Tis the Season--Christmas Thread

[Serena]

It's December 1st. Only 24 more days until Christmas. And I just LOVE Christmas. Everything about it, everything leading up to it. Decorating my home, inside and out, decorating the shelter and the hospital rooms and hallways (as much as the fire codes allow :indiffere ), the shopping, helping my two young nephews and the kids at the hospital and shelter make presents and crafts---all of it!

Hope to see all of add to this thread as Christmas draws nearer: Maybe some special gifts you've bought, the crazy Christmas shopping , some special baking you're doing, what your children are planning and how excited they're getting, perhaps a special Christmas website you could share with us, and so on.


To kick off the season, some pictures.

The annual tree lighting ceremony at Rockerfeller Center in New York.

1) A crowd celebrates the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree from the ice rink at Rockefeller Center Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004 in New York.

2) The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands lit with more than 30,000 lights shortly after a lighting ceremony at Rockefeller center in Midtown Manhattan, November 30, 2004. Thousands of people attended the lighting of the 71-foot tall Norway spruce tree which will stand lit at the base of 30 Rockefeller center until December 31, 2004.

3) The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands lit framed in angels' trumpets during the lighting ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004 in New York

4) The band, Chicago, plays on stage during the lighting ceremony of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004 in New York.

 

[Serena]

HOW many more days until Christmas??
You've GOT to be kidding me.

 

[Storm]

A local Xmas pic...

 

[Serena]

Christmas trees from around the world.

1) A traditional shaped decorated Christmas tree is illuminated at the Rodrigo de Freitas lake in Rio de Janeiro, November 30, 2004. The tree Christmas tree stands 82 meters (269 feet) tall and made of 2.8 millions multicolored bulbs.

2) (This is the inside view of pic #1!) A man stands inside the traditional shaped decorative Christmas tree illuminated at Rodrigo de Freitas lake in Rio de Janeiro, November 30, 2004.

3 & 4) The Christmas tree lights in London's Trafalgar Square, centre, which were illuminated by the Mayor of Oslo Per Ditlev-Simonsen during a ceremony Tuesday evening, Nov. 30, 2004. The tree is the 58th tree donated by the Norwegians at Christmas as thanks to the British people for help during World War II. At right is the church of St. Martin's in the Fields and at rear the National Gallery.

5) A Thai worker decorates a Christmas tree with a neon light in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, Nov. 29. 2004 as the mostly Buddhist Asian kingdom prepares for the Christian holiday

 

[Amos Stevens]

Thanks for starting this Serena & for the photos!

I had thought of starting a thread about your christmas memories-but think that will fit here as well!

Something about the Christmas Season makes most people you meet be in good spirits-they are all eager to wish you Happy Holidays. Just something in the air-along with the glistening of the lights!

 

[Amos Stevens]

Found this web site for Serena & others to help them countdown till Christmas !

http://www.santaclausonline.com/

 

[Hallarian]

It's also time to___

Fill my Christmas boxes with A big dinner and stuff the kids can feed themselves for the 2 weeks they are out of school. I put in a frozen turkey with all the trimmings and then add mac n cheese, canned pork and beans, bread, and other stuff kids casn fix when the folks don't leave them anything or are too partyed to cook. I give closeby churches each one or two boxes.

When I visited our local grade school last January the school nurse pointed out some kids who had the benefit of this extra nutrition and how good they looked. A little girl ran up and hugged me. She said they were not supposd to know who sent food boxes but she and her cousin had guessed that i'd sent the one she got and she said it was a lot nicer Christmas than before. Her folks drink a lot but they have great kids. It made me feel GOOD the wholel year.

Try it if you have not done it.

 

[Serena]

A local Xmas pic...

Hahaha!
Thanks, Storm! Great way to kick off the the thread.
What people don't do to their pets.

 

[Serena]

Thanks for starting this Serena & for the photos!

I had thought of starting a thread about your christmas memories-but think that will fit here as well!

Something about the Christmas Season makes most people you meet be in good spirits-they are all eager to wish you Happy Holidays. Just something in the air-along with the glistening of the lights!

You're very welcome, Amos! But if you still want to start your own thread, by all means, do so. There's enough Christmas to go around.

And you're so right about people in the Christmas spirit. Seems like many people go out of their way to be polite to strangers, smile at someone, become more generous. Maybe part of that is from the glistening of the lights! If only there was some way to bottle that spirit and bring it out about mid July, eh?

Found this web site for Serena & others to help them countdown till Christmas !

http://www.santaclausonline.com/

Great! Thanks for the link, Amos. Any more cute or intesting ones you find, please post here also. I'm sending this one to my young nephews now. They have a count-down calendar, but they love being on the computer.

 

[Serena]

It's also time to___
Fill my Christmas boxes with A big dinner and stuff the kids can feed themselves for the 2 weeks they are out of school. I put in a frozen turkey with all the trimmings and then add mac n cheese, canned pork and beans, bread, and other stuff kids casn fix when the folks don't leave them anything or are too partyed to cook. I give closeby churches each one or two boxes.

When I visited our local grade school last January the school nurse pointed out some kids who had the benefit of this extra nutrition and how good they looked. A little girl ran up and hugged me. She said they were not supposd to know who sent food boxes but she and her cousin had guessed that i'd sent the one she got and she said it was a lot nicer Christmas than before. Her folks drink a lot but they have great kids. It made me feel GOOD the wholel year.

Try it if you have not done it.

What a wonderful thing to mention, Hallarian--thank you! And it's not too early to start, either. I've already donated canned and dry goods to the Boy Scouts, who came by the neighborhood and picked up the items. And I give to a couple of nearby churches also, where one has a rehab program for men to help them train vocationally and try to get back on their feet, and other helps young women with children.

I have four siblings, and years ago we stopped buying each other gifts for Christmas. Instead, the money we would spend on that we now put towards a family or families for clothing and food. There are many reputable organizations who will provide you with a list of what a family needs.

It doesn't have to be big or expensive. Anything at all will help, believe me. I've seen it in the shelter where I volunteer. You'd be amazed how much a little something means to someone who has nothing.

 

[Amos Stevens]

Here's another Christmas link:

http://www.claus.com/index.php

 

[TDWoj]

Here's my favourite Christmas song:

http://www.christmaslibrary.ca/grinch/song.htm

For those of us of advancing years, you may remember Tony the Tiger saying, "It's ggrrrreeEEAAATTTT!" Well, the same fellow who did Tony the Tiger also sang this song.

-TD, trivially in pursuit

 

[bbryant]

I am one of us in the advancing years, I was afraid of the Grinch but I listened to the song! Some things never go out!

Old song

"To you and all your family your neighbors and your friends
May all your days be happy with a joy that never ends , may peace and love surround you at Christmas time and all the whole year thru!"

I wish you all Merry Christmas! Suppose I should maybe do some shopping and decorating! NOT!!!!!!!!

 

[bbryant]

I Like that
Life is pleasant; death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.

I visited your website heard stevens' music for the first time, was surprised he has a nice voice!

 

[ORANGATUANG]

Better not be any scrooges here...this is one time of the year that should be celebrated not because of presents its because of family and freinds....Iam truly humbled to have found so many freinds here and that means alot to me..and i would like to wish Steven and his family an happy and safe christmas where ever he is..and the best christmas thing he can do for us is just be here for his fans...as we will for him...

 

[bbryant]

I am not a scrooge, I love Christmas and the reason for the season! Heather I wish you Steven for Christmas so maybe you could wish him to me for my birthday in Jan.

 

[Hallarian]

Serena it's a great idea

To give something to people who need it in the name of the family member who has to many things in the house already (like me). We do give each person some little humerous thing and then just feel warm because we've helped somebody.

 

[Jules]

Here is a Christmas Poem I received today by e-mail that I thought I would share:

CHRISTMAS POEM

Twas the night before Christmas
He lived all alone
in a one bedroom house made of
plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
with presents to give,
and to see just who
in this home did live.

I looked all about,
a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,
just boots filled with sand,
on the wall hung pictures
of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
awards of all kinds,
a sober thought
came through my mind.

For this house was different,
it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
once I could see clearly.

The slodier lay sleeping,
silent, alone,
curled up on the floor
in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
the room is such disorder,
not how I pictured
a United States soldier.

Was this the hero
of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
the floor for a bed?

I realized the families
that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers
who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
the children would play,
and grown-ups would celebrate
a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom
each month of the year,
because of the soldiers,
like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder,
how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas eve
in a land far from home.

The very thought
brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees
and started to cry.

The soldier awakened
and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry,
this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more,
My life is my God,
my country, my Corps."

The soldier rolled over
and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
so silent and still
and we both shivered
from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave
on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor
so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "Carry on Santa,
It's Christmas day, all is secure."

One look at my watch,
and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend
and to all a good night."

*"This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan."*

 

[Serena]

Thanks, everyone, for the contributions and links!

Last night I was able to watch my all-time favorite Christmas show: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. And I loved it as much as ever. Sure, it doesn't compete appearance-wise with these so-called cartoons of today--which is one of the reasons I love it. It's from a simpler time. It was an annual tradition growing up in our house, like the Wizard of Oz. Sadly, I see many traditions fading away, but I still enjoy mine. No wonder they call me a big kid, eh?

A little tidbit about Rudolph.

"The story of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer was written in 1939 by Robert L. May, a copywriter for the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department stores, as a promotional gift for the store's customers. The stores had bought and distributed coloring books every Christmas and saw writing their own story as a way to save money. Montgomery Ward distributed 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph booklet in 1939. A total of 6 million copies had been given out by the end of 1946, even though wartime paper shortages restricted printing."

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
by Gene Autry
Album: Christmas Cowboy
Date: 1949

You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!

 

[Amos Stevens]

Thanks Serena & Julie for the poem & songs

Just this morning on the news they're talking AGAIN about neighbors who complain about when other neighbors decorate so much that it brings in traffic..I know of cases that the people just up & quit decorating because of the complaints