Boxing Day

The second day of Christmas is also called Boxing Day in some countries. It is a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on December 26, which is also St. Stephen's Day, a religious holiday.

According to Wikipedia, the exact etymology of the term "boxing" is unclear. The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages. It may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen. 

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service. Another English tradition was to allow the servants of the wealthy to visit their families on the day after Christmas, since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.

The First Day of Christmas

According to www.traditioninaction.org/religious/h003rp.ChristmasCarolAlexis.html :

We are all familiar with the carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

We have all smiled indulgently at the extravagance of the lover who showered upon his beloved so many fantastic and inconvenient gifts. Every day of the Christmas season she received a new token of his love, each more fabulous than the last and increasingly numerous, until she was the proud possessor of twenty-three birds, some valuable jewelry, a varied assortment of musicians and entertainers, and eight milkmaids.

But it is more than a rhapsody of strange and delightful nonsense. It is a song of Catholic instruction. Dating back to the 16th or 17th century, it was created as a memory aid to help children learn their Faith. The “true love” is no earthly suitor, but God Himself, Who gives His wondrous gifts to “me,” every baptized person.

Check out the above link to find the significance of all the elements of this song, from partridge to drummers, according to Alexis Reyes.

And, Merry Christmas to all!

A Gaelic Blessing

Deep peace of the running wave to you.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you.

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.

Deep peace of the shining stars to you.

Deep peace of the gentle night to you.

Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.

Deep peace of Christ,

of Christ the light of the world to you.

Deep peace of Christ to you.

What Brightens Us

My sister and I visited St. Mark Presbyterian Church this morning here in Portland. They were having a special carol service with lots congregational singing and three beautiful anthems by the choir. At the beginning of the service, the pastor acknowledged the sad events of the past week and then asked what brightens our holiday time even in the midst of darkness.  Several people spoke up about their families, their health, and so on.  This afternoon I started thinking...

What brightens my holiday time? 

• The level of care - and caring - that Mom is receiving at Lydia's House (Alzheimer's facility) in Mennonite Village, Albany, Oregon. 
• The fact that all members of our family have a home and some kind of work, and the hope that even more people will have these things by next Christmas. 
• The Winter Solstice coming on the 21st which means the days will start getting longer again. 

I plan to keep adding to this list as Christmas approaches even in the darkness of our recent tragedies.  Will you join me?

Sad Days

Edna Magnuson

The memorial service for Edna Lucille Magnuson yesterday was lovely.  One of the many highlights was the display of some of Edna's artwork, including this collage she created after 9-11.

Edna was an award-winning artist and used her creativity in a variety of crafts.  She helped found the Art Rains Art Gallery in Astoria, Oregon, and was a member of the Trails End Art Guild in Gearhart, Oregon.

(Click on the photo at right to see a larger view.)

December 1

Sunny skies, wet leaves, gorgeous colors.