Medievalists.net » Christmas http://www.medievalists.net Where the Middle Ages Begin Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:06:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.9 A Christmas Crib as a Meek Heart of the Late Mediaeval Christian http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/25/christmas-crib-meek-heart-late-mediaeval-christian/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/25/christmas-crib-meek-heart-late-mediaeval-christian/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2014 00:16:28 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=55005 In the summer of 2013 the Rijksmuseum acquired a rare Late Gothic Christmas Crib (c. 1510-20). In the 15th century tangible aids - devotionalia - were promoted to support meditation, to accomplish as it were a link between God and the soul of the believer.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/25/christmas-crib-meek-heart-late-mediaeval-christian/feed/ 0 From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/25/st-nicholas-santa-claus/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/25/st-nicholas-santa-claus/#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2014 21:31:06 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=54999 How did a 4th century bishop become the jolly man who comes down the chimney with gifts for children on Christmas?

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/25/st-nicholas-santa-claus/feed/ 0 Bah! Humbug! Complaining about holiday gifts 1600 years ago http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/24/bah-humbug-complaining-holiday-gifts-1600-years-ago/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/24/bah-humbug-complaining-holiday-gifts-1600-years-ago/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:28:56 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=54982 Christmas has long been associated with gift giving, but one suspects that Asterius of Amasea would not like seeing all those presents under the Christmas tree!

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/24/bah-humbug-complaining-holiday-gifts-1600-years-ago/feed/ 0 Is Yule Cool – Or An Old-Fashioned Medieval Celebration? http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/17/yule-cool-old-fashioned-medieval-celebration/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/17/yule-cool-old-fashioned-medieval-celebration/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:43:12 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=54858 The end of the year is a messy mixture of different celebrations. Whatever your personal or religious background, the original celebration was the winter solstice - celebrated by our ancestors for thousands of years. We take a look beyond modern history and find some interesting customs that have survived the test of time.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/17/yule-cool-old-fashioned-medieval-celebration/feed/ 0 The Earliest Christmas Tree http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/14/earliest-christmas-tree/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/14/earliest-christmas-tree/#comments Sun, 14 Dec 2014 20:25:39 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=54806 One of the most iconic traditions of Christmas is having a tree in your house, decorating it and placing the presents underneath. How early did this tradition begin?

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/12/14/earliest-christmas-tree/feed/ 0 The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/23/the-saint-who-would-be-santa-claus-the-true-life-and-trials-of-nicholas-of-myra/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/23/the-saint-who-would-be-santa-claus-the-true-life-and-trials-of-nicholas-of-myra/#comments Tue, 24 Dec 2013 04:38:06 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=46007 Around the fourth century in what is now Turkey, a boy of humble circumstance became a man revered for his many virtues.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/23/the-saint-who-would-be-santa-claus-the-true-life-and-trials-of-nicholas-of-myra/feed/ 0 Sal ich von den Ioden liten große pin? – Integration and Isolation in the Medieval German Christmas Play http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/20/sal-ich-von-den-ioden-liten-grose-pin-integration-and-isolation-in-the-medieval-german-christmas-play/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/20/sal-ich-von-den-ioden-liten-grose-pin-integration-and-isolation-in-the-medieval-german-christmas-play/#comments Sat, 21 Dec 2013 04:50:17 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=45942 I would like to start with two responses to the performance of Christmas plays that provide some insight into their effect on the socialization of the Christian communities in which they were performed.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/20/sal-ich-von-den-ioden-liten-grose-pin-integration-and-isolation-in-the-medieval-german-christmas-play/feed/ 0 Saint Lucy’s Day: A Light in a Dark Time http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/15/saint-lucys-day-a-light-in-a-dark-time/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/15/saint-lucys-day-a-light-in-a-dark-time/#comments Sun, 15 Dec 2013 15:33:30 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=45798 Scandinavian and Sicilian girls eagerly await the arrival of Saint Lucy on 13 December.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/15/saint-lucys-day-a-light-in-a-dark-time/feed/ 0 A Medieval Christmas: Such Splendid Sight Was Never Seen http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/11/a-medieval-christmas-such-splendid-sight-was-never-seen/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/11/a-medieval-christmas-such-splendid-sight-was-never-seen/#comments Wed, 11 Dec 2013 21:10:21 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=45693 Take in this medieval play in Toronto on Friday December 13th and Saturday, December 14th

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/11/a-medieval-christmas-such-splendid-sight-was-never-seen/feed/ 0 The Hidden History of Christmas Carols http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/08/the-hidden-history-of-christmas-carols/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/08/the-hidden-history-of-christmas-carols/#comments Sun, 08 Dec 2013 06:42:49 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=45565 Apparently early carols could be quite lewd, and they were originally associated with dance as well as song.

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