Holy Innocents' Day (redirected from Innocents' Day)

Holy Innocents' Day

December 28

Also known as Innocents' Day or Childermas, this day commemorates the massacre of all the male children two years and under in Bethlehem as ordered by King Herod, who hoped that the infant Jesus would be among them. Not surprisingly, this day has long been regarded as unlucky—particularly for getting married or undertaking any important task. Edward IV of England went so far as to change the day of his coronation when he realized it would fall on December 28.
In ancient times, the "Massacre of the Innocents" was reenacted by whipping the younger members of a family. But over the years the tables turned, and in some countries it has become a day when children play pranks on their elders. In Mexico, Childermas is the equivalent of April Fool's Day.

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 860
BkDays-1864, vol. II, pp. 776, 777
BkFest-1937, pp. 49, 63, 175, 223, 234, 347
DictFolkMyth-1984, pp. 218, 525, 950, 951, 1018
EncyChristmas-2003, p. 339
FestSaintDays-1915, pp. 252, 255
FestWestEur-1958, pp. 20, 84
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 543
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 771
IndianAmer-1989, pp. 291, 315
OxYear-1999, p. 536

Celebration day: Dec 28

Celebrated in: Belgium

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Holy Innocents' Day (Belgium) (Allerkinderendag)

December 28

Holy Innocents' Day is the traditional anniversary of the slaughter of Bethlehem's male children by King Herod, who hoped that the infant Jesus would be among them. According to legend, two of the murdered children were buried in the Convent of Saint Gerard in the province of Namur, Belgium.
Many Belgian children turn the tables on their elders each year on December 28 by locking them up. Early in the morning, they collect all the keys in the house, so that whenever an unsuspecting adult enters a closet or room, they can lock the door behind him or her and demand a ransom—usually spending money, candy, a toy, or fruit. The innocent person who is being held for ransom is called a "sugar uncle" or "sugar aunt."
The tricks played by children on Holy Innocents' Day have been compared to the pranks that children in the United States and elsewhere play on April Fools' Day.

SOURCES:
BkFest-1937, p. 49
EncyChristmas-2003, p. 341
FestWestEur-1958, p. 20

Celebration day: Dec 28

Celebrated in: Belgium