Christmas and St. Stephen's Day, two days full of peace and magic

The magic of the days that follow Christmas Eve and I really need to experience them to the fullest❣

Christmas Day, also known as Feast of the Nativity, falls on December 25. According to Christian traditions, on this day we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ – an event that, according to the Bible, took place in Bethlehem, where Mary traveled with her fiancé Joseph for a census.

And what fascinates me about all this? That Christmas coincides with pagan celebrations of the solstice. The sun returns after the longest night of the year, so these holidays were conceived as cleansing of body and spirit. Fires burned everywhere, and during the celebration no heavy work, trade, or fighting could be done.

That's why no work is allowed on this day. No sweeping the rooms, no making the beds. Just peace. A relaxed celebration. And light... lots of light! Don't forget about your own peace and quiet!

Family outing to church – in the past, this event was commemorated by disguised shepherds who went from cottage to cottage with their nativity scene and told stories about the birth of Jesus. Today, nativity scenes can be seen in churches and squares, and people meet there to sing Christmas carols.

Gala lunch – Good food is also part of the Christmas feast. On that day, the best that the household had was always prepared – and that was often goose or duck. Today, most families also serve chicken, turkey or guinea fowl, in the best case scenario! Otherwise, I think we have a new tradition – schnitzels and salad as long as someone eats it 😁 My favorite is the classic roast duck with cabbage and dumplings. The aroma wafting through the kitchen, the children arriving, it's a big family lunch, a nice afternoon! Hlahol, chat, coffee, sweets simply… Christmas.

Gift delivery – gifts that Santa Claus left under the tree for relatives and friends are also delivered. Visiting all the grandmothers, aunts, godparents… that is actually the most beautiful ritual. Seeing the joy in their eyes and especially seeing people you don't have much time to see during the year!

I discovered that there are so many beautiful superstitions associated with the Feast of the Assumption:

„"Frost on the Nativity of Christ - winter will remain unchanged."“

„"If it rains on Christmas Eve, drought will ruin the harvest."“

„"If it snows on Christmas, there will be plenty of grain in the fields."“

And do you know what the winemakers did? During mass in the church, they would watch the sun's rays penetrating through the shutters. If they shone on the priest during mass, it was a sign bountiful harvests the coming year.

Boxing Day falls on December 26th and is dedicated to Saint Stephen. He probably came from Hellenistic Jews, but during his life he converted to Christianity. He became a man of very strong faith - he performed great miracles and signs. Around the year 35 AD he was stoned outside the walls of Jerusalem.

The first martyr of Christianity and a highly educated preacher. He was renowned for his courage and openness, which brought him into conflict with the Jewish council of the time.

According to the Bible, he was condemned for his faith and stoned to death outside the walls of Jerusalem in 37 C.E. Before his death, he prayed for and forgave his enemies. Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, was present at his death.

According to legend, his remains were discovered in 417 after a vision by a Roman priest. They were transferred to Jerusalem and later to the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Rome. From there, his remains spread throughout the world, giving rise to numerous images and traditions associated with the young martyrs.

The cult of St. Stephen spread rapidly in Europe. He became the patron saint of horses, coachmen, stonemasons, tailors, carpenters, farmers and people who worked with stones. He helps against headaches, obsessions and protects the home.

In folk tradition, December 26th is mainly associated with carols, carol singers, and the blessing of the house and animals. Stephen is often depicted with stones — a symbol of the manner of his martyrdom.

„"There is no master for Stephen"“ – this is a very nice proverb. On Saint Stephen's Day, the service of servants and maids usually ended. They either extended their contract with their masters or went to work elsewhere. For a year's work well done, they were usually given gifts, most often special cake baked especially for the occasion. It consisted of three strands intertwined into a circle, which was decorated with colorful ribbons and nuts.

Imagine this: it was a day of freedom. A day when everyone, even for a moment, could feel like they were their own master.

Caroling – „"Carol, carol, Stephen..."“ Originally, caroling was closely related to old pagan customs. It was believed that it was possible to change one's fate by singing a carol. The objects caroled symbolized the future. In the 19th century, children would go to caroling with a stick with a Bethlehem star attached to it and a box with a small manger inside.

For the poor, caroling was an opportunity to enrich their diet and improve their finances for a few weeks ahead. Carolers were most often given something good to eat or a small amount of money.

Stepanovation – "stěpánování" was also fun, when young men threw grain at girls for health and beauty. Therefore, nothing should be taken out of the house on St. Stephen's Day, so that nothing gets messy or missing.

Family visits and feasting – the day was traditionally associated with gatherings with family and friends. In the past, people believed that on St. Stephen's Day, poultry – this is how duck, goose or chicken was roasted.

Even today, many Czech households serve a festive roast chicken for lunch on Boxing Day, whether it's duck, goose, turkey or chicken. Yes, we also eat the duck from yesterday... that's my tradition, what's left over from the kids, and it's true, sometimes the family gathering is moved to St. Stephen's Day!

Since Saint Stephen is patron saint of horses, it used to be customary to observe traditions and rituals associated with these beautiful and economically important animals. In many places, horses and the oats they are fed are still ceremonially blessed. In other places, horses are sprinkled with holy water to protect them from injury and illness in the following year.

This touched me. The care. The gratitude. The respect for the animals that lived, worked, and breathed with us. Lately, I've been a little saddened not only by the many unpleasant reports about how people treat animals, but also by how to help, for example, at a shelter during Christmas and the post-Christmas period. for horses! They tend to be worse after the holidays. Here it is list of shelters, but I believe that each of you knows at least one shelter 😇

Many people also had their blessings on December 26th. red wine in a chalice, in which they placed a small stone as a memory of Stephen's stoning, and then drank the wine. Also, salt and water, which were blessed in memory of Stephen, were used by people as a healing agent.

„"On Saint Stephen's Day, everyone considers themselves the master."“

„"If the winds hit Stephen, everything will be bad next year."“

„"When a strong wind blows on Stephen, the winemaker sadly closes his eyes."“

„"If the sun shines on St. Stephen's Day, the fruit will be expensive."“

„"When Saint Stephen blows the mud away, it will be a nice spring."“

„"A Christmas without snow brings a great snowy night."“

„"Many stars for Christmas, hens will lay many eggs."“

These are beautiful sentences, aren't they? How our ancestors noticed the light, the wind, the snow. How they read nature. How they looked for hope in it.

I discovered that Christmas and St. Stephen's Day are not just some "extra days off.". These are days of rest for the soul. Days when peace should be celebrated just like the birth of light.

Just being with family. Just eating good food. Just visiting. Just singing. Just spreading joy.

And when I realize that these traditions have been around for hundreds of years… that just like me today, our grandmothers, great-grandmothers, women before us sat at the table… I feel connected to something bigger. With a kind of invisible thread, which stretches through time and unites all women who have ever held food, love, peace and kept the warmth of the family hearth in their hands ❣

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PS: This year, try not to do anything at all. Seriously. Just sit down, light a candle, have a piece of duck, talk to someone you love. And then say to yourself: „This is my time. And I don’t need anything from anyone.“ Because there is no one on St. Stephen’s Day. And on Christmas Eve there is time just for peace. And that is the most beautiful gift you can give yourself. 🕯️🦆✨

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Wintering with elegance: comfort, peace and warming power