Redemption of the Pagans

Everyone is in the holiday spirit, and the Colored Man is no exception.  Bells are ringing, children are singing, and the stores are packed with holiday shoppers.  My culinary juices are starting to bubble and boil. But have you ever wondered how all of this Christmas stuff began?  Exactly what are we celebrating?  Just as I did for Thanksgiving, the Colored Man is going to give you a brief bit of information regarding this biggest of all holiday's, which has connections to paganism.

This particular history lesson was inspired by an article in The New York Times a few days ago.  The article was about wealthy people hiring holiday house "fluffers".  And no, these are not x-rated movie set fluffers.  These are trained interior designers hired to specifically decorate a townhouse or country retreat for the holidays.  They are hired to give the residents and residences a sense of a Hallmark Christmas.  A very expensive sense of belonging and Victorian memories, all swags and boughs.

The origin of the word Christmas is from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes maesse.  Cristes is from Greek Christos and maesse is from Latin missa, the holy mass.  In Greek, the letter X (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century.  This explains the use of Xmas as an abbreviation for Christmas.

The date of December 25 as the birth of Christ is quite interesting, as this is also the celebration of the Roman solar holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, which also has a relation with the Winter Solstice, a pagan celebration.  Some scholars argue that church leaders based this choice of December 25 on the spring equinox, which would have occured around March 25, now known as Annunciation and as the anniversary of Mary's conception, which would have meant that Jesus was born nine months later on December 25.  These theories do get complicated, so I encourage you to go out and do some research to learn more.

Throughout history, trees and flowers have been used for celebrations, and Christmas is lush with flora.   The Romans brought greenery inside during their winter holidays, and greenery was also part of Jewish tradition.  The heart-shaped leaves of ivy are said to symbolize the coming to earth of Jesus, as well as, the clinging to tradition and belief.  Holly represents protection against pagans and witches, its thorns and red berries symbolic of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at the cruxcifixion and the blood he shed.  The buds of the poinsettia, a native plant of Mexico, is said to represent the crown of the thorns, while its red leaves the blood.

We can thank the Germans for Christmas trees, which during pagan times were worshipped for all of the resources that they gave man - shelter, warmth, cool, food, beauty.  However, Christmas trees in America and Britian did not become the household necessity that they are today, until Prince Albert, German-born royal consort of Queen Victoria, decided that the British royal family should have a tree in their castle.  Once the picture of the family in front of a Christmas tree was printed in the newspapers around the world in the mid-1800's, the Christmas tree quickly became a household must-have on both shores. Christmas decorations can also be attributed to the Germans, inspired by paper chains made by children.  The first ornaments in America were sold at F.W. Woolworth's, the store that would later play a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.  These were German-made and to this day, German-made Christmas ornaments are considered to be the finest-made in the world.  Check out Christopher Radko ornaments at http://www.christopherradko.com/. 

The colors red and green also have symbolic meaning.  The Paradise Play was presented in the 1300's to tell the story of Adam and Eve, who brought sin to the world.  The birth of Jesus brought redemption.  In order to show illiterate citizens the Tree of Life, presenters used a green pine tree and tied red apples to its branches.  Additionally, red is symbolic of celebration, while green proclaims new life, new beginning, and eternal life.  The use of purple denotes royalty, as in the birth of Jesus, King of the World. 

Gift-giving began with God's gift of Jesus to the world.  The Three Wise Men gave the baby Jesus gifts.  And we are supposed to give gifts to show God's bounty and blessings.  At some point the Catholic Church banned gift-giving due to its connection to pagan holidays, such as the Roman holiday, Saturnalia. However, they later reversed their decision due to the holiday's association with Saint Nicholas, a patron saint of children, and the gifts of the Magi to the baby Christ.

Wrapping paper, which you can get in any color of the rainbow that you desire is another Christmas tradition.  Originally handmade gifts were not wrapped and placed at the foot of the decorated tree.  Instead, gifts were placed inside the branches.  It wasn't until the Civil War and the need for mass production that store-bought gifts came into vogue.  During this time gifts were wrapped in twine, ribbon, tree bark or tissue paper.  As the story goes, around World War II, a milliner ran out of white tissue paper to wrap gifts, so decided to use colored paper.  Her boss saw what she was doing, and went on to create the Hallmark Company and decorative wrapping papers.

Gingerbread houses are also a staple of the holiday season, and lend themselves to contests, public displays, and even have a home in the public rooms of The White House.  Ginger was highly popular in Asian countries, and in fact, was one of the most widely used spices in the world.  Trade ships from around the world docked in Nuremburg, Germany, and in the 1500's local bakers began using ginger in their baked food items.  This led to the creation of gingerbread houses.

Other foods include nuts, which mirrors life and having to crack it open to see what's inside.  Apples represent freshness, and oranges denote the bright sunshine of a new day.  Egg nog is a British creation, and just leads to getting drunk and a trip to your private throne room.

The first Christmas tree lights were developed by the Thomas Edison Company.  The Colored Man thinks that this concept has it good and bad sides.  Of course the electric lights got rid of the burning candles on the tree, but on the other hand it caused some people to not follow the old adage of "less is more" when it comes to decorating their house.

Of course nowadays, Christmas has become too commercial.  Just after Halloween I began to see stores with holiday decorations already up and blazing.  We can thank good old American commercialism and Lord & Taylor department store, which was the first store to devote space to holiday displays in 1938, for the Christmas season starting in July.

So with these bits of information, I hope that each of you enjoys a very merry holiday season, and that you will use the information that I have given you, to hold fascinting conversations at all of those fabulous holiday parties that you will be attending and hosting.

Some of my readers don't celebrate Christmas, so I wish you continued health and happiness.

Bye the bye, the Colored Man really likes the gift-giving part, and I am still in need of a good 35mm camera!!!!, or an all-expense paid vacation to someplace warm and exotic:).  I have been a good boy all year!!!!

The Colored Man
coloredm@yahoo.com
thecoloredman@gmail.com

Michelle: La Femme de Choix

Naeem Khan beaded sheath worn to the first Obama Administration State Dinner

Marie Antoinette

                                                 

Michelle, ma belle.Ce sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,
My Michelle.

The Colored Man is not a historian, but I do like to read and watch educational programming on television, so with some bit of learning, I can relate to you the unfortunate story of Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna, better known as Marie Antoinette.  Marie was Austrian royalty, as her parents were the Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I.  She married Louis-Auguste, Dauphin of France
in 1770 in an arranged marriage designed to forge political connections between France and Austria.  When she first arrived at Versailles Palace, she was relatively liked by court members, as well as by the French people.  It wasn't until after about 7-8 years of marriage and no stork arrival, that the people began to turn on her.  But Marie made the best of a bad situation.

Michelle, ma belle.
Sant des mots Qui Vont ensemble Tres bien, Tres Bien Ensemble.

Instead of laying in her bed all day eating petit-fours, and wishing that Madame du Barry, her father-in-law's mistress, would leave her alone, Dauphine Marie began to make her impact on French society.  As queen, Marie was expected to outshine others in her dress, hair, jewels, household, soirees.  But she took it to a whole 'nutha level.  Where shall I start? - three-day gambling binges, the refurbishing of the Petit Trianon, her private playhouse, lovers and alleged loverettes.  The only time she slowed down was when she finally got pregnant, but even when delivering she had an audience perched around her boudoir looking on.

Je t'aime, Je t'aime, Je t'aime.
C'est tout ce que je veux dire,
Jusqu'a ce que je trouve un moyen Je dirai les seuls mots que je sais que
Vous l'aurez compris.
J'ai besoin de toi, J'ai besoin de toi, J'ai besoin de toi.
J'ai besoin de te faire voir, Oh, ce que tu represents pour moi.
Jusqu'a ce que je fais, je suis en esperant vous sera
Savoir ce que je veux dire.


But what really did poor Marie in was l'affaire du collier.  It seems that some of Marie's worst enemies conspired to get her to purchase a necklace that was created for Mme. duBarry.  When Marie said you must be crazy if you think that I am going to purchase a piece of jewelry designed by my father-in-law for his mistress, her frenemies went into deep deception and rigged it to seem as if she were writing letters to Cardinal Richeleau, and asking him to purchase the necklace for her.  When everything was revealed in court, Marie's reputation was further soiled and eventually was one of the major conspiracies used against her before her fateful ending at the blade of Monsieur Guillotine's handy invention.

Je t'aime.

Now we progress almost 300 years later, and America has its' own Marie Antoinette, via First Lady Michelle Obama.  Just as Marie was a change-maker during her time, so is Michelle Obama.  From using The White House as a pulpit to promote the arts, to her agenda to change the eating habits of American children.  Marie made dining at Versailles coed, Michelle has brought in a private chef.  Marie installed French gardens, Michelle installs an educational vegetable garden, and starts The White House Farmer's Market.  Michelle Obama has proven that she is a modern-day woman of choice for the modern world.

Je te veux, Je te veux, Je te veux.
Je pense que vous savez maintenant
Je vais arriver a vous en quelque sorte.
Jusqu's ce que je fair, je vous dis donc
Vous l'aurez compris.


But what really sets Mrs. Obama apart from all the other throne sitters is her economic power.  When it comes to creating the economic jump-start that everyone is talking about, Queen Michelle does it, and does it in spades.

Recently, David Yermack, professor at New York University, wrote an article for the Harvard Business Review (http://www.hbr.org/), detailing Mrs. Obama's prowess when it comes to creating economic growth.  He looked at economic reports from fashion companies whose clothes Mrs. Obama had worn in 2009.  Here is just a brief synopsis of what he found:
$14 million - the average value generated by any public appearance
$2.7 billion - total value created for 29 companies by Obama's wardrobe choices in 189 public appearances. 
As  Naeem Khan, the India-born designer who created the beaded, strapeless sheath that she wore to the first White House State Dinner, said, "she is the gift that keeps on giving." 

Mrs. Obama is the first American First Lady, who has created this type of economic impact in history.  Of course there are other first ladies, such as Carla Bruni-Sarkozy of France, who is considered a fashion power.  What puts Mrs. Obama at the front of the pack, is that she mixes and matches from various price-points, while Mrs. Sarkozy is a strict Dior mannequin, and Dior sells at prices that the majority of women in the world cannot afford.  She is also compared to Jackie Kennedy, who was pretty much a one-trick pony as well, wearing clothes by her private couturier, Oleg Cassini.  Mrs. Obama, unlike these other first ladies, likes to give everyone an equal chance to drape, cut, and sew for her, which includes African-American, Asian, Hispanic, African, European, and Caucasian designers.  Mrs. Obama is the first White House occupant to utilize an abundance of minority designers.

Je dirai les seuls mots que je sais que
Vous l'aurez compris, mon Michelle.

Mrs. Obama is a powerhouse when it comes to her fashion influence.  For instance, the other day the Colored Man was at a middle-school, and there in the audience sat an 8th grade student.  Her outfit consisted of a simple sweater-set, jeans, and ballerina flats.  On her left arm were thick multi-colored bracelets, and on the right arm were about 20 thin gold-toned bracelets.  I immediate thought was there goes the Obama Look, even with 12-year old girls.  Her influence on adult women and fashion is even more stupendous.  Another story-I have a co-worker who is not on anyone's best-dressed list, however, last week she wore a sweater with a white blouse underneath, black skirt, and black boots.  Around her waist was one of Mrs. Obama's favorite looks: the thick, figure defining belt. Older and younger women alike, strive to get the Obama Look.  The seek it at Neimen's and Nordstroms.  They seek it at JC Penney and TJ Maxx.

Mrs. Obama has approval ratings in the 70's, while her husband's ratings hover in the mid-40's.  Hopefully, this will change as the economy improves.  But I don't really care about ratings and such, I am excited that we have a First Lady who is all meat and potatoes. She has heft and gravitas.  She's elegant, sophisticated, inspirational and has a body to "beat the band."  She is the modern-day woman, and not the dowdy, helmet-haired, mousy first ladies of our past, and the Colored Man loves it!!!

She is definitely la femme de choix!!!!!!!

Bonjour,
L'homme de Couleur

Laying-Up with Bed-Warmers

It's starting to get cold and usually during this time of the year, the Colored Man's heart starts to think about finding a bed-warmer or two.  Someone to help him ward off the frigid winter weather.  But in reality I am getting tired of casual bed-warmers, and having to worry about the simple things, like clean sheets and towels, pillow talk and cuddling, the complimentary breakfast, and the cold kiss good-bye at the door, with the promise that I will call, when in reality I know that I probably won't.

This season I am seeking someone with a little more depth.  Someone who understands when it's time to be quiet and when it's time to talk.  Someone who doesn't mind if you snore a little, have morning breath, or wake up a little moody.  And I realized that the best someone, or should I say something, with all my requirements was a good old-fashioned book.

A book doesn't complain about anything.  You can mistreat it, abuse it, not return phone calls, and subject it to all the other relationship drama, and a book will still be where you left it, waiting with open arms for your return.  Here are a couple of prospects that the Colored Man thinks will fulfill his winter lusts.

The first candidate is entitled, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration.  Written by Pulitzer-prize winning Isabel Wilkerson, the book follows the lives of three very different and distinct African-Americans who migrated from a debilitating Southern landscape to more promising climes in the North.  Wilkersons' Great Migration tome is non-fiction, but reads like fiction, which makes it engaging and informative throughout the 622 pages.  She manages to weave little anecdotes throughout, for example, that some migrants, unfamiliar with Northern accents, thought that the conductor said Penn Station, New York, at the Penn Station, Newark station and mistakenly got off the train.  Many decided to stay put once they realized their mistake, thus the large Southern Black population in Newark.  I think that one of the very big reasons that I am excited about this candidate is that the Great Migration touches my own family, many of whom migrated to New York from North Carolina during the 40's and 50's. My parents would migrate first to New York, then back to North Carolina, and finally landing in Maryland in the late 60's.  You probably have a similar story in your own family.

The second potential bed-warmer is, The Eyes of Willie McGee: A Tragedy of Race, Sex, and Secrets in the Jim Crow South, by Alex Heard.  This book brings up memories of a time in America that will at times make you steaming mad, but also make you proud of what we as African-Americans have overcome. 

Willie McGee was accused of rape by white housewife Willette Hawkins, but he claimed that his relationship with the woman was consensual; they were having an affair.  Willie McGee was found guilty and sentenced to die, which was no surprise for anyone, as Willie's fate was sealed before he entered the courtroom.

The McGee case was the impetus to lead civil rights activists to fight Jim Crow laws in the South, which were designed to humiliate and punish.  Willie McGee may have died unfairly, but his ordeal was a small piece in the struggle that would eventually lead to Barack Obama being in the White House.

My final contestant who I think is up for the job, is a cookbook.

Marcus Samuelsson is one of America's premier culinary wizards, and he fully understands that food culture from across America and the world, should be explored and appreciated.  Born in Ethiopia and orphaned at age 3, Marcus was adopted and raised in Sweden and began his kitchen travels alongside his adopted grandmother at an early age. 

This is not Chef Samuelssons' first cookbook, however, New American Table may be the one that home cooks find most easiest to replicate the recipes from, and if you don't believe the Colored Man, check out his first cookbook, Acquavit, named after his eponymous New York eatery.  I dare you to recreate a recipe from it!!!  This coffee-table sized book is for the adventurous and definitely the culinary experienced.

Samuelsson is known for his big, bold flavors in the kitchen and his cookbooks are no exception.  New American Table is full of Hispanic, Asian, Caribbean,
and African recipes, that are easy to follow and enjoy at home.  But what really makes it a good bedtime read is that with each recipe there is short essay, along with beautiful pictures of the food and related thoughts.  This is a book that will carry you away to peaceful sleep and gastronomic heaven. 

Well, there you have it.  It seems that the Colored Man will be quite busy this winter season trying out these bed-warmers, and I guarantee you that I will enjoy each and every moment of the audition process.