Happy New Years🪩🎉
⛺️Wednesday
HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! It’s finally 2025, what are your new years resolutions for this year? We got A LOT of Camp lined up so get ready!!! We know last week wasn’t full of Camp like you may have wished for, but our Christmas Special was an episode that left you questioning the true origins of Christmas. From the Sumerians to the Greeks— we broke down the ancient traditions that shaped how we celebrate everyone’s favorite holiday! Let’s take a look back into this wild story 🎅🏻🍄
War: On January 1, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill along with representatives from 26 other countries, signed a declaration to create an organization dedicated to maintaining peace after the war. The term "United Nations was used for the first time in this declaration". This decision came after the Arcadia Conference in December 1941, where Churchill and Roosevelt met to discuss a unified strategy for the war, following the U.S. entry into WWII. They set up a joint military staff to coordinate efforts against the Axis powers and agreed that no nation would make a separate peace deal. Everyone who signed the declaration committed to using all their resources to defeat the Axis and to work towards establishing an international peacekeeping organization in the future.
War: On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to unite the country during the Civil War. Facing Confederate victories and potential foreign recognition of the Confederacy, Lincoln aimed to weaken the South by encouraging enslaved people to join the Union army. He issued a preliminary proclamation after the Union's win at Antietam, declaring freedom for enslaved people in rebellious states as of January 1, 1863. However, the proclamation did not address slavery in border states, leaving issues for future civil rights efforts.
Religion: On January 1, 379, an influential early church father, Basil the Great, passed away, leaving behind a significant legacy in the Christian world. Basil was not only a devout theologian but also a visionary leader who played a crucial role in the development of monasticism and the early Christian church. He was the founder and financial supporter of a monastery in Annessi, which he envisioned as a place of spiritual growth and community service. Over time, this monastery expanded and evolved into a complex that included hospitals, hostels, and schools, serving as a beacon of charity and education in the region. Basil's influence extended beyond his monastic endeavors. He succeeded Eusebius as the bishop of Caesarea.
Crime: On January 1, 1973, Roseann Quinn, a 27-year-old resident of New York City, was picked up by John Wayne Wilson at Tweed’s Bar on the Upper West Side. Later that evening, at Quinn's residence, Wilson brutally assaulted her, inflicting multiple stab wounds and committing sexual assault before ultimately taking her life. In May 1973, before facing trial for his heinous actions, Wilson committed suicide by hanging while in custody. In 1975, Judith Rossner authored the best-selling novel *Looking For Mr. Goodbar*, which depicted a similar event and served as a cautionary tale for women regarding the perils of anonymous encounters. The novel was adapted into a successful film in 1977, featuring Diane Keaton.
The DARK ORIGIN of Christmas: Drugs, Santa, Pagans🍄🎄
In last week’s episode, we took a dive into the ancient history of Christmas, and boy was it a trip—literally. We talked about the connection the amanita muscaria mushroom has to Christmas. Not only did they cause reindeer to “fly”, but they were hung on trees and fireplaces to dry out as if they were ornaments—Christmas Magic!!! To top it all off, Shamans would supposedly enter through a hole in the roof of the Siberian people's homes to deliver these as 'gifts'!"
We even explored the meaning behind the Christmas Tree, mistletoe, and the Yule log! Festivals like Saturnalia and Yule weren’t just about gift-giving—they were full-on ragers with feasts, debauchery, and even rituals. The Egyptians also had there own traditions for Solstice, going as far as building temples for “the sun” and hanging evergreen plants for decorations. While it’s widely seen as the day of the birth of Jesus, the pagan traditions can still be seen today. If you haven’t yet, check it out here!
What do you want to see in future episodes? Anyone in particular? Any specific topics you want us to cover??? Respond to this email and let us know! I promise I read all of them, just takes a while. And if you’re hungry for more, stay tuned, because we’ve got even more intense stories coming up next week! 💬🔥 Want to catchup? check out the channel for all the latest episodes. Stay close—there’s a LOT more to come, and you won’t want to miss a thing! 👀🔥
- Jaime