Category Archives: holidays
Christmas Eve
While in the modern world we have been deeply involved in the Christmas celebration all month, with a heavy emphasis on giving gifts, decorations, music, and partying, traditionally all that occurred AFTER the 25th during the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany. In Hungary, a predecessor of the Christmas Tree was the … Continue reading →
Fourth Sunday of Advent
The 23rd is the last Sunday of Advent, a period of fasting, reflection, and preparation for the Christmas holidays. On this Sunday the fourth candle in the Advent Wreath (or Crown) is lighted, symbolizing Love. (The first three stand for Hope, Peace, and Joy.) If there is a fifth candle- the Christ … Continue reading →
Full Cold Moon!
The Full moon in December will be occurring December 23rd. It is called the Full Cold Moon, Black, Death, Crone, or the Long Nights Moon. The Anglo-Saxons called December Ærra Geola, and January Æfterra Geola before and after Yule. Modranecht, or Mothers’ Night was the beginning of the year, which Bede (who … Continue reading →
Third Sunday of Advent
As early Christians came to celebrate the Birth of Christ at the same time that many Romans around them were celebrating the Birth of Mithras on December 25th (both were mystery religions at the time, and there are many correspondences between the two stories- virgin birth, birth attended by shepherds, performed miracles, … Continue reading →