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15-11-2020, 08:06 PM
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Did you know .... about Christmas?

.......Christmas is a contraction of “Christ’s Mass,” which is derived from the Middle English Cristemasse, which in turn comes from the Old English Cristesmæsse, a phrase first recorded way back in 1038.

........The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by civil servant Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843.
Featuring a family drinking wine, one sold for £8,469 in 2014.

........It’s technically illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day in England. In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas pudding, mince pies and anything to do with gluttony. The law has never been rescinded.

........Mistletoe (Viscum album) is from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means “little dung twig” because the plant spreads though bird droppings.

.......The word “Carol” actually means dance or song of praise and joy, and they used to be sung during all four seasons, but the tradition of only singing them at Christmas is the only one to survive.

.......Hanging stockings out comes from the Dutch custom of leaving shoes packed with food for St Nicholas’s donkeys. He would leave small gifts in
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15-11-2020, 08:20 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

Thanks for that Mags, very interesting....I love Christmas and all of it's traditions....And although I'm not too religious I never fail to attend Midnight Mass with Mrs Fox at the local church. It's nice to meet people from the village who I haven't seen since last year...I'm not sure it will be the same this year.
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15-11-2020, 08:36 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

crimble is a nice name for it.
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15-11-2020, 08:51 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

Originally Posted by Mags ->
In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas pudding,
He obviously never tasted an M&S Christmas pudding.
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15-11-2020, 08:57 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

Originally Posted by d00d ->
crimble is a nice name for it.
Yes d00d, I also like the name Crimble
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15-11-2020, 08:58 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

Originally Posted by Harbal ->
He obviously never tasted an M&S Christmas pudding.
I take it you can recommend the M&S puddings, Harbal?
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15-11-2020, 09:01 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

Very interesting Mags. Thanks.

(But you included the mistletoe one twice!)

Incidentally, as I understand it, mistletoe is never hung in churches except for York Minster, for some reason.
I suppose they didn't like the idea of the congregation kissing each other during the priest's sermon.
https://www.tripsavvy.com/facts-and-...0in%20churches.
(See no. 4)
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15-11-2020, 09:03 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

Originally Posted by Mags ->
I take it you can recommend the M&S puddings, Harbal?
I can recommend the ones they sold about ten years ago, but I wouldn't know now.
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15-11-2020, 09:12 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

Originally Posted by JBR ->
Very interesting Mags. Thanks.

(But you included the mistletoe one twice!)

Incidentally, as I understand it, mistletoe is never hung in churches except for York Minster, for some reason.
I suppose they didn't like the idea of the congregation kissing each other during the priest's sermon.
Thanks JB

I didn’t realise mistletoe is never hung in churches but your reasoning makes sense...
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15-11-2020, 09:36 PM
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Re: Did you know .... about Christmas?

An interesting read Mags, I didn't know most of that.

Oooooo I love Christ's Mass and everything about it.
 
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