Re: Country Related: Christmas

John Cowan wrote:
> As one of those Yule log burners, I must put in my views.  In my family,
> the term "Yule" and the Yule log (which, BTW, is lit with a chip from
> last year's Yule log carefully preserved, symbolizing the continuity
> of the years) is firmly associated, not with Christmas Day nor with
> Midwinter, but with New Year's Eve.
When did the new year fall before Christianity came to Britain? I
thought it was Halloween, but maybe that was just the Celts, or maybe
I'm just wrong :D

(BTW, did anyone ever think "Celtics" is a stupid name for a sports
team? It should be "Celts" if anything :D )

>
> There is evidence that this is the original position.  The pre-Christian
> names of December and January were Foreyule and Afteryule (modernizations
> courtesy J.R.R.T.), and a Christmas carol preserved on both