General Chat

Advent 1955
by
John Betjeman


The Advent wind begins to stir
With sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir,
It's dark at breakfast, dark at tea,
And in between we only see
Clouds hurrying across the sky
And rain-wet roads the wind blows dry
And branches bending to the gale
Against great skies all silver pale
The world seems travelling into space,
And travelling at a faster pace
Than in the leisured summer weather
When we and it sit out together,
For now we feel the world spin round
On some momentous journey bound -
Journey to what? to whom? to where?
The Advent bells call out 'Prepare,
Your world is journeying to the birth
Of God made Man for us on earth.'

And how, in fact, do we prepare
The great day that waits us there -
For the twenty-fifth day of December,
The birth of Christ? For some it means
An interchange of hunting scenes
On coloured cards, And I remember
Last year I sent out twenty yards,
Laid end to end, of Christmas cards
To people that I scarcely know -
They'd sent a card to me, and so
I had to send one back. Oh dear!
Is this a form of Christmas cheer?
Or is it, which is less surprising,
My pride gone in for advertising?
The only cards that really count
Are that extremely small amount
From real friends who keep in touch
And are not rich but love us much
Some ways indeed are very odd
By which we hail the birth of God.

We raise the price of things in shops,
We give plain boxes fancy tops
And lines which traders cannot sell
Thus parcell'd go extremely well
We dole out bribes we call a present
To those to whom we must be pleasant
For business reasons. Our defence is
These bribes are charged against expenses
And bring relief in Income Tax
Enough of these unworthy cracks!
'The time draws near the birth of Christ'.
A present that cannot be priced
Given two thousand years ago
Yet if God had not given so
He still would be a distant stranger
And not the Baby in the manger.

I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

I broke my bat on Johnny's head;
Somebody snitched on me.
I hid a frog in sister's bed;
Somebody snitched on me.

I spilled some ink on Mommy's rug;
I made Tommy eat a bug;
Bought some gum with a penny slug;
Somebody snitched on me.

CHORUS
Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

I put a tack on teacher's chair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I tied a knot in Suzy's hair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I did a dance on Mommy's plant.
Climbed a tree and tore my pants.
Filled that sugar bowl with ants;
Somebody snitched on me.

CHORUS
Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

So you better be good whatever you do
'Cause if you're bad, I'm warning you,
You'll get nuttin' for Christmas.

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16325524

Thousands of Christian pilgrims and tourists from around the world have converged on Bethlehem for Christmas.

Some 90,000 visitors are expected in the Palestinian West Bank town, which is staging a procession and concerts.

Crowds gathered early to sing carols around the 50ft (15m) Christmas tree in Manger Square.

Celebrations will culminate in Midnight Mass at the 1,700-year-old Church of the Nativity, built on the spot where it is believed Jesus was born.

'Unique Christmas'
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fuad Twal, has travelled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he will later lead the Midnight Mass.

Silent Night across the world

http://silentnight.web.za/


1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child!
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly Hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, loves pure light
Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!

4. Silent Night, Holy Night
Here at last, healing light
From the heavenly kingdom sent,
Abundant grace for our intent.
Jesus, salvation for all.
Jesus, salvation for all.

5. Silent Night! Holy Night"
Sleeps the world in peace tonight.
God sends his Son to earth below
A Child from whom all blessings flow
Jesus, embraces mankind.
Jesus, embraces mankind.

6. Silent Night, Holy Night
Mindful of mankind's plight
The Lord in Heav'n on high decreed
From earthly woes we would be freed
Jesus, God's promise for peace.
Jesus, God's promise for peace.

http://www.crivoice.org/cyepiph.html
Epiphany

http://italianowithjodina.com/tag/epifania/
Befana is the folk character who rides in on a broom on the eve of January 6th, coinciding with l’Epifania, (Epiphany), the date when i re magi (the wisemen) are said to have arrived in Bethlehem.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/fwe/fwe07.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/epiphany.shtml

Advent Sunday tomorrow, 2nd December.

We have a Christingle service tomorrow for the children.

I have been preparing oranges all morning !

While at junior school we learnt Silent night in French & German to help us understand the languages better & I think it did - I will always remember that Christmas.

Silent Night was written on Christmas Eve in 1818 in Oberndorf, Austria. One common story of this carol was that the organ at St. Nicholas Church was broken. Others claim that there is no evidence for this and that Joseph Mohr, the assistant pastor of the church, requested the instrumentation simply because he loved guitar music. In any event, Mohr had written a poem "Stille Nacht" in 1816. On December 24, 1818 he gave the poem to his friend the church organist, Franz Gruber. Gruber immediately composed the melody and arranged it for two voices, choir, and guitar. It was finished in time to be performed that night at the Midnight Mass. By 1955, Silent Night had become the most recorded song of all time.





Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigten Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Jesus in deiner Geburt!

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Die der Welt Heil gebracht,
Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn,
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt sehn,
Jesum in Menschengestalt!

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Wo sich heut alle Macht
Väterlicher Liebe ergoß,
Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß
Jesus die Völker der Welt!

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Lange schon uns bedacht,
Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit
In der Väter urgrauer Zeit
Aller Welt Schonung verhieß!

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Alleluja,
Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah:
"Jesus der Retter ist da!"




Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "


Douce nuit, sainte nuit,
Tout s'endort au dehors,
Le saint couple seul veille
Sur l'enfant qui someille.
Au ciel l'astre reluit

Douce nuit, sainte nuit,
Quel bonheur dans les coeurs,
Quand les bergers entendent
Les saints anges qui chantent:
Il est né, le sauveur

Douce nuit, sainte nuit,
Jetez-vous à genoux.
Bergers, c'est le Méssie,
Jésus, né de Marie,
Dieu, fait homme pour nous

Douce nuit, sainte nuit,
Fils de Dieu, tu souris.
Voilà enfin cette heure attendue
Qui annonce notre salut,
Ta naissance, Jésus Christ

Douce nuit, sainte nuit !
Dans les cieux l'astre luit.
Le mystère annoncé s'accomplit.
Cet enfant sur la paille endormi,
C'est l'amour infini !

Paix à tous ! Gloire au ciel !
Gloire au sein maternel,
Qui, pour nous en ce jour de Noël,
Enfanta le Sauveur éternel
Qu'attendait Israël !

Thank you for adding.

http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/holland.shtml

Christmas in Holland / The Netherlands

For most children in Holland, the most important day during the Christmas Celebrations is 5th December, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents!

St. Nicholas' day is on the 6th December, but in Holland, the major celebrations are held on the 5th December. The name Santa Claus comes from the name Sinterklaas.

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Christmas/Advent.aspx

During Advent there are no flowers decorating the church, but it is customary to have an Advent Crown also known as an Advent Wreath. These are made from a circle of evergreen plants such as holly and ivy. This symbolises God with no beginning or end. The evergreen is a reminder that God does not change. The holly is also a symbol of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. Four candles are fixed round the circle and another is placed in the middle.

Various colours of candles have been used such as three purple and a pink with one white in the middle. The unlit candles represent darkness. One purple candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent. On the second Sunday it is lit again together with another purple one, the third purple one is lit on the third Sunday and on the fourth Sunday the pink candle is included. On Christmas Day the white candle is also lit representing Jesus Christ as the light of the world. A recent idea is to use four red candles and one white, red being a colour associated with Christmas.

The candles act as reminders to Christians:

The first candle is the candle of 'Hope', so prayers on this day focus on hope. This candle represents the 'Patriarchs' such as Abraham and David.
The second candle is a symbol of God's 'Peace'. This candle reminds Christians of the Prophets who foretold that the Messiah would be born.
The third candle represents 'Love' and stands for John the Baptist who baptised Jesus.
The fourth candle symbolises 'Joy' and when this candle is lit Christians remember Mary the mother of Jesus who was joyful when the angel Gabriel told her she was to have a special baby.
The fifth candle reminds Christians of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day.

This is for all the ladies sorry gents

If I were Santa Claus, you know what I would do,
Id get rid of all those silly gifts given to you,
And deliver instead, some things just inside your back door,
Things you have lost, but treasured before.

I'd give you back all your maidenly vigor,
And to go along with it, a neat tiny figure.
Then I'd restore the old colour that once graced your hair,
Before rinses and bleaches took residence there !

I'd bring back the shape with which you were gifted,
So that things now suspended,need not be uplifted.
I'd draw in your tummy and smooth down your back
so you'd be a dream in those tight fitting slacks.

I'd remove all your wrinkles, and leave only one chin,
So you wouldn't spend hours rubbing grease into your skin,
You'd never have flashes or queer dizzy spells,
And you wouldnt hear noises like ringing of bells.

No sore aching feet, and no corns on your toes,
No searching for spectacles , when they're right on your nose.
Not a shot would you take in your arm, hip or fanny,
From a young doctor who thinks you are a nervous old granny.

You'd never have a headache, so no pills would you would you tale,
And no heating pad needed since your muscles won't ache.
Yes I was Santa, you'd never look stupid,
You'd be a cute little chick with the romance of a cupid.

I'd give a lift to your heart, when those wolves start to whistle,
And the joys of your heart would be light as a thistle,
But alas I am not Santa, I'm simply just me.

Now I wish I could tell you all the symptons Iv'e got,
As I am due at the doctors for an estrogen shot.
Even though we've grown olde this wish is sincere
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

I remember that from your posting last year Joy :-D

also this one, some great singing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnt7euRF5Pg

Thank you for the link, Rose, and, yes, I liked it so much that I listened again :-)

Dear Joy

Hello

Hope you are okay.

This is a lovely thread to read through.


Here is a comforting prayer I found recently.

Hope other readers will like it too.

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Dear Lord Jesus,


Please forgive me for being so grumpy as I trudge through
the never-ending tasks set before me this holiday season


My to do list seems to keep growing with shopping, church services
and family gatherings

and I'm running short of time.


Restore the joy of Christmas to my heart

and help me to relax each day and make time for

YOU

my one true Source of Joy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Take gentle care
Very best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Today is the anniversary of my father in law's death.
He loved Christmas and loved music.
His favorite carol was the shepherds farewell posted earlier.
The choir that he sang with sung it at his funeral as it seemed appropriate

.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0vO4LDImrc

Thank you.

Thinking of all those for whom Christmas may be a sad time as well as a joyful time for others.

Today, the last day in Advent before Christmas Day, I opened the last door in the Advent calendar, and there was a picture of the Baby in a manager.

Happy Christmas.