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Dec. 26, 1996 - Bill Cooper
59:00
Carols & Customs #4
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Time Text
Lights out on the hour.
This is our time to shine.
Oh, I'm so tired. Yes, I am. I'm going to work on the pieces of your body. So stay quiet.
I'm going to work on the pieces of your body.
That's H-O-T-T P.O.
The hour of the time may be contacted at HOTT, that's H-O-T-T, P.O.
Box 940, Eager.
Good evening.
You're listening to the Hour of the Time, and I'm Michelle.
Tonight we reach the fourth and final installment of our special holiday presentation of the
Carols and Customs of Christmas.
In spite of the fact that we will have spent four hours on this subject, we've only made a tiny dent in the research material available to those interested in pursuing this history in even greater depth and detail.
The following reference materials were used in the preparation of these four episodes of the Hour of the Time, and are highly recommended.
The Story of the Carol, by Edmondson Duncan.
Christmas is Carols, Customs and Legends, by Ruth Heller.
The Oxford Book of Carols, by Percy Dearmer, Ralph Vaughan-Williams and Martin Shaw.
A Book of Carols, by Haig and Regina Shakerjian.
Noel's, a new collection of old carols, by Mark and Anne Oberndorfer.
Sing for Christmas, by Opal Wheeler.
The Joy of Christmas, by Edwin Heath.
On Christmas Day, by Mervyn Horder.
The Christmas Revels Songbook, by Nancy and John Langstaff.
A Round of Carols, by T. Tertius Noble.
Jesus Christ, Our Promised Seed, by Victor Paul Weirwill.
Light Through an Eastern Window, by Bishop K. C. Pillai.
Babylon Mystery Religion, Ancient and Modern, by Ralph Woodrow Kings and Queens of England, by Jane Murray
Mythology, by Edith Hamilton The Message of the Sphinx, by Graham Hancock and Robert Boval
Santa Claus, a Dossier, by Paul Froiland and
The King James Version of the Holy Bible The King James Version of the Holy Bible, by Ralph Woodrow
The King James Version of the Holy Bible, by Ralph Woodrow The King James Version of the Holy Bible, by Ralph Woodrow
the the
The King James Version of the Holy Bible, by Ralph Woodrow the
the Having discussed in the previous installment of Carols and Customs of Christmas the pagan origin of gift-giving at the time of the winter solstice, this brings us to that most commercialized of all Christmas characters, Santa Claus.
In many countries, including America, Santa Claus is the one who brings gifts.
Many people do not know that the legend of Santa Claus originated in St.
Nicholas, a person who actually lived.
But we will get to the details of his life, both documented and legendary, in a moment.
First, let's review his different incarnations around the world.
Around the year 1000, the legends of St.
Nicholas were brought to Russia from Constantinople by the ruler Vladimir, and soon Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia.
His fame also spread to the Lats and Samoyeds, and perhaps from these people has come the story of the use of the reindeer by Santa Claus.
The Dutch brought the legends of St.
Nicholas to the New World.
In America, the name St.
Nicholas became Santa Nicolás, and eventually Santa Claus.
Santa Claus was far from being the only gift-giver to descend down a chimney to invade the homes of unsuspecting laymen.
One story associates this custom with the early German goddess Hertha, a goddess of domesticity, also known as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God.
This goddess of many trades was believed to descend the chimney through the smoke and guide the tellers of the fortunes.
At one time the Germans baked cakes in the form of a slipper which was supposed to be that of Hertha.
These were filled with gifts for the children.
In later times it became the custom to clean the chimney at the beginning of New Year so that good luck could enter the household.
In Germany, on St.
Nicholas Day, December 6th, an impersonator of the good saint went about giving gifts to the good children and a touch of the switch to the bad ones.
Because his day was so near the Feast of the Nativity, the St.
Nicholas custom gradually became associated with Christmas.
Martin Luther felt that this idea was becoming too important to the German people and was excluding the central idea of the birth of Christ.
Luther introduced the idea of Kriskind, now known as Kris Kringle.
The Kriskind, a female holiday character created in the imagination of, and by means of the influence of, Martin Luther, was supposed to be the messenger of Jesus.
Sometimes she was accompanied by St.
Nicholas, or Connect Reprecht, who questioned the children about their behavior during the past year.
In Holland and in Belgium, St.
Nicholas or Sinterklaas brought gifts to the good children and switches to the bad.
The Dutch children believed that Sinterklaas comes from Spain in a boat filled with gifts and is accompanied by a small Moorish servant named Black Pieter.
The Dutch incarnation of Saint Nicholas is dressed in his bishop's robes and rides a beautiful snow-white horse.
The children place their shoes before the fireplace where he can find them.
And in them they put hay for his horse.
The Santa Claus legend recrossed the ocean from America back to Europe, and was gradually adopted in one country after another.
Santa Claus did not always supplant other gift givers, such as the wise men who are still the bringers of gifts in certain countries, and in some instances he never caught on at all.
And a creature of much more ancient pagan origin fills in the night shift for Santa on Christmas Eve in those countries.
In Sweden, late in the evening of Christmas Eve, a feast is held.
Jultomte, the Swedish version of Santa Claus, comes to distribute gifts.
He is graciously invited to partake with the family of the feast.
In some rural districts of Sweden, it was believed that Jultomte was the good spirit of the house Who watched over the crops, animals, and farm buildings all year long.
On Christmas Eve, a special dish was placed for him so he could eat and watch the merrymaking in secret.
In Denmark and in Norway, it is Jul Nissen who brings the gifts.
He is a mischievous elf who supposedly lives in the attic or stable all year and makes his appearances only at Christmas.
For some reason, he is said to be a special friend of the cat.
and comes riding at midnight on Yulbukin, a goat.
He wears long white whiskers and a pointed cap.
He comes into the house on the goat during the Christmas Eve festivities and capers around the room while all the little children scamper to keep from being bumped.
Finally, he leaps out the door and is gone.
In France, some believe it is the Christ Child who brings the gifts, while others look to Bonhomme Noel, Father Christmas, or the Good Spirit of Christmas.
The children place their shoes by the fireplace to be filled.
Additionally, on Christmas Eve, the house cat is always well fed, since for some unknown reason, it is considered bad luck if the cat cries on the sacred night.
In Switzerland, Father Christmas and Mother Christmas bring the gifts.
At one time, it was believed that these gifts were brought by a beautiful angel who rode in a sleigh drawn by six reindeer.
In Spain and Poland and Portugal, it is the wise men who bring gifts to the children.
In Russia, Babushka brings the gift.
Legend has it that Babushka misdirected the wise men when they were seeking Jesus, and that when the Holy Family came to her seeking shelter during their flights to Egypt, she refused them.
She forever journeys through Russia on Christmas Eve, knocking on doors so that she may enter and see if the Christ child may live there.
After looking at a sleeping child, she slips the toy under his pillow and then hastens away on her search for the Christ child whom she has never found.
In Italy, it is La Befana who brings gifts to children.
Like the Russian Babushka, La Bethana was believed to have had the chance to travel with the wise men, but did not go, and she has since constantly traveled searching for the Christ Child.
The children know her as a sort of good fairy, and hang their clothes where she may find them and fill the pockets with candy or gifts.
In Greece, St.
Basil distributes the gifts, arriving on his Christmas ship, which is loaded with toys and goodies.
In whatever incarnation he or she may take, or in whatever disguise,
Santa Claus or one of his multi-personality equivalents is undoubtedly one of the most universal of Christmas symbols
today.
He's very much a, he's very much a, very much a voluntary Christ, Santa Claus is coming to town.
you She's making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you're sleeping.
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good.
He knows you're good for goodness sake.
Oh, you better watch out!
You better watch out!
Stand up for the man you are!
Stand up for Victor Victor When they take off and they're all gone
And we're all shook, too, and gone, gone, gone Stand up for Victor Victor
He's waving his curly head And on his golden shoes
Tell them not to give up, Victor For Victor Victor
Oh, the big, big girl and boy and cat Are gonna have a good time
Someday they're gonna build that toilet house Around that Christmas tree
So you better watch out, you better not cry Better not tell anyone
Say that all is coming together I'm a little bit anxious.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
In 1979, Paul Froiland wrote one of the best, most complete compilations of the 19th century.
Paul Froiland wrote one of the best, most complete compilations of the life and legend
Nicholas for TWA Ambassador Magazine.
It remains, in spite of its light-hearted tone and humor, a very well-researched biographical piece, and I would like to share his work with you now.
This is Santa Claus, a Dossier, by Paul Froiland.
St.
St. Nicholas Birth Patara, in southwestern Turkey, near the end of the third
or beginning of the fourth century.
Offices held Bishop of Myra, in southwestern Turkey, early fourth century until death.
Promotions Canonized as a saint of the Catholic Church in the ninth century.
Demotions St. Nicholas Day was dropped from the calendar in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. Celebration made optional in the
Roman Catholic Church.
Death.
December 6, 342 A.D.
Reports of death were greatly exaggerated.
Charitable gifts.
During Nicholas' youth, a nobleman in his neighborhood lost his fortune.
The nobleman's three daughters offered their virtue to help their father recoup his fortune.
Nicholas overheard this And for three evenings running, he made night deposits of one large bag of gold per night through the nobleman's window, thus saving the young women from disgrace.
Legends About Charitable Gifts The above story became embellished in the repeated telling to the extent that Nicholas was reported to have hurled the three bags of gold down the chimney instead of through the window And that the bags landed in the young women's stockings hanging to dry by the fire.
Interesting fact connected with charitable gifts.
The three gold balls that later came to symbolize pawn shops represented the three bags of Nicholas's gold.
Health history.
As an infant, Nicholas reputedly refused to nurse during the fast days of the church.
Prison record.
Imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian, for religious reasons, in the fourth century.
Released by Emperor Constantine, for religious reasons, in the fourth century.
Work History.
A. Amateur Sleuth and Miracle Worker.
While Nicholas was bishop, three scholars were hacked to death by an innkeeper in his diocese, who stuffed the remains in pickle barrels.
Nicholas pieced both the crime and the scholars together Indicting the innkeeper and restoring life to the scholars who showed no ill effects afterwards except continually smelling of brine.
B. Amateur Socialist and Miracle Worker During a famine, Bishop Nicholas stopped grain ships bound for Alexandria and begged sailors to donate some grain to the poor.
The sailors did, and their grain was later miraculously restored, enough to last them for two years.
See?
Amateur hot tub troubleshooter and miracle worker.
While Nicholas was passing through a town, a woman with a small baby suddenly heard people cheering and ran out to investigate, unwittingly leaving her infant sitting in a tub of water over an open fire ready for his bath.
By the time she remembered the baby, she was sure it was too late and that at the very minimum all the vitamins would be boiled out of the child.
She asked Nicholas for a miracle.
And when she returned, the baby had been brought to a furious boil, but was unharmed, popping bubbles with his fingers.
Medical Distinctions After his death, Nicholas Toome gave forth an oil that was reputedly both fragrant and curative.
Travel After Death In 1807, the country that is now Turkey was in danger of being overrun by Turks.
The Christians of the Western Church, fearing that St.
Nicholas' tomb would be destroyed, sent a delegation of 47 men to translate, a polite word for steal, the body of St.
Nick and bring it to Bari, Italy.
When the translators arrived, they found the tomb guarded by four monks.
The 47 men then explained, in an excess of holy burning desire, that they wanted to take the body back with them.
The monks were horrified.
The 47 men then explained that the Pope had had a dream that year in which St.
Nicholas appeared to him asking him please to send some men over to transport him from Myra to Bari.
The monks stubbornly refused to be convinced by this logic.
Finally a scuffle broke out during which a glass vial of the holy oil that seeped from St.
Nicholas' tomb St.
fell off of a low column onto the marble floor and was not broken.
The men from Bury took this as an irrefutable sign that Nicholas was on their side.
Who could argue with such demonstrable proof?
And they tied up the four monks, cracked open the tomb, and carried the body off to Bury.
Transportation.
St. Nick, in his post-mortem appearances, originally rode a white horse and carried
three bags of gold with him.
Later, as the price of gold rose, he was reduced to carrying bags full of fruit and toys.
In the 1700s, he attached a wagon to the white horse.
In 1821, he exchanged the horse for a team of eight reindeer.
In 1841, he took the wheels off his wagon and made it into a sleigh.
In 1939, he added a ninth reindeer with a bulbous nose named Rudolph.
Professional Associates In Europe, throughout the Middle Ages, Saint Nick was accompanied by a demonic monster named Black Pieter, who carried a bag full of birch switches with which to flog naughty children.
Black Pieter was also known as Black Piet, or in America, as Black Pete.
He accompanied Saint Nick until 1946, when his option was not renewed.
Beginning in 1876, Santa began employing dwarfs to help him in the manufacture of goodies.
Gradually, they came to be called elves instead.
Aliases Santa Claus Corruption of the Teutonic Sachs-Herr-Klaus, meaning Holy Saint Nicholas.
In January 1808, Washington Irving, in his journal Salmagundi, mentioned, quote, the noted Saint Nicholas Vulgarly called Santa Claus.
Loose Women Associated With In Holland, a girl of Sinterniklas is a loose woman.
Length of Temporary Annual Employment Before the Reformation, St.
Nick arrived on December 6 and presided over revelry until January 4.
During the Reformation, it became a punishable offense.
for an adult to observe St.
Nicholas Day, but not for a child.
From 1800 to 1860 in America, there was confusion as to whether Santa Claus came on Christmas or New Year's Day.
In 1865, Christmas was declared a national holiday in the United States, and it was generally held thereafter that Santa came on Christmas Eve.
Litigation In 1936, Judge Michael A. Musmano of the Allegheny County Criminal Court in Pennsylvania ruled that doubters of Santa Claus would be held in contempt of court.
Noted Correspondence September 19, 1897 Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West 95th Street, New York City wrote to the New York Sun asking affirmation of the existence of Santa.
December 24, 1901 Edsel Ford, no address given, requested a pair of roller skates and a book.
Literature About December 23, 1823.
A visit from St.
Nicholas, often called The Night Before Christmas, was anonymously published in the Troy, New York Sentinel.
In 1837, Clement Clark Moore claimed authorship.
Later the descendants of one Henry Livingston Jr.
claimed that he had written it.
It is still hotly disputed and descendants on both sides do not exchange Christmas cards.
1809 Washington Irving published The Knickerbocker History which contained 24 allusions to Santa Claus.
1870 Bret Hart wrote How Santa Claus Came to Simpsons Bar.
Portraits 1837 Depicted with cape, high black boots and ermine trimmed red outfit by an anonymous artist.
1841, depicted in the newspaper Brother Jonathan wearing knickerbockers and smoking a pipe.
1844, depicted in The New Mirror with pipe, white beard and bag of toys.
1866, depicted by Thomas Nast as a huge Mary Batman slightly narrower than a chimney.
Impersonation by US President by Benjamin Harrison sometime between 1889
and 1893. Songs about in 1947 there were 22 new songs written
with the first two words being Santa Claus towns named after Santa Claus Indiana
population 426 Santa Claus Georgia Population 5.
Current Home.
Since the 1860s a resident of the North Pole.
Zip Code 99701.
I'm a Zip Code 99701.
associated with the American version of the Christmas celebration.
Without doubt, every newspaper in this country will, at some time between now and New Year's Day, publish a story about the increased numbers of suicides that accompany the holiday season, and many explanations and attempts at solutions will be offered.
Psychologists and psychiatrists will tell us that the disturbance in one's psyche at Christmas time is caused by an irreconcilable conflict between positive expectations and negative reality.
That people become depressed and suicidal when the peaceful, bountiful, and picturesque Courier and Ives fantasy that is presented as the spirit of the season doesn't jive with the traffic jams, discourteous store clerks, economic distress, pressure of obligations, forced social activities, bickering relatives, overloaded schedules, and every imaginable hassle associated with the actual execution of the Christmas ritual.
These so-called experts will make sure that we know and understand all about holiday stress and will suggest that if we just lower our expectations and reduce our social activities we might survive the month of December without taking our own life.
I think it is much simpler than that.
Dealing with the American version of Christmas requires a recognition of the difference between happiness and joy.
Happiness is always dependent on external things.
Tangible things.
Possessions.
Other people.
Situations and conditions.
Happiness comes and goes.
It's downside dependent on how much of a victim we feel ourselves to be at any given moment.
But joy is an inside job.
It's a spiritual thing.
Never dependent on the external.
Joy speaks of an inner contentment, of freedom, by choice, from the manipulations of the world and its darkness.
Joy is, quite simply, and St.
Paul writes in Galatians, a fruit of the Spirit.
Sometimes you just have to let go of the traditions and customs of this manic, driving, overwhelming holiday hysteria And get back to simple joy wherein is great liberty of heart.
And it is by returning to the simplicity of the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ, without its excess baggage of paganism, wrong teaching, doctrines of man, and sheer nonsense, that the observance of the event regains its peace, significance, and dignity.
Ladies and gentlemen, the birth of Jesus Christ According to the Gospel of Luke.
And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.
To be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.
O little town of heaven!
How still it is in the night!
So full of life and happiness In the silence of the night!
Where'er in thy heart we shine at the everlasting light, all hopes and fears of all the years are left in vain to die.
How silently, how silently the one God's image came.
He's a wonder till he's here So God imparts a Roman heart
A blessing of his hand So if they hear his coming
God in this world of sin Well, he's so filly sin
Where he so willingly sins, to love him by temperty.
Still, God there finds mercy Here, here he is coming, God in this world of sin,
And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Silent night, holy night, God is come, God is come, come down to earth in love and
charity.
O bring us, O tender mind, safe from every evil. Safe from evil.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Oh I don't know.
Oh, well, the angels will say, What the Son of God shall do in that very day.
In the evening when the sun is shining, I will be with you.
I will be with you.
The Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they
were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you was born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you.
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and honor, peace, goodwill toward men.
Things that we have heard of mightily singing o'er the plains.
And now they're living by that holy day's glorious grain.
In excelsis Deo.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Oh.
Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing.
Though our death may be twice as long, O God, You will be glorious in that self-sustaining hope.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now
go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Praise be the Lord in heaven's on high.
Praise be the Lord in heaven's on high.
Lord evermore to thee be mine.
Dance of my heart be still with joy.
Afraid my joy.
Afraid my joy.
Joy, joy, joy.
Joy, joy, joy.
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.
The babe a manger low, crimpled, all dead. The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The star in the sky looked down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus fell asleep on the hay.
The devil, on knowing the fool, made him brave. The little Lord Jesus, though crying, He prayed.
And the little Lord Jesus looked down from the sky and said, Brave are my bravery, who watch over us all. And when they
had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Oh God!
Come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels.
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him.
For God's love has brought forth him from the life of the world.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, O sing for the children of heaven above.
Glory, O God, all glory in thy highness, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore
him, Christ the Lord.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
for you.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them.
Joyful was the morning's come, as earth received her King, and heav'n's beyond prepared Him room.
And they concluded, and they concluded, and they were sure that nature's King, he who was in truth and grace, and made,
And may some day come true the glory of His life on earth, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love.
and made, and made, and made a glory in all his likeness.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them.
Good night, ladies and gentlemen, and may God bless you and yours with His comfort and joy.
Good night ladies and gentlemen, and may God bless you and yours with His comfort and joy.
of all time.
Thank you.
And there's a lot of people who have a lot of fun. So, I'm
going to be doing a lot of stuff.
So, I'm going to be doing a lot of stuff. So, I'm going to be doing a lot of stuff.
the the
So, I'm going to be doing a lot of stuff. So, I'm going to the
I'm not sure why, but I'm afraid I'm going to die.
the I'm not sure why, but I'm afraid I'm going to die.
Answer me Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
We picked it up on PC.
And it's a pretty cool little thing.
It's a pretty cool little thing.
Box 940, EAGER, spelled E-A-G-A-R, in the state of Arizona, 85925.
Our phone number is 928-333-2942 and our website is www.hourofthetime.com In a steady place in the middle of the night in your home,
a psychological burden there, and it's knocking at your door.
And it's knocking at your door.
Most recently, the gadgetry and technology of mirroring the hardware is tied to home and government.
So-called goals.
You see, far more dangerous than these appliances is the process behind them.
Eight years old.
The underground current which informs the modern project and this modern era.
You see, for life in our modern era, it's a little more than life in an open-air, mind-controlled laboratory.
To transform the massive, targeted, persimmons floating in the electronic and digital pachytry of the establishment
system of things into the perfect human zombie.
They disguise their truth to do their truth-teachings the esoteric.
Yeah.
But this is some of the exoteric descriptions.
The typical thing would be one thing, and then two, the immediate or the event would be quite another.
But that was math.
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You're already in it.
You're Most advanced individual who ever struck the planet, the most relatively liberated being in history, he scoffs with great delusion at the idea of the existence and operation of a technology of mass mind control emanating from the media and government.
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