Facts about December

December used to be the 10^th month of the Roman year and it gets its name from the word ‘decem’ which man ten.

The Anglo – Saxons called it “Winter monath’, or ‘Yule Monath’ because of the custom of burning the Yule log around this time.  After many Anglo Saxons became Christians they called it ‘Heligh monath’ or holy month, because Christmas the birth of Jesus is celebrated in December. In the northern hemisphere December marks the beginning of winter and it’s the time of rain, wind and snow.

Interesting fact about Christmas

St Nicholas Day 6 December

This is the feast day of St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (now Turkey) in the 4^th century AD. HE is the patron saint of children. In the Netherlands and neighbouring countries of Europe, St Nicholas is said to bring sweets and present to well behaved children on December 6. This tradition was imported to the US by Putch Settlers and St Nicholas evolved into Santa Claus, those gift – giving rounds are performed later in the month. In this new incarnation he subsequently returned across the Atlantic to merge with British Father Christmas.

Boy Bishop

It was formerly customary on St Nicholas Day to elect a boy bishop who would perform a  juvenile version of the normal duties and ceremonies of this office, excluding the celebration of Mass, until Holy Innocents Day (28 December Lord of Misrule 17 December.

In ancient Roman times, 17 December was the beginning of the festival of Saturnalia in honour of the god of agriculture. It was originally just a day event but eventually grew into 9 seven day orgy of feasting and merrymaking elements which later appeared in the Christmas New Year and Twelfth Night celebrations in the U.K.

The Saturnalia was a holiday period for all including the slaves, who were waited on by their masters for the duration. Presents were exchanged, informal clothes worn and gambling games permitted. It was also customary to appoint  a master of the revels, a character that appeared in England as the Lord of Misrule, who formally presided over the Christmas celebrations or over the entire period from All – Hallows Eve (31 October) to Candlemas (2 February).

The Winter Solstice (1st day of winter)

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the first day of the season of winter. It falls on or near 21 December.

The pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. It is a celebration of the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, when the North Pole is at its furthest point away from the sun (the sun is at its southernmost point in the sky).

Holy Innocents Day – Childrenmass

Holy Innocent Day, also known as Childrenmas falls on 28^th December. It commemorates King Herod’s massacre of all male infants in and around Bethlehem under the age of two in attempt to kill the young Christ.

In the days when Christmas was less children – centred, Childrenmas was a time for indulging children with treats and parties.

New Year’s Eve

31^st December is the last day of the year. It is New Year’s Eve. Many people see the old year out with a party, welcoming in the New Year with toasts of Champagne and exchanging of good wishes for a ‘Happy New Year!

WERE YOU BORN IN DECEMBER?

• Bless that day of your birth and declare that God’s purposes for which He allowed you to manifest on that particular day will be fulfilled
• Declare that day blessed. Declare that you will enjoy every fruit for this month assigned to you.
• Declare life, and joy for the coming days of your life. Celebrate that God chose a specific day, hour and minute that you were manifested into creation to make a difference.
• Declare that you will not die without fulfilling your purposes in this life. You will leave an indelible mark in this generation and in history. You will be a blessing and you will receive every deposit that life has to offer. You will not die before you receive every good thing God ordained for you.
• Declare that you will become all that God intended for you to become in the right season reaching the right people, in the right way.
• Nullify anything that has been released into creation to withhold you from fulfilling your redemptive purpose.
• Pray that your star will rise and shine ever brighter. Anything that has hitherto tried to cover your star will be swept away by God’s broom of destruction.