Monday, December 24, 2012


Bristish poet, Christina Rossetti, wrote the devotional verses, "Love came down at 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 ~
What shall be our sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine;
Love to God and neighbor,
Love for prayer and gift and sign.

~ Christina Rossetti (b. Dec. 5, 1830.  d. Dec. 29, 1894) British poet.  Also wrote "In the Bleak Midwinter."  Both poems were eventually set to music as Christmas carols.

A Very Merry Christmas ~ a safe and happy holiday.  The bookshop will be closed between Christmas and New Year's. 
Shaped Christmas Card 1950s
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer ! 
A novelty song written in 1979  by veterinarian Elmo Shrophire and popularized by Elmo and Patsy.  In it Grandma, who had been drinking too much eggnog, is found dead under circumstances that suggest she has been hit by Santa's sleigh.  The song achieved notoriety in Canada when complaints were lodged with politicians, women's groups, and seniors' organizations that it was offensive to elderly women and that the death of a matriarch was no laughing matter.  Though nothing was done to limit its airplay, the song was voted one of the "Three Most Dreaded Christmas Songs Ever" and an American disc jockey was fired for playing it (by request) 27 times in a row.  A parody followed entitled "Grandpa Got Runned Over by a John Deere."

~ THE WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTMAS, Gerry Bowler, McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 2000.