Tag: Crimson Cloak Publishing

The Nielsen Book database

The Nielsen Book database

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All formats of our books are available on Nielsen. Who are Nielsen, you might ask? About Nielsen “Nielsen Book Discovery range of search and discovery services are used by booksellers, libraries and publishers in over 100 countries worldwide. We collect bibliographic metadata from publishers in over 70 countries (including the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa) and work closely with the leading data providers in the US to ensure we have the most consistent and comprehensive global database of title records available. The Nielsen Book database, which now holds over 30 million title records, is available to booksellers, libraries and publishers worldwide to inform…

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National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed every year on January 11.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed every year on January 11.

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In 2011 President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation, designating each January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The anniversary of this proclamation became known as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Slavery was officially abolished in the USA by the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865 however human trafficking grows at an alarming rate and despite the USA being a first world country, human trafficking has become a lucrative business for some members of society. The victims affected and forced into modern day slavery are often of foreign nationalities but could be anyone. They are all subjected to…

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Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night

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Christmas has certainly been a different one this year, through no fault of our own! It will have been what you made it, and based on what you were able to do. However it passed for you, we are now faced with the task of taking all the decorations down again. Which brings with it the usual question of, when? Maybe some of you have already moved everything away hoping for a better Christmas next year, but for those of you still surrounded by the trimmings, when should they officially come down? We have all had enough bad luck in…

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Origins of Boxing Day

Origins of Boxing Day

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There are several theories as to the origin of Boxing Day, but in general the tradition has long included the wealthy giving money and other gifts to the poor. The European tradition dates to the Middle Ages, but some claim it dates back even farther to the late Roman/early Christian era when metal boxes were placed outside churches to collect special offerings connected to the Feast of Saint Stephen. A reference to Boxing Day’s origins appears in the Christmas Carol, “Good King Wenceslas.” Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, saw a poor man gathering wood…

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Father Christmas and Christmas gifts.

Father Christmas and Christmas gifts.

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The giving of gifts at Christmas probably originated with St Nicholas, who actually lived in the 4th century AD and was the Patron Saint of children and travellers by sea; known by his red cape, flowing white beard, and bishop’s mitre. He was a kind and generous man who gave gifts of money and assistance in times of need.             The giving of gifts used to be carried out on 6th December in memory of the Saint, for on his feast day people gained the habit of being particularly nice to children and placing small gifts in their shoes to…

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The Winter Solstice – 21st December.

The Winter Solstice – 21st December.

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In the northern latitudes, midwinter’s day has been an important time for celebration throughout the ages. The Winter Solstice occurs exactly when the Earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun. On this shortest day of the year, and longest night, the sun is at its lowest and weakest; a pivotal turning point of the year from which the light will grow stronger and brighter. The Romans called it Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The seasonal significance of the Winter Solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of…

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Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe

Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe

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The Holly and the Ivy are as much a part of a traditional Christmas as are Christmas trees and presents. Both are very hardy plants, and an old belief was that if they could survive harsh winters, so could the households that displayed them. The holly was sacred to the Roman god, Saturn, and the Romans gave each other holly wreaths to deck their homes. Ivy was the plant most associated with the Roman God, Bacchus, who wore a crown of it to symbolize his immortality. Bacchus, the God of wine and frivolity, and his followers believed their crowns of…

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Yule Log

Yule Log

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The Ancient Druids began the tradition of the Yule log, though they probably didn’t expect it to become a chocolate one after the passage of time…The name ‘Druid’ has been said to stem from the word ‘Duir’, or ‘oak’, which gave rise to the assumption that the Druids were priests of the sacred oak groves believed to have once spread across Britain and Ireland.They worshipped trees as symbols of the Gods, chanting to them and making offerings. The custom of ‘wassailing’ (meaning to wish good health to) is descended from the Druidic worship of these powerful trees. The Yule log…

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Origins of the Christmas Tree

Origins of the Christmas Tree

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The use of greenery and lights at Christmas goes back to the celebration of the Kalends of January in ancient Rome. Kalends was a celebration of the Roman New Year when people gave each other gifts of green boughs, honey treats, lamps for light and warmth, and silver and gold objects (The latter probably being the most popular.) They also trimmed trees with trinkets and toys during Saturnalia, and put candles on them to indicate the sun’s return to earth.             The Druids honoured Odin by tying golden apples and other offerings to tree branches, and set lighted candles on…

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The First Christmas Card.

The First Christmas Card.

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Have you written all your Christmas cards yet? No, neither have I. We all will be soon though won’t we, but why? Where and how did this tradition begin? The first Christmas card designed for sale was by London artist John Calcott Horsley and commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy British businessman of the 1800’s, who found himself too busy in the festive season to send individual messages to all his friends. Yes, I know the feeling. Being a man who liked to be prepared therefore, in the summer of 1843 Sir Henry commissioned Horsley to design an impressive…

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