Visage Spring-Summer 2024

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the 12 days facts of ChristmasChristmas is my favourite time of year. I love the season,sentiment and celebrations. Two years ago I was part of theEastside team seeking to raise funds for those in need locallyand internationally.Angela SanchezWe ran a successful campaign called‘Let’s Boycott Christmas’ following inthe footsteps of Dr Martin Luther KingJnr. The title of our campaign causedsome controversy but it also enabledus to get attention and support.A few months later I used theopportunity to look in more detail atthe so called facts of Christmas. Traditionally,in western culture, there aretwelve days of Christmas, beginningwith the birth of Christ and endingwith the appearance of the wise men.Over the years facts, traditions andmyths have merged into a potpourriof ideas, beliefs and activities.So, what are the facts of Christmas?Here’s what I found!1 THE THREE WISE MENWe don’t know how many so-called‘wise men’ attended the birth of Christnor indeed when they turned up.Historically we say there were threebecause there were three gifts.2 CHRISTMAS DAYDecember 25th has long been celebratedas the birthday of the Christchild, however we have no idea whenhe was born. Some scholars believe itwas around September.3 PAGAN ORIGINSIn the 4th century an African mancalled St Augustine came to Britainto preach the gospel and althoughpeople listened they were not preparedto give up the annual paganactivity. Augustine was advised by thepope to merge the birth of Jesus (dateunknown) with the winter solstice aka‘celebration of the sun’, a festivity thatlasted two or three days with mucheating and drinking. That is how wecame to celebrate his birth on December25th.4 BOXING DAYThis was the day after Christmaswhen traditionally, those who werebetter off, gave gifts to the poor;money or gifts were placed in boxesand distributed.5 CHRISTMAS CAROLSEven before Christianity, it is thoughtthat midwinter songs existed tokeep up people’s spirits, along withdances, plays and feasts. As Christianityspread across Europe from the 4thto the 14th centuries, the first carolswere produced by Franciscan friarswho were followers of Saint Francisof Assisi.6 THE ORIGIN OF THECHRISTMAS TREEEverybody loves the Christmas tree;it is almost the starting gun of theseason. The origin is essentiallyrooted in Paganism. Pagans wouldbring fir trees into their homes atYuletide representing everlasting lifeand fertility. The Yule tree is decoratedwith lights, candles, and other festiveornaments to celebrate the return oflight after dark days.7 THE CHRISTMAS TURKEYTurkeys in Britain were popularised byKing Henry VIII although they didn’toriginate in the UK. If they were goodenough for the king they were goodfor the pauper! Turkeys are a big birdand therefore able to feed a wholehousehold. They were first discoveredin the USA and eaten at Thanksgiving.8 THE CHRISTMAS ANNUALCELEBRATIONWhilst Christmas is celebrated aroundthe world, not all countries recogniseit as a public holiday nor celebrateit. Some even ban it such as Brunei,Somalia and North Korea.9 CHRISTMAS COLOURSRed and white – these begin withSanta Clause who is a depiction of athird century monk named Saint Nicholas.St Nicholas was born in Turkey,and was known to be a kind man wholiked to give gifts anonymously, especiallyto children. As Santa, his outfitand colours were a direct result of amarketing makeover by Coca-Cola.In 1931, the company commissionedillustrator Haddon Sundblom to paintSanta for Christmas advertisements.Those paintings established Santaas a warm, jolly character with rosycheeks, a white beard in keeping withthe Coca-Cola colours.10 MINCE PIESLike Christmas pudding, mince piesoriginate from the middle ages whenthey were made of meat, usuallymutton with chopped up fruit andpreserving liquid. Over the years theyhave evolved into sweet treats alongwith an array of superstitions e.g. stirringthe mixture clockwise to avoidbad luck, getting each family memberto stir while making a wish and eatinga pie each day for the twelve days ofChristmas to ensure good health andhappiness throughout the year.11 PRINCE OF PEACEThe commemoration of the birth ofJesus was the entrance of the Princeof Peace. Although countless warshave taken place in the name ofreligion, the message of peace hassometimes shone through the darknessof war. During the First WorldWar soldiers stopped fighting atChristmas, came out of the trenchesand sang carols, such as ‘Silent Night’,in their own languages, sadly the nextday they went back to war.Since the 4th century AD eachDecember – we have a choicebetween the Coca-Cola, pagan orgyor a Christ centred observation andremembrance of arguably the mostpowerful divine intervention in humanhistory. But it is a choice and now youknow the facts – you really do have achoice20
SPRING/SUMMER 202412 In light of these facts, we have achoice as to how we celebrate theseason – a focus on the real meaningof Christmas or consumerism; peaceor pudding; rest or revelry!ADVENT CALENDARAdvent calendars have their roots inthe 19th century, when German Protestantsstarted taking creative stepsto mark the days leading up to Christmas,like ticking off chalk marks onwalls or doors, lighting candles andplacing straws in a nativity crib. Thefirst advent calendars in the UK weregifts from Germany or Scandinaviaor brought in by immigrants. By 1956,there were being commercially producedand advertised here.21
Page 1 and 2: THE MAGAZINE OF THE EASTSIDE YOUNG
Page 3 and 4: SPRING/SUMMER 2024FIRST WORDSINSIDE
Page 5 and 6: SPRING/SUMMER 2024Louisa Vershima (
Page 7 and 8: SPRING/SUMMER 2024the world of work
Page 9 and 10: SPRING/SUMMER 2024Samuel Adebisi, Y
Page 11 and 12: SPRING/SUMMER 2024SEAN PAULII One t
Page 13 and 14: SPRING/SUMMER 2024SPOTLIGHT ONlulu
Page 15 and 16: SPRING/SUMMER 2024II The mission is
Page 17 and 18: SPRING/SUMMER 2024A DAY TRIP TO STO
Page 19 and 20: SPRING/SUMMER 2024strong and little
Page 21: SPRING/SUMMER 2024atalya’s artpoe
Page 25 and 26: SPRING/SUMMER 2024wacky wordy puzzl
Page 27 and 28: Alumni Trustees, David and Marcus a

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