Christmas Carols

"Carol" is a derivative of the French word caroller, the interpretation of which means dancing around in a circle. Carol and carols, eventually came to mean not only to dance, but included music and lyrics - hence Christmas Caroling.

Christmas carols are based on Christian lyrics and relate mostly to the Nativity. Christmas carols were introduced in to church services by St Francis of Assisi in the 12th century.

The joyous themes for many traditional Christmas carols were banned in England by the staunch Protestant Oliver Cromwell and many of the very old Christmas carols and songs were subsequently lost for all time. They were only fully popularized again during the Victorian era when they again expressed joyful and merry themes in their carol lyrics as opposed to the normal somber, Christian lyrics found in hymns. As religious observances in the United States and England were closely linked, the popularity of Christmas carols grew in both countries during the 19th century. Many Christmas songs are relatively recent, and bear no relation to Christmas carols, such as the famous 'Grandma got run over by a reindeer'.

This Week in 1864

After his Civil War march across Georgia, Union General William T. Sherman sent U.S. President Abraham Lincoln this message: "I beg to present you as a Christmas present the city of Savannah."

Shirley Temple Quote

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.”

WTF

The CIA task force assessing damage from leaked U.S. diplomatic documents named the 'WikiLeaks Task Force', has the same abbreviation as a popular online saying, WTF. How appropriate.

Health Savings Account

If you have one, you might want to stock up before the end of the year. New regulations kick in that restrict purchases using flexible spending, health savings, and health reimbursement accounts. The law takes effect January 1 and will require a prescription for many common drugs normally bought over-the-counter (if you want to use tax-exempt money), but not for insulin, medical devices, diabetes testing kits and some other non medication items, such as eyeglasses. Another 'benefit' of the new health care law.

Gas Prices

When the price of crude oil goes up a dollar, the price we pay per gallon goes up about 2.5 cents a gallon. When you read about oil going up to a hundred dollars a barrel in the next few weeks, you can expect to pay about 25 cents more at the pump.

Fred Foy

Sorry to add this one, but Fred Foy, the announcer for the Lone Ranger and Green Hornet shows passed away December 22. He started doing those series on radio in Detroit, where they both originated. I grew up there and enjoyed both of them on radio and TV. Did you know the theme song was Rossini's 'William Tell Overture'.   LINK    Here is a guitar version LiNK   Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. . .

Dodge Royal Lancer

Dodge introduced a new $143 option package in 1955 to have the Custom Royal Lancer feminized, with rose paint, gold script, and a pink interior complete with rosebuds. “The first car ever exclusively designed for the woman motorist” came with a rain cape, rain hat, and matching umbrella, plus a pink purse with a compact, lipstick, comb, and cigarette lighter. The marketing brochure read, “By Special Appointment to Her Majesty … the American Woman.” Fewer than 1,500 La Femmes were sold, and the model disappeared in 1957.

Tiffany and Company

A well known name, especially this time of year. The jewelry and silverware store was originally a stationer called Tiffany, Young, and Ellis, when it started in 1837. In 1853 Tiffany switched its core business and began focusing on jewelry.

Christmas Tree Lights

Edward H. Johnson, who worked for Thomas Edison’s Illumination Company, 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 in 1882. Some sources credit Edison with being the first to use electric lights as Christmas decorations, when he strung them around his laboratory in 1880. It was three years after Edison had demonstrated that light bulbs were practical.

Ten Things Not to Get Her for Christmas

Electronics, any jewelry on sale, picture of yourself, cleaning stuff, kitchen stuff, lingerie, exercise equipment, beauty supplies, anything from Target, and last, a stripper pole.

Happy Friday

It occurred to me that today is the oldest I have ever been and the youngest that I will ever be.

I am young enough to enjoy, and old enough to appreciate a Happy Friday!

Four Christmas Song Authors

Interesting that four popular Christmas songs were actually written by Jewish authors. "White Christmas" was written by Irving Berlin in 1940. "Silver Bells" was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans in 1951. "Let it Snow. Let it Snow. Let it Snow" was written by Jule Styne with lyrics by Sammy Cahn in 1945. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was written by Johnny Marks in 1949.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

The most famous reindeer of them all. The song is one of the best selling of all time as sung by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. It is also on albums by the Supremes and the Jackson 5.

Rudolph was created ten years before the song in 1939, by Johnny Marks' brother-in-law Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward. The store wanted something to bring in holiday shoppers and the story/poem was given out to children as an advertising gimmick.

Modern reaction to this song about a reindeer, written by a Jewish author - "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" caused a stir at a New Hanover County school at Christmas time in 2008.  A parent complained about the song's religious reference and got it pulled from her child's kindergarten Christmas show at Murrayville Elementary School. The song was pulled “because it had the word Christmas in it,” said Rick Holliday, assistant school superintendent. A Jewish mother, who didn't want her name published, objected to what she called "religious overtones" in the song. So the principal agreed to pull it from the program. Luckily the board and attorneys reviewed it and decided the song was not religious and had it reinstated into the kindergarten program.