“On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten lords a-leaping ...”Similar to their dancing counterparts, the Ten Lords-A-Leaping are mostly grounded this year, as benchmarked ballet companies report that performances are halted this holiday season. As consumer spend is allocated from services to goods, there also has been an uptick in consumer savings, which will ensure True Love is no scrooge next holiday season.
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Today, as mentioned yesterday, is the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus in the traditional Roman calendar. It is NOT the Feast of the Epiphany, nor can the latter be celebrated as an "external solemnity," as the latter can only be celebrated as such within the octave of the feast proper, not before. (Sorry, Father.)
It is also the day that both the Eastern and Western churches remember the French shepherd girl Saint Geneviève, who lived in the mid- and late-fifth century. Her sanctity was noted at a very early age by Saint Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, who consecrated her to God at the age of seven. Genevieve is the patroness of the city of Paris, which has been saved through her intercession more than once, the first time from her contemporary, Attila the Hun.
Geneviève loved to pray in church alone at night. On one such occasion, a gust of wind came into the church and blew out her candle, leaving her in darkness. She attributed this act of nature to the Evil One himself, that he was trying to frighten her. Thus she is often depicted holding a candle. Other images show an irritated devil standing nearby.In nearly two decades of this weblog's existence, her commemoration has been a popular one. Don't ask me why.
See all twelve days in progress at the "xmas12days2020-2021" label.
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