Publication: The Paranormal Insider
Holiday Superstitions | |
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Issue date: Saturday, December 23, 2006
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P A R A N O R M A L I N S I D E R
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Hi Everyone! I've been thinking about holiday spirits...NO,
not chilled vodka martinis or rum-laced eggnog:>) I was
reflecting on an old Irish superstition I recently came
across that says the gates of Heaven open at midnight on
Christmas Eve and those who die at Christmas go straight
to Heaven. Isn't that a lovely thought? My stepfather
passed away several years ago just after the holidays, on
January 2. We are sure he returned the following Christmas
to say hello, because that next Christmas dinner, as we
all sat down to the table, a lovely brass dining room
chandelier my stepfather and my mom had picked out together
not long before he passed, flickered just as my mom took
her seat. It never flickered before or since, and I still
think of that occasion and how it warmed our hearts. In
today's issue, I'm keeping to the holiday theme, and I
hope you'll share your thoughts and comments as always.
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Star of Wonder
"We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light"
written by Rev. John Henry Hopkins, 1857
It's an enduring mystery, studied and speculated about
by theologians and biblical scholars, astronomers,
astrologers, ufologists, Sci-fi buffs and maybe even some
of the little tousle-headed children taking part in Sunday
School Christmas pageants. It is the story of the Star of
Bethlehem, the magically glowing orb that guided the three
wise men many long miles to the newborn baby Jesus on that
first Christmas. Once the Magi had completed the long
journey traced out by this star that had appeared in the
east as if by magic, this 'star of wonder' did what no star
can do - it stopped and hovered over Bethlehem. There have
been many explanations put forth on what this spectacular
'star' actually was: an awesome planetary conjunction; a
comet; a supernova, but no explanation has been universally
accepted, and none seem to be able to withstand all
arguments. Of course, for many Christians around the world,
this amazing wandering star was simply a miracle.
The wise men are believed to have come from Persia or
Babylonia, lands where the science of astronomy and the art
of astrology was highly developed. For this reason, many
experts posit that the Star of Bethlehem was part of a
larger astrological portent of a very special 'king's'
birth, one that was only decipherable to a select number
of students of these arts. So far, modern day scientists
have not been able to establish an exact match in the
timing and behavior of any astronomical events, such as
comets, novas, or planetary conjunctions with the birth of
Jesus, at least not closely enough to come to any sort of
consensus about what this celestial body was for certain.
One of my favorite theories is that this magical star that
so seemingly intelligently guided the three wise men to the
baby lying in the manger and then hung there motionless may
indeed have been of extra-terrestrial origin. Comets and
meteors don't normally pause in the journeys and most
certainly aren't close enough to pinpoint a particular
building with their light. This star is said to have
traveled part of the journey from north to south, and stars
in the sky seem to move from east to west, so perhaps, as
one of my old favorite songwriters said, the star was a
space ship carrying the Nativity Angel to oversee the entry
of the baby Jesus into the world.
Here is an excerpt from Chris de Burgh's haunting Christmas
song:
A Spaceman Came Traveling
A spaceman came traveling on his ship from afar,
'twas light years of time since his mission did start,
And over a village he halted his craft,
And it hung in the sky like a star, just like a star...
He followed a light and came down to a shed,
Where a mother and child were lying there on a bed,
A bright light of silver shone round his head,
And he had the face of an angel, and they were afraid...
Then the stranger spoke, he said 'Do not fear,
I come from a planet a long way from here,
And I bring a message for mankind to hear',
And suddenly the sweetest music filled the air...
And it went la, la-la, la, la-la, la, la-la-la, la, la-la,
la, lalala
Peace and goodwill to all men, and love for the child...
Words & Music by Chris de Burgh - 1975
What do you think? Please leave a comment in our forum or
email me at paranormal@zsuzsana.com
NOTE: Please sign your submissions if you wish your name
to be included should your letter be published.
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Holiday Superstitions
The following two emails were sent in by readers in
response to last week's question about holiday
superstitions.
"When I was a little girl growing up in the south, my
mother always told me it was BAD LUCK if the new year
found a Christmas tree in the house. To this day, I always
get the tree down and all Christmas tree decorations down
by Dec. 31st.
I am in my 70's. My children also continue the custom to
have the tree down by New Year's day. I have never met
another who knows of this custom."
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"I don't know where this started and would welcome any
insights into this tradition from anyone. I believe it's
of Irish or Scottish heritage.
On New Years Eve, a basket is filled with items that you
want to be plentiful in the coming year, i.e. foods (meat,
soup, potatoes, etc.) money, a toy car to signify a new
one, etc. Also have everyone in the family write a list
of what they want to accomplish in the coming year and
include it in the basket along with an item they want too.
I start collecting things after Christmas as a cure for
that post holiday depression.
A couple years ago I found a lovely big basket that is now
our New Years basket, but even a cardboard box will do.
Set the basket outside (preferably in a locked vehicle
nowadays) during the evening on New Years Eve (I do mine
after supper). Then the first thing when you awaken New
Years morning, even before you have coffee, go retrieve
the basket. This is supposed to signify the bounty that
will be reaped in the coming year being brought into your
home.
I didn't do this for a couple years because I was too
busy and they turned out to be so hard and burdensome
that I began doing this ritual again and haven't had a
bad year since. This year I'm including a winning lottery
ticket - who knows what might happen."
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More Holiday Superstitions
Never give a gift of knives or scissors unless you place a
coin in the package too, lest your friendship or love be
'cut'.
At the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, animals can
talk but it is bad luck to eavesdrop on what they are
saying.
Stockings are hung by the chimney at Christmas in
remembrance of St. Nicholas and his generosity. In his
compassion, St. Nicholas once tossed three coins down the
chimney of the home of three poor sisters. Each coin fell
into one of the three stockings left drying by the hearth,
and today, we hang stockings in hope of also receiving such
gifts.
Those born on Christmas day will never encounter a ghost,
nor will they have anything to fear from spirits. Christmas
babies are also protected against death by drowning or
hanging, and are lucky in general.
It is good luck to kiss under the mistletoe, but it is bad
luck to deliberately to avoid doing this.
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Wishing all my readers peace, love and joy at this magical
time of year. Stay safe and see you next week!
Carpe diem,
Zsuzsana
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GopherCentral's Question of the Week
Should we end our embargo of Cuba?
Please take a moment to share your opinion, visit:
Question of the Week
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