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| Looking Back to Christmas With Snow |
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Candles ~
"The image of Jesus as the light of the world and the midwinter longing for the return of the sun have led to the candle being associated inextricably with Christmas. This can be seen in church ceremonies such as CANDLEMAS, CHRISTINGLE, or candle-lit carol services, and in numerous home devotions."
Around the world, countries practice different customs:
In Ireland, it is the custom to place a candle in the window during the Christmas season.
In Eastern Europe a large candle is placed in the centre of the table, sometimes stuck in a loaf of bread.
In Germany the Advent wreath, the Lichstock,or Christmas pyramid, and the Christmas tree all employ candles.
In southwestern United States and Mexico luminaria and farolitas light up the night.
Australians flock in the hundreds of thousands to CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT.
Pilipinos place candles in their parols.
In France a beautiful custom is carried on in France's Auvergne on Christmas Eve. A candle is lit by the oldest member of the family and used to make the sign of the cross. It is then extinguished and passed on to the eldest son, The candle is passed from family members until it reaches the youngest. It is lit and placed in the middle of the table ~ a signal for the feast to begin.
In Norway the thick Christmas candle must burn all night long on Christmas Eve or, it is believed, a family member will die that year.
Gouda, the centre of the Dutch candle industry, turns off all the electrical lights in the city centre on Christmas Eve, while the mayor, by candlelight, reads the Nativity story to the crowd.
~ The WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA of CHRISTMAS, Gerry Bowler, McClelland & Stewart Ltd.2000.
Illustration from Tasha Tudor
"The image of Jesus as the light of the world and the midwinter longing for the return of the sun have led to the candle being associated inextricably with Christmas. This can be seen in church ceremonies such as CANDLEMAS, CHRISTINGLE, or candle-lit carol services, and in numerous home devotions."
Around the world, countries practice different customs:
In Ireland, it is the custom to place a candle in the window during the Christmas season.
In Eastern Europe a large candle is placed in the centre of the table, sometimes stuck in a loaf of bread.
In Germany the Advent wreath, the Lichstock,or Christmas pyramid, and the Christmas tree all employ candles.
In southwestern United States and Mexico luminaria and farolitas light up the night.
Australians flock in the hundreds of thousands to CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT.
Pilipinos place candles in their parols.
In France a beautiful custom is carried on in France's Auvergne on Christmas Eve. A candle is lit by the oldest member of the family and used to make the sign of the cross. It is then extinguished and passed on to the eldest son, The candle is passed from family members until it reaches the youngest. It is lit and placed in the middle of the table ~ a signal for the feast to begin.
In Norway the thick Christmas candle must burn all night long on Christmas Eve or, it is believed, a family member will die that year.
Gouda, the centre of the Dutch candle industry, turns off all the electrical lights in the city centre on Christmas Eve, while the mayor, by candlelight, reads the Nativity story to the crowd.
~ The WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA of CHRISTMAS, Gerry Bowler, McClelland & Stewart Ltd.2000.
Illustration from Tasha Tudor
Monday, December 22, 2014
"Literally 'sun standing still,' when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon. At the winter solstice, December 22, the sun is directly overhead at noon along the Tropic of Capricorn and the day is shortest in the northern hemisphere. This has traditionally been a time of celebrations involving light, greenery, fire, and the return of the sun. Such midwinter festivities have left their mark on the ways Christmas has been observed."
~ Spirit of Christmas Past
Tomorrow: CANDLES, GREENERY, and PAGANISM.
Illustration from Tasha Tutor [Dear friend, Sharon, thank you for your most welcome call today. Tasha has nothing over you!]
"When the first Christmas card appeared in 1843 it was denounced by some because the design, showing a Victorian family party drinking to the health of an absent friend, was thought to encourage drunkenness and alcoholism. Yet now, for many of us, the season of goodwill really starts when the first card drops through the letter-box. It signals not only that Christmas is really upon us ~ and we still haven't done a thing! ~ but that we are remembered by far-flung relatives, old and dear friends and new acquaintances."
~ The Spirit of Christmas Past - Evocative Memories of Years Gone By, Linda Clements. Todtri Productions Limited. 1996.
[Post card JEWalker Collection]
Sunday, December 21, 2014
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| Village Green 2014 ~ Cayuga-on-the-Grand |
~ from The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book TAKE JOY!
"We always make a special cookie for each member of the family and for the children of friends and neighbors. Besides the shaped cookies, we also make an elaborate gingerbread castle. The size and shape of the house or castle is decided upon and sketched. Then it is cut out of cardboard and the cut pieces of cardboard are used as templates or guides in shaping the gingerbread dough on the baking sheet, before cooking. Holes are pierced along the sides of the gingerbread slabs. When they are baked, the slabs fit together quite nicely, rather like a prefabricated house. They are laced together firmly with ordinary white string."
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