Christmas stocking stuffers
The holiday season chez Patrick means a long list of movies (and too many cookies). Never mind that the kids have grown up; cartoon and Claymation, cheesy and trite - we watch them all, crowned by the Griswolds' Good-Old-Fashioned-Family-Christmas, of course. 'Tis the season for Tradition with a capital T.
Tradition derives from the Latin "traditionem" or "traditio" - a giving up, a delivering. Ours were delivered from all over the world:
The "X" in Xmas wasn't meant in disrespect. "X" is the letter chi in the Greek alphabet, the symbol for "Christ."
Why mistletoe? Celtic influence. Ancient Druids believed mistletoe had mystical powers and could ward off evil. In Scandinavia, mistletoe symbolizes Frigga, the goddess of love.
St. Nick has stories aplenty, but only one originates in a lady's stockings. Commemorated in a 14th century Italian painting by Lorenzetti, a thoughtful Saint Nicholas places gold coins in the stockings of three poor girls, to help fund their dowries. Their personals had been hung by the fire to dry.
Historians agree that Jesus could not have been born on this date. Christmas was long celebrated on Jan. 6, but by mid-4th century, Pope Julius re-designated it Dec. 25, to coincide with the end of Rome's Saturnalia and other winter solstice celebrations. The births of ancient sun-gods, Attis of Phrygia and Mithra of Persia, were also celebrated on Dec. 25. The Norse holiday Yule began Dec. 21 and lasted for weeks. In time this conversion tool, attempting to replace other religions' holy days, snuffed out the pagan fires of old.
Jesus was born in a cave, not the wooden stable of nativity scenes. Caves were warmer places to keep animals in the Middle East. Today, Bethlehem visitors can enter this cave through the church built over it.
The Yule log originated in Nordic worship of vegetation and fire, associated with spiritual power. Also Nordic, "Wassail" comes from "ves heill" - to be of good health. In England, folks once went "wassailing" on Christmas Eve, singing carols and drinking to neighbors' health.
Sleighbells ringing? Naughty and nice lists? The German god Oden - feared, not revered - made nocturnal flights through the winter sky to observe his people, and decide who would prosper and who would perish.
A lot nicer is Italy's "La Befana," the kindly witch who delivers presents to children.
Not so nice is the Christmas game "hot cockles," popular until the Victorian era. Players took turns striking a blindfolded person, who had to guess the identities of those delivering the blows.
Skip the wreath; how about a spider's web? An artificial spider and web decorate Ukrainian Christmas trees. For good luck, find a web on Christmas morning.
We have Macy's to thank for last-minute shopping. In 1867, they defied tradition by staying open until midnight Christmas Eve. The protracted shopping season began during WWII, when the military reminded folks to mail early so boxes reached troops on time.
Christmas trees can be edible. The needles are a good source of vitamin C and pine nuts (in pine cones) are nutritious.
Speaking of food, a traditional Christmas dinner in old England was the head of a pig prepared with mustard. In the Middle Ages they feasted on swans and peacocks. Here's a funny food fact: Thanks to an aggressive ad campaign in the 1970s, in Japan it's now popular tradition to go out for KFC - yup, Kentucky Fried Chicken - for Christmas dinner. KFCs in Japan take bucket reservations up to two months in advance.
"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" - Bob Hope
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at [email protected].