 |
Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.
A Christmas Celebration
A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization
All donations are tax deductible
Copyright © 1997 - 2010 |
"It was always said of him, that
he knew how to keep Christmas well."
Charles Dickens, English Novelist
I've long loved the Christmas season: the handed down traditions, the spiritual renewal, the sounds and sights and scents, the joy and promise of goodwill to all. As a native Louisianan, arriving during the holidays in Pennsylvania several years ago brought a huge sense of homesickness and loss of forty plus years of past Christmases which have only embedded themselves deeper in my fond memories. The five Kiddens and I shared Christmases very different than the Southern ones we had back home in the Bayou State. It was good to come home again to continue my beloved southern Christmases. Christmas is very much a part of my day-to-day life. I eagerly look forward to the next one as fast as the last is celebrated.
This site is a celebration of Christmas. As time permits, I will be adding from my numerous years' worth collection of Christmas poems and stories for your holiday and everyday pleasure, keeping the spirit of Christmas throughout the year.
Brief History of Christmas
Although the birthday of Jesus has been celebrated throughout the world on December 25th for more than fifteen centuries, the origins of this winter holiday extend much futher back in time. Long before the birth of Christ, the Romans had a festival of tribute to Saturna, God of Plenty, from December 17th to 23rd and celebrated the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun on December 25h, the day of winter solstice. The Festival of Yule was celebrated during the same period by the Teutons in northern Europe. In the fourth century, Pope Julius I, in an attempt to absorb these and other pagan festivals into the Christian faith, decreed December 25th to be Christ's birthday, although no one knew the exact date of His birth.
Decorating the home with evergreens can be traced back to the Druids, who used this greenery to adorn their dwellings and sacred places. Holly and ivy were considered magical plants because they keep their leaves and bear fruit in winter, but by the Middle Ages, according to Christian teaching, holly berries came to symbolize the blood of Christ, the prickly leaves for the Crown of Thorns, and the clinging ivy representing immortality.
Carols originated in France. The word is from the ancient French carole, meaning ring, because early carolers would dance as they sang. Although some of these early holiday songs had religious significance, most were ballads.
The tradition of Santa Claus, the jolly bringer of gifts, was brought to American by Dutch settlers, who had their Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklass, for several centuries.
Today, Christmas is a wonderful amalgam of customs and traditions. It is a special, joyous time of the year when friends and families gather to celebrate and honor the Holy Family. It is a time of reflection and renewal, a time to sing carols, to exchange gifts, to read aloud, to share warm and generous feelings.
"Kaddo" is my deliberate misspelling of Caddo Parish, Louisiana where we live (a parish is county to all other states in the USA).
Please consider making a donation that helps to pay for our feral cat colony and foster cats' and dogs' food, upkeep, and medical care. 100% of all donations go to the animals; we're all volunteers - there're no salaries or administrative fees. Thank you for your support!
Visit our message board for serious information gathering and dissemination regarding animal health, advocacy, and rescue - cats, dogs, wildlife, and so much more. You will have to register, but it's FREE. We hope you will join us.
|
