Saturday, December 17, 2011

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day


Have you ever wondered how bells became associated with Christmas? There's "Carol of the Bells" "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" "Jingle Bells" etc.  But what exactly do bells have to do with Christmas? How did we end up associating the two?
Starting sometime when I was in middle school, a friend of my father's who is a Greek Orthodox Christian told him that they practiced handing out two jingle bells attached to a safety pin.  This was to serve as a reminder of the bells that were on the donkey's neck as Mary and Joseph made the journey to Bethlehem.  I liked this tradition and I started practicing it up until I graduated.

However, in doing some more digging to find out what exactly bells have to do with Christmas, I discovered they are linked back to the early Catholic church.  Christmas was the only time when mass was allowed to be held at midnight.  So on the stroke of midnight, a mass would be held and the bells would ring out to notify the people.  Then a tradition picked up from there of the church people bringing their own bells and ringing them on the stroke of midnight after the church bell rang.

Another way in which bells became connected to Christmas was with caroling.  Often carolers would play handbells in addition to singing as they were a light and easy "instrument" to bring along.  For certain songs, they would sometimes just play the bells without singing.  

Just in case anyone else was curious like I was, there is a little history lesson for us all!



Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas Excitement

In my blog about a robot or what I perceived to be one, I explained that my mother is creative.  There is a another story along the same lines.  I do not recall if this happened the same year as the other story or if it was a year before or after.  Either way, both stories were from Christmases close together.


My mother was exceedingly happy about gifts that she had gotten for both my sister and me.  She explained that we were getting the same thing, but that they looked a little different.  What she was most excited about was that this was something she had growing up and she just LOVED it! 


I, again, asked if the gift was colorful.  She said, "Yes, it is very colorful." Clearly, again, this had to be a good thing.  I'm not sure why I decided that colorful meant exciting; however, that was just how I thought.


There isn't as much build-up to this story (sorry) other than the fact that she was really excited about it.  I thought I was getting some cool sort of toy again.  Of course, it wasn't.  Instead, it was a robe....I won't lie.  I was pretty let down.  Granted, I did end up using it for a while.  And, yes, it was colorful.  She sent me some pictures so I can give proof this time.  You know you are jealous of that hair.  


I may have been SLIGHTLY more excited about my American Girl doll than that robe. ;) 


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Here Comes Santa Claus


Gordon Lee met Santa Claus today and had a blast! That's an authentic beard. :)

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Rudolph

Today has been a busy day and I'm tired.  So, there isn't much to this blog.  I just figured I'd share something I learned on the History channel.  I'm not sure of the credibility of this story, but apparently Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is a Christian analogy.  The idea is that this reindeer who was criticized and excluded ended up being the leader and "went down in history." You can be the judge.



Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
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 how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history.

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 it,
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 how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history.



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Bourbon Balls Take 2

I tried the bourbon ball recipe making the changes to it that I mentioned in the bourbon ball blog, and they turned out really good this time! Not only did I refrigerate the mixture before rolling into balls in the confectioners sugar, but I also added 4 cups of crushed pecans. 


This made the whole mixture more malleable, and the sugar adhered to it much better.  Last time, the bourbon balls ended up turning into something more like bourbon pancakes in the refrigerator.  This time, they have remained in the shape of the ball.  They haven't finished their 3 day vacation in the fridge, but I tasted one just to see how they were and they were MUCH better than last time.
Here's my updated recipe (of course keeping most of the first one)

24 ounces crushed vanilla wafers in a powdery consistency.  I used the food processor this time; it was much easier!

1 and 1/2 cups of honey

4 heaping tablespoons of Hershey's powdered cocoa

4 cups crushed pecans

Mix all ingredients together.  Refrigerate mixture for about 1 hour.  Roll refrigerated mixture into balls in confectioners sugar.  

I can't wait to share these with my family...that is if we can be disciplined enough to to eat them all first. :)

about 1/3 cup of bourbon

Monday, December 12, 2011

Winter Wonderland


Whenever I hear the song "Winter Wonderland," I feel as though I have been thrown into a snow globe and shaken up.  Ultimately, I feel like it was a pleasant experience but then part of me is saying, "What just happened?" This song always has me thinking certain things and asking questions.  So below are the lyrics with my personal commentary.  WARNING: If you feel my commentary will ruin the song for you, do not feel the need to read any further.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
What lane? Are we on a road?
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
Random factoid about bird migration.  I like it!
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
 He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
Oooo what are you conspiring about? 
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
What plans have you made that you need to face them without fear? Are you planning on eloping? Hmmm?
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown
I thought he was Parson Brown...do you think Parson Brown is on the same level as a circus clown?
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.
Okay, wait a minute, I thought you were pretending to get married and then planning on eloping? Are you adults or kids? 

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
What exactly is the Eskimo way? I'm not sure I know of the way Eskimos frolic and play. Are you building an igloo?
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Advent


Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent.  Some people don't practice Advent, and I really haven't been this year.  But I like Advent and what it stands for.  I found some information about each Sunday that I thought was interesting and figured I'd share it.


In the liturgy prior to the Second Vatican Council (1962 Missal, Extraordinary Form), the Gospel texts for the Four Sundays were fixed with the following readings:
  1. First Sunday of Advent: Second Coming of Christ (Luke 21:25-33)
  2. Second Sunday of Advent: Saint John the Baptist "Shall we look for another?" (Mt 11:2-10)
  3. Third Sunday of Advent: Saint John the Baptist "Whose sandal I'm unworthy to untie" (John 1:19-28)
  4. Fourth Sunday of Advent: Saint John the Bapist "‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight His paths" (Luke 3:1-6)