Christmas Trivia

Wake-uppers:

Seen: Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Association of Writers and Radio Announcers Foundation, Inc. for the, ehem, Contributor of the Year 2011 Award (Feature Writing Category) during the 12^th Joint Awarding Rites and Christmas Party of AWRAFI-BLACC-LUDABI last Dec. 10. The award touched me even more deeply because it inspires me to write more no matter how crazy the showbiz/entertainment gets. Gracias por todo!

Scene: Residents of Barangay Malayo Sur, Cortes town received the “Bundles of Joy” and “Feeding Program” conducted by the members of the Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) and Christian Professional Fellowship (CHRISPROFEL) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Barangay Captain Antonio Samsam welcomed and thanked the UCCP members for choosing Malayo Sur as recipient of the church yearly program.  UCCP Admin Pastor Rev. George Lungay, Romel Mahinay and Bethelou Piel spearheaded the activities. Aside from the feeding and distribution of bundles of joy, residents of Malayo were serenade by the Spiritual Touch Singers and CYF Band.

Scene:  Members of Baryo Amigo Cultural Troupe (BACT) of Toril, Maribojoc town revives the age-old traditions with their pastores (shepherds), a Spanish-era tradition depicting the shepherds’ jubilation at the birth of Christ. The event features musical groups interpreting through song and dance. BACT performed last Dec. 17 as part of the Bohol Arts Festival. The hour long Christmas musical was an instructional tool for people to know the story of the nativity, including some of the doctrines of the Church hierarchy regarding the nature of the birth of Christ. The lyrics say, “Gipanamkon nga ulay nga Virgen, gianak didto sa Belen. Putling kahimtang salamin, ang pagkaulay dili mabalhin. Nag-antus sa mga kapobre, gipahigda sa presepre. Ang banig habol gisilbi ang uhot, ug ang dagami.”

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How much do you know about the Christmas celebration?  Here are interesting Christmas trivia around the world on Christmas, collected by my nephew Yakyak:

• Merry Xmas! This abbreviation started with the Greeks. "X" is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ: Xristos. So saying or writing "Xmas" is the same as "C-mas."

• Jesus Christ, son of Mary, was born in a cave, not in a wooden stable. Caves were used to keep animals in because of the intense heat. A large church is now built over the cave, and people can go down inside the cave. The carpenters of Jesus' day were really stone cutters. Wood was not used as widely as it is today. So whenever you see a Christmas nativity scene with a wooden stable -- that's the “American” version, not the Biblical one.

• Christmas was once a moveable feast celebrated at many different times during the year. The choice of December 25, was made by Pope Julius I, in the 4th century A.D., because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one.

•December 25 was not celebrated as the birth date of Christ until the year 440 A.D.

• In France, Christmas is called Noel. This is derived from the French phrase les bonnes nouvelles, which means literally "the good news" and refers to the gospel.

• One of the striking symbols of Christmas in Philippines is the Parol. Parols are handmade star shaped lanterns. They symbolize the star of Bethlehem that led the three wise men to baby Jesus.

• Christmas season in Philippines is ushered in from December 16, with an Evening Mass or Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi. Celebrated for nine days till Christmas Eve (December 24). It begins at 4 o’clock in morning.

• Caroling is a cherished tradition for the Filipinos. Carolers perform for charity or for simple fun.

• There are 12 courses in Ukrainian Christmas Eve supper. According to Christian tradition, each course is dedicated 2 one of Christ’s apostles.

• The custom of singing Christmas carols is very old – the earliest English collection was published in

1521.

• The Christmas season begins at sundown on 24th December and lasts through sundown on 5th January. For that reason, this season is also known as 12 Days of Christmas.

• The best selling Christmas trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Balsam fir and white pine.

• Santa’s Reindeers are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. (No Rudolf)

• Myrrh is an aromatic gum resin which oozes from gashes cut in the bark of a small desert tree known as Commifera Myrrha or the dindin tree.

• More diamonds are purchased at Christmas-time (31 percent) than during any other holiday or occasion during the year.

• It is estimated that 400,000 people become sick each year from eating tainted Christmas leftovers.

• In France, Christmas is called Noel. This is derived from French phrase “les bonnes nouvelles,” which means “the good news” and refers to the gospel.

• Frankincense is a sweet smelling gum resin derived from certain Boswellia trees which, at time of Christ, grew in Arabia, India, and Ethiopia.

• There are two Christmas Islands. Christmas Island in Pacific Ocean was formerly called Kiritimati. Christmas Island in Indian Ocean is 52 sq miles.

• An artificial spider and web are often included in decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees. A web found on Christmas morning is believed to bring good luck.

• According to historical accounts, the first Christmas in Philippines was celebrated 200 years before Magellan discovered country for the western world.

• The first Christmas card was created in England on December 9, 1842.

• Electric Christmas tree lights were first used in 1895. The idea for using electric Christmas lights came from an American, Ralph E. Morris. The new lights proved safer than the traditional candles.

• Historians have traced some of the current traditions surrounding Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, back to ancient Celtic roots. Father Christmas's elves are the modernization of the “Nature folk” of the Pagan religions; his reindeer are associated with the “Horned God,” which was one of the Pagan deities.

• Forty percent of Filipino adults said they expect to gain weight during the winter holiday season. Of those, about 60 percent said following Christmas and New Year's Day, they would return to their original weight.

• Forty percent of child psychologists advise parents of preschoolers to “confirm Santa’s existence.”

• The popular Christmas song "Jingle Bells" was composed in 1857 by James Pierpont, and was originally called "One-Horse Open Sleigh."

• The Puritans forbade the singing of Christmas carols.

 • The tradition of Christmas lights dates back to when Christians were persecuted for saying Mass. A simple candle in the window meant that Mass would be celebrated there that night.

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Besides Kasadya Ning Taknaa, Ania Kami, Jingle Bells and Give Love on Christmas Day, The Twelve Days of Christmas is also my favorite, which is, you admit it, a bit hard to memorize. The song has a religious significance and the items mentioned in the lyrics are said to be “symbolic,” you know (the last stanza):

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying.
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

What exactly are the "Twelve Days of Christmas?"

According to the Internet, the song which starts with Christmas Day and ends with the eve of the Epiphany (usually Jan. 5), is said to have English origins in the 16th century although the music is reputed to be French. Its first publication date was 1780.

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” was originally written to help Catholic children, in England, remember different articles of faith during the persecution by Protestant Monarchs. The “true love” represented God, and the gifts all different ideas, the “Partridge in a pear tree” was Christ.

The other symbols mean the following: 2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments; 3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity-- the Theological Virtues; 4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists; 5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which relays the history of man's fall from grace; 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of Creation; 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments; 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes;9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit; 10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments;11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles; and 12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.

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