Year: 2016

Also known as Yulefest, this festival is celebrated by the various north Europeans and the Germanic Peoples and occurs during the winter solstice.

This festival started as yuletide but later underwent a Christianized reformulation taking the shape and name of Christmastide better known as Christmas. This is a cultural, Germanic pagan turned Christian, winter festival that’s sort of a pre celebration before Christmas that’s eventually absorbed into the main event.

The noun Yuletide was first attested in the year 1475 and the term “Yule” is more so used in the Nordic countries rather than the English-speaking countries where it’s more popular as “Christmas”. The term Yule was attested in a pre-Christian context majorly in Old Norse. According to the Old Norse poetry, this word was usually used as a synonym of “feast”.

Origin And Traditional Celebrations

Yule used to be celebrated as a traditional mid-winter festival by the Germanic Peoples and according to the earliest references found, it used to last over a time span of two months somewhere around mid-November to mid-January.

Scholars have associated this 2 month long event to the legend of Wild Hunt that’s believed to be a ghostly procession in the winter night and also to the leader of this procession attested in the Germanic areas known as God Odin. During this time, there’s said to be an increased activity of the supernatural forces and that of the undead beings that walk on the earth known as draugar.

On what is now known as Christmas Eve, there used to be fertility event hosted during the Yule time. This event was known as Modranicht that involved the gathering together of all females who were then attested by Bede as according to the traditions of Anglo-Saxons. The festivities of Yule were a mid-winter event and included activities like drinking, feasting and sacrifices. There were traditions like the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar and Yule singing all of which are reflected in the modern Christmas traditions today.

Contemporary Celebrations

Yuletide has been introduced with quite a few new rituals by the Neopagans. Some of them try to celebrate it keeping the rituals as close to the ones that were used by the Ancient Germanic pagans while others have modified the rituals assembled from different beliefs and sources.

In the German Neopagan sects, this festival is characterized with family reunions or gatherings, sumptuous feasts and exchange of gifts. According to the Wicca or better known as a contemporary Pagan Witchcraft, this festival is observed during the Winter Solstice and is associated to the rebirth of their primary deity The Great Horned Hunter God who is also believed to be the newborn solstice sun.

The way of celebrating this by the Wicca may range from arranging private ceremonies at homes to practicing in groups or covens. Yule or Yuletide is better known as Christmas in recent times whose many traditions have been derived from the traditional Yule ones.

These include traditions like the Yule log that is about choosing special piece of log to be burned on the hearth on Christmas, the Yule goat which is a popular symbol and can be seen on decorations and Christmas ornaments to be hanged on the Christmas tree, the Yule boar that gave way to the Christmas ham and the Yuletide singing that is now known as Christmas carols. It doesn’t matter that it started as Yuletide and has now been incorporated into the celebrations of Christmas as the essence of festivities are the same.

St Nicholas Day is a day of feast held in the honor of Saint Nicholas. This day is observed on the 6^th of December in the Western Christian countries and on 19^th December in the Eastern Christian countries.

This Christian festival is celebrated giving particular regard to St Nicholas’s reputation as a gift bearer and by attending church services or mass. In the European countries, especially Poland and Germany, it is a tradition for the boys to dress themselves up as bishops and beg alms for the less fortunate on this day.

In Ukraine all the children eagerly wait for the Saint to visit their houses and put a gift secretly under their pillow if they had behaved properly and been a good child throughout the year. Those who had been naughty might end up finding a piece of coal or a twig under their pillow instead of a present.

However in Netherlands, the children put a clog filled with carrots and hay outside their houses for the horse of St Nicholas on this day as a part of the tradition. On this day people exchange gifts which come with humorous personal rhymes written by the sender.

In the United States it is customary of the children to leave out their shoes in the entrance room on the eve of St Nicholas Feast hoping that he would place some coins on the soles of their shoes during the night. The bringer of gifts, St Nicholas, is a mythological figure just like the Santa Clause of America or the Father Christmas of Britain or the Dutch Sinterklaas. However the practice of exchanging gifts is associated with the day of Christmas rather than the St Nicholas Day.

History-

Saint Nicholas was born in the land of Patara, which is a part of present day Turkey, in circa 280. He was a Christian Bishop and was known for his reputation of reaching out to the poor and providing them with food and clothes. As he was a giver and helped the needy, the tradition of giving gifts grew after his death in order to honor him.

It is believed that the legendary and the mythical entity, Santa Clause, who brings gifts for the children all over the world, is none other than Saint Nicholas himself. Saint was born to rich parents and after they he lost both of them at a young age, St Nicholas made the use of his inheritance to help out the sick and the poor. Being a devout Christian, he served as the bishop of Myra, now known as Demre, in the latter days of his life. There are several legends which portray his generous, selfless and giving nature.

As the legend goes, St Nicholas had helped 3 poor sisters whose father didn’t have money and fortune to pay for their dowries and thus had decided to sell the three sisters into servitude. It is believed that the Saint went to the house secretly and kept a bag filled with money three times. The father used this money to get his daughters married. However on the final visit, the father saw him and thanked him earnestly for helping him during his hard time. In another legend, St Nicholas had saved the lives of three innocent men who were falsely accused and sentenced to death.

In another horrifying event, St Nicholas had resurrected three young boys who were killed and kept in barrels by a wicked butcher who had thought of selling them as ham at the time of famine. These stories of miracles and legends portraying his kind nature became known to people across the world and he was soon considered to be the gift giver and protector of sailors and young children. According to various sources, it is believed that St Nicholas had died on the 6^th of December in circa 343, after which a feast was held on his death anniversary every year in the honor of his great deeds which came to be known as the St Nicholas Day.

Observances-

The St Nicholas Day is extremely popular among the children of the countries of Europe and America as they receive presents on this day. In some cities of Europe like Italy and Bari, St Nicholas is recognized as patron saint by the people and this day is observed by carrying out various activities which includes feasts, exchanging gifts and parades. Saint Nicholas is known by several names across Europe. In Germany, he is known as Nikolaus and in Netherlands, he is known as Sinterklaas. Before the arrival of the main day, on the 6^th of December, the children put out their shoes or a special boot near the front door or at the fireplace hoping that St Nicholas will fill them up with gifts and presents during his secret night visits. The Feast of St Nicholas is a religious holiday; however, it is not a public holiday in Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Saint Nicholas day is celebrated every year on the 6^th of December for the Western Christian countries and on the 19^th of December for the Eastern Christian countries.

It’s the feast day for Saint Nicholas and is a highly popular Christian festival. Saint Nicholas had a great reputation as a bringer of presents and as well as due to his tendency to attend mass services at church.

He’s a popular Christian Saint among the children of Europe and the legendary figures like America’s Santa Claus, British’s Father Christmas and Dutch’s Sinterklaas all derive their gift bringing and other attributes from him.

This day is a religious event but not a nationwide gazetted holiday in countries like United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The parade of Saint Nicholas is hosted in various cities and announces the arrival of Saint Nicholas to town. In the city of Brussels, it takes place on the eve of Saint Nicholas day i.e. on the 5^th of December.

Background

The historical figure of Saint Nicholas was a loved Christian Saint as during his lifetime he gained a reputation for putting in coins in other people’s shoes. He was officiated as a Bishop of Mira in Greece during the 4th century. He is a patron saint of quite a number of cities including Bari in Italy where he is believed to be buried. Legends say that he had first come to Spain from Turkey but no reason is known as to why he chose Spain. It’s also said that he had strong ties with Amsterdam since 343 AD.

Grand Parade In Amsterdam

Amsterdam boasts of hosting the largest Saint Nicholas Parade in the world. Every November, Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas comes to visit Netherlands from his home in Spain. He brings lots of gifts and treats for the children and just a day after he arrives, he takes part in this colorful and worldwide known parade in Amsterdam.

It involves more than a kilometer of floats and boats and announces the arrival of Saint Nicholas in town. It takes place on a Sunday in mid-November with around 400,000 spectators who wave by standing along the canals. Around 600 of ‘Pieten’ and numerous ‘Pepernoten’ which are small spiced biscuits rain down on the spectators from the parade on this day.

A white-bearded Saint Nicholas makes its way into the city sailing down the river of Amstel and following a path within the city, past famous spots such as the Torontobrug, the Magere Brug, the Nieuwe Amstelbrug and the Hoge Sluis and the Royal Theatre Carre. This waterborne procession has its intermediate destination at the Maritime Museum where Saint Nicholas is welcomed to the city by its Mayor. The boat is then substituted by a white horse. This white horse is that of Saint Nicholas called Amerigo and then the parade is continued through the streets.

He is accompanied by his group of merry helpers the most popular being Zwarte Pieten who is the one to throw candies and cookies to the thousands of excited onlookers. After passing by other famous places of the city like Damrak and Prins Hendrikkade, Sinterklaas finally arrives at the final point during early afternoon at Dam Square where a special musical program is held especially for children. As the musical event comes to a finish, the parade continues through a few more places like Muntplein, Utrechtsestraat, Rokin before it ultimately comes to the last stop – the Leidseplein. On reaching the final stop, he delivers a special message and heartiest of greetings to his youngest fans standing on the Stadsschouwburg Balcony.

Traditions And Rituals

During the Saint Nicholas Day or Sinterklaas season, children tend to be on their best behavior and try to avoid getting into trouble. They lay out their shoes in the foyer before going to bed along with some water or wine for Sinterklaas and some carrot for the horse. They hope to be greeted with shoes filled with gifts in the morning. The good kids receive chocolate letters and marzipan while the naughty ones find coal in their shoes.

On the eve of the Saint Nicholas day, i.e. on the 5^th of December, the main gifting occasion takes place and is known as ‘sinterklaasavond’ (Sinterklaas evening) or ‘pakjesavond’ (presents evening). On this evening, sinterklaas drops off his bag of gifts on the doorstep prior to returning back to Spain. The next day i.e. on the Saint Nicholas Day, people unwrap their presents and read aloud the poems written especially for each other. The day is spent in singing, a feast followed by a nap, and with special treats like marzipan, pepernoten and hot chocolate with whipped cream.

Translated as the “Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe”, this is a Mexican festival observed on the 12^th of December every year.

It’s a popular Catholic feast day that commemorates the belief that a man named Juan Diego came across Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Mexico in the city of Mexico itself back in the year of 1531 on the 9^th and 12^th of December.

This day became a national holiday in the year 1859 and is celebrated in Mexico, America, Philippines and various other places all over the world. This is one of the most important religious events of the liturgical calendar of the Mexico region.

This day is not a federal public holiday in Mexico but it’s a popular religious festival so it’s an optional holiday for many workers. In addition, there’s a holiday for the people in banks and other financial organizations.

• History

 

The story behind this celebration puts light on the fact as to how the Catholic faith gained popularity in the hearts of the people of Mexico. The Spaniards after conquering Mexico had put in a great deal of force and efforts in trying to convert the indigenous Indians into Catholicism. But it wasn’t until the encounter of Juan Diego with Virgin Mary or Guadalupe that things began to change in the history of Mexico.

The story goes like there was an indigenous Indian called Juan Diego who was walking by the Hill of Tepeyac on a fine day of 9^th December, 1531 when he came across Virgin Mary who appeared to be an indigenous young woman to him. She had black hair, dark skin and instructed Juan in the local Nahuatl language to go and tell the Bishop to build a church atop the hill of Tepeyac. Juan ran to the Bishop and told him about Virgin Mary’s order but he didn’t believe him and ignored the command.

Following this, Juan met Virgin Mary again on the 12^th of December when she told him to go and collect flowers from the top of the hill but Juan knew that was not possible as it was December and nothing but cacti grew on the rocky terrain. On reaching the top, Juan was amazed to find colorful unseasonal flowers and as per instructions, he collected them in his overcoat and went to the Bishop. On seeing the flowers and the miraculously traced picture of Virgin Mary on the overcoat, the Bishop finally believed him and constructed The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the hilltop of Tepeyac in Mexico City.

• Celebrations And Traditions

 

• On this day, people from all parts of Mexico visit The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe situated on the Tepeyac Hill in a northern neighborhood of Mexico City.

 

• There is a mass ceremony and a traditional fair in the honor of Virgin Mary and includes traditional musical and fun events.

 

• Catholics from all over Mexico and other countries make their way to the Basilica to pay pilgrimage and the procession not only consists of faithful and organizers but also dancers.

 

• Many pilgrims carry gifts and bouquets of flower for Virgin Mary while some travel to the Basilica on their knees asking for a miracle or conveying gratitude for a prayer granted.

 

• Tens of thousands of people come to the church to pray and children are dressed up in traditional costumes.

 

• There’s a fair hosted after the mass ceremony which has vendors selling traditional food items like bunuelos, raspados, tortas and also handicraft items and clothes.

 

• There are events like bullfights, parades and rodeos.

 

• There is a tradition in Mexico that the children born on this day are christened with the name Guadalupe in honor of Virgin Mary.

 

This is a Christian holiday celebrated on the 2^nd of November every year commemorating the ones who have departed or died specially ones relatives and loved ones.

Western churches generally celebrate it on the above mentioned date i.e. on the last day of Allhallowtide while the eastern churches celebrate it on the day after Pentecost and before Lent. The Eastern orthodox or catholic churches also celebrate it several times of a year.

This day is also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed according to the liturgical books of the Western Catholic Church. On this day, the Catholics pray for the dead and it’s essentially an extension of All Saint’s Day. This is a day dedicated to giving alms to the souls of all the good people that have passed away and assisting their spirits.

The beliefs and traditions related to this day are different in the different churches of different denominations. Also known by the names “Day of Remembrance”, “Feast of All Souls”, this day is a public holiday in countries like Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador and a lot more. In case the 2^nd of November falls on a Sunday, then the holiday gets extended to the next day i.e. the 3^rd of November. It’s also observed in some Christian churches in countries such as United States, Canada, UK and Australia.

Origin And Background

All Soul’s day was first celebrated in the monastery in Cluny in 993 CE and then got widespread recognition all over the rest of the Christian communities. It was in the early eleventh century that Saint Odilo, the Abbot of Cluny in France suggested that the day right after All Saint’s Day be devoted to pay homage to the deceased souls, especially the ones who are still in purgatory. All Soul’s Day is majorly a Roman, Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox holy day. It’s believed that the customs of this day are associated to the customs of ancient veneration practiced in other parts of the world like the Pitru Paksha (India), Ghost Festival (China), Bon Festival (Japan) and Lemuria (Rome).

Symbols

The main symbol of death – the skull is the most common symbol related to All Soul’s Day. It can be seen in decorative items as well as on treats and tidbits eaten particularly on this day. These include chocolate made sugar skulls as well as crunchy, clove-flavored cookies that are known popularly as “bones of the dead”. Children love eating treats like chocolate hearse, candy coffins and sugar funeral wreaths.

Celebrations And Traditions

On this day, most people make it a mandatory point to visit the churches which are decorated in liturgical colors of violet and customary black. Family graves are visited and candles are lighted in order to honor the spirits of the ancestors while the previous day i.e.

“All Saint’s Day” had been spent in cleaning and decorating the graves. There are certain customs that reflect the dogma of purgatory such as bells are rung to wake up and comfort the dead. There are certain types of cakes known as ‘soul cakes’ that are given to the poor as doing this is believed to relieve the souls from the sufferings in purgatory. All Soul’s Day is known as “Dia de los Muertos” in Mexico when the dead are honored.

In Sicily, on this day, children pray for the souls of the deceased and they open their shoes and leave them outside the doors which are then filled with gifts for them. In Rome, some young couples may break the news of their engagement on this day. In Tirol, the rooms are kept warm and cakes are left on the table to make the spirits comfortable as well as supper is left for them at bedtime.

In Brittany, the ritual is to visit the cemeteries at night, kneel down bareheaded in front of the graves and to pour holy water or milk over the tombstones. In Malta, trips are organized to the cemeteries and people take part in pilgrimages to the graveyards not only to visit the burial sites of their relatives but to also experience the feel of the auspicious day.