In The "Heart" of Christmas

Lots of people think that Christmas is now over

Forgetting there are twelve days

To sing the Baby's praise

So let us pause to spiritually "graze"

And make the most of these remaining days.

For more information, please click on the title below...

The Twelve Days of Christmas

"The twelve days of Christmas are not the twelve days before Christmas, but are instead the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25 until January 5), which is when the three Wise Men or Magi arrived on the scene.



In some families, it was and still is traditional to give Christmas gifts for each of those twelve days, much as gifts are given to children on each of the days of Hanukkah. Some have suggested that the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is actually a song of instruction with hidden meanings to the basic teachings of the Faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith."

This lighted nativity is taped to our window over the front door...

To give you a proper perspective of where I had to put it...it's waaay up there...

The white Peace nativity was found tucked away last year in a religious goods store in Columbus and marked down drastically since it was from the year before that...it has a very nice little blue light shining down on it...

This is an old set that used to light up in three places and play music as well...now it only lights up in the middle (which is the most important spot by the Baby Jesus) and plays music.  This may have been a gift from my daughter Ria...

The two tiny sets on the far left are from Costa Rica when Mario and I visited there and the wooden one on the far right is from Germany when we lived there.  The others are just ones that I have found and are different from ones I already had (please note that I even found a nativity gift box)...

And from our faithful Internet, we learn...

'The first Christmas card is said to have been designed way back in 1843, by a certain JR Horsley.

There are massive demands for Christmas trees around the globe, in fact there are a massive 3 - 6 million trees produced each year purely for the demand for Christmas trees.
Christmas crackers, invented by Thomas Smith, can be rather large. In fact the largest ever was over 45 metres long and still worked! "

This set I treasure because it was my dear step father's for many years and the last one my mother and he enjoyed together....

Today I will be making another trip to meet halfway (whew for that) and pickup Laura who has been visiting her sister...this will be my third trip in 8 days!!  It's been very busy around here as I am sure it has been for all of you, so kudos and my hat is off to all those who managed to post anyway...I hope to comment when I get back from today's trip (which means no painting class but then I/we have also missed prayer groups and a study group we signed up for among other things.)

IN case you were wondering...we DO keep Christmas till the Epiphany, in spite of funny looks from neighbors when we put our lights on for the last time on January 6th!!  On this day we like to give gifts that you cannot buy....so we write on a piece of paper something nice we will do for one another like wash or vacuum a car or help with some project etc. etc.

Ever wonder where some of our Christmas quotes came from??...

"Christmas Quotes:

'Merry Christmas, Nearly Everybody!' Ogden Nash

'Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveller back to his own fireside and quiet home!' Charles Dickens

'Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign.' Christina Rossetti

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,

Just like the ones I used to know,

Where the tree tops glisten

And children listen

To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

Irving Berlin

'I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeat. Of peace on earth goodwill to men.' Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "

And here's a Christmas kitten, getting into eveything he can that is Christmas, especially garland and the artificial tree which looks very real due to the many needles being pulled off!!...

And here's little Sadie Mae looking pitiful and hoping for treats (which she always gets)....

One year I found a nativity that had hay attached to it (on the far left), then a picture with the story of Christmas on the other side and finally a nativity bell...

This pretty gold globe nativity that plays music came from some friends last year...

Some more different nativities with the one in the center being a Hallmark special after Christmas sale...

An old nativity that had a light in the star that used to work....

Some Christmas chuckles...

Reindeer's Story at Christmas

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.

Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.



From Great Britain...

Father Christmas Calls

Alex was five; all his Christmas presents were always signed, 'from Father Christmas.'

A little while after Alex had opened all his presents on Christmas morning, we became aware that he was looking quite down in the mouth for no obvious reason.

'What's the matter, Al?' I asked.

'Ummmm, 'replied Alex slowly, 'I really hoped that you and Mummy would give me something for Christmas.'

Christmas Spirit

♪It was just before Christmas and the magistrate was in a happy mood. He asked the prisoner who was in the dock, 'What are you charged with?'

The prisoner replied, 'Doing my Christmas shopping too early.'

'That's no crime', said the magistrate. 'Just how early were you doing this shopping?'


'Before the shop opened', answered the prisoner.

Try Before You Buy

Myra was going to the Christmas office party but needed a new party dress.

In the clothing store she asked, 'May I try on that dress in the window, please?'

'Certainly not, madam,' responded the salesgirl, 'You'll have to use the fitting room like everyone else.'


~~~Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings of many days to revere the birth of Your Son.