"I'll be Home for Chrismas"

"In 1943 the world was at war, and many thousands of American [and Canadian] men and women in the service would be spending Christmas far from home.  As a special gift to them and their families came this lovely, tender ballad, recorded by Bing Crosby.  Just a year earlier, Bing had had a best-seller with Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas,' and his recording of this new song by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent also passed the million-record mark in sales.  On December 17, 1965, the Crosby recording became the first 'request' that was broadcast into outer space.  As astronauts James Lovell and Frank Borman were hurtling back to earth aboard Gemini7 after their record 206 orbits, a NASA transmitter asked if there was any music they would especially like to hear.  Their immediate reply?  Bing's 'I'll Be Home for Christmas.' "

Merry Christmas Songbook, The Reader's Digest Assoc. Inc., 1981.

I'll be home for Christmas;
You can plan on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

Wishing you a bright, old-fashioned Christmas and much happiness throughout the year.

 

Wishing you peace and happiness at Christmas and always ~ Merry Chrismas

 

~ John & Lorna

 

 

Looking Back to Christmas With Snow

Candles ~

"The image of Jesus as the light of the world and the midwinter longing for the return of the sun have led to the candle being associated inextricably with Christmas.  This can be seen in church ceremonies such as CANDLEMAS, CHRISTINGLE, or candle-lit carol services, and in numerous home devotions."
Around the world, countries practice different customs:
In Ireland, it is the custom to place a candle in the window during the Christmas season.
In Eastern Europe a large candle is placed in the centre of the table, sometimes stuck in a loaf of bread.
In Germany the Advent wreath, the Lichstock,or Christmas pyramid, and the Christmas tree all employ candles.
In southwestern United States and Mexico luminaria and farolitas light up the night.

Australians flock in the hundreds of thousands to CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT.
Pilipinos place candles in their parols.
In France a beautiful custom is carried on in France's Auvergne on Christmas Eve.  A candle is lit by the oldest member of the family and used to make the sign of the cross.  It is then extinguished and passed on to the eldest son,  The candle is passed from family members until it reaches the youngest.  It is lit and placed in the middle of the table  ~ a signal for the feast to begin.
In Norway the thick Christmas candle must burn all night long on Christmas Eve or, it is believed, a family member will die that year.
Gouda, the centre of the Dutch candle industry, turns off all the electrical lights in the city centre on Christmas Eve, while the mayor, by candlelight, reads the Nativity story to the crowd.

~ The WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA of CHRISTMAS, Gerry Bowler, McClelland & Stewart Ltd.2000.
Illustration from Tasha Tudor

Solstice ~

"Literally 'sun standing still,' when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon.  At the winter solstice, December 22, the sun is directly overhead at noon along the Tropic of Capricorn and the day is shortest in the northern hemisphere.  This has traditionally been a time of celebrations involving light, greenery, fire, and the return of the sun.  Such midwinter festivities have left their mark on the ways Christmas has been observed."

~ Spirit of Christmas Past

Tomorrow:  CANDLES, GREENERY, and PAGANISM.

Illustration from Tasha Tutor [Dear friend, Sharon, thank you for your most welcome call today.  Tasha has nothing over you!]

"When the first Christmas card appeared in 1843 it was denounced by some because the design, showing a Victorian family party drinking to the health of an absent friend, was thought to encourage drunkenness and alcoholism.  Yet now, for many of us, the season of goodwill really starts when the first card drops through the letter-box.  It signals not only that Christmas is really upon us ~ and we still haven't done a thing! ~ but that we are remembered by far-flung relatives, old and dear friends and new acquaintances."

~  The Spirit of Christmas Past - Evocative Memories of Years Gone By, Linda Clements.  Todtri Productions Limited. 1996.

[Post card JEWalker Collection]