Really a genius one other than to add: the Pink Floyd lyric is "Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way." (Continuing with: "The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say." Which then continued on with: "Home, home again. I like to be here when I can. When I come home cold and tired it's good to warm my bones beside the fire. And long ago and far away, the tolling of the iron bell calls the faithful to their knees to hear the softly spoken magic spells." Synchronicities continue to abound.) Again, bravo, one of your best, and Happy Belated Solstice and Merry Christmas top of the season to you and all of yours and yours🙏🙌✝️✨🕺🫂⚕️🎇🎉💖
Oh also your use of the term "rap battles" is well-placed, and did you ever hear your countryman Mike Crowley, author of "The Secret Drugs of Buddhism" and "Psychedelic Buddhism" say: "The ancient Aryan rishis of northern India or thereabouts used to gather around a fire, brew and drink ayahuasca [its equivalent local correlate] and have spontaneous rap battles which were eventually written down into the Vedas (which includes the Upanishads)." Clearly it happened all over the world as the basis of what later became many a religion and clearly it's ripe to flower again.👌💪☯️✨
There’s something quietly defiant about this. Not pretending the winter isn’t brutal, not fast-forwarding to forced cheer, just saying “yes, it’s dark” and choosing love anyway. That feels more honest than most modern Christmases and way more subversive than it gets credit for.
You lost me on the big, big jump from a lost Christianity of love to the pagan song, the "Holly and the Ivy." I'm not on board with the idea that Christians used to do it right in the past, and we need to return to those roots. When we do try and return to an Ancient Christianity, we have to recognize that it ended pagan ways of life. As with the Holly and the Ivy Carol- with Jesus grafted in- the pagan traditions we know and love (Christmas Trees, for example) remain because they were co-opted by Christians. We live with the reality of the solstice (we all are impacted by the short days of the last two months, which tomorrow start lengthening towards the energy of Spring) and the cultural and religious celebration of Christmas. There is a disharmony between reality and the tradition we find ourselves living in. The ellipsis below doesn't resolve the divide.
"This carol reminds us of something radical about Christianity that appears to be increasingly forgotten. It’s never been about power. or wealth It’s always been about humility and hope.
Even in the darkest hours.
Even in the bleakest winter.
***
Hopefully you’re now suitably inspired to kick off your holiday season on the Solstice rather than waiting for the 24th.
Here’s one last story to help you get your Druid on for that festival of light.
The quintessential English carol the Holly and the Ivy."
The thread connecting Peaky Blinders' use of the carol to ancient pagan traditions is a perfect example of how cultural symbols get recontextualized over time. What Tommy Shelby's gang took as a dark reminder of borrowed time has roots in Druidic fertility rites and medieval rap battles, which is kinda wild. I've always found it interesting how Christianity absorbed so much pagan imagery (the Holly and Ivy being exhibit A) rather than erasing it outright. The idea of extending the Twelve Days to start at the Solstice instead of Christmas Eve actully makes a ton of practical sense. It spreads out the intensity and gives people permission to slow down during that weird liminal week between Christmas and New Year.
Credit where credit is due: Christina Rossetti composed In The Bleak Midwinter as a poem in 1872. It was later set to music.
Really a genius one other than to add: the Pink Floyd lyric is "Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way." (Continuing with: "The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say." Which then continued on with: "Home, home again. I like to be here when I can. When I come home cold and tired it's good to warm my bones beside the fire. And long ago and far away, the tolling of the iron bell calls the faithful to their knees to hear the softly spoken magic spells." Synchronicities continue to abound.) Again, bravo, one of your best, and Happy Belated Solstice and Merry Christmas top of the season to you and all of yours and yours🙏🙌✝️✨🕺🫂⚕️🎇🎉💖
Oh also your use of the term "rap battles" is well-placed, and did you ever hear your countryman Mike Crowley, author of "The Secret Drugs of Buddhism" and "Psychedelic Buddhism" say: "The ancient Aryan rishis of northern India or thereabouts used to gather around a fire, brew and drink ayahuasca [its equivalent local correlate] and have spontaneous rap battles which were eventually written down into the Vedas (which includes the Upanishads)." Clearly it happened all over the world as the basis of what later became many a religion and clearly it's ripe to flower again.👌💪☯️✨
There’s something quietly defiant about this. Not pretending the winter isn’t brutal, not fast-forwarding to forced cheer, just saying “yes, it’s dark” and choosing love anyway. That feels more honest than most modern Christmases and way more subversive than it gets credit for.
Happy Winter and the darkest day.
You lost me on the big, big jump from a lost Christianity of love to the pagan song, the "Holly and the Ivy." I'm not on board with the idea that Christians used to do it right in the past, and we need to return to those roots. When we do try and return to an Ancient Christianity, we have to recognize that it ended pagan ways of life. As with the Holly and the Ivy Carol- with Jesus grafted in- the pagan traditions we know and love (Christmas Trees, for example) remain because they were co-opted by Christians. We live with the reality of the solstice (we all are impacted by the short days of the last two months, which tomorrow start lengthening towards the energy of Spring) and the cultural and religious celebration of Christmas. There is a disharmony between reality and the tradition we find ourselves living in. The ellipsis below doesn't resolve the divide.
"This carol reminds us of something radical about Christianity that appears to be increasingly forgotten. It’s never been about power. or wealth It’s always been about humility and hope.
Even in the darkest hours.
Even in the bleakest winter.
***
Hopefully you’re now suitably inspired to kick off your holiday season on the Solstice rather than waiting for the 24th.
Here’s one last story to help you get your Druid on for that festival of light.
The quintessential English carol the Holly and the Ivy."
I'm lighting a yule log tomorrow. Thanks for bringing that to mind.
The thread connecting Peaky Blinders' use of the carol to ancient pagan traditions is a perfect example of how cultural symbols get recontextualized over time. What Tommy Shelby's gang took as a dark reminder of borrowed time has roots in Druidic fertility rites and medieval rap battles, which is kinda wild. I've always found it interesting how Christianity absorbed so much pagan imagery (the Holly and Ivy being exhibit A) rather than erasing it outright. The idea of extending the Twelve Days to start at the Solstice instead of Christmas Eve actully makes a ton of practical sense. It spreads out the intensity and gives people permission to slow down during that weird liminal week between Christmas and New Year.
Always searching for the light brother.
This post is helpful in that regard. Thanks. Also, love the calendar placement of the 12 days. Definitely adding that into the mix.
Great read Jamie! I love the last poem, who composed it? “Oh king of kings and light of lights! ….”