The Holly and the Mistletoe: A Historical View of Yuletide Celebrations

Course Catalog > EXPLORING LIFE & LEISURE > History/Political Science/Philosophy/Psychology

The Holly and the Mistletoe: A Historical View of Yuletide Celebrations

Over the centuries, celebrating the yuletide has morphed from pagan solstice celebrations, to a Roman festival, to a Christian faith celebration, and then into today’s secular event. One interpretation of this morphing starts with the Roman Emperor Aurelian, who placed the pagan winter solstice festival of Saturnalia on the 25th of December to compete with the growing Christian faith within the Empire. In 567 AD, the Christian church, in its desire to be universal, declared the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany to be “one unified festal cycle.” How have the celebrations changed over the centuries? And what exactly does a “partridge in a pear tree” mean? And what about the origins of giving gifts, of ol’ St. Nick, of Xmas trees, and mistletoe? This two-part seminar will explain it all!

The Holly and the Mistletoe: A Historical View of Yuletide Celebrations
Item: HYC1001	Kevin Costello
Tu 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM	STC Sarasota Bldg 3 Rm 3-205
Sessions: 2	Location: 4748 Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34233
Tu 12/10/2019 - 12/17/2019	Fee: $29.00

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