Merry Hallowmas!
It is not a term in common use, but “Hallowmas” is a liturgical period of remembrance of the dead and of the saints – typically Catholic in origin, it is celebrated by a number of other traditions too....
View ArticleLight in a Flickering Darkness
Diwali is an ancient Hindu tradition and arguably one of the biggest festivals in India. It is marked by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs so has become a broad festival across the religious divide – though...
View ArticleRemember, Remember the Fifth of November…
On the night of 5th November 1605, a group of guards at the Houses of Parliament discovered a suspicious looking man guarding a large quantity of explosives. His name was Guy Fawkes; he was arrested...
View ArticleWe Will Remember Them
Despite initially marked to commemorate the dead of the First World War today in the United Kingdom it is to give thanks for the sacrifices of all war dead. Even more recently with charities such as...
View ArticleEdinburgh – The Place to Be for St. Andrew’s Day
St. Andrew’s Day was not officially recognised as a Bank Holiday until 2006 – some seven years after Scottish Devolution and the city of Edinburgh marks the occasion by allowing free entry to some of...
View ArticleBest German Christmas Markets… in England
The Germanic nations have given so much to our Christmas traditions: mulled wine, stollen, gingerbread, Christmas trees… the list goes on and every year people travel to Germany to visit the...
View ArticleYou Haven’t Done Christmas Until You’ve…
If there was a time when church pews are filled to the brim and leave standing room only, it is one of the annual carol services. The most popular are naturally in the biggest churches and the...
View ArticleSanta Claus’ Evil Twin?
When it seems that refusing naughty children access to new toys is not enough to make them behave, an old tale from the Alpine region of Europe and southern Germany speaks of an alternative Christmas...
View ArticleTwas the Day after Christmas…
For those who identify the 26th December with Boxing Day, St. Stephen’s Day is best known from the popular 19th century carol Good King Wenceslas. It tells a tale of a king braving harsh winter weather...
View ArticleWill You Stick to it This Time?
The New Year Resolution has its roots in ancient traditions. We need to go back to ancient Babylon to see its beginnings as a promise to the gods to pay off any outstanding debts and to return any...
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