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
16th 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.
