Virtual Pub Quiz, Live! Christmas Eve Special

Starts about 6 PM today (Christmas Eve) Eastern Standard time USA something to do…was steamed

I am trying to find you things to do—-cause if you’re like me you’re alone tonight—for the last several year my Christmas even entertainment was going to a friend’s house across time where I joined their family. We exchanged gifts, munched on all manner of goodies and had a few drinks—being a single person with most of my father scattered about the USA I pretty much get by with a little help from my friends—-I do have a room mate but they have other points of interest so we tend to be creature passing in the day and/or night….and given this year with its isolation and all we are planning on spending the day together and tomorrow—if we survive the bad storms that are coming in as we speak….rain, wind and storms—-this year just keeps on giving and giving and never gives us a chance to say no thanks.

A Holly Jolly Christmas Song by Burl Ives

Still going thru the traditions of Christmas How about Ginger Bread Men

I looked about an found that there are many theories on all that—as usual—One source says they originated from Elizabeth I’s court (UK) when she had them made to imitate some of her guests—I hadn’t heard that one before but it is a fun ideal; To get an idea of what Tudor Christmas was like check out: Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas Very interesting.

According to a PBS site: “No confection symbolizes the holidays quite like gingerbread in its many forms, from edible houses to candy-studded gingerbread men to spiced loaves of cake-like bread. In Medieval England, the term gingerbread simply meant preserved ginger and wasnt applied to the desserts we are familiar with until the 15th century. The term is now broadly used to describe any type of sweet treat that combines ginger with honey, treacle or molasses.” The History of Gingerbread

and who still remembers from your childhood: Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me I’m The Gingerbread Man : The Legend of The Gingerbread Man

This again brings Queen Elizabeth into the legend—some one I had not anticipated to be involved when I started this.

But try your own:

Gingerbread House Recipe

Gingerbread Men Cookie

101 things to do in London at Christmas

Top Christmas Songs 🎄 Classic Christmas Hits 🎅 Christmas Music Playlist

How well do you know London? Take These

Outlander’ Christmas: Where to Watch Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe’s Merry Holiday Movies

Top Christmas Songs Radio 🎅🏼 Christmas Music 2020 🎄 Best Christmas Songs Playlist

Why Stockings

According to the Smithsonian: Stockings have been an essential part of the Christmas tradition for centuries (except, briefly, in the mid-1800s, when the New York Times wrote that Christmas trees almost completely supplanted them as the tradition of choice).

And what we put in them have changed According to Country Living

but in the past, stocking stuffers were more like candies, nuts, and fresh oranges, all of which were considered to be a real treat at the time.

The holiday tradition may have started during the Great Depression, a time when many families couldn’t afford to buy holidays presents and gifted these sweet and hard-to-come-by fruits instead, according to the Kitchn. Waking up on Christmas morning and finding a fresh orange in your stocking was considered a luxury.

I have not kids but I put things like those little liquor bottles, snacks, candy and the like in my roomie’s stocking….When I was little oranges were included in stockings and candy canes and the like but my folk had 3 kids and not a big income so they did the best they could with the small things.

Travel Through Time To Learn The Fascinating History Of Christmas Stockings

Christmas Wreaths Are a Classic Holiday Decoration With a Surprisingly Deep History

How Santa got his reindeer

Who Invented Candy Canes?

The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick

The most popular candy in my birth place:

West Va is: Peppermint Bark (2nd Pez)

Where I spent most of my growing up time:

Michigan: Reindeer Corn (2nd Reese Cup Minis

on to where I stayed to do some education

Illinois: Reese Cup Minis (2nd M&M’s)

and now

Florida: Snickers (2nd Skittles and 3rd M&M’s)

Go here to check out your state:

The Most Popular Christmas Candy in Each State

What’s Open in Greater Philadelphia for the Holidays 2020

22 Virtual Christmas Party Ideas in 2020 (Holidays)

start planning for next year—just in case (HEAVEN FORBID)

Howell’s FULL Virtual Christmas Concert 2020: A Celebration of Christmas

An Alaskan Christmas Choir Goes Virtual | NBC News

Casting Crowns – I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day Live

Did you know there are 12 religious holidays in December?

Christians Celebrate

Dec. 6: St. Nicholas Day--you might know him better as Santa Claus

December 16th: Palisades Nanidenes

Primarily a Hispanic Christian holiday that commemorates Mary and Joseph trip to Bethlehem.

25th: Christmas–celebrating Christ’s birth.

28th: Holy Innocent’s Day–Honoring the children killed by King Herod in his effort to kill the Christ child.

31st: Watch Night–thanking God for their safety this year.

In Addition Catholics celebrate

8th: Immaculate Conception Day is a celebration of Mary, Jesus’ mother

12th: Feast Day of our Lady of Guadalupe primarily celebrated in Mexican and by some Mexicans in the US–celebrates. the Saint’s appearance in Mexico City.

Buddists

8th: Bodhi Day—celebrates the historical Buddha’s decision to set under the Bodhi tree until he reached spiritual enlightenment. It is compared to the Christian’s celebration of Christmas.

Jews

10 – 18: Hanukkah—Festival of Light which celebration the Maccabean revolt in Egypt.

Wiccan/Pagan

21st: Solstice, earth is farthest from the sun—the rebirth of the sun and return to the light

Zoroastrian

26th: Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathustra) Zarathustra who founde this sect, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions.

GREETINGS FROM THE DRAGON LAIR DIVA

“May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; The spirit of Christmas which is peace; The heart of Christmas which is love.” – ..