This was the first year, however, where it has been as clear to me that the act of giving gifts is symbolic. It's really entirely secondary. I can imagine the three shepherds, undoubtedly not very confident in social situations, standing around and saying: "So. Do we just go? The Angel said it was important, so we've got to go. Did he say anything about what to bring? Is this a bottle of wine type situation?" Frankincense, amber & myrrh were social afterthoughts. Pure formalities.
It is funny how customs develop.
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I think that it was the wise people who brought the gifts. Ron tells us they may have been astonomers or magicians, based on the nature of their gifts. And where did they go afterwards?
My readings for Sunday morning and for the Lessons and Carols in the afternoon both dealt with the wise "men." Their significance lies in the fact that they followed the star and thus gave credence to the concept of the virgin birth and that they refused to return to Herod, intuitively knowed that he wished the Christ child ill. Aside from the wise people were only the shepherds to whom was sung the first Noel.
The Boar's Head feast was fun -- really fine entertainment from the McDaniel's madrigals and a hilarious medieval skit, which we could hear just part of. However, the boar's head itself was pretty gross and the food was terrible -- they need someone with Dad's expertise to handle the kitchen. Two civilians, the husband and son of the fest creator, manned the entire meal. Nonetheless it was a nice way to end the holdiay (the eleventh day of Christmas)!
No word on your IPOD. (I thought you borrowed mine for the nonce you silly goose til I found it after vacation in my car. Another shirt thrown on the floor!) I'll send your stuff today.
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