The so-called Green Man motif, like the one on the left, is often found in medieval grotesques. An ancient symbol of rebirth, the Green Man is linked to spring, and earlier gods of the forest. Most generally, the Green Man is surrounded by leaves or branches.

This Green Man lives in York Minster, beneath the kings on the Quire Screen. And though surrounded by what looks like foliage, his color is gilt, not green.

Nearby, there is a companion carving also covered in gilt. To my eye, this figure has a feline countenance. This type of grotesque has almond-shaped eyes, and an open mouth. It also has hands with which to grasp the foliage.

Unlike the grotesques in the Chapter House, and carvings elsewhere in the Minster, these figures give a glimpse of the original sculpted figures that were once brightly painted.

The Chapter House at York Minster

The Chapter House at York Minister is a unique structure for several reasons, one of which is its distinctive ceiling. In particular, there is no central column holding it up. The vaulted ceiling is supported by painted wooden timbers. How so? Timber is a lighter weight than stone, and can support the roof with the weight transferring to columns between seven stained glass windows. Exterior buttresses against the exterior walls help distribute their weight.

Beneath the stained glass windows, there are forty-four seats for the canons of York Minster. Each canon can look across the open space with an unobstructed view of their colleagues. [Whether he can actually see his fellow clergy is another matter.]

Medieval canons with wandering minds could look at the jeweled stained glass, or up to the vaulted ceiling. They could also look at the grotesque sculptures near each seat. Over 200 individual stone portraits of men, women, and beasts reveal a kaleidoscope of facial expressions and behaviors. The mouth on the woman above, for example, is covered. Did she talk too much? Or perhaps she had a tendency to gossip.

The Chapter House Grotesques

In many ways, grotesque figures are archetypes illustrating various themes. Scholars once attributed the fact that so many grotesques are clutching their mouths to mean toothaches and other dental problems were rampant. Given the state of dentistry, they probably were, but there are other possible explanations. The usual name given to these figures is “mouth-pullers.” And the behavior of the figure on the right with one hand tearing out his hair, and the other near his mouth is an illustration of Anger, or Wrath — one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

The chap on the left seems to have other issues. Note his look of consternation, or is it revulsion, with his the wrinkled brow, horrified eyes, open mouth, and a seemingly complete set of teeth.

There are also faces screaming in terror. This fellow on the right stares forward with horror, his mouth (with another set of good teeth) is open in shock or pain. And who can blame him for his surprise? He has a creature sitting on his head with its claws extended into his scalp. Ouch! Beastly grotesques are said to indicate a chaotic life energy which may explain why the winged beast looks as horrified as his host.

A wide open mouth with a protruding tongue is said to be a symbol of devouring giants. But who is the chap on the left consuming? He too has a good set of teeth.( At this point on my voyage of grotesque discovery, I did a search on the symbolism of teeth. One site suggested teeth can manifest “emptiness,” and transience. Not very cheerful, but I thought I’d share the possibility.)

Did the canons zone out from meetings by contemplating horror, doom, & gloom? Did they muse on the possibility of their dire future existence in hell? Were their thoughts consumed by worry about a mythical bird sitting on their heads, clawing out their eyes, and pecking on their respective noses? Was it always a case of man pulling himself out of the abyss? If so, perhaps the canons should pay attention to the topics under discussion and keep their eyes on heaven.

Happily, there are a few carvings of folks who experience some happiness, such as this couple on the right who seem nervous but content.

There are also monkeys who seem to giggle at whatever sight they are viewing. This is not a good sign, since monkeys symbolized man’s folly and vanity. Perhaps they are not the best figures to emulate, but compared to other sculptures, they have a certain charm.

Dogs also have a friendly vibe. I’m not sure what this one holds in his mouth. It looks a bit like a fish to me.

Dogs, monkeys, bears and other animals were viewed as lower than humans who were expected to exhibit a higher standard of behavior.

In the Chapter House, the sculptures may have been put above each seat to create an opposite to each occupant. In all things, there had to be a balance of good and evil. If one carving was a benign figure, there had to be an opposite carving to instill a fear of falling into evil.

So for every depiction of what might be innocence, such as the young man on the left, there must be another who will pay an agonizing price for choosing the wrong path. Indeed, the fellow on the right looks as if he’s repenting as the winged figure digs its claws into his scalp.

Incidentally, the grotesques were not the monochromatic figures they are today. Originally they were painted in colors as bright as stained glass which must have made them appear all the more realistic.

COMING SOON!

The Life & Times of Sarah Good, Accused Witch

Illustrations & A Few Sources

Chapter House Ceiling by Michael D. Beckwith. Chapter House Windows by Paul Hudson. Chapter House Interior by Tilman2007. All other photos by Author. “York Minster.” Britain and Britishness. “York Minster Chapter House.” Historiette. Feb. 17, 2022.

The post Chapter House Grotesques at York Minster first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

It’s December, and almost everywhere you look there are Christmas trees, evergreen boughs, and other symbols of this end-of-the-year “Season.” Long before Santa ever came on the scene, people in the Northern Hemisphere worried about the winter darkness.

Some thought winter came because the Sun God was ill, and celebrated the Solstice because at long last the Sun God would regain his health. In Europe, evergreen plants were a reminder that green plants would grow again. In Ancient Egypt, people filled their homes with green palm rushes.

Many people saw evergreen foliage as a symbol of everlasting life. The association of evergreen trees with Christians began in the 8^th century with a Benedictine monk named Boniface who became so angry at the pagan rituals practiced around a sacred tree, he chopped it  down to prove it had no supernatural power. The pagans subsequently paid better attention to his sermons.

As for the evergreen tree, it’s triangular shape made it a symbol of the Christian Trinity. Eight hundred years later, Germans brought trees into their homes and wired the branches with lit candles.

Though some immigrants brought the German custom to America, the Christmas tree didn’t catch on until 1848 when the Illustrated London News published a picture of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children around a tree. Fashionable Americans adopted the practice, and made it their own. Whereas Europeans placed small trees on tables, Americans preferred trees that reached from floor to ceiling.

The National Christmas Tree 

The concept of public Christmas trees took off in the early 20^th century. On Dec. 24, 1923, President Calvin Cooledge flipped a switch to electrically light the first National Christmas Tree, a 60 foot balsam fir from Vermont. The glittering spectacle was less about the evergreen than the strand of 2500 red, white, and green electric lights.

The Society for Electrical Development sponsored the tree to encourage people to have outdoor Christmas trees using electric lights. The cost came to $5,000 [about $70,680 today].

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Our second “national” Christmas tree first appeared in 1931 when construction workers building Rockefeller Center collected funds to erect a 20 foot balsam fir tree, decorated by their families with homemade garlands of cranberries, paper, and a few tin cans.

Two years later, the Rockefeller Center was complete, and a second tree appeared. It was 50 feet tall, and had lights.

Today the tree is usually a Norwegian Spruce between 60 and 100 feet tall with 5 miles of multi-colored LED lights. In 2018 a star made of 3 million Swarovski Crystals topped the tree.

Do you prefer a “real” Christmas Tree?

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, Americans prefer real trees. Between 25 and 30 million trees are sold annually, with another 350 million trees in various stages of growth on Christmas tree farms. It takes about 10 years before a tree is ready to sell.

In 2018 Americans bought 32.8 million real trees, and 23.6 million artificial trees.

The first artificual trees appeared in Germany in the 19^th century. They were made of goose feathers that were dyed green and attached to wire branches. The branches extended from a central dowel that acted as the trunk. The trees became popular, but were flammable.

In 1930, the Addis Houseware Company made a tree from brush bristles that were dyed green. These were less flammable.

Neither of these experiements took hold. Then, in the late 1950s, the aluminum tree appeared, and became enormously popular. The trees made no attempt to look like a real tree as they projected a silvery metallic glow. The trees were at the height of their popularity in 1965 when A Charlie Brown Christmas used the aluminum tree as a symbol of Chirstmas excess and commercialization. Aluminum trees went out of fashion.

Modern artificial trees look like real trees without trying to impersonate them and are very popular for practical reasons. Over time, they are less expensive. An artificial tree is used ten or more years. 

Artificial trees are more convenient. You don’t have to crawl under the tree to pour water into the resevoir. It doesn’t drop needles. Most come with lighting attached.

People leave their decorations up longer. Artificial trees don’t turn brown or become a fire hazard.

Many people are allergic to real trees, making an artificial tree a healthier alternative.

And, some say cats are less interested in artificial trees. Hmm…I don’t think Koa Kat got the memo.

On the other hand, going into the mountains, or the local Christmas tree lot, still has its allure.

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Marcel Rieder, 1898

Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, & their children. London Illustrated News. 1848.

1923 National Christmas Tree

1987 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree by James G. Howes

Artificial Christmas Tree. Patent Office. 1911

Aluminum Christmas Tree by Michaelleration

It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas.

Koa Kat Under Artificial Tree. Photo by Author

Christmas Trees Sold in the United States. Statista.

Michael Lore. “A Brief History of the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center.” Culture Trip. Dec. 12, 2018.

Courtney Vinopal. “Why are More and More Americans Buying Fake Christmas Trees?” PBS. Dec. 24, 2018.

Olivia B. Waxman.”The Electricity Lobby was behind the First National Christmas Tree Lighting” Time. Dec. 1, 2016.

The post Christmas Trees — Symbols of Hope first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

ANCIENT CELEBRATIONS

The Norse god Odin was part of Yule celebrations that took place for three nights after the solstice. During the feasts, the first toast went to Odin to grant victory and power to the king, the second to Njoror and Freyr for good harvests and peace, and the third for the king. Presumably drinking and toasting went on for much of the night.

The custom changed in the Tenth Century when Haakon Haraldsson, known as Haakon the Good, became king. Haakon grew up in Anglo-Saxon England, and returned to Norway as a Christian, a fact he kept secret until he became secure on his throne, at which time he passed a law saying Yule celebrations would coincide with Christmas when everyone was supposed to drink ale and keep the day as long as the ale lasted.

This merging of holidays may be why Google defines Yuletide as an archaic term for Christmas.

Now that mystery is solved, other Christmas customs and terms make sense. There is the YULE LOG — not the cake but the specially selected tree brought into the house to be burnt. Yule logs predate Victorian Christmas trees by several centuries. The largest part of the tree was fed into the hearth, with the remainder filling the room. Revelers kept feeding the log into the hearth so it would burn for the entire Twelve Days of Christmas.

There is also the YULE GOAT, probably connected to Norse celebrations for the god Thor who traveled the sky in a chariot pulled by two goats. From this beginning, several customs emerged. In Norway people went door-to-door dressed like goats to sing carols in exchange for food and drink.

In Sweden, Norway, and Finland elves rode goats to deliver gifts to children.

When Scandinavians migrated to America, they brought Yule Goats, most often now viewed as Christmas decorations plaited with straw and tied with ribbons.

The YULE BOAR is another pagan custom we’ve incorporated. Yule Boars probably began with the Anglo-Saxons. On Yule Eve the best boar in the herd was brought into the Banquet Hall. Participants laid their hands on it and made unbreakable oaths which were thought to go straight to Freyr, god of Yule and fertility.

The next day, the boar was sacrificed to Freyr. Servants carried the boar’s head with the apple in its mouth into the banquet hall to the sounds of trumpets. And the feast began.

Some say this custom explains why many people eat ham on Christmas Day.

The last Yule custom for today is YULE SINGING better known as WASSAILING. Wassail itself is a beverage made from mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and sugar. The hot mixture is served from large bowls. As the drinks are passed around, the giver says, “Waes Hael” which translates as Good Health.

If you want to make your own Wassail, here’s one recipe.

Wassailers sound a bit like Norwegian carol-singing goats. Wassailers also go door-to-door singing in hopes they will be asked inside for a bit of wassail, a bite to eat, and some time by a warm fire. In Victorian times, Wassailers morphed into people going door-to-door singing Christmas carols.

So now you know how St. Nicholas became Santa Claus; how Yule became Christmas; how Yule Boars became Christmas ham, and how Wassailers turned into Carolers. I don’t know how the Yule Log became a round cake. I’ll try and find out for next year.

In the spirit of Christmas silliness, I’ve attached a humorous rendition of “Here We Come A-Wassailing.”

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS, AND I’LL BE BACK NEXT MONTH.

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Illustrations in the Public Domain from Wikimedia Commons.

Christmas Tree

Hauling in the Yule Log for Christmas. 1864.

Father Christmas on a Yule Goat.

Boar’s Head on a Platter. 1855

History of the Yule Log. Why Christmas.com

History of Wassailing and Mumming. Why Christmas.com

Slaughtering the Sacred Boar. Yule-the Midwinter Festival. Orkneyjar.

Mark Mancini. The Fiery History of Scandinavia’s Yule Goat. Mental Floss. Dec. 19, 2013.

Sue Weaver. The Yule Goat. Inside Story, Dec. 18, 2009.

The post Yule-Tide Cheer first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

Before there was Santa Claus, there lived a man named Nicholas who was known for his piety and generosity. Nicholas was the only child of wealthy, pious Christian parents who died ministering to the sick during an epidemic. Nicholas went to his uncle, the Bishop of Patara. Not surprisingly, he too joined the church and rose to the rank of Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. Nicholas became known for his generosity, miracles, and overall goodness. Legends abound.

There was once a butcher who lured three children into his house, murdered them, and placed their remains in a barrel to cure for future sale as “ham.” Pretty grisly. Nicholas thwarted the butcher’s plan by prayer. The boys emerged from the barrel and returned to life. The illustration shows the children coming to life in the lower panel of the St. Nicholas Window at Rochester Cathedral.

Another time when famine raged, a ship waited at anchor with a cargo of wheat for the emperor. Nicholas gave the sailors the opportunity to share the wheat with famine victims. They declined, because the wheat would be weighed when they arrived at Constantinople. Nicholas promised all would be well. They believed him, off-loaded the wheat, and were much relieved when they reached Constantinople to learn that the weight of the load hadn’t changed.

This last story is the one that made Nicholas memorable. There was a poor man with three daughters. The family was so poor, there was no money for the girls’ dowries. They would remain unmarried and be forced into prostitution to support themselves. And even if they didn’t take up the profession, everyone would think they had. Nicholas wanted to help them anonymously, so he went to the house by night.

Every night the girls hung their stockings by the fire to dry. Nicholas threw a bag of gold through the window. It landed in the eldest girl’s sock. The same thing happened the next two nights. Imagine the surprise and joy experienced in the humble house. The girls could marry after all.

Nicholas died in Myra on December 6, 343 and was buried in the cathedral church. A relic called manna appeared in his crypt. This was a liquid substance with miraculous powers. The site quickly became a popular pilgrimage destination.

Nicholas became a recognized saint long before the Catholic Church developed rules for canonization, and is known as the patron saint of an eclectic mixture of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students. Pawnbrokers commemorate the relationship by illustrating their shop signs with three golden balls.

Iconography most often depicts the three dowries by showing St. Nicholas holding three purses, three coins, or three balls of gold. Sometimes the latter are viewed as oranges which leads to another story. Oranges became popular stocking stuffers, usually in the toe of the sock to anchor the other gifts. Since winter fruit came from Spain, many believers thought Nicholas lived in Spain and brought the oranges to give away on his seasonal visits.

In 1087 sailors from the Italian town of Bari took what they identified as Nicholas’ bones. The town built a crypt within the Basilica di San Nicola, and became the new pilgrimage site. During the 1950s scientists were allowed to photograph and measure the crypt’s contents. The results came out in 2005. Apparently Nicholas was 5 feet 6 inches tall and had a broken nose.

But wait. Were those really St. Nicholas’ remains? Perhaps not. An intact tomb exists under St. Nicholas Church in the Demre district of Turkey’s province of Antalya. Demre exists on on the ruins of Myra where St. Nicholas died. A study of documents revealed notes indicating the bones taken to Bari didn’t belong to St. Nicholas. Time will tell. Further excavation goes slowly due to stones decorated with motifs that have to be removed before the crypt can be reached.

Next week — How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus

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Illustrations from Wikimedia Commons.

Russian Icon of St. Nicholas. 18th Century. Public Domain.

Detail from St. Nicholas Window at south transept of Rochester Cathedral by Martin of Sheffield. Creative Commons Attribution.

Nikolaus wirft Drei goldene Kugein by Gentile da Fabriana 1370-1427. Public Domain.

Basilica de San Nicolaus de Bari by Roberto Fiadone. Creative Commons Attribution.

Traditional pawnbroker sign by Thomas Nugent. Creative Commons Attribution.

19 Little Remembered Facts about St Nicholas. National Catholic Register, December 5, 2016.

Has the original Santa Clause been found in Turkey? BBC News. October 4, 2017.

Who is St. Nicholas? St. Nicholas Center.

The post St. Nicholas and the Three Bags of Gold first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

Wednesday, April 5th is Pandita Mary Ramabai’s saint’s day in the Church of England and Episcopal Church. In commemoration and as a special thank you, the Kindle edition of Rama’s Labyrinth is available at no charge until Thursday, April 6.

WHO WAS MARY RAMA?

Mary is Rama’s baptismal name. When Rama traveled to the Community of St. Mary the Virgin at Wantage, England in 1883, she was a widowed single mother determined to serve India’s high caste widows. The Sisters sponsored Rama’s education at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Both female communities inspired Rama’s decision to found a school for high-caste widows and Mukti, her House of Salvation for widows and orphans from all castes. At Wantage Chapel Rama and her daughter accepted Christian baptism.

WHY DID THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAKE RAMA A SAINT?

I checked two Church Calendars. One cited Rama as Translator of Scriptures. Her last major project was to translate the entire Bible into colloquial Marathi. Rama learned Greek and Hebrew so she could translate from original sources. In 1913 Rama completed her translation of the New Testament. The Mukti Printing Press published her entire translated work in 1924, two years after Rama’s death.

The second calendar I consulted described Rama as Prophetic Witness and Evangelist in India. I think she would have preferred that description. As Rama fought adversity, her faith became increasingly evangelistic. The first Pentecostal Revival occurred at Mukti in 1905. Many consider Rama a founding member of the Pentecostal Church.

Rama’s life was one of loss and adversity, but also of triumph and joy. She never gave up. And never turned away those who came to her for help.

There’s more to Rama’s story. Her unusual childhood in which her father named her a Scholar and supervised her education. Her unconventional life as a lecturer. Her brief marriage. Her courage.

If you haven’t read Rama’s Labyrinth, download the Kindle Edition. It’s free through Thursday,                      April 6.

Rama’s Labyrinth is also available in print and audio editions.

More photos of Rama and Mukti on my Pinterest Board.

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Sign up for Sandra’s Newsletter and get “Out-Takes from Rama’s Labyrinth.” The newsletter comes out every Monday with a blog preview & any relevant book announcements. You can unsubscribe at any time. Your contact information won’t be given out. Sign up today for free “Out-Takes from Rama’s Labyrinth.”

Photo of Pandita Ramabai in Public Domain.

All other photos by Author. All Rights Reserved.

Sandra Wagner-Wright. Rama’s Labyrinth. Wagner-Wright Enterprises. 2015.

The post RAMA’S LABYRINTH – Free Kindle Edition April 2-6 first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

The image on the left depicts Tamar and Judah, though the fashion is several hundred years after the story takes place.

When events begin, Judah, the clan patriarch, has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. He arranges for the eldest to marry a girl called Tamar. Nothing unusual there. But Tamar doesn’t conceive. This is a problem when a woman’s duty is to bear sons for her husband’s family. There’s some disagreement about why Tamar didn’t have children. Some scholars suggest Er was practicing some sort of birth control – though they don’t give him a motive. Whatever he was doing, God thought it was evil and killed him.

Tamar is left widowed and childless, but there’s a loophole. According to levirate law, the brother of a deceased man must give the widow children. This gives the deceased a sort of immortality because it keeps his name alive. And it gives the widow a place in the family.

Judah tells Onan to do his duty. But Onan doesn’t want to. If he provides children for his dead brother, his inheritance will be less than if it is just divided with his younger brother. Tamar doesn’t get pregnant. God is angry, and kills Onan.

Judah seems to  think Tamar might be causing the deaths, and he isn’t going to give her a crack at his remaining son. He could release Tamar to remarry, but instead he says:

“Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.”

So Tamar returns to her father and waits, neither wife nor widow. She figures out Judah won’t keep his promise, so she devises a way to trick him. When Tamar learns Judah and his friends will attend a sheep shearing festival, she takes off her widow’s clothes and puts on a veil to prevent recognition. She goes to the city gate and waits. Anyone passing by would think her a public woman.

Judah has spent several hours at the festival when he sees Tamar. Judah wants the woman. Tamar springs her trap.

“What will you give me?”
“A kid from my herd.”
“What will you give me to insure the kid will be delivered?”
“What do you want?”
“I’ll take your signet, your cord, and the staff in your hand.”

Deal. Later, Judah sent his friend to deliver the kid, but Tamar was no where to be found. Neither were Judah’s signet, cord and staff — the symbols of a man’s identity.

The seal may have been a cylinder seal like this one. The staff is specially made for the patriarch. It had a personal emblem at the top as a sign of authority, and his family lineage carved on the staff.

Judah probably wanted to retrieve his things, but no one knew who or where the woman was. Tamar was back home in her widow’s clothing. But there was something different about her.

Judah hears a rumor that Tamar is pregnant. As head of her clan, he orders her brought out and burned. He’s not being entirely fair. It was Judah who sent Tamar home to wait for Shelah, and then failed to deliver. It was Judah who blocked Tamar’s chance for another marriage. As men take Tamar to her execution, she’s undeterred and completes her plan.

Tamar sends Judah his signet, cord, and staff. “It was the owner of these who made me pregnant.”

Judah acknowledged his role in Tamar’s pregnancy. She gave birth to twin sons. There’s a nice symmetry here. The two boys give Tamar back her status as wife and mother; they also replace the sons Judah lost.

I think Tamar’s story posed a problem for biblical writers. They wouldn’t want to publicize Tamar’s successful bid to make Judah keep his word. On the other hand, Tamar was an ancestress of King David, proving his lineage passed through Judah. The writers had to include Tamar, just as Judah had to acknowledge her rights.

Tamar’s story is between episodes of the lengthy story of Joseph. Not hidden, but not in plain sight either.

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Sign up for Sandra’s Newsletter and get “Out-Takes from Rama’s Labyrinth.”The newsletter comes out every Monday with a blog preview & any relevant book announcements. You can unsubscribe at any time. Your contact information won’t be given out. Sign up today for free “Out-Takes from Rama’s Labyrinth.”

Tamar’s story is in Genesis 38.

Images in the Public Domain from Wikimedia Commons

Judah and Tamar. School of Rembrandt.

Judah and Tamar by Niccolo Bambini.

Cylinder seal of a king. Uruk Period c. 3200 BCE

Judah and Tamar by Cornelis van Haarlem.

Tikva Frymer-Kensky. Tamar: Bible. Encyclopedia. Jewish Women’s Archive.

Tamar & Judah.Women in the Bible.

Susan Niditch. “Genesis.” The Women’s Bible Commentary. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, Editors. London: SPCK. 1992. pp. 10-25.

The post Tamar, Judah & Justice first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

The missionaries couldn’t set up shop, so to speak, in Honolulu without the king’s permission. King Liholiho had no use for missionaries, but a doctor could be handy. Permission granted for one year, provided the doctor stayed. The missionaries didn’t think the doctor should remain alone. Actually, they didn’t think he should stay at all, but it was too late to worry about that. The question was, who would stay with him, Rev. Hiram Bingham or Rev. Asa Thurston? According to Bingham’s account, the company cast “ballots.” Thurston took the post, and set to work establishing the first church in the Hawaiian islands. His wife Lucy later recalled, “When Mr. Thurston first commenced his Hawaiian labors in Kailua, the new native church was every Sabbath filled to overflowing.” Which isn’t to say everyone present was interested in religion.

Nevertheless, Lucy Thurston reported, “During the second year of our residence at Kailua, the church became too small for the increasing numbers who would fain attend. Governor Adams then erected another, larger and more commodious [180 feet x 60 feet]. It was superior to any house of native workmanship upon the Islands. When this was burned by an incendiary, the Governor erected a large stone house of worship, with galleries and pulpit. The latter cost five hundred dollars.” By then there were about 5,000 people in the congregation.

This church, begun in 1835 on the site of the first thatched church, became known as Moku`aikaua Church. Thus, the oldest church structure in the Hawaiian Islands. Four thousand people were involved in its construction. When fire destroyed the first effort, rebuilding began immediately, with the second church finished in January 1837. Materials included stones taken from an abandoned heiau, formerly used for indigenous worship, and cast off ballast from sailing ships. The stones were held together by mortar mixed from coral and sand. Oil from kukui nuts was used as a bonding agent.

Moku`aikaua Church, with its 112 foot high steeple, is still the tallest structure in Kailu-Kona. The spire is shingled with corner turrets over the rectangular base.

Inside, the interior posts and beams are made of native `ohi`a wood and held together with `ohi`a wood pins. Fifty-foot spanning beams are also `ohi`a wood. The pews and pulpit are koa wood. The church is 120 feet long and 48 feet wide with New England style galleries and a gabled roof. Moku`aikaua Church is a unique structure, both architecturally and historically. In 1978, it joined other unique American structures with a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

PRESENT CRISIS

Moku`aikaua Church is the oldest property on the 2014 List of America’s Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places, a dubious and unfunded honor. The structure suffers from multiple structural flaws and is almost beyond repair. There are cracks in the stone walls caused by the passage of time and occasional earthquakes (most recently in 2006), dysfunctional and faulty electric wiring (not part of the original structure), extensive termite damage, dry rot to steeple beams and wooden window frames, and water damage from the 2011 tsunami.

So, what’s the plan?

• Shore up the original exterior stone walls

• Connect the roof structure and prevent stone from falling inward during an earthquake

• Preserve and strengthen the roof and steeple

• Repair cracks

• Replace dry rot beams

• Restore existing interior beams, walls, ceilings

Um, how do you do all that?

According to Bret Yager’s recent article in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald,

• “The massive roof, built on ohia [sic] beams, must be raised so the walls can be shored up and reinforced with steel before interior and exterior cracks are filled.”

• Wood affected by dry rot and termite damage must be replaced

• And Yager quotes civil engineer Dave Ross who explained “The entire roof must be reinforced with a diaphragm to make it a single rigid unit and tie it to the foundation.”

How much will that cost?

About $3 million in total. $250,000 to repair the steeple. If you’d like to help, go to Moku`aikaua Church website and donate.

For More Information:

Featured photo of Moku`aikaua Church by Author.

About Moku`aikaua Church

Moku`aikaua Church Home Page – http://www.mokuaikaua.org

Moku`aikaua Church, Hawaiian Encyclopedia – http://www.hawaiianencyclopedia.com/timeline-of-honolulus-historic.asp

Erin Miller, “Concern for Isle’s Holy History,” Hawaii Tribune-Herald, June 24, 2014. Erin Miller, “Kona’s Mokuaikaua Church Named to List of Endangered Historic Places,” West Hawaii Today, June 24, 2014. http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/kona-s-mokuaikaua-church-named-list-endangered-historic-places

Bret Yager, “Mokuaikaua Church Leaders Lay Out Plans,” Hawaii Tribune-Herald, June 25, 2014. http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/mokuaikaua-church-leaders-lay-out-plans

National Register of Historic Places — http://www.nps.gov/nr/

National Trust for Historic Preservation — http://www.preservationnation.org

About Missionaries: Diaries: The Life & Times of Mrs. Lucy G. Thurston, 1881, pp. 211-213

Hiram Bingham, A Residence of 21 Years in the Sandwich Islands, 1849

My book, Sojourners Among Strangers (1990) uses original sources to explain why the first two groups of missionaries came to Hawai`i. More details.  (I agree. The price is outrageous. In fact, it’s embarrassing. The money goes directly to the publisher. But, ask for it at the library — you know, those old buildings with musty books.)

The post MOKU`AIKAUA CHURCH: Historic Past, Present Crisis & Unknown Future first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

“Okay, I’ll bite.  Why are you wishing me a Happy New Year when we already celebrated the New Year on January 1?”

Excellent Question, Grasshopper.  (Historian settles in for a lengthy chat.)  The January 1 date is completely arbitrary, a result of the introduction of the Julian calendar in 45 BCE.

“Could you answer my question without presenting a 50 minute lecture?”

You exaggerate.  I can answer your question in less than five minutes.

“I’m setting the stopwatch on my smart phone.  Go.”

Did you know the ancient Romans held a festival for Saturn, an agricultural god, on December 17?  The event expanded to cover five days, then seven.  It was the most popular event of the year.  That’s why the early Christian Church set Christmas on December 25, so new converts would not feel excluded from the fun and games.  Of course, Christian celebrations were more moral.

“Seconds are turning.” (Yawn.)

You want to know when the “new year” begins.  Got it. A new year can begin on any day.  It could start tomorrow.  But it wouldn’t be the New Year with capital letters.  Roman political leaders were a bit mischievous.  Their term of office lasted a year, but there was no fixed length to the months.  A leader might lengthen or shorten the year to suit himself.  Until Julius Caesar came back from the African campaigns.  He decreed 46BCE would be two months longer than usual so he could align time into long months of 31 days and short months of 30 days and February which was extra short and expandable during leap years.

(Starts texting.)

I can hear you.  (Exasperated) The first day of the official New Year is January 1 because that’s the day when Roman consuls took office.  The Christian Church adopted the Julian calendar, later changed it to the Gregorian calendar, but kept January 1.  And thus it has ever since, encompassing the entire known world, just as Caesar planned.

“Two minutes.”

Yesterday, February 10 started the new lunisolar year known as Chinese New Year. Celebrations continue for fifteen days ending with the Lantern Festival.  This is the Year of the Snake.

“I don’t like snakes.”

Have you ever met one?  Snake people are good to have around.  They are intelligent, analytical and graceful.  They like the good things in life.  They like wealth.

“Doesn’t everyone?”

Wealth means different things to different people.  Snakes like sumptuous luxury.

“One minute.  Will we get rich this year?”

Maybe.  Some think the Snake will encourage economic recovery.

“Why did you put a picture of tangerines at the top?”

That’s a new question.  You can’t count it in the five minutes.  Did I make it?

“Yes.  This proves you don’t have to go into every teeny tiny detail to answer a question.”

I like to be thorough.

“Can you briefly tell me about the fruit.”

I shall be succinct.  Tangerines and oranges invite luck and wealth, because the Chinese word for tangerine sounds like the word for “luck”, and the word for orange sounds like “wealth.”  As an added bonus, bright orange is a color associated with gold.

“So, luck + wealth + gold = prosperity.”

I didn’t know you could do math.

“Is the red envelope a replacement for plastic shopping bags?”

Better. These small paper containers hold lucky money.  Red is an auspicious color.  Lots of Chinese New Year decorations are red and gold – all to attract health, wealth, and happiness.  And, it’s biodegradable.  Where are you going?

“To buy tangerines.”

The post GUNG HEI FAT CHOY – HAPPY LUNAR (CHINESE) NEW YEAR first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

An extreme version of this activity is “Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus” on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE A crowded food court, people noshing, a lady in a Santa hat playing Christmas carols, when suddenly, up jumps a soprano. . . singing . . . Hallelujah! You might be forgiven for thinking her eggnog was spiked – but then, up jumps a tenor at the other side of the room, and so it goes. As soon as critical mass is reached – everyone starts to participate.

Community Messiah Sing-a-Longs can be found in cities and towns of all sizes. All you need are copies of the music (or at least words) for the audience, four soloists, a director to keep things together, and a few musicians – organist, pianist, perhaps a trumpet or two. It’s good times for everyone.

Why do we do this? How did this annual 2-hour event begin? Return with me to the olden days before the English discovered Christmas trees. There was a musician named Georg Friedrich Handel. Born in Germany, he moved to England about the same time as George I (remembered as the English king who spoke only German).

Handel was George I’s music master. On the side, he wrote Italian operas for the aristocracy. [Hmmm. A German composer living in England writing Italian operas. How very international.] The operas were expensive musical plays. The singers generally came from Italy. They required costumes, scenery, and an orchestra. Eventually, someone did the math, and demanded cost cutting measures.

Handel created less expensive entertainments sung in English. This generated interest from the professional classes who did not understand Italian. Reduced costs plus increased ticket sales led to more profits for the composer. Handel knew an opportunity when he saw it, and began to compose “oratorios.” These had a story line, but only required one soprano, one alto, one tenor, and one bass. Chorus members could be replaced at will. Add a couple musicians, and the cast was complete.

You said you were going to talk about Messiah. I don’t care about Oreos.

Okay, hold your eggnog. There was a guy named Charles Jennens who wrote words for oratorios. Jennens wanted to set the story of Jesus’ life to music so he went through the Bible and created the story line for Messiah.

In August 1741, Jennens took his script to Handel, who was so excited he composed the entire score in 24 days. Part I is about Jesus’ birth. Part II about his life and death. Part III covers the Resurrection, which Christians celebrate at Easter. Yes, Messiah is an Easter oratorio, but we sing it at Christmas, so we don’t need anything except Part I, plus the Hallelujah chorus at the end of Part II. [Did you check out the Food Court Flash Mob yet – everyone recognizes the Hallelujah chorus.]

So, we have words. We have music. And then Handel had an invitation from William Cavendish, the Third Duke of Devonshire to visit him in Dublin and put on some fundraiser concerts for hospitals. Handel packed his bags and headed across the Irish Sea. “What the heck,” Handel thought, “I’ll bring Messiah.”

Boring. — Wait it gets better.

The first performance was on April 13,1742. To generate interest, Handel invited the public to attend rehearsal the day before. The chorus was composed of men and boys from St. Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals. Two female singers participated. Christina Maria Avoglio, soprano, and Susannah Cibber, contralto. At the time, Cibber was involved in a divorce scandal.

 “Have you heard? Theophilus Cibber forced Susannah (at gunpoint, no less) to sleep with William Sloper,” said the first person.
     “Really? I heard it was a ménage a trois,” commented the second person.
     “Well,” whispered person number three behind her fan, “I heard that Cibber paid a spy to wait in the closet and catch them in the act.”

Ahem. Music Hall management respectfully requests gentlemen remove their swords and ladies the hoops under their dresses, so the maximum number of people may attend the performance.

And what a day it was. Seven hundred people came. One, a Reverend Delaney, was so moved after hearing Cibber sing, he pronounced her sins forgiven. The take was large enough to discharge the debts of 142 prisoners in debtors’ prison, and benefit two charities.

     And the reason we have Messiah Sing-A-Longs at Christmas is because . . .

It’s fun. Mainly. Of course, Messiah had to move from Easter to Christmas because we don’t sing Easter songs . . . Well some people do, but mainly not. And also because, at the time, there were lots of big things to do at Easter – like Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Not exactly a hummable tune.

Messiah is culture for the common folk – The Christmas Story, a standing stretch for the Hallelujah Chorus, and eggnog to follow. A feel good experience if there ever was one. Hallelujah!

Sources With More Details

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/The-Glorious-History-of-Handels-Messiah.html?c=y&page=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)#Premiere_and_early_performances

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susannah_Maria_Cibber

The post HALLELUJAH! – It’s Time to Sing Messiah first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

Not only did The DaVinci Code become an international bestseller, in 2006 it became a very popular movie starring Tom Hanks (now available on DVD if you have not seen it). Readers and viewers (including myself) became so engrossed in the plot that it was easy to overlook its basic premise, which was (are you ready?) that Jesus married Mary Magdalene.

This was not a new concept. I first heard the story in a medieval history class. Jesus, according to legend, did not die on a cross. He was not buried in a tomb from which he became the first man to rise from the dead, and the founder of a major world religion. No. According to the legend, Jesus eloped to Gaul with Mary Magdalene and together they founded the Merovingian Dynasty. From a certain perspective, it only makes sense that if you are trying to unite territory under your own personal control; you need to have a better reason than “my army is bigger than yours.” Perhaps not a better reason, but an additional reason for the peasants to hold you in awe. For example, it’s generally useful to be related to God. “Don’t obey me because I will kill you if you don’t. Obey me because my ancestor is God.” Point being, the story about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the Merovingian Dynasty has been around a long time.

I suggest Dan Brown heard about the story, and wondered how it might have played out. Warning: if you don’t know the ending, stop reading. The final plot point in the novel is when the heroes discover the enemy (a guy named Teabing) is trying to prove that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, and that they had children, because, that would mean Jesus was not crucified and therefore did not rise from the dead as proclaimed by the Catholic church and its various Christian derivatives. [Sidebar: This would, naturally, destroy the Vatican or at least cause it great embarrassment. On the other hand, since the Vatican has international standing and is a major tourist destination, I, personally, think it could still stay in business.]

I share this information for two reasons. First, Dan Brown is a very astute writer. He took a legend, and wondered what would happen if it was true. He wrote a really terrific book. He sold the movie rights. Thus, Dan Brown is a hero to many writers.

Second reason. Have you heard the news? A historian at Harvard Divinity School authenticated a tiny piece of papyrus from the fourth century. According to her translation of the original Coptic, there is a quotation “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife . . .’” [See full story at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/us/historian-says-piece-of-papyrus-refers-to-jesus-wife.html?pagewanted=all.] So, were the Merovingians truthful? Is Dan Brown’s story true? Is the world really flat? It’s all a matter of perspective.

The post WAS JESUS MARRIED? first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.