Category: Winter
Our Lady of Guadalupe: the Virgin Morena, or la Reina de Mexico
December 12 is one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar: the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico’s patron saint. Thousands of faithful make the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which houses the cloak of the "Virgen Morena," the "Dark Virgin." Festivals are held all around the [...] Read More »
Yuletide: The Viking Origins of Santa Claus
The word “yuletide,” referring to the Christmas season, was passed to the British through the Vikings. The word originated with the Viking god Odin, whose persona associated with the month of December was Jul, and the month of December was called “Jultid.” The Vikings believed that Odin would come to earth during the [...] Read More »
St. Nicholas Day: Open Presents on December 6!
December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day, celebrated with various traditions in many European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. In Holland and the Flemish-speaking parts of Belgium, the morning of December 6 is the day that children receive presents, rather than Christmas Eve [...] Read More »
Make a Matchbox Advent Calendar
Advent Calendars are used to count down the days in December leading up to Christmas. This matchbox version is easy to make if you have the materials, and can be re-used year after year.
Materials: Christmas fabric or paper, cardboard, 25 matchboxes, foil or other decorated paper to wrap the matchboxes, string to hang [...] Read More »
Two Easy Ways to Make an Advent Calendar
Advent Calendars are used to count down the days in December leading up to Christmas. Here are two easy and quick ways to make your own Advent calendar:
Make a Paper Chain Advent Calendar:
Create a paper chain with 25 loops, creating each loop with a strip of paper that you can decorate with seasonal [...] Read More »
St. Andrew’s Day: Scotland’s National Day
November 30 is St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland. St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and it is celebrated as Scotland’s National Day. St Andrew is credited with spreading the gospel to Romania, Greece and Russia, and is also the patron saint of those countries. St. Andrew is also said to [...] Read More »
Advent: The Season of Preparing for Christmas
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. The name “Advent” comes from the Latin “Adventus,” which refers to the “coming” of the Savior. It is the beginning of the year in the Christian liturgical calendar.
It is a season rich with traditions in both [...] Read More »
The Legend of the White Stag, or, Why Rudolph Has a Red Nose
The legend of the white stag is part of the mythology of many cultures, originating with early European and Asian cultures who depended on hunting for their survival.
Star Mythology
The most ancient legend of the stag revolves around the "great hunter" (the constellation of stars known as Orion), who hunts the heavenly stag (Ursa Major), [...] Read More »
