This one is going to be a fun one.
We all know that there are things people do on New Year's Eve to bring us luck on the coming year.
Every year I try to do something different on the eve of the new year and as a result, I have a collection of charms and rituals that have been passed down to me from all kinds of traditions; but where does all of this come from?
Since time immemorial, people have been trying to improve their luck and it is thought that there's no better time than on the eve of a new year.
The Celts and Romans did this on the eve of what they considered the beginning of their year, for the Romans was the Vernal Equinox, for the Celts was October 31st. Whatever the date we use for it, we have attached magic and mystery to the last night of the year.
For us living in the western hemisphere, this happens on the Night of Saint Silvester, December 31st. On that night, we believe, doors are opened between this and other realms that allow magical things to happen, so, if we want to affect our luck for the future, we should try to do so on this particular night.
Now for the plethora of options to bring luck.
My grandmother used to say that if you take out your suitcases several times at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, you would travel, and that the amount of times and the time it took you to go back in the house meant times traveling and length of the trips.
You are supposed to make a lot of noise at the stroke of midnight to warn off evil forces from your home, this is a gift from the oriental civilizations.
If you want all that went wrong with your life during the year to disappear so you can start over clean, you should go to a crossroads and smash an egg with all of your might, also at the stroke of midnight; this one is mine and my source has to remain secret to protect a covenant made.
Write a wish on a piece of paper and wrap it around a coin, dip it in water and ask all of your guests to do the same, at the stroke of midnight, take one of the coins out (without knowing who's it is) and carry it with you all year long; mum told me that one.
There are people that wash the floors of their home before midnight with the water from a flower vase that had a dozed white flowers for 3 days.
One of my neighbors passes under the table at the stroke of midnight for good luck.
This one is famous all over: you're supposed to eat 12 grapes, one with each of the 12 bells at midnight, asking one wish per grape.
Of course, you're also supposed to kiss and get kissed at the stroke of midnight, and hug your loved ones.
The person that gets hit by the flying cork when the champagne or hard cider bottles get opened is to be married soon, possibly within a year (specially if they got kissed under the mistletoe he he).
One of my favorites is the one that involves the clothes you're supposed to wear for good luck. Never wear black, wear blue; preferably wear new clothes, this is easy if you got clothes as a gift for Christmas. (This one works backwards in my family, but then again, being a witch, black is my lucky color)
If you want to be lucky in business and moneymaking, you should wear yellow underwear, for luck in love, red is the color, now if all you're aiming for is sex, get some black undies and that should do it. Of course, the undergarments have to be a gift to be truly effective.
So, if you want to try your luck at any of these, feel free to do so, the least that can happen is that you'll have something new and fun to do this New Year's Eve with your guests.
Good Luck to y'all for the next year ;)
27 Dec 2010
2 Dec 2010
The Tree in Your Living Room
Where did it come from? That beautiful tree that we decorate each December and dread to put away in January has a long long history and here is a bit about it.
For centuries before the dawn of Christianity, people observed that certain plants and trees stayed green and with abundant foliage during the cold harsh weather in winter; this, of course, puzzled and amazed the inhabitants of different countries.
Winter has always been associated to the time of the year where the Earth "dies" and those plants and bushes that kept their live appearance gave people hope for a new life and renewal at the end of the season.
Several peoples brought the greens indoors as a symbol of the triumph of life over death. They would decorate them with fruit ans spices, bows and ribbons.
Naturally, each civilization gave this ritual different textures and associated it to myths that would match the spirit of their other traditions.
The actual "tree" as a winter tradition was started in Germany, around the 16th century, and here it was adopted as a Christian tradition, it is believed to have started with Martin Luther.
Another very essential piece of greenery found in our homes during the winter festivals is Mistletoe, and we all take pleasure in kissing whoever happens to be standing under it all month long. Where did this tradition start?
In Ancient Greece as part of the Festivals of Saturnalia (dedicated to Saturn) in December; people believed that it contained "life giving" powers as well as fertility. In the Scandinavian Peninsula, people believed it to be a plant of peace, under which, enemies (or warring spouses) would "kiss and make up". In England, during the holidays, any girl standing under the mistletoe ball cannot refuse to be kissed or she runs the risk of not marrying along the year, and the mistletoe ball must be burned on the twelfth day or the couples that kissed will not marry at all.
Whether it is a tree or a ball of mistletoe, place a bit of greens inside your home, you'll be inviting Mother Nature with Her promise to be reborn come Spring.
For centuries before the dawn of Christianity, people observed that certain plants and trees stayed green and with abundant foliage during the cold harsh weather in winter; this, of course, puzzled and amazed the inhabitants of different countries.
Winter has always been associated to the time of the year where the Earth "dies" and those plants and bushes that kept their live appearance gave people hope for a new life and renewal at the end of the season.
Several peoples brought the greens indoors as a symbol of the triumph of life over death. They would decorate them with fruit ans spices, bows and ribbons.
Naturally, each civilization gave this ritual different textures and associated it to myths that would match the spirit of their other traditions.
The actual "tree" as a winter tradition was started in Germany, around the 16th century, and here it was adopted as a Christian tradition, it is believed to have started with Martin Luther.
Another very essential piece of greenery found in our homes during the winter festivals is Mistletoe, and we all take pleasure in kissing whoever happens to be standing under it all month long. Where did this tradition start?
In Ancient Greece as part of the Festivals of Saturnalia (dedicated to Saturn) in December; people believed that it contained "life giving" powers as well as fertility. In the Scandinavian Peninsula, people believed it to be a plant of peace, under which, enemies (or warring spouses) would "kiss and make up". In England, during the holidays, any girl standing under the mistletoe ball cannot refuse to be kissed or she runs the risk of not marrying along the year, and the mistletoe ball must be burned on the twelfth day or the couples that kissed will not marry at all.
Whether it is a tree or a ball of mistletoe, place a bit of greens inside your home, you'll be inviting Mother Nature with Her promise to be reborn come Spring.
Time to Celebrate
Nothing is more difficult than to try to raise kids that are non-Christians in a Christian country. But the worst time for it is around December. If I try to tell people that I have a BIG problem with everybody trying to insert ideology into my kids' head, then I'm exaggerating. If I say nothing, my children get sucked into traditions that are not our own.
Being that I'm talking here about small children, I never imposed a particular system of beliefs in any of them, I basically just gave nudges in the right direction, that is the direction I wanted to guide them to, and this was only every once in a while; but it has been from a couple of years ago to now when I feel like this very laid back way has been compromising my children´s spiritual education and getting them, in the best of cases, confused.
I have always been very receptive to a multi-tradition holiday season, wishing for people´s Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Yule, whatever, or nothing to be a good one, and for that reason I feel terribly invaded when I feel the need to explain and defend my beliefs when we can all learn from each other´s traditions instead of assuming that everybody believes in the crucified God and that the other traditions do not celebrate during the month of December.
As a matter of fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Here there are a few of the holidays celebrated during this, the last month of the year, enjoy.
Mithra, God worshiped by the Zoroastrians (mainly in India, Pakistan and other countries in the Middle East) was born, according to the mythology, on December 25th. Zoroastrism, as a system of beliefs dates from around the 6th century, however, the myth of the birth of Mithra dates from around 600 B.C.
Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights is also celebrated in the month of December. During eight days, or evenings rather, the Jewish communities commemorate the re dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem (second Temple). This holiday begins on the 25th day of Kislev (this could fall any day between the end of November and December in the Gregorian calendar).
Kwanza is a Pa- African holiday celebrated by African communities around the world. The celebration of Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and ends on January 1st. The spirit behind this holiday is to bring unity to the African community and a reminder to them of the good in being from African origin. Messages of hope and family bring togetherness to the communities during this time.
Many other traditions celebrate different Deities on the Winter Solstice, December 21st-22nd, and here are some of them: Baldur (Norse); Ameratasu (Japan); Bona Dea (Roman); Cailleach Bheur (Celtic); Demeter (Greek); Dyonisius (Greek); Frau Holle (Norse); Cernnunos (NeoPagan)
I could make the list enormous, but I think that for the purpose of proving the point that no tradition has the exclusive rights to the month; in fact, the similarities between traditions are great to explore and to realize that we're not that different after all. I'll do the comparisons in future blogs, I promise.
Being that I'm talking here about small children, I never imposed a particular system of beliefs in any of them, I basically just gave nudges in the right direction, that is the direction I wanted to guide them to, and this was only every once in a while; but it has been from a couple of years ago to now when I feel like this very laid back way has been compromising my children´s spiritual education and getting them, in the best of cases, confused.
I have always been very receptive to a multi-tradition holiday season, wishing for people´s Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Yule, whatever, or nothing to be a good one, and for that reason I feel terribly invaded when I feel the need to explain and defend my beliefs when we can all learn from each other´s traditions instead of assuming that everybody believes in the crucified God and that the other traditions do not celebrate during the month of December.
As a matter of fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Here there are a few of the holidays celebrated during this, the last month of the year, enjoy.
Mithra, God worshiped by the Zoroastrians (mainly in India, Pakistan and other countries in the Middle East) was born, according to the mythology, on December 25th. Zoroastrism, as a system of beliefs dates from around the 6th century, however, the myth of the birth of Mithra dates from around 600 B.C.
Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights is also celebrated in the month of December. During eight days, or evenings rather, the Jewish communities commemorate the re dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem (second Temple). This holiday begins on the 25th day of Kislev (this could fall any day between the end of November and December in the Gregorian calendar).
Kwanza is a Pa- African holiday celebrated by African communities around the world. The celebration of Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and ends on January 1st. The spirit behind this holiday is to bring unity to the African community and a reminder to them of the good in being from African origin. Messages of hope and family bring togetherness to the communities during this time.
Many other traditions celebrate different Deities on the Winter Solstice, December 21st-22nd, and here are some of them: Baldur (Norse); Ameratasu (Japan); Bona Dea (Roman); Cailleach Bheur (Celtic); Demeter (Greek); Dyonisius (Greek); Frau Holle (Norse); Cernnunos (NeoPagan)
I could make the list enormous, but I think that for the purpose of proving the point that no tradition has the exclusive rights to the month; in fact, the similarities between traditions are great to explore and to realize that we're not that different after all. I'll do the comparisons in future blogs, I promise.
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