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Shoes and Christmas

Discussion in 'Break Room' started by Cameron, Dec 20, 2007.

  1. Cameron

    Cameron Well-Known Member


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    For thousands of years European pagans celebrated mid winter with festivals and feasts. December 25th was the day to honour the harvest god, Saturn, and Mithras, the god of light as far back as 336 AD. Four thousand years ago, Egyptians (3110- 30BC) celebrated the rebirth of the sun at this time of the year and their festival lasted 12 days to reflect the 12 divisions in the sun's calendar. Evergreens were cherished because they symbolised the season to come. Using palms with 12 shoots to symbolise a complete year they decorated their houses with greenery in a similar way to what we do now. Special food was prepared for the feasts that followed and singing and gift giving during the winter solstice became established practice. Babylonians (1750- 529 BC) too celebrated the year's renewal and these festivities were later adopted by the Persians (529BC - 637AD) and eventually this merged into ancient Roman culture in the festival of Saturn. Once Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, many of the pagan celebrations were incorporated into the Christian calendar. In the Old Celtic Calendar, New Year was held on the 1st November and the Celts believed from Halloween to Hogmanay the spirits of the dead and those not yet born walked freely among the living. Samhain (or the Feast of the Dead) was an unreal time or twilight zone when one year turned into another and darkness (night) prevailed over the light (day). Believers were convinced as the seasons changed the Sun God, Lugh was defeated by his dark side to become the Lord of Misrule. The Festival of Saturn was a Persian Custom which upheld a subversion of social order during celebrations and slave and master would exchange places. This practice was commonly seen throughout the Middle Ages during festivals such as The Festival of Fools. During the Festival of Saturn grudges and quarrels were forgotten and wars were interrupted or temporarily set aside as merriment of all kinds prevailed. Domestically the role of master and slaves were exchanged. The custom passed through the Middle Ages to become a parlour game in Victorian Times. Queen Victoria’s family served their servants, food and drink on Christmas Day. During the Festival Light (mid Samhain) good folk needed the comfort of their own kin and protection from the evil forces of the darkness. Many rituals and superstitions from that time still prevail and are incorporated within modern Christmas customs. Lighting candles and lamps helped return the light and warmth and was thought to chase away spirits of darkness. A remnant of this is seen in the lights which decorate the Christmas tree. Christmas was called the Festival of light in the Western (Latin) Church. The first Christmas Day celebrations are thought to date to AD 521, and were celebrated by King Arthur. The Yule log was a Norse custom and burning it was a celebration of the sun during the winter months. The Yule log has taken on major symbolic significance at Christmas time and is generally thought to bring good luck. Yule logs burnt throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas and it was extremely foreboding if the Yule log could not be lit when starting the fire. Old Yule embers were kept by members of the household as lucky talisman for the year ahead, and then used as kindling to start the Christmas fire. An old wife’s tale was to keeping Yule log embers under the bed to get rid of chilblains. A bad omen was if the Christmas Yuletide log was touched by female bare feet or a squint eyed man. During the twelve days, flat footed strangers to the house brought bad luck. Some authorities believe this was the origin of the arch support which is known to date from the 18th century. The Evil Eye (as in the squint eyed man) is well documented in occult literature but there is no reasoned explanation for flat feet. In Judo-Christian belief that man was made in the image of God meant the foot was always depicted in Christian art as curved and well formed. The flat foot, came to represent the opposite and hence became the ‘evil fit’ Functional feet were important to early Christians as walking was the only means to spread the Gospel, subsequently well formed feet became associated with joy and happiness. Literature abounds with reference to this. For example, in the Middle Ages there was a saying “If you do not give a new pair of shoes to a poor person at least once in your lifetime, you will go barefoot in the next world." Shoes were only worn by the well healed so going barefoot was unthinkable for them. Many pilgrims would by choice go barefoot as a mark of humility but the hierarchy of the church continued to dress sumptuously (something the present Pope is working on changing). Lowly clerics were by Papal Law prevented for wearing anything other than clerical sandals (or Monks, a type of buckled mule). In the Middle Ages giving charitable gifts to the less privileged became a seasonal preoccupation and by the late 17th century, miniature porcelain shoes were popular gifts, given for good luck. Known as 'fancies in faience' these were miniature shoes filled with sugar almonds or jewellery like rings, brooches and even shoe buckles. The term faience was derived from Faenza in Italy. The shoes were meant for luck and their contents underpinned friendship. The fashion for faience grew throughout the 18th century and porcelain makers like Delftware catered accordingly. Delft was based in the Netherlands and produced distinctive style of glazed earthenware (usually blue and white). The company produced wonderful miniatures much admired because of their painted designs, often including people in everyday events. The Rococo slipper immortalised by the fairy tale Cinderella (written by Charles Perrault -1697) and was copied endlessly. Miniature shoes took on an erotic nature and polite gifts of shoes were often exchanged between lovers in the hope and expectation the ultimate prize would soon be within grasp. An old superstition was never to give a friend a new pair of shoes as they were sure to walk away from you and wearing new shoes on Christmas Day was also thought to bring bad luck. Miniatures and slippers seemed to fill that gap. In Sweden it was believed evil trolls roamed the countryside between cockcrow and daybreak on Christmas day. Children born on Christmas Eve or Christmas day were feared to be Kallikantzaroi (evil demons). They would cause chaos through the twelve days of Christmas by playing malicious practical jokes on the unsuspecting. A tradition in Greece was to burn old shoes to stop the Kallikantzaroi and bring luck in the coming year. A common superstition was shoes held the spirit of the previous wearer and burning them may have unleashed a power, otherwise as Luther believed, the Devil and demons hated the smells of humans and were repelled by the stench of burning shoes. The ancient Egyptians would inhale the fumes from their burning sandals as a cure for headaches. This might not have been such a strange custom since their footwear was made from vegetable materials containing natural salicylates. In some countries children born within the Christmas festival had their hair bound in braids of garlic or straw and their toenails singed. Christmas children in Poland were feared to be werewolves. By the twelfth century Christmas had become the most important religious festival in Europe and whilst merriment and religious devotion were at odds with a strict church, ultimately they were incorporated due to political pressures. Worship of Mithras (The God of Light) took place in churches called grottos and may have given origin to Santa's Grotto. In 1644 the English Puritans forbade any merriment in religious services by an Act of Parliament based on the grounds this was a heathen practice. According to the Act, Christmas was to be kept as a fast. Cavalier King Charles II revived the feast but the Scots dogmatically adhered to the Puritan view there was no reference to celebration of Christmas in the New Testament and hence stubbornly refused to embrace Christmas celebration for several centuries. The Scottish tea planters in the Far East enjoyed dining on turkey and plum pudding long before their relatives at home, recognised Christmas Day. The first official Christmas celebrated in Australia was Dec 25, 1788 at Sydney Cove. No Christmas cheer was shown to the prisoners on that day with the exception of Michael Dennison who had been sentenced to 200 lashes. In the spirit of the season the prisoner was given 150, instead.
    Queen Victoria and Prince Albert loved Christmas as it was celebrated in Germany and were instrumental in making modern Christmas fashionable in the UK. What we now recognise as a modern Christmas with Santa was actually invented in Victorian Times. Many of the ancient beliefs were ironically caught in the sentiments of Christmas cards which became popular at this time.
    Once upon a time on Christmas Eve, or so the story goes, a little French girl put her sabots in front of the fire, hoping Father Christmas would leave her something. When she woke up on Christmas morning she could not find her wooden clogs but instead, where the clogs were, she found a pair of clay fired, shoes, filled with confectionary. Her grandmother explained the strange transformation. Santa Clause was chilled to the marrow and forced to light a fire to keep warm. When he ran out of firewood he used the little girl's clogs to feed the fire. By means of thanks and so as not disappoint the child, Father Christmas ventured outside into the cold to find some clay. With incredible skill he forged a pair of porcelain shoes and left them, filled with nuts, apples and spiced buns. If you are ever in France during the festive season you may be surprised to find children lay out their shoes and not their stockings for Santa Clause. Traditionally French and Spanish children left their clogs filled with carrots and hay for the reindeer and Santa reciprocated by filling their shoes full of confectionary. This is known as Sabots de Noel. It was only in the English version of Saint Nicholas, he throw golden coins down the chimney which were caught in the children’s' stockings, hanging up to dry by the fire.


    Happy Festivus:santa:
    toeslayer
     
  2. W J Liggins

    W J Liggins Well-Known Member

    Thanks for that Toeslayer. It's all fascinating stuff.

    What is doubly interesting is the echoes which still exist. In one of the private hospitals where I have privileges, the management serve the staff to their Christmas dinner. I have no idea why this does not take place in the NHS!
    The traditional Christmas pantomime in England, although with strong influence from Italy, is a continuation of the tradition of misrule. Until PC overtook us the 'principal boy' was a girl and the 'dame' is still a man. Scotland too has pantomimes and the villain always speaks with an English accent. Again, I can't imagine why!
    Also in England, although I believe elsewhere in the world also, it is custom to lace an old pair of shoes to the back of the bridal couple's car.

    It is good to see these old traditions carried forward, especially when fortunate people such as ourselves, think of those less fortunate and do something to ease their lot.

    So a happy Hogmanay, Samhain, Hannukha, Eid, Diwali and Saturnalia and all those that I have missed and to all, a happy and peaceful Christmas.

    Bill Liggins
     
  3. Cameron

    Cameron Well-Known Member

    Bill and fellow romantics

    >I have no idea why this does not take place in the NHS!

    Nouveau riche (?). Patronising action of hypocrits on one level but a pleasant innocent activity on another. Of course such gatherings are loaded with PC conventions such not telling your boss what you think of them (off the record); and definately no funny business involving the photocopier.

    I will tell a story about myself. First of all, I tell my boss(es) exactly what I think of them 365 days of the year. That is probably why I have had so many jobs in my life and not been invited to too many parties, either. However I once photocopied by bottom (in th privacy of my single office) for a Christmas wheeze. I made up a face mask and wore it to a mask party much to the amusement of my fellow revelers who remained, in the main, blissfully unaware of what they were looking at. When I was asked who I was, I replied "I am Jim Royale" (character from the Royal Family (BBC) whose catchphrase was 'My arse!').

    >Scotland too has pantomimes and the villain always speaks with an English accent. Again, I can't imagine why!

    In Europe all female roles until after the Bard, were played by men. Acting was always considered a dubious occupation, and the ambiguity surrounding the sexuality of the female impersonators was cause for alarm. People in the middle ages were most uncomfortable with misrepresentation and cross dressing in particular was always viewed with great suspicion. This anachronism became epitomised in the Pantomime dame and ‘camping up’ the part was a form of satire. The English accent was a racial slur implying all Sassenachs were effeminate and more importantly untrustworthy. The mere fact Scottish Barons had systematically robbed their countrymen blind for centuries make the Zionistic marginalisation all the more amusing. The Scots and Irish traditionally went barefoot and considered the habit of wearing shoes as effete and something only an Englishman would do. There was a term “Going Irish” used in the 17th century which referred to going barefoot, a fad which was picked up by some English aristocracy. They posed for portraits in full dress of the period but were otherwise barefoot. The same came a little later when the English aristocracy dressed in highland fancy dress. Up until this time ordinary Scots were banned from wearing their traditional highland dress but the new parlour fashion for fancy dress crossed over into what is now seen as Scottish Highland Dress (or a bastardisation of traditional Scottish sartorial).


    >Also in England, although I believe elsewhere in the world also, it is custom to lace an old pair of shoes to the back of the bridal couple's car.


    Marriage superstitions are found in all cultures and association with feet, footwear and marital bliss has a long linage dating back millennium. Romans thought evil spirits gathered at doorways and to avoid contact, the new bride was always carried over the threshold. The same superstition can be found in Japanese culture when shoes are left outside the home. By the Middle Ages, European brides wore slippers or socks to her nuptial bed to prevent her bare feet from touching the floor and inviting misfortune. Bridal accents represented merriment, virginity and abundance and brides have carried age-old amulets to ward off the evil-eye. Later these came to include a chivalrous garter, an heirloom brooch of innocence, and a buckle (or bow) to fasten her shoes. An old greeting given to the bride and groom on the way to the church was "A happy foot!" and it was customary for the bride to ward off evil sprits by kissing fellow travelers and inviting them to join her on the road to the church. Refusal was taken as a bad omen and all were welcome except barefooted women, who were treated as witches and would bring only, bad luck. The exchange of shoes in many cultures plays a critical role in the ceremony of union. Married couples in the Inca culture signalled completion of ceremony with the exchanged of sandals. In Biblical times taking off a shoe demonstrated completion of a business contract. In Ruth 4:7, the kinsman of Boaz, “drew off his shoe," to indicate a land deal, described as "this was a testimony in Israel." Whether this was the origins of the custom where fathers’ of the bride gave the groom their daughter’s shoe to symbolise the exchange of chattels and the responsibility for the bride’s well being remains unknown. In medieval France, the custom was for the groom to sit with his shoe over his bride’s foot during the ceremony or alternatively, at the end of the ceremony for the groom to tap his bride’s head with her shoe to demonstrate he was master of the house. In other countries the bride’s wedding shoe was placed at the head of the bed on the husband’s side to symbolise his sexual possession of his bride and to encourage fertility. Today wedding shoes are frequently kept by the bride, which may have its origins in these customs. For most cultures the connection between footwear, luck and marriage still continues with the miniature silver shoe on the wedding cake and the symbolic tying of a boot or shoe to the back of the vehicle in which the newly weds begin their honeymoon.

    The origins of the old English custom to throwing shoes at the bride and groom are obscure but may relate to the symbolic clash of the relatives. In many cultures women were abducted and the groom would steal his bride from her family which often ensued in a fight. Shoes may have been used as a weapon, today usually the only shoes thrown are paper confetti shapes. An old Northern Italian custom was to have everyone try on the bride’s shoe and in Hungary the groom drank a toast to his future bride from out of her wedding slipper. The bride’s red shoes in China were tossed from the roof to ensure their future happiness. In Finland the groom had to give his new mother in law a pair of shoes before he could join his bride. A Welsh variant was bride and groom were given a pair of shoes (usually clogs) cut from a single block of wood and joined together by a chain. Two little cavities contained a lump of sugar and a piece of coal to ensure the couple would never lack sustenance and warmth.

    Kissing the feet was a common part of ceremony from antiquity and by the 16th century, in France, newly married couples stood outside the church naked, as the groom kissed the bride’s big toe of her left foot. The ceremony was complete only when each partner gave the other the sign of the cross first with their heels, then with their hands. A common variation was for the bride to kiss the groom's foot.

    An old English custom was for the male guests to rush the bride after the ceremony to remove her garter. In Europe if a new bride lost her footing on the way to her new home from the church this was considered a very bad omen. Whether it was this superstition or that so many brides were injured in this panic attack the custom evolved into throwing the garter to the groomsmen. In many countries the married couple were accompanied to the bridal suite by their families. Removal and exchange of stockings was an intimate affair and represented an intimate act of caring and commitment to each other. ‘Flinging the stocking' probably predates throwing the bride’s bouquet and took place after the wedding couple were escorted to the wedding chamber by their guests.

    Fortunately the shoes thrown today are paper confetti shapes. In antiquity shoes were frequently accessorised with horns, crescents and other representations of the moon. Throwing shoe shaped confetti may symbolise the propitiation of the moon and fertility.

    The rhyme "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." is often slavishly followed but few people know the last line to the rhyme "and a lucky sixpence in her shoe." Although the origins of the rhyme are unknown it did appear for the first time in print during the 19th century and was ascribed to "some Lancashire friends". From the seventeenth century "something old" was thought to protect a baby. The something old could be the bride's garter, her slippers or a handkerchief but a pair of shoes belonging to someone special in the bride's life was also common. Grooms too were known to wear something old and in Biblical times old boots were given to worn at the ceremony. There are no citations for "something new" albeit brides would normally wear their best dress to the ceremony. From early Saxon days through to the 18th century the poor bride came to the wedding dressed in a plain white robe. The significance of which had little to do with virginity but instead was a public declaration that she brought nothing with her to the marriage and had no debt for her new husband to honor. It was widely accounted wearing something burrowed was lucky. The something borrowed varied to something golden or something stolen. A common belief was the bride would enjoy the same luck as the previous owner if the shoes of another happy bride were worn. This custom may well account why today the bride’s shoes are kept as keep sake. Wearing something blue was an expression of faithfulness and was cited in Chaucer's' Squire's Tale (1390). A long standing bridal superstition stated no harm could befall a bride wearing blue, so very often a bride selected either a blue garter or one coordinated with her bridal colours. The blue hue of choice was heaven's blue. Carrying a coin at the wedding symbolically come to represent future wealth for the bride but the origins of a ‘sixpence under the shoe’ probably relates to the ancient custom of "Jus Prima Noctis", where the king, lord, or priest of the parish could claim access to the bride on her first night of marriage. This was common to many cultures including the Scots. During the reign of Malcolm III (1058-93), Queen Margaret demanded and secured the abolition of the law and a mark of silver was substituted as the price of redemption of the girl's chastity. This is thought to be the purpose of the sixpence under her shoe. It was not until seven hundred years later however in 1774 that the lucky silver sixpence appeared in the official records when a Scottish groom used the sixpence in his shoe to ward off evil from his revival. From then on Scottish bridegrooms would protect themselves by placing a silver sixpence under their feet and stand on the latchet of their shoe laces. The latter would prevent them from tripping another reference to setting out on a journey. By 1814 brides commonly used the silver sixpence as talisman to ward off evil doings from disappointed suitors. In Canada, brides wore a 25 cent bill in their shoes and US brides from North Carolina carried a dollar bill in their shoes. In Sweden, the father of he bride placed a silver coin in the left shoe of the bride and the mother put a gold coin in the right shoe. This meant the bride would never lack luxuries. A common belief was the bride would enjoy the same luck as the previous owner if the shoes of another happy bride were worn. This custom may well account why today the bride’s shoes are kept as keep sake. Wearing something blue was an expression of faithfulness and was cited in Chaucer's' Squire's Tale (1390). A long standing bridal superstition stated no harm could befall a bride wearing blue, so very often a bride selected either a blue garter or one coordinated with her bridal colours. The blue hue of choice was heaven's blue. Carrying a coin at the wedding symbolically come to represent future wealth for the bride but the origins of a ‘sixpence under the shoe’ probably relates to the ancient custom of "Jus Prima Noctis", where the king, lord, or priest of the parish could claim access to the bride on her first night of marriage. This was common to many cultures including the Scots. During the reign of Malcolm III (1058-93), Queen Margaret demanded and secured the abolition of the law and a mark of silver was substituted as the price of redemption of the girl's chastity. This is thought to be the purpose of the sixpence under her shoe. It was not until seven hundred years later however in 1774 that the lucky silver sixpence appeared in the official records when a Scottish groom used the sixpence in his shoe to ward off evil from his revival. From then on Scottish bridegrooms would protect themselves by placing a silver sixpence under their feet and stand on the latchet of their shoe laces. The latter would prevent them from tripping another reference to setting out on a journey. By 1814 brides commonly used the silver sixpence as talisman to ward off evil doings from disappointed suitors. In Canada, brides wore a 25 cent bill in their shoes and US brides from North Carolina carried a dollar bill in their shoes. In Sweden, the father of he bride placed a silver coin in the left shoe of the bride and the mother put a gold coin in the right shoe. This meant the bride would never lack luxuries.

    Scottish bridegrooms too had their superstitions and many wore their left shoe without buckle or lacing (latchets) to prevent witches from interfering with their male prowess on the night of nuptials. An alternative in the Isle of Sky was to tie their shoes together where as in other parts of the highlands the laces on the right shoe were loosened at the church door. No explanation can be found to explain these quaint customs.

    A bridesmaid who trips on her way to the alter will remain a spinster and in Germany pregnant women wore their husband’s shoes. This was thought to her strength because the husband was stronger. Throwing shoe shaped confetti may symbolise the propitiation of the moon and fertility. In Lancashire married women wanting to conceive a child would try on the shoes of a woman who had just given birth. This custom may convey the implied reason for trying on shoes in Cinderella. The Prince was selecting an appropriate partner for procreation. When the laces of a lady's shoe were undone then her lover was thinking about her. A bridesmaid who trips on her way to the alter will remain a spinster and in Germany pregnant women wore their husband’s shoes. This was thought to her strength because the husband was stronger.

    :drinks

    toeslayer
     
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