Friday, December 24, 2010

Old Tales On This Magic Night

There is a legend shared by many countries that animals talk at midnight on this special night, Christmas Eve.
 Some tales tell of the animals being given the power of human speech for one hour. Others say they can speak until dawn. God was so grateful for their help in comforting baby Jesus in the stable, he gave them voices for a short time. Bees are said to gather to hum hymns and oxen and cattle rise in their stalls or kneel in adoration of the new-born king. Since childhood I have loved these tales. One of my favourites has to be of the spider.
When Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus were on their way to Egypt, the story tells, as evening came they were weary and sought refuge in a cave. It was so cold that the ground was white with hoar frost. A little spider saw the baby Jesus and wished so much that he could do something to help keep him warm in the cold night. He decided the only thing that he could do was to spin a web across the cave entrance, a curtain to keep the icy wind out. Along the path came King Herods soldiers seeking to carry out his bloodthirsty order. When they came to the cave, they were about to burst in and search it to see if anyone was hiding there, but their captain noticed the spider's web. It was covered with the white hoar frost and stretched right across the entrance to the cave.
'Look,'he said, at the spider's web there. It is quite unbroken. There can't possibly be anyone in the cave as anyone entering would have torn the web'.
So the soldiers passed on and left the holy family in peace.

And that, so they say, is why to this day we put tinsel on our Christmas trees.
It is said that every tree should have a spider ornament to acknowledge the generous spirit of the little Christmas spider.

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.
xxx

 
 

29 comments:

  1. I have never heard the Spider story, it is quite sweet. Blessings of the Season to you and yours! Robin.

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  2. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas. Edward will speak this midnight. He's all ready.

    Thank you for the spider story. It was new to me.

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  3. Coo! I hadn't heard that one before. Thank you for that.

    Hope you have a lovely and warm Christmas too and that the new year is even better than this one for you.

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  4. What a lovely story - I hadn't heard it before. Maybe that's why it is considered unlucky to kill a spider? If our two cats start talking at midnight I hope they will keep the volume down! Have a lovely Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

    J

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  5. A beautiful story! Christmas blessings to you and your family!

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  6. A wonderful story - wishing you an equally wonderful christmas too!

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  7. Thank you for sharing that beautiful story. Have a holiday filled with joy and light!

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  8. Thanks for this :) Have a great yule :)

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  9. Oh, I LOVE the Spider story! I have never heard it before. I will have to get a little spider ornament now (maybe I'll make one).
    Thank You for this lovely story. Merry Christmas and I hope 2011 is a stellar year for you.
    Cenya

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  10. Love that story, it was a new one to me. Merry Christmas. x

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  11. What a wondrous tale! I hope you and your family have an enchanting Christmas! Theresa

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  12. I love this story, it is new to me - I always resist tinsel but will see it differently from now on! and I will have a spider on my tree next year without a doubt. Thankyou and Happy Christmas. Betty

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  13. What beautiful stories. Thank you. I will certainly keep these tales to tell my kids for many Christmases to come. Hope your Christmas has been as warm and wonderful.
    Luna

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  14. I love that story, never heard it... another story to add to the pot... grand. Now I must find or make a magical spider for my Yule Tree, thanks!

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  15. Really enjoyed your latest post.Lovely stories and images full of magic!

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  16. What a beautiful story! I hope you and yours are having a magical, love-filled Christmas. :) xo

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  17. I've not heard that story before, but oddly enough, in the early hours of this morning, I had a dream about a spider. And when I awoke, it occurred to me that I've not seen anywhere near as many spiders as I used to around the house and garden in the last few years (apart from Red Backs...which I'd rather not see so many of, LOL)...and I don't think it's a good sign. Perhaps I might make a little spider for my tree, to remember the web spinners and their important role in the wider web of life.

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  18. Have a blessed and wonderful Christams.

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  19. Lovely photos
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
    Carolyn x

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  20. I happen to love Spider's, hearing this tale made me smile. Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas.

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  21. This is a lovely story, and a special post! I'm intrigued by the painting in the photo and would love to know what it is and where it is.
    Have a lovely new year.

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  22. Lovely story! Thanks for sharing! Blessing of Christmas to you and yours!

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  23. Such a lovely story Karen and beautifully illustrated with your photos.

    I hope your Christmas was joyful.

    Jeanne

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  24. Oh how lovely! I've never heard that story before.

    I hope you had a wonderful, magical Christmas, and every warm wish for a peaceful New Year.

    Cx

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  25. Spiders everywhere, in my dreams, in my garden, in my house (one very big one that was not so welcome) and now here. I love the spider story, have not heard it before.

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  26. This is such a gentle and beautiful story, it values the amazing silk wonder works of poor old spider. I will keep this story for spider visits at bath time with my daughter. : )

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  27. A beautiful tale - thank you for sharing it. Wishing you a very Happy New Year.
    Rebecca
    x

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  28. Thanks for all your comments lovely folks and I hope you all enjoyed a magical Christmas xx

    Alexi...The painting behind the candle in the photo is a print of The Lady And The Unicorn which hangs above my mantelpiece :)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_and_the_Unicorn

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  29. I didn't know the spider story but it's lovely.

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