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#yule

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David Castleton (Author)

In the past, Christmas decorations tended to stay up until Candlemas (February 2nd), but during the Victorian era the Christmas season was shortened. Now most people agree decorations should be taken down by the end of 5th January (12th Night), with it being considered unlucky to keep them up longer. There used to be considerable debate about what to do with the Christmas evergreens. Some insisted they should be burnt as soon as they were taken down. Others were aghast at this custom and laid them respectfully on rubbish heaps. Others still felt it lucky to feed them to farm animals. #Christmas #Yule #folklore #history #weird

Close-up photo of Christmas decorations hanging on a tree. There are lights, a snowflake and three coloured baubles.
Public
David Castleton (Author)

A common folklore motif is the 'Wild Hunt', in which a crowd of dead or damned souls rampage through the air or across the sky. The hunt can be led by witches or by figures as diverse as Odin, King Arthur, the Devil, Cain or Herod. The hunt is most commonly sighted in winter, especially during Yuletide. In some parts of Germany, it's said washing should not be left hanging out over Christmas in case the hunt becomes entangled in it and that windows should be left open at night so the hunt can pass through. #Folklore #weird #Yule #Christmas #gothic #mythology

Painting showing mounted, martial figures - both male and female - rampaging on houseback across a tempestuous sky surrounded by ravens. (The Wild Hunt of Odin, 1872, Peter Nicolai Arbo)
Public
David Castleton (Author)

An interesting Christmastide tradition from Iceland concerns a giantess named Gryla. She punished naughty children by ... putting them in a soup and cooking and eating them. She was assisted by 13 Yule Lads - troll-like brothers who captured badly behaved kids in sacks and were also sometimes partial to snacking on them. Such stories were so terrifying that in 1746 the government issued a law forbidding parents to use tales of the Yule Lads to frighten their children. Today, the Yule Lads are jollier, kinder figures, perhaps having been softened by the influence of the American Santa Claus. #folklore #Yule #Christmas #weird #mythology

A giantess with long fangs and a sack over her shoulder chasing some terrified-looking children through an icy, mountainous landscape.
Public
David Castleton (Author)

A custom often practised during Christmastide - especially in Yorkshire and north east England - is the sword dance. Participants dance in circular patterns before interlocking their swords to form a 'knot' or 'rose', which is raised towards the sky. Sometimes the blades are interlocked around somebody's neck then swiftly withdrawn in a mock decapitation ritual. My article about strange Yuletide traditions: davidcastleton.net/strange-chr #folklore #Christmas #Yule #history #weird #dance

Men wearing red coats walk in a circle around one dancer who raises the 'knot' of swords - in a star shape - towards the sky. The dancers are performing in a street of stone buildings watched by members of the public.
Public
David Castleton (Author)

Perchta is a Christmas witch or monster found in Austria and Bavaria. She is active during the 12 nights of Christmas and, especially, on 6th January. She rewards good children, but bad children are cut open with a ploughshare, disembowelled, stuffed with straw then sewn up using a chain as thread. Perchta will also punish anyone who works on household tasks during the Christmas period and anyone who doesn't leave food and drink out for her. #Christmas #Yule #folklore #weird #mythology #12daysofchristmas #gothic

Photo of a Perchta-type figure from the Kingdom of Bohemia, 1910. A female figure in a shawl, long dress and hideous mask stands in front of a male horned and bearded figure.
Public
David Castleton (Author)

The term 'Boxing Day' comes from the fact that servants, workers and tradespeople had 'Christmas boxes'. On 26th December - or in the run-up to Christmas - they expected those they had served throughout the year to place a tip in these containers. The boxes were earthenware, with a slot in the top, and had to be broken to get the money out. Working out who owed tips to who could be an expensive and complicated business and could cause resentment. An article in the satirical magazine 'Punch' from 1849 complained of "our postman ... who has all year scarcely condescended to greet us with the odd nod has ... been making a series of low bows, which for some time we thought were ironically meant, until we remembered the compliments of the season ..." #BoxingDay #Christmas #Yule #folklore #history

A sketch showing large numbers of people carrying around boxes in an urban environment, with some asking for a tip at a door and a householder reaching into his pocket.
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udo m. rader ☕ 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 🐧

Merry , a happy , a beautiful or just a good time!!!

The time around Winter Solstice is special to many cultures, and there are a lot of old stories. My favorite is the story of the Child of Light, who is born every year on the Winter Solstice as part of the Wheel of the Year.

And if there's one thing we really need in these dark times, it is more light, much more light.

A short 11 km trail run this morning at -11C in fresh snow

@running

A serene winter landscape with a snow-covered field in the foreground and the majestic snow-capped mountains around mt. Birgitzköpfl in the background against a clear blue sky. A lone evergreen tree stands silhouetted on a snowy hill to the right, and a line of fence posts extends across the middle ground. The morning sunlight catches the peaks of the mountains, giving them a golden glow. The snow in the foreground shows smooth, windswept textures.
Public
Sunguramy :nb_lily:

#karstmas day 25!

I debated what to post today...and decided to just go with this quickly shot video. Best with sound turned UP...and...wait for it! (Everyone needs a little TSO in their life, right?!)

[Channeling Dwight from The Office] "This. Is. KARSTMASSSSSSSS!!!!"

(For those who prefer, I did write a lot of alt text! I always write alt text, by the way, and often put more information in it.)

#caves#caving#waterfall
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