[Sca-cooks] December 24th Holiday Exchange

[kingstaste at mindspring.com]

DEC 24
St. Adam and St. Eve's Feast Days (1st Age of the World) [Adam] Patron Saint
of Gardeners. Repented their original sin, and joined God in Heaven. In the
west, all Saints named Adam are celebrated on this day as well.

St. Levan's Feast Day (?) Patron Saint of Malformed Children. Venerated in
Southern Brittany and Cornwall, his patronage is a mystery.

Christmas Eve - Christian - The last night of the Advent fast, meals of fish
are popular.

Ireland - The “Black Fast”, a dinner of boiled salt cod and potatoes is
eaten.

Provence, France - families enjoy the reveillon, a traditional supper after
midnight mass.  “The Laying of the Yule Log” is done by the oldest and
youngest member of the family to represent the old and new  year.  The
oldster then pours new wine on the log three times, to celebrate the
trinity.  The the tapers light the log to shouts of “Joy! Joy!”.  The ash is
kept year round to cure ills and mishaps.

Sweden - Popular ornaments include straw goats and pigs, the symbols of the
God Thor.  Jultomten, the tomte, or Christmas gnome, who lives under the
floor of the house or the barn and looks after the family and the livestock,
arrives with a bag full of presents.   Now the Swedish Santa Claus, he
arrives at the door in a red suit with an elvish grin.

South America- midnight service called the “Mass of the Rooster” after the
rooster that announced the birth of Christ.

In many countries Christmas Caroling from house to house is a time-honored
tradition.  Originally associated with any joyous occaision, carols were
songs with dances.  Stonehenge, also called Giant’s Dance, was once called
the Giant’s Carol. Since the 14th century, they have gained religious
significance and have become mainly Christmas songs.  Many carols, such as
“The Holly and the Ivy” retain some of the pagan symbolgy of the season.
Wassailing and Caroling go hand in hand, and good homeowners are expected to
offer hot beverages to bands of wandering singers.  It is traditional to
Carol from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve.  “Deck the Halls” is
specifically a New Year’s Carol.

John I "Lackland" (b. 1167) King of England