On the seventh day of my Christmas Holidays my employer gave to me…seven Yule logs burning in an open fire.
Dating back to at least the medieval ages – the tradition of the “Yule Log” involves a specially chosen log (off times a whole tree) being placed in the family hearth; to feed the fire throughout “The 12 Days of Christmas”. (But more about that later.)
Afterwards the remains of the log would be placed under the bed for luck and protection against threats of lightning and fire itself. Some people even believed that by counting the sparks off the log, they could read their future.
Some say the tradition is Nordic in origin; and indeed “Yule” was a winter festival celebrated in Scandinavia, and many other parts of Northern Europe, in particular Germany and England.
The first written mention of the practice dates back to 1648, where it is referred to as a “Christmas Log” in a poetry collection by Robert Herrick.
As for my myself I was always more familiar with the term in regards to Chocolate Yule Logs.
We had the most delicious vegan log one year. You never know, might have one this year as well.
As usual if I’ve gotten anything wrong, please mention it down below in the comments. It’s why I have them.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
On the Sith Day of my Christmas holiday my employer gave to me….oh my god what’s that!
Okay so, I said I was going to talk about some folklore on this folklore Christmas blog series, so let’s talk about some Folklore. Just…just don’t look into his eyes and everything should be okay.
Appearing in the visage of a monstrous goat man in the Central and Eastern Alpine Folklore – Krampus was said to join Saint Nicolas in visiting houses on December 5th. While Good old St. Nick would give presents like oranges and chocolate to the good kids, Krampus would punish the bad ones by hitting them with birch sticks.
Which is certainly not nice, but it’s a bit of a leap from that to…well…we’ve all seen the film.
You haven’t?
Oh you should, it’s really good.
And since I can’t seem to stop myself let’s end on a bit of history.
While people have theorised that the myth of Krampus has pre-Cristian roots, particularly in traditional Alpine traditions – what with the celebrations involving him dating back to at least the 6th or 7th century – there is no written sources of him until the end of the 16th century.
Like always if I’ve left anything out or gotten something wrong, mention it down below in the comments. It’s why I have them.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
On the Fifth Day of my Christmas Holidays my employer gave to me…Five Carol Singers!
Christmas Carols as a tradition can be traced as far back as 4th century Rome, where they were grim hymns sung all in Latin. In the 9th and 10 century, European monasteries made Christmas “sequences” and “prose” into rhythmic stanzas.
However recognizable English Christmas carols wouldn’t appear – at least in a recorded way – until 1426 when Chaplain John Awdlay listed twenty-five “carols of cristemas” in one of his works. Songs undoubtedly already made popular by groups calling themselves ‘wassailers’ who went from house to house singing the hymns. In fact, many carols originated from communal songs sung during all kinds of celebrations, and not just Christmas.
Flash forward to the 19th century where the publication of the first “Christmas music books” suddenly expanded the popularity of carols beyond all previous expectations.
So if you’re bugged at your door this Christmas by people in Victorian garbs singing ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’, you can blame it on the Romans. Hmm…most of this has been just plain history not much Folklore, oh well there’s always tomorrow.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
On the fourth day of my Christmas holidays my employer gave to me…4 popping crackers at a party.
In 1847 Tom smith invented the Christmas Cracker, intending for them to be an evolution of his already popular bon-bon sweet. However, after hearing the crackle of a log, he put on the fire, Smith was inspired to make the paper cracker go off with a bang! The sweet inside was eventually replaced with a toy or present.
A memorial fountain was erected in honor of Tom Smith and his family in Finsbury Square, London.
And interesting fact about Christmas Crackers in the present, they’re explicitly prohibited from being brought on any commercial flights in and to the United States. Britain is apparently a little more lenient, and it depends on what airline you use.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
On the third day of my Christmas holiday my employer gave to me…Three Countdown Chocolates to Christmas Revelry. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
The word advent is from the Latin word for ‘coming’; and the period of Advent was originally for converts to Christianity to prepare for their baptism. However now it’s a countdown for my favourite day of the year.
The first printed Advent Calendar was created by Gerhard Lang in early 20th century, but because of a cardboard shortage in the 1930s he had to shut down production.
Interesting fact, during WWII the Nazis produced their own advent calendar which was basically just a pamphlet with pictures of swastikas and tanks being blown up. History is depressing.
Post WWII Richard Sellmer created his own winter themed – no swastikas or tanks in this one thank you – calendar and began selling them on mass.
And eventually the art of the Advent calendar hit it’s highest peak with the emergence of the first Chocolate advent Calendar in 1958.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season.
On the second day of my Christmas Holiday my employer gave to me… two glowing branch evergreen trees. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
Many cultures from at least as far back as Ancient Egypt and Rome – if not probably far before them as well – have seen the evergreen as something special and sacred and took them into their homes. Many cultures believed they could keep away such things as witches, ghosts, evil spirits and even illness. Celtic Druids would decorate their temples with evergreen boughs to symbolise everlasting life. However, Christmas trees as we would recognise them first began in Germany, with the tradition of candlelit evergreen furs which were brought to America in the 1800s. And made popular on the world stage in 1846 by Queen Victorian and her husband prince Albert.
Because it’s always Queen Victoria.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season.
What Ho wee readers, and a Merry December month to you all. If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you may be aware that for the last year alongside my writing and blogging, I have been working as a Housekeeper in a Weatherspoon’s hotel. And by extension if you know this you may be aware of just how tired this has left me – in that I never shut up about it, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the topic I’m currently discussing, I will still manage to slip it in.
This may have left some of you with the impression that I am unhappy with my current day job, which is not true. The work may be hard, but the money isn’t bad for what it is, and I get a free meal on every shift – see this post for proof of that. So, all in all Wetherspoons is a very decent employer.
And I can say all of this with complete sincerity now that I’m getting a holiday.
That’s right for nine days this december – starting today in fact – I will be taking my Christmas holidays. And for eight of those nine days I’m even getting paid for it – happy dance, happy dance happy dance.
So to celebrate this momentous occasion for each day of my holidays I will be releasing one blog post dedicated to the traditions, rituals and beliefs built up around the holiday of Christmas. All in all there will be twelve, like the song, with the last few being released at the end of december in the Wee Mailing List. Remember to sign up if you want to hear how the blogs end.
I think we should get started, don’t you?
So sing it with me Wee Readers.
On the First Day of my Christmas Holidays my employer gave to me…a fat man in a round chimney.
Well let us begin with the big man himself…Santa Claus. While there have been more than several gift giving figures throughout the span of our written human history, and probably even more before that, it is highly likely that this particular figure was first born through the merging of such Christian gift givers like St. Nicolas – an actual historical figure – with the mythical Father Christmas who dated back to at least the 16th century. And who personified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas. After which he was renamed Santa Claus – an anglicized variation of the Dutch figure Sinterklaas – and lost his bishop ropes.
Poems like “Twas the Night Before Christmas” would canonise much of the Santa Clause lore we’re all familiar with. Reindeer, the sleigh full of toys, and the like.
However, there were still a lot of different variations in regards to Santa’s physical appearance, including but in no way limited to a tall gaunt man, an elf, there were even variations that were sinister in appearance. However, in 1931 Coca-Cola commissioned Haddon Sundblom to create a Santa image for their Christmas Adverts; and inspired by the aforementioned poem, the illustrator depicted a happy fat man, with rosy cheeks, a human face and twinkly eyes.
Thus, the most popular and long-lasting image of Santa Clause was cemented.
While I’m certain there is a lot more history to this, including something to do with Odin I’m not entirely sure what – this is a short blog post so I’ll stop here. If I’ve missed anything out, or made any mistakes that you can see tell me in the comments. It’s why I have them after all.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season.
What ho wee readers well I’m back with the next installment of the Wee Archive: this one from the far off year of 2020, deep in the heart of lockdown.
What Ho Wee Subscribers, and welcome to the second email on the Wee Mailing List. Well, quite a lot has happened since my last email hasn’t it – sometimes it feels like the whole world has either gone insane, or is reenacting the last chapter of a very strange Stephen King novel.
Even up here in the wind swept hills of the north of Scotland, we’ve not been able to escape the sad case of the Covid19 panic.
We’ve been quarantined and shut up in Lockdown.
Political figures we once hailed as heroic, seem to have lost their color.
And the rumor’s going round now that we’re heading into a food shortage, so that will be fun.
Still this is hardly the first pandemic we, as a global community, have faced and they’ve never stopped us before – why should this one be any different?
Yet, I can’t begin to describe, how much I’m looking forward to Christmas, when hopefully this will all be over.
If you’ve enjoyed this strange set of photos from the Wee Archives, don’t forget to check out the Wee Blog itself. I especially recommend having a look through the Coronavirus tag, and watch as my patience with this situation gradually deteriorates. Also check me out on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Tumblr,Instagram and Pinterest for all that good stuff. So until next time my Wee Subscribers, get lots of sun and have a very bonny day.
If you’ve enjoyed this now very dated excuse to show off the pictures I hadn’t put up on Instagram – seriously this seemed far more coherent when I first released it, go easy on me I was still getting the hang of mailchimp – why not sign up for the Wee Mailing List for far more competently composed newsletters. Also why not follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already, and follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr,TikTok, Facebook and GoodReads for all the good stuff. Until next time Wee Readers, stay safe, stay sane, and have a very bonny day.
What ho, Wee Readers – well I’m back, after a couple weeks hashing out and rearranging my interview with Ailish for the Wee Mailing List, I’m back to my own blog again. Although before I go on I would urge you to go look at her new book, Sisters at the Edge of the World. Not because I have any stake in it, it’s just a really good authentic book.
If you want to know why it feels so authentic, check out my previous post here.
But moving on to the actual meat – Ha! – of the post…
For anyone who follows my Instagram account, you might already be aware that I am a vegan, a big one. You may also be aware – if you’ve been paying close attention to my last few posts – that I am also currently working as a housekeeper at Whetherspoons.
What do these two things have to do with each other? Practically nothing. Except as a employee at Wetherspoons I not only get a free meal provided for me, I get 20% discount in all Wetherspoons.
And you know what that means?
That’s right, top nine list of the vegan stuff at Wetherspoons!
Well I think that’s enough of an introduction – onto the pictures of food now.
9. Tomato and Basil Soup
Rating: 5/10
A strong tasting bowl of thick tomato 🍅 soup.
Further comments: Be careful which tomato and basil soup you buy as they have two with the same name and one of them has milk in them
8. Beyond Burger
Rating: 8/10
For all those Junk Food Vegans out there, Wetherspoons has a burger that would make even McDonald’s jealous.
Further Comments: Lovely, if a bit rich for me.
7.Vegan Sausages , Chips and Beans
Rating: 7/10
A giant portion, including three veggie sausages, and a full plate of chips and beans.
Further comments: Chips were excellent, sausage was a bit too salty for me but I freely admit that’s a personal taste.
6. Fiesta Burger
Rating: 8/10
A heavy stack burger, featuring salsa, guacamole, and roasted vegetables. Served with a side of chips and onion rings.
Further comments : Delicious 🤤
5. Simple Mangalorean roasted cauliflower & spinach Curry with chips
Rating: 9/10
A rich, oily dish of potatoes, spinach and peppers and served with either chips or rice, this ///// Indian dish with make your mouth water just from the smell of it.
Further Comments: Spicy, but not so hot that it makes your eyes run.
4. Five Bean Chill
Rating: 9/10
A chili meal consisting of at least five kinds of beans and if im not mistaken quinoa in the mix as well. All served in a deceptively small bowl, accompanied by rice and tortilla chips on the side.
Further Comments: Deeply filling and the kind of meal that heats you up belly first on a cold day.
3. Jacket Potato with Five Bean Chili
Rating: 7/10
A combination of bake potato and their five bean chili, this dish is perfect for any vegan who needs a little kick with their jacket potato.
Further Comments: The smell alone can make your mouth water.
2. Bake Potato with Roasted Veg
Rating: 8/10
Talk about your gluten-free carb fest, this giant potato, piled high with succulent roasted veg and served with a glorious side salad of lettuce 🥬 , tomato 🍅 , cucumber 🥒 and Onion 🧅 is sure to sate the appetite of even the most hungry of vegans.
Further comments: That is one big ass potato 🥔
1. Takeaway Chips
Rating: 9/10
It might seem like a simple thing to put so high on this list – and yet Wetherspoons chips are gorgeous, and the fact that we can get them as a takeaway is just so exciting to me.
Additional comments: Yes, I’m very easily pleased – now shut up and let me eat my chips.
If you enjoyed this Wee Vegan list of mine don’t forget to follow the Wee Blog if you haven’t already. And check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Goodreads, Facebook and TikTok. Also sign up for the Wee Mailing List before November 21st for more lovely vegan pictures. Until next time Wee Readers, keep safe, keep sane and have a very bonny day.
What Ho Wee Readers, and welcome to my new blog series I like to call – The Wee Archive, mainly because it seemed like the most suitable name I could choose. Intended to go between longer, more involved posts that often take a very long time for me to write – the series will be a recollection of the varies different newsletters of The Wee Mailing List. Beginning with my very first newsletter “Pictures from the Wee Archive: A Scottish Fairy Tale”. While of course I encourage you all to sign up for said Mailing List to receive new and exciting content as regularly as I can churn it out – I always found it a little sad that unlike a blog post which can in theory stay up forever, for anyone to see, once a Mailing List is sent out that’s it really. It can be found in a subscriber’s inbox, or my MailChimp account but no where else, and while I admit that is probably the entire point of a Mailing List, I can’t help finding it sad.
And when you mix that sadness with an urgent need to create more content and not have your Wee Readers waiting months for the next blog post, you get The Wee Archive…enjoy.
Pictures from the Wee Archive : A Scottish Fairy Tale
What Ho, Wee Subscribers – welcome to the Wee Mailing List. As we are all in Lockdown up here in the North of Scotland, and thus unable to take new photos of all our wonderful sights and historic buildings, I thought I’d dig into the Wee Archives to show you some pics that just didn’t quite make the cut for the original blog.
Ah Scotland, home of only the pinkest of castles
Of course not all of Scotland’s castles are pink – I mean can you imagine?
No, this isn’t a land of fairy tales – we don’t all live in castles or fairy cottages.
We mostly just live in regular old houses…
And watch the wildlife outside our windows.
If you’ve enjoyed this brief look into the magical world of the Wee Archives – then remember to check out The Wee Writing Lassie Blog, and follow it if you haven’t already. Also don’t forget to check me out on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and Goodreads – where I’m 38% complete in my reading challenge. Until next time my Wee Subscribers, from up here in the Land of the Unicorn, stay safe and have a bonny day.
And here in the present, have a very bonny day from a very tired Wee Writing Lassie – and remember to follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already and check me out on TikTok as well.
The Wee Writing Lassie 