Merry Christmas To All!

Merry Christmas to all!! Thank you for your friendship, insights, and kind words over the last year–I am truly grateful for everyone that says hello or shares their thoughts.

From the depths of my heart, my wish for you in the new year is that your life is filled with peace, joy, abundance, and good health.

I hope you have joyous Christmas or, if like me you’re stuck at home, that you can find small and quite ways to celebrate the day, whether that be a walk outside, a cup of hot tea, or sitting down with a journal and a dream for times to come.

Personally, I opted out of Christmas this year due to a compromised immune system paired with rampant cases of covid. Admittedly, I felt some relief when an extended family member tested positive, Christmas festivities were cancelled, and my parents decided to stick to online mass.

The great switcharoo ensued, and gifts swaddled in titillating controversy were replaced by a robin’s egg blue and the overwhelming smell of artificial pine and not-quite-cinnamon. The idea of spending Christmas away from family is almost as off-putting as the scent. But it’s the right decision.

Meet Floppy the itty bitty, lopsided, glittery pine–my Costco Christmas treasure:

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If you are alone on Christmas, whether my choice or necessity, here are a few fun holiday gems to set a sparkle back in your eye.

Mush, Mush!

I’ve never lived in snow and, based on my parents’ stories of growing up in Chicago and Detroit, I’m not sure I care to. However, is this not the cutest thing ever? If I were to ever have a child and a St. Bernard, I would love to recreate this. It’s from a collection of photographs of children from the 40’s and 50’s at play (source).

An Appeal to Heaven

On this day in 1776, George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day. It was a small but pivotal battle in the American Revolutionary War. Here’s the famous painting: “Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emanuel Leutze, MMA-NYC, 1851:

The First Christmas Card

According to the Library of Congress, this is the first known commercial Christmas card. It was the work of Henry Cole, a British civil servant, in 1843. That was same year that Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol.” The British television series Victorian Farm Christmas delves into the meaning of the imagery. If I recall correctly, it depicts the family sharing a meal with their household and farm workers and giving to the poor.

A Holiday Beating

Meet Krampus, the horned, anthropomorphic figure in Central and Eastern Alpine folklore who, during the Christmas season, scares children who have misbehaved. On December 5th, St. Nicholas sets out to distribute treat to the good children while Krampus visits and beats the bad children.

You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why…

Laughs, Chuckles, and Snorts

Merry Christmas, all!!