crazylibertarian Loc: Florida by way of New York & Rhode Island

Happy Feast of The Circumcision!

New Year's Day has often been a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics; this year it's not but attendance at mass is still recommended. It is called The Feast of the Solemnity of Mary but it used to be called The Feast of the Circumcision.

In the Jewish tradition, bris (the rite of circumcision) was performed by a mohel (pronounced moil, a rabbi trained in circumcisions) on the eighth day of life and would have been a week later. On the eighth day of life, the clotting mechanism was full formed, so the seven day delay has a basis in medical science.

Having gone to Catholic grammar school in the 1950s, I thought it was a little crass about by the title and later it was changed to The Feast of the Christ's Presentation in the Temple and now to The Feast of the Solemnity of Mary but it used to be called The Feast of the Circumcision.

As you can imagine, it has resulted in many jokes, such as, "It won't be long now," and many others. A web search should bring you to many.

So, "Shalom," and but I wouldn't advise wishing anyone a Happy Feast of the Circumcision.

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

crazy, I never heard of " the feast of circumcision". Thanks for the enlightenment. I'm sure you know that the Hebrew calendar is lunar, not like the one we use in the West.

crazylibertarian Loc: Florida by way of New York & Rhode Island

I am aware of the lunarity of the Hebrew calendar.