I love this Christmas bauble Peter & I bought at Ellis Island, where the Statue of Liberty is, when we went to New York in 2008.
I remember the American airport security was looking at it, scanned it and told us that it was a procedure. They were actually very kind as they allowed us to take home a couple of cans of Vienna sausage in my hand luggage, told them it was hard to find American hotdogs in London. We fell in love with the chili dog when we had some while visiting Washington DC. The above bauble reminds us that we had such a lovely time during that holiday in 2008.
The 5th of January is regarded as the eve of the 12th day after Christmas Day, however modern practice regarded the 6th as the 12th day of Christmas. In Christianity, the 5th is when the three Kings also referred as the Magi (wise men) who were guided by a brilliant new star in the night sky, arrived from the east to visit and hail the new-born King Jesus at His birthplace, Bethlehem in Judea. The 6th of January is also known as Epiphany (from the Greek word meaning ‘manifestation’) where Jesus is revealed/manifested to the world through the visit of the Magi, as the Son of God.
Before their arrival, the wise men came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The three magi are known in the Western Christian church as;
Melchior (also Melichior,Melchor), a Persian (modern-day Iran) scholar.
Caspar (also Gaspar, Jaspar, Jaspas, Gathaspa, and other variations), an Indian scholar.
Balthazar (also Balthasar, Balthassar, and Bithisarea), an Arabian scholar.
Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, after their sojourn they left for their own country by another path.
The Three Kings depart for home
A shrine the the three Kings(Magi) is located behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral, Germany.
The relics were the Magi were taken from Milan by Frederick Barbarossa, The Holy Roman Emperor and presented to the Archbishop of Cologne Rainald of Dassel in 1164 and to this day pilgrims travel to the Cathedral to visit the shrine.
The Three Ships
It is thought that the 1833 English Christmas hymn/carol, ‘I Saw Three Ships (come sailing in) on Christmas Day In The Morning‘ was inspired by the delivery of the relics to Cologne.
A superstition is that all Christmas decorations in the home etc., must be taken down by January 6th, otherwise bad luck will ensue.
Tomorrow 6th January is Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas Day (all Xmas decorations must be removed and put away). The feast day celebrates the Three Kings visit to Baby Jesus. However, did you know that there were originaly six kings not 3? Only three reached Bethlehem. The 4th went to the USA, the 5th to China and the 6th to the Philippines. Their names were BURGER KING, CHOWKING & TAPA KING, respectively. 😉
This witty observation was made by Fr Bel.R. San Luis, SVD introducing the true meaning of tomorrow’s important date in the Christian calendar. But his funny comment does reflect todays age of all powerful consumerism dominating our lives with competing service between God and Mammon.
Today 26 December, the day after Christmas Day which is called Boxing Day, also known in Western Christianity as St Stephen’s Day. Stephen was the first Christian to become a martyr (proto martyr) after being executed for his belief in Christ’s mission.
There are several meanings to Boxing Day with no real definitive meaning. In times past, church alms (charity)boxes were opened and the contents given to the poor of the parish to celebrate the feast day of St Stephen. This custom turned into the giving of Christmas boxes, which contained gifts of food, money or other items to household servants and then to public tradesmen, such as postmen and dustman (garbage collectors) for services rendered during the year. The 26th was also the first day of work after Christmas Day and still is for many throughout the world. Indeed our son James, who contributes to this blog, had to attend his work place on Boxing day to be on call to provide emergency IT support for customers/clients.
in the Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries), artisan shops kept Christmas boxes, which were mainly made up of clay. The owner of the shop would deposit and save a certain amount each day during the year. On the 26th of December each year, he would break open this box and equally distribute the savings among his shop workers, the first type of work bonus system.
Even though Boxing Day has its roots in the Middle Ages, it did not become an official holiday until the nineteenth century during the reign of Queen Victoria. The gentry (nobility and the rich) gave gifts, food etc., to their servants, sometimes in boxes to be carried back the servants families. To this day and into early new year, many companies, firms, stores etc., continue to give an end of working year salary bonus to their employees.
It was during this period that English power was at its height and the British Empire stretched from one end of the world to the other, spreading customs such as Boxing Day.
Today many shops & department stores etc., open on 26 December and offer goods on discounted sales right through January.
Today is the first and I must say a freezing frosty day of December. We traveled past Hampstead Heath and Whitestone Pond, North West London by car this morning. The heath is near to where we live and a wonderful place to stroll in any season. The frost coated the grass and bare tree branches with a silver sheen which was burnished by the early winter sun. The Pond was iced over and years ago was popular for ice skating. Nowadays the health and safety supremos in local public services won’t allow such carefree fun!
December Arrives!
“Hang on!” Winter skating on Whitestone Pond near Hampstead Heath in 1933
It is also the first week in Advent which is the season many Western Christian churches observe as the time for the expectation and anticipation of the Nativity (birth of Jesus Christ). Services are held such as the singing of Advent Carols, and Nativity readings from The Bible.
It is only twenty-four days before Christmas Day and two public holidays. I can’t wait. It is the first time in twenty-six years that we are both away from home. We are going to my old hometown to meet up with family and old friends for Christmas and the New Year. I am sure it would be a lovely and joyous Christmas despite being away from my son, grandson, and daughter-in-law.
December is a favourite month for me. I love the atmosphere, it seems that people are more carefree and happier and kinder.
Christmas office parties are abundantly observed, including workers who have a Christmas drink with colleagues, normally at a bar or pub near work.
Shops open later up 9 – 10 pm and yet shoppers often leave buying gifts at the last minute. Sometimes this could be an advantage as competing retailers try and entice customers with last-minute bargains. But sometimes the most wanted goods are gone and many are disappointed. On Christmas morning any disappointment has gone as plenty of fun and games can be had as well as a mountain of food and drink.
December 25 is not only celebrated as our Lord Jesus Christ birthdate, but also the greatest scientist of them all, Sir Isaac Newton, (according to the Julian calendar he was born on 25 Dec 1642 ).
Holiday on Boxing Day comes on the 26 of December. It has nothing to do with engaging in some pugilistic activities with guests that have overstayed their welcome. Instead, its origin may have been from those ‘upstairs, downstairs’ days when servants were allowed to visit their families with a benevolent box of goodies from their employers!
