Since the Holiday Season Is Here. Why not celebrate the season in your own way. While many will be going all out celebrating with decorations and festivities. Others will be dreading the months to come. Certainly, we each need to discover our unique style. Since expressing that style in your way enhances your enjoyment of the season. Therefore allowing each of us to step back from the frustrations. Resulting in a happier, more relaxed holiday season for everyone.
Your Holiday Season Is Here!!!!
Get ready for our first Holiday of the Season, introducing Halloween!! Now All Hallows Eve has been around for centuries. According to the encyclopedia, Britania “Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland”. Beginning on the day that corresponded to November 1, was the beginning of each new year. Since that day was considered the beginning of Winter.
This was the date known for bringing in the herds from pasture. and land claims were renewed. The Irish and Scottish believed that the Samhain festival. Which was the belief that the souls of loved ones who had died in previous years. Now returned to visit their homes, to collect the loved ones that had died during the year. Thus assisting their crossing to the otherworld. Moreover, to celebrate this crossing, people set bonfires on hilltops. Lighting the way for the spirits, and also to relight the fires for their hearths. As preparation for the winter.
However, these fires were also used to frighten away evil spirits. Along with the practice of wearing masks and other disguises. Thereby avoiding the
chance of being recognized by the ghosts that might travel among them. This was how the custom of dressing up scary. Mimicking the likes of witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons, that came to be celebrated on this day.
Holiday Season Is Here: Thanksgiving
While the Thanksgiving holiday’s history in North America is rooted in English traditions starting from the Protestant Relocation. Protestants fleeing England during the reign of Henry VIII. Since fleeing was in reaction to persecution, from protesting a large number of religious holidays on the Catholic calendar. Many of which the people were required to attend, forgo working, and pay for the celebrations. However, some of the holidays were eliminated due to the large outcry. Moreover, some Puritans wished to completely eliminate all required attendance of Church holidays.
Therefore many of the Pilgrims and Puritans who emigrated from England. Brought with them the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving. However, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is traced to a well-recorded 1619 event in Virginia. Including a sparsely documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts.
Thanksgiving Holiday
The 1619 arrival of 38 English settlers in Charles City County, Virginia. Was concluded with a religious celebration. Which specifically required “that the day of our ship’s arrival, in the land of Virginia. The celebration shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving. Now in 1621 the Plymouth feast. Along with thanksgiving, was prompted by a good harvest, celebrated with the Native Americans, who helped them get through the previous winter by giving them food in that time of scarcity.
While, later in Massachusetts, religious Thanksgiving services were declared by civil leaders. Thereby planning the colony’s thanksgiving celebration and feast in 1623. After the alleged killing of a white man by the local Indian tribe. With the terrible retribution that followed. Thanksgiving from then on would be celebrating “The Bloody Victory“. While thanking God that the battle had been won. As President of the United States, George Washington. Made Thanksgiving a nationwide celebration in America. Therefore marking the day of November 26, 1789, as the traditional celebration date.
Holiday Season Is Here: Christmas
While “Christmas” is the Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. The English term Christmas is of fairly recent origin. The earlier term Yule Tide may have derived from the Germans. Similarly from the Anglo-Saxon. While each referred to the feast of the winter solstice. The early Christians distinguished between the identification of the date of Jesus’ birth. In addition the liturgical celebration of that event. The actual observance of the day of Jesus’ birth was a long time coming. In particular, during the first two centuries of Christianity. Since there was strong opposition to recognizing birthdays of martyrs. Particularly the birth of Jesus. While many of the Church Fathers offered sarcastic comments about the pagan custom of celebrating birthdays. Which when honoring saints and martyrs should be on the day of their martyrdom. Considered to be their true birthdays.
Christmas
While the reason for choosing December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. Since “The New Testament” provides no clues to this date. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus. Which later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the “Dies Solis Invicti Nati“. Literally meaning the day of the birth of the sun. Since this was a popular holiday in the Roman Empire. Thereby celebrating the winter solstice. Seen as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun. While casting away winter. Subsequently celebrating the return of spring and summer.
Since the tradition of celebrating Christmas as a family holiday. Becoming famously celebrated by a number of English “Christmas” carols. Including traditional songs like “Here We Come A-Wassailing” or “Deck the Halls.” Moreover, it can also be seen in the practice of sending Christmas Cards. However, in countries such as Austria and Germany. Making the connection between the Christian festival. While celebrating the family holiday. Thereby identifying the Christ Child as the origin of the gifts received.
Regardless of the origins of these holidays. Western society has embraced them. However many feel that they have become “Too Commercialized”. Thereby the making of “Home Made Gifts” and decorations have made the celebrations personalized. Above all, celebrating the end of the year is a festive time. Furthermore, it is a way to push away the dreariness that winter brings.
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