MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. - Augusta E. Rundel




GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!



CHRISTMAS IS FINALLY HERE!!! But what is Christmas? What are it's traditions? Well, I posted this History Channel documentary below which gives a pretty good answer to this question.



However, if you're a bookworm like me, you might want to click HERE.



At Christmas play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year - Thomas Tusser

For me, christmas is one of the few times of the year when My whole family gets together to eat, exchange presents, and tell christmas stories. And that is what I'm gonna do today at my sister's house.

and speaking of stories, this one, Twas The Night Before Christmas, is my favorite. It was first published anonymously in 1823 and generally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, although the claim has also been made that it was written by Henry Livingston, Jr.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.,br>
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"



The Gift of Christmas is a precious reminder that we are loved!

When I was growing up, we also watched a lot of movies and cartoons in the weeks leading to christmas, and on christmas day. Here's some of my favorites:

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

MICKEY'S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

But my favorite thing of all time to watch on christmas has to be, "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" with James Stewart (although I usually watch it in black and white).





Peace on Earth and Joy to all with love

O.K., I admit it, that was my SECOND favorite thing to watch... my all time FAVORITE thing to watch was, and still is, "HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS" the cartoon from 1966.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL CARTOON

And this is my favorite song from that Cartoon. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a Christmas song that was originally written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The lyrics were written by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.



Here's the Lyrics:

You're a mean one Mr Grinch
You really are a heel
You're as cuddly as a cactus
You're as charming as an eel
Mr. Grinch
You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel

You're a monster Mr. Grinch
Your Hearts an empty hole
Your brain is full of spiders
You've got garlic in your soul Mr. Grinch
I wouldn't touch you with a
39 and a half Foot pole

You're a vile one Mr. Grinch
You have termites in your smile
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile
Mr. Grinch
Given the choice between the two of you
I'd take the a seasick crocodile

You're a foul one Mr. Grinch
You're a nasty wasty skunk
Your heart is full of unwashed socks,
Your soul is full of gunk
Mr. Grinch
,br> The 3 words that best describe you, are as follows, and I quote
Stink, Stank, Stonk

You're a rotter Mr. Grinch
You're the king of sinful sots
Your hearts a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots
Mr. Grinch

Your sole is an appalling dump heap
Overflowing with the most disgraceful
Assortment of deplorable rubbish
Imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch
With a nauseous super naus
You're a crooked jerky jockey and,
you drive a crooked horse
Mr. Grinch

You're a 3 Decker sour kraut and toad stool sandwich
With arsenic sauce!



And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. - Dr. Seuss

And now, for some christmas music. Here are some of my favorite Christmas Songs... I hope you enjoy them.

AMY GRANT BREATH OF HEAVEN

FELIZ NAVIDAD

CAMPANOS BE BELEN



Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. - Henry Van Dyke

May all of you have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and the Heart of Christmas which is Love