Constantine.  The faith debates whether or not Christ is the son of God--that he was, rather, a finite and mortal creation of the Father, and that there is only one divine presence.  That Christ was not, and then he was--through the act of a woman giving birth, and the fact of his father's seed.  Interesting, yes?  Kind of blows the whole idea behind Christianity out of the water, as it basically denies the divine nature of Christ.

Did anyone notice, that there is no New Years' Eve in the modern sense?  No one watching the ball drop in Times Square with a bunch of other equally stoned people? 

  January 1st  DAY EIGHT

Mary's Day

On this day, instead of New Years Day, earlier Western cultures (catholics) celebrated Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She was often seen as the eternal virgin, who played an essential role in the salvation of mankind.  Usually, the day was basically a time for sober reflection about the nature of the Christian family, and the matron's role within it.  

January 2nd  DAY NINE

Okay.  Today you're going to celebrate two ancient 'doctors' of the Christian church, St. (wait for it) Basil the Great, and St. Gregory Naziansen.

Alright.  Who?  Wha--?

Basil the Great:  Also known as Basil of Caesarea.  He was a bishop of Caesarea Mazaca, located in Asia Minor.  He supported the Nicene creed, and therefore opposed various heresies of the various strains of the early Christian faith.

He is also known for his battle against Arianism.  Crap.  Is anyone feeling a little sorry for those poor supporters of Arian?  And, this leads me to wonder if this term, in any way, was usurped by later peoples for nastier purposes (see related articles on WW2!).

Gregory.  Who in Hades was this guy?

He was also known as Gregory the Theologian.  He was an archbishop of Constantinople, in the fourth century AD, who wrote nineteenth essential truths of the faith.  His scholarship was one of the more recognized amongst the early Christians.  

January 3rd DAY TEN (don't worry, we're almost done).

Today, the faithful is supposed to honor the name of Jesus.  Literally with bended knee, and bowed head.  

January 4th DAY ELEVEN

Now, this day is variable, and has had many meanings over time.  So, how did people celebrate this occasion in the early modern period? 

It was called the day of 70 Apostles--basically, today one is supposed to honor the guys who went out to spread the word of Jesus.

January 5th DAY TWELVE

Generally, this day was accompanied by great feasts and celebrations.  It is called the day of the Epiphany.  Now, this was the time where the divinity of Jesus was supposedly revealed to the 'gentiles'--who were symbolized in the mythology as the three wise kings.  

So! what are you going to do for Christmas? Hopefully, you will spend it with family, eating something carnivorous (or not), and watching something great on TV.  My best holiday wish to you and yours, Dear Reader, however you celebrate the Winter Solstice.

Did I mention that I am an avowed pagan?

OK! Merry ... whatever you celebrate!