A Christmas Carol

"What's today?" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.
"Eh?" returned the boy with all his might of wonder.
"What's to-day, my fine fellow?" said Scrooge.
"To-day!" replied the boy, "Why, CHRISTMAS DAY."

..."I don't know what to do!" cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath, and making a perfect Laocoon of himself with his stockings. "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy, I am as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world !"

"It's Christmas Day!" said Scrooge to himself. "I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow!"

And with that, old Scrooge set about to make up for all his years of miserliness and neglect of family and friends.

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, 1915.

Bethlehem

Revered by the world's Christians, Muslims and Jews, the Holy Land offers not only a spiritual background , but a historic one as well. Jesus was born in a small town in Galilee called Bethlehem. Because many people had returned to Bethlehem to be registered in the census, the inns were all full. The only available accommodation was an animal shelter. The stories surrounding Jesus' birth continue to interest believers and nonbelievers.

The regions of Galilee, Israel, Samaria and Judea were the areas where Jesus traveled, taught and preached. Samaria today, for example, is a fascinating archaeological city. Jerusalem, the last city that Jesus visited, is a city of tourist attractions and ~ shepherds still tending their flocks roam the hills surrounding Nazareth.

Source: Journey to the Land of Jesus, Publications International Ltd., 1992.

Challenge of Getting Published

When songwriter Johnny Marks penned the famous lyrics that summarized the Rudoph story, he couldn't interest any music publisher in his new song. Believing in his work, he founded his own St. Nicholas Music Publishing Company.
Then with Rudoph being the marketing creation of a department store, no singer was willing to take a chance with a song. Marks was turned down by Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore and Perry Como before Gene Autry, "The Singing Cowboy," recorded it in 1949, selling 2,000,000 copies in the first year alone and launching Rudoph to further success.
The reindeer went on to appear in movies and books (in dozens of languages) and his image was used for a host of marketing devices, books and toys.

Today, children everywhere know the little reindeer that didn't quite fit in until someone ~ one individual ~ believed in him.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone.

Source: The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, Gerry Bowler, McClelland & Stewart, 2000.

Origin of Rudolph

Businesses strive for the perfect marketing strategy. One of the most successful marketing coups of all time was a promotional giveaway for Chicago's Montgomery Ward department store. So was born Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

Advertising editor, Robert Lewis May (1905-1976) came up with an illustrated booklet with a Christmas poem that families could read every year. The story was about a friendless reindeer to whom Santa Claus would assign the responsibility of guiding his sleigh. The artwork was done by Denver Gillen based on sketches made while visiting the Chicago zoo. Robert May wrote the poem based on his own lonely childhood. Throughout the 1940's, the company handed out millions of the books.

Source: The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, Gerry Bowler, McClelland & Stewart, 2000.
Tomorrow: The shaky start for the song, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Notes of Friendship

Dear friends sent the following to us. We pass it on to you:

Notes of Friendship

I treasure all my Christmas cards;
They mean so much to me,
Each one from someone special whom
I'd so much like to see.

Some come from friends I don't oft see ~
They live too far away ~
Their cards are like a friendly smile
That brightens Christmas Day.

The message each one brings to me
From friends on my own street,
Is like a gift that's wrapped with love,
Each one a yuletide treat.

I'm thankful for these lovely cards
That come to me each year ~
These precious notes of friendship with
Their greetings of good cheer.

And I wish for you this Christmas all
The joy the season brings;
Peace, good health, and lots of love ~
The best of everything.

by Lela Meredith

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Captivated by the plight of poor rejected Rudolph with few friends, Elizabeth asked her mother if Rudolph is real. This is an interesting ~ if not startling ~ query from a two-year old ~ just turning three. Elizabeth had noticed that in all her Christmas books Santa had eight reindeer with no evidence of the most famous reindeer of all! Grandpa saved the moment by pointing out that it was not until one foggy night that Rudolph leaped into action and led Santa's sleigh.
Even a two-year old understands the meaning of being accepted and having friends.

This much loved song was written by Johnny Marks in 1949.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen but do you recall the most famous rein-deer of all?
RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REIN-DEER had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games; Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say: "Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight;" Then how the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee: "RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REIN-DEER, you'll go down in history."

Tomorrow: The origin of Rudolph

Black Peter or Zwarte Piet

Gift-bringers vary around the world. In Canada, children wait expectantly for Santa Claus and his eight reindeer. In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas is accompanied by Zwarte Piet, or Black Peter. Black Peter tosses candy to children but also threatens to stuff bad kids into his sack and take them back with him to Spain.
I met Black Peter one time. I was taking photos for a weekly newspaper. Children were climbing all over St. Nicholas assisted by Black Peter. As I focused for the perfect shot ~ everyone smile ~ nothing happened. Had Black Peter jinxed me? Not a battery to be found. Not in my camera. Not in my bag.
My three sons and their Dad had stolen the batteries for a batteries-not-included toy and left me to explain. I did get the picture after a quick trip to the store but I have never forgotten Black Peter who is said to stuff bad kids into his sack.