You've heard the song The Twelve Days of Christmas right? Did you even wonder what the heck the 12 day's of Christmas were. Well to start off the Twelve Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas and end the evening of January 5th. (This will very depending on different traditions.) The celebrating vary in ways around the world. Some give gifts only on Christmas Day, while others only on the Twelfth Night. Some give gifts each of the Twelve nights.In the United States we have largely forgotten about the Twelve Days of Christmas. With the popularity of New Year's Eve, and all the stories of Santa Claus we don't think about what comes after Christmas Day anymore. Most people assume that the Twelve Days end on Christmas and start December 14th.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
It's A Wonderful Life
Have you watched this movie this year yet? If not you better get on that. It's a Wonderful Life is a classic Christmas movie. It came out in 1946, and is based on a short story by Philip Van Doren Stern called "The Greatest Gift"
The film is about a man named George Bailey (James Stewart) who gives up his dreams in order to help others. One Christmas Eve he is about to comment suicide, which brings down his guardian angel Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers.) Clarence shows George what life would be like if he was never born, about how many people his life has touched.
The movie actually did very poorly at the box office due to high production costs and stiff competition at the time. The film has now come to be regarded as a classic, and is watched every Christmas by many people. The film has be recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made placing number 11, it also place number 1 on the list of most inspirational American films of all time.
The film is about a man named George Bailey (James Stewart) who gives up his dreams in order to help others. One Christmas Eve he is about to comment suicide, which brings down his guardian angel Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers.) Clarence shows George what life would be like if he was never born, about how many people his life has touched.
The movie actually did very poorly at the box office due to high production costs and stiff competition at the time. The film has now come to be regarded as a classic, and is watched every Christmas by many people. The film has be recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made placing number 11, it also place number 1 on the list of most inspirational American films of all time.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Nipping At Your Nose
Jack Frost is the personification of frost and cold weather. He is responsible for frosty weather, for the nipping of your nose and toes, coloring the foliage in fall, and leaving beautiful patterns on you cold windows. Jack is also known as a mischief spirit that is carefree and a loner. In some lore he is depicted with a paint brush and bucket.
Jack Frost has been in many books. Here are a few where you can find him.
"The Life an Adventures of Santa Claus" by L. Franck Baum. Jack Frost is the son of the unnamed Frost King.
"Meredith Gentry" by Laurell K. Hamilton.
"Rainbow Magic" by Daisy Meadows.
"First Death in Nova Scotia" by Elizabeth Bishop (A Poem)
"Reaper Man & Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett
Jack Frost has been in many books. Here are a few where you can find him.
"The Life an Adventures of Santa Claus" by L. Franck Baum. Jack Frost is the son of the unnamed Frost King.
"Meredith Gentry" by Laurell K. Hamilton.
"Rainbow Magic" by Daisy Meadows.
"First Death in Nova Scotia" by Elizabeth Bishop (A Poem)
"Reaper Man & Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Happy Birthday!......
Frosty the Snowman is a popular song witten by Walter Rollins and Steve Nelson. The first recording was by Gene Autry in 1950 the year after Rudolph was recorded. Frosty was adapted to other media such as books, and a television special. The song was originally titled "Frosty the Snow Man".
Frosty the Snow Man is a song about a snowman who came to life one day, when some kids put a hat on him. Frosty has fun playing around with the kids, until the sun gets to warm for him. He is forced to leave, telling the kids he will be back again someday.
Little Golden Books published Frosty the Snow Man, in 1950. It was adapted by Annie North Bedford and illustrated by Corinne Malvern.
In 1969 a thirty-one minute animated TV special of Frosty was air. It featured the voices of Jimmy Durante as the narrator, Jackie Vernon as the title character. Also Paul frees and Jun Foray voice characters in this stop-motion animated special. This movie was based on the discovery of how Frosty came about.
Frosty the Snow Man is a song about a snowman who came to life one day, when some kids put a hat on him. Frosty has fun playing around with the kids, until the sun gets to warm for him. He is forced to leave, telling the kids he will be back again someday.
Little Golden Books published Frosty the Snow Man, in 1950. It was adapted by Annie North Bedford and illustrated by Corinne Malvern.
In 1969 a thirty-one minute animated TV special of Frosty was air. It featured the voices of Jimmy Durante as the narrator, Jackie Vernon as the title character. Also Paul frees and Jun Foray voice characters in this stop-motion animated special. This movie was based on the discovery of how Frosty came about.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
But do you recall...
The most famous reindeer of all!!
That's right this post is about the amazing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. He is popularly known as Santa's 9th Reindeer and, when depicted, is the lead reindeer pulling Santa's sleight on Christmas Eve. The luminosity of his nose is so great that it illuminates the team's path through the harsh winter weather.
Rudolph first appeared in 1939 in a booklet written by Robert L. May. The booklet was published by Montgomery Ward. The retailer had been buying and giving away coloring books for Christmas, and decided that they would save money by creating their own book. May had thought about using "Rollo" or "Reginald" before he decided to use "Rudolph" The Story is written as a poem in the meter of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
There are a few sequels to the book. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Shines Again published by Maxton Books in 1954. Also Robert May wrote, in 1947, Rudolph's Second Christmas, an unpublished sequel that was finally published in 1991 by Applewood Books.
The actual story is the experiences of Rudolph, a youthful reindeer who had a unusual luminous red nose. He is harassed, and excluded by his peers because of it. Rudolph proves himself one Christmas Eve after Santa catches sight of his nose and asks him to lead his sleight because the weather is so bad. After he is rewarded and social accepted among his fellow reindeer for his heroism.
Johnny Marks, May's brother-in-law, adapted the story into a song. Gene Autry's recording of the song hit No. 1 on the Billboards in 1949. It sold 2.5 million copies in the first year, and remained the second best-selling record of all until the 1980's.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Movies is an animated feature film produced in 1998. It got only limited theatrical release before debuting on home video. The movie amplifies the early back-story of Rudolph's harassment by his schoolmates during his early years.
That's right this post is about the amazing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. He is popularly known as Santa's 9th Reindeer and, when depicted, is the lead reindeer pulling Santa's sleight on Christmas Eve. The luminosity of his nose is so great that it illuminates the team's path through the harsh winter weather.
Rudolph first appeared in 1939 in a booklet written by Robert L. May. The booklet was published by Montgomery Ward. The retailer had been buying and giving away coloring books for Christmas, and decided that they would save money by creating their own book. May had thought about using "Rollo" or "Reginald" before he decided to use "Rudolph" The Story is written as a poem in the meter of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
There are a few sequels to the book. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Shines Again published by Maxton Books in 1954. Also Robert May wrote, in 1947, Rudolph's Second Christmas, an unpublished sequel that was finally published in 1991 by Applewood Books.
The actual story is the experiences of Rudolph, a youthful reindeer who had a unusual luminous red nose. He is harassed, and excluded by his peers because of it. Rudolph proves himself one Christmas Eve after Santa catches sight of his nose and asks him to lead his sleight because the weather is so bad. After he is rewarded and social accepted among his fellow reindeer for his heroism.
Johnny Marks, May's brother-in-law, adapted the story into a song. Gene Autry's recording of the song hit No. 1 on the Billboards in 1949. It sold 2.5 million copies in the first year, and remained the second best-selling record of all until the 1980's.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Movies is an animated feature film produced in 1998. It got only limited theatrical release before debuting on home video. The movie amplifies the early back-story of Rudolph's harassment by his schoolmates during his early years.
Monday, December 3, 2012
You know....
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen
They are based on those used in the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" arguably the basis of reindeer's popularity as Christmas symbols, where Donner and Blitzen were originally called Dunder and Blixem
'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,
Whild visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchier, 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 clater,
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 apper,
But a miniature sleight, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old drive, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid then 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, 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 sleight 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 shoot;
A bundle or Toys he had flung oh his back,
And he looked like a pedler 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 snoke it enchircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and 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;
He spoke not a word, but when stright 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 sleight, 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."
Little information regarding the reindeer is disclosed in the poem, which has only allowed others to contribute to the backgrounds and folklore regarding them in other works. In part because of copyright issues, there is very little continuity between the various authors or reindeer-related works, resulting in widely varying depiction from author to author. Some authors have even created extra reindeer, the only case so far in which another's addition to the traditional group achieved general acceptance was of Robert L. May's creation "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which indeed eventually became an iconic and traditional member of the sleigh team.
I wish there was more to tell you about the traditional group of reindeer, but there isn't much to find on them. Sorry!
They are based on those used in the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" arguably the basis of reindeer's popularity as Christmas symbols, where Donner and Blitzen were originally called Dunder and Blixem
'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,
Whild visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchier, 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 clater,
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 apper,
But a miniature sleight, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old drive, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid then 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, 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 sleight 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 shoot;
A bundle or Toys he had flung oh his back,
And he looked like a pedler 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 snoke it enchircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and 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;
He spoke not a word, but when stright 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 sleight, 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."
Little information regarding the reindeer is disclosed in the poem, which has only allowed others to contribute to the backgrounds and folklore regarding them in other works. In part because of copyright issues, there is very little continuity between the various authors or reindeer-related works, resulting in widely varying depiction from author to author. Some authors have even created extra reindeer, the only case so far in which another's addition to the traditional group achieved general acceptance was of Robert L. May's creation "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which indeed eventually became an iconic and traditional member of the sleigh team.
I wish there was more to tell you about the traditional group of reindeer, but there isn't much to find on them. Sorry!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Something to Drink
So what is something that you can only drink around this time of the year... EGGNOG! Eggnog is a sweetened dairy-based beverage.
We don't really know exactly where, when or how Eggnog first got started. It may have developed from posset, a medieval European drink made with hot milk. The "nog" part comes from the word noggin, a Middle English term for a small carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol. Another story is that the term derived from egg and grog, a common Colonial term used for the drink made with rum. The drink was popular among the aristocracy. Those who could get milk and eggs mixed it with either brandy, sherry or Madeira.
Traditional eggnog consists of milk, sugar, raw eggs, and spices (usually nutmeg). Cream is sometimes included to make it thinker and more rich, though now-a-days they sometimes just add gelatin. Whipped cream, meringue, cinnamon, ice cream and chocolate curls are all common toppings you may want to throw on your eggnog. Under U.S. law, commercial products sold as eggnog are only permitted to contain certain ingredients. Most times this means that raw egg is not included. Some homemade eggnog's call for the egg yolks to be cooked with milk into a custard to avoid the hazard from the raw egg.
For all you adults these are some common alcohols you can add in with your eggnog: Brandy, Rum, Whiskey, Kahlua, and Vodka
If you would like to try and make your own eggnog I found this recipe that had good reviews. You can either visit the website by clicking here, or I have put the recipe underneath. NOW DRINK UP!
Yields: 9 cups
6 c non-fat milk
2 c heavy cream
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
12 pasteurized egg yolks
1 c Splenda for Baking
Praline or bourbon liqueur (optional)
Freshly ground nutmeg
Cook milk, heavy cream, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes or until steaming (about 150°). Reduce heat to low.
Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a large saucepan until smooth. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture reaches at least 160° (about 25 minutes). Whisk milk mixture into egg mixture.
Cool for 30 minutes, then transfer to a pitcher. Cover and chill 3 to 24 hours. Pour desired amount of praline or bourbon liqueur into each glass, if desired. Top with eggnog, then sprinkle with freshly ground nutmeg.
We don't really know exactly where, when or how Eggnog first got started. It may have developed from posset, a medieval European drink made with hot milk. The "nog" part comes from the word noggin, a Middle English term for a small carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol. Another story is that the term derived from egg and grog, a common Colonial term used for the drink made with rum. The drink was popular among the aristocracy. Those who could get milk and eggs mixed it with either brandy, sherry or Madeira.
Traditional eggnog consists of milk, sugar, raw eggs, and spices (usually nutmeg). Cream is sometimes included to make it thinker and more rich, though now-a-days they sometimes just add gelatin. Whipped cream, meringue, cinnamon, ice cream and chocolate curls are all common toppings you may want to throw on your eggnog. Under U.S. law, commercial products sold as eggnog are only permitted to contain certain ingredients. Most times this means that raw egg is not included. Some homemade eggnog's call for the egg yolks to be cooked with milk into a custard to avoid the hazard from the raw egg.
For all you adults these are some common alcohols you can add in with your eggnog: Brandy, Rum, Whiskey, Kahlua, and Vodka
If you would like to try and make your own eggnog I found this recipe that had good reviews. You can either visit the website by clicking here, or I have put the recipe underneath. NOW DRINK UP!
Yields: 9 cups
6 c non-fat milk
2 c heavy cream
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
12 pasteurized egg yolks
1 c Splenda for Baking
Praline or bourbon liqueur (optional)
Freshly ground nutmeg
Cook milk, heavy cream, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes or until steaming (about 150°). Reduce heat to low.
Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a large saucepan until smooth. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture reaches at least 160° (about 25 minutes). Whisk milk mixture into egg mixture.
Cool for 30 minutes, then transfer to a pitcher. Cover and chill 3 to 24 hours. Pour desired amount of praline or bourbon liqueur into each glass, if desired. Top with eggnog, then sprinkle with freshly ground nutmeg.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
That Time of Year Again
That's right people, its that time of year again!
So
WELCOME BACK
or if this is your first visit
HELLO
I hope you enjoy my Christmas Blog.
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