the little drummer boys. . .

.or

.

. . .these two

(yeah, I know, that's only four - not 12,
but we're not doing that countdown)
(not yet, anyhow)

(-:

the holy and the ivy

a more beautiful version I haven't EVER heard. . .

a little history:
.

Holly (ilex aquifolium)
.

Holly (the word "holly" originates from the Old English word "hollin") has been used as a festive decoration since earliest times and is ritually symbolic for almost all pagan religions. Unlike most other plants and trees, the holly tree is at its most spectacular in mid-winter with brilliant red berries and glossy green leaves. It is hardly surprising that our pagan ancestors regarded it as magical.
.
Traditions surrounding the holly abound. It was said that a walking stick made from holly would protect the person who carries it from any wild animal. A holly tree on your property was believed to ward off witches and to be the place where faeries and elves lived. A syrup made from holly allegedly cures coughs. A sprig of holly on a bedpost assures one of pleasant dreams. Early Christians adopted the holly with enthusiasm and it became symbolic of the ‘crown of thorns’ worn by Jesus on his way to be crucified. A very early tradition suggests that the holly originally had yellow berries until they were stained red with Jesus’s blood.
.
Holly was traditionally seen as a ‘male’ plant – perhaps because it is so prickly! This tradition was not universally accepted. Because holly has both very prickly leaves and softer leaves it was believed by some people that both sexes were represented in the same plant and it all depended on which sort of leaves were used to decorate the house as to who was going to be in charge for the coming year.

Ivy (hedera helix)
.

The traditions associated with ivy date back into pre-history when it was seen as a ‘female’ plant. Bacchus, the Roman god of drinking, is always depicted with a wreath of ivy as it was said to ward off drunkenness. Not a particularly good omen for the festive season perhaps.
.
Ivy has a number of traditions associated with it including the ability to predict the future and cause domestic strife. It was said that people should drop an ivy leaf in a glass of water on New Year’s Eve and leave it until Twelfth Night. If it stays fresh and green then a good year will follow but look out if any black spots appear as these foretell bad luck.

Holly and Ivy

Since holly and ivy were believed to represent men and women, it was said that whichever was brought into the house first would dictate who rules the residence. . .

I'm driving home for Christmas
Oh, I can't wait to see those faces
I'm driving home for Christmas
Well I'm moving down that line
And its been so long but I will be there
I sing this song to pass the time away
Driving in my car, driving home for Christmas
It's gonna take some time but I'll get there
.

Top to toe in tailbacks, oh I got red lights on the run
But soon there'll be a freeway - get my feet on holy ground

So I sing for you, though you can't hear me
When I get through and feel you near me
I am driving home for Christmas
Driving home for Christmas, with a thousand memories
.

I take a look at the driver next to me
He's just the same, just the same
With a thousand memories. . .
.
CHRIS REA

icicles

are beautiful. . .

and look at them -
toys, just waiting to be played with!

since 1984 I've loved the work of
land artist ANDY GOLDSWORTHY. . .

wonder

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
.
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight!


Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird

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,


As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid the plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,

And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling


We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

candy canes

it's beginning to look
a lot like Christmas!

"The history of candy canes goes back to the 17th century, when candy-makers across Europe were already producing hard sugar sticks, a popular treat at the time. Unlike their modern counterparts, however, these candy cane predecessors were completely straight and all-white in color. Then, in 1670, the choirmaster of Germany's Cologne Cathedral introduced a new twist to the sweet sugar sticks. He intended to hand the candy out to children to keep them quiet during the church's lengthy Christmas ceremony, and to commemorate the occasion he had the sticks bent at one end to resemble shepherds' crooks. Thus was born the familiar hook-shaped appearance of today's candy canes.
.
"Following the choirmaster's innovation, bent sugar stick treats became a popular holiday confection throughout Europe. The first documented reference of candy canes in the United States goes back to 1847, when a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard decorated his Christmas tree by hanging the treats from its branches. Friends and family members were delighted by Imgard's idea, and they rushed home to adorn their own Christmas evergreens with candy canes. This tradition quickly spread across the country, making candy canes a staple of Christmas celebrations in the United States. But these plain white canes still lacked the colorful designs seen in today's versions. No one is sure exactly when the customary red stripes were introduced, but it was somewhere around the turn of the century. Christmas cards produced before 1900 show plain white canes, while striped ones appear on many cards printed almost immediately thereafter. Additionally, the popular peppermint-flavored variation also emerged around the same time as the striped patterns."

robins (or not, as the case may be)

.
this is:
.
.
"The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will the robin do then,
Poor thing?
.
"He'll sit in a barn,
To keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing,
Poor thing."
.
ANON

doing my part

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
..
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI 1872
.

as sung by Gloucester Cathedral Choir

the first Sunday of Advent

only readers of a certain age
and a certain televisual persuasion
will understand the relevance of that. . .

if you do,
I hope it brings a smile to your face

(but can I just add for the record that I never liked Leslie Judd?
there's only ever been one true Blue Peter girl:
the marvellous Valerie Singleton)

.
but this
is what it should really
all be about. . .
.
. . .isn't?

I'm behind the scenes getting ready. . .

. . .please come back in December!