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i i Section Three The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc. December 19,1984 9 I ~i r x Here's hoping Saint Nick brings you and your loved ones much good luck and happiness o this Christmas. AVERY MASONRY 623-6443 How much do you know about the Twelve Days of Christmas? for joy mm The Twelve Days of Christmas arc familiar familiar to most people, chiefly as the raison d'etre of a fabulous giftfest comprising such unlikely presents as swans, geese, leaping lads, dancing ladies and the immortal immortal partridge in its pear tree, star of innumerable innumerable Christmas cards. Everyone, of course, knows Christmas Day itself (which, depending on which calendar you are using, is cither the first of the Twelve Days or just prior to them), as well as Epiphany, January 6, the Twelfth Day (according to some systems of counting, counting, the 13th), which signifies the close of the Christmas season. But how many people people can recite the Holy Days which fall between between the two? The concept of the Twelve Days probably probably originated as a Teutonic, pre-Christian holdover, which was seized upon by the Church as a convenient link between Christmas and Epiphany, and only a few of the days are traditionally celebrated. These are St. Stephen's Day (December 26), St. John's Day (December 27) and Holy Innocents Day, also known as Childermas (December 28). St. Stephen's Day honors the first martyr martyr of the Christian church, who died a gruesome death by stoning in 33 A.D. Because St. Stephen is the patron saint of horses, the date was considered propitious propitious for such activities as sweating and bleeding horses. In Sweden, where the holiday was most extensively observed, it was traditional for peasants to travel -- sometimes a great distance distance -- to neighboring farms to care for each other's horses on St. Stephen's Day. Also in Sweden, St. Stephen's Day was customarily celebrated with horse racing, presumably a throwback to pagan purification purification rituals which were centered around horseback riding and races. St. John's Day is associated chiefly with the tradition of drinking wine which has been blessed, and which was believed to render the imbiber safe from the effects of poison throughout the coming year. This custom commemorates a cup of poisoned wine which St. John the Apostle drank when challenged by a pagan priestess priestess to do so as a test of God's power. Miraculously, Miraculously, St. John drank the wine without ill effects, having first made the sign of the cross over it. Variations on the theme in regions of Europe have believers drinking consecrated consecrated wine to protect them from a wide assortment of ills: not only poison, but lightning, ill health, a poor harvest and spoiled wine. This has caused speculation among scholars that the drinking -- sometimes to excess! -- of wine on St. John's Day arose as a holdover from a pagan wine sacrifice. At any rate, wine drinking on December December 27th was so widespread that certain 17th century German scholars wittily suggested suggested that Weilmaclit -- the German name for Christmas -- might well be changed to Weinnacht, wine night. Childermas, the last in this triad of holy days, marks Herod's massacre of the innocents, innocents, by which means he hoped to kill the infant Jesus. It is, according to tradition, a particularly particularly unlucky date. No one, if he could help it, would begin something on that day. King Edward IV of England went so far as to postpone his coronation, originally originally scheduled for Holy Innocents Day, and King Louis XI of France categorically refused to transact business on that date. Leaving matters of state aside, housewives housewives in Cornwall in Southern England refused to scrub their abodes on Childermas, Childermas, and their counterparts in Northhamptonshire eschewed doing the wash. Needless to say, it was not a popular date for weddings, and no one with his wits about him would consider donning new attire for the first time on Childermas". Customarily, children were whipped (presumably, not too hard) on Holy Innocents Innocents Day, possibly to bring home Herod's cruel slaughter. More likely, this, too, is the survival of a pre-Christian ritual, as adults, as well as children, traditionally came in for their share of whipping. That it was not considered punitive but was a boon is indicated by the almost universal universal ritual of rewarding the whipper with sweets or nuts; presumably the beating -- frequently accomplished with omnipresent omnipresent evergreen branches -- was supposed to cause the expulsion of evil spirits. Today, of course, this ritual, like so many others, is a thing of the past. But it is unfortunate that we do not, for the most part, even remember the existence of customs customs which were, for our ancestors, of great significance: central to their observance observance and understanding of their religion. For, each custom or tradition remembered remembered enriches immeasurably our understanding, understanding, and deepens our appreciation of the heritage which has made us what we arc. Christmas Tree Whether you plan to buy the biggest possible tree or a tiny table-top one, you'll want to choose one that is fresh. To be sure the tree is fresh when you buy it, foresters foresters suggest checking for a wet, sticky stump bottom and needles that are not brittle and do not readily drop off when the trunk is rapped on the ground or shaken. It will stay fresh longer if a slanted slice is cut off the bottom, the stur.vn end placed in water, and the tree located in a relatively cool place. St. Lucy's Day: "Festival of lights" brightens Swedish Advent k k • a Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year. from Greg and Wendy Balson . at the Pizza Wagon 22 Division St. m Bowmanville 623-4134 Mankind has traditionally celebrated the triumph of light over darkness. The most well-known of these "Festivals of Lights" is the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, Hanukkah , which usually falls in the month of December, and lasts for eight days. It is a season marked by joyous celebration, celebration, gift-giving and, especially, candlelighting. candlelighting. In fact, the Menorah, a nine-branched candelabra, is one of the familiar familiar and traditional symbols of this festive festive occasion which commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greco- Syrians who had occupied the temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C. The miraculous victory of this small group of Hebrews over the forces of the enemy is paralleled by a miraculous vial of oil within the temple which, though it contained contained only enough oil to bum for a single day, miraculously lasted for eight days. The Christians, too, have their "Festival "Festival of Lights" which is celebrated on De cember I3th, St. Lucy's Day. (The name, Lucy, is derived from the Latin word for light, lux.) This holiday is chiefly observed in Sweden, Sweden, where most households have their Lucia Queen. St. Lucy is impersonated by a young girl, usually blond, who is garbed in the customary flowing white gown, which is sashed in red and decorated with stars. On her head, the Lucia Queen wears a crown of bilberries, in which lighted candles candles have been arranged. In the early hours of the morning of December December 13th, before sunrise has begun to light the sky, the Lucia Queen proceeds slowly throughout her home, singing the traditional "Lucia song." She awakens the household, bringing them hot coffee and special buns, known as lussekatter, which are flavored with either either saffron or cardamom, and formed into braids, twists or, sometimes, cats. After she has finished this task, she goes out to the barn, bringing food and coffee to the farmhands and special food for the animals. Liter in the day, there is a church ceremony, ceremony, during which a young girl attired as Lucia, candles burning in her crown, brings light into a darkened church. She is frequently followed by young boys garbed as "star-boys." These "star- boys" carry staffs crowned with stars and wear star-studded caps. How did St. Lucy's Day become a "Festival of Lights?" Lucy, a Christian martyr, who lived in Syracuse in Sicily in the third century AD, and who herself was cruelly blinded, is the saint who restores sight to the blind -- bringing light to darkness. darkness. St. Lucy is frequently represented in paintings carrying a lamp or torch, reinforcing reinforcing her position as the bringer of light. Additionally, according to the Old Style calendar, St. Lucy's Day, December 13th, is the shortest day of the year, and thus the darkest -- the ideal time to celebrate the yearly victory of light over darkness. How the celebration of St. Lucy's Day made its way from Sicily to Sweden is something of a mystery. The first celebration celebration of St. Lucy's Day in Sweden would seem to have occurred in the 18th century, but it wasn't until the 19th century that the custom of nominating a young girl to take the part of St. Lucy seems to have taken hold, and then only in rural areas. And, it was only toward the end of the 1920s that the holiday was popularized in Stockholm, where the Lucia Queen would lead processions through the city streets. The joyous acceptance of the St. Lucy's Day festivities in Stockholm was immediate, immediate, ensuring the holiday a permanent place in the Advent calendar, and in the hearts of Swedes. ERV BROOKS Service Station 195 King E. 623-5679 Your friendship and patronage cover us with joy and admiration. Sincere thanks. REYNOLDS 1 UPHOLSTERING a 25 Colbourne St. W. Oshawa 571- sssasjgscïasiSatssatïssKKïacïsstïsttBsîïsarKasastïajssrïaïïasjgajjgj f May the gifts 1 of love and joy | be yours this I Christmas. Dirk Brinkman Insurance Scugog Street May the season be aglow with "'Ç/> warmth and happiness as agtc CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Call 623-2474 giii$fim$ Hope yours is styled with joy and laughter! * Best wishes for the Holiday Season and the New Year from Dolly - Mary - Nancy - Susan and Joanne The Bobette Salon of Beauty 57 King St. W. 623-7691 Bowmanville A Bright Holiday Wish we extend our appreciation to you. from Lights Video Action 110 Waverley Rd. Bowmanville 623-3650 ver the river cincl through the woods... bringing with us tidings of true Christmas spirit. Its been our pleasure to serve you. Management and Staff of HUTTON TRANSPORT Waverley Road South Bowmanville Dennison Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season from your friends and neighbors ai Dennison Manufacturing Canada Inc. 200 Base Line Road East, Bowmanville Greetings ! May the warmth of t'hristma.s hring you love. good fortune ami good health ! Our deepest appreciation for your continued patronage. from the friendly folks at Hymet Farm Supply R.R. 2, Bowmanville Maple Grove Telephone 623-2279