Yule Ball

Yule Ball

Yule Ball

The custom of having a Yule Ball has existed in different forms over many years. From the eighteenth century the Southern states of the United States held balls during the Christmas Season. The Texans celebrated with Christmas Eve Balls. The English celebrated the Twelfth Night of Christmas with a Costume or Mask Ball until the nineteenth century. More commonly now people celebrate New Years Eve with a Yule Ball.

Recently the 'Yule Ball' was made popular in the Harry Potter book and movie 'The Goblet of Fire', Chapter 23 is 'The Yule Ball'. The main event of this chapter, as indicated by the title, is the Yule Ball itself. During the ball, Harry learns things about several of his close friends, including Hagrid, Hermione and Ron. In the film, the Ball was presented as sort of a "wizard prom", with the dress robes of men resembling tuxedos.

The Yule Ball is know for Ron Weasley's row with Hermione Granger which divulged Ron's jealousy towards Krum, and showing his attraction to Hermione. Fans refer to the event as 'the Yule Brawl'.

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Approximate Dates of Carols

The 16th Century

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The First Nowell
The Twelve Days of Christmas

The 18th Century

We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The Holly and the Ivy
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Come All Ye Faithful

The 19th Century

Silent Night, Holy Night
Once in Royal David’s City
Good King Wenceslas
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Jingle Bells
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Away in a Manger
Ding Dong Merrily on High

12 Days Of Christmas

12 Days Of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

For many centuries the Twelve days of Christmas stood at the heart of the European Christmas season. The Twelve Days of Christmas is also referred to as 'Christmastide'. The Twelve days begin on December 25 and last until the Twelfth Night (January 5th).

As Christianity became firmly rooted in Europe, political leaders declared the Twelve Days to be legal holidays. Near the end of the ninth century King Alfred the Great of England (849-899) mandated that his subjects observe the Twelve days of Christmas, outlawing all legal proceedings, work and fighting during that time. Norway established the Christian observance of the festival in the middle of the 10th century.

The most festive meal was often served on the Twelfth Night or on Epiphany (6 January).

There were numerous superstitions around the Twelve Days of Christmas. One was that Christmas decorations were to only be displayed over the twelve days and that bad luck would come to those who left them up longer. Another view was that Christmas decorations could be left up as long as they were removed by Candlemas (2 February).

And then we have the words from the song regularly song around Christmas time…

The Twelve days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas

One reference to 'Blue Christmas' is that for some Christmas is a lonely, depressing, "blue" time. Christmas can be 'blue' for those people who are grieving the loss of loved ones or other losses or for those who are all alone when others are partying and gathering with family members. Some pastors concerned for those who find it difficult to "celebrate" at this time of year have developed various "Blue Christmas Services" for these people.

The constant refrain on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the Christmas Season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation, the gut wrenching loss of a child, the loneliness of no longer having a beloved spouse to share each day, the loss of a dear family pet - all these can contribute to a feeling of being alone, of 'feeling blue' in the midst of the society around us which seems bent on 'being happy' and 'celebrating'. It's at such times that we need to make the space and take the time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. The churches offer the 'Blue Christmas' service to help these people and offer them some empathy.

Then there is the song 'Blue Christmas'...

I'll have a Blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't mean a thing if you're not here with me.

I'll have a Blue Christmas that's certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe

Mistletoe

The mistletoe was a symbol of goodwill and love, an omen of long life, fertility and happiness for those who kissed beneath it. Named 'All-heal', mistletoe was accepted by the Church who proclaimed it a symbol of Christ, the divine healer.

The Druids called mistletoe 'omnia sanitatem' which means 'that which heals all'. They used it as a medicine. It was also believed to heal hearts and it was believed that if two enemies met under a tree bearing mistletoe, they were not allowed to fight. Anyone entering a home decorated with sprigs of mistletoe was entitled to receive shelter and protection. Some people thought that mistletoe possessed magical powers and others thought of in a negative vein.

Mistletoe, also known as viscum album, is an evergreen that bears berries and is thought of in association to Christmas. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe appears to be of English origin. It is not until the eighteenth century that some writers suggest that kissing under the mistletoe was common place. There were contradictory beliefs about the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.

Today, many people enhance their Christmas festivities with mischievous sprigs of mistletoe. The custom is found in Britain, France or countries where the British have settled, such as Commonwealth countries, including Canada and it is also found in the United States...

A branch of the mystic mistletoe is suspended from the wall or ceiling and anyone of the fair sex who, either from inadvertence, or possible may be insinuated, on PURPOSE, passes beneath the sacred spray, incurs the penalty of being then and there kissed by any lord of creation who chooses to avail himself of the privilege.
Chamber’s Book of Days (1864)

Xmas

Xmas

Xmas

X is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ - 'Xristos'. To the early Christians, most of whom spoke and wrote Greek, the word signified 'Christ's Mass'.

As the centuries passed, however, fewer and fewer people understood ancient Greek. They thought the 'X' had some pagan meaning and that the word 'Xmas' showed disrespect. Some people dislike the informality of this abbreviation and the fact that it removes the word "Christ" from the word Christmas. Others find it less objectionable. They point out that the "X"stands for the Greek letter "X" (chi), which is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ.

The occasionally felt belief that the "X" represents the cross Christ was crucified on has no basis in fact. The St Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a †. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi Χ stood for "Christ").

Hanukah Christmas Cards

Hanukah Christmas Cards

Hanukkah Christmas Cards

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival and falls during the darkest days of December. It is not the Jewish Christmas but many American Jewish families have adapted certain Christmas customs, for example cards and gifts. The Hanukkah holidays fall on different days between 25th November and 26th December each year. It is a movable feast similar to the Christian Easter. It is a celebration of light. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication". The Hanukkah holiday is known as the 'Feast of Dedication' or the 'Feast of Light'.

The Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days in memory of the Maccabeean uprising and the Temple miracle in Jerusalem. One candle is lit on each night of Hanukkah and there is a special ninth candle called the shammas, or servant light - the one light able to kindle many.

The old custom of distributing Hanukkah gelt (coins) to children has extended to gifts. Often Jewish parents give their children a present for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. In addition, some people also exchange Hanukkah Cards with friends and family.

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards

The English are credited with the invention of the Christmas card and with making it popular during the Victorian era. By the 1860's an entire industry had grown up around the design and production of Christmas Cards in England. The industry spread to other countries quickly and more and more people embraced the Christmas card. The practice of sending Christmas Greeting Cards became one of the Christmas season's most popular customs.

New Year's cards date back to the early years of European printing. The oldest known New Year's card was printed in 1466. They never became very popular. In the late eighteenth century the development of lithographic printing supported an increase in the production of New Year's cards. Valentines cards were already popular in the early nineteenth century when the very first Christmas cards were printed and probably had more influence on the Christmas Cards than the New Year's cards did. Prior to the Christmas cards, some people did send Christmas or New Year's letters.

The first Christmas card was designed by Englishman JC Horsley (1817-1903) in 1843 from the research that I can find. The front of the card shows three separate images. About 1000 copies of the card were printed and they were sold for one shilling each.