Photo Hunters: 12

I have played hooky from Photo Hunters for a week or two; time to begin again! And then I realized that I misread the List, thinking today was “12.” OOOPS! This was AFTER I had written this entire post, taking me almost an hour!! Today’s theme is “bulky.” Oh well… I think I’ll leave up 12 for now. Ironically, today’s post is about a holiday celebrated on a “mixed up” calendar! Sheesh!

I hope your holidays were wonderful and you’re off to a good start with the New Year!

Twelve is an appropriate number for this week. The Russian Orthodox Church is celebrating their 12 days of Christmas (their Christmas, called the Orthodox Christmas, begins 13 days after the Catholic Christmas on December 25th). Why? The Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, while the Catholic Church follows the Gregorian calendar.

This is a beautiful mosaic above the doors to a Russian Orthodox monastery church in Jordanville, NY. There are 12 apostles in the mosaic. If you click the photo and choose to enlarge, you can see the beautiful detail of it. I love the colors.

Did you know that when Russia was Soviet, under Communist rule starting in 1917, Christmas was banned? The state religion of the Soviet Union was atheism; and evolution was mandated in the schools. I give a lot of credit to the Russian people, though– they maintained their faith and tradition despite enormous persecution. In 1992, the holiday was again openly celebrated; the people hadn’t forgotten how to celebrate, and why.

The Orthodox Christmas is much more religious than the Catholic Christmas. It begins with a fast on Christmas Eve Day. People attend mass, and then families feast on a solemn but joyous meal– it’s a Lenten fast, with no meat, and Russians call it the “Holy Supper.” On the table is a tall white candle, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. And a loaf of Lenten bread next to the candle symbolizes Christ as the Bread of Life.

Traditionally, the Holy Supper has 12 different foods, for the 12 apostles.

1) Mushroom soup or Sauerkraut soup
2) Lenten bread
3) Grated garlic
4) Bowl of honey
5) Baked cod
6) Fresh Apricots, Oranges, Figs and Dates
7) Nuts
Kidney beans with shredded potatoes
9) Peas
10) Parsley Potatoes (boiled new potatoes with chopped parsley and margarine)
11) Bobal’ki (small biscuits combined with sauerkraut or poppyseed with honey)
12) Red Wine

There is a thriving Russian Orthodox community in Central New York. Most of the emigration occurred by people fleeing the Communist takeover of Russia. The Jordanville Monastery was founded in 1928. You can read more about our visit here.

Merry Christmas

Jesus the Messiah wasn’t born on Christmas Day; December 25th was chosen by a pope to counter the pagan winter-solstice feasts going on during this time. But Jesus was indeed born, He did heal the sick, He was crucified for our sins, and He is risen. And He will indeed return to judge the living and the dead.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” John 10:23-30

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:25-27

The Peppermint Pig of Saratoga, NY

The Peppermint Pig is a peculiar tradition. It began in Saratoga, New York, at the height of the Victorian era (1880s). Of course, it was the brainchild of a merchant, who made lots of money marketing his little creation into a lucrative– and yummy– venture.
But it’s a tradition, and a quirky one at that, for what it’s worth!

The Peppermint Pig is candy. A pig is a symbol of wealth. Most Americans had farms and kept livestock and other animals. Most of the animals served as workers on the farm as well as a source of food (for example, the bull helped plow fields but was used as food, too; the chickens ate pesky insects, but provided eggs and meat for the family). The pig, however, served as no purpose except for food. Not all families kept pigs, only the wealthier ones.

So the confectioner got this brainy idea to make a sweet pink pig of hard candy, flavored with peppermint. Unlike other (and modern sweets), the Peppermint Pig must be made from sugar, not corn syrup. This is because the Peppermint Pig more easily broken for eating (whereas a pig made from corn syrup would be gummy and not shatter).

During the Christmas holidays, it became all the “vogue” to purchase a little Peppermint Pig for the Christmas dinner. After the traditional meal, the family would gather ’round and each member would take a turn at swacking the little pig into pieces and munching on the candy. The Peppermint Pig became so popular in Upstate that numerous candy stores started producing them, but the tradition dwindled and now only one confectioner in Saratoga continues to make the Peppermint Pig. However, the Peppermint Pig is gaining popularity again. Today, the Peppermint Pig is purchased in a little velveteen pouch with a small hammer by Saratoga Sweets. I had one many years ago, and it is a sweet little delicacy! You can read more about the candy maker and the story behind this uniquely American tradition here.