December 24, 2012
Our Team Bids You Warm Holiday Wishes, and a Special Story About The History of "White Christmas."
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| A Currier & Ives Classic:"Winter Homestead" |
Even if you are in a southern clime, under decorated palm trees deep in the heart of Texas, or have festively-lit reindeer in the Mid-Atlantic, we hope the light that comes from this season will help lift your spirits a little.
IS THERE A CLIMATE CONNECTION TO CHRISTMAS?
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| Mount Lebanon |
The historical and religious reasons for marking December 25 as Christ's birth, was preceded by an influence of climate and geography. Even though some historians note that Jesus may have been born in November or March, and not December, it is likely that snow was present for the first Christmas. "Lebanon" , which is the nearest mountain range to Bethlehem, in the original Hebrew is associated with "white." At the time, the Lebanon range was generally snow-covered year round.
4TH CENTURY ORIGINS. Christmas was not recognized as a formal religious holiday until the 4th century. The Catholic Church reorganized late December holidays, and imported traditions from the pagan "Feast of Saturnalia" which occurred on the 25th. It is believed this compromise is the origin of present day food-related revelry during our winter holidays.
ILLEGAL CHRISTMAS? A thousand years later, Puritan settlers in the New World viewed December 25 with scorn. Records from the late 1600's show that celebrating Christmas was actually illegal in Boston, due to ancient Christmas festivals having less-than-reputable (i.e. pagan) reputation. The writings of one man in the 1800's helped change that.
4TH CENTURY ORIGINS. Christmas was not recognized as a formal religious holiday until the 4th century. The Catholic Church reorganized late December holidays, and imported traditions from the pagan "Feast of Saturnalia" which occurred on the 25th. It is believed this compromise is the origin of present day food-related revelry during our winter holidays.
ILLEGAL CHRISTMAS? A thousand years later, Puritan settlers in the New World viewed December 25 with scorn. Records from the late 1600's show that celebrating Christmas was actually illegal in Boston, due to ancient Christmas festivals having less-than-reputable (i.e. pagan) reputation. The writings of one man in the 1800's helped change that.
SO HOW DID CHARLES SAVE "CHRISTMAS"?
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| A "Frost Fair" on the River Thames in London, 1683. |
The height this chill, from 1645 to 1710, is now known by climatologists as the Maunder Minimum. Over 26 winters, the River Thames in London froze so thick that grand "Frost Fairs" were held on the ice! This excellent report by AccuWeather's Jesse Ferrell details many of the climate connections to our visions of White Christmases, due in part to the wide ranging impact of the Little Ice Age.
A CHILDHOOD INFLUENCED BY CLIMATE. During Charles' early childhood in the 1810's, his Father invested considerable time into a grand celebration of Christmas. It was a major family effort, with pig, goose and capon, the best there could be; with mince pie and plum porridge, good ale and strong beer. Topping it off, courtesy of the Little Ice Age, snow was observed six years in a row in London, right on Christmas Day! Years later, as an author, with firmly ingrained memories of all this, Charles traversed the streets of London up to 20 miles a day...taking notes for his novel, A Christmas Carol.
In 2006, this present-day librarian-blogger summed up how the time-honored characters of Mr. Dickens, enshrined in a red- and gold-bound book, may have "saved" Christmas. What started as an effort by Dickens to restart his literary career, cemented a holiday-themed revolution which influenced our present day visions of cinnamon sticks and sleigh rides down snow-glistened streets.
Charles may have been the original "Powderhound," for the story refers to frequent winter weather clogging the streets of London, a climate truth in the height of the Little Ice Age. Now that era lives on in our wrapping paper, Currier & Ives engravings and in the music that enriches our lives for just a few short weeks.
In 2006, this present-day librarian-blogger summed up how the time-honored characters of Mr. Dickens, enshrined in a red- and gold-bound book, may have "saved" Christmas. What started as an effort by Dickens to restart his literary career, cemented a holiday-themed revolution which influenced our present day visions of cinnamon sticks and sleigh rides down snow-glistened streets. Charles may have been the original "Powderhound," for the story refers to frequent winter weather clogging the streets of London, a climate truth in the height of the Little Ice Age. Now that era lives on in our wrapping paper, Currier & Ives engravings and in the music that enriches our lives for just a few short weeks.
As we celebrate one of the most significant events in history, the recognition of December 25 being Christ's birth, we know people of many creeds and colors have shared the child-like thrill when for the first time, "it's snowing!"
We hope that someday, wherever you are, you'll be able to enjoy White in the winter night, courtesy of Mr. Dickens, a little red book, and a little help from the climate records!
Our warm holiday wishes to you and your family,
from all of us at Foot's Forecast.
from all of us at Foot's Forecast.
1 comment:
White Christmas here on the Mason Dixon!!! To my fellow FF bloggers, a Merry Christmas, and to all, a good night.
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