In the modern age, the majority of the world view Christmas as a Christian holiday in origin. However, this is not the case. A lot of popular traditions that are associated with Christmas are not indeed Christian in origin. Many have pre-Christian beginnings in pagan festivals that were celebrated by the pagan populace around the winter solstice before they were later converted to Christianity. Examples of such festivals are Saturnalia and Yule. In addition to this, Christmas was banned on a few occasions within certain Protestant groups, such as the Puritans, because they believed that Christmas was too pagan.[1] In modern times Christmas, for those who celebrate it, is generally thought to be most people’s favourite holiday. The same could be said for the pagan winter festivals in ancient Europe. This was due to the fact that everyone was looking forward to better weather with the arrival of Spring and that there was far less agricultural work to be done at this time of year. Continue reading
The Pagan Origins of Christmas
Posted in Blog, Holidays, Public Life, Recreation, Religion
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Koliada, Odin, pre-Christian Germanic, Romans, Saturn, Saturnalia, Sol, yule log, Yule Tide
Bon Appetit Wednesday! St. Nicholas or Santa Claus? A Cookie Is Still As Sweet….
Below are two cookie recipes: one in honor of St. Nick and the other Santa Claus. For those of you who have a healthy dose of curiosity as well as a sweet tooth, let’s explore how these two holiday figures came to be.
St. Nicholas was a bishop in southwestern Turkey in the 4th century. Born to a wealthy family, he gave much of his money away in support of the poor. As the bishop of Myra, he had a number of miracles attributed to him and was eventually declared a saint. His feast day was celebrated on December 6th. During St. Nicholas’ lifetime, Pope Julius I decided that Jesus should be given a day that could be celebrated in honor of his birth. Because the winter solstice was already being celebrated, the birthday for Jesus was designated to coincide, which eventually proved successful in “Christianizing” the previously pagan holiday. Over time St. Nicholas’ day and Jesus’ birthday became associated, and the Christmas tradition began. Because St. Nicholas was beneficent in his offerings to the poor, stuffed stockings and gifts became synonymous with this day. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Celebrities, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Religion
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Christmas, Dutch, holidays, Jesus, Saint Nicholas, Sancte Claus, Santa Claus, Sinter Klaus
Reminder: LegacyQuest Letters of Intent Due December 13
*Here’s the blog we ran a while back announcing LegacyQuest, the International Children’s Film and Video Festival that will be held during AntiquityNOW Month in May 2014. Please contact Shirley K. Gazsi, president of AntiquityNOW, at sgazsi@antiquitynow.org to discuss any ideas or if you have questions about an entry. We look forward to your submissions!
Discovering the secrets of past lives can often defy conventional wisdom and astound our modern sensibilities. With this in mind, AntiquityNOW (AN) and Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI) are launching the first LegacyQuest International Children’s Film and Video Festival open to young people between the ages of 12 and 15 (6th – 8th grades) in the United States and abroad. It will be held in conjunction with The Archaeology Channel (TAC) International Film and Video Festival, May 9-13, 2014, in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Young people are encouraged to submit videos or films that represent antiquity’s legacy in contemporary life. For example, students may show how today’s green technology has roots in ancient people’s use of thermal energy and wind power to heat their homes and pump their water. Creative and varied perspectives of historical and modern connections can be captured in any form, including documentary, narrative and journalistic, as well as interpretive styles using music or art. Continue reading
Ancient Foodie Tee, Tote and Apron Now Featured in The Bazaar
For those foodies out there, AntiquityNOW has some new ways to display your appreciation of the ancients. We are featuring in The Bazaar, our new store that we announced last week, wearables that proclaim your fondness for foods with a history.
Here are some delightful, delectable and intriguing facts that you will sport on our new wearable designs:
- Apple pieces have been found in Stone Age dwellings in Switzerland
- Cheesecake was given to athletes in the first Olympic games in 776 BCE in Greece
- The origins of ice cream began 5,000 years ago in China
- Ancient Maya used cacao beans as currency and to make chocolate
- Emperor Nero consumed leeks to improve his singing voice Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Culinary, Culture, Fashion
Tagged ancient food, ancient history, AntiquityNOW, cacao, china, Egypt, Nero, Olympics, The Bazaar, Tomb of Menna
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Imperial Roman Honey-Spiced Wine
In yesterday’s blog post we told you about the recent discovery of one of the oldest and largest wine cellars in the world belonging to Canaanites living in north Israel around 1700 BCE. So today we’ve decided to share an ancient wine recipe that you can make to keep in your own wine cellar.
Spiced wine dates back to ancient Egypt, circa 3150 BCE, when it was made mainly for medicinal purposes and as a necessary menu item in the afterlife. The recipe often included pine resin, figs, and herbs like balm, coriander, mint and sage.[1] Several jars of up to five different types of wine were placed in the tombs of pharaohs and other royals.[2] Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, conditum, culinary, Egypt, Greek, honey, mulsum, Roman wine, Spiced wine
Raise a Glass to Ancient Canaanite Wine Lovers
It’s the holiday season, which means the wine is flowing as people around the world gather to celebrate. Whether it’s a small family dinner or the observance of an age-old religious tradition, wine has long been a staple of the holidays. Today, some people spend thousands of dollars to build elaborate wine cellars so their libations will always be at hand, but did you know that rooms dedicated to the storage of this fermented drink go back thousands of years? In fact, archaeologists digging at the ruins of a 1700 BCE Canaanite palace in northern Israel have found what may be one of civilization’s oldest and largest wine cellars. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Culinary, Culture
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Canaan, Egypt, Israel, Retsina, Tel Kabri, wine, wine cellar
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Roasted Leeks and Apples: A Thanksgiving Savory and Sweet
This modern dish is a delightful savory and sweet combination that uses two popular ingredients: leeks and apples. It can be served as a side dish to any entrée.
The leek and apple have nourished people for thousands of years. Both have been cultivated across the world and enriched our mythology and literature with symbolism. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Religion
Tagged Agatha Christie, ancient history, AntiquityNOW, apples, Bon Appetit Wednesday, leeks, Nero, recipe, Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving
When Holidays Collide and Facebook Rules: Hanukkah + Thanksgiving = Thanksgivukkah
Tonight’s sundown marks the start of one of the most confusing holidays to spell – Hanukkah! Or Chanukah. Or Chanukkah. But that’s not all. For the first time since 1888, and not to be repeated for 79,043 years, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday each November in the United States, occur on the same day. Some verbal wits on social media have dubbed this very rare occurrence as …drum roll…”Hanu-giving.” Others are calling it “Thanksgivukkah.” Whatever the favorite, at least it has 79,043 years to catch on. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Religion
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Hanukkah, holidays, Judaism, latkes, Maccabees, Seleucids, Thanksgiving, Thanksgivukkah
AntiquityNOW Launches The Bazaar With Original Dinnerware Designs
The “Minoa” plate in black on white.
AntiquityNOW is pleased to announce the launch of our new store, The Bazaar, featuring original designs by our Artist-in-Residence Dan Fenelon.
Fenelon draws his inspiration from ancient art, iconography and symbols, infusing his pieces with an inventive recasting of familiar and unfamiliar images. Tribal and primitive imagery strike a contrapuntal note to his modern interpretations. Whether an aficionado of ancient designs or a confirmed modernist, individuals will find that Fenelon’s perspective has a beguiling appeal. Continue reading
Tagged AntiquitNOW, cartoon, Dan Fenelon, dinnerware, original art, The Bazaar, tribal, Urban Antiquity, wavedog, Zazzle
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