Coming Soon - Christmas Explained (a.k.a. What is Myrrh Anyway? v2.0)

Coming to a Christmas stocking near you soon from Snowbooks* is Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts.

Some readers of this blog may already have What is Myrrh Anyway? in their collection of Christmas books (published in 2008 by Icon Books), Well Christmas Explained is the brand new hardback edition of the book (and actually has the word 'Christmas' in the title).

If you have already read What is Myrrh Anyway? then you'll know that the book's a great read - "As welcome as a warm glass of mulled wine on a wintry night," according to the Good Book Guide - but you will also be thinking, "Why do I need to buy it again?"**

And to you I would say, "Because the text has been completely revised and updated, and at least another 10,000 words of content added. That's why."

So if you want to know where tinsel comes from, or when a frost fair was held actually on the surface of the River Thames, or if you've ever wondered why we build snowmen at Christmas***, then add Christmas Explained to your wish list this festive season.


* Rather appropriately.

** Unless you're buying it as a suitably festive gift for someone else.

*** If it actually snows.

Christmas Eve

Yes, it's almost here - there's only one day to go until Christmas Day! So, what does Christmas Eve itself have in store?

Well, traditionalists will be putting up their Christmas trees and other decorations today, whilst last minute shoppers will be panic buying, spending (on average) £33 on last minute purchases (if they can get to the shops, that is).

There are many traditions associated with this day, but some have long been forgotten. First there is the tradition of the Dumb Cake (a type of loaf!) which a young spinster would make in silence to help her determine the identity of her future intended.

Christmas Eve was considered a day of abstinence and, as such, was a day when traditionally fish was eaten rather than meat. It is also a day when younger parishioners attend a Crib Service at church.

Of course it is tonight when hopeful children (and some adults) hang up stockings (or sacks!) in the expectation that Father Christmas might fill them to bursting with presents.

And some people attend Midnight Mass with churches welcoming in Christmas Day with a peal of bells (announcing the birth of Christ and the death of the Devil).

You can read more about these traditions (and a number of others) in What is Myrrh Anyway? and Christmas Miscellany, which is still available from good bookshops until they close for Christmas later today.

What is Myrrh Anyway? and Christmas Miscellany make the perfect Christmas stocking fillers!

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

These days we take the traditional Christmas tree for granted. After all, it's - well - traditional! But if you stick to tradition, then you shouldn't actually put your tree up until Christmas Eve (tomorrow), and not in August like some people!

But to find out precisely how the Christmas tree became a staple of the festive season, you need to pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, or the US version, Christmas Miscellany.

But while you're waiting for your copy to arrive, did you know that six species account for about 90 per cent of the Christmas tree trade in the United States? Scots pine (also known as Scotch pine) ranks first, with about 40 percent of the market, followed by Douglas fir, which accounts for about 35 percent. The other big sellers are noble fir, white pine, balsam fir and white spruce.

The first national American Christmas Tree was lit in 1923 on the White House lawn by President Calvin Coolidge, while Franklin Pierce was the first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856.

The Three Wise... Men?

In 2004, the General Synod of the Church of England agreed to a revision of the Book of Common Prayer. A committee agreed that the term Magi, as used in the Bible, was the name used by officials at the Persian court. This means that not only were the three wise men who visited Jesus not kings, they did not number three and were possibly not even wise. They might even have been female as well!

* * * * *

If you have anymore questions about the history and traditions of Christmas, then you'll probably find them answered in What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany.

Mistletoe demystified

A popular practice among the more lascivious of middle-aged middle managers at the office Christmas party is that of coping a kiss off any unsuspecting young temp who happens to stray too close under the tawdry sprig of mistletoe sellotaped to any convenient light-fitting, smoke alarm or door lintel. But how did such a pervy practice ever come about, especially during a season linked to chaste Christian thoughts and virgin births?

Like so many others, it is one of those traditions that is a hangover of our pre-Christian past. Both the Ancient Greeks and the druidic priests of the Celtic peoples revered the mistletoe, believing it to have supernatural healing properties. To the Romans the mistletoe was a symbol of peace and used as part of the Saturnalia celebrations.

Like other plants that remained green all year long, is was taken as a symbol of prosperity and fertility. Thoughts of fertility returning to the land were foremost in the minds of the early peoples who relied on the land for their immediate survival, especially in the bleak midwinter. In Norse mythology, the plant was sacred to Frigga (also known as Freya) who was the goddess of love.

In medieval times, mistletoe was fed to cattle to make sure they calved in the spring, and any woman hoping to fall pregnant would carry a sprig of it about her person. It was also considered an effective treatment for toothache, nervous disorders, epilepsy, heart disease and snakebites. It was even believed to bring quarrels to an end, and was a sure means of protection against witches and lightning strikes! (One strongly-held belief had it that mistletoe was formed when lightning struck a tree.)

The more modern practice of kissing under the mistletoe can be traced back to 18th century England. Young women who stood underneath the mistletoe could not refuse a kiss and if any unfortunate girl remained unkissed under the berries it was said that she would not marry at all during the coming year.

In one version of the custom, every time a young man stole a kiss from a girl he plucked a berry from the mistletoe bough. When all the berries had been plucked, the privilege ceased, as is recalled by this ditty:

Pick a berry off the mistletoe
For ev’ry kiss that’s given.
When the berries have all gone,
There’s an end to the kissing.









Did you know...?The name 'mistletoe' comes from two Anglo-Saxon words, mistel, meaning ‘dung’ and tan, meaning ‘a small branch’. Birds, (usually the mistle thrush) feast on the mistletoe’s berries, then, having had their fill, they do what everyone does after a big meal – they void their bowels. The seeds excreted in this way germinate in the bark of the tree and a new mistletoe plant grows.

* * * *

You will find many other such facts about evergreens in my book What is Myrrh Anyway?- and its American counterpart Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas.

Merry Xmas!

Every year more than 400 million people celebrate Christmas around the globe, which makes it one of the biggest religious and commercial festivities in the world.

But have you ever wondered why Christmas is so often shortened to Xmas?

In fact, the practice dates back further than you might suspect, ans has nothing to do with devaluing the Christian festival, as many people believe. In reality, both Christ and Christmas have been abbreviated for at least 1,000 years. The word Christ appears in Medieval documents as both 'XP' and 'Xt' and can even be found in this form in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle from 1021. By why were those particular letters used?

To find out more, pick up your copy of Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas or What is Myrrh Anyway? time for the festive season. After all, there's only 16 days to go until Christmas! (Or should that be Xmas?)

Merry Xmas!

Every year more than 400 million people celebrate Christmas around the globe, which makes it one of the biggest religious and commercial festivities in the world.

But have you ever wondered why Christmas is so often shortened to Xmas?

In fact, the practice dates back further than you might suspect, ans has nothing to do with devaluing the Christian festival, as many people believe. In reality, both Christ and Christmas have been abbreviated for at least 1,000 years. The word Christ appears in Medieval documents as both 'XP' and 'Xt' and can even be found in this form in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle from 1021. By why were those particular letters used?

To find out more, pick up your copy of Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas or What is Myrrh Anyway? time for the festive season. After all, there's only 16 days to go until Christmas! (Or should that be Xmas?)

A White Christmas

With Christmas only a matter of weeks away now, you might want to start thinking about what you're going to feed all your guests this year. Well, why not make all their Christmases white with this simple recipe for a delicious festive treat from down under?

White Christmas

250g vegetable shortening
1 cup rice crispies
1 cup shredded coconut
¾ cup icing sugar
1 cup powdered milk
¾ cup toasted almond kernels
30g mixed peel
30g preserved ginger
30g glace apricots
30g glace pineapple
30g sultanas
50g glace cherries

Place the coconut, icing sugar, powered milk, mixed fruit, nuts, cherries (all chopped coarsely), and the rice crispies into a bowl and mix well.

Warm the vegetable shortening gently until melted and then pour over the ingredients. Mix well and place in a airtight container and set in the fridge.

Serve sliced into fingers.

Enjoy!


You'll find more recipes like this in What is Myrrh Anyway? and Christmas Miscellany - both available now!

Christmas Cupcakes

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 22

Fancy something other than the traditional Christmas cake this year? Well how about these delicious chocolate cupcakes (as made by The Chrismologist's Wife and The Chrismologist's Daughter)?

You will need...

100g plain flour

20g cocoa powder

140g caster sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

a  pinch of salt

40g unsalted butter (at room temperature)

120ml whole milk

1 egg

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

a 12-hole cupcake tray lined with paper cases

You then need to...

1. Preheat the oven to 170^oC (325^oF) Gas 3
2. Put the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a free standing electric mixer with paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat on a slow speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined.
3. Whisk the milk, egg and vanilla extract together in a jug, then slowly pour about half into the flour mixture, beat to combine and turn the mixer up to high speed (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula). Continue mixing for a couple more minutes until the mixture is smooth, but do not over mix.
4. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the sponge bounces back when touched. A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
5. When the cupcakes are cooled, decorate with chocolate icing, edible stars or edible gold spray (as shown above).
6. Eat and enjoy!

*     *     *     *     *

 

For more Christmas recipes why not pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany?

The Santa Booster

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 21

I find out more about the challenges faced by Father Christmas every year, why not pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany?

Heston's Fantastical Christmas

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 19

Don't miss Channel 4 at 9.00pm* tonight!

In our modern world, Christmas has lost some of its wonder. Super chef Heston Blumenthal wants to change that and plans to create a supersized festive food adventure, to be enjoyed by a group of adults who normally have to work on Christmas Day. Heston visits Hampton Court, and discovers that instead of turkey, our ancestors preferred to eat pig's head. Heston wants to put this on the menu alongside edible Christmas decorations.

The final part of Heston's historical yuletide wonderland takes inspiration from the Victorian period, and their love of Christmas pudding. Heston makes the biggest Christmas pudding ever - one that's large enough to step inside.

*     *     *     *     *

 

To find out more about the history of the traditional Christmas dinner, why not pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas (published in the US as Christmas Miscellany) today?



* Or Channel 4+1 at 10.00pm, for that matter.

Enchanted Carols

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 16

Looking for a new CD to play in the house ad infinitum this Christmas? Then look no further!

To find out more about Christmas music and the history of the humble Christmas carl, pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas (published in the US as Christmas Miscellany) today.

A Medieval Christmas

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 13

My children break up for the Christmas holidays today. They have three weeks off, which will be three weeks in which my productivity drops dramatically.

However, at least they don't finish as early as we did when I was a student at Warwick University, and at least their holidays don't last as long as the traditional Medieval Christmas.

Here's Dr Amanda Hopkins, of Warwick University's Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies, to tell us more.... (Do you see what I did there?)

The Medieval Christmas features again and again in my festive publication, What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany.

The National Christmas Tree

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 9
American President Barack Obama and his family have turned on the lights for the US National Christmas Tree. The annual ceremony took place in Washington DC last Thursday.

The US national tree has been having a hard time recently - it's the third one in three years. Last year's died from the shock of being transplanted, and the tree before that was lost in a storm after standing for more than 30 years.

Mr Obama said, referring to his recent re-election: "It just goes to show, nobody's job is safe here in Washington."

Watch Neil Patrick Harris crash the vocal, as it were, here:

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To find out more about the Christmas tree and other Christmas traditions, pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany.

Happy Feast Day of Saint Nicholas!

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 6

Saint Nicholas Day, which is celebrated on 6 December (but on 19 December in most Orthodox countries), is a festival primarily for children. It occurs in many countries in Europe and relates to legends told of the saint, but particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts.

Saint Nicholas is now better known as Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, of course. But have you heard these facts about the jolly fat man with the big sack before?

• A Dutch tradition kept St. Nicholas' story alive in the form of Sinterklaas, a bishop who travelled from house to house to deliver treats to children on the night of 5 December. The first anglicising of the name to Santa Claus was in a story that appeared in a New York City newspaper in 1773.

• Clement Moore's 1822 poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas was first published anonymously on 23 December 1823. The 56-line poem introduced and popularised many of Santa's defining characteristics, chiefly that he drove a sleigh guided by "eight tiny reindeer."

• In 1890, Massachusetts businessman James Edgar became the first department store Santa. Edgar is credited with coming up with the idea of dressing up in a Santa Claus costume as a marketing tool. Children from all over the state dragged their parents to Edgar's small dry goods store in Brockton, and a tradition was born.

• In his satiric 1809 book A History of New York, Washington Irving did away with the characterisation of Santa Claus as a "lanky bishop". Instead, Irving described Santa as a portly, bearded man who smokes a pipe. Irving's story also marked the first time Santa slid down the chimney.

• The first mention of a spouse for Santa was in the 1849 short story A Christmas Legend by James Rees. Over the next several years, the idea of Mrs Claus found its way into several literary publications, but it wasn't until Katherine Lee Bates' widely-circulated 1889 poem Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride that Santa's wife was popularised.

"Goody" is short for "Goodwife," or "Mrs", but I always thought that Mrs Claus was called Mary... Mary Christmas... or was it Santa Barbara...?

 

If you have any more questions about Father Christmas and the Christmas traditions most associate with him, then you need to pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany.

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 4

These days we take the traditional Christmas tree for granted. After all, it's - well - traditional!

But to find out precisely how the Christmas tree became a staple of the festive season, you need to pick up a copy of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, or the US version, Christmas Miscellany.

But while you're waiting for your copy to arrive, did you know that six species account for about 90 per cent of the Christmas tree trade in the United States? Scots pine (also known as Scotch pine) ranks first, with about 40 percent of the market, followed by Douglas fir, which accounts for about 35 percent. The other big sellers are noble fir, white pine, balsam fir and white spruce.

The first national American Christmas Tree was lit in 1923 on the White House lawn by President Calvin Coolidge, while Franklin Pierce was the first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856.

Santa Sunday

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 3

Nearly 300 skiing and snowboarding Santas took part in the 'Santa Sunday' event yesterday at the Sunday River resort in America. This was the thirteenth time the charity event had been held, and it seems to go down particularly well with the hundreds of kids who turn out to watch.

People donated money to charity, then got to ski free dressed as Father Christmas.

You can watch a video of the event here.

If you have any more questions about the history and traditions of Christmas, then you'll probably find them answered in What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany.

The Three Wise Men

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 2

In 2004, the General Synod of the Church of England agreed to a revision of the Book of Common Prayer. A committee agreed that the term Magi, as used in the Bible, was the name used by officials at the Persian court. This means that not only were the three wise men who visited Jesus not kings, they did not number three and were possibly not even wise. They might even have been female as well!

* * * * *

If you have anymore questions about the history and traditions of Christmas, then you'll probably find them answered in What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany.

Why do people open Advent calendars in the run up to Christmas?

The Chrismologist's Advent Calendar - Day 1

The first Advent calendars, as we would recognise them, were made in the middle of the 19th century, But before that, German Lutherans were already counting down the days to Christmas, as they had done since at least the beginning of the century, by some physical means. In some households this meant lighting a new candle each day or hanging up a religious image in their house, but could be something as simple (and cost-free) as marking a line in chalk on the door of the house. If candles were used, they were mounted on a device called an Advent clock.

The first recognisable Advent calendar, however, didn’t appear until 1851, and even then it was a handmade creation. There is some debate as to when the first printed calendar appeared. Some say that it was printed in 1902 or 1903, in Hamburg, Germany; others that it did not appear until 1908 and that it was the creation of one Gerhard Lang, a printer from Munich.

*     *     *     *     *

If you have anymore questions about Advent calendars or the other traditions associated with Christmas, you'll find them all answered in What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas, published in the US as Christmas Miscellany.

Only one month to go...

... until Christmas Day!

Which means it won't be long before I dust off The Chrismologist's advent calendar, ready for another year.

So, come 1 December, make sure you check out TheChrismologist.com for a new fascinating festive fact every day...