[Sca-cooks] December 26th Holiday Exchange

[kingstaste at mindspring.com]

DEC 26
Birthday of Horus - Ancient Egypt - The Falcon Sky God who became a Deity of
the Sun and the King, and was later identified as the son of Osiris and
Hathor.

St. Stephen's Feast Day (36) Patron Saint of Bricklayers, Builders, Horses,
and Masons. The first martyr of the Catholic faith, he was stoned to death
with bricks and rocks. St. Paul watched, and this caused his conversion. In
Poland, parishioners shower the priest after Mass with oats for the sake of
their horses.

Annen Juledag - Second Christmas Day - Norway - Traditional hospitality
demands that passers-by, strangers or friends, stop at every farm along the
road and partake of food and drink.
Columbus Founds First Spanish Settlement in the New World (1492)

Wren Day - Ireland - The Wren is the “King of all Birds” due to a legendary
race amongst all the  birds. The wren hid in the Eagle’s crest, and flew out
at the end to win the race.  Another legend has it that the wren betrayed
its country on the eve of a battle with the Danes.  Before a skirmish
attack, the wren hopped on a Danish war drum and alerted the enemy.  Young
men kill several wrens and carry them around town on St. Stephen’s Day,
singing a tune and begging for treats or money.

Boxing Day* - England - (or the first weekday after Christmas) This holiday
has two different origins.  One is that the alms boxes in churches were
opened on this day to pay for gifts for the poor.  The other is that
apprentices carried pottery boxes around to be filled by kind householders.
The boxes were then broken open to pay for a feast for the workers.
Traditionally the day to give employees a “Christmas Box”- a payment or
gift- it became the day to honor all civil servants, delivery people, and
service personnel.

Kwanzaa*(20th Cent) - African-American - 7 day harvest-time festival
celebrating the heritage, history, and culture of African Americans.  One
principle is focused on each day, UMOGA - Unity,  KUUMBA - Creativity,
IMANI - Faith, UJIMA - Collective Works / Responsibility, UJAMAA -
Cooperative Economics,  KUJICHAGULIA - Self-Determination, and NIA -
Purpose.  A 7-pronged menorah is lit, one more candle on each day.