Holidays Traditional Time(s)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Biblical History:
Christmas (or Feast of the Nativity) is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, on December 25, The gospels of Luke and Matthew describe Jesus as being born in Bethlehem to the Joseph and Mary who traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the Roman census, Jesus is born there and laid in a manger.

 

The traditional Christmas story can be found in “The King James Bible”                Matthew (1) verse (17 through 25) the Conception and News to Jesus earthly father Joseph.

The news to Mary can be found in Luke (1) verse (26 through 56)
“The Nativity of Jesus”, in the New Testament Luke (2) verse (1 through 39) says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in accordance with prophecies. When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room and so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born, with angels proclaiming this news
The shepherds Story Matthew (2) verse (1 through 12) who then further spread the information.

The Power of Christmas and Proof of its spirit:

 

During World War 1, 100,000+ British and German troops informally agreed on a cease fire on the Western Front. The two armies placed candles on their trenches and on Christmas trees, then continued to celebrate by singing Christmas carols.

 

Soon soldiers started slowly and tentatively started making excursions across No Man’s Land, where small gifts were exchanged, such as food, tobacco, alcohol and souvenirs, such as buttons and hats. No mans land for those who have never heard of it is where all the artillery, rifles, pistols, machine guns and all forms of Death and Destruction man could think of was deployed. You would surely die if you entered it. It was known as Hell on Earth or The Devils Playground as well.

Some letters to back this up can be found as proof of the above.
Bruce Bairnsfather wrote

 

I wouldn’t have missed that unique and weird Christmas Day for anything. I spotted a German officer, some sort of lieutenant I should think, and being a bit of a collector, I intimated to him that I had taken a fancy to some of his buttons. I brought out my wire clippers and, with a few deft snips, removed a couple of his buttons and put them in my pocket. I then gave him two of mine in exchange. The last I saw was one of my machine gunners, who was a bit of an amateur hairdresser in civil life, cutting the unnaturally long hair of a docile Boche, who was patiently kneeling on the ground whilst the automatic clippers crept up the back of his neck.

Henry Williamson a nineteen-year-old private in the London Rifle Brigade

 

Dear Mother, I am writing from the trenches. It is 11 o’clock in the morning. Beside me is a coke fire, opposite me a ‘dug-out’ (wet) with straw in it. The ground is sloppy in the actual trench, but frozen elsewhere. In my mouth is a pipe presented by the Princess Mary. In the pipe is tobacco. Of course, you say. But wait. In the pipe is German tobacco. Haha, you say, from a prisoner or found in a captured trench. Oh dear, no! From a German soldier. Yes a live German soldier from his own trench. Yesterday the British & Germans met & shook hands in the Ground between the trenches, & exchanged souvenirs, & shook hands. Yes, all day Xmas day, and as I write. Marvelous, isn’t it?

Captain Robert Miles, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

 

Friday (Christmas Day). We are having the most extraordinary Christmas Day imaginable. A sort of unarranged and quite unauthorized but perfectly understood and scrupulously observed truce exists between us and our friends in front. The funny thing is it only seems to exist in this part of the battle line – on our right and left we can all hear them firing away as cheerfully as ever. The thing started last night – a bitter cold night, with white frost – soon after dusk when the Germans started shouting ‘Merry Christmas, Englishmen’ to us. Of course our fellows shouted back and presently large numbers of both sides had left their trenches, unarmed, and met in the debatable, shot-riddled, no man’s land between the lines. Here the agreement – all on their own – came to be made that we should not fire at each other until after midnight tonight. The men were all fraternizing in the middle (we naturally did not allow them too close to our line) and swapped cigarettes and lies in the utmost good fellowship. Not a shot was fired all night.

There are many more stories like this.

Timeline:

221: Sextus Julius Africanus gave March 25 as the day of the conception of Jesus in his universal history.

274: Emperor Aurelian, who instituted the holiday of the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, did so partly as an attempt to give a pagan significance to a date already important for Christians in Rome.
336: Earliest known Christmas celebration took place in Rome.

800: Charlemagne was crowned Emperor on Christmas Day in.
1066: King William I of England was crowned on Christmas Day.
1233: The first enacting of The Nativity of Jesus Christ (theatrical play)

1377: King Richard II of England hosted the first known Christmas feast.
1607: King James I insisted that a play be acted on Christmas night and that the court indulge in games.

1629: John Milton wrote: “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”

1743: German Protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski argued Christmas was placed on December 25 to correspond with the Roman solar holiday
1784: Deck the Halls” was wrote

1822: Clement Clarke Moore wrote “A Visit From St. Nicholas” More commonly known as: Twas the Night Before Christmas.

1843: Charles Dickenson wrote “A Christmas Carol”

1857: Jingle Bells” was copyrighted

1870: Christmas was formally declared a United States federal holiday on June 28.

1923: First “National Christmas Tree” in the United States was lit.

 

 

 

By the Traditions (dates for decorations)

Lights
Traditionally, lights were lit on the first day of Advent (11-29-2020) as these lights were actually candles on the Tree. For obvious reasons you would not have been able to earlier than this date as you would not have a tree up.

Christmas Lights May be put up the 1st or 2nd week of November on Streets and Houses. (November 7 or 14, 2020) and turned on. NOTE: Nothing denoting the words “Christ or Christmas” should be placed out until after “Thanksgiving Day” to not detract from that holiday. Explained in more detain below.
There are conflicting reports where the dates to put up exterior decorations arise, general agreement is between the above two dates from dates of public displays and caroling as far back as the 1700’s.
“Note” Private persons installing large displays remember lighting of the full display by tradition is still the 7th of 14th of November.
Decorations are Removed on either the last day of Advent which is January 6th or the last day of “Candlemas” which is February 2nd.
The oldest known United States “Public” display is the Pasadena California “Christmas Tree Lane display”
Interior and exterior Decorations are truly a family event. But Wreath, Mantel and Stockings need to be observed for a traditional Christmas.

 

Christmas Colors:

The traditional colors of Christmas decorations are red, green, and gold.
Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion.
Green symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter.
Gold is the first color associated with Christmas, as one of the three gifts of the Wise men.

Wreaths the confusion begins

Fall Wreaths may be put up the Weekend before the first day of Fall to bring in the season. September 22nd 2020

Thanksgiving wreaths “wreaths with the words Thanksgiving” Can be added to a Fall wreath the weekend before Thanksgiving but must be removed the weekend after thanksgiving November 21th 2020 to November 29th 2020.

Winter Wreaths aka Christmas Wreath is put up. The Monday after Thanksgiving, November 30th 2020 though Winter actually starts December 21st.

The wreaths denote the time of year not the actual holiday, the Seasonal Wreath takes precedent over the singular day/holiday.

 

You may also have a Winter Wreaths up in November prior to Thanksgiving so long as it does not specifically denote Christmas “I.E. Merry Christmas or Santa Clause on it”. Though it is highly suggested to use fall wreaths.

If you are confused just remember Nothing denoting by symbol or word of “Christmas” until after Thanksgiving.

The denotation is to show respect to each of the Holidays /religious Holidays individually of the fall season (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas).

 

Mantel Decorations

Mantel decor should follow wreath tradition, with the exception of stockings which should only be hung the night before (Christmas Eve) in houses with small children. Without Children they may go up with the wreath, however if parties are had prior to Christmas Eve and children are to be present the stocking should be removed while they are present (excluding Christmas Eve)

TREE

Trees should be <Live, by tradition, but of other material now for people with health conditions> and should be up not sooner than 4 weeks before Christmas as with proper care they can live that long without high fire chance. Imitation trees should respect tradition time line. (2020 that date is November 27th)

Lighting of the Tree

Tree lighting goes back to the 1500’s Germany with the Lighting of it Martin Luther Credited for it with candles in the midish 1500’s>

 

In the U.S. Tree and Lighting 1830’s Pennsylvania by Germanic Settlers

 

Lighting with Electricity Thomas Edison made the first Christmas Light String in 1882

 

First “National Christmas Tree” 1923 Lighting of it was Christmas Eve, with the invent in later years of the Christmas Pageant and other events it was moved back to where it is today though it fluctuates a little.

 

Perhaps the Humble and yet Powerful Christmas tree of all times was the 1931 Rockefeller tree. Not the one we all think of today but according to many recounts a group of construction workers building the Rockefeller Center put one up on their site either first week or early second week of December it had no Ornaments or lights as the depression was in full swing. But as people passed by by Christmas eve the tiny humble tree had many made of whatever people had and Carrols were sung the Christmas eve.

When to put out Presents:
This is one of the best questions, and there is now answer!
Some put the out as they are bought.

Others put them out as they are wrapped.

Still some put them out only on Christmas eve.

While those with Dogs get up before the kids and put them out before the kids get up and then stay with them protecting them from dog attacks.

Cat lovers know anything with Paper or shiny will encourage the cats to shred them, and as they have boxes under the wrapping, we know where you will find the cat.

Parents with young kids will hide them in the strangest places until all are asleep.

Yet there is also the tradition of families going to family houses and the need to explain on Christmas eve how Santa already arrived.

The bottom line is, there is no rule no set time, for me though seeing them under the tree brings great joy and happiness, so I put them out the day the tree goes up if I have them and then add to them as the season goes on and as the elves deliver them early as Santa uses us Parents to help him early as he brings Only The Most Important of Gifts himself on Christmas Eve.

 

Traditions:
12 days of Christmas:
Day 1 (25th December): Christmas Day A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Day 2 (26th December): Two Turtle Doves

Day 3 (27th December): Three French Hens

Day 4 (28th December): Four Calling/Collie Birds

Day 5 (29th December): Five Golden Rings

Day 6 (30th December): Six Geese-a-Laying

Day 7 (31st December): Seven Swans-a-Swimming

Day 8 (1st January): Eight Maids-a-Milking

Day 9 (2nd January): Nine Ladies Dancing

Day 10 (3rd January): Ten Lords-a-Leaping

Day 11 (4th January): Eleven Pipers Piping

Day 12 (5thJanuary): Twelve Drummers Drumming
Note: 2019 cost to give your love the 12 days of Christmas was almost $40,000.00

 

 

Yule Log:

Burning the Yule log dates back to earlier solstice celebrations and the tradition of bonfires. The Christmas practice calls for burning a portion of the log each evening until Twelfth Night (January 6).

 

The Nativity scene:

1.    St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in a small town in Italy on Christmas in the year 1223.
Center the Christ child Center the manger, or the trough that the Christ child sleeps in, in the stable. On Christmas morning, put the Christ child in the manger.

2.        Place Mary and Joseph on either side of the manger. Usually Mary is the closest. Joseph should be placed standing above Mary only if his hand is on her.

3.        Set the secondary characters in concentric circles Set the shepherds and the wise men in concentric circles around the stable. As the wise men were thought to be the last to arrive, put them the furthest away in the nativity scene.

4.        Arrangement of the animals, in the nativity scene. Place the sheep with shepherds, the Camels with the wise men “But must be placedwell outside as they are <unclean>”,

5.        DO NOT ever place “unclean animals in or near the Nativity. Leviticus (4) verse (4 through 8) and Deuteronomy (14). They should also (excluding the Camel as it was part of the original birth) be excluded from ALL Christmas Displays in respect for the Jewish religion and the laws surrounding the faith of the family of Jesus at the time of his birth.
Jesus did later remove this law in Mark 7:19. But at his birth this was still the law.

6.        Put the angels on the roof (if possible) if not they should be in a manor to show them looking over the Baby Jesus, around the family inside the stable, where they can bring glad tidings and great joy to both the holy family and the viewers of your scene.

7.    The Star should at all times be centers above baby Jesus either inside and above him in the Nativity or above the center of the roof above the angles on the roof.

 

 

Classic Holiday TV and Movie shows.

·       “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”

·       Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

·       “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”

·       “Frosty the Snowman”

·       “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

·       “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer”

·       “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

·       “The year without Santa”

·       “Little Drummer boy”

·       “The Nutcraker”

·       “A Christmas Carol”

·       “It’s a Wonderful Life”

·       “Miracle on 34th Street”

·       “A White Christmas”

·       “White Christmas”

Modern Holiday Tv and Movie shows

These will probably become classics

·       The Santa Clause (1, 2, and 3)

·       Gremlins

·       Nightmare Before Christmas

·       Home Alone

·       Christmas Vacation

·       A Christmas Story

·       Jingle all the Way

·       Scrooged

·       The Polar Express

·       ELF

 

Elf Deaths

No, An Elf does not die when you decorate in November Children, People just say that because of the fact that retail stores are putting the stuff out sooner annoying people.

 

People need to follow the Traditional times for putting things up and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, JESUS, THE SPIRIT, SANTA and the Little Pigmies down in New Guinea …… TAKE THEM DOWN ON TIME!!!!!!!! Do not be that guy who leaves them up year-round.

And Finally:
DIE-HARD is NOT a Christmas Movie! Here is why.

1. Release date: Jul 20, 1988 (Nowhere near Christmas)
2. It could be set on any other Holliday of the year and be the same movie.
Seriously is Con-Air an Easter Movie because It had a Bunny? Nope
3. The office holiday party? Really what Company would ever have a office party Christmas eve? Try-hard.

4. Murder and Theft, RPG’s and Machine guns are in no way Christmas related. Not exactly things that promote Peace and Goodwill toward mankind.

5. Where the is the Dinner table scene, or Santa a Family gathering in joy and happiness.

6. The only time we see anything Santa related is on a dead man. Ya that really brings out the feelings of peace on earth goodwill toward mankind. But hey McClain did get his present a Machine Gun.

7.The most famous line in the movie in NO WAY is Christmas, Maybe in a Wild west movie ok but Not Christmas.

8. Where are the kids, Seriously from Miracle on 34th to Peanuts they have kids in them making you feel good or warming your heart.
9. His wife’s name is Holly? Another “try-hard” attempt

10. Christmas Songs played? Ya and then throw the blood and booms over them “keep trying harder”

11. Don’t give me the excuse he is willing to sacrifice himself for everyone. We are told about his reputation and it wouldn’t matter if this was Christmas or 4th of July he would still do it as would most cops. So just stop “try-hardering”
12. It snows at the end? LMFAO I was born and raised in Southern California and never heard of it snowing in LA, I had to actually go look it up at the National Weather Service and the answer was 1962. So Just no no no.
13. The screen-write for it says it is. Ya and they also say other things we know are not true, but I won’t go off on PC debate here. But in full disclosure “Bruce Willis” himself said it was not. So, we have a difference of opinion between the writer and the star.

 

Yet the debate will go on forever. It’s a great show but not a Christmas show, the pure fact it has to try so hard to tell you it is, shows you it is not. Christmas shows do not need to try-hard to be one.

However to be a Christmas movie by tradition: It is released in the Holiday season November and December, It has direct connection to Christmas “without having to try to make the connection”. They drive home the message of Family and Togetherness. Most involve a more secular redemption while others have shadows of a more religious theme connected to grace and redemption. They also have in Christmas films, Santa Clause relation or the story of Santa somehow “Like Tim Allen becoming Santa.

So Merry Christmas to All, God Bless and may peace and joy fill you in this season, perhaps a little more this season then in past years as I think in 2020 we all need more Peace and Joy and especially Love.