Christmas in July Continues…
Did you know billions of people celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, but even those who do not celebrate know about the traditions associated with the celebration? Some of the traditions date back centuries.
Santa Claus owes his existence from the Dutch settlers when they settled in the New World with their stories of St. Nicholas (Sinter Klass). There are many engravings of the eighteenth century saint wearing a hat and robe. The engravings depict the saint stuffing stockings, hanging on the fireplace, full of gifts, and fruits. The original St. Nicholas may have been Nicholas of Myra, an ancient bishop honored for his holiness. A classical scholar and American Episcopalian minister, Clement Clark Moore wrote the famous “Twas the Night Before Christmas” on December 23, 1822. He wrote the piece for his three daughters. Moore’s image of the jolly old man with a long white beard has been the Santa Clause we recognize today.
Don’t forget to check out Rebecca J. Vickery’s blog for more treats.
I’m giving away a free Kindle copy of MISTLETOE, STAKES, AND YULETIDE CHEER on July 24th and July 25!
Amazon Kindle
Magic of the Loch is on sale for only 99 cents at The Wild Rose Press and at Amazon! It’s a big savings from its usual ticket price of $5.99. So if you haven’t picked up a copy, here’s your chance to own it for less than a buck!