well the big day is only a week away–finished ye old shopping (for presents still have to do food and goodies) and am now working on ye old wrapping—I cheat I use bags.
“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given-when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.” — Joan Winmill Brown
Get inches away from Bengal tigers, orangutans and other animals. Hand-feed giraffe from an open air tour vehicle. Numerous close-up animal encounters. Observe professionals at Animal Care Center.
who gets milk.
yeah you guessed it spoons covered with batter.
This is all part of Christmas in Iceland where they take these lads seriously–but they have gone from terrors 100 years ago (sons of Gryla
who would snatch children.) The lads were mean, stole food leaving the family hungry, one even ate candles making Christmas dark. When Christianity came to Iceland (1000 AD–by decree from the King of Norway) the legends were discouraged but of course never went away even though parents were forbidden to tell their children the tales. Though the legends have survived there are many details that are lost like were there 13 or 80 (or somewhere in between) of them. But we do know they have 13 nights of pranks and even though they are still mean, current tales make them seem more fun and less threatening.
But Christmas in December.
There’s so much to look forward to
And so much to remember. December
With religion playing such a vital role in the lives of most people, ancient rulers could do worse than to capitalize on the symbolic connections between the “king of the realm” and the King of Heaven. Like the mighty Charlemagne before him, William the Conqueror chose Christmas Day for his 1066 coronation as king of England. Most medieval monarchs chose Christmas Day for the traditional “laying on of hands”, a ritual meant to transfer the king’s “healing” power to those afflicted with certain skin ailments. The ceremonial wearing of the official halo-bright Crown of State, further underscored the sense that the monarch was omnipotent, above and beyond all other mortals http://www.britainexpress.com/History/medieval/christmas.htm
President Theodore Roosevelt and his wife hosted a carnival at the White House for more than 500 children. They served a favorite of many past presidents — ice cream molded into the shape of Santa Claus. President Roosevelt did not approve of chopping down evergreens, so he banned them from the White House. However, his son smuggled one in anyway and hid it in the sewing closet. http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/12/18/white-house-holiday-traditions/
Christmas Wreaths
Our Christmas wreaths
Are fat and round
Made of woodsy things
We found.
We tied brown cones
Upon the green
And stuck red berries
In between.
Upon the wreath
For our front door
We tied red ribbon from a store.
One of my favorite (despite they are not a possibility here) part of decorating for Christmas are the snowmen—I have dozens of them all over the house, from pictures to plush stuffed ones and I continue to buy more every year.
30,000 years ago, mankind created snow buddies. Possibly they were meant to boost the perceived population of the encampment. But because of their idealized female form, scholars now suspect snowwomen were a show of prosperity and economic security to psych out the neighbors; a cold war of feminine pulchritude. The stone figurines were the blueprints to pass the knowledge of their making down the generations. http://www.harrisburgmagazine.com/Home-Garden/December-2012/A-Really-Short-History-of-the-Snowman/
. “Christmas now surrounds us,
Happiness is everywhere
Our hands are busy with many tasks
As carols fill the air.”~ Shirley Sallay
Because of its roots in pagan festivals, Christmas was not immediately accepted by the religious. In fact, from 1659 to 1681, it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in Boston. You were fined if you were caught celebrating.
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In the Christmas song what was ‘Roasting on an Open Fire’? |
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| Chestnuts | Cashew Nuts | ||||||||||||
| Walnuts | Brazil Nuts | ||||||||||||