[Sca-cooks] Holiday Exchange Dec. 17th

[kingstaste at mindspring.com]

DEC 17
Saturnalia  - Ancient Rome - Sacred to Saturn, God of Peace and Plenty.
This festival celebrated the end of the year, and was the most uninhibited
of all the Roman festivals.  It was celebrated for 7 days, and encompassed
the Winter Solstice.  There were feasts for everyone, servants and masters
were on equal terms, rules were set aside, and schools were closed.
Punishment of criminals was halted. The Goddess Strenia was worshipped, and
her groves and forests provided greenery for the houses and temples.  The
first presents recorded were given on Saturnalia in her honor, called
“strenae”, and were green branches for good luck, attached to cakes or
sweets, in addition to wax candles and dolls. It was closely followed by
“Kalends" (or 1st) of Jan.

St. Lazarus' Feast Day (1st Cent) Patron Saint of Housewives, Lepers, and
Sextons. Brother to Mary Magdalen, raised from the dead by Jesus, put on a
boat with the Marys, etc, that landed in France, became the first Bishop of
Marseilles. (The people of Cyprus claim that he sailed there and was their
first Bishop).

Klopfelnachte/Klopfleinsnachte/Anklopfnachte* - Germany -  Though they're
known by different names in rural parts of southern Germany, the 3 Thursday
evenings before Christmas are the “Knocking Nights”, when children dress up
in masks and go from house to house chanting rhymes which begin with the
word “knock”. They also crack whips, ring cowbells, and clatter dish covers
to drive away evil spirits and for their efforts they receive fruit, candy,
or coins.

(The * after a holiday indicates a movable date - this one should have been
posted yesterday since it's a Thursday holiday - CAS-K)