Re: Re: [GRD] Re: OT Christmas tree/ traditions

Noreen, I really appreciate this info as I find it very interesting.  I studied
religion as part of history in college but many aspects were missing and the
older I get the mushier my brain is.  How Christmas is celebrated in the old
countries is refreshing to read and seems more true to the characteristics of
what I think Christmas is all about.  Another fascinating part (not looking to
offend here) is how religions usurped pagen rituals and turned them into their
own.  I often wonder how they chose which rituals to bring in, what criteria they
used and ultimately how they incorporated them into the belief system.  Mexico's
Day of the Dead (Dias de la Muerda...hmmm, sp.) is another wonderful example.

DF

TeichFlora@aol.com wrote:

> Godi, do you wait until Jan 6 or after????
>
> Traditionally, the tree is taken down on this date.  In many parts of Europe,
> including Austria, Germany, etc.  the Christmas celebration does not end
> until this date,  considered the arrival of the three "kings of the orient"
> in Bethlehem -- and the end of the "twelve days of Christmas" between
> Christmas and January 6.
>
> On this day, January 6 is the celebration of Heilige Drei Kvnige (Holy Three
> Kings) in German. To this day in German-speaking countries, 3 males of the
> community (sometimes dressed in costume) go around to the houses and inscribe
> in chalk over doorways the year and the initials of the Three Kings.... C+M+B
> (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) to protect house and home. (Although
> historically the three letters are supposed to come from the Latin phrase for
> "Christ bless this house" -- "Christus mansionem benedicat" -- few of the
> people practicing this custom are aware of this fact though.
>
> In a message dated 12/13/2002 8:03:00 PM Central Standard Time,
> Godigarden@CS.COM writes:
>
> > Dave,
> > Usually around the end of the first week of the new year.
> > Godi zone 7
> > Mt. Vernon VA
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
> message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index