Post by Hellenas on Dec 27, 2010 18:33:24 GMT -5
The Greek santa Claus before santa Claus.
Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, (January 1, 379) (Greek: ¢ãéïò Âáóßëåéïò ï ÌÝãáò) was the bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
In addition to his work as a theologian, Basil was known for his care of the poor and underprivileged.
He is considered a saint by the traditions of both Eastern and Western Christianity.
Commemorations of Basil:
In Greek tradition, his name was given to Father Christmas and he is supposed to visit children and give presents every January 1 (St Basil's Day) — unlike other traditions where Saint Nicholas arrives either on December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day) or on Christmas Eve (December 24). It is traditional on St Basil's Day to serve "Vasilopita", a rich bread baked with a coin inside. It is customary on his feast day to visit the homes of friends and relatives, to sing New Year carols, and to set an extra place at the table for Saint Basil. In Greek tradition and according to historical records, St Basil, of Greek heritage, is the original "Father Christmas", who being born into a wealthy family, gave away all his possessions to the poor and those in need, the underprivileged and children. A similar story exists for another Greek bishop, St. Nicholas of Myra. Over the centuries the two have been merged but the Western "Santa Claus" is St. Nicholas and the Eastern "Santa Claus" is St. Basil.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea
The Greek Saint Basil and the Santa Claus of Coca-Cola.
On the day of Saint Basil (New Year) we have the expectations of a humble and a nice Greek saint with a black beard and his dark poor robes, who comes from Caesarea of Cappadocia (Asia Minor) to bless our homes and get his own piece of the New Year's cake ( we cut out a piece for Christ, one for the Virgin, a piece for Saint Basil, a piece for the poor, a piece for the house, and then our own pieces, and if the gold coin falls in the piece for Christ, the Virgin or Saint Basil, we give it to the church ). This is Saint Basil, the benevolent bishop of the 4th century AD, the man of letters, the modest and the miracle maker (one of the Three Hierarchs), not the sly Santa Claus imported from America in order to advertise refreshments for the merchandise traders.He is also nice (with his white beard and deep laugh and his suffering- due to his big belly- to fit down the chimneys) but ours, the Greek Saint, is more holy, much deeper (in meaning), less advertisable, but not less lovable. For history, it must be said that Santa Claus, the European «Father Christmas», corresponds to Saint Nicholas for all the countries (except Greece and Cyprus) who visits the houses at Christmas. We welcome ours during New Year's day, because it is the feast day of Saint Basil, who is our «Father Christmas». The image of Santa Claus that we all know by now, was all shaped by the American cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1862, based on earlier European traditions, while the red colour of his costume came about due to the red colour of a known American soft drink which used his image in the form of advertising. Initially, he was dressed in the colors of the rainbow.
Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, (January 1, 379) (Greek: ¢ãéïò Âáóßëåéïò ï ÌÝãáò) was the bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
In addition to his work as a theologian, Basil was known for his care of the poor and underprivileged.
He is considered a saint by the traditions of both Eastern and Western Christianity.
Commemorations of Basil:
In Greek tradition, his name was given to Father Christmas and he is supposed to visit children and give presents every January 1 (St Basil's Day) — unlike other traditions where Saint Nicholas arrives either on December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day) or on Christmas Eve (December 24). It is traditional on St Basil's Day to serve "Vasilopita", a rich bread baked with a coin inside. It is customary on his feast day to visit the homes of friends and relatives, to sing New Year carols, and to set an extra place at the table for Saint Basil. In Greek tradition and according to historical records, St Basil, of Greek heritage, is the original "Father Christmas", who being born into a wealthy family, gave away all his possessions to the poor and those in need, the underprivileged and children. A similar story exists for another Greek bishop, St. Nicholas of Myra. Over the centuries the two have been merged but the Western "Santa Claus" is St. Nicholas and the Eastern "Santa Claus" is St. Basil.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea
The Greek Saint Basil and the Santa Claus of Coca-Cola.
On the day of Saint Basil (New Year) we have the expectations of a humble and a nice Greek saint with a black beard and his dark poor robes, who comes from Caesarea of Cappadocia (Asia Minor) to bless our homes and get his own piece of the New Year's cake ( we cut out a piece for Christ, one for the Virgin, a piece for Saint Basil, a piece for the poor, a piece for the house, and then our own pieces, and if the gold coin falls in the piece for Christ, the Virgin or Saint Basil, we give it to the church ). This is Saint Basil, the benevolent bishop of the 4th century AD, the man of letters, the modest and the miracle maker (one of the Three Hierarchs), not the sly Santa Claus imported from America in order to advertise refreshments for the merchandise traders.He is also nice (with his white beard and deep laugh and his suffering- due to his big belly- to fit down the chimneys) but ours, the Greek Saint, is more holy, much deeper (in meaning), less advertisable, but not less lovable. For history, it must be said that Santa Claus, the European «Father Christmas», corresponds to Saint Nicholas for all the countries (except Greece and Cyprus) who visits the houses at Christmas. We welcome ours during New Year's day, because it is the feast day of Saint Basil, who is our «Father Christmas». The image of Santa Claus that we all know by now, was all shaped by the American cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1862, based on earlier European traditions, while the red colour of his costume came about due to the red colour of a known American soft drink which used his image in the form of advertising. Initially, he was dressed in the colors of the rainbow.