12.16.09
Posted in Essential Oils, Fantasy, Information, travel at 11:42 am by Administrator
The modern image we have of Santa Claus has evolved over the years. The origin of the red suited and well nourished gift bringer has been debated by scholars for years. What scholars can agree upon is where the American version of Santa Claus originated.
The Dutch settled an island on the east coast of America around 1624. Later, in 1664, British colonists arrived and New Amsterdam fell in to the hands of the English. Soon after than the city was renamed New York and still retains that name to this day. The original Dutch settlers were allowed to remain in the city so long as they obeyed English law. Most did and lived productive lives never having issue with the English. Their traditions stayed with them however and were openly practiced.
One of these was the tradition of Sinterklaas. In 1809 Sinterklaas was renamed Sancte Claus and was “promoted” to patron saint of New Amsterdam. He made his first appearance in 1810, dressed in bishops robes. Over the years he acquired a more secular appearance and by the 1880’s he appeared as the jolly fat man we know and love today.
The English version of Santa Claus began as Father Christmas but he was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness. As the Victorian Age took over, the image of Santa Claus was remade into what we know today.
Mystical Charm hope you all have a wonderful holiday season full of fun and family.
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12.14.09
Posted in Essential Oils, Fantasy, Healing Oils, Information at 10:12 am by Administrator
Nowhere in the Bible is there an exact date given for the birth of Jesus. Scholars all over the world have proposed a number of dates (and years) for His birth but there seems to be a lack of consensus. Some believe He was born during Passover because the scripture says all of the inns were full. Others have pointed to Chinese astronomy charts which tell of a “bright light in the Eastern sky” in the spring of 4 B.C. and believe this was the “Star of Bethlehem”.
It wasn’t until around 200 A.D. that Clement of Alexandria wrote that a group of Christians in Egypt celebrated the nativity on Pachon 25 (May 20th of our calender). There is no other mention of Christmas as a major feast day for the church. In 221 A.D. Sextus Julius Africanus suggested that Jesus was conceived during the spring equinox (March 25th on the Roman calender) and therefore he must have been born on December 25th (nine months later).
Thus began the idea that Christ was born on December 25th. The early church was not all together on this idea however. Early Christians did not have a unified system of belief. Different areas of the world celebrated significant events at different times of the year. It was not until the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. (a meeting of Christian bishops from all of Christendom that attempted to attain consensus on church theology) that Christians had a unified system of belief.
News of the councils consensus was slow to travel in those days. Even slower was the adoption by some churches of the “new theology” of the church. Some churches had been celebrating the nativity on January 6th as part of Epiphany by saying is was part of the baptism of Jesus. Later Christmas was promoted as a feast day as part of the revival of Catholicism following the death of Arian Emperor Valens in 378 A.D. It was slow to start but by 400 A.D. it was a popular feast day through most of Chistendom.
Mystical Charm hopes you have a wonderful holiday season full of fun and family.
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12.13.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:58 pm by Administrator
Dies Natalis Solis Invincti translates to “the birthday of the unconquered sun”. It was a holiday introduced by Emperor Elagabalus (218-222 A.D.) as an empire wide for the entire Roman Empire. The festival was placed on the winter solstice (December 25th, at the time) because that was when the sun reversed it’s southward retreat and proved it was “unconquered”. Several early Christian writers began to associate the “rebirth” of the sun with the birth of Jesus.
Winter holidays have always been popular in different cultures throughout the world. Some believe it is because there is less work to be done in the winter months, others say it is due to the expectation of better weather soon to come. A number of traditions found in modern Christmas can be traced back to the early Romans, Germanic and Northern Europeans.
The tradition of gift-giving and merrymaking can be traced to the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. Greenery, lights and giving to those less fortunate can be traced to the Roman New Year. We take Yule logs and various foods from the ancient Germanic peoples. Since Northern Europe was the last to Christianize, their traditions have had the most influence on our traditions today.
Mystical Charm hopes you all have a wonderful holiday season full of fun and family.
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