Christmas Eve

 

Christmas Eve

                                                        All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons                                                        

At the first stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve legend has it that all animals are given the power of human speech for that one special night. So, in homes and stables, fields and forests, animals domestic and wild acknowledge the miracle of Christmas, along with the bees, who sing a hymn at midnight just as Christmas Day breaks.

 The Adoration of the Christ-child by Mary and St Joseph from the Book of Hours of Simon de Varie

The origins of this folklore are lost but it is repeated to generations of wide-eyed children who try to stave off sleep so that they may hear the beasts speak.

                 Detail from 'The Nativity' by Zanobi Strozzi (1412-1468)  

                                    Note the kneeling ass and ox 

Snapdragon

 

Snapdragon, but not the flower

                  Snapdragon being played in Elizabethan (?) times

                        Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The English game of snapdragon originated in the 16^th century and was played in England, Canada and the United States. It was a popular parlour game, particularly in the winter.

 On Christmas Eve in Victorian times, the family would gather round while raisins were put in a bowl of warmed brandy. Then one of the adults would set a match to them, all the lights would be extinguished and everyone would take turns to snatch a raisin from the flames. The idea was to put out the flame by closing the mouth around it and swallowing the raisin.

Although the traditional treats were raisins, other things might be substituted, like almonds, figs, candied fruits or grapes. Children often burnt their fingers and mouths and that may be why the game fell out of favour in the early years of the 20^th century.