Friday, 9 December 2016

News: Pagans, Father Christmas, Vikings, Witches

"Santa Claus' Pagan Origins: Why Do Christmas Traditions Come From Old Europe?" - story at International Business Times: http://www.ibtimes.com/santa-claus-pagan-origins-why-do-christmas-traditions-come-old-europe-2455341

"What religion was practised by the people of Lithuania before their conversion to Christianity in the 14th century?" - blog post about the last European country to be officially pagan at BBC History Magazine: http://www.historyextra.com/qa/religion-lithuania-pagan-conversion-christianity

"Clive Standen and Maude Hirst travel to Scandinavia as Real Vikings looks at Paganism" - story at Monsters and Critics.com: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/clive-standen-and-maude-hirst-travel-to-scandinavia-as-real-vikings-looks-at-pagan-beliefs/

"Woman who rescued Nigerian 'witch-child' beats Obama, Pope Francis to top list of world's most inspiring people" - story at The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/worlds-most-inspiring-person-2016-ooom-anja-ringgren-loven-nigeria-witch-child-a7460976.html

"Did a witch's curse kill a retired army captain and magistrate?" - story at Stoke Sentinel: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/north-staffs-legends-did-a-witch-s-curse-kill-an-army-captain/story-29951044-detail/story.html

"Woman aged 101 escapes death over witchcraft claims" - story at Times of Zambia: http://www.times.co.zm/?p=90068

The picture shows a 1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, along with Clement Clarke Moore's poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus

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