Blogs about those special times of the year.
The Feast of St. Brigid is a celebratory time whose exact origins are lost to time. February 1st is the Feast of St. Brigid. It is also Imbolc, the Gaelic fire festival. So, are we celebrating a Catholic saint, a pagan goddess or both? Let’s explore the tangled history of Ireland’s famous female patron saint. …
November 26th is Small Business Saturday, and Country Fox is bringing you 13 Local Small Businesses you will want to check out. This day helps our local “Mom and Pop” type shops, craftspeople, and artists by bringing attention to their services. With holiday season around the corner, here is a list of unique places to …
Today, March 8th, marks the 111th International Women’s Day. The theme for this year’s IWD is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Explore the history of International Women’s Day and why it still matters today. Origins On February 28, 1909, National Woman’s Day was held in New York City. Theresa Malkiel, a member of …
This season’s last Dark Christmas Tradition delves into Frau Perchta. From goddess to witch, this Christmas figure covers a lot of ground. Most of the information for this post comes from The Old Magic of Christmas by Linda Raedisch. Now, let’s find out what we need to know to avoid having our bellies slit open. …
Right now you are wondering what in the heck a Christmas pooper has to do with Christmas. One European Country has a unique tradition involving their nativity scenes. Have I piqued your curiosity? If so, keep reading. Brief History Sometime during the 18th century, a small figure began appearing in the nativity scene. In Catalonia, …
Every year homes across Scandinavia are visited by the Yule goat and the Nisse. Both visitors date back to ancient times. They have evolved and changed from their pagan roots to fit into a more Christian society. Let’s learn a bit about these Yuletide visitors. The Nisse These household spirits go by different names depending …
The Mari Llwyd is a strange tradition. Various versions of this tradition have been found around the British Isles. It is, however, a fading tradition. But what is a Mari Llwyd? Let’s find out. Origin No one is quite sure when or even where the custom of dressing up a horse skull began. Animal skulls …
Last week we learned about Gryla, an Icelandic witch who eats troublesome children. This post will cover her associates: the Yule Cat and the Yule Lads. Yule Cat Beginning in the autumn, the Yule Cat would spy on those preparing for the winter. Animals needed harvested and their meat smoked and stored. Wool sheared in …
This week begins Country Fox’s exploration of Dark Christmas Traditions from around the world. The next few blogs will introduce readers to Yule and Christmas figures that strike fear into the hearts of children everywhere. This weeks terrifying figure is Gryla, the Christmas Witch. Who is Gryla? Gryla is a fierce giantess who can be …
November 28th is Small Business Saturday. This day helps our local “Mom and Pop” type shops, craftspeople, and artists by bringing attention to their services. The holiday season is around the corner and people are in search of gifts. Here is a list of 13 local businesses to visit. 1. Up-N-Running Up-N-Running is a small …