Dec 24, 2009
Christmas Wishes
Your friendship is a glowing ember through the year; and each December from its warm and living spark we kindle a flame against the dark, and with its shining radiance light our tree on Christmas eve.
Holiday Town Names
Place names associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 2,212 in 2008); Santa Claus, IN (2,314); Santa Claus, GA (250); Noel, MO (1,608); the village of Rudolph, WI (412) and Dasher, GA (849). There is Snowflake, AZ (5,673) and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, MS, Mount Holly, NC, and Holly, MI.
Christmas Thoughts
"On Christmas Eve all animals can speak." However, it is bad luck to test this superstition.
"The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune." My Aunt Marion was born on Christmas, 1908. She was special. Also, 25th December 1642, Sir Isaac Newton was born. He found white light could be split into the colors of the Rainbow.
Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck.
Good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season.
If a girl raps at the hen house door on Christmas Eve and a rooster crows, she will marry within the year.
A mild December precedes a cold snap later in the winter.
A green December fills the graveyard
A clear star-filled sky on Christmas Eve will bring good crops in the summer.
If sun shines through the apple trees upon a Christmas Day, when autumn comes they will a load of fruit display.
Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green.
A green Christmas; a white Easter.
If Christmas day be bright and clear there will be two winters in the year.
The nearer the New Moon to Christmas Day, the harder the Winter.
"The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune." My Aunt Marion was born on Christmas, 1908. She was special. Also, 25th December 1642, Sir Isaac Newton was born. He found white light could be split into the colors of the Rainbow.
Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck.
Good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season.
If a girl raps at the hen house door on Christmas Eve and a rooster crows, she will marry within the year.
A mild December precedes a cold snap later in the winter.
A green December fills the graveyard
A clear star-filled sky on Christmas Eve will bring good crops in the summer.
If sun shines through the apple trees upon a Christmas Day, when autumn comes they will a load of fruit display.
Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green.
A green Christmas; a white Easter.
If Christmas day be bright and clear there will be two winters in the year.
The nearer the New Moon to Christmas Day, the harder the Winter.
Best Christmas Gift
Do you know what the cheapest, yet best Christmas gift is?
A smile. It is free, yet timeless and priceless.
A smile. It is free, yet timeless and priceless.
Dec 23, 2009
Christmas Facts
$410 million in sales by US Christmas tree farmers in 2007. Of those, $109.3 million were from Christmas tree farmers in Oregon in 2007.
$470.3 million in imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2009. China was the leading country of origin for such items.
Quotable
You can change the present (as in change the present you give), and you can also change the present of the world, by changing the kind of present you give.
Ode to Joy
This is played on a glass harp. Did you know the glass harp (or glass Armonica) was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761? Sit back, relax, and enjoy a minute of music HERE.
Some advice for today 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' played on another modern version HERE.
Here is a picture of an original glass armonica.
Some advice for today 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' played on another modern version HERE.
Here is a picture of an original glass armonica.
Santa and Saint Nicholas
What's the Difference Between Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas?
Santa Claus belongs to childhood;
St. Nicholas models for all of life.
Santa Claus was developed to boost Christmas sales, the commercial Christmas message;
St. Nicholas told the story of Christ and peace, goodwill toward all, the hope-filled Christmas message.
Santa Claus encourages consumption;
St. Nicholas encourages compassion.
Santa Claus appears each year to be seen and heard for a short time;
St. Nicholas surrounds us always.
Santa Claus flies through the air from the North Pole;
St. Nicholas walked the earth caring for those in need.
Santa Claus isn't bad;
St. Nicholas is just better.
Santa Claus belongs to childhood;
St. Nicholas models for all of life.
Santa Claus was developed to boost Christmas sales, the commercial Christmas message;
St. Nicholas told the story of Christ and peace, goodwill toward all, the hope-filled Christmas message.
Santa Claus encourages consumption;
St. Nicholas encourages compassion.
Santa Claus appears each year to be seen and heard for a short time;
St. Nicholas surrounds us always.
Santa Claus flies through the air from the North Pole;
St. Nicholas walked the earth caring for those in need.
Santa Claus isn't bad;
St. Nicholas is just better.
Christmas 1876
“Christmas and New Year are a very merry time for some people; but for cabmen and cabmen’s horses it is no holiday, though it may be a harvest. There are so many parties, balls, and places of amusement open, that the work is hard and often late.
Sometimes driver and horse have to wait hours in the rain or frost, shivering with cold, while the merry people within are dancing away to the music. I wonder if the beautiful ladies ever think of the weary cabman waiting on his box, and his patient beast standing till his legs get stiff with cold.”
From Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse by Anna Sewell, published in November, 1877. She never wrote another book. She died on April 25, 1878, five months after the publication of her classic horse story.
Sometimes driver and horse have to wait hours in the rain or frost, shivering with cold, while the merry people within are dancing away to the music. I wonder if the beautiful ladies ever think of the weary cabman waiting on his box, and his patient beast standing till his legs get stiff with cold.”
From Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse by Anna Sewell, published in November, 1877. She never wrote another book. She died on April 25, 1878, five months after the publication of her classic horse story.
Christmas 1882
Edward Johnson, who worked at Edison Illumination Company, finds an application for electric lights and becomes the first person to use them as Christmas tree decorations.
He used 80 small red, white and blue electric bulbs, strung together along a single power cord, to light the Christmas tree in his New York home.
He used 80 small red, white and blue electric bulbs, strung together along a single power cord, to light the Christmas tree in his New York home.
Musical Interlude
I couldn't share Christmas without my favorite Christmas music, Mario Lanza's 'O Holy Night' LINK.
If that is too much, here is a youtube of Celine Dione, not my favorite singer, but she absolutely rocks with 'O Holy Night.'
On December 24, 1818, "Silent Night, Holy Night" was first sung. The words were written by Joseph Franz Mohr, a young priest, and the music by Herr Gruber in Oberndorf, Austria.
If that is too much, here is a youtube of Celine Dione, not my favorite singer, but she absolutely rocks with 'O Holy Night.'
On December 24, 1818, "Silent Night, Holy Night" was first sung. The words were written by Joseph Franz Mohr, a young priest, and the music by Herr Gruber in Oberndorf, Austria.
Dec 18, 2009
Lord of Misrule
In ancient Roman times, December 17 was the beginning of the festival of Saturnalia, in honor of the god Saturn (of agriculture). It was originally just a day event, but eventually grew into a seven day orgy of revelry, feasting, and merrymaking.
The Saturnalia was a holiday period for all, including the slaves, who changed places with their masters for the duration. Presents were exchanged, especially candles, informal clothes worn, and gambling games permitted. It was also customary to appoint a master of the revels (Saturnalicius princeps), a character that reappeared in England as the Lord of Misrule. The Lord of Misrule formally presided over the Christmas celebrations, or over the entire period from All-Hallows Eve (October 31) to Candlemas (February 2).
It is commonly believed that the church chose this time (Pope Julius I chose December 25) in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. It was first called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, as it is believed then the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.
The Saturnalia was a holiday period for all, including the slaves, who changed places with their masters for the duration. Presents were exchanged, especially candles, informal clothes worn, and gambling games permitted. It was also customary to appoint a master of the revels (Saturnalicius princeps), a character that reappeared in England as the Lord of Misrule. The Lord of Misrule formally presided over the Christmas celebrations, or over the entire period from All-Hallows Eve (October 31) to Candlemas (February 2).
It is commonly believed that the church chose this time (Pope Julius I chose December 25) in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. It was first called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, as it is believed then the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)