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#yule

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In the past, Christmas decorations tended to stay up until Candlemas (February 2nd), but during the Victorian era the Christmas season was shortened. Now most people agree decorations should be taken down by the end of 5th January (12th Night), with it being considered unlucky to keep them up longer. There used to be considerable debate about what to do with the Christmas evergreens. Some insisted they should be burnt as soon as they were taken down. Others were aghast at this custom and laid them respectfully on rubbish heaps. Others still felt it lucky to feed them to farm animals. #Christmas #Yule #folklore #history #weird

A common folklore motif is the 'Wild Hunt', in which a crowd of dead or damned souls rampage through the air or across the sky. The hunt can be led by witches or by figures as diverse as Odin, King Arthur, the Devil, Cain or Herod. The hunt is most commonly sighted in winter, especially during Yuletide. In some parts of Germany, it's said washing should not be left hanging out over Christmas in case the hunt becomes entangled in it and that windows should be left open at night so the hunt can pass through. #Folklore #weird #Yule #Christmas #gothic #mythology

A custom often practised during Christmastide - especially in Yorkshire and north east England - is the sword dance. Participants dance in circular patterns before interlocking their swords to form a 'knot' or 'rose', which is raised towards the sky. Sometimes the blades are interlocked around somebody's neck then swiftly withdrawn in a mock decapitation ritual. My article about strange Yuletide traditions: davidcastleton.net/strange-chr #folklore #Christmas #Yule #history #weird #dance

A few weeks ago, I made a post asking about the right way to make a real magic wand for my wife for Christmas :viviblast: Now that she's opened it, I thought I should post a picture for anyone who was curious about it. I think it turned out pretty good and she loved it! Good Yule, everyone!

(Check the alt text for all of the ingredients used)

Thank you so much for your help, @justelise! 😄

Heart's Hope

Grant, O Spirits, thy protection
In protection, strength
In strength, understanding
In understanding, knowledge
In the love of knowledge, justice
In the knowledge of justice, the love of it
In the love of justice, the love of all existences
In the love of all existences, the love of all Goodness

~Iolo Morganwg
(adapted)

One peculiar Christmas custom was the boy bishop. Between St Nicholas's Day ( December 6th) and the Feast of Holy Innocents (December 28th) a cathedral choirboy would take over all the duties of his bishop except for saying mass. He preached sermons and - accompanied by his friends dressed as priests - performed circuits of the city, blessing the inhabitants. Some adult priests joined in the role reversal by dressing as choristers. Though controversial for its apparent mockery of the clergy, the boy bishop tradition was extremely popular and was not stamped out until the reign of Elizabeth I. A tomb in Salisbury Cathedral - bearing an effigy of a miniature bishop - is said to be the grave of a boy bishop who died in office. My article of strange Christmas traditions: davidcastleton.net/strange-chr #folklore #history #weird #churches #Christmas #Yule #medieval

Santa Claus has not always been clad in red. Early depictions clothed him in white, red, green and blue. In the 20th century, however, red became more predominant and was further established by a Coca-Cola marketing campaign based around Santa. It helped Coke that their brand colour was also red and they even patented the shade of Santa's outfit. My article: davidcastleton.net/old-father- #Christmas #folklore #history #Yule #weird #capitalism