Long red socks hanging from the chimney
One sock for you and another sock for me
And this time next year we will hang three
Saturday, 13 February 2021
THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
Arthur Christmas is the animated tale about Santa's clumsy son Arthur.
Contrary
to Popular belief it turns out that Santa’s North Pole operation isn’t just a
handful of artisan elf’s and a fat guy in a red suit making toys its actually
an exhilarating ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole and run
by the Christmas family.
And
it’s a family business although it’s a family in a constant state of comic
dysfunction and clumsy Arthur turns out to be an unlikely hero who gets put on
an urgent mission with his father that must be completed before Christmas
morning dawns and that mission is to give out a present, they misplaced to a young
girl in less than 2 hours.
Arthur
is voiced by James McAvoy, with Jim Broadbent and Imelda Staunton as his
parents, Hugh Laurie as his brother Steve and Bill Nighy as Grand Santa
although my favourite was Bryony and the vocal talents of Ashley Jensen.
RED SUIT
Santa Claus wears his famous red suit
As down another Chimney he’ll shoot
But no one knows what’s under there
He likes dressing in Ladies underwear
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 NORWEGIAN TREE
The Christmas tree that stands in Trafalgar square every is the traditional Christmas gift to the people of Britain
Every
year since 1947 the city of Oslo in Norway has presented the city of
Westminster, London with a Christmas tree.
The
first tree was a token of Norwegian appreciation of British friendship and
support during the Second World War.
After
the German forces invaded Norway in 1940, king Haakon vii was helped to escape
Britain and a Norwegian government in exile was set up in London.
To
the Norwegian people, London came to represent the spirit of freedom as during
the dark days of occupation.
It
was from London that the latest news was broadcast in Norwegian.
Also,
there were concealed messages for resistance groups were also broadcast at the
same time.
The
radio transmissions became a lifeline for the Norwegian people.
The
tree is a powerful symbol of the close and warm relationship between the
peoples of Britain and Norway.
The
Norwegians are as proud to present their token of friendship as are the people
of Britain to receive it.
The
tree is a Norwegian spruce and is chosen from the forests surrounding Oslo with
great care.
A
particular tree can be earmarked for Trafalgar square for anything from several
months to a couple of years in advance.
The
tree is usually 70 ft. tall and in the region of 50 years old.
The
Norwegian foresters responsible for its care describe it fondly as 'the queen
of the forest'.
The
tree is felled one day in November in the presence of the British ambassador to
Norway and the mayors of Oslo and Westminster they even take active part in the
felling.
As
part of the ceremony local schoolchildren sing Christmas carols and 'forest
coffee' and sandwiches are served.
The
tree is then shipped across the North Sea to England and then by special
transport to Trafalgar square.
The
operation to erect the tree takes several hours a scaffolding tower is erected
so the tree can be winched upright.
The
base of the tree’s trunk is pushed four feet into the ground and it is then
secured with a dozen’s of wooden wedges.
With
no other form of support the tree stands unsupported again as it did in the
forest.
The
lighting ceremony takes place in the dusky early evening of the first Thursday
in December.
A
band play’s loudly and a choir sings Christmas carols as the mayor of
Westminster arrives with other officials in his party.
Then
after due ceremony and a flick of a switch the Christmas tree comes alive, in
line with Norwegian tradition all the lights are white; the tree turns into a
twinkling mass of white lights.
Carols
are sung by the choir of nearby St martin-in-the-fields, and carol concerts are
held in the square.
A
crib is provided by the vicar of St. Martin-in-the-fields and it is placed on
the west side of the square.
The
passing public may stop on their way home from work and join the carol singers
every night until Christmas.
Thursday, 11 February 2021
THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – DEFENDING SANTA
Sheriff Scott Hanson (Dean Cain) is responding to the report of a broken-down vehicle on Christmas Eve and stumbles upon a sleeping Santa in the snowy woods.
Kris
Kringle (Bill Lewis) then spends nearly a year in a coma and when he awakes, he
is put on trial to defend his identity before he can find his sleigh and get
back to the North Pole.
With
Christmas in doubt the small ski resort town has to learn to “believe” and
Sheriff Hanson, a dad and widower, begins to fall for Santa's court-appointed
defence attorney, Sarah (Jud Tylor).
FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 29 O CHRISTMAS TREE (O TANNENBAUM)
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
Traditional German Carol Writer unknown
O
Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
The sight of thee at Christmastide
spreads hope and gladness far and wide
Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou hast a wondrous message:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou hast a wondrous message:
Thou dost proclaim the Saviour's birth
Good will to men and peace on earth
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou hast a wondrous message
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty
Your boughs are green in summer's glow
And do not fade in winter's snow
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How laden are your branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Your presence here enhances
Your silver star does glisten bright
Reflecting all the candlelight
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How laden are your branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety
On Christmas Day you stand so tall
Affording joy to one and all
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety
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