26 December - Saint Stephen

Weather - If on St. Stephen’s Day there is much wind, it betokens a bad grape harvest next year, and the wine will be poor. [Boo. What if it's only a little wind? A barely-move-the-branches wind?]

Weather today foretells the weather of February.

If the sun shines on the second day of Christmas, then money will be easily come by. [come on, sunshine!]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Returning to the traditions concerning horses and St. Stephen’s day, today was a great day for racing.  The horses might be ridden to church and there raced four or five times around it, while the priest blessed the animals and sprinkled Holy Water on them.  In Munich, up to 1876, men on horseback would ride three times around the interior of the church [obviously, no pews had invaded the building].   In another German district, the winner of the early morning race was called “Steffen” and honored throughout the day, most noteably at the local inn. 

In southern Denmark, stablehands would visit their colleagues at other farms early in the morning, groom their horses together, and then ride around the farmyards making a great deal of noise until the inhabitants woke up, upon which the noisemakers were treated to beer and liquor [the thus rudely awakened inhabitants were much more lenient than I would be, trust me.]  In Sweden, 1:00 am (0100) saw a frenzied race to a spot where the water flowed northward.  The horse who first drank “the cream of the water” was expected to flourish all the year; his rider was treated to a more potent potable than Adam’s Ale.  In Sweden also, bands of youths would race before daybreak from one village to the next, waking the good folk with their noise, for which they expected to be rewarded with ale and spirituous drinks.

More on Saint Stephen and the traditions of his day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is also Boxing Day, the first weekday after Christmas.  A very good time to remember all those who have given you good service throughout the year – the postal delivery person,  the kid who pumps your gas for you, the church secretary, your veterinarian, the auto mechanic or plumber who can always managed to fit you into their schedules when it’s an emergency... I'm sure you can think of people to thank.  A mince pie is traditional, but cookies work... or maybe something in the line of filled chocolates (the filling is up to you.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last year, the recipe in honor of St. Stephen was “Dublin Rock”, but if you don’t feel up to the challenge, make cupcakes (your choice of flavors and frostings) and top with those hard candies that are decorated to look like small rocks or pebbles [you can find them in some of the larger craft stores, or wedding or bakery supply stores.  They can also be ordered online, but obviously not in time for today’s treat.]  There is also that breakfast cereal in the shape of pebbles, or you can make rocks out of marzipan.

Christmas Weather Lore 2012

For other traditions of Christmas, go here.

For traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas, go here.

For your soul’s sake go here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If Christmas day on Tuesday be,
That year shall many women die,                     (boo!)
And that winter grow great marvels;
Ships shall be in great perils;                            (boo!)
That year shall kings and lords be slain,
And many other people near them.                   (probably body-guards)
A dry summer that year shall be,                      (a good thing)
As all that are born therein may see;
They shall be strong and covetous.                   (that’s not nice)
If thou steal aught, thou losest thy life,             (rather draconian)
For thou shalt die through sword or knife;        (well, at least it’s not guns)
But if thou fall sick, 't is certain,
Thou shall turn to life again.                             (comforting…)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the sun shines clear and bright on Christmas day, it promises a peaceful year, free from clamors and strife, and foretells a plentiful year.

                however

A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard.

So many hours of sun on Christmas Day,

So many frosts in the month of May.

If the sun shines through an apple tree on Christmas, there will be an abundant crop of apples in the coming year.

A warm Christmas, a cold Easter; A green Christmas, a white Easter.

Easter in snow, Christmas in mud; Christmas in snow, Easter in mud.

If it rains on Christmas, there will be four weeks with no sun.

The wind at the end of Midnight Mass will be the dominant wind in the coming year [i.e., an east wind, a north wind, etc.]

A windy Christmas is a sign of a good year to come.

A windy Christmas and a calm Candlemas are signs of a good year.

If there is much wind on Christmas Day, trees will bear much fruit.

If the wind grows stormy before sunset on Christmas, it betokens sickness in the coming spring and autumn. [Well, there’s an easy bet, whether it is stormy or not!]

A green Christmas, a good harvest.

        on the other hand

If it snows during Christmas night, the crops will do well.

        and

If it snows on Christmas night, there will be a good crop of hops next year [and hops make beer, and beer makes the Widow’s heart merry.  This may be the only time I hope for snow.]

If at Christmas, ice hangs on the willow, then clover may be cut at Easter [i.e. early Spring, and pasturage for the animals]

Light Christmas, light wheatsheaf;

Dark Christmas, heavy wheatsheaf.

         and

A bright Christmas foretells that hens will lay well.

        on the other hand

A dark Christmas foretells that cows will give much milk.

When Christmas day cometh while the moon waxeth, it shall be a very good year, and the nearer it cometh to the full moon, the better shall that year be.  If it cometh when the moon decreaseth, it shall be a hard year, and the nearer to the latter end, the worse and harder shall the year be.  [And the moon waxeth greatly, and is only three days from full.  Shall we look forward to a good year?]

On Christmas day, place twelve onions in a row, each with a pinch of salt on the top, The first onion on the left represents January, the next February, and so on.

On Epiphany, check the onions.  If the salt has melted on any one of them, the corresponding month will be wet; where the salt remains, that month will be dry.

24 December - Christmas Eve

Weather: As the weather is on St. Adam and Eve, so will it be until the end of the month, and also will be mostly throughout the next year.  [In the traditional calendar, today was dedicated to our first parents, Adam and Eve.]

If Christmas Eve is bright and clear, then follows a very fruitful year.

When on Christmas night and evening it is very fair and clear weather, and is without wind and rain, then it is a token that this year will have plenty of wine and fruit.  [Come on, fair and clear!]

If it is foul weather and windy, so shall the year be very scant of wine and fruit. [Boo!]

If the wind should arise at the rising of the sun, then there will be a great dearth of cattle. [Boo!]

If the wind should arise at the setting of the sun, then there will come death to kings and other leaders. [Okay, I’m not sure I’d mind this too much… not that I wish death on anyone, not even our own Dear Leader.]

[Today, so far, has been very fair and clear, and no wind.  Huzzah!  However, the weather reports say that we shall have ‘wintery conditions’ this evening late until tomorrow mid-morning.  Well, those who look forward to this kind of thing will have a White Christmas.  The Widow looks forward to plenty of wine and fruit.]

Christmas Eve, Dick!  Christmas, Ebenezer!

Traditionally, as was true of all Vigils before important Feasts, this is a fast day.  We are still in Advent until this afternoon when Vespers or the Vigil Mass of Christmas begins the Great Feast. 

Our Vigil Mass always has the “Children’s Nativity” with several of our little angels (and shepaherds, and Mary and Joseph, and Three Kings, and a really big Star) making their way from one of the many doors of the church to the Manger before the Altar.  So cute. Never know what is going to happen – do we have a cryer this year (faced with the multitude, King #2 wants her Mommy, right now!)  Can we keep the Star from outpacing the Kings, and the Angels from outrunning the Shepherds?  Can we keep them moving so that they will reach Bethlehem before the end of the hymn?   It always works out.  And when that is finished, and the participants return to their families, Mass begins.

And what a rejoicing it is.  After Advent (“It’s not penitential!” “Yeah, right.”), days (weeks, for some) of fasting and abstinence and getting ourselves ready for His coming, Christmas is here!  Our Lord has come and our joy rings to the rafters!

Sour ol’ Naogeorgus in the 16^th century couldn’t stand all this flummery.  First he makes fun of the credulous who believe in miracles, then calumnates the priests on the score of stealing the offerings for use in gambling, and ends by rolling his eyes at the congregation standing around a crèche and singing hymns and carols.  Naogeorgus never died, you know.  He lives today in any media organ you care to name:

“Then comes the day wherein the Lord did bring his birth to pass,

Whereas at midnight up they rise, and every man to Mass.

This time so holy counted is, that diverse earnestly

Do think the waters all to wine are changed suddenly,

In that same hour that Christ himself was born, and came to light,

And unto water straight again transformed and altered quite.

There are beside that mindfully the money still do watch,

That first to altar comes, which then they privily do snatch.

The Priests, lest other should it have, takes oft the same away,

Whereby they think throughout the year to have good luck in play,

And not to lose: then straight at game till daylight do they strive,

To make some present proof how well their hallowed pence will thrive.

Three Masses every Priest doth sing upon that solemn day

With offerings unto every one, that so the more may play.

This done, a wooden child in clouts is on the altar set

About the which both boys and girls do dance and trimly jet,

And carols sing in praise of Christ, and for to help them hear

The Organs answer every verse, with sweet and solemn cheer.

The Priests do roar aloud, and round about the parents stand,

To see the sport, and with their voice do help them and their hand.”

There are more traditions for Christmas Eve here.

(I am off to cut a few sprigs of holly to decorate my bedstead, and then it will be time to get ready for Mass.)

A blessed Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night.

23 December – Lille Juleaften; Risengrød

In the Nordic countries, like Denmark, today is Lille Juleaften or Little Christmas Eve, the beginning of Christmas festivities.  Sweden and Norway have similar celebrations.

A sort of Christmas Eve eve, you might say.

The longest night of the year has passed, the sun has started its return journey, the Son of God is coming – it is time to rejoice!

The big activity today is bringing in and decorating the Christmas tree.  Many families have a special day set aside in December for making ornaments, like the pleated paper Julehjerter (Yule Hearts).  A festive atmosphere surrounds the trimming of the tree; meanwhile, æbleskiver make the hearts (and tastebuds) of children glad, and glögg does the same for the adults.

The traditional dinner tonight is a treat of Risengrød, a rice porridge topped with cinnamon, sugar, and butter.

[While that may not sound like much of a treat, remember that neither cinnamon nor sugar is necessary to sustenance, and that for most people, hard-earned money was spent on necessities.  When sugar or spices could be afforded, they were saved for the most special occasions and often seen only a few times in the year.]

This is a very simple recipe, but needs a deal of care in the making.  You will need to stir the contents of the pot often to make sure the milk doesn’t scorch or the rice burn.

The ingredients are rice (short-grain is best) and milk.  A lot of milk.  About four to six times the amount of rice, more or less.

For a large number,  use 2 cups of rice and 10 to 12 cups of milk.  For three to four diners, use a scant ½ cup of rice and 2 cups of milk.

In a suitable sized saucepan, bring the milk to a boil.  Don’t let it boil over.

Add the rice, stirring continuously, and bring the contents back to a boil.

Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer until slightly thickened, stirring often to keep the rice from burning.  The amount of time depends on the amount of porridge.  It can be anywhere from 30-40 minutes for a small batch to an hour for a large batch.  If it ends up  too thick, add a little more milk.

Bury an almond in the rice after it is finished and spoon rice into individual bowls.  Top each serving with a nice pat of butter (about a tablespoon) and cover with a dusting of cinnamon-sugar.  The one who finds the almond is the next one to marry, but if your young’uns don’t consider that a welcome idea, the one who finds the almond will have good luck for the year.

For cinnamon-sugar, you can either buy it ready made, or make it yourself.  I like a 4:1 ratio, so I mix ¼ cup of white sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon together in a bowl (and keep the extra in an empty spice bottle with a shaker top).  Add more sugar or more cinnamon to the mixture to suit your taste.

Such a simple dish has any number of variations.  Some add salt, either at the beginning of the cooking process or at the very end.  Some add the rice with the milk and bring them to a boil together.  Some cook the rice first in water, then add the milk.  Some add the rice and turn off the heat, letting the rice absorb the milk for several minutes, before finishing the cooking.  Some add a little more in the way of flavor, like orange juice.

And if you can’t see your way to eating porridge for dinner, there’s always breakfast.

Glædelig Jul!

22 December - Electric Christmas Lights

Sweet Clip Art

Weather - Ember Day - the weather today indicates the weather of March

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometime around this date in 1882, probably a few days or even a week previous, Edward H. Johnson of New York, Vice President of Edison Electric Lamp Company, invited a journalist friend from the local New York Daily Tribune to his Manhattan home to view a little something he had rigged up.  That little something was a Christmas tree hung with colored light bulbs and turning on a little wooden box.

The journalist, William A. Croffut (1835 – 1915), knew both Edward Johnson and Thomas Edison well – he had been reporting on Edison and all his works from 1878 and may have been responsible for dubbing him “the Wizard of Menlo Park”.   This is his account of his visit to Johnson’s home:

Johnson's Christmas Tree, 12/25/1882

“Last evening I walked over beyond Fifth Avenue and called at the residence of Edward H. Johnson, vice-president of Edison’s electric company.  There, at the rear of the beautiful parlors, was a large Christmas tree presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect.  It was brilliantly lighted with many colored globes about as large as an English walnut and was turning some six times a minute on a little pine box.  There were eighty lights in all encased in these dainty glass eggs, and about equally divided between white, red, and blue.  As the tree turned, the colors alternated, all the lamps going out and being relit at every revolution.  The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors, red, white, blue, white, red, blue – all evening.”

“I need not tell you that the scintillating evergreen was a pretty sight – one can hardly imagine anything prettier.  The ceiling was crossed obliquely with two wires on which were hung 28 more of the tiny lights; and all the lights and the fantastic tree itself with its starry fruit were kept going by the slight electric current brought from the main office on a filmy wire.  The tree was kept revolving by a little hidden crank below the floor which was turned by electricity.  It was a superb exhibition.”

The Detroit Post and Tribune, a weekly illustrated paper which published on Fridays, ran this story in their December 22, 1882 edition.  Croffut, while working for the New York Daily Tribune, kept up a correspondence with newspapers in about fifteen different states, and the Detroit newspaper may have been one of them [note: the phrase “our foreign correspondent” or “our correspondent in New York” did not mean that the journalist in question was employed solely by that particular newspaper.]  Of course, the Post and Tribune might also have used the not-altogether-unknown method of cribbing stories from other newspapers. 

In any case, because it seems to be the only remaining published account of the first Christmas tree lights, every article written on the subject repeats that “Croffut” was a reporter from Detroit, sometimes embellishing the story that he was visiting family in New York, that he was a young reporter [Croffut was 47], and that he alone responded to Mr. Johnson’s general invitation, while the local papers unaccountably ignored it.  Well, like incorrect family trees which everyone copies without checking to see if the information is correct, this little myth will remain part of Christmas-tree-light history, to be repeated over and over again.

For more information on the history of Christmas lights (and loads of pictures) check out Old Christmas Tree Lights, a delightful website dedicated to the twinkling, glowing lighted decor of Christmas Trees.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In honor of Johnson’s invention, make these Cute Sugar Cookie Lights from busylittleelf.  The instructions sound very easy, and if you have several Cook’s Helpers underfoot, they can separate the candies into piles of different colors.  (Impress upon the Cook’s Helpers that they are not to dispose of any candies until after the cookies are made]

Remember, the 12 Days of Christmas are coming up, when you will have the pledges of your affection home from school looking for things to do.  Baking Christmas cookies is a good group project.

21 December - Saint Thomas the Apostle

Saint Thomas gray, Saint Thomas gray,

The longest night and the shortest day!

Astronomy: The Winter Solstice occurs early this morning at 6:12 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (11:12 Universal Time).  The Old Farmers Almanac says that it is the earliest winter solstice since 1896.

Winter Solstice for us in the northern hemisphere… Summer Solstice for those in the Antipodes.  Maybe it is just easier to call it December Solstice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weather Lore:

This is the 2^nd Winter Ember Day.  The weather today indicates the weather for February.

As the wind and weather on the solstice, so will it be for the next three months.

The first three days of a season govern the next three months.

A frost beginning on Saint Thomas's Day will last for three months.

Frost on the shortest day is said to indicate a severe winter.

If it freezes on the shortest day, the price of corn will fall;

If it be mild weather, the price of corn will go up.

Look at a weathercock at 12:00 noon on St. Thomas’s Day and see which way the wind blows – for there it will stay for the next (lunar) quarter.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Farming and Gardening:

The day of St. Thomas, the blessed divine,

Is good for brewing, baking, and killing fat swine.

Plant shallots on the shortest day and harvest them on the longest.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At Calmina, the birthday of the blessed apostle Thomas, who preached the Gospel to the Parthians, the Medes, the Persians and Hyrcanians.  Having finally penetrated into India, and instructed those nations in the Christian religion, he died transpierced with lances by order of the king.  His remains were first taken to the city of Edessa and then to Ortona.

You can read more about Saint Thomas and the traditions and customs of his day here.

Well a day, well a day,

St. Thomas goes too soon away;

Then your gooding we do pray,

For the good time will not stay.

Please to remember St. Thomas Day.

20 December - St. Thomas Eve

Tomorrow being the feast of Saint Thomas (in the Old Calendar), today is Saint Thomas Eve.

Do you have your onions ready, so that you can dream of your true love?

(Must've been a bad onion)

Oh, wait.  The world is supposed to end tomorrow, isn’t it.

In that case, nevermind.

Artwork: The Charivari (Fauvel’s Wedding Night), Romance of Fauvel (manuscript, early 14^th century) Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale.

19 December - Ember Day

Weather – Ember Day – the weather today indicates the weather of January.

Today is the first of the Winter Ember Days, the other two being this coming Friday and Saturday.  These are days set aside in every quarter of the year during which we fast and pray, thanking God for his many blessings, and asking for the grace to use them well and in the service of others.

I wrote more about them here.

For the fun of it, I took again the Medieval Personality test, and this year – or at least right now – I am Phlegmatic.

The Phlegmatic:

   Is deliberative; slow in making decisions; perhaps overcautious in minor matters.

   Is indifferent to external affairs.

   Is reserved and distant. [painfully shy…]

   Is slow in movement. [Yeah, well, creaking old bones and a tendency to embonpoint can account for that…]

   Has a marked tendency to persevere.

   Exhibits a constancy of mood. [Yep, even-keel, that’s I]

(And enjoys hibernating before the fire)

========================================================

Meanwhile, I have been checking the weather to see how close the prognostications for the month have come.  These were the ones for December:

Weather for December:

Based on the 12 Days of Christmas: Sunny and less cold.

Based on the first 12 days of January: Rain, wind, cold, raw.  Brrrr…

Based on the Ember Days: Dark clouds in the morning, bright sunshine in the afternoon.

The last Sunday of the month indicates the weather for next month: The last Sunday of November had clear skies and high winds, very chilly high winds.

Well, here we are in the last half of the month, and so far, at least in this corner of the Smallest State, most of the days have been plenty darksome, with overcast, rain, threatened rain, fog – no appreciable snow yet, God be thanket.  But while we haven’t had many sunny days, it has been less cold than could be expected

Speaking of snow, another weather superstition is that the date on which the first snow falls indicates the number of snows we will have that winter.  Our first snow (a mere dusting) was on the 27^th of November, which means we can look forward to twenty-seven snows.  Oh, joy…  Couldn’t have waited a few more days and fallen on the 1^st of December, could it?

(The Widow is not overly fond of snow, except for the picture-postcard kind which falls on the fields and leave the roads and sidewalks clear.  When she was growing up (in California), she went to the snow, it did not come to her.  Those were days when people put chains on their tires after hieing themselves to the mountains for some Winter Recreation.)

One final superstition:  The general character of the weather during the last twenty days of December will rule the weather for winter. Starting from the 12^th, the weather has been nearly half and half, so far.  Three continuous days of bright sunshine, followed by five days of overcast and rain.  I wonder which will prevail?

15 December - Bill of Rights Day

How apropos.

In 1791, ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States were ratified by the required three-quarters of the states and became law.  While further amendments have been made to the Constitution, these first ten are known as the "Bill of Rights".

Celebrate them while you can.

One part of the First Amendment has been under fire for the last four years, and will come to its proving ground next year.

And because of yesterday's horrific crime, the usual suspects are up in arms (oh, did I say that?) screaming for the deletion of the Second Amendment.

The Bill of Rights.  Going the way of the dinosaurs.

Because, as the old show said, "You Asked For It!"

13 December - St. Lucy; Pasta Fritta alla Siracusana

Lucy light, Lucy light,

Shortest day and longest night. 

Weather:  If St. Lucy’s day be bright, Christmas day will be dark with snow; but if the snow falls on St. Lucy, Christmas will be clear and sunny.

Well, here at Rudd’s Little Acre+ the skies are clear, the sun shines bright, nary a dismal cloud in sight – so perhaps we shall have a white (but dark) Christmas, for those who look forward to that kind of thing…

And if these clear skies hold for the next twelve hours, I shall have fine (but very chilly) viewing of the Geminids tonight.  Reports already in of some spectacular sights last night – I hope the same for tonight.

The weather on each of the twelve days from St. Lucy to Christmas Eve presages the weather for the twelve months of the coming year.

Go ahead.  Keep track if you can, and then compare the prognostications with the actual weather next year.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lucy takes her mother to pray at the tomb of Saint Agatha

Relying on Your goodness, O Lord,

we humbly ask You, through the intercession of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr,

to give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for Your greater honor and glory.

Saint Lucy, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.  Amen.

I wrote about the traditions of Saint Lucy’s day here, with a recipe for (non-traditional) Eyeball Cookies.  This year, I shall try a dish from Lucy’s home of Syracuse (Siracusa) in Sicily called “PASTA FRITTA ALLA SIRACUSANA” aka Syracusan Fried Pasta.  The recipe is here and looks pretty simple.

Cook 1 pound of vermicelli to al dente; drain and reserve.

In a heavy frying pan, sauté 1 clove of garlic (whole) in 1/3 cup of olive oil, until it just starts to turn brown (medium heat works for me).

Remove garlic from pan.  Remove pan from heat.

Add 3 to 4 anchovies to the oil and mince in the pan.

Now add your drained pasta to the pan, dust with about 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs, mix together well, and fry over very low heat.

Serve.

Ahhhh…. Garlic and anchovies.  Not conducive to a meaningful social life, but who cares? 

Artwork: “Lucy takes her mother to pray at the tomb of Saint Agatha” from John Gilmary Shea, Pictorial Lives of the Saints (1889) p. 492.

DECEMBER

And after him came next the chill December:

Yet he, through merry feasting which he made

And great bonfires, did not the cold remember;

His Saviour’s birth his mind so much did glad:

Upon a shaggy-bearded Goat he rode,

The same wherewith Dan Jove in tender years,

They say, was nourisht by th' Iaean Maid;

And in his hand a broad deep bowl he bears,

Of which he freely drinks an health to all his peers.

                                                                                Spenser

“Like the three preceding months, December derives its name from the place which it held in the old Roman calendar, which divided the year into ten months, December (the tenth) being the last.  The ancient Saxons called this the Wintermonath, or Winter Month, but after their conversion to Christianity they changed the name to Halig Monath, or Holy Month, in honor of the Christmas anniversary on the 25^th.” 

                                                                                         Curiosities of Popular Customs, p. 324

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Astronomy for December:

The full moon on the 28^th is the Cold Moon or Hunting Moon.

Solstice occurs at 6:12 am (EST) on December 21^st.  The Old Farmer’s Almanac says that it is the earliest winter since 1896.

Meteor Showers

The spectacular Geminid Meteor Shower peaks in the overnight hours of December 13 – 14. No moon that night (and hopefully no clouds), so start watching from about 8 pm until dawn. 

The Ursid Meteor Shower , when it takes place (and it doesn’t always), runs from December 17 through 25, but the peak is on December 22-23.  The moon will be waxing, and at peak will set a couple of hours after midnight, so the best watching is in the (brrrrrrr) predawn hours.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Novenas for December

December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

Saint Nicholas                        continues from 27 November

Immaculate Conception       continues from 29 November.  Also here and here.

Advent                                     continues from 30 November. Not actually a novena, as it is said 15 times each day from Saint Andrew’s day until Christmas.

Our Lady of Guadalupe         begins 3 December.  Also here and here.

Saint Lucy                                begins 4 December.

Christmas                                 begins 16 December.  Also here, here, and here.

Epiphany                                  begins 28 December

[Note, because someone asked.  You can say novenas at any time, just as you can say prayers at any time.  Many people like to pray specific novenas nine days before the specific festival, hence the timetable above.]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ember Days

12/19:  Weather today foretells the weather of January
12/21:  Weather today foretells the weather of February
12/22:  Weather today foretells the weather of March

Chill December brings the sleet,

Blazing fire and Christmas treat.

Weather for December:

Based on the 12 Days of Christmas: Sunny and less cold.

Based on the first 12 days of January: Rain, wind, cold, raw.  Brrrr…

Based on the Ember Days: Dark clouds in the morning, bright sunshine in the afternoon.

The last Sunday of the month indicates the weather for next month: The last Sunday of November had clear skies and high winds, very chilly high winds.

---------------------------------------------------------

Weather Lore for December:

December cold with snow is good for rye.

December’s frost and January’s flood

Never boded the husbandman good.

Thunder in December presages fine weather.

                     On the other hand

If it thunders in December, there will be cold weather.

                    Along with

Thunder in December signifieth cheapness of corn and wheat, with peace and accord among the people.

12/1 – 3: As the first three days of December, so will be the first three months of the year.

12/2: If it rains on St. Bibiana’s day, it will rain for forty days and a week.

On the other hand, optimists may prefer:

         If it rains on the first Sunday of the month before Mass, it will rain for a week.

         If it storms on the first Sunday of the month, it will storm every Sunday that month.

12/12-31: The general character of the weather during the last twenty days of December will rule the weather for winter.

12/13: If St. Lucy’s day be bright, Christmas day will be dark with snow; but if the snow falls on St. Lucy, Christmas will be clear and sunny.

           The weather on each of the twelve days from St. Lucy to Christmas Eve presages the weather for the twelve months in the coming year.

12/14: Halcyon Days begin.

12/21: Look at a weathercock at 12:00 noon on St. Thomas’ Day and see which way the wind is – for there it will stay for the next (lunar) quarter.

           Frost on the shortest day is said to indicate a severe winter.

           If it freezes on the shortest day of the year, the price of corn will fall;

           If it be mild weather, the price of corn will go up.

           As the wind and weather at the solstice, so will they be for the next three months.

12/24: As the weather is on St. Adam and Eve, so will it be until the end of the month, and also will be mostly throughout the next year.

            If Christmas Eve is bright and clear, then follows a very fruitful year.

          When on Christmas night and evening it is very fair and clear weather, and is without wind and rain, then it is a token that this year will have plenty of wine and fruit.

          If it is foul weather and windy, so shall the year be very scant of wine and fruit.

          If the wind should arise at the rising of the sun, then there will be a great dearth of cattle.

          If the wind should arise at the setting of the sun, then there will come death to kings and other leaders.

12/25: If the sun shines clear and bright on Christmas day, it promises a peaceful year, free from clamors and strife, and foretells a plentiful year.

                              However

          A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard.

          So many hours of sun on Christmas Day,

          So many frosts in the month of May.

          A warm Christmas, a cold Easter; A green Christmas, a white Easter.

          Easter in snow, Christmas in mud; Christmas in snow, Easter in mud.

          If it rains on Christmas, there will be four weeks with no sun.

         A windy Christmas is a sign of a good year to come.

         A windy Christmas and a calm Candlemas are signs of a good year.

         When Christmas day cometh while the moon waxeth, it shall be a very good year, and the nearer it cometh to the full moon, the better shall that year be.  If it cometh when the moon decreaseth, it shall be a hard year, and the nearer to the latter end, the worse and harder shall the year be.  [And the moon waxeth until full on the 28^th.]

          A green Christmas, a good harvest.

                         On the other hand

           If it snows during Christmas night, the crops will do well.

                                    And

           If it snows on Christmas night, there will be a good crop of hops next year [and hops make beer, and beer makes the Widow’s heart merry.  This may be the only time I hope for snow.]

            Light Christmas, light wheatsheaf;

            Dark Christmas, heavy wheatsheaf.

                                    And

           A bright Christmas foretells that hens will lay well.

                        On the other hand

           A dark Christmas foretells that cows will give much milk.

           [This year Christmas will be very bright.  A good egg year coming!]

           If the sun shines through an apple tree on Christmas, there will be an abundant crop of apples in the coming year.

           If there is much wind on Christmas Day, trees will bear much fruit [and they are not talking about the emissions after a heavy Christmas lunch!]

           If at Christmas, ice hangs on the willow, then clover may be cut at Easter [i.e. early Spring, and pasturage for the animals, a good thing.]

           If the wind grows stormy before sunset on Christmas, it betokens sickness in the coming spring and autumn. [Well, there’s an easy bet, whether it is stormy or not!]

          On Christmas day, place twelve onions in a row, each with a pinch of salt on the top, The first onion on the left represents January, the next February, and so on.

          On Epiphany, check the onions.  If the salt has melted on any one of them, the corresponding month will be wet; where the salt remains, that month will be dry.

          Thunder during Christmas week indicates that there will be much snow during the winter.

          The twelve days from Christmas to January 5^th are said to be the key to the weather for the following twelve months.

          If it rains much during the 12 days of Christmas, it will be a wet year.

          If the days between Christmas and Epiphany are dark and foggy, there will be much sickness next year.

          If it sleets between Christmas and Epiphany, there will be a good mast year.

         If the sun shines on the 1^st day of Christmas, there will be abundance and much joy in the world.

         If it shines on the 2^nd day, then money will be easily come by.

        On the 3^rd day, there will be a great fight among poor men, but peace between rulers and powerful men.

        On the 4^th day, there will be a great lost of money.

        On the 5^th day, there shall be a great bloom of fruit that year.

        On the 6^th day, there will be much milk.

        On the 7^th day, there will be a good crop on the trees.

        On the 8^th day, then quicksilver will be easy to get.

        On the 9^th day, then God shall send a great baptism that year.

        On the 10^th day, then will the oceans and rivers have a great supply of fish.

        On the 11^th day, then will there be many deaths among men.

        On the 12^th day, men will be weak, and the earth will be quiet.

                                                                                           From a c1120 manuscript.

12/26: If on St. Stephen’s Day there is much wind, it betokens a bad grape harvest next year, and the wine will be poor.

12/27: If St. John’s day is dark, the following year will be good.

12/28: If it be lowering and wet on Childermas Day, there will be scarcity; while if the day be fair, it promises plenty.

12/30: The weather on the last Sunday of the month presages the weather for the following month.

12/31: Wind on St. Sylvester’s day seldom brings good wine.

                     Then again,

           A north wind blowing on New Year’s night foretells a fruitful season.

                    Or not.

           If on New Year’s Eve, the wind blows south, it betokens much warmth and growth;

           If west, much milk, and fish in the sea;

           If north, much cold and storms there’ll be;

           If east, the trees will bear much fruit;

           If north-east, flee it, man and brute.

           If the old year goes out like a lion, the new year will come in like a lamb. [And you thought that just pertained to March, didn’t you.]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gardening for December

Then Ivy and Holly Berries are seen,

And Yule Clog and Wassail come round again.

12/21 - “Plant shallots on the shortest day and harvest them on the longest” (June 21)

According to the 1817 Almanac: “Set all Sorts of Stones, Kernels, &c.  Plant Vines, and Stocks for Grafting; trench Ground, and dung it for Borders.”

“Towards the end of the Month, sow Radishes, Carrots, and Lettuce on warm Borders.  Sow Cresses, Mustard, and other Sallad Herbs on a moderately hot Bed, and cover them with Mats.”

“Plant all Sorts of Trees that shed their Leaves.”

Cassell’s Illustrated Almanac (1871) for November:

Flowers – Dig out the borders, re-arrange the beds if required, and protect the roots of all tender plants. Open the pits freely in the finer days of the month, but water very sparingly, if at all.

Vegetables – Attend to the autumn-sown plants, removing decayed leaves, &c. Onions may be planted where the ground is dry.

Fruit – Mulch over the roots of tender trees, such as apricot and peach, as they are often so far affected by frost as to be barren in the coming year.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Health for December

"Keep your Feet warm by Exercise, your Head cool through Temperance; never eat till you are hungry, nor drink but when Nature requires it."

==============================================================

December. Engraving by Samuel Williams. William Hone, The Everyday Book and Table Book, (1838), p. 1343.

Immaculate Conception.  Francesco de Zurbaran, c1628.

December – Threshing and Winnowing. Engraving based on an 11^th century manuscript. William Walsh, Curiosities of Popular Customs (1898), p. 324.