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. 

Best Christmas Gift

Do you know what the cheapest, yet best Christmas gift is?
A smile. It is free, yet timeless and priceless.

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.

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.

Quotable

A diamond is the only kind of ice that keeps a girl warm.