In fact did you know that Christmas is the FIRST day of Christmas?  I must admit I didn’t….and a great way to start Christmas–well we’re on the 2nd day at least…in fact according to Forbes:  “…the twelve days run December 25 through January 5, inclusive. Then comes Epiphany on January 6.”  https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinknudson/2017/12/26/some-fun-facts-about-the-number-12-just-in-time-for-the-12-days-of-christmas/#77794a9f7f2c

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Today we’re  looking at some of the symbols mostly of Christmas but since we’re doing it with my homes decorations we may wander a bit farther than that…all for a fun experience that raises both your interest as well as your knowledge of a few new thing—and thus making my whole presentation of the thing worth while…

 

 

 

Oh and the main picture is actually my Dragon—I mean what is a Dragon Lair (and its Diva) without a Dragon?  There is a movie about a Christian Dragon and a group of orphans that go on a (dare I say) quest to save Christmas   The Christmas Dragon (2014)   1h 46min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy.    

An interesting choice for a woman’s home not to mention Blog and business.

 

 

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.

Entertainment

http://www.etonline.com/news/155454_31_facts_you_didn_t_know_about_christmas

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/576610059/savage-sword-of-conan-with-red-sonja-29?ref=shop_home_active_21

 

 

 

And the porch…of course there’s Santa—the are similar characters about the Christian world that have all manner of origins and do all manner of gift giving and naughty children punishing..   My first question about Santa is why all the red????  Well some insist it’s from some very famous 1930’s ads done by Coke…..but the Children’s Museum Indianapolis feels it goes back much further.  “ there was the original St. Nicholas. As the Bishop of Myra in the 4th Century, his traditional robes were red and white. While some historians argue that he originally dressed in different colors, the fact is that after the bishop, who was known for his generosity and kindness to children, passed away, his legend grew, and that included his scarlet apparel.”    https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/why-does-santa-wear-red

 

 

 

As I mentioned before there’s lots of characters associated with Christmas about the world—one of my favorites is  La Befana, sometimes referred to as the Italian Christmas witch, has red eyes (that color again), thick lips and an eerie expression, she goes down chimneys too–like our guy, but while he stays beautifully clean in his fury white and red gear she is often covered with soot.  She has been around since some time in the 1500s and like our Santa is nice to good children—who get toys and very like our traditions the naughty ones get ashes (the coal after the fire)—and dust—maybe brushed off her clothes?

USA TODAY

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2013/12/16/bad-good-santas-world-krampus/3990203/

 

The American Santa Clause that has developed today was first written about by Clement Clark Moore (a biblical scholar) in a poem that is as popular today as it was then:  “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (though at the time it was called “A Visit from St. Nicholas”).  Santa’s image was a bit slower in arriving but it did thru the efforts “The American Illustrator” Thomas Nast in the Harper Weekly in 1862 and was done to honor sacrifices of northern families during the Civil War despite the fact that he was a slave owner against abolition.  By the 1880s and the war behind them major cities like New York began commercializing the holiday for fun not to mention profits and Nast’s illustrations were collected into a book in 1890…..and the little man you see on that porch–well that one is based on those Coke Ads beginning in 1931 (by Haddon Sundblom, a Swedish-American Illustrator)

Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/whats-in-name/201212/santa-reality-and-imagination-what-does-it-all-mean

 

 

 

 

 

Santa’s sleigh doesn’t travel at the speed of light

 

Despite what you might think about Santa’s ability to visit every good boy and girl’s home in the world in one night (and if you’re over the age of 10 and still scratching your head about it, you might want to evaluate your priorities), it’s not as astronomical of a feat as you might think. Technically, Santa would have 34 hours to complete his task thanks to the International Date Line and, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Fermilab,” his sleigh would only have to travel at 99.999999% of the speed of light assuming he only visits 800 million houses over the entire surface area of the Earth.

Huffington Post

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/25-weird-christmas-facts_n_1167500.html

 

My favorite decoration for the holiday is something you don’t see a lot of actual ones in the south where I live—Snowmen….they are so cute…and many of the ones I have a cuddly though I have not found the actual ones so user friendly….the actual ones can be shaped a variety of ways, as can but the hands-on-cold-ones and the cute ones that adorn my walls and other locations for Christmas tend to look a lot like the one above, on my living room wall.

 

 

if you’re really interested in Snowmen and how they have developed there’s actually a book on the subject:  The History of the Snowman  By Bob Eckstein (snowman expert and New York native).  There is even a world day of snowman, celebrated on 18 January every year.  And they too vary from country to country:  “In Europe and North America snowmen are usually formed from three snowballs, while people in east Asia tend to favour two spheres. The world’s largest snowman to date was in fact a snow-lady, built in Bethel, Maine, in the US, in 2008. Olympia Snowe, as she was known, stood just over 37 metres tall.”

The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2010/dec/29/weatherwatch-snowmen-history

 

The earliest picture of a snowman was in a manuscript written in 1380 and the first written reference was during the Renaissance.  These were not the cute one we do now but were often works of protest or comment on the ongoing problems with society and the like.   But the snowman we know and love today didn’t actually develop until the late 19th and early 20th century.   And he wasn’t always a family friendly character for after Probation in the US he became a spokesman for alcohol.  But his (or her) redemption came in 1968 with the animated movie Frost the Snowman and has been on the upside ever since.

 

 

 

 

Rudolph should probably be depicted without antlers as male reindeer shed theirs in winter.

Santa’s other eight reindeer and sleigh date back to 1823; Rudolph was only added in 1939.

Express

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/548548/Top-10-facts-about-Christmas

 

 

 

Next year I’ll return to Droughtlander—-I miss them too especially YOU KNOW WHO

 

 

• Germany made the first artificial Christmas tree out of goose feathers dyed green.
• Electric lights for Christmas trees were first used in 1895.

WTOP

https://wtop.com/news/2011/12/did-you-know-15-fun-facts-about-christma

 

Most Americans believe that elements of the biblical Christmas story reflect actual historical events, although the percentage expressing this view has dropped noticeably in recent years. Two-thirds (66%) say Jesus was born to a virgin, compared with 73% who said this in 2014; 75% believe he was laid in a manger, down from 81%. Similarly, the shares who say they believe that wise men, guided by a star, brought Jesus gifts — and that an angel appeared to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus — also have declined. A slim majority of U.S. adults (57%) believe that all four of these things actually happened, down from 65% three years ago. Belief in these events has declined not only among people with no religious affiliation, but among Christians as well. Overall, about one-in-five Americans (19%) now say none of these things actually happened.

 

 

 

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See above picture for More info on our Main picture—this is from Jeannie Taylor’s Gallery https://www.jtfolkart.com/—but more of that later.

 

 

Yesterday I had a lovely luncheon with some friends and we began to talk about some of the local towns that I tend to wander in and about and the history and the reasons I go there and why they might too and I thought wait–maybe my blog readers would be interested in the facts, fiction and adventure of smaller town central Florida.

 

 

 

This weekend (or rather last–12/2 –was for the Home Show that have been going on for well over 20 years and features tours of local homes, as well as businesses offering themed displays (this year they did tablescapes–next picture is from the gallery area of the visitor’s center also downtown on First Ave http://www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com/) and even a new bed and breakfast this year.  It’s a fun way to see the neighborhoods and meet the people and if you live in the area and haven’t gone yet I recommend you try it–if you already have I would expect you to plan on repeating the experience next year.

 

 

 

 

During the Seminole Wars of the 1830’s, the area was the site of an U.S. Army post name Fort Mellon. As settlers moved into the area, the town of Mellonville was established. With the advent of commercial steamboat service, the town became a distribution point for goods essential for the growth of Central Florida. When Orange County was created in 1845, Mellonville became the county seat.    http://www.sanfordfl.gov/index.aspx?page=48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would recommend your first stop is the Visitor’s Center which includes a web site:  http://www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com/ .    The site has rediscovering Sanford for those of you who haven’t been there in awhile–but it’s fun for those who never been there too.  There a map of the new downtown Trolley (which runs along First Street as well as the water front) as well as a schedule for same http://www.sanfordfl.gov/index.aspx?page=1151

 

 

Oh and while the Center is on the north west corner of First St and Palmetto Ave there is a huge free parking lot on the north east corner right across the street from it.  So I would recommend that when you arrive in the city it’s your first stop.

 

 

 

There are multiple pamphlets (free)&  booklets on the area, town and lots more including most of menus for most, if not all the local restaurants.  There’s also a gift shop (see above picture) with lots of local items to take home.  http://www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com/gift-shop.html    

In addition there is a gallery area where there are all manner of displays and shows through out the year.  Last weekend it feature the tablescapes for the Home Tour but through the year there are showings of paintings and other art and crafts free of charge….The staff there is very helpful and now includes a new office for tourism in the area (see picture below) and last (especially if you’re in need) but not least public bathrooms.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE THIS IS THE`BUILDING THE WELCOME CENTER IS IN:

The U.S. Post Office Building was built in 1917 by Algernon Blair of Montgomery, Alabama with James Wetmore serving as the supervising architect. The Post Office opened for business August 1, 1918. It is typical of buildings constructed by the U.S. Government up through the 1930’s. When the new Post Office was finished in 1962, only two blocks away, the building became the City Library for Sanford, and in 1975 it became part of the Seminole County library system.  http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMM99A_Historic_Sanford_Welcome_Center_Sanford_FL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You just have to cross the street to see my main man LOUIE…..HE is the best dog ever and loves nothing better than a good pet or scratch—and even though he’s a French Bull dog his English is fantastic

 

 

 

But let me explain:  Louie is Greeter in Chief as well as Pet Manager at Jeannie Taylors Folk Art Gallery  which was doing the Holiday Trunk Show with Darlene Allen and Melissa Menzer on the Sat. I was there.  But Jeannie’s gallery does all manner of seasonal and folk art events thru the year:  https://www.jtfolkart.com/schedule-of-events/

 

 

The main area is full of memorabilia that oldies like me remember` from their jaded past which are lots of fun (see the last picture above–) and you got to check out her buy a piece of art from a vending machine–too wild.  She also was featured on the Home Tour for her room full of tablescapes–see one in picture  below—Jeannie’s is a fun gallery that makes you comfortable and it’s a great place to  get into the season –her staff always talks with me and makes you feel comfortable and you can take your and see everything–making for truly great experience.  The main picture is from a whole group of  hand made ornaments and other  Christmas displays she featured in one of her two rear gallery…as well as the Tablescape sets.

 

 

But this is also the location of The Gallery on First 6 separate rooms each leased by a separate artist and you can often catch them in doing everything from art work to talking with visitors and possible buyers.  You can buy their offerings from the main desk if they’re not in, but they’re open to your view and appreciation.  It’s a fun alternative to a more conventional gallery and one I think you might enjoy ALOT.  I love the items decorating the one pictured below—more for those Oldies But Goodies like me.

 

 

 

After the Indian battles were over, a large number of orange groves were established. In 1870, General Henry Shelton Sanford purchased a vast acreage and laid out the city of Sanford. The city was incorporated in 1877.

https://www.citytowninfo.com/places/florida/sanford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want something different to do  try a boat tour that goes along the St. Johns from Sanford’s downtown docks:  The St. John River Ship Company goes out regularly, the river is beautiful and only one of two major rivers in the world (the other being the Nile in Egypt) that flows north and the Ship which is a old style paddlewheeler, even offers special Thanksgiving cruises with a wonderful Turkey dinner—but it books fast so….http://www.stjohnsrivershipco.com/

 

 

Or learn more about Sanford at the Sanford Museum also on First Street http://www.sanfordfl.gov/index.aspx?page=108  which give you information on the town and its founder among other things of local interest and artifacts.

 

 

 

and for adults only there’s Pub Social Mixers and Public Sunday Funday Brunch Tours with Limo Cycle Tours ` https://limocycle.com/public-tours/

this 3rd one I haven’t tried but I’ve seen them peddling about town–look interesting.

 

 

 

    In September 1887, a baker on First Street caught fire. The blaze spread rapidly through the wooden buildings on the east side of town until stopped by the volunteer fire department. When the town was rebuilt, the new structures were made of brick.

http://sanfordhistory.tripod.com/a-brief-history-walking-tour-of-sanford.html#

 

 

 

 

 

 

For some shopping there’s Magpie’s A self described general store which is not really—but it does have all manner of things to see and of course buy and it’s just a few steps east of Jeannie’s on First street.  https://www.facebook.com/MagpiesModernGeneral/

 

 

Maya Books and Music https://www.facebook.com/Maya-Books-and-Music-152704731576/  is also on Main Street and is a store packed full with books on all manners of topics for you to view and hopefully take home and read and there a separate music section in the back.  It’s on the same block as Jeannie’s and past The Willow Tree https://hollerbachs.com/ to the west of both of those shops–in fact the Willow Tree enlarged and Maya was moved to this corner store when it did so.

 

 

and check out this site or some additional places to shop in this fun small town America   http://sanford365.com/shop-local-sanford/

 

 

 

After the citrus freezes of the 1890s, vegetables, especially celery, became important. Sanford’s modern economy is based on tourism and industry, including high technology.  https://www.britannica.com/place/Sanford    

 

 

 

 

Next Blog I’ll look at eating and drinking in Sanford as well as things of interest outside the main down town area.  So check back soon.

Sanford not only developed citrus groves, but took pride in cultivating practically every fruit-bearing tree of the tropics. For that, he relied on his Swedish head gardener, I.E. Wenström, and botanist Alfred Löfgren. For his head horticulturist, he turned again to Sweden, hiring Dr. Carl Leonard Vihlén of the University of Uppsala, whom the Florida Citrus Manual credits with developing the Valencia orange, the basis for today’s juice industry.

http://www.nordstjernan.com/news/south/971/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All pictures in today’s blog were taken in Sanford.