As this is a special Christmas edition of PDM I have decided to depart from the usual format and concentrate on Yuletide subjects. 

The Christmas Tree
 
The Christmas tree is one of the most dominant symbols of the Christmas season all over the world. The decorated and fully lighted Christmas tree has an aura in itself. It fills the air with warmth, love and happiness that are symbolic of the holiday season.

Though Martin Luther, the German monk and church reformer, first started the modern concept of indoor tree decorations, the tree has been associated with celebrations for centuries previous. In the Middle Ages, the Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope for the forthcoming spring. The modern Christmas tree evolved from these evergreen trees that were regarded as a symbol of life. The tradition then spread to other parts of Europe, and then to the entire world.

According to a legend, the Christmas tree is associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. It is believed that on the night of the birth of Christ, all kinds of living creatures came to Bethlehem with gifts. The olive tree came along with its fruit and the palm with its date, but the fir had nothing to give the newborn king. So an angel, taking pity on the fir, commanded a cluster of stars to shine on its beautiful boughs. The infant Jesus smiled on seeing the lighted tree, and blessed it. Consequently, the fir tree is always lighted with many decorations on it, to please little children during Christmas.

The Wassail

The word 'wassail' comes from 'Ves heill', Norse for 'be in good health'. Wassail is a drink consisting of ale, apple cider, and/or wine sweetened with sugar, and flavoured with citrus and spices. This brew is traditionally served in a large 'wassail bowl', garnished with small roasted apples, and ladled into serving cups. Slices of toast might also be set to float in the bowl, later to be offered to the tree.  The practice of Wassailing is still carried out in the orchards of the West Country.

Wassailing literally means, 'to wish health to' one's apple trees, in the hope that they will bear well in the next year. In addition, drums, bells, whistles etc. were used either to scare off evil spirits, or to wake the tree up; a libation of cider or ale was poured over the roots, and bread that had soaked in the 'wassailing' bowl was placed in the branches - an offering back to the tree.

Centuries ago this drink was popular around Christmas time, and here is a typical example. It’s quite easy to make and those heavenly aromas fill the whole house, hinting at riotous festivities and lots of revelling. At any rate, you can make this ahead of time and then just warm it up when needed. For a punch bowl of Wassail, you'll need:

1-gallon              fresh apple cider
2 ea                   cinnamon sticks
2 pieces             cloves
2 tsp                  allspice
1 tsp                  nutmeg
1-cup                  sugar

Place all the ingredients in a pot and let simmer for 30 minutes. Adding rum is optional. Charles Dickens describes hot apples that were bubbling and hissing in a mighty bowl of Wassail. This concoction does go extremely well with apples in all kinds of ways. Try pouring it over some peeled apple pieces, top them with a little brown sugar, then bake in a 200 degree centigrade oven for about 30 minutes. You can call them Baked Apples Wassail.

May you Wassail your way through the rest of the month, and be of good health and good cheer! 

France

Santa is known as Pere Noel. He is accompanied by Pre Fouettard, who keep track of children who has been good or bad, for Pere Noel. In some parts of France, Pere Noel brings small gifts in the beginning of December (Dec 6) and comes back to deliver more on Christmas Eve. In France the children get to open their gifts at Christmas, but the parents and other adults have to wait until New Year's. In France the children place their shoes by the fireplace, in hopes that le Pere Noel/Father Christmas of le Petit Jesus/Little Jesus will place gifts for them. They also have dinner at midnight on December 24 - this is called Le Reveillon.

Italy

It Italy, the main exchange of gifts doesn't occur until January 6th, the day traditionally believed to be the one when the Magi reached the baby Jesus. Italy has La Befana, who brings gifts to for the good and punishment for the bad. She is the same character as Russia's Babouschka, who refused to give the Wise Men food and shelter.

The Netherlands

Santa is known as Sinterklaas, and he came to Holland originally by boat, setting out on December 6th from Spain. He makes his gift deliveries by horseback. The children leave their shoes out, filled with hay and sugar for Sinterklaas' horse. In the morning they find their shoes filled with candy and nuts. When Sinterklaas appears to the children, he takes the form of their father or a favorite male relative.

Spain

The children of Spain leave their shoes on the windowsills filled with straw, carrots, and barley for the horses of the Wise Men, who they believe reenact their journey to Bethlehem every year. One of the wise men is called Balthazar, who leaves the children gifts. They call Christmas Eve Nochebuena, and families gather together to rejoice and share a meal around the Nativity scene.

Russia

Russia has a character named Babouschka, who would bring gifts for the children. The tradition says that she failed to give food and shelter to the Three Wise Men, and so she now searches the countryside searching for the Baby Jesus, visiting all children giving gifts as she goes. Santa was known as Saint Nicholas, but today is called Grandfather Frost, wearing a blue outfit instead of red. Hay is spread on floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow.

Greece

On Christmas Eve, to the beating of drums and the tinkling of triangles small boys usually sing carols. They go from house to house and are given dried figs, almonds, walnuts and lots of sweets or small gifts. Priests sometimes go from house to house sprinkling holy water around to get rid of the bad spirits who may be hiding in people's houses. There is a tradition called ‘Kallikantzeri’, where mischievious goblins appear from the earth during the twelve days of Christmas. In most Greek homes an evergreen tree is decorated with tinsel, and a star placed on top. Gifts are exchanged on January 1st, St Basil's Day.

Denmark

Santa is known as Julemanden, and he arrives in a sleigh pulled by reindeer with a sack full of gifts. Danish children know the elves as Juul Nisse, and believe that they live in the attics of their homes. Instead of biscuits and glasses of milk, they leave rice pudding and saucers of milk out for them.

Austria

The feast of St Nicholas marks the beginning of Christmas in Austria. The saint, accompanied by the devil, asks children for a list of their good and bad deeds. Good children are given sweets, toys and nuts. Gifts that are placed under the tree are opened after dinner on Christmas Eve.

Sicily

In Sicily the Sicilians fast from December 23rd at sunset to the December 24th at sunset. They then have a great Yule log, which is lit, after which prayers and songs are sung around the ‘Presepio’ or crib. Feasting, typically consisting of eels and larks, boiled pasta, fish, sweet bread and Torrone - a type of nougat, follows this.

‘La Befana’ visits the children on January 6. She was said to have been so busy cleaning her house that she missed out on going with the three wise men to Bethlehem. She was also considered to be a witch. Children hang up their stockings so that she will fill them with toys and gifts. 

Finally, here are are a few proverbs from around the world that you might like to bear in mind during 2002!

Spank small buttocks that large buttocks may not be flogged (Bulgarian)

You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from flying over your head.
But you can prevent them from nesting in your hair. (Chinese)

Do not blame God for having created the tiger.
But thank him for not having given it wings. (Ethiopian)

After being struck on the head by an axe,
It is a positive pleasure to be beaten about the body
With a wooden club (Chinese)

There is no economy in going to bed early to save candles,
If the result be twins. (Chinese)

May I take this opportunity to wish all those who have enjoyed my ramblings during the past year, and the readership of PDM in general, a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Saffy - December 2001