Happy New Year!

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

Best Wishes

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas... Anyone wake up to snow in the morning?

(Merry) Fairy Friday No. 24

Merry Christmas

"Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." ~Augusta E. Rundel

My Favorite Tradition... Baking Day!

I've had quite the lovely day... Been baking morning till dusk with my mother and sister to create our gifts for families and friends. Though we plan to make more, we've decided to throw in the dish towel (literally) and call it a day. Those on our nice list will receive these delicous boxes which contain: frosted star sugar cookies, truffles, sprinkled brownie bites, and mini cherry-topped cheesecakes. What are you all baking this year?

Christmas in Switzerland

“A tinkling of a silver bell heralds the arrival of Christkindli - a white clad angel, with a face veil held in place by a jeweled crown. The tree candles are lit as she enters each house and hands out presents from the basket held by her child helpers.

The week before Christmas, children dress up and visit homes with small gifts. Bell ringing has become a tradition, and each village competes with the next when calling people to midnight mass. After the service, families gather to share huge homemade doughnuts called ringli and hot chocolate.

In Switzerland, the Chlausjagen Festival or Feast of St. Nichohlas is celebrated at dusk on 6 December with a procession of "lifeltrager' wearing gigantic illuminated lanterns in the shape of a Bishop's mitre on their heads.

The Swiss wait for the Christ child called Christkindli, to arrive with gifts for all in his reindeer-drawn sleigh.

In Switzerland, during the holiday season the Star Singers or Sternsingers dressed as the Three Kings parade through the streets of cities and towns singing Christmas songs.

In Zurich, Santa visits in a special fairytale tram and gives the children a ride through the city, singing songs with them and sharing a basket full of sweets.”

Please note: Throughout this week, if anyone finds error in what I post about foreign tradition, please inform me so that I may correct it. I am just finding this information via the internet and hope not to offend anyone.

Christmas in Sweden

"In Sweden, the Christmas season begins December 13, the feast of Saint Lucia. The youngest/eldest (it varied on it website) daughter in each family poses as the fourth-century Sicilian martyr. Clothed in a red-sashed white dress, an evergreen wreath with seven lighted candles perched upon her head, the young Swedish girl begins the day by carrying coffee and buns to family members in their rooms. Boys dress as "star boys" in long white shirts and pointed hats. Everyone thanks the Queen of Light for bringing hope during the darkest time of the year.

Christmas trees are usually found in Swedish homes two days before Christmas. Decoration may include candles, apples, Swedish flags, small gnomes wearing red tasseled caps, straw ornaments. The houses may filled with red tulips and smell like pepparkakor, which is a heart-star, or goat-shaped gingerbread biscuit.

After Christmas Eve dinner, a friend or family member dresses up as tomte or Christmas gnome. The tomte, unlike Santa Claus is supposed to live under the floorboards of the house or barn and ride a straw goat. The make-believe tomte, wearing a white beard and dressed in red robes, distributes gifts from his sack. Many are given with funny rhyme that hints at the contents."

Please note: Throughout this week, if anyone finds error in what I post about foreign tradition, please inform me so that I may correct it. I am just finding this information via the internet and hope not to offend anyone.

Christmas in Finland

“Scandinavia is the source for most Yule log traditions that survive today. In Finland, where one-third of the population lives above the Arctic Circle, the dark, cold winters naturally inspired traditions involving warmth and light. Originally the Yule log was an entire tree, carefully selected and brought into the house with grand ritual. Scandinavians would place the tree’s trunk into the fireplace, then slowly feed it though, making it endure until the last day. Today, the Christmas tree is set up on Christmas Eve. Apples and other fruits, candies, paper flags, cotton and tinsel are used as decorations, and candles are used for lighting it.

A sheaf of grain is often tied to a pole, together with nuts and seeds and placed in the garden for the birds. Many of the peasants will not eat their Christmas dinner until the birds have had their dinner.The meal was begun as soon as the first star appeared in the sky. The main dish of the dinner is boiled codfish served snowy white and fluffy, with allspice, boiled potatoes, and cream sauce. Also on the menu is roast suckling pig or a roasted fresh ham, mashed potatoes, and vegetables.

Christmas Day services in the churches begin at six in the morning. It is a day for family visits and reunions. During all these days the people keep wishing each other a "Merry Yule."

Please note: Throughout this week, if anyone finds error in what I post about foreign tradition, please inform me so that I may correct it. I am just finding this information via the internet and hope not to offend anyone.

(Merry) Fairy Friday No. 23

Christmas in Denmark

"The icon of Christmas in Denmark, is the mischievous elf called Nisse. He is said to live in the lofts of old farmhouses and enjoys playing jokes. He wears gray woolen clothes, a red bonnet, red stockings and white clogs. Families leave him a bowl of rice pudding or porridge on Christmas Eve to keep his jokes within limits. Usually though he is kind and helpful helping out on the farms and being especially good to the children.

They take much pride making their own decorations with bright paper, bits of wood and straw. The parents secretly decorate the tree, and children are not permitted to see the tree until dinner on Christmas Eve. The tree is then lit up and families gather around to sing carols and hymns.

Each Sunday in Advent, guests are invited to join in the lighting of the candles on the Advent crown. Adults drink a warming mixture of red wine, spices and raisins, and children drink a sweet fruit juice, like strawberry. Everybody eats small cakes of batter which have been cooked over the fire in a special pan, and dusted with icing sugar.

In Denmark Christmas Eve is called Juleaften and is the biggest occasion of the year. Parties go on all night, with traditional prune-stuffed roast goose, red cabbage, fried pastries, and cinnamon-laced rice pudding called Grod."

Please note: Throughout this week, if anyone finds error in what I post about foreign tradition, please inform me so that I may correct it. I am just finding this information via the internet and hope not to offend anyone.

Christmas in Other Countries

I just love tradition. No matter how small or silly or unique... traditions keep history alive and the world waiting and excited. And that's why I'm devoting a whole week to learning about Christmases in countries beside the USA. Starting with...

Germany!

There, the Christmas season begins four Sundays before Christmas Day when families gather to light the Adventskranz or Advent Wreath. However, the real celebration starts on the 6th of December, St. Nicholas Day, known there as "Nikolaustag". On the night of 5th December children put their shoe or boot outside the door. According to a German legend, the spirit of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, goes from house to house on this night carrying a book of sins in which all the actions of the year of all children are written. It is said that St. Nicholas fills the shoes of all good kids with delicious treats and places twigs in the shoes of all naughty children. Germany is also the origin of the Advent Calendar (as I mentioned before) and the Christmas Tree.

Please note: Throughout this week, if anyone finds error in what I post about foreign tradition, please inform me so that I may correct it. I am just finding this information via the internet and hope not to offend anyone.

The Origin of Gingerbread

I absolutely LOVE gingerbread. Whether it be in the form of a man, house, cake, loaf, cookie... It's all so deliciously warm, spicy and holiday-esque. With this in mind, I set out to learn it's origin and thought I should share it with you...

"The origin of Gingerbread dates back date back to ancient times when the spice, ginger, was known for its medicinal properties, often used for curing stomach aches.

Small gingerbread cakes adorned with symbols of the sun were made to celebrate the Winter Solstice in pre-Christian Europe.

Catholic monks baked gingerbread for special religious celebrations. The cakes were constructed in specific designs depicting saints and religious motifs. The early carvings were made with a large and elaborately carved "cookie board" that impressed the pattern onto a stiff rolled dough.

Gingerbreads slowly became popular across Europe and Britain. The recipe was changing, becoming lighter. In 1573, treacle (molasses) was used instead of honey.Then butter and eggs became popular additions to enrich the mixture.

The first gingerbread man is credited to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who impressed important visitors with charming gingerbread portraits.

The tradition of baking a Gingerbread house began in Germany after the Brothers Grimm published their collection of German fairy tales in the early 1800s. Among the tales was the story of Hansel and Gretel, who came upon a house made of bread and sugar decorations. It is possible however that brothers Grimm were actually writing about something that may have already existed."

-http://www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/christmas/gingerbreadtrad.htm

Christmas Movie Favorites

Among the shopping and baking and wrapping and decorating, there is such bliss in cozying up on the couch and watching traditional Christmas movies with my family. These are my must-sees every year... What are yours?

Eloise At Christmas Time

Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Serendipity

The Holiday

The Romance of Rain

I do not know about you, but the rain seems so very romantic to me. It is soft and sweet and new and fresh... Each pure drop slips from the heavens onto our cheeks in delicate angel kisses... And as I woke up this morning to a lovely downpour, it is my inspiration for today, as it was for all the true romantics in these photos...

(Merry) Fairy Friday No. 22

Christmas Wreath

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

Christmas Candle

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away.
~Eva Logue

Gift Wrapping

"Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." ~Washington Irving

I've been volunteering with the PACE program in spirit of the Christmas season, holding the job of gift wrapper and I must say I have become quite wonderful at it. But while the gifts at the stores that I do look nice in their shiny papers, I cannot help but feel guilty. Although it may appear anti-christmas, I don't approve of wrapping paper. Think about it- yes the presents look lovely all wrapped up- for about two seconds. Then they're ripped up and on the floor without a second thought. Isn't Christmas about what's on the inside, anyway?
To save trees as I do, here are my suggestions...
1) Newspaper. This is what I use on most gifts. It's free (which is important during this recession) and it doesn't waste any paper.
2) Old sheet music. If you are a musician who has piles of sheet music you don't play anymore, they make lovely wrapping for jewelry and small trinkets.
3) Fabric- old scraps or new fabric. By purchasing a yard of a pretty Christmas fabric you can create a lovely tradition in your family by using it year after year.

Musical Monday No. 4 (Holiday)

If you like remixed versions of classic holiday music, I recommend...

Album: Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer
Band: Relient K
Because: I think it's the perfect modern version of these old songs. Some are a bit more rock n' roll than the originals, but don't be deterred, there are quite a few slow, pretty ones, such as Sleigh Ride.

(Merry) Fairy Friday No. 21

I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Advent Calendars

All year long I wait for the beginning of December so that I may bring out my advent calendar. I love the idea of counting down the days. And we've been counting Decembers for a long time... This tradition began in Germany more than 150 years ago. And it's grown so that there are so many different types of advent calendars... Some are paper, with pictures behind, others hold chocolates behind each door, and some, like mine, have little cupboards for various tiny treasures. Is the Advent Calendar part of your traditions?