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FLASHBACK
KEN PYE’s latest two books have just been
published – Beastly Merseyside about the roles
played by animals in the history of our region;
and Even More Merseyside Tales, a further
collection of illustrated, amazing and unusual (but historically accurate) stories from across our local history.
These are available in all good bookshops or from Ken directly – as are all of his books, DVDs, and audio CDs.
Some tickets still remain for his Curious Christmas Stories and Traditions show at the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight, at 2.30pm on Sunday, December 4. Call the theatre on 0151 643 8757 to book your seats.
PARTY TIME:ARoman family celebrating the winter festival of Saturnalia
FESTIVEFACTFILE
Code that kept Catholics safe
FROM 1558, English Catholics were prohibited by law from practising their faith for almost three centuries – until 1829, when anAct of Parliament granted the “emancipation of the Catholics” .
While some historians disagree, many scholars believe that The Twelve Days of Christmas was a way to help young Catholics remember the tenets of their faith, which they would study in secret.
In other words, it is a code, which breaks like this:
n The partridge in the pear tree – the Son of God. n Two turtle doves – the Old and New Testament. n Three French hens – faith, hope, and charity. n Four calling birds –the four gospels. n Five golden rings –first five books of the Old Testament –chronicling Man’s fall from grace. n Six geese a-laying – six days of creation. n Seven swans a-swimming –seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and the seven sacraments. n Eight maids a-milking – the eight beatitudes from the Sermon on The Mount. (Blessed are the meek etc). n Nine ladies dancing – nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. n Ten lords a-leaping – Ten Commandments n Eleven pipers piping – eleven faithful apostles. n Twelve drummers drumming – twelve points of doctrine in the apostles’ creed.
CHARITY: Distributing Boxing Day gifts to the poor in Victorian England
Old ways and Boxing Days
BOXING DAY was not actually the day when family members gave presents to each other at Christmas, as is often thought to be the case.
Its name may derive from the times when, on the day after Christmas, wealthy householders would give presents to their servants, tradesmen, and local poor people – usually money – disguised in a small gift box, because it was thought vulgar to give cash more obviously. The modern Christmas bonus may come from this. Another theory about Boxing Day is that it goes back to late MiddleAges when almsboxes were placed in churches in the weeks leading up to December 25, for the collection of donations – distributed to the poor the day after Christmas. It can also be traced back to the Roman Saturnalia festival when IN Pagan times snowmen were built around a village to ward off evil spirits. The first written reference money to pay for the celebration was collected in pottery boxes. Boxing Day is also known as St Stephen’s Day. He was the first Christian Martyr and was appears in a “Book of stoned to death by crowds Hours” – dating from 1330 – in Jerusalem for speaking found in Holland. against the temple and the
The world’s largest law. snowman was in the town of He is the patron saint of Bethel, in theAmerican State horses, which is why a lot of Maine – but this was of races, hunts, and other actually a Snow Woman! such horsey events take Standing at a height of place on December 26. 122ft 1in, she was built in In fact, in Germany, honour of Olympia Snowe, the horses were once ridden US senator for Maine. around churches on
However, in 2020, this record St Stephen’s Day and, in was broken by “Reisi” , which parts of England, horses roughly translates as “giant” . were bled to encourage
In the town of good health for the coming Donnersbachwald, in the year.
. . . and what about snow women? centralAustrian ski-region of Riesneralm, he stood at a height of 124ft 8in. But building a snowman – or snow woman – is quite a skill:
n Never use powdered snow –
it won’t ball and it won’t stick!
n It can only be built with
“packing snow” – snow that is close to melting.
n The packing snow will also
stick to itself easily, allowing you to make three separate sections – lower body, upper body and head.
n It’s best done by rolling
along the ground until reaching the required size.
n The best time to build is
usually in the next warmest afternoon directly following a heavy snowfall. GIANT: Reisi inAustria
Motor ace Billy now on the tennis circuit
FIVE years ago, teenage racing driver Billy “Whizz” Monger was critically injured in a race track collision, causing both of his legs to be amputated.
Since then he’s been winning accolades on and off the track.And now he’s starring in a four-part documentary series encouraging more people to take up wheelchair tennis.
With Lottery support, the Lawn Tennis Association has released the series on YouTube, featuring Billy as he explores the world of professional wheelchair tennis.
Billy said: “The British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships was my first event where I got to see the wheelchair tennis pros up close and personal.
“The opportunity to learn more about the sport and compete with the best players was one I couldn’t pass up. More people are coming to the sport all the time and I’ve decided it’s time to join them. ”
AN all-disabled racing team has become the first in the world to win a national championship.
Chris Overend and James Whitley were named winners of the Britcar Trophy Championship after the final races of the season at Donington Park.
Team Brit put in a fantastic performance throughout, driving the team’s BMW M240i, which is fitted with the team’s world-leading hand controls, enabling them to compete against able-bodied competitors.
Chris, from Southampton, uses a wheelchair as a result of development dysplasia of the hips. He said: “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved as a team. None of this would be possible without everyone putting in 100% every race weekend I’m so grateful for the support of our sponsors, our families and everyone that has come to cheer us on. We believed and we achieved!”
James, from Eastbourne, was born with no hands and sustained major injuries as a child after a boating accident.
He is now also a GB Paralympian skier and missed the first round of the season due to competing for Team GB in Beijing.
He said: said: “What an incredible end to the season. I’m in shock over how well this first season has gone – we have literally made history.Aspecial thank you to the crew, who are just exceptional – their hard work and quick thinking made it all possible. ”
The team was formed in 2015 by ex-Royal Engineer Dave Player and originally consisted of injured military veterans. In 2019, the team opened its doors to any disabled drivers. Their longterm goal is to become the first all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 Hour.
This year, its eight drivers have competed in the Britcar Trophy, British Endurance Championship and British GT Championship.
HOLDING COURT: Billy takes up tennis for his latest challenge
HISTORY-MAKERSHISTORY-MAKERS
World’s first disabled race champions
TOP TEAM: James, left, and Chris
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