Holidays & Other Special Days Customs

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 03:55 AM

thanks, Azizi for collecting these interesting threads/sites

I can't think of anything particularly interesting to add about Oz christmas except it was UK/European for years.

Folks sent cards showing snow etc, cooked baked dinners (chicken, turkey, ham, vegetables, puddings) in heatwave conditions & gathered all their families together for a huge lunch, and sang carols set in Northern Hemisphere winter!

Nowadays some folks do the full UK/European thing, but lots have picnics of seafood & salads & fruit on the beach, or riverside, or go to restaurants for lunch!

While we still get northern hemisphere designs on cards, we do have lots of local designs, & we sing European carols & Oz carols.

sandra

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 03:07 PM

I have a friend from Newfoundland who said the nuns used to go to the houses and bless the children from outside the houses..they would stick their faces up to the window and the nuns would be outside in the snow and bless them through the windowpanes. mg

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 11:34 AM

"Christmas Gif'" is another 19th to at least the early 20th century Christmas holiday custom in the South {USA}.

From what I read of this custom, the first person who shouted "Christmas Gif[t]" on Christmas morning would receive presents from other people.

My understanding is that Black people & White people used to celebrate Christmas in this manner.

Does anyone have any other information or any memories of this practice?

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 11:28 AM

Here's some information about Jonkanoo, a custom that was celebrated by enslaved African Americans [19th century and probably earlier] which is still celebrated in the Caribbean.

Through Slave Culture's Lens Comes the Abundant Source: Harriet A. Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl - Critical Essay
MELUS, Spring, 1999 by Karen E. Beardslee

In his work Slave Culture, Stuckey, too, maintains "John Kunuering's" African origins. Yet he elaborates on Linda's, Cassidy's, and Prigg's discussions when he explains the import of the tradition in West Africa as well as the underlying motives behind the slaves' practice of it in the new world.

In terms of its African origins Stuckey tells us, "a Nigerian ritual that closely resembles John Kunering," traditionally took place in early summer as a spiritual aid in crop production. Although "Europeans thought the John Kunering to be mainly for children, the ceremony "had a deeper significance" as it was also performed "to honor the ancestors" (Stuckey 68). And where the slave's employment of the tradition is concerned, Stuckey asserts,

Knowing that in North America Christmas was the main religious period for the dominant group when families gathered, exchanged gifts, worshipped, and enjoyed the festivities of the occasion, the slaves took advantage of that time to revive African cultural expression along somewhat similar lines, since in Africa exchanges of gifts at reunions of family and friends on holidays were not uncommon, especially on important religious occasions.

Exchanges of gifts, such as they were, among slaves were often accompanied by the receipt of gifts from the master and, in the context of John Kunering, "presents" in the form of donations after performances. (69-70)

In other words, in practicing the "John Kunering" tradition on Southern plantations, such as Linda's, the slaves were able to mold African customs to accommodate and take advantage of a Euro-American holiday. Such blendings may have also served to satisfy an ancient need--honoring their ancestors and each other--as well as a new one--collecting much needed money and/or food.

Linda's account of the slaves' Johnkannaus practice implicitly validates Stuckey's assertions. But she explicitly concurs with Stuckey about the slaves' expecting gifts from their masters following their performances. For as she tells us, "It is seldom that any white man or child refuses to give them a trifle" (119). Yet, she also alludes to another aspect of both African and slave culture, the secular song, when she writes, "For a month previous they are composing songs, which are sung on this occasion, "especially when a white man, or master, refuses to give a donation. "If he does," Linda explains, "they regale his ears with the following song:--

   Poor massa, so dey say;
   Down in de heel, so dey say;
   Got no money, so dey say;
   Not one shillin, so dey say;
   God A'mighty bress you, so dey say. (119)

Secular songs, like this one, were spontaneous compositions solely of the slaves' creation, differing in perhaps both content and meaning, depending on the author or authors. Frequently sung (in the African tradition) during work hours to ease the burden, such songs more often than not "told of the slave's loves, work, floggings, and expressed his moods and the reality of his oppression" (Blassingame 50)."

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2278/is_1_24/ai_58411663/pg_6

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 11:18 AM

Here's a link to a YouTube video clip on a band playing and singing parang, and couples doing different dances to the music:

Parang in Maracas, St. Joseph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fogo2QD0YTo

Added December 11, 2006; From ayinde123

-snip-

Here's an excerpt that explains the referent "Maracas-Saint Joseph"

"Maracas-Saint Joseph is a colloquial name used in Trinidad and Tobago to distinguish the Maracas Valley above the town of Saint Joseph from Maracas Beach. Maracas-Saint Joseph is one of the large valleys on the southern side of the Northern Range, while Maracas Beach lies on the opposite side of the mountains".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maracas-Saint_Joseph

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 10:25 AM

Here's an excerpt from http://www.tntisland.com/parang.html

"Parang comes from the Spanish word know as "parranda" (action of merry making, group of serenaders). In Trinidad it refers to folkloric music of Hispanic American origins. In Dominican Republic the music is called "arguinaldo". Parang's origin are controversial. First theory of parang music originted during Christianity of Amerindians by French Clergy Indians in (Spanish) Missions. This does not explain the frequent references to Venezuela and the second theory is that parang music was introduced by Venezuelans imported to work in the cocoa estates which has some merit. Definitely, the close interactions with Venezuelans where parang is also played has matured to a popular form of music not only in Trinidad & Tobago but throughout the Caribbean.

Traditional parang bands often refer to as "Parenderos" consisted of four to six singers accompanied by musicians who played guitar, cuatro, mandolin (bandolin) , violin, cello (violoncello), bandol (bandola), box bass, tambourine, clapper, toc-toc (claves), wood block pollitos, tiple, scratcher (güiro) and maracas (chac-chac or shak-shak).

Parang bands would move from house to house in neighbourhood serenading to family and friends during festive seasons. It would be customary for families to greet the Paranderos with drinks and food, following specific steps or rituals that accompanied the entry to a home, the dedication of songs to a host, the eating and drinking, and the departure. The festive season begin in mid October and goes approximately to January 6 which is the feast of Epiphany. The resulting atmosphere would be that of happiness, togetherness and the joy of good Christmas lime that continue to the early hours of the morning.

The traditional lyrics of parang which was sung in Spanish were mainly Religious and Christian songs. Today there are new and different styles and categories of parang called Aguinaldos (also known as Serenales), Guarapos and Despendidas. In the last several years Soca and Calypso have fused with parang creating Soca-Parang with lyrics in English which appeal to the North American Christmas with Santa and lots of gifts. In addition, in recent times Indian drumming and Chutney melodies mixed with parang has evolved into a whole new revolution of parang."

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 09:59 AM

Here's an excerpt from a website that provides some information on Christmas in Grenada

"Grenada is a small warm tri-island nation in the Caribbean, consisting of the mainland Grenada, and two small islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

During the Christmas season, the people concentrate on special food and drink - black fruit cake (baked and soaked, since October, with port wine and local Clarke's Court white rum), ham, rice and green pigeon peas, macaroni pie, baked stuff turkey; and locally made sorrel, ginger beer and the Clarke's Court white, dark, or red rum...

Parang is the popular type of music in Grenada during the Christmas season. Groups, not unlike the British waits, go around serenading in their neighborhoods. In Granada there is the added attraction of steel pans, guitars, tambourines, bottles and spoons; anything to make warm and friendly music. On the island of Carriacou, there are Parang contests. The groups are judged on the composition as well as their rendition of the songs..."

Subject: RE: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 09:55 AM

Here's a partial listing of Mudcat threads that I found on Christmas:

BS: Christmas Pudding Recipe
thread.cfm?threadid=97142&messages=47

**
BS: Why don't Christians Celebrate Passover?
thread.cfm?threadid=68697#1158927

**
BS: 'American' Xmas Traditions
thread.cfm?threadid=65517

**
What's a Mummers Play?
thread.cfm?threadid=49704#830678

**
Pagan thoughts on 'Santa Claus'
thread.cfm?threadid=54983#1338397

**
BS: Is this Liberal backlash?
thread.cfm?threadid=76763#1362152

Subject: Holidays & Other Special Days Customs
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Dec 06 - 09:45 AM

There have been various Mudcat threads which provide information & comments on the ways that people celebrate and commemorate specific customs for past and present holiday & other special events.

Hopefully, this thread can serve as a central clearing house for links to these Mudcat threads* and can also serve as another place to post other comments about this broad subject.

In my next post, I'll start off with some links to some Mudcat threads about the Christmas holidays.

Please join this discussion & Mudcat thread/other website compilation.

* Prior to starting this thread, I searched, but was unsuccessful in finding a Mudcat compilation thread on this wide ranging subject.
If there is such a thread, I apologize for the duplication.

However, in my opinion, this thread would still be worthwhile as it will contain additional information, comments, and links to Mudcat threads and links to other websites.