AUSTRIA

 

In Austria St. Nicholas, is honoured throughout the land and It is said that as a reward for his generosity God allowed him to return to earth each year to bring gifts to all the good children of the world.

MOLFETTA

 

On St. Nicholas Eve, the children in the Italian city of Molfetta, on the Adriatic coast, put a plate on the table with a letter asking for gifts and promising to be good in the coming year. 

BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY # 1

Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas day 1936 at 3, Belgrave Square in London.

Conrad Hilton the founder of the hotel chain was born 1887

Dorothy Wordsworth the English prose writer and younger sister of poet William Wordsworth was born in 1771 in Cockermouth Cumbria.

Sir Isaac Newton the renowned scientist was born near Grantham in Lincolnshire, on December 25, 1642

And Humphrey Deforest Bogart was born on Christmas day in 1899 in New York.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – PETE'S CHRISTMAS (2013)

 

Pete Kidder (Zachary Gordon) is a seriously overlooked middle child, his elder brother Jake (Wesley Morgan) is a jock who thinks he is God’s gift, Kenny (Peter DaCunha) is the geeky younger brother, who is a “know it all” and is the family favourite, and Pete’s parents never takes Pete’s side.

But to make matters worse, after the worst Christmas Day he had ever known, he finds himself reliving his family's terrible Christmas Day over and over again, but he’s the only one experiencing the day in “Groundhog Day” mode, so he decides to use his unique gift to give the holidays a makeover and his family a Christmas they will never forget.

Pete’s Christmas is an enjoyable tale but the stars of the show for me were Bruce Dern as the grumpy Grandpa and the lovely Bailee Madison as the new girl next door, Katie.

THE ROSE, THE CLOVE AND THE SAGE

 

As King Herod’s savage minions systematically scoured the countryside around Bethlehem, cutting the throats of any newborns they came across, Mary and Joseph fled across the mountains of Judea.

Seeing a village ahead, Joseph ran on to ask for hospitality but alas the people would not help.

While Mary was alone, seated by the roadside nursing the child Joseph took the donkey to drink from the well.

Then she heard shouts getting closer and the ground shook under the hooves of approaching horses. Then she realized it must be Herod’s soldiers.

She had to hide but she could see nowhere suitable no rocks or caves or even a tree.

The only thing Mary could see was a bush where a rose was beginning to bloom.

She walked to the bush and said “Rose, beautiful rose, please open out your petals and hide this child who they want to kill and his poor half-dead mother.”
The rose replied, “Get on your way, young woman, and quickly in case the butchers brush by me and blemish my beautiful bloom. Go and see the clove over there. Tell her to shelter you. She has enough flowers to hide you.”

She walked to the clove and said “Clove, pretty Clove, please open your branches and hide this child who they want to kill and his poor half-dead mother.”
The clove replied,
“On your way, you wretched creature. I don’t have time to listen to you. I am too busy producing blooms all over. Go and see the sage plant over there. She has nothing better to do than dispense charity.”

She walked to the bush and said “Sage, good Sage, please lift up your leaves and hide this child who they want to kill and his poor half-dead mother.”
The sage plant then burst out in such abundant blossoms so as to cover all the earth and its velvety leaves made a canopy for the Christ child and His mother to shelter under

On the road, Herod's men passed by and saw nothing. At the sound of the soldiers passing, Mary shivered in terror, but the baby smiled as he was caressed by the leaves. Then the soldiers were gone.

When Herod's men were gone, Mary and Jesus came out from their green refuge.
“Sage, holy sage, thank you. I bless you for your good deed which will always be remembered.”

Then Joseph found them, with the donkey which had been restored by a huge serving of barley which a kindly man had given him.
Mary remounted the donkey and hugged her precious child.

When Michael, the Archangel of God, descended from the realms of Heaven to keep them company and show them the way to Egypt.

Since that time the rose has had thorns, the clove has foul smelling flowers, and the sage plant is used to cure many ills.

THE LATVIAN WAY

The Latvians believe that the gift giver brings presents on each of the 12 days of Christmas

starting on Christmas Eve and ending on epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6.

Usually, the presents are put under the family Christmas tree.

What a lovely idea to spread Christmas magic out a little longer.

FESTIVE FACT # 5

 

Many families in Finland visit cemeteries at Christmas time to place candles on the graves of friends and loved ones.