Tales of Conquest - and Father Christmas! Quiz

Answer: Spring

Much of the information about the ancient Celts, including how and when they invaded Britain, has been lost over time. Although they are believed to have lived in Britain as early as 400 BC, there is very little historic information about them. The Druids appeared to have been a professional class of people within Celtic culture. Believed to have held high-ranking positions in ancient Celtic society, they seem to have served in many capacities, such as priests, politicians, and doctors.

They presided over the mid-winter festival that was held during the Winter Solstice, which was especially important as the days were getting shorter and the weather colder.

In fact, the ancient Druids believed that the sun stood still for twelve days during this time. Because of this, people were especially vulnerable to evil, but there would also be a mid-winter feast, and a figure in a green robe would arrive who represented the coming of Spring, rebirth, and the fertility of the earth.

His elves were also associated with nature.

Answer: Mistletoe, Holly, Ivy

The Celts would bring "ever green" plants into their homes during the winter: holly, mistletoe, and ivy were all plants that stayed green in the winter. The plants were important for a number of reasons; the fact that they never died was a reminder that the earth was just sleeping during the winter. Mistletoe was viewed by the Druids as the most sacred plant.

It would be cut from oak trees with a special golden knife, and caught before it could touch the ground. Distributed among the people, the mistletoe would be hung over doorways to keep away evil spirits. Mistletoe also had miraculous properties, like curing illnesses.

Some people would use holly as protection from evil as well, wearing it in their hair when they went out into the forest.

They also brought holly into their homes as a way to offer hospitality and shelter to forest sprites who would need to seek warmth from the cold winter. Likewise, ivy was valued for its green color in winter. Many times it grew on holly plants and the two became intertwined.

The Celtic version of Father Christmas typically wore a green coat and carried a wreath of holly, mistletoe, and ivy.

Answer: Lord of Misrule

During their winter festival the Romans would appoint a slave or a peasant to become the Lord of Misrule. Roles were reversed during this time and the Lord of Misrule could order anyone to do anything he wanted - without fear of later retribution - eventually. The later celebration was held in all fun. However, some sources say that originally the Lord of Misrule was sacrificed. How did this role reversal work out? The results are not well known, but it does look like both slave and master sat down to eat at a banquet together in harmony - at least for a couple of days.

This tradition continued in our history throughout the Middle Ages, although eventually it was banned because of the rowdy behavior associated with the role. The character was given different names in different areas; in Scotland he was the "Abbot of Unreason" and in France, the "Prince des Sots". He presided over the a day-long celebration called the "Feast of Fools".

Answer: Saturnalia

As you might imagine, the Saturnalia was held to honor the Roman god, Saturn. The festival would begin around December 17 and end at the time of the Winter Solstice. The festival began with a public sacrifice at the temple of Saturn and then continued privately in the home. Gift giving was a custom during this time; it is said that Emperor Augustus especially liked to give silly gifts!

The festival of the Saturnalia, unlike some of the other Roman festivals associated with cult temples could be celebrated throughout the entire empire. It is likely that everyone took time off from everything except partying; it was a legal holiday from all kinds of work - even exercising and school! Courts were closed, and according to Roman law, no one could be punished for damaging property or injuring people during the celebration. War could not be declared; all business was suspended.

Answer: Yule Log

The ancient Celts were the ones who burned the Yule Log. It was a very important symbolic ritual as it was believed that the sun stood still for twelve days. Burning a special log would help to keep away evil spirits and bring good luck. While part of the log was retained for use in the next year's fire (to represent continuity), the rest of the ashes were mixed with seeds and distributed over the farm land.

Both the Romans and Celts brought evergreen plants into their homes, and decorated outdoor trees. The Celts would hang ornaments on trees that symbolized the stars, sun, and moon, which were significant during the festival, while the Romans decorated with red, gold, and purple ribbons, fruits, and nuts. Their chosen decorations also included stars and sun symbols, as well as the likeness of the two-faced god, Janus. Wreaths made of green plants, such as holly (especially sacred to Saturn) and mistletoe were important to both celebrations, and both cultures had celebrations that centered around the Winter Solstice.

When Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire, there was an attempt to do away with many of the pagan practices. It proved to be a very difficult task, however, and it was eventually determined that people would accept a new religion if it seemed to mirror some aspects of their old one.

Answer: King Frost

Also known as King Winter, or, according to some sources, Father Time, the role of King Frost was very important. Someone would be chosen to dress the part and visit homes in the community. It was believed that if people were hospitable to King Frost, that in return he would insure that the winter weather was not too harsh.

The Saxons were a Germanic tribe, and brought their own pagan beliefs to Britain when they began to invade as the Roman Empire declined. By the time the Saxons began to convert to Christianity in the 7th and 8th centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had already begun celebrating the Feast of the Nativity on December 25. Interestingly, that was the same date from which the Saxons began their calendar. The celebrations, however, were not quite the same. There was no noisy feasting; it was more likely that there would be quiet fasting and almsgiving for the poor.

All of the incorrect choices are associated with personas of Christmas. "Weihnachtsmann" is the German Christmas Man, "Jultomten" is Sweden's Christmas gnome, and "Ded Moroz " is Russia's Grandfather Frost.

Answer: Yuletide

To the pagan Vikings, Jul was a time of feasting and drinking. Everyone in the community was expected to congregate and bring the food they would eat during the festival. Many animals were sacrificed, and the blood was collected an sprinkled on the people, as well as the walls of the temple. The meat of the animals was cooked and distributed at the banquet. There was a lot of drinking, and toasts were made to Odin, the harvest deities, the kings, and those who had died.

The Yule goat represented different things to different groups. To some it was connected with Thor, to others it was the part of Jul that honored the harvest and the sun. In some cultures the Yule goat went around asking for gifts, and to others it was an invisible spirit who ensured that the Jul celebration was planned correctly.

The Vikings did eventually settle down and become Christians. In "The Saga of Hakon the Good", Hakon is credited with converting his people and making sure that the date of Jul corresponded with the Christian Christmas. It is said that even though Hakon was a Christian, he needed to hide his beliefs in order to gain support for his rule. Eventually his law regarding Christmas celebrations stated that "everyone was to have ale for the celebration with a measure of grain, or else pay fines, and had to keep the holiday while the ale lasted."

Answer: He rode on his horse, Sleipnir.

The Viking belief in Odin next influenced the development of Father Christmas. They believed that during the Jultid (Yuletide), he would ride his horse, Sleipnir, around the world, giving gifts to the good and punishments to the bad during mid-winter. Odin was the leader of what was called the Wild Hunt, where he and his entourage would travel through the sky.

It wasn't a good idea to be caught outside at this time. A person could be picked up and dropped off quite a distance from their home. Sometimes the group would enter villages and steal food and drink.

Some people who practised magic were said to have been able to have a kind of 'out of body experience' and participate as well. It was terrifying, but at the same time, Odin, wearing a blue cloak, would also sneak down the chimneys, delivering toys and candy. Children would fill their shoes with straw for Sleipnir.

Answer: St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas, usually shown wearing a red robe or a white robe with red embellishments, lived in what is now Turkey and was Bishop of Myra in the fourth century. Known for his generosity, Nicholas came from a wealthy family, but lost his parents at a young age. He used his inheritance to assist the poor and needy - but typically did so in secret. One story tells of him dropping either gold coins or gold balls down the chimney of a poor man to provide dowries for his daughters. These coins or balls landed in stockings that had been put before the fire to dry. On his feast day, December 6, stories are told about his generosity toward and care of children. Not only was he the patron saint of children, but also the patron saint of sailors. It is said that William the Conqueror prayed to St. Nicholas before he began his conquest of England.

During the Middle Ages it was customary for English parishes to hire an actor or have someone from a different parish dress up during Christmas and visit homes to see how people were doing. This was the legacy of St. Nicholas here in England, to bring help to those in need. There is no record that shows if gifts were given to children as was the case in other European countries at the time.

Answer: Oliver Cromwell

There are some people who claim that the prohibitions regarding Christmas were not entirely Cromwell's doing. For example, in 1642 members of Parliament requested and Charles I agreed that the last Wednesday of the month should be a fast day. It is certain, however, that after the death of Charles I the government was controlled more and more by the "godly".

While this may be true, one should be reminded, perhaps, that Cromwell was the leader of this group. It was believed that people spent too much time eating and drinking during the Christmas holiday, overindulging and getting drunk instead of thinking about the birth of Christ.

In addition, Cromwell and his followers detested anything that they saw as being too "popish", and that included Christmas celebrations and traditions. English people were not allowed to adorn their homes with traditional decorations, or cook traditional foods. Soldiers who smelled a goose cooking had permission to confiscate it - by force if necessary! Father Christmas was forgotten - but not by everyone.

In fact, he went underground. Mummers and clandestine newspapers spoke and wrote of "Old Christmas" and how much they missed the way things had been.