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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">===========================================<br>
L O W L A N D S - L - 21 December 2008 - Volume 04<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><br>
From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com" target="_blank">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>>
<br>
Subject: Traditions<br>
<br>
Hi, everyone!<br>
<br>
Jacqueline, you wrote:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 30pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Hello Lowlanders, I was just thinking when I got
Ron's Holliday message that I know very little about what is iconic for this
part of the year in other cultures. Wotan had his mighty oak and maybe
mistletoe already. For the people in the Northern hemisphere the oaks were
felled and replaced with "Oh Tannenbaum" and lately I have run into
many a "Hanukka bush". But what other cultural icons are there?
Solstices were easily observed even by people without modern technology. So
there must be other signs around.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><br>
Here are tidbits of what I have learned about this over the years:<br>
<br>
Among pre-Christian Germanic tribes, Winter Solstice celebrations often
involved various fire rituals designed to provoke the return of the sun for
another cycle. <br>
<br>
In wooded areas, trees on hilltops would be set alight. Apparently, this led to
the development of the Christmas tree.<br>
<br>
On the coast, large bonfires used to be lit, and rituals used to be performed
around them, also to entice the sun back. A relic of this is the <i>biikebrennen</i>
("beacon burning") in Northern Friesland.<br>
<br>
In wooded areas, alternatively, or in addition, large wheels clad in vegetation
would be set alight and rolled down hillsides. This may have led to the
development of the Advent wreath and the name "Yule" which means
'wheel':</span></p>
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Old Frisian <i>hwēl, fiāl</i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Old English <i>hweogl</i></span></li>
<ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> >
English, Scots <i>wheel</i></span></li></ul><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Old Norse <i>hvēl, hvel, hjōl</i></span></li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> > wheel:
Icelandic, Faroese <i>hjól</i>, Danish, Norwegian <i>jul</i>, Swedish <i>hjul</i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> >
Christmas: Icelandic, Faroese <i>jól</i>, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish <i>jul</i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> > English
"Yule", Scots: <i>Yuil</i>, Finnish <i>joulu</i>, Estonian<i> jõulu</i></span></li></ul><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Germanic: <i>*hwela > *hwegwula, *hwehula</i></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><br>I consider
it quite possible that the lighting of the doused Christmas pudding and the rituals surrounding it in Britain are derivatives of the ancient fire rituals.<br>
<br>
Also, certain cleansing rituals used to lead up to Yule, designed to remove
evil spirits before the sun's return. Apparently, relics of this is noisy
stomping and singing throughout the home at Christmas in Scandinavia, various
mummers festivals in Allemannic-speaking areas, and New Year's cleaning rituals
in various parts of Europe.<br>
<br>
Of course, fire also plays a cleansing role in many other Eurasian traditions, and
this may well be connected with the mentioned European rituals as well.<br>
<br>
Thanks for the Yuletide descriptions that just rolled in and are posted below!<br>
<br>
And, of course, there is the Jewish Hanukkah (</span><span dir="rtl" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="HE">חנוכה</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span>) tradition which roughly
"coincides" with other festivals of light in the Northern Hemisphere's
darkest time of the year. The official religious explanation is that it commemorates the rededication
of the Holy Temple
in Jerusalem at
the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. It is observed for eight
nights, every night an additional light being lit on a <i>hanukiah</i> (</span><span dir="rtl" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="HE">חנכיה</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span>),
a candelabra (<i>menorah</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span dir="rtl" lang="HE">מנורה</span></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr"></span>) specifically set aside for Hanukkah.
Roughly, the story told about it is that at the rededication there was only enough
olive oil to light a lamp for one night, by the flame actually lasted eight days.<br>
<br>
I truly wish you all wonderful days in the company of people you love. Whatever you do, enjoy it!<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Reinhard/Ron<br>
<br>
----------<br>
<br>
From: <span class="ep8xu"><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 104, 28);"><a href="mailto:heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk">heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk</a></span></span></span><span class="hccdpe"> </span><span class="ldacoc"><<a href="mailto:heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk">heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk</a>></span>
<br>
Subject: <span class="hccdpe">LL-L "Traditions" 2008.12.21 (01) [E]</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">from Heather Rendall <a href="mailto:heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk" target="_blank">heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Jacqueline asked about
iconic traditions</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Here for our family a
Christmas tree with decorations given each year to each child so that a whole
life time of memories hang on the tree: somewhat depleted now since our 3
children have left home and taken their own personal decorations with them. But
still great joy to see them again when visiting their homes ( as I did this
afternoon and saw 30 years of decorations on my daughter's tree. We had a happy
few minutes recalling where or why each one had been bought.)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Carrot and parsnip mash
with the turkey</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">A christmas pudding well-lit
with warm brandy being carried clockwise round the table and GREAT
disappointment if the flames die before the carrier ( usually me) completes the
circle and sits down.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">For decorations we bring in
evergreens - holly and ivy and fir in the main with the odd glass bauble as
well.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">A Christmas carol concert
sometime during the weeks before Christmas</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The Christmas Carols from Kings College at
3p.m. on Christmas Eve to accompany the cooking in the kitchen and home made brandy butter
with the pudding and lots of cream!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Mmmmm I can't wait!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">very best wishes to all</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Heather</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">----------<br>
<br>
From: <span class="ep8xu"><span><span style="color: rgb(91, 16, 148);">Thomas Mc Rae</span></span></span><span class="hccdpe"> </span><span class="ldacoc"><<a href="mailto:t.mcrae@uq.net.au">t.mcrae@uq.net.au</a>></span><br>
Subject: <span class="hccdpe">LL-L "Holidays" 2008.12.21 (01) [E]</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">On
22/12/2008, at 5:23 AM, R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com" target="_blank">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><br>
<span style="color: black;">From:<br>
Subject: Holdiays<br>
<br>
Dear Lowlanders,<br>
<br>
Happy holidays to all of you that celebrate them!<br>
<br>
Happy Fourth Advent to all Western Tradition Christians among you! (I <i>believe</i> my
count is correct.) </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Last evening
our church held a very moving Celtic style service based on Advent themes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;"><span style="word-spacing: 0px;">Regards</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;">Tom Mc Rae</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;">Brisbane</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;">AUSTRALIA</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;">"Oh wad some power the Giftie gie us,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;">Tae see oorsels as ithers see us</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;">Robert Burns</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">----------<br>
<br>
From: </span><span class="ep8xu"><span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(200, 137, 0);">Heiko Evermann</span></span></span><span class="hccdpe"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span></span><span class="ldacoc"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"><<a href="mailto:heiko.evermann@gmx.de">heiko.evermann@gmx.de</a>></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"><br>
Subject: <span class="hccdpe">LL-L "Holidays" 2008.12.21 (01) [E]</span><br>
<br>
Leve Ron,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Dear Lowlanders,<br>
<br>
Happy holidays to all of you that celebrate them!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Happy
Fourth Advent to all Western Tradition Christians among you! (I <i>believe</i>
my count is correct.) Also, beginning this week, merry Christmas! I hope all of
you were mostly nice and only a little bit naughty.<br>
<br>
Happy first day of Hanukka to all our Jewish Lowlanders! May those lamps and
candles shine forever!<br>
<br>
Happy Yule and Litha to you Pagans, and, correspondingly, happy Alban Arthuan
and Alban Heruin (Alban Hefin) respectively to you Celticists! (We are talking
about Winter Solstice in the Northern and Summer Solstice in the Southern
Hemisphere.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Traditions
can lead to unexpected quirks. Both my family and my wife's family are
Lutherans. I turned Seventh-Day-Adventist some 10 years ago. My wife joined me
soon after marriage. Basically our church is a Baptist church. The most
characteristic difference to Baptists (and to most other Christian
denominations) is that we take the Sabbath command in the Ten Commandments the
way it is written in the Bible: our weekly holiday is on Saturday and not on
Sunday. <br>
<br>
We do have an "Adventskranz" (whats that in English?) on our kitchen
table. The story goes that it was invented here in Hamburg
by Johann Hinrich Wichern in a children's home as a countdown to Christmas.<br>
<br>
Actually I do not know whether other Adventists make Advent wreaths (OK, I
looked up the word in the meantime) but my wife likes making them and for our
little children (aged 1 to 6) it definitely is a good countdown to Christmas.<br>
<br>
But what do you do when you celebrate Sabbath instead of Sunday... We then
decided to light the next candle one day earlier than our fellow Lutherans, on
the Saturday before each Advent Sunday. It is the third year we have an Advent
wreath and it is the third year we do this in this way, so this has become our
own family tradition. (We are still using our fist set of candles, nice,
big orange ones!) Which reminds me that I recently heard an American Buddhist
state that only those who embody a tradition have the right to change it. <br>
<br>
Hartlich Gröten,<br>
</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"><br>
Heiko</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p>