Christmas Selection Box # 15

A CAROL FOR THE 21ST CENTURY – RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows,
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names,
They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.
(Now I don’t want you to think it was because he was a freak
The simple truth is Rudolph was a really anti social little bastard)

ARE YOU WEARING GOLDEN TINSEL?

Are you wearing Golden tinsel?
Tied amidst your lustrous curls
It makes you look so beautiful
And more like an angel than a girl

THE BEST CHRISTMAS STORIES – CHRISTMAS NOVELLA # 4

The Battle of Life: A Love Story

The Battle of Life: A Love Story is Christmas novella number four by Charles Dickens, first published in 1846.
It is set in an English village that stands on the site of a historic battle.
Some characters refer to the battle as a metaphor for the struggles of life, hence the title.
Uniquely it is the only one of the five Christmas Books that has no religious of supernatural themes and is ostensibly a love story for two sisters, Grace and Marion.
As is typical with Dickens however the ending is a happy one.

LAST CHRISTMAS I GAVE YOU # 2

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,
But I’m sorry to say,
You really
Needed a kidney

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WILL YOU MERRY ME?

Despite the silly title it’s actually a very enjoyable film.
It’s about Rebecca Fine (Vikki Krinsky) a Jewish girl. From an upper class Los Angeles family and Henry Kringle (Tommy Lioutas), from a choir-singing, church going, dyed in the wool traditionalist family from the Midwest who are in love.
Not only that they become engaged just before Christmas and as a result the Fine’s agree to delay their vacation in Aspen and meet the Kringle’s the week of Hanukah just before Christmas in Madison, Wisconsin.
Which is when the humour really starts as the two cultures collide and despite both sides good intentions and their trying to respect each other’s' traditions, it turns out to be a bumpy ride.
The film is definitely at its funniest when the main protagonists, Suzie Fine (Wendie Malick) and Marilyn Kringle (Cynthia Stevenson) butt antlers.
Very enjoyable and well worth a watch you will soon forget the silly title.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 12

Twas the night before Christmas
And all thru the bungalow
not a creature was stirring
In the firelight glow

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 34 I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
Music by Johnny Marks
Lyrics written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

CHRISTMAS GREEN

The Christmas green
Festively untypical
It’s just a club moss
With creeping stems
Similar to ferns
With erect branches
It has no scarlet hues
Nor star shaped flowers
It’s quite unremarkably
Just another evergreen

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 19

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 nineteenth selection.

In Dulci Jubilo
Music by Mike Oldfield, Lyrics by M. Oldfield / W. Murray

Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born to-day;
Ox and ass before him bow,
And he is in the manger now.
Christ is born to-day!
Christ is born to-day!
Good Christian men, rejoice,

With heart and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath oped the heavenly door,
And man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian men, rejoice,

With heart and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!

WHEN MY LITTLE DOG’S SETTLE DOWN

When my little dog’s settle down
On Christmas Eve amidst the snores
The little doggies dream like a child
And they dream about Santa Paws