On December 28, some people choose to perform unusual pranks and point out those who fall for these as ‘poor innocent‘. But the Day of the Innocent Saints has a religious and hagiographic connotation, that is, the history of the saints.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents presents a curious syncretism between pagan and religious. Its origin dates back to the 5th century, when the Catholic Church began to celebrate this festival in memory of the children who were massacred in Judea by Herod shortly after the birth of Jesus.
According to the Bible, Herod the Great was king of Judea. He was a bloody man, had ten wives and seven children, of whom he had three killed.
According to the gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, the story began when some men arrived in Jerusalem. wizards (fortune tellers and priests of a pagan religion) asking where is the king of the Jews who has been born?, because they had seen a star in the East and came to adore him.
Herod upon hearing the news trembled with fear and gathered his priests to ask them where Christ should be born. They answered that in Bethlehem of Judah, according to what was written by the prophet.
Immediately, Herod called the magicians to find out the exact date the star had appeared. and he told them that when they found out about him, they should inform him so that they could go and worship him.
The magi continued on their way and when they found the Child Jesus with his mother Mary and his father Joseph they worshiped him and gave him gifts: gold, myrrh and incense.
Later the magicians received a warning in their dream not to return to Herod and to go to their country by another way. An angel also appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt.because Herod would search for the child to kill him.
And so it was, Herod, being deceived by the magicians, sent his soldiers to kill all the children under 2 years of age who had been born in Bethlehem, located 10 km from Jerusalem, and the surroundings.
The slaughter of the innocents occurred between the year 6 and 4 before the Christian era (begins in year one).
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The name ‘Innocent Saints’ comes from the fact that at such a young age, 2 years old, they could not have committed any sin.
It is not certain when such a bloody moment became an occasion to make jokes and jokes, although it is estimated that it was in the Middle Ages. Then, between Christmas and New Year, the Festival of Fools is born. It was so scandalous that the Catholic Church, to calm the eccentricities of its participants, decreed that the Day of the Innocent Saints be celebrated.
It is believed that they were the medieval altar boys who began to play pranks on this day. The custom was later passed on to families and has remained that way until now, although it is no longer as popular as it was in past decades. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
