THIS CHRISTMAS TIME
This Christmas Time
When you celebrate the day
With friends and family
Good spirits on display
When your dining table
Is full to overflowing
Everyone cosily warm
With the firelight glowing
And you sit in your armchair
With your waist band straining
Opening all the presents
When outside its cold or raining
When you have over indulged
To the point of gluttony
Take a moment to think
About the all too many
Spare a thought for the needy
For the tired and the weary
Or those who are just lonely
The cold and the hungry
The numerous homeless
The defenseless and the helpless
Enjoy this Christmas Time a lot
But think of those who cannot
FESTIVE FACT # 02
St Francis of Assisi was the first to introduce Christmas Carols to formal church services.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE SANTA CLAUS 2
To my mind “The Santa Claus 2” made in 2002 is the best of the three movies in the series that finds Santa/Scott (Tim Allen) enjoying life after eight years in the job until he is informed of the “Mrs Claus” which states he has to find a wife and marry before Christmas Eve or Christmas will be no more.
A life size toy replica Santa is fashioned to cover the real Santa’s prolonged absence while he goes in search of a bride and to add to the pressure the “de-Santafication process" is gradually turning him back into Scott Calvin.
In the real world Scott comes up against the ice cold school principal Carol Newman, played by the very excellent Elizabeth Mitchell and after a few failed dates with quite unsuitable candidates Scott finds himself falling for the principle.
Carol slowly thaws after a sleigh ride to the school faculty Christmas party, a dull and boring event which Scott endows with some Christmas magic.
While Scott is making progress with Carol the toy Santa takes over the North Pole with an army of life-size toy soldiers.
He has decided everyone is naughty and plans to deliver lumps of coal to them all.
Eventually Scott returns to the North Pole and saves the day.
A good fun film
THE WORSHIPFUL MORN
The bells of Christmas ring out clear
On the special day across the land
Family and friends come together
With warm embrace or shake of hand
Then together answer the call to enter
The happy faces of young and old
Of those occupying every seat or pew
In the church bedecked in green and gold
Lifted the heart and warmed the soul
The glad ragged and dapper dressed
The cheerfully demeanoured little girls
And little boys with hair unmessed
All come together on Christmas day
To share the celebration and rejoice
To mark the birth of the baby lord
Love and peace heard in every voice
As in harmony the congregation sing
Heartily in praise of Christ the King
TRIVIAL TITBIT # 08
In the 5th century the Western Church ordered the 'Mass of Christ' to be forever celebrated on the day of the old Roman feast of the Birth of Sol (the Sun).
FULL OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Come Christmas day
I will be full of Christmas spirit
Buck fizz with my breakfast
Is only the start of it
Then a sherry with the vicar
After the candles have been lit
And aperitif before lunch
Maybe Vodka or a Gin and it
Wine with every course
Brandy when the pudding is lit
Liqueur with coffee
Then more brandy as we sit
Then when the day is over
I whish shoe a ferry Hacky Fhrismit
GLUHWEIN
Gluhwein is a traditional German mulled wine served containing cloves to warm against the bitter winter days.
It is traditionally served at the many German outdoor Christmas markets to keep the customers warm and full of Christmas cheer.
20 PEOPLE WHO LEFT THE WORLD ON DECEMBER 13TH
838 Pippijn I, King of Aquitania
1048 Al-Biruni, Arabic royal astrologer aged 74
1126 Hendrik IX, Hendrik the Black, Duke of Bayern (1120-26)
1204 Maimonides, Jewish philosopher and Talmudic scholar, died in Cairo aged 69
1250 Frederick II, German Emperor (1212-1250), aged 55
1404 Albrecht, duke of Bavaria, aged 74
1521 Manoel I "the Great", King of Portugal (1495-1521), 52
1565 Konrad von Gesner, naturalist, aged 49
1574 Selam II Sari, the blonde, sultan of Turkey (1566-74), 50
1603 Franciscus Vieta, mathematician, died in Paris aged 63
1622 Jan Campanus, composer, 50
1793 Johann Joachim Christoph Bode, composer, aged 63
1812 Marianne von Martinez, composer, 68
1945 Robert van Genechten, Dutch Nazi (NSB), commits suicide
1961 Grandma Moses, U.S. painter, aged 101
1969 Raymond A Spruance, U.S. Admiral Battle of Midway veteran, dies at 83
1990 Alice Marble, California, tennis star, 77
1993 Myrna Loy, actress, aged 88
1994 Norman Beaton, actor, 60
1997 Alexander Oppenheim, mathematician, aged 94
HIS GIFT
For the lowly beast in the stable chill
And the humble shepherd on the hill
Wise and wealthy Magi from the east
The purpose of every Christmas feast
Is to rejoice and feel your spirits lift
Exchanging love when exchanging gift
For when Jesus lay in that stable stall
He gave us his love, the greatest gift of all
FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 7
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY
Music and lyrics traditional
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
SEASONAL SNIPPET # 07
St Lucia's day, December 13th is celebrated In Sweden with the youngest girl in the family wearing or carrying a crown of small lit candles this is appropriate as Lucia means light.
THE HOLY INFANT
In the presence of the lowly beasts
The prince of peace was born
And to his earthy joyous cries
They bowed low head and horn
The Shepherds stood in wonder
As the child they stood before
The child the angel told of
Lay before them in the straw
Countless miles the Magi came
Having traveled from the east
In lavish robes they knelt before him
And bowed lowly like the beasts
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
Were lain reverently before his stall
Precious gifts brought from afar
For the holy infant born for us all
LET IT SNOW
The north wind blows it ills
The wind, the wind, the wind that chills
Then the snow falls on the hills
The north wind softly blows
The wind, the wind, the wind that slows
Then the snow falls down below
Silently falling although the night
Inch upon inch covering everything in sight
Fresh and clean lies the white
The children run in hat and glove
They run, they run in the snow they love
The snow that flutters from above
The north wind dies away
Then the rain, the rain spoils the children play
But the snow will come another day
NOEL'S CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Noel's Christmas Presents was hosted by Noel Edmonds and ended in 1999 after eleven years.
The basic premise of the shows was Noel rewarding special people with special Christmas presents tailored to the individual.
The people qualified by either overcoming or dealing with great adversity in their own lives or those who gave up their own time and dedicated themselves to the needs of others.
The presents were many and varied from flying a spitfire to a visit to Santa.
It was broadcast on Christmas day after the Queen’s speech and was guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat to all but the hard hearted.
EPIPHANY
January 5th or twelfth night marks the climax of the Christmas season.
The twelve days of Christmas are counted from December 25th until twelfth night.
The season of Christmas begins with the first Sunday of Advent and concludes with Epiphany.
The period between Christmas day and epiphany is referred to as Christmastide.
Epiphany usually shares the white and gold, colors of Christmas denoting celebration, newness, and hope, but epiphany has a much more significant meaning to the Christians as it marks the time when the Magi were the first gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as "king" and this act of worship by the Magi, was a message to the world that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and of all faiths.
SEASONAL GREETINGS FROM THE CELTS
Breton
Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Cornwall
Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Gaelic
Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
Ireland
Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Isle of Mann
Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Scotland
Nollaig chridheil huibh
Wales
Nadolig Llawen
SANS DAY CAROL
The "Sans Day Carol," is a traditional carol from Cornwall.
The carol focuses on the aspects of the symbolism of the evergreen Holly in the form of the different colored berries.
Red berries represent the blood of Jesus and white berries symbolize his purity, Green berries represent the cross upon which Christ was crucified and black symbolize his death.
THROW AWAY CHRISTMAS
Cards adorned with Robins and snow
Holly sprigs and festive candle glow
Advent calendar and paper chains
Decorations never to be used again
Ribbons and bows and paper wrapping
With tree and wreath all go in the bin
Though Christmas may be throw away
The love can be recycled every day
FAMILY CRÈCHES
The original Crèches in Provence, date back to the 17th century when the few bas-reliefs evolved into carved wooden figures.
They were mainly restricted to aristocratic and middle class homes before the family crèches became even more widespread and some of them contained up to 40 different characters.
Even before decorated Christmas trees became the custom, the crèches already had pride of place in French people's homes.
CHRISTMAS FLAN
1lb Pork sausage meat
1 pk Sage and onion stuffing
4oz Grated Swiss cheese
4oz Grated Cheddar
1 pk Ready made pastry (enough for two 9"pie dishes)
6 Eggs
1/2 Chopped onion
1 Chopped red/green pepper
Mix sausage meat and stuffing then cook.
When the sausage meat has cooled crumble it and add both cheeses.
Divide the mixture into the pre-prepared pie dishes.
Lightly beat the eggs then add the onion and peppers and pour onto the top of the meat filling.
Bake for one hour in a preheated oven at 200°.
(Check the pie is done by inserting a knife into the center and if it comes out clean it’s done)
Stand for five minutes before serving.
THE ISLAND OF ST LUCIA
St Lucia was first settled by Arawak Indians around 200 A.D but six hundred years later the Arawak culture had been replaced by the Caribs.
To the islands inhabitants it was known as "Iouanalao" and "Hewanorra," which meant "Island of the Iguanas."
The island was first discovered by the Europeans on December 13th 1502 when Christopher Columbus first sighted the island and although he never landed on it he named it St Lucia as it was the saint’s day.
There was no European presence established on the island until around 1550s when the notorious buccaneer Francois le Clerc, also known as Peg-Leg le Clerc used the island as a base to launch attacks on unsuspecting treasure-laden Spanish galleons.
The Dutch arrived around 1600 and established a fortified base at Vieux Fort.
A party of English settlers arrived on the “Olive Branch” a few years later but there attempts to settle ended in failure.
In 1639, a second party of English colonists under Sir Thomas Warner also failed in their attempts to settle the island.
By the middle of the century the French arrived and "purchased" the island for the French West India Company this did not go down well with the British and hostilities broke out and the Anglo-French conflict raged for a century and a half.
It was in 1814 after a long drawn out series of savage and brutal battles that the British finally claimed the island for the crown.
Under British rule the island prospered and remained under the control of the British crown until St Lucia became independent in 1979.
I WATCHED A SNOW FLAKE MELT
Chestnuts roasting in the fire
The smell of cinnamon in the air
I watched a snow flake melt
On her beautiful auburn hair
As we held hands in the soft light
Of the Christmas candle glow
And I kissed my first love
Beneath a sprig of mistletoe
FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 7
Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favourites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my seventh selection.
“Silver Bells” written by Jay Livingston and Roy Evans and performed by Sir Terry Wogan and Aled Jones
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling (ring-aling) hear them sing (ting-a-ling)
Soon it will be Christmas day
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells (silver bells), silver bells (silver bells)
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling (ring-aling) hear them sing (hear them sing )
Soon it will be Christmas day
Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids rush
This is Santa's big day
And above all this bustle you'll hear
Silver bells (corner St. Clause)
silver bells (It's busy now because ..)
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling (it fills the winters air)
hear them sing (you'll hear it everywhere)
Soon it will be Christmas day
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
Very soon it will be X'mas day!
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells (silver bells), silver bells (silver bells)
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling (ring-aling) hear them sing (hear them sing )
Soon it will be Christmas day
ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1599
The city of Natal was founded in Brazil.
CHRIST IS IN CHRISTMAS
I Remember in December
That the reason for the season
Is that Christ is in Christmas
And he is there for all of us
And I remember the son God gave
To the world he would save
When love was born
On that first Christmas morn
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