THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MISTLETOE AND MELODY (2015)

Mistletoe and Melody, is the story of a fashion designer, Kristin Parson (Lacey Chabert), who sells her house in LA, and with her daughter Emily (Fina Strazza), she moves to the town, where she used to live as a child.

In Silver Falls, Ohio, she meets a music teacher Danny Collier (Brennan Elliott), who had a crush on her when they were a kids, and now that he is Emily’s music teacher he finds that he still does, and that’s where the story really starts.

This is singer Mariah Carey's directorial movie debut and it’s a delight, it’s a gift of music transporting people back to another time and place where they find their truest feelings.

It's a great movie, Mariah Carey, did a good job as the nightmare parent Melissa McKean-Atkinson, and as a director.

Lacey Chabert is one of my favourite actresses and the chemistry between her and Brennan Elliott is magical, but for me the star of the film was Fina Strazza as Emily. 

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 32 THE STABLE COW

 

The Stable Cow

Written by Yvonne Machin

 

Unfortunately, I have no lyrics for this song and have been unable to find any.

I only saw it performed on one occasion which was performed by the Arts Educational School Choir, Tring Park, under the direction Choral Director Yvonne Machin.

It was on the BBC television program, Christmas with Val Doonican, first broadcast on 24th Dec 1986.  

I would be very interested if anyone is aware of the lyrics or any other performances.

CHRISTMAS IN LALIBELA

 

On Christmas Eve the city of Lalibela In Ethiopia is packed with pilgrims from the four corners of the country.

They spend the whole night outside praying and chanting and then on Christmas morning they form into a colorful procession which is led by Three young men, lashing whips left and right as it makes its way to a nearby hilltop where a special service takes place.

The congregation is fed with bread and wine blessed by priests then when the service is over the remainder of the day is spent feasting, dancing and playing or watching sport.

20 PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED IN THE WORLD ON DECEMBER 21ST

 

1117 Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury

1537 Johan III, king of Sweden (1569-92)

1804 Benjamin Disraeli, British Tory Prime Minister (1868, 1874-80)

1879 Joseph Stalin, Russian dictator murdered 11,000,000 during his reign

1913 Raich Carter, English footballer

1918 Kurt Waldheim, Austrian President, Nazi, 4th United Nations Secretary General 

1928 Ed Nelson, New Orleans Louisiana actor

1937 Jane Fonda, New York City, actress 

1940 Frank Zappa, Baltimore, rock musician 

1940 Ray Hildebrand, (Paul), Texas, singer (Hey Paula)

1946 Carl Dean Wilson, Hawthorne California, rock vocalist 

1948 Samuel L Jackson, actor

1953 Betty Wright, American gospel singer

1954 Chris Evert, Fort Lauderdale Texas, tennis pro

1957 Lisa Gerritsen, Los Angeles California, actress 

1959 Florence Griffith Joyner, Los Angeles California, athlete 

1962 Christy Forester, Lookout Mountain Georgia, country singer

1968 Khrystyne Haje, Santa Clara, California, actress

1969 Julie Delpy, actress

1978 Michael Vitar, Los Angeles California, actor

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A HEAVENLY CHRISTMAS (2016)

 

Upon her untimely death, Eve (Kristin Davis), a workaholic finds herself in training to be a Christmas Angel in Heaven, under the instruction of Pearl (Shirley MacLaine).

Despite being the worst recruit in the history of Christmas, she's assigned a hard luck case, Max (Eric McCormack) and his daughter Lauren (Jaeda Lily Miller).

And as she is forced to help solve their problems, she starts to discover the meaning of Christmas and despite being told not to, she falls in love along the way.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 30 SUSSEX MUMMERS CAROL

 

Sussex Mummers Carol

Traditional English Carol Writer unknown

 

God bless the master of this house
With happiness beside;
Where e'er his body rides or walks
His God be his guide.
His God be his guide.

God bless the mistress of this house
With gold chain round her breast;
Where e'er her body sleeps or wakes,
Lord, send her soul to rest.
Lord, send her soul to rest.

God bless your house, your children too,
Your cattle and your store;
The Lord increase you day by day,
And send you more and more.
And send you more and more.

A GAME OF GANNA

Ganna is the name for an Ethiopian Christmas but the name originated as a form of hockey with sticks and ball which the shepherds played while awaiting news of the savior’s birth.

The game of Ganna is still played today and forms a big part of the Christmas day festivities.