Yuletide Spirit: November 2012

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Sharing the Joy: A Call for Help

The Sharing the Joy event has got off to a rocky start due to some circumstances in my personal life. My sons and I are moving in with my mom this weekend and it's a big move. The honest truth is that my husband and I are separating. It's a tough time of year for this, but I'm trying to keep my spirits up. I look to Christmas to help me with that, but this move is putting a damper on my posting for Sharing the Joy so....

I need help with some guest posts. Spread the word to your friends and/or submit one yourself. Authors, bloggers, non-bloggers alike...all will be welcome. Write about anything Christmas related: recipes, family traditions/memories, stories, top ten lists, etc., etc. All and any help will be greatly appreciated.

If you would like to help, please send me an email at truebookaddict AT gmail DOT com

Always in spirit....

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Sharing the Joy: Weekend Crafting

Of course, we all know that this blog is the blog of a book addict and when I came across this wreath project...well, fireworks went off! LOL!

Book Leaf Wreath

Materials:
~foam wreath

~a book (a cheap paperback would work well)

~hot glue gun/glue sticks

~scissors

~pencil

~ribbon

~straight pins

Step 1:
Tear out a page from your book, and fold it in half width-wise. Fold the page again in half.

Step 2:

Draw a leaf shape onto the folded paper. You could cut out a cardboard template if you want, but I just freehanded mine. I like the variety of shapes and sizes from drawing them by hand. Then cut out the leaf. You will get 4 leaves from one sheet of paper.

Step 3:

Cut out a bunch of leaves and fold them in half down the middle. I don't know how many leaves I used for the wreath, (maybe 100?) because I cut them out as I needed them.

Step 4:
Get out your hot glue gun and extra glue sticks. You might want to lay some newspaper under your work surface so the glue doesn't get all over. You'll run a line of glue across the foam wreath and layer 4-5 leaves across it. I used the eraser end of a pencil to push the paper onto the hot glue. Once the glue dries a bit, you can add another layer about an inch further up on the wreath, making sure the ends of the leaves are all pointing in the same direction. You'll be overlapping them.

Step 5:
When you come to the end of your wreath, you'll need to put glue on the tips of individual leaves and tuck them into the gap. Use the pencil eraser again to fill in the gaps and push leaves in place. You can also add more leaves around the edges to hide any of the foam circle that may be showing. As long as all the leaves are going in the same direction, it will look great!

Step 6:
Make a hanger for the back of the wreath by pinning a scrap of ribbon into the foam on the back. There are other ways you can hang the wreath, like wrapping a ribbon around it and hanging it that way. I opted for a hidden hanger.

Step 7:
If you'd like to add a simple bow, here's what I did. I took a 2 foot length of red grosgrain ribbon, a wire twist tie and two straight pins folded the ribbon into loops and wound the twist tie around them in the middle. I covered the twist tie with some of the end of the ribbon and wound the tie around it to keep it in place. Then I fluffed up the bow and pinned it to the front of the wreath with the pins. Easy!

To see the full project, including images that show each step and ideas for how to display your wreath, visit Katydid and Kid: Adventures in Making and Doing.

Part of....

Always in spirit....

TuesBookTalk December Book Selection: Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

TuesBookTalk Read-a-Longs on Twitter (@tuesbooktalk #tuesbooktalk) and on Goodreads will be reading a Christmas book in December. Our first discussion will be on Tuesday, December 4. Our chats take place on Twitter at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT on Tuesday nights. If you can't join us on Twitter, feel free to share your thoughts in the Goodreads group. Get the full reading schedule for Wishin' and Hopin' HERE.

This would be a terrific read for the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge. Hope you will join us!

Friday, November 23, 2012

Movie {DVD} Review: Heavenly Christmas Film Classics

Welcome to the first day of the Sharing the Joy event here at The Christmas Spirit. For full details of what I have in store during the event this season, visit this POST. As promised, today I have for you a Christmas movie (DVD) review. Enjoy!

**********

I was sent this wonderful DVD for review from Festival Films. Here are the details:

The spirit of Christmas is gloriously captured in six inspiring stories of faith, family and friendship.
Note the choice of two covers -- classic Nativity scene or fatherly Santa Claus! Content in each is identical. Enjoy these trailers for the six films:

Silent Night: Story of the Christmas Carol

(1953) 13 min., color. Beautifully told true story of how Franz Gruber created the iconic 1818 Christmas carol.

Christmas is Magic
(1953) 24 min. Robert Hutton plays a war vet with amnesia who is taken in by widow Frances Rafferty and her son on Christmas Eve.

Star of Bethlehem
(1956) 12 min., color. Story of the Nativity beautifully narrated from the Gospels and told using the silhouette animation style of Lotte Reiniger. The film opens with the Holy Family traveling to Bethlehem and closes with the Wise Men bearing rich gifts, while a host of angels descend from the heavens.

Three Young Kings
(1956) 28 min. Episode of “DuPont Theater.” In Latin America three young boys follow a village tradition of carrying Christmas gifts to the mission church children in the costumes of the Three Wise Men. When they ride through the poor section of town, the boys decide to give the presents to the ragged children instead, causing a crisis in conscience in the community over the true meaning of giving.

Star of Bethlehem
(1954) 26 min. Produced, directed by and starring James Mason, with the participation of his wife, daughter Portland and other child actors. Mason and his wife first read sections from the bible that lead up to the birth of Jesus. He visits his daughter in bed and their discussion leads into an enactment of the Nativity starring a cast of children. Jerry Mathers plays Joseph. A heartfelt, inventive and personal religious project by a Hollywood star at the height of his fame.

Starlight Night
(1939) 30 min. Opulent British docu-drama about the creation of the famous Christmas carol centers on a stern father estranged from his daughter.

My thoughts:

This DVD is perfect for people like me who love Christmas. It is for people who don't mind a little sentiment and also for people who believe the reason for the season. These are rare film classics brought back for people to enjoy. Each film is more like a short episode, instead of a full length film. My favorites were Christmas is Magic, where a war veteran with amnesia meets a widow and her son and finds himself through the magic of Christmas, and Starlight Night, where a father estranged from his daughter learns to recognize what really matters. They are all wonderful and would be a great way to introduce children to the story of the Nativity with the wonderful silhouette animation of Star of Bethlehem and to also teach them the secret of giving to those who are less fortunate with Three Young Kings.

The DVD is available on Amazon via this link:

Heavenly Christmas Film Classics: 6 Inspiring Stories of Faith and Family

OR

order from their WEBSITE

A warm thank you to Festival Films for providing the DVD for review. It will now take its permanent place among my Christmas DVD collection.

Always in spirit....

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a safe and peaceful holiday with family and friends.

Vintage Thanksgiving Postcard by Vintage_Gifts
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Monday, November 19, 2012

2012 Sharing the Joy Event and Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

My favorite time of year is here again! Time for us to share the joy of Christmas. It's not just the presents and what people deem to be the commercial side of things. If we can look past all that, we can recognize the truth of giving, sharing friendship, the love of our families and spending time with them and all the fun that goes along with it. The sites and sounds of Christmas. And you don't have to be rich or spend a lot of money to enjoy it. There's free holiday music on the radio and on the online stations and there are plenty of free Christmas light displays in our local neighborhoods to marvel at. Just seeing my sons' eyes light up at the sites is enough to make my season bright! Every year, I try to do my small part in spreading the spirit around with Sharing the Joy here on The Christmas Spirit. I really hope you enjoy it this year!

I'm kicking off Friday with a review of the Heavenly Christmas Film Classics DVD, which I received from Festival Films for review.

What else do I have in store this year? Giveaways, guest posts, book reviews, movie reviews, recipes, poems, literature, music, crafts...if it's Christmas, it will be here! Also, my Christmas Around the World posts will be back this year to continue sharing Christmas traditions and customs of foreign countries.

I invite any authors or bloggers out there who love Christmas to contribute a guest post, if you would like. It can be anything Christmasy...a story, poem, top ten lists, favorite things, share pics of your Christmas decor, etc., etc. If you would like to contribute, just drop me an email at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom.

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge started today. You can still sign-up and participate...it runs all the way through January 6, 2012 (Epiphany/Twelfth Night). Find out the details and sign-up HERE.

I'm participating, of course! What will I be reading...at what levels, etc.? Let's hope I can do the Christmas Tree level! What I'll be reading:

A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans
Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb
Cupid's Christmas by Bette Lee Crosby (for review)
North Pole High: A Rebel Without a Claus by Candace Jane Kringle (for review)
Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts (for tour)
The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman, Illustrated by, none other than, Maurice Sendak (for review)
A Christmas Home by Greg Kincaid (for review)

I'm also doing Fa La La La Films and Visions of Sugar Plums (I'm hoping to pin my boys down for at least The Nutcracker--see above).

Here's hoping the holiday season will be merry and bright!

Always in spirit....

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

My Top Favorite Christmas Themed Products from Zazzle

Okay, hilarious...but I better be careful who I send these to. LOL!

christmas rum balls card
View other funny christmas cards

Expectant Baby Christmas Keepsake Christmas Tree Ornament
View another pregnancy ornament

Who doesn't love the "Keep Calm" saying? This is perfect!

Keep calm and Jingle On Christmas Tree Ornament
Check out more personalized photo christmas ornaments

I'm hoping to have a small open house this year. These would be perfect!

Red White Christmas Celebration RSVP Card
View more christmas dinner invitations

Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, with cub in the Masai 2 Christmas Tree Ornaments
Check out more cheetah ornaments

Aloha Hawaiian Christmas Cards
Shop for other hawaiian christmas cards

Another invite that would be perfect for my open house. Which one?

Candy Canes Christmas Party Invitations

See other christmas party invitations

I need to get this for my mom. She IS the best Grandma and yes, Great Grandma, ever!

Best Great Grandma Ever Christmas Ornament
Browse more grandparent ornaments

Always in spirit....

I received a small gift certificate as compensation for this post from Zazzle.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2012--Sign Up Here!

It's the fourth year of the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge! Like last year, there are multiple levels for participation, like children's books and watching Christmas movies. So, something for everyone!

Now, on to the details and sign up:

challenge will run from Monday, November 19, 2012 through Sunday, January 6, 2013 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).
cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and for the first time...a children's Christmas books level!
visit this POST for a list of new Christmas books for 2012. There are a lot of good ones coming out this year, including the new Richard Paul Evans novel, A Winter Dream (I just got it yesterday!).
Levels:

            --Candy Cane: read 1 book
            --Mistletoe: read 2-4 books
            --Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)
Additional levels:
  --Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!
  --Visions of Sugar Plums:  read books with your children this season and share what you read
*the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

the most important rule? Have fun!!!
I will have a review linky posted as a page the day the challenge starts. You will find it at the top of the left sidebar.
Sign up in the linky below (link to your post with your reading list...you can change up your list during the challenge...I just want to be able to stop by to welcome you and see what you plan to read).

One final note: I am going to do a giveaway of a mystery box of Christmas books to participants in the U.S. (At the moment, I'm not sure on an International prize because of finances, but if I find that I can afford it, I will pick an International winner and they can choose a Christmas book (under $10 or three bargain books for $10, if they're running the promo at the time) from Better World Books. Giveaway will end at the end of the challenge.

I hope you will join me!

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I have always loved the holidays, which for me is Yuletide and Halloween (I love Thanksgiving too). I try to keep the spirit going year-round, with Christmas in July in the middle of summer. What I love the most about Christmas and Yuletide are the feelings of good will and peace, and the traditions, which are the message of the season. Keeping the spirit and celebrating Yuletide all year long is the goal. Oh, and don't forget Halloween. Click the Halloween button below to check out our page. I intend to share more Halloween elements going forward. I hope you enjoy your time here! I also blog at my main blog, True Book Addict. Just click the button below the Halloween button to visit.

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.

Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them, for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happens on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterward; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

from A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS, 1812-1870

Christmas Morning

Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was so crammed with goodies. Then she remembered her mother's promise, and slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little crimson-covered book. She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guide-book for any pilgrim going the long journey. She woke Meg with a "Merry Christmas," and bade her see what was under her pillow. A green-covered book appeared, with the same picture inside, and a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes. Presently Beth and Amy woke, to rummage and find their little books also,--one dove-colored, the other blue; and all sat looking at and talking about them, while the east grew rosy with the coming day.
..
from LITTLE WOMEN BY Louisa May Alcott, 1832-1888

The Magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are the wisest. They are the Magi.
..
from THE GIFT OF THE MAGI BY O. Henry

Home for Christmas

This is meeting time again. Home is the magnet. The winter land roars and hums with the eager speed of return journeys. The dark is noisy and bright with late-night arrivals--doors thrown open, running shadows on snow, open arms, kisses, voices and laughter, laughter at everything and nothing. Inarticulate, giddying and confused are those original minutes of being back again. The very familiarity of everything acts like shock. Contentment has to be drawn in slowly, steadyingly, in deep breaths--there is so much of it. We rely on home not to change, and it does not, wherefore we give thanks. Again Christmas: abiding point of return. Set apart by its mystery, mood and magic, the season seems in a way to stand outside time. All that is dear, that is lasting, renews its hold on us: we are home again....

from HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BY Elizabeth Bowen, 1899-1973

Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no! We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here! We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f***ing Kaye! And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse!

Clark W. Griswold in "CHRISTMAS VACATION"

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspision love actually is all around.

~Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) IN "LOVE ACTUALLY"

Christmas began being celebrated on December 25 in 336 A.D. In 350, Pope Julius I declared December 25 the official date, and, in 529, Emperor Justinian declared Christmas a civic holiday. The biblical Jesus was not actually born on December 25. His birth probably took place in the summer months because shepherds and their flocks (the Nativity story portrays that they were present at the birth) would not have been roaming the hills at night in the winter. The reason the Pope chose December 25 as the official date was an attempt to incorporate the winter solstice festivals important to the cultures of pre-Christian Europe and Asia. Christian leaders believed that the best way to get the pagans to accept Christianity was to include their most deep rooted traditions in to Christian worship and celebration. Here are some popular pagan traditions that still survive today:

The Yule Log--this tradition has very deep pagan roots. The massive logs were burned in winter ceremonies in celebration of the sun. The selection of the log was crucial and included much ceremony because the log started the celebration fires and would last for the duration of the winter festival. To justify this pagan ritual, the Christian church gave it a new significance, that the fire signified the light that came from Heaven when Christ was born. The log was lit on Christmas Eve and left burning throughout the twelve days of Christmas (see below for the tradition behind the twelve days of Xmas).

Greenery--evergreens were revered by pagan people because they could stay alive during the cold dark winters. Considered magical, greenery decorated the inside and outside of houses during the winter solstice festivals. Church officials again justified the continued use of greenery by saying it symbolized Christ, who in his triumph over death gave the gift of everlasting life to the world. The most common Christmas greenery in use today: holly, ivy, mistletoe, and, of course, the most revered Christmas tree.

Mistletoe--this Christmas greenery was actually worshiped in pagan times. Druids and Romans thought it sacred, for healing and as a charm against evil. It was considered a symbol of peace; warring soldiers who found themselves under mistletoe quickly put down weapons and made a temporary truce. Ancient Britons hung mistletoe in their doorways to keep evil away. Whoever entered the house safely were given a welcome kiss--thus the custom of kissing under the mistletoe!

Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale green, fairy mistletoe)
One last candle burning low,
All the sleepy dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Someone came and kissed me there.

Tired I was; my head would go
Nodding under the mistletoe
(Pale green, fairy mistletoe)
No footsteps came, no voice, but only,
Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely,
Stooped in the still and shadowy air,
Lips unseen--and kissed me there.

~Walter De La Mare, 1873-1956

The Origins of Santa Claus (St. Nicholas)--as a young man, became Bishop of Myra while still a teen, earned him the nickname of Boy Bishop. Bishop Nicholas, through courage and generosity, touched the lives of many people, saving many from famine and despair. He founded an orphanage and became known for his love of and wonderful relationship with children. He was imprisoned by the Roman Empire during a time of religious persecution. He was finally reprieved by Emperor Constantine who was developing a softer attitude toward Christianity. Nicholas died on December 6 in approximately 343 A.D. (This day is still celebrated as St. Nicholas's Day in many European countries) Nicholas was very popular throughout Christendom and he was named the patron saint of children, sailors, thieves, hobos, pawnbrokers, and bankers--and also Russia, Greece, and Sicily.

A Poem Suitable for the Season

The merry halls may jingle in the good, old-fashioned way; In merriment we mingle, with the music holding sway. The "Gloria in Excelsis" is sounding everywhere, But, really, 'tisn't Christmas, if Mother isn't there. She hangs a newer halo round the mistletoe on high; A spirit of bravado drew away the weary sigh-- For sorrow is no mistress, and life lets go its fear Amid the joys of Christmas, when Mother, dear, is here. The fire upon the hearthstone lights up with ruddier glow; The laughter is more mirthsome, bubbling forth in frolic flow; The Christ Child truly comes to us, in all His heavenly cheer, If the advent of old Christmas finds mother, also, here.

~William Hopkins ..

Item: Those Inconsiderate Last-Minute Shoppers

Way of women at Christmas puzzles a woman

Why not start list now (December 5) and do your Christmas giving sensibly, with regard to feelings of others, as well as for time, strength, and money? Leaving everything until last minute makes season harder for clerks and spoils holiday!

(Headline of an article in the December 5, 1926 Providence Journal urging procrastinating wives to show a little more thought during the holiday season. The article is accompanied by an illustration of an unnamed acquaintance of the author's who "used to dread Christmas and spent the whole holiday in bed, utterly spent, and with ice-bags at her head and feet.") ..

Item: Pearl Harbor brings a different kind of Christmas

While preparations are going on here, in a mild way to be sure, due to wartime conditions, our little British cousins across the seas have not been overlooked. Old Santa, that kindly bewhiskered man, will pay them a visit through the thoughtfulness of the relief agencies here...Of the many thousands (of) toys of various types and descriptions sent across the seas by Bundles for Britain, most of them are soft dolls and animals made from scraps of materials in the sewing looms...

(The New York Times, December 21, 1941)

Item: The Choice

If Western civilization dies in a rain of nuclear explosions, it will be written in a later day that the tragedy of our century was the inability of man to apply to the problems of peace the genius that loosed a most fearful Armageddon. "Peace on earth," the angels sang 2,000 years ago, but peace today is as tremulous as thin fog at dawn along the shore...Today is a day for happiness...but we shall end by trading that happiness for horror if we cannot recapture the humility, the simplicity, the understanding, the faith, the affection, and the lack of fear that marked the shepherds who saw His tiny fists wave in the lamplight of a stable at Bethlehem.

(From an editorial in the Providence Journal, December 25, 1957)

Item: The Immigrant's Puzzlement

Understanding Santa is troublesome for Laotians on their first American Yule

Khamehanh Chantharangsy was preparing about a dozen of his fellow Laotians for their first American Christmas...They had never heard of Santa Claus...Now that the refugees are in America, he said, "We try to do everything like American...." Khamchanh interpreted [for his friend Xiong Tong]: "He says it is quite strange, quite interesting but quite impossible for this man to penetrate the roof of his house with such a large sack of toys."

(From the Providence Journal, December 24, 1976)