THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS MANGER (2018)

 

Christmas Manger is the story of an elderly rancher called Chap (Steve J. Young) who grapples with the loss of his wife and the loneliness that accompanies it.

This is exacerbated because his daughter Laura (Tara Reid) is a Lawyer who lives and works in New York which allows him to isolate himself from his friends and neighbours.

That is until his estranged foster child Jessica (Andrea Logan White) re-enters his life with her two children, Spenser and Cassidy (Graham Schneider and Taylor Bedford), after leaving her abusive partner Eddie (Alexander Kane).

Though not initially welcome Chap has to concede to them staying until the New Year following a fall and this time facilitates the rekindling of an old romance between Jessica and old flame Tyler (Randy Wayne) and for Cassidy to get into her Grandpa’s heart, giving him a new purpose to live and so Rancher, foster family and the town come together for a wonderful Christmas.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 29 - PEACE ON EARTH / LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

 

Peace on Earth

Written in 1982 by Larry Grossman and Buz Kohan

Little Drummer Boy

Written in 1958 by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone

Performed by Bing Crosby David Bowie

 

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
to lay before the king pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
so to honour him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
when we come

Little baby pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I stood beside him there pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my drum for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
And he smiled at me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
me and my drum

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He'll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Can it be

OH MY CHRISTMAS ANGEL

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Won’t you here my plea

Oh Christmas Angel

Spend Christmas with me

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Surely heaven sent

Oh Christmas Angel

Be my Christmas present

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Wont you here my plea

Let me un-wrap you

Beneath the Christmas tree

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Oh please hear me do?

Oh Christmas angel

Let me make a devil out of you

SCANDINAVIAN YULE BREAD

 

SCANDINAVIAN YULE BREAD

 

Ingredients:

2  pks   Dry yeast
¼ cup   Water (warmed)
1  pint   Milk
1  cup   Shortening
1  cup   Granulated sugar
1  tsp    Salt
2           Eggs (beaten)
2  tbs    Ground cardamom
7  cups  Flour (sieved)
2  cup   Candied fruit (floured)

 

Instructions:

Cream the shortening, sugar and salt together then add the cardamom and the beaten eggs.

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water the Scald the milk until lukewarm then combine the lukewarm and the softened yeast.

Then Blend in 3 cups flour beating until smooth Add the creamed shortening mixture and the remaining flour mixing until smooth.

Make dough that can be handled add 1 more cup of flour if necessary, then Add the candied fruit then knead well.

Allow to rise until it has doubled in size.

Turn out the dough onto a well-floured board and shape into loaves the dough should make three good sized loaves. Bake at 375 degrees F for 1 hour.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – ELF-MAN (2012)

 

Christmas isn’t looking too bright for the Harper family, when their inventor father (Mackenzie Astin) is kidnapped by three criminals Mickey, Jean-Pierre and Big Bucket (Jeffrey Combs, Dave Coyne and Larry Nichols) who want to steal his latest invention, a chip that produces unlimited electricity.

The children, Kasey and Ryan (Carly Robell and Blake Kaiser) are being looked after by their grandmother (Marty Terry) when Kasey makes a wish upon an old elf figurine that’s been in the family for years. As Christmas is the time of miracles, her wish comes true, and an elf (Jason 'Wee Man' Acuña) appears to help the family get Eric back ably assisted by butcher Amy (Mirelly Taylor) who is in love with Eric.

A fun family film with a “Home Alone” vibe.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 28 - A WINTER'S TALE

 

A Winter's Tale

Written By Mike Batt, Tim Rice

Performed By David Essex

 

The nights are colder now
Maybe, I should close the door
And anyway the snow has covered all your footsteps
And I can follow you no more

The fire still burns at night
My memories are warm and clear
But everybody knows it's hard
To be alone at this time of year

It was only a winter's tale
Just another winter's tale
And why should the world take notice
Of one more love that's failed?

A love that could never be
Though it meant a lot to you and me
On a world wide scale we're just another winter's tale

While I stand alone
A bell is ringing far away
I wonder if you hear, I wonder if you're listening
I wonder where you are today

Good luck, I wish you well
For all that wishes may be worth
I hope that love and strength are with you
For the length of your time on earth

It was only a winter's tale
Just another winter's tale
And why should the world take notice
Of one more love that's failed?

It's a love that could never be
Though it meant a lot to you and me
On a world wide scale we're just another winter's tale

It was only a winter's tale
Just another winter's tale
And why should the world take notice
Of one more love that's failed?

It's a love that could never be
Though it meant a lot to you and me
On a world wide scale we're just another winter's tale

GANNA

 

Christmas in Ethiopia is known as Ganna and as the orthodox Ethiopian church uses the old Julian calendar and is celebrated on January 7th.

The most spiritual place experience a traditional Ganna is in Lalibela, which was built by King Lalibela in the 12th century as Ethiopia's own Jerusalem.

Pilgrims travel for days to attend colorful Ganna ceremonies in one of the thirteen ancient churches carved from solid volcanic rock.

In the rest of the country and particularly in the capital Addis Adaba the celebration takes place in modern churches that are designed in three concentric circles.

Men and boys have to sit separately from the girls and the women and the choir sings from the outside circle.

As the People enter the churches they receive candles and after lighting them everyone walks around the church three times.

Once people take their places they then stand throughout the mass, which can last as long as three hours