THE ROMAN GOD JANUS

 

January, the first month of the year, is named after the Roman god, Janus. He has two faces, one looking back at the past and another looking forward to the future, indicating the continual process of time. Understandingly, he was also the god of doors and gates. In Roman cities they depicted him with two faces at the gates, with one side bearded and the other clean-shaven indicating age and youth. In some locales they depicted him with having four faces, signifying him as an omniscient (all knowing) god and one that no one can hide from. Besides having the first month of the year named after him, followers built many temples in his honor; they also referred to him as Janus Gemini, meaning Janus the twins, since he had two faces. The people believed in him as the protector of the city.

 Ancient legend states he originally came from Thessaly, which is located in the Eastern portion of modern Greece He settled in Latium and was welcomed by a young female resident, Camese, whom he later married. They had many children, one they named Tiberinus, who became the god of the Tiber River for whom the Romans named it. Janus was the first king of the Latins, and his reign historians describe as a Golden Age. He introduced money, laws and the cultivation of the fields. It was only after his death that the Romans deified him as protector of the city.

When Camese died, he was the sole ruler. He later married Juturna a water nymph and had another son, Fontus, who is the god of fountains or springs.  One was located in the Roman Forum and the shrine to his mother is located where it once flowed―Lacus Juturnae. 

Recipe for Ceci Bread

1 lb of unbleached flour

Two rounded tblspns of whole wheat flour

6 ounces of ceci flour

Salt to taste

1 ½ cups of warm water

1 pkg of yeast

One chopped medium size onion (and/or you can also put chopped olives of your liking)

Add the yeast to the water and allow it to froth, mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and when the yeast is ready pour into the electric mixer bowl and add half the dry mix and beat for three minutes on high, then slowly add the rest of the dry ingredients. The dough should now be firm and sticky. Remove it and put on a floured surface and add a little flour at a time and knead until it achieves a nice non sticky consistency, now add the chopped onions or olives and knead that into the dough. Place into an oiled bowl, cover and allow to raise until double.  Carefully dump onto a cooking pan and bake at 375° for 30 to 40 minutes. After 30 min. check with wooden skewer, if it comes out dry it is done.

THE CEPPO OR TREE OF LIGHT

 

The Ceppo (chayp-poe) or Tree of light dates back to the 1500s in Tuscany, Italy. In pagan times, the Tuscans burned a log to commemorate the calends. The calends are the first day of the month. A major event concerning the burning of the Ceppo was at the end of December, in anticipation of the Calend of January. The people attached festivities to the event as the people of England did in the Yule log celebrations and in today’s New Year’s Eve parties. In another holiday, the Festa di San Giuseppe, the celebrants light fires to venerate the Saint the night before his feast day. These fires are visible from afar as sparkling stars through some of the mountainous areas of Italy.

 In Italian Ceppo means stump or log, similarly in modern times often when builders of homes put the rafters of the roof on a new house, carpenters frequently place a branch at the peak of the work until the job is finished. This is in recognition of Jupiter, the god of all gods, whose sacred tree was the oak. Because of this some considered the calends’ fires as a pagan ritual. 

In Rome, the future St. Boniface, with permission of Pope Zachary, abolished the burning of the Ceppo. Many accept that the people replaced it by building a facsimile of a tree from wood. The new Ceppo consists of tiered graduating shelves constructed around a shaft, the largest being at the bottom, and the smallest at the top. The shelves are painted and/or covered with colored paper or cloth on which are placed figurines representing Christmas. Usually the first level has the nativity scene and the above levels, greenery, fruit and other decorations. Lights are also used. 

The people of Italy still use the Ceppo, but many are adopting green artificial trees in it stead. During the holidays the Italians emphasize the nativity scene and the celebrating of Christmas Day as a concentration on Christ. Gift giving comes later during the Epiphany, i.e., the Wise men finding Christ and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Consequently, this developed into gift giving among family, friends, and to charities.

It is interesting to note that the word Ceppo derived from the Latin word cippium, which were stone stump shaped landmarks, marking distances on the ancient Roman Highways.