The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,700 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 45 trips to carry that many people.
Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.
My Christmas tree !
It has been long thought that Martin Luther began the tradition of bringing a fir tree into the home. According to one legend, late one evening Martin Luther was walking home through the woods and noticed how beautifully the stars shone through the trees. He wanted to share the beauty with his wife so he cut down a fir tree and took it home. Once inside he placed small lighted candles on the branches and said that it would be a symbol of the beautiful Christmas sky. Hence, the Christmas tree.
Today, I want to share Christmas tree poem
Christmas tree, sparkling bright,
Filled with baubles, warmth and light,
Precious symbol of our affection
For Christmas time and its perfection,
Show each night your radiant glory
For “oohs” and “aahs” obligatory.
Christmas tree, don’t let us down;
Show something special at your crown,
An angel, star, or splendid piece
To make our holiday joy increase,
An icon, pure, ideal, complete,
For Christmas memories fond and sweet.
Glitter and glisten, gleam and glow,
Oh Christmas tree, we love you so!
By Joanna Fuchs
and
I wish you all a Merry Christmas
and
also a New Year full of miracles!
Ella
December, this is the month of miracles. Ceremony, celebration come to us wrapped up not in tissue and ribbons , but in cherished memories. There are miracles , there is great joy. I the dark days f December comes wonderful holiday. Oh would that month lasted the whole year. Do you remember : On the first day of Christmas……..
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Wow …..I’m getting tired!
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS!!
However whats a partridge?
and whay a pear tree?
Partridges, like many of the birds in the well-known Christmas carol “The 12 Days of Christmas,” can be found in a medieval book known as a bestiary. Images and descriptions of real and imaginary animals mingled together in bestiaries, providing the reader with visual delight and moral lessons.
The artist Joris Hoefnagel painted flowers, fruits, insects, and other creatures with such attention to detail that they appear to grow, live, and breathe on the pages. The pear below, for example, looks almost real enough to eat.
Finding golden rings in illuminated manuscripts required the skill of Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit.
I chose initial o from illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, Decorated Initial, Walters Art Museum Ms. W.165, fol. 14r and later I find the five historiated initial Os from the multi-volume Marquette Bible because the scenes taking place within the round form of the “O” are set against a brilliant gold background.
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, Decorated Initial, Walters Art Museum Ms. W.165, fol. 14r
The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the Church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. To fit the number scheme, when you reach number 9, representing the Fruits of the Holy Ghost, the originator combined 6 to make 3, taking the 6 fruits that were similar: the fruit in each parenthesis is the that was not named separately. There are actually Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost.
According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS :
Illuminated Manuscript, Duke Albrecht’s Table of Christian Faith (Winter Part), The Symbols of the Four Evangelists, Walters Art Museum Ms. W.171, fol. 156r
Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Folio from Walters manuscript W.171 (15th century)
Illuminated Manuscript, Duke Albrecht’s Table of Christian Faith (Winter Part), The Holy Ghost and the Seven Deadly Sins, Walters Art Museum Ms. W.171, fol. 110r
Illuminated Manuscript, Duke Albrecht’s Table of Christian Faith (Winter Part), The Eight Beatitudes, Walters Art Museum Ms. W.171, fol. 60v
This illumination from a 13th-century manuscript shows the apostles writing the Creed, receiving inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
and…………..over and over …………………… half way through this carol I suddenly realize I forgot the words to the song ……………………………………uff I can’t remember .
There are only 18 days until Christmas. That fantastic ? In that case: How are you doing? I bring you tidings of comfort and joy. If you do Christmas at your house, you can choose to do it your way. Whatever that way might be. You can decide to be happy, loving, , fulfilled, generous, peaceful, spiritual, joyous, festive, and connected to the important people in your life for the holidays this year. You can do everything. Choose to let only what you love the best is still time there are only 18 days until Christmas.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings……….
conservation with ella 