How St. Nick became the Patron Saint of Christmas

Saint Nicholas, or Nikolaos, was born around 280 in Patara, Lycia (in modern-day Turkey) to Christian parents who raised him in the faith. When he was still young, he lost his parents and was sent to live with his uncle, a Bishop, who continued his education in the Church. Eventually, Nicholas was ordained as a priest. At his parents’ deaths, Nicholas gained an inheritance, which he decided to use to aid others. One such occasion presented itself when Nicholas heard of a man from his hometown who did not have the money to pay for his daughters’ dowries. The end result of this situation would have been to send his daughters into prostitution, but Nicholas heard about it first. Secretly, he took little bags of his money and threw them through the window of the man’s home. He did this for all three girls and all three were married. But for the third daughter, the father kept watch and caught Nicholas, thanking him for his generosity. This is likely one of the more commonly known stories about Nicholas.

A lessor-known account is on how he became a Bishop. After going on pilgramage, he visited a town near his home called Myra. Unbeknownst to him, the previous Bishop had died and, as the townspeople had decided the next priest to come there would be bishop, Nicholas was called to succeed him. It is assumed that during his time as Bishop of Myra, Nicholas stopped the execution of three innocent men. He was also said to have been imprisoned and tortured under the reign of Diocletian during the great and last persecution. Constantine is to have freed him, at which point he returned to his post at Myra.

One of the most entertaining stories about Nicholas, though, comes from the First Council of Nicaea. This was the council that was called to denounce the heresy of Arius and that lead to the Nicene Creed. Though some doubt whether Nicholas was actually in attendance, the story goes that our charitable Nicholas slapped an Arian in the face during the meeting. Over time, this changed to Arius himself being slapped. But did Nicholas actually do it? And if he did, was it a physical altercation? Perhaps we will never know. He was certainly an oppoenant to Arianism. Regardless, the contrast of this story with jolly Santa Claus is hilarious!

Nicholas went to be with the Lord in 343 on December 6, now his feast day, and was buried in Myra. His sarcophagus can still be seen in St. Nicholas Church in Demre, modern-day Myra; both church and sarcophagus were built 200 years after his death. However, in 1087, his remains were brought to Bari, Italy, and moved to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas. His bones became relics, cherished and taken by many. Yet some have been found and some of his remains have been essentially identified. To this day, he is venerated across the world, but especially in Europe.

And this leads us to the important question: How did Saint Nicholas become Santa Claus? To begin, St. Nicholas, as a venerated saint, was the patron saint of many places and things, including sailors, merchants, the falsely accused, and of course children, among “near everything” as one author wrote. His feast day was placed on the day of his death, December 6th. Because of the story of secret giving, people, and especially children, would put their shoes out for him to put a coin into. Nuns in the Medieval Period took this opportunity to give gifts to the poor. More often than not, if gifts were given on or on the eve of his feast day, they were given to children.

The name and date became most popular in the Netherlands with Sinterklaas, and it is here we find the strongest connection to Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas. The Middle Dutch name was Sinter Niklaas, or Saint Nicholas. This figure, based on the Saint Nicholas, was dressed in a Bishop’s garb, rode a white horse, and brought gifts to children (with the help of parents, of course).  Later in history, he was said to come from Spain to deliver gifts to the Dutch children. Because parts of the Stinterklaas traditions are similar to those surrounding Odin and the Wild Hunt, some people claim that these first celebrations tried to combine the old, familiar traditions with the Christian Feast Day and its traditions.  Another combined character, apparently influenced by the Spanish and Arabs, was Swarte Piet, a man with a darker complexion (either naturally or from soot) who brought gifts to good children through a chimney. The Sinterklaas feast, however, became most popular in the Middle Ages. Similar gift-giving tradtions were common across Europe. Even so, these festivities were not connected to Christmas.

Yet St. Nick’s day and the praise brought to him was not beloved by all. During the Reformation, people like Martin Luther decided that it would be best to take the focus off of the patron saint (and any saint in particular) and move it to the Christ child on the eve of His birth. This date was already being celebrated and had been celebrated since at least the 3rd or 4th century. The character to replace Nicholas was known as the Christkind, the Christ Child, who brought gifts to children on the eve of Christ’s birth. He was portrayed as a small child in a white dress, if seen at all. This name was Christkindel in German, the origin for Kris Kringle in English, which was introduced to the U.S after the mid-1800’s. Despite the efforts of Protestants, the change of date and character did little to put the focus on Christ rather than on saints or pagan practices. The Christkind eventually became more a sprite-like figure that joined St. Nick in giving gifts.

St. Nick was truly made popular by Dutch immigrants in New Amsterdam and New York with Sinterklaas. In fact, a street named after the patron saint can still be found there today. These immigrants brought the traditions from their country  to the New World, where Christmas was largely uncelebrated. The character of Sinterklaas was combined with the English Father Christmas, who seemed to have originated in the mid-1600’s, but the former name stuck. The name Santa Claus first appeared in a 1773 American publication. He also appeared in other works by American authors. Yet like Dickens’ Ghost of Christmas Present, he appeared in a green cloak and looked more like a Dutch Sailor rather than a Bishop.

The name and character of Saint Nicholas was not set in stone, however, and dear old St. Nick continued to change. He was called Santeclaus in a poem that included reindeer, a sleigh, and presents. The poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, which most know from the first line as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, gave rise to many of the depictions of Santa Claus, though he was still called and known as Saint Nicholas at this point in the early 1800’s. Clearly, the story, character, and appearance of Saint Nicholas has changed over the centuries from a Bishop of Myra to a jolly gift-giver. But in short, he is a combination of the patron saint, Father Christmas, and the Christkind. The character of Santa Claus would continue to change over the next couple of centuries in the U.S. and around the world. With time, Santa donned a red coat, became rather plump, moved very far north, and gained a wife.

 

Despite efforts to do otherwise, Old St. Nick has become something of a central figure for Christmas, even past his feast day. But what would Nicholas say today? It is hard to tell as his writings appear to have not survived. But what we do know of this favored man tells us this: He was a generous man who sought mercy, defended the Trinity, cared for the little ones, and served Christ faithfully. While St. Nick should not be held in higher esteem than Christ, there is little wonder why Nicholas is favored and beloved in the minds and heart of many.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

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Works Referenced

“A Visit from St. Nicholas.”

“a visit from st. nicholas.”

“Christkind.”

“Christmas.”

Forbes, Bruce. Christmas: A Candid History. pp. 67-80. 

“Kriss Kringle.”

“Old Santeclaus.”

“Old Stanteclaus with Much delight.”

“Saint Nicholas.”

“Santa Claus.”

“Santa Claus.”

“Sinterklaas.”

Skinner & Cock. Approaching Facial Difference: Past and Present.

“St. Nicholas.”

“St. Nicholas, Biography.”

Part 2: Allhallowmas: Saints, Feasts, and Holidays

Below is the poem that the better-known spelling of halloween came from.

—

“Halloween”
By Robert Burns. 1759 – 1796

Upon that night, when fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance,
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
On sprightly coursers prance;
Or for Colean the route is ta’en,
Beneath the moon’s pale beams;
There, up the cove, to stray and rove,
Among the rocks and streams
To sport that night.

Among the bonny winding banks,
Where Doon rins, wimplin’ clear,
Where Bruce ance ruled the martial ranks,
And shook his Carrick spear,
Some merry, friendly, country-folks,
Together did convene,
To burn their nits, and pou their stocks,
And haud their Halloween
Fu’ blithe that night.

The lasses feat, and cleanly neat,
Mair braw than when they’re fine;
Their faces blithe, fu’ sweetly kythe,
Hearts leal, and warm, and kin’;
The lads sae trig, wi’ wooer-babs,
Weel knotted on their garten,
Some unco blate, and some wi’ gabs,
Gar lasses’ hearts gang startin’
Whiles fast at night.

Then, first and foremost, through the kail,
Their stocks maun a’ be sought ance;
They steek their een, and graip and wale,
For muckle anes and straught anes.
Poor hav’rel Will fell aff the drift,
And wander’d through the bow-kail,
And pou’t, for want o’ better shift,
A runt was like a sow-tail,
Sae bow’t that night.

Then, staught or crooked, yird or nane,
They roar and cry a’ throu’ther;
The very wee things, todlin’, rin,
Wi’ stocks out owre their shouther;
And gif the custoc’s sweet or sour.
Wi’ joctelegs they taste them;
Syne cozily, aboon the door,
Wi cannie care, they’ve placed them
To lie that night.

The lasses staw frae ‘mang them a’
To pou their stalks of corn:
But Rab slips out, and jinks about,
Behint the muckle thorn:
He grippet Nelly hard and fast;
Loud skirl’d a’ the lasses;
But her tap-pickle maist was lost,
When kitlin’ in the fause-house
Wi’ him that night.

The auld guidwife’s well-hoordit nits,
Are round and round divided,
And monie lads’ and lasses’ fates
Are there that night decided:
Some kindle coothie, side by side,
And burn thegither trimly;
Some start awa, wi’ saucy pride,
And jump out-owre the chimlie
Fu’ high that night.

Jean slips in twa wi’ tentie ee;
Wha ‘twas she wadna tell;
But this is Jock, and this is me,
She says in to hersel:
He bleezed owre her, and she owre him,
As they wad never mair part;
Till, fuff! he started up the lum,
And Jean had e’en a sair heart
To see’t that night.

Poor Willie, wi’ his bow-kail runt,
Was brunt wi’ primsie Mallie;
And Mallie, nae doubt, took the drunt,
To be compared to Willie;
Mall’s nit lap out wi’ pridefu’ fling,
And her ain fit it brunt it;
While Willie lap, and swore by jing,
‘Twas just the way he wanted
To be that night.

Nell had the fause-house in her min’,
She pits hersel and Rob in;
In loving bleeze they sweetly join,
Till white in ase they’re sobbin’;
Nell’s heart was dancin’ at the view,
She whisper’d Rob to leuk for’t:
Rob, stowlins, prie’d her bonny mou’,
Fu’ cozie in the neuk for’t,
Unseen that night.

But Merran sat behint their backs,
Her thoughts on Andrew Bell;
She lea’es them gashin’ at their cracks,
And slips out by hersel:
She through the yard the nearest taks,
And to the kiln goes then,
And darklins graipit for the bauks,
And in the blue-clue throws then,
Right fear’t that night.

And aye she win’t, and aye she swat,
I wat she made nae jaukin’,
Till something held within the pat,
Guid Lord! but she was quakin’!
But whether ‘was the deil himsel,
Or whether ‘twas a bauk-en’,
Or whether it was Andrew Bell,
She didna wait on talkin’
To spier that night.

Wee Jennie to her grannie says,
“Will ye go wi’ me, grannie?
I’ll eat the apple at the glass
I gat frae Uncle Johnnie:”
She fuff’t her pipe wi’ sic a lunt,
In wrath she was sae vap’rin’,
She notice’t na, an aizle brunt
Her braw new worset apron
Out through that night.

“Ye little skelpie-limmer’s face!
I daur you try sic sportin’,
As seek the foul thief ony place,
For him to spae your fortune.
Nae doubt but ye may get a sight!
Great cause ye hae to fear it;
For mony a ane has gotten a fright,
And lived and died deleeret
On sic a night.

“Ae hairst afore the Sherramoor, —
I mind’t as weel’s yestreen,
I was a gilpey then, I’m sure
I wasna past fifteen;
The simmer had been cauld and wat,
And stuff was unco green;
And aye a rantin’ kirn we gat,
And just on Halloween
It fell that night.

“Our stibble-rig was Rab M’Graen,
A clever sturdy fallow:
His son gat Eppie Sim wi’ wean,
That lived in Achmacalla:
He gat hemp-seed, I mind it weel,
And he made unco light o’t;
But mony a day was by himsel,
He was sae sairly frighted
That very night.”

Then up gat fechtin’ Jamie Fleck,
And he swore by his conscience,
That he could saw hemp-seed a peck;
For it was a’ but nonsense.
The auld guidman raught down the pock,
And out a hanfu’ gied him;
Syne bade him slip frae ‘mang the folk,
Some time when nae ane see’d him,
And try’t that night.

He marches through amang the stacks,
Though he was something sturtin;
The graip he for a harrow taks.
And haurls it at his curpin;
And every now and then he says,
“Hemp-seed, I saw thee,
And her that is to be my lass,
Come after me, and draw thee
As fast this night.”

He whistled up Lord Lennox’ march
To keep his courage cheery;
Although his hair began to arch,
He was say fley’d and eerie:
Till presently he hears a squeak,
And then a grane and gruntle;
He by his shouther gae a keek,
And tumbled wi’ a wintle
Out-owre that night.

He roar’d a horrid murder-shout,
In dreadfu’ desperation!
And young and auld came runnin’ out
To hear the sad narration;
He swore ‘twas hilchin Jean M’Craw,
Or crouchie Merran Humphie,
Till, stop! she trotted through them
And wha was it but grumphie
Asteer that night!

Meg fain wad to the barn hae gaen,
To win three wechts o’ naething;
But for to meet the deil her lane,
She pat but little faith in:
She gies the herd a pickle nits,
And two red-cheekit apples,
To watch, while for the barn she sets,
In hopes to see Tam Kipples
That very nicht.

She turns the key wi cannie thraw,
And owre the threshold ventures;
But first on Sawnie gies a ca’
Syne bauldly in she enters:
A ratton rattled up the wa’,
And she cried, Lord, preserve her!
And ran through midden-hole and a’,
And pray’d wi’ zeal and fervour,
Fu’ fast that night;

They hoy’t out Will wi’ sair advice;
They hecht him some fine braw ane;
It chanced the stack he faddom’d thrice
Was timmer-propt for thrawin’;
He taks a swirlie, auld moss-oak,
For some black grousome carlin;
And loot a winze, and drew a stroke,
Till skin in blypes cam haurlin’
Aff’s nieves that night.

A wanton widow Leezie was,
As canty as a kittlin;
But, och! that night amang the shaws,
She got a fearfu’ settlin’!
She through the whins, and by the cairn,
And owre the hill gaed scrievin,
Whare three lairds’ lands met at a burn
To dip her left sark-sleeve in,
Was bent that night.

Whyles owre a linn the burnie plays,
As through the glen it wimpl’t;
Whyles round a rocky scaur it strays;
Whyles in a wiel it dimpl’t;
Whyles glitter’d to the nightly rays,
Wi’ bickering, dancing dazzle;
Whyles cookit underneath the braes,
Below the spreading hazel,
Unseen that night.

Among the brackens, on the brae,
Between her and the moon,
The deil, or else an outler quey,
Gat up and gae a croon:
Poor Leezie’s heart maist lap the hool!
Near lav’rock-height she jumpit;
but mist a fit, and in the pool
Out-owre the lugs she plumpit,
Wi’ a plunge that night.

In order, on the clean hearth-stane,
The luggies three are ranged,
And every time great care is ta’en’,
To see them duly changed:
Auld Uncle John, wha wedlock joys
Sin’ Mar’s year did desire,
Because he gat the toom dish thrice,
He heaved them on the fire
In wrath that night.

Wi’ merry sangs, and friendly cracks,
I wat they didna weary;
And unco tales, and funny jokes,
Their sports were cheap and cheery;
Till butter’d so’ns, wi’ fragrant lunt,
Set a’ their gabs a-steerin’;
Syne, wi’ a social glass o’ strunt,
They parted aff careerin’
Fu’ blythe that night.

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Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

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Works Referenced

“Allhallowmas.” Dictionary.com. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

“eve, n. 2.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

“even, n. 1, 2, 3.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

“hallow, n. 1.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

“Halloween.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

“Hallowmas.” Dictionary.com. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

“Hallows.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

Hutton, Ronald. Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britian. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2001. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

“Mass, n. 2.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

Saunders, William. “The origins of All Saints and All Souls Day.” The Arlington Catholic Herald. 19 Sept. 2016. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

Wikipedia contributors. “All Souls Day.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Nov. 2017. Web. 1 Nov. 2017.

Wikipedia contributors. “Allhallowtide.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Nov. 2017. Web. 1 Nov. 2017.

Wikipedia contributors. “Festival of the Dead.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 31 Oct. 2017. Web. 1 Nov. 2017.

Wikipedia contributors. “Jour des morts (Mexique).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Oct. 2017. Web. 1 Nov. 2017.

Wikipedia contributors. “Lemuria (festival).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Nov. 2017. Web. 1 Nov. 2017.

Wikipedia contributors. “Samhain.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Nov. 2017. Web. 1 Nov. 2017.

Wikipedia contributors. “Thursday of the Dead.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Sept. 2017. Web. 1 Nov. 2017.

 

Part 1: Allhallowmas: Saints, Feasts, and Holidays

With Halloween now behind us, on this All Saints’ Day I thought it good to give a history and etymology of this vastly celebrated day.

So where does Halloween come from? The answer to that is found in the day that comes after the celebrated day: All Saints’ Day. This day was originally named ealra halgena maesse in Old English, a name which was shortened to alhalwmesse in Middle English; these both mean “the mass of all saints”. It was then changed later to Allhallowmas and was further shortened between 1375-1425 to Hallowmas, or the Feast of Allhallows, then to Hallow-day in the 1590’s, which is All Saints’ Day.

Now there is an entire season called Hallowtide. We just discussed the second day, but there is also a first and third day in a season of religious observance called a Triduum. Actually, there was for a time eight days of Hallowtide were observed, but now only a few select groups still observe all eight days. Most only recognize the three. Hollowtide comes from Allhallowtide, a word first used in the last 1400’s. It comes from the Old English halig, the OE for “saint”, and tide, which meant “time”. Lastly, when it is called Hallowmas, the mas comes from Mass, which is the service that the Eucharist is served. This word comes from Vulgar Latin messa, meaning “dimissal”. Messa is derived from the Latin missa which is a form of mittere, “to let go, to send”. At the end of a Latin Mass, the words “Ite, missa est” or “Go, it (the prayer) is sent” are said.

Allhallowmas, then, is the second day of Hallowtide. The first day is Allhallow-even. This day is known better as Halloween, a name which comes from the Scottish pronunciation of Allhallow-even, which is the last night of October. It has been called Allhallow-even or Hallow e’en since the 1780’s when Robert Burns wrote his poem “Halloween”. Hallow or Hallows comes from Old English haligra, which was a holy person or saint. While the word is no longer used, its forms can be seen in Halloween and hallowed. Now even comes from the same word, the Old English aefen,  but had various meanings. The first is as an adjective, “level, equal, harmonious” etc. The second is as a verb, “to make even, level; liken”. The last is as a noun and that is how it is used in Halloween. Eve was the word to designate the “evening” or the time “between sunset and darkness”. It also gained the meaning of a “day before a saint’s day or festival” during the late 1200’s. And this is how it is used in Allhallow-even. Halloween was a shortening of even, though words like evening kept the same spelling. Thus, Halloween is the Eve of Feast of All Saints’.

The last day of the Triduum is All Souls’ Day. This day, in Roman Catholicism and its various off-branches, celebrate this day by praying for their dead who are in purgatory. Souls’ day is for all the believers who have died in Christ. For most Protestants, this day is a continuation of All Saints’ day as most Protestants believe in the sainthood of all believers. The difference between the two – Lutherans and Catholics – is that Lutherans visit the graves but do not pray to or for the dead whereas Catholics do, a practice that comes from the idea of Purgatory and praying to the Saints.

As a side note, the word holiday actually has religious origins as well. The word was first known in Old English as haligdaeg, which then became haliday in Middle English before finally being written as holiday in the 1500’s. It literally meant “holy day” and was originally used in reference to the Sabbath, then towards a religious festival or feast, and also as a “day of exemption from labor and recreation”, though the word encompasses a must broader meaning today. 

But why do these days fall on the days from the eve of October 31 to the eve of November 2? There are various theories. Some claim that this is because of the “days of the dead” which are celebrated in various cultures often occur at or near the end of October. Yet not all of these celebrations fall on these few days. Even now, in Christian denominations, the remembrance for the dead is not necessarily done on these days, such as with Totensonntag, which is the Sunday before Advent, practiced by Lutherans in Europe. There is also the Thursday of the Dead celebrated by Christians and Muslims in the Middle East around the time of Easter. The French have their jour des morts and one of the more famous celebrations in Mexico is El dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. But festivals for the dead are and have been held by many cultures all through the years, from the Egyptians to the Japanese; from India to Rome; from the Pacific Islands, the people of the Americas, to the Celts of Europe and so many more. And for the most part, they revolve around this season with or without the Christian religious influence.

Regarding Christians, we have celebrated or remembered the deaths of the martyrs and other Christians who have since passed possibly since the time of John the Baptist or the stoning of Stephen. After all, there is an entire book called Foxes Book of Martyrs in order to remember some of them. While the veneration of saints is widely practiced among Catholics, Protestants general consider it near to the heresy of idolatry. This is not to say that dead in Christ are not remembered or even celebrated for their faith, but they are not venerated or prayed to or for. Yet perhaps the first time a day or place was begun as that which should commemorate the saints was during the time of Pope Boniface IV who rededicated the Pantheon to Mary and the Martyrs. This is considered by some to be the start of All Saints’ Day, in May of 609 AD. This is right around the time of the fear of Lemuria in Roman religion where they exorcised evil spirits from homes.

November 1, however, was decided when Pope Gregory III in the mid-700’s dedicated a day for Saints and relics. He did this in opposition to iconoclasm and became the day in Rome. Following him, the November 1 became the semi-official date to celebrate the Feast of all Saints. Bede records it in the 8th century in England, others in Austria in the 9th century. It was not actually until Pope Gregory IV and king Louis the Pious, when promoted the feast of All Saints’ in the 9th century, that November 1 became the official date for the All Saints’ day feast. Then in the following century, Odilo of Cluny further popularized the celebration November 1.

Before this, though, the churches in Ireland “celebrated the feast of All Saints” on April 20. This puts a strain on the theory that All Saints’ day was chosen on the morrow of Samhain in Celtic culture. Samhain marks the end of summer in the Celtic calendar, which goes from the eve of October 31 to the eve of November 1 in the Gregorian calendar. In fact, the word meant “summer’s end” and was possible the name of a Celtic god. Like with other festivals that occur in Autumn, Samhain marked the “beginning” of the darker half of the year and ended when the lighter half, around spring and summer, began. It is because of the pagan celebration that is conjectured to have occurred on this date that Halloween has its even connotations, even to this day, for many dress up as spirits and otherwise in a calling back to this event.

Still, the designation of November 1 as All Saints’ Days was established in a different country likely without any pagan influence. After all, there were saints days from April, May, December, and other months of the year all across the globe before, during, and after it was established in Celtic culture and the Christian liturgical year.

Of course, most Protestants do not always refer to the Eve of the Saints’ Feast as Halloween but rather as Reformation day. For on the 31st of October, Martin Luther, for whom Lutheranism is named, nailed his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Church for a call to debate the Roman Catholic Church on a number of grievances, which included indulgences and prayers to saints. Thus, we celebrate this day as a day when Luther attempted to reform the Church. This day has been celebrate seemingly since shortly after the event happened, though the larger celebrations occurred long after Luther’s time. Indeed, this year mark the 500th anniversary of the event, an event which has been celebrate numerous times by Lutherans all over the world this year.

Sadly, this led to a breakaway rather than an actual reformation, or restoration, of the Church. Yet this is the history of these days and celebrations along with their various etymologies. Most celebrations, wether for good reasons or otherwise, revolve around remember those who have passed. And while some may have evil or wrong motives for remembering the dead, perhaps we should do more to remember those who have gone before us that we may learn from what they did wrong and right and strive to further walk “in His steps” as He has called us to do.

Blessings to you and yours this day and always,

~Rose

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P.S.

There is a second part that will follow containing the poem by Robert Burns and the works referenced for this post. I know Church history, but not all of it by heart!

~Rose