"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I… Continue reading The Savior’s Manger
Tag: Christmas
Christmas Gift Wrapping
Wrapping Christmas gifts in holiday colors and themes is one of the most endearing traditions of the season. But how did it start? It can be dated back at least to the 1600's with Japan's reusable wrapping cloth for gifts, which is still around today. In the West, the mid-1800's saw people begin sending paper… Continue reading Christmas Gift Wrapping
Candy Canes
Candy Canes are closely associated with the Christmas season but how did that come about? A common folkloric story is that in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to quiet the children's noise at Christmas Eve service asked a local candy maker for some "sugar sticks" for them. In order to… Continue reading Candy Canes
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Written during the Civil War it tells of the narrator hearing Christmas bells but despairing that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to… Continue reading I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Christmas 1972
I was recently reflecting on my most memorable Christmas at 13 years old, from a standpoint of the gifts I received, almost a half century ago now. My folks were fairly frugal and Christmas was my greatest opportunity for games/toys for the year. Mom would generally get me two or three "fun" gifts I could… Continue reading Christmas 1972
The Season of Peace For Those With Whom God is Pleased
"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I… Continue reading The Season of Peace For Those With Whom God is Pleased
Silent Night
The Christmas Carol, Silent Night, was first sung on Christmas Eve of 1818. The assistant priest at the newly established parish of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf Salzburg Austria was Joseph Mohr. Earlier in the day he had handed over to the organist Franz Gruber a poem he had written in 1816 with the request to write… Continue reading Silent Night
Away in a Manger
Each year we see the familiar nativity scene during the Christmas season. It is a reminder of the "reason for the season" which is the birth of our Savior. I have fond memories as a child of being involved in my Christmas church play about Christ's birth in the manger (always cast as one of… Continue reading Away in a Manger
So This Is Christmas
It is Christmas Eve. The night before we celebrate the birth of our Savior. A time when, as C S Lewis said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. Personally, I enjoy it all - the music, food, gifts… Continue reading So This Is Christmas
