THE sheer commercialisation of Christmas tends to overshadow, and in some cases replace, the true meaning of this great festival. Some children and indeed most adults know it has something to do with the birth of a child in a stable “because there was no room at the inn” but as that event happened somewhere overseas, it is considered by some as being of little concern. In short, the real reason for Christmas is largely ignored even if we are swamped with Christmas offers to buy things we don’t really need in shopping sprees that start as early as November.

The child in question was not a king, emperor, future prime minister or television star, neither did he write a book, appear on TV quiz shows or feature in Facebook, but his teaching has prevailed to this day despite being executed for his beliefs. His dad was a carpenter and so far as we know his mum didn’t have a job but, like all babies, he was rather special. He grew up without harming anyone and did well in life because he was founder of the Christian faith which is why we celebrate his birthday all around the world in many strange ways.

He had apostles and disciples to help with his teaching who were succeeded by saints, popes, cardinals, bishops, priests and the people.

They created churches that continued his work, the word church meaning both a building used by them, or a congregation of people who followed his teachings. Many of the people who helped in this work down the centuries did not receive acclamation or medals but were proclaimed as saints. Indeed, several are part of our Christmas festivities.

Perhaps the best known is St Nicholas, from whose name we get Santa Claus. This name stems from the Dutch language and his feast day – December 6 – is celebrated in Holland on that day in much the same way as we celebrate Christmas Day on December 25. Nicholas was bishop of Myra, near Turkey’s border, and he helped poor children in the district by secretly leaving gifts at their homes under cover of darkness.

Tomorrow, Saturday December 13, is the feast day of St Lucy, whose name means light, as a result of which she is patron saint of glaziers and lamplighters. Living in Sicily, she was both wealthy and beautiful but gave away most of her fortune to the poor. Her fiancé put a stop to her generosity by reporting her to the authorities as a Christian and so she was executed with a sword. The gondoliers of Venice remember her in the song they constantly sing – Santa Lucia.

December 20 is the Eve of the feast day of St Thomas, which used to be the traditional start of carol singing. One problem is that there are several saints called Thomas, all with different feast days, but this one was probably the St Thomas who became known as Doubting Thomas.

This happened because he refused to believe Christ had risen from the dead, but was later confronted by the risen Christ in person, whereupon he changed his mind. Jesus said: “Blessed are those who have not seen, but have believed.” A very profound statement, even today.

The following day, December 21, is the feast day of this St Thomas when boys in the former North Riding would go A-Thomassing. This meant visiting outlying houses to seek St Thomas gifts, usually a piece of pepper cake or ginger bread with cheese. In some areas, poor women would tour the mills seeking small gifts of flour from which to make their Christmas cakes. In return, the women gave sprigs of holly to the mill owners.

One Yorkshire custom on St Thomas’ Day was to plant onions, shallots and broad beans, while in some areas, candle auctions were held in preparation for the worst of the winter – and it is the shortest day.

St Adam, the patron saint of gardeners, celebrates his feast day on Christmas Eve while Christmas Day is the feast of St Eugenia, daughter of a pagan duke of Alexandria. She became a Christian and dressed as a man called Eugenius to preserve her modesty and virginity.

Boxing Day on December 26 is the feast day of St Stephen when good King Wensleslas (feast day, September 28) looked out and saw snow lying deep and crisp and even. In this region, wrens used to be hunted on this day.

It was also Bleeding Day, when cattle were bled to improve their health.

We refer to the feast of St Stephen as Boxing Day but the reason for this name is uncertain. One theory is that trades people received boxed gifts from their customers on this day but a likely explanation is that it was when many churches opened their collection boxes. The money was given to the poor. It’s a nice thought for this time of year.

Holy Innocents' Day falls on December 28 and commemorates King Herod’s slaughter of children during his hunt for the Child Jesus – church bells are muffled and the following three days before the year end are, in sequence, the feast days of St Thomas a Becket, St Sabinus and, finally, St Sylvester.

LATIN TEST

One of my old reference books is titled Tour in Teesdale and although it takes the reader on a guided tour of that region, an appendix includes a list of rare Alpine plants that could be found in or near Teesdale. The book is the third edition dated 1824 and the list of plants was compiled by a Mr Oliver, described as a surgeon from Middleton.

This is his list and it will be noted that he has given only the Latin names of the plants – a challenge for budding experts!

Arbutus Uva-ursi, Bartsia alpina, Cistus marifolius, Crataegus Aria, Draba incana, Dryas octopetala, Gentiana verna, Juncus triglumis, Malaxis paludosa, Melampyrum sylvaticum, Ornithogalum luteum, Potentilla fruticosa, Potentilla verna, Ribes petraeum, Rosa spinosissima, Rhodiola rosea, Rubus Chamaemorus, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga Hirculus, Saxifraga platypetala, Sedum villosum, Sedum Telephium, Thalictrum alpinum, Thlaspi alpestre, Tofieldia palustris, Vaccinium Oxycoccos, Vaccinium Uhginosum, and Vaccinium Vitis-idoea.

In this connection, I have received from an expert on this subject, Dr Margaret Bradshaw, who lives near Barnard Castle, more information about the rare Alpine plants of Teesdale. The Teesdale Record Society’s Journal Vol 20 (2012) emphasises the rarity of many plants found in that area, providing details from as far back as 1793 up to the 20th and 21st centuries. As details of the number of discovered rarities increased and the roads improved so the area received visitors with many experts among them. It seems the rare plants of Teesdale were happily awaiting discovery – and thus ensured preservation. A copy of the 2012 Journal can be obtained (at £4.50) from Mr W F Heyes, High Dykes, Middleton-in-Teesdale, DL12 ORR.

I thank Dr Bradshaw for her co-operation.