holidays-msg

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holidays-msg - 10/25/09

Halloween, Samhain, other Medieval holidays.

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From: MS7539 at CONRAD (Stewart, Marie Alston )

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Vampires... Halloween info

Date: 21 Mar 1994 23:31:25 GMT

Organization: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Greetings all...

Forgive me I do not have the name of the person who posted this

tidbit, but if you are reading this... I would love to see the documentation

for your statement... that... Dressing up at Halloween, All Hallow's,

Samhain... was period....

I beg to differ...

The only proof of customs that I can find are as follows...

1. A proclomation by Queen Elizabeth I stating that the ringing of bells

on Allhallowntide and at Al Souls' Day, with the two nights next before and

after, be prohibited"

From Strype's "Annals of the Reformation"

2. There is also a series of entries in the Heybridge Parish, near Malden

in Essex that calls for a new bell "knapple" clapper and rope "agenste

Hallowmasse." The entry is dated 1517.

3. A book called "The Festyvall" written in 1511... describes the customs

of the day in England and Wales at the time... no mention of costumes is made

However, it does make mention of a custom of baking a cake for each

member of the house... Hence why Halloween is still known in the back waters

of Wales as Cake Day...

4. Also Shakespeare's 2 gentlemen of Verona.. describes the tradition of the

populace to go a-souling... This was when groups would travel from parish

to parish singing and begging soul-cakes... The same cakes as mentioned

above. But there is no mention that it is done in any form of costume...

that is I think there isn't, and drat my copy of the bard is at

the other house... piffle... I'll go look that one up...

5. The peasants in Ireland also went from house to house... collecting food

(apples and nuts, and cakes) The procession is described as carrying torches

and the hill fires were lighted from the torches brought from each houses

hearth. Again no mention of costume... sorry...

6. I also have replicas of wood cuts from the 14-15th centuries showing the

game of bobbing for apples and also of string apples. One of the few modern

parts of Halloween that actually has some mideval roots...

7. The only times that I can find where masks and costumes were popular

are during the Feast of Fools and at the time of Carnival... Neither

festival is near August... so

This brings me to the point of all this... saying that the people

who choose to dress as vampires are just dressing up as they would in the

middle ages for Halloween, is, to me, a weak arguement...

also I have found little proof that dressing as a malignant spirit

was popular... The instances I have found were generally only in morality

plays... so the common person wouldn't be doing it...

On the other hand from what I know of Russian folklore... the average

joe wouldn't go about saying the name of these creatures, let alone dressing

up like one of the damned...

So please, if there is some bit of evidence to the contrary,

enlighten me... After all I am here to learn, and share what I know about

the time.

Also if any vampires are lurking and hope to run into me at

Pensic... rethink that idea...

Sincerely, and hoping to find out more...

The MacLean of Atlantia

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: lynch_c at csvax1.ucc.ie (Conor Lynch (U.C.C. Ireland))

Subject: Re: Vampires... Halloween info

Organization: Computer Science Dept. University College, Cork, Ireland.

Date: Tue, 22 Mar 1994 13:16:24 GMT

In article <1994Mar22.045309.15416 at sol.cs.wmich.edu>, Dale at sol.cs.wmich.edu (Dale Gee) writes:

>In article <2mlaod$3er at lester.appstate.edu> MS7539 at CONRAD (Stewart, Marie Alston ) writes:

>>Forgive me I do not have the name of the person who posted thisI would love

>>to see the documentation for your statement... that... Dressing up at

>>Halloween, All Hallow's, Samhain... was period....

>It said that tradition of wearing a cosutume or a disguise

>came from the middle ages when people thought that all the spirits of the

>nether world rose up and roamed the earth on All Hallows Eve.

>Clynch> The idea of dressing up on the feast of Samhain is as old as the feast

of Samhain itself. The feast predates Christian times by a couple of thousand

years. Therefore it is period although it would not be period to refer to the

festival as Halloween or All Hallows eve.

Samhain in period was much more a pagan festival than it is today or at least

that was the case in Ireland where it formed one point of the yearly cycle of

which there were four; Imbolc, Samhain, Bealtane, Lughnasa

From: tmarsh at utic (Todd Marsh)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Help with Dates of Holidays

Date: 23 Jan 1995 06:06:52 GMT

Rosayln MacGregor of Glen Orchy wrote:

: As to canon vs. civil, I'd be interested in knowing if there were civil

: holidays observed by Elizabethan English people.

One of the popular civil holidays during Elizabeth's reign was the

anniversary of her accession to the throne.

"Her Accession Day, 17 November, began to be celebrated all over the

country with bell-ringing and bonfires, feasts and sermons - and this was

a spontaneous movement, not brought into being by any government

legislation. Indeed, such was its aura, that the day went on being

celebrated long after her death, for more than a century. At the Court

it came to be signalised by the famous Accession Day Tilts, and was an

occaision for popular rejoicing: a secular feast grander than any of 'the

Pope's holydays'."

Quoting from "The Elizabethan Renaissance" by A.L. Rowse,

Charles Scribner's Sons, 1971, LC 70-172948, pg 34.

***************************************************************************

Lord Llywelyn Gruffydd Todd Marsh, MIS Consultant

Ansteorra, Barony of Elfsea tmarsh at utic.unicomp.net

Cadet to Don Robin of Gilwell

From: Jo Lori Drake <jldrake at tasc.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Medieval Holidays?

Date: 26 Apr 1995 19:08:56 GMT

Organization: TASC

There is recently published book on Medieval Holidays:

Hutton, Ronald. Rise and Fall of Merry England: the ritual year

1400-1700. Oxford University Press. 1994

I just checked it out of the library last night. It is limited in

time and geography, but it's got great information on what holdidays

were celebrated at this time period and how they were celebrated.

The author uses primary sources almost exclusively, but writes in

a very lucid, accessible style.

Enjoy!

Rhian Lyth

From: doug_brunner at hp-corvallis.om.hp.com (Doug Brunner)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: History of April Fools' Day?

Date: 13 Feb 1996 01:05:51 GMT

Organization: Hewlett Packard Inkjet Comp. Div.

jeffs at bu.edu (Jeff Suzuki) writes:

> I'm looking for references on the history of April Fools day, All Fools

>Day, a Festival of Fools and related holidays.

Check me, I could be wrong, but -(now there's a lead in). Memory says that

April Fool's Day was once New Years. When either the Church or the King

changed it to January 1, some people still held onto the old ways. These

eventually became known as April Poisson(sp?), or April's Fish, in French.

There are a couple of references. One is "Customs of Mankind", who's author

escapes me , at the moment. The other is something like "Holidays and other

excuses for Merry Making". They're both printed in the earlier part of this

century, but they're very entertaining, if nothing else. You might also

check out some French History.

Bruno vonBrunner

Woods Crafter/ Merchant

The Termite of Shrewsbury

From: jeffs at bu.edu (Jeff Suzuki)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: History of April Fools' Day?

Date: 21 Feb 1996 15:43:20 GMT

Organization: Boston University

Doug Brunner (doug_brunner at hp-corvallis.om.hp.com) wrote:

> Check me, I could be wrong, but -(now there's a lead in). Memory

> says that : April Fool's Day was once New Years. When either the

> Church or the King : changed it to January 1, some people still held

> onto the old ways. These : eventually became known as April

> Poisson(sp?), or April's Fish, in French.

I'd heard the same thing; Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

gives the following explanation: March 25 (Ladyday) used to be the

first day of the year (it's right after the vernal equinox), and April

1 was the end of the "octave" (presumably, the end of the week) of

celebration of the new year and it was a traditional time to play

tricks on each other.

(In England, the beginning of the year didn't shift until England

switched to the Gregorian calendar, in 1752. This led to some amusing

events, like Shakespeare and Cervantes dying on the same date...eleven

days apart. April Fools, etc., is all tied up with "Thirty Days Hath

September, all the rest I can't remember..." and someday, someday...)

William the Alchymist

From: Mjccmc01 at aol.com

To: ansteorra at eden.com

Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996

Subject: Re: Mardi Gras (In Elizabethan England)

Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday as it was (and is still) called in the

English-speaking countries, was the festival that was celebrated on the

Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. According to Daily Life In Elizabethan England

by John Singley (a really fabulous, affordable and highly recommended book):

"This holiday was the last day before the fasting season of Lent. On the

Continent, this day was celebrated with wild abandon, reflected in the modern

Mardi Gras. The English version was more subdued but still involved ritual

feasting and violence. (Doesn't this sound like an event?) On this day it

was traditional to eat fritters and pancakes. It was also a day for playing

football (a game much rougher than any of its modern namesakes), and for the

sport of "cockthrashing" or "Cockshys." In cockthrashing, the participants

tied a cock to a stake and threw sticks at it; they payed the owner of the

cock a few pence for each try, and a person who could knock down the cock and

pick it up before the cock regained its feet won the cock as a prize. In

towns, this was often a day for the apprentices to riot; their violence was

often aimed against those who transgressed sexual mores, especially

prostitutes. The two days previous were sometimes called Shrove Monday and

Shrove Sunday."

Aubrey, you may cheerfully ignore that apprentice business.

I believe I can find some information regarding Mardi Gras celebration in

Italy if anyone is interested, but I knew right where this was. Reply if you

interested and I'll try to find it.

Siobhan Ni'Breoghan Fitzlloyd

Have a great Shrove Tuesday and stay away from roosters, apprentices and

prostitutes.

From: Mjccmc01 at aol.com

To: ansteorra at eden.com

Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996

Subject: Re: Mardi Gras (In Italy, as requested)

In Italy, Mardi Gras, or carnival, as it was called (which is from the Latin

"carne vale,: or farewell to meat, indicating a period of fasting to follow)

was a much more elaborate affair than in England. The custom was to go to the

festivities masked, and as the years progressed the masks grew more and more

elaborate. Originally, this festival was a time to present miracle and

mystery plays; however, as the Renaissance began to grow, the pageants began

to reflect less religious themes, and the pageantry became the sole purpose,

with no pretense made at religious education. In Rome, the custom evolved of

emulating the triumphs of Classical Roman Conquerors, complete with conquered

kings in chains, senators, chariots, wagons loaded with "spoils of war," etc.

In the Carnival of 1500, Cesare Borgia celebrated the triumph of Julius

Caesar (typically subtle).

In Venice, the festivities were no less grand; there are references to being

unable to even see the water for all the decorated boats. Mock tournaments

(horses and all) were held in St. Mark's. Interestingly, Noah was a popular

figure in Venetian decorations.

Florence, however, outshone them all during the Renaissance. Allegorical and

fantastic ceratures paraded through the street. Most of the guilds of the

city were pledged to provide at least ten chariots. Lorenzo de'Medici (The

Magnificent) wrote (or is credited with) several of the songs sung by various

groups of marchers, and various collections of these are fairly easy to find.

General reading on Italian society: Gene Brucker, Ed., The Society of

Renaissance Florence, A Documentary Study; Burckhardt, Jacob, The

Civilization fo the Renaissance in Italy. New York: The Modern Library,

1954; Henisch, Bridget Ann, Fast and Feast: Food in Medieval Society.

University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1976.

With best wishes for a happy Mardi Gras, Carnival, and Shrove Tuesday, I'll

leave you with a favorite, in translation:

Youth is beautiful, but it flies away! Who would be cheerful, let him be; of

the morrow there is no certainty. (Burckhardt, p. 317)

Festively,

Siobhan

From: jeffs at bu.edu (Jeff Suzuki)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Mardi Gras

Date: 21 Mar 1997 19:32:22 GMT

Organization: Boston University

Mary Shafer (shafer at spdcc.com) wrote:

: Actually, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is 47 days before

: Easter. The 40 days referred to above are the days that are fast

: days. Sundays aren't fast days. Thus, Lent is a period of 40 fast

: days (not counting Sundays, which aren't fast days), not 40 calendar

: days.

Ah. This explains some things I was wondering about.

Serious question: if Sundays aren't fast days, what are they?

(Insofar as dietary restrictions, etc.)

Jeffs/William

From: bekka1 at ix.netcom.com(rebecca fildes)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Mardi Gras

Date: 20 Mar 1997 02:02:49 GMT

<E778J1.Kr3 at spdcc.com> shafer at spdcc.com (Mary Shafer) writes:

Fast days are not days on which no one can

>eat, but days on which one cannot eat certain foods, such as meats and

>"luxury" foods.

>Mary Shafer DoD #0362 KotFR shafer at ursa-major.spdcc.com

>URL http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/People/Shafer/mary.html

Please forgive me, Mary, for I am about to nitpick. Your reply was

quite accurate save for one thing: the confusion of a day of 'fast'

with a day of 'abstinence'. Simply replace in your post 'abstinence'

for 'fast' and you then become completely correct.

A fast day *is* a day when one cannot eat, or must limit the *amount*

of food eaten.

A day of abstinence is a day when one *abstains* from eating certain

foods, such as meat. What you are describing here are days of

abstinence.

In much of the Middle Ages, Lent was a time of abstinence (no meat or

eggs, etc) and for many, especially those in religious orders, a time

of fasting as well.

I am, of course, using the Catholic doctrinal definition of the words

'fast' and 'abstinence', but since we were discussing Lent and Mardi

Gras, I felt I should speak up.

Thank you for your patience with my nickpicking,

Leofwynn Criostai

mka Rebecca Fildes

bekka1 at ix.netcom.com

From: geard at clear.net.nz (J Geard)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Favors

Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 09:32:52 GMT

On Tue, 7 Apr 1998 02:31:39 -0400, frasers at surenet.net (A. Stephen

Fraser) wrote:

>But I can face up

>to the fact that even Easter itself is a mixture of Christian and Pagan

>celebration (Easter was the celebration to the Pagan God Esther; The God

>of fertility I believe - Hence the eggs. Someone correct me on this if

>I'm wrong please)

This may not be the appropriate forum, but...

It was my understanding that the _only_ reference anywhere to the

goddess <Eostre> was by (the very Christian) Bede, who started the

story that Easter was named for her. I've seen claims that she was

Germanic -- although she doen't turn up in the Eddas, which are

otherwise pretty full of minor deities -- and even a claim that she

was Celtic. I have seen nothing solid to back up any claims about her.

I _have_ seen claims that Bede should be believed only with a large

lump of corroborating evidence. Anyone know of such evidence?

Your humble servant,

Alys le Chaunster

In the final days before Pascha

From: "Bryan J. Maloney" <bjm10 at cornell.edu>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Favors

Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 10:18:37 -0400

A. Stephen Fraser wrote:

> Indeed. I'm a born-again Christian and proud of it. But I can face up

> to the fact that even Easter itself is a mixture of Christian and Pagan

> celebration (Easter was the celebration to the Pagan God Esther; The God

> of fertility I believe - Hence the eggs. Someone correct me on this if

> I'm wrong please)

Happy to oblige. "Easter" is the western name for the Christian holiday

that was known as "Pascha" during the first centuries of the Church.

"Pascha" being Greek for "Passover". In fact, if I remember correctly,

"Easter" is not even used in Mediterranean western European countries,

but some variant of "Pasca" is used, instead. Eggs are colored in

Greece and Russia, even though they do not use the term "Easter" at

all--we Orthodox use the term "Pascha". The idea that "Easter" is a

conflation of a Christian event and some kind of pagan holiday sounds

like modern anti-celebratory protestant revisionism.

Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 11:46:57 -0400

From: mermayde at juno.com (Christine A Seelye-King)

Subject: SC - Mother's Day

Now, Father's Day is a recent invention (relatively) but Mother's Day is

actually period! Enjoy! (Have you sent your Mother's Day Cards?)

Mistress Christianna

Mothering Sunday* -Feudal Europe- On Laetare Sunday (mid-Lent) in spring,

"fostered" children would go to visit their own families. A sweet cake

called a "simnel"- named for simila=fine flour, plum cakes or cakes with

almond paste baked inside were taken to their mothers. (There is a

recipie for " A Simnel Cake for Mothering Sunday" in "How to Cook

Forsoothly")

Origins in the Greek Goddess Cybele, the goddess of nature (whom the

Greeks got from the Phrygians) and Roman festivities held to honor

motherhood.

England-In the 17th cent. Christians went once a year to pay their

respects to the Cathedral or 'Mother Church' of their religion. The huge

gatherings gave so many people a chance to have family reunions that they

began to call it "going a-mothering", and they brought their mothers

flowers and cakes for the occasion. The custom died out in the 18th cent.

But American soldiers stationed in England during WWII, who observed the

U.S. Mother's Day, reminded the English of their own tradition and

contributed to its revival.

Mother's Day* -United States- (Second Sunday in May) When Anna Jarvis'

mother died in 1907, the Philadelphia woman decided that one day every

year should be dedicated to mothers. She held a memorial service and

asked those who attended to wear white carnations. By 1914 she had

convinced Congress to proclaim a National day. Some people still wear

carnations- red (or pink) ones for living mothers and white ones for

those who've died.

Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 10:36:32 -0400

From: mermayde at juno.com (Christine A Seelye-King)

Subject: Re: SC - Beans for the Dead?

> As I said there is and assassins feast soon and I have been asked to

>prepare a dish that the autocrat had once at another event which he

>called "Fava de Morti" which as far as I know means Beans for the Dead.

The Feastocrat from that event has left the state, and I've never heard

of this particular dish before. Does anyone out there know what I'm

talking about?

>And if so, could they send me the recipe....it sounds......interesting.

>Thanx

>-Sianan

This is an entry from my book, " 366 Days of Celebrations", for November

2 : "Il Giorno dei Morti - Italy - In Rome, the Day of the Dead is the

proper time to send engagement rings to their sweethearts, and to

announce betrothals. Children believe that if they revere their departed

family throughout the year, they will return with gifts on this festival

night. 'Fave dei Morti' or "beans of the Dead" are rich almond cakes

colred and flavored with chocolate, orange, or other flavors. They are

made into kidney-bean shapes."

I will see if I can track down a recipie later, but I am late now.

Mistress Christianna MacGrain

Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 15:43:33 -0400

From: mermayde at juno.com (Christine A Seelye-King)

Subject: SC - Fave dei Morti (Beans of the Dead)

Ok, here you go, a recipie and everything. This is from the book

"Feast-Day Cakes From Many Lands" by Dorothy Gladys Spicer

copyrite 1960, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, NY

'Fave die Morti (Beans of the Dead) - Italy

Fave dei Morti, beans of the dead, are the little bean-shaped

cakes that Italians eat on November 2, Il Giorno dei Morti, or All Soul's

Day. These small cakes, made of ground almonds and sugar combined with

egg, butter, flour, and subtle flavorings, are traditionally eaten

throughout Italy on the day that everyone decorates the graves with

flowers and says masses for departed souls.

In spite of the somber beginning of Il Giorno dei Morti, the day

is far from gloomy. To young men in and about Rome, the Day of the Dead

is the proper time to send engagement rings to sweethearts. And to young

couples this 'festa' is the occasion to announce betrothals. Fave dei

Morti, sometimes white, or tinted delicate pink, or chocolate color, play

an important part in these rites. For the man sends the ring to his

fiancee in a conventional small square white box that is packed in an

oval container, full of the bean-shaped cakes.

Fave dei Morti, beans of the dead, are rich and delicate little

cakes. Despite their macabre origin, you will want them often. Color

them orange and serve them at Halloween or Thanksgiving parties with ice

cream goblin or pumpkin molds. Or leave them white and store in tightly

closed tins, to serve with coffee or tea to unexpected guests.

FAVE DEI MORTI

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup finely ground almonds (unblanched)

1 egg

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

Vegetable coloring, if desired

Combine sugar, butter, and ground almonds. Beat egg and add to other

ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Add flour and flavoring. Work dough

until smooth and make into a roll about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap

in waxed paper and refrigerate 2-3 hours. Then cut off bits of dough and

mold them into kidney-shaped pieces about as large as lima beans.

Bake on greased cookie sheet in moderate oven (350 degrees) about 15-20

minutes, or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes before removing them from

pan with spatula. Yield: about 2 dozen small cakes. '

I would infer from the "Add flour and flavoring" line that you should add

whatever flavor you wish at this stage, such as cocoa powder, lemon, etc.

Hope this is what your autocrat had in mind!

Good Luck,

Mistress Christianna MacGrain

Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 16:12:35 -0400 (EDT)

From: Gretchen M Beck <grm+ at andrew.cmu.edu>

Subject: Re: SC - Fave dei Morti (Beans of the Dead)

Excerpts from internet.listserv.sca-cooks: 16-Jun-98 SC - Fave dei Morti

(Beans .. by C. Seelye-King at juno.com

> Ok, here you go, a recipie and everything. This is from the book

> "Feast-Day Cakes From Many Lands" by Dorothy Gladys Spicer

> copyrite 1960, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, NY

Looks like the name has transferred since 1614 -- in Castelvetti, Fava

del Morte is actually a sort of fava bean paste.

toodles, margaret

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 08:28:09 -0500

From: "Decker, Terry D." <TerryD at Health.State.OK.US>

Subject: RE: SC - Results of: Yikes! I'm teaching a class!

> My husband really, really liked "Tart on Ember Day", but we both wondered

> what the heck Ember Day is--Ash Wednesday was our guess.

From the quick ref, Ember Day is a day of pray and fasting occurring on

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the first Sunday of Lent, after

Whitsunday, after September 14 and after December 13. The term derives from

the Old English, ymbrendaeg, which roughly means, a recurring day.

Bear

Subject: Re: Halloween

Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 13:13:00 -0400

From: burginde at juno.com (deborah e burgin)

To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org

>Poster: jsrechts at imap.unc.edu

>Anyone know about Halloween traditions during the Middle Ages? I also

>wonder if it's celebrated in Europe.

>Just curious as I know nothing about this topic!

As for what is currently celebrated in Europe (not the middle ages) -

they do not have this tradition in Switzerland nor France. Geneva,

however, has a wonderful custom on Dec 11 when they celebrate repelling

the evil Savoyard (French just across the border who have always had

their eye on the wonderful valley that is Geneva) in a resounding victory

(this occurred back in 1214 - think perhaps they like rubbing it in a bit

much?). There are all sorts of stories and traditions to go along with

it - the best being that bands of children go from door to door and sing

songs about the fierce battle and the good Genevois, etc. in return for

which they get coins, or fruit and cups of hot cider or tea - not bad,

eh?

Gisele (who is, in fact, Genevois, and not French as some would have you

believe)

Subject: Halloween Customs & Origin

Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 14:41:22 -0500

From: Erick and Sue <bduck at fred.net>

To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org

According to my copy of "Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things" p 62-64

summed up

Halloween was first celebrated in 5th century BC by the Celts. They

extinguished the fires in their homes on the night of October 31 (the

official end of Summer) to deliberately make their homes undesirable to

spirits. They gathered outside where a Druid had lit a huge bonfire to

honor the sun god and frighten away any lingering spirits.

The Celts believed that the spirits of all who had died that year assembled

that night to choose the body of the person or animal they would inhabit

for the next 12 months before they could pass peacefully to the afterlife.

To frighten away the roving souls, they would dress as deamons, hogoblins,

and other horrors. They would parade inside the cold houses and outside as

noisily and distructively as possible and finally to the bonfire outside

town.

Romans adopted the Celtic practices, but in AD 61 they outlawed human

sacrifice (though the part on the Celtic practices makes no reference to

human sacrifice?), substituting instead, effigies.

Irish immigrants brought Halloween customs of costume and mischief to the

US in the 1840's--calling it mischeif night. Thye also brought with them

the custome of of a sort of jack-o-lantern. They hollowed out a turnip,

carved a face on it, and lighted it with a candle inside. There were few

turnips to be found in the new world but numerous pumpkins.

The tern Jack-o'-lantern is of Irish origin, too. The legend goes, a man

named Jack, notorious for his drunken and lazy habits, tricked the devil

into climbing a tree. Quickly carving a cross on the truck, Jack trapped

Satan until he swore he would never again tempt Jack to sin. Upon his

death, Jack found himself barred from Heaven for his sinning, and also

refused entrance int o Hell from and unforgiving Satan. Condemned to

wander in frigid darkness until Judgement Day, he implored the devil for

embers to light his way. Though Satan had enbers in surplus, he alloted

Jack a single coal. Putting the ember into a turnip he had chewed hollow,

he formed Jack's Lantern.

The most widely accepted theory on the origins of trick-or-treating traces

the practice to the ninth-century European custom of 'souling'

On All Soul's Day, Christians walked from village to village begging for

square buscuits, called soul cakes. The beggars promised to offer up

prayers for the dead relatives of the donors, the number of prayers

relative to the donor's generosity. The quantity of prayers a dead person

amassed was significant in a practical way, for limbo was the penitential

layoever stop on the journey into heavan, and suffuciant prayer, even by an

anonymous individual, would shorten the stay.

I make no guarantees that all this is accurate, only that I have accurately

summarized up the claims of Charles Panati. If he has it wrong...feel free

to soap up his windows and teepee his house. :)

Sue

Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1998 09:40:01 EST

From: LrdRas at aol.com

Subject: SC - Tablecloths and Christmas feasts

Regarding Christmas feasts in the Middle Ages. To put it simply they were

uncommon since the early and medieval church put much more emphasis on the

date of death rather than birth. Note that all the Saints days are celebrated

on the date of their death. It was only with much reluctance that the Church

excepted Christ's birth as a day of feasting. It did so only when confronted

with the need to incorporate pagan festivals into it's body of traditions

because the pagan populace insisted on practicing their traditional winter

fire festivals in celebration of the lengthening of the days.

It was during the Middle Ages that these festivals were incorporated into

Christian practice, although the Church had, by way of a pronouncement by Pope

Julius I in 350 C.E., set Dec. 25 as the 'official,' albeit inaccurate, date

of Jesus of Nazareth's birth. It was all in all a rather minor day with the

actual celebrations occurring on Epiphany or Twelfth Night. It most certainly

did not have the significance that it has come to have in the current middle

ages until extremely late in period.

The Church's main focus was on the Lenten season. That, and various

celebrations by local saints cults being the major religious points of the

year. The principle source of this information is from 'The Wordsworth Book

of Saints' by Alison Jones and 'How It Started' by Web Gammon

Ras

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 13:35:52 -0500

From: Christine A Seelye-King <mermayde at juno.com>

Subject: SC - St. David's Day - Not OOP

>Elysant, please tell me more about St. David's Day. Who's the OUR to

>which you refer?

>Leanna of Sparrowhaven

>"Any excuse for a party!"

I'm not Elysant, but I can give you some information on St. David's Day,

and on other things celebrated on March 1st. I would love to hear from

the lady from England (or Wales, I'm guessing, is the OUR) just what

other celebrations do occur.

Mistress Christianna MacGrain

author of "366 Days of Celebrations, or, A Year Full of Reasons to Throw

A Party"

MARCH 1

Matronalia, New Year's Day - Ancient Rome - March was named for Mars, and

was sacred to both Mars and Juno, wife of Jupiter. Juno is the presiding

deity of the first day of the year, and of the year as a whole. She is

seen as a matron, and a virgin mother. The Kalends of March were the last

day of what came to be called Carnival, the period of celebration from

the Terminalia to this symbolic first day of Spring. Celebrated until

154 BCE. Celebrated in Venice until 1797. (See Feb. 23rd.)

Festival of Mars - Ancient Rome - Mars is seen as both war-like and as

the personification of protection of the state, along with agricultural

and business success of the community. On this day, Mars' Birthday, the

priests of His temple would carry shields and leap and dance through the

streets. This celebration would continue until March 24th.

St. David's Feast Day (4th Cent) Patron Saint of Wales & Poets. His

symbol is the leek, probably because he ate a lot of leeks as part of his

vegetarian diet. He established many monasteries and performed some

miracles. This date commemorates a Welsh victory over the English, when

they wore leeks in their hats to identify their countrymen.

St. Swithbert's Feast Day (8th Cent) Patron Invoked against Angina.

English missionary to the Friesians (southern Holland).

Whuppity Scoorie Day - Scotland - Church bells start ringing at 6am on

March 1st after being silent all winter long. Children race around the

church with string attached to a paper ball, whirling them at other

racers. Origins of this custom are lost, but may be to drive out winter

and evil spirits.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Founded (1565)

Subject: Re: ANST - April Fools

Date: Thu, 01 Apr 99 08:30:13 MST

From: Mark&Sue <uriel at intx.net>

To: ansteorra at Ansteorra.ORG

Tamlin here

Jackie wrote:

> Morning. Was wondering what the history of this rather blackly humourous

> day is...anyone wanna take a stab at it?

> Ulrica the mischevious

A VERY quick search on www revealed.

April Fools Day: An Unsolved History

The first of April, some do say,

Is set apart for All Fools' Day.

But why the people call it so,

Nor I, nor they themselves do know.

But on this day are people sent

On purpose for pure merriment.

-- Poor Robin's Almanac (1790)

OK, who started it?

Did the first Fools come from France, England, Mexico, Sweden or

India? The truth, as in any good mystery, lies hidden in the shadows of

time.

Some say that April Fools Day began in many parts of the world at the

same time, in celebration of the spring equinox. Pranks were a big part

of even the most boring equinox parties, everywhere from Sweden to

India.

Others argue that the modern April Fool's Day followed the adoption

of a reformed calendar in France circa 1564. In medieval times, the

octave of New Year's began on March 25 with the eight days of

festivities ending on April 1.

With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, New Year's Day

was moved from April 1 to January 1. Due to the slowness of

"sandal-net" communication back then and general resistance to

change, the January 1 date was not fully accepted for several years.

Those traditionalists who clung to April 1 as New Year's Day were

scoffed at as "fools" and sent fake party invitations and prank gifts.

Widespread observance in England began in the 18th century. The

English, Scots and French introduced the custom to their colonies in

America. One of our forefathers' favorite jokes was to send someone

on a "fool's errand." For example, one might have been asked to go out

and obtain a copy of "The History of Adam's Grandfather," or bring

back some "sweet vinegar."

In Scotland, April Fools Day is 48 hours long. The second day is called

Taily Day and is dedicated to pranks involving the buttocks. Taily

Day's gift to posterior posterity is the still-hilarious "Kick Me" sign.

The "foolish" tradition is celebrated in Mexico, too, but on a different

day and for different reasons. "El Dia de los Inocentes," which is

December 28, was set aside as a day for Christians to mourn Herod's

slaughter of innocent children. Over time, the tone of that "unluckiest of

days" has evolved from sadness to good-natured trickery. Even the

media join the fun, often running bogus news stories and radio reports.

We may never learn the true origin of April Fools Day. However, the

deeper question facing us today is, "What's the best gag I can pull off?"

AprilFools.com has some intriguing suggestions.

Sources Include: The American Book of Days by Jane M. Hatch; The World

Holiday Book by Anneli Rufus; the Encyclopedia Americana.

Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 19:48:45 EST

From: <RaceMarre at aol.com>

To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu

Subject: Re: birthdays

The Catholic church demanded names for babies be chosen from the accepted

saints, or the baby would not be baptized. Every saint had a specific feast

day - could be their own birthday, date of death, or some event in their

lives. In Russia, until the revolution, both a personal birthday and saints

day (called name day) were celebrated with equal importance.

Nancy

Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:58:06 -0400

From: Johnna Holloway <johnnae at mac.com>

Subject: [Sca-cooks] Forthcoming titles Fall 2008 LONG

To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>

As promised sometime back here's a list of some forthcoming

fall 08- winter 09

titles that might be of interest to readers of this list.

They cover a full range of topics.

I've included details, descriptions or links where I have them.

A number of the lists I used didn't record prices possibly because

they were not yet set.

Johnnae

-----------------

Entertaining from Ancient Rome to the Super Bowl [Two Volumes]

*Author: *Adamson, Melitta Weiss et al. *Publisher: *Greenwood

Publishing Group, Incorporated * *0-313-33957-0

*** *Oct 2008 *Price: *$199.95 **

664 pages http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/GR3957.aspx

This a two-volume reference set for libraries. Entries tell the history

of wedding and religious customs, holidays and

modern day get togethers. Entries on

Ancient Rome, Medieval entertaining, etc.

Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 14:05:40 -0400

From: Christine A Seelye-King <mermayde at juno.com>

Subject: SC - Re: [TY] Easter Celebrations

> Easter eggs were served on Easter day and were colored red

> to symbolize joy. (N.B. the CE doesn't give a date on this one so

> I will not vouch for its strict periodness)

This is thought to be a result of travelers in the Middle East observing

the red eggs there. Here is the listing for Easter from my book.

Christianna

Easter* - Christian - Celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. Mary

Magdalene and some companions visited the tomb of Jesus, and the Angel of

the Lord appeared and told them He was risen. Legend has it that the sun

jumps for joy on Easter morning, so many churches have sunrise services.

In the 8th century the Venerable Bede suggested that the word "Easter"

may have come from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of

spring and fertility. Saxons ate cross-inscribed loaves in her honor.

Her symbol was a hare, which may explain the custom of the Easter hare,

or rabbit, who brings Easter eggs. The egg may have become a special

Easter symbol of rebirth because eggs were long one of the foods

forbidden during Lent. The use of Easter Eggs among Christians came into

use around 700 AD. The tradition of coloring eggs probably began with

medieval travelers to Egypt and Persia, where people colored eggs for

their spring festivals. Red eggs symbolized the Blood of Christ, a

chicken meant the fulfillment of one's dreams, the sun presages good

luck, flowers for love and understanding, good health is assured by a

deer or a stag, and prosperity by a pig. In Lancastershire, England, the

children participate in Pace-Egging, where they roll Easter eggs down a

hill. It was said to commemorate Christ's tomb stone rolling away from

the crypt. Norsemen also had the word Eostur, Eastur, Ostara, or Ostar,

meaning season of the growing sun. (April 25th is the latest day on

which Easter Sunday can occur. The earliest day on which it can fall is

March 22nd.)

Lambri* - Greece - "Bright Day" is how Greeks describe Easter. The night

before, all lights go out. At midnight, a priest enters holding a candle,

proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ. His candle is used to light the

candles every person holds. The church bells ring, ships sound their

whistles, and firecrackers go off. Afterward, people celebrate with

dancing, roast lamb, and Easter eggs, which Greeks dye red only.

Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 14:00:00 -0400

From: Christine A Seelye-King <mermayde at juno.com>

Subject: SC - Fw: Re: [TY] Easter Celebrations

A very interesting post from our Kingdom list in response to the

question, "How was Easter Celebrated in period?". I though I would share

this with the list.

Happy Holy Days,

Christianna

- --------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Mark Mettler <mettler at bulloch.net>

To: meridian-ty at egroups.com

Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 22:49:36 -0400

Subject: Re: [TY] Easter Celebrations

Early Christians observed Easter on the same day as Passover (14-15

Nisan, a date governed by a lunar calendar). In the 2d century, the

Christian celebration was transferred to the Sunday following the 14-15 Nisan, if that day fell on a weekday. Originally, the Christian Easter was a unitive celebration, but in the 4th century Good Friday became a separate commemoration of the death of Christ, and Easter was thereafter devoted exclusively to the resurrection. According to the Venerable Bede, the name Easter is derived from the pagan spring festival of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, and many folk customs associated with Easter (for example, Easter eggs) are of pagan origin. The common name then for Easter was Paschal Feast. Easter always falls the First Sunday after a full moon which happens on or after March 21 (The vernal equinox).

Let us look at one single Hanseatic town, Attendorn. Attendorn

flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries mainly thanks to the nine

guilds, especially the wool and linen weavers. But the political and

ecclesiastical position of the town in its function as border fortress

against the neighboring Mark County and as seat of one of the largest

deaneries in the old archbishopric of Cologne led to the formation of

wealth. In 1255, Attendorn was the only Sauerland town to join the

Rhenish confederation of 60 important towns of the empire.

Here is how it celebrated Easter: The tunes of a centuries old horn

played from the church tower, the blessing of bread on Easter Saturday,

the putting up and burning of the Easter Fires at the four town gates,

the processions from there to St. John's Church, the display of unusual

Easter lanterns.

The Easter Egg, or Pace ege, is one of the oldest traditions recorded

for Easter in Europe. Another of the customs, "lifting' or 'heaving'

contests.

- --

Ld. Gryffri de Newmarch

http://www2.gasou.edu/SCA

Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 14:06:21 -0400

From: Christine A Seelye-King <mermayde at juno.com>

Subject: SC - Fw: Re: [TY] Easter Celebrations