12 Days of Christmas Day 7

December 31st is known as as Saint Sylvester's Day, also known as Silvester and Saint Sylvester Feast Day. Tradition holds that Pope Sylvester I was responsible for the conversion of the Roman emperor Constantine I.

  Saint Sylvester's Feast Day is celebrated fireworks, going to a theater, partying and a Watchnight mass at midnight. 

  Some countries have their own traditions for this day. Like in Vienna, Austria some people walk pigs on a leash for good luck.

  In Brazil there is  Saint Silvester Road Race, the country's oldest and most prestigious running street race. It is dedicated to Saint Sylvester.

  In Italy the eating of lentils and sliced sausage is said to bring wealth and prosperity from the former and the latter symbolizes progress and abundance.

  

12 Days of Christmas Day 6 ( Traditional)

 On the 6th  day of Christmas we are given 6 geese a laying.This has been interpreted as the 6 days of Creation.

How the geese were laying was not specified.

Tea for Tuesday #24

 Swan teapots. More artistic than practical but sometimes that is what we like.

 I wish I knew where they are from, besides  Pinterest,so I can give proper credit. The last two are , according to the post there, AI. Still lovely.

Music Monday: Once Bitten Twice Shy

 Ian Hunter with Mick Ronson performing the original " Once Bitten Twice Shy " from Mr. Hunter's 1975 self titled debut album. 

   Having only discovered Ian Hunter a few months ago, this has become my favorite version of the song because Mr. Hunter enunciates his lyrics. Granted Great White's cover is more poppish rock but I never have been able to understand every word that is sung. 

Enjoy.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5 ( Traditional )

 Five gold rings. Religiously symbolizing the five wounds of Jesus. It also said that this verse represents the first five books of the Old Testament. Then there is the straightforward thinking of five golden rings is what it is... five gold rings. On pheasants not  jewelry. 

  The first illustration of gold rings as jewelry was published in 1780

 

Mother Monday #3 December 29nd

 Mother Holda. Frau Holle. At least this is what this artistry means to me.

The Veil by artist Kireev Vladimir Nikolaevitch 

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

 December 29th is the feast day of Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. 

  He was assassinated in 1170 by four knights of King Henry II of England. This is because Thomas Becket and the King had a long standing difference on clergy and secular punishment. The feud escalated with the king seizing lands and Becket excommunicating three bishops who crowned the junior king, Henry the Young, in Westminster Cathedral. This was a breach of Canterbury's privilege of coronation. 

Thomas á Becket rose

The Murder of St. Thomas Becket