December Calendar...12/23/2019 Photo: My own. Twenty- Four Thoughts on Christmas 2019 Hello everyone, It is that time of year again, right? Bah, humbug! ... you might say. As for me, however, it is the perfect time to open my December Calendar again and I'd like to invite you to look at it, perhaps now and again in the course of December. And maybe, just maybe, it is I who can help you find your holiday spirit with my thoughts, music and whatever idea crosses my mind? That would be wonderful! December is a crazy fellow with a lot of surprises and a lot of love. It is also a time of wonderment, hope and possibilities. I will certainly try my best to make it the great season it so deserves to be. Some Christmas cheers from me to you! Please enjoy. ******************** December 1  Terrace decorations of this weekend. Photo: My own. December is here Beautiful songs in the house Ringing in Christmas. This weekend is all about decorations. It is all about sugary vanilla smell from baking Christmas biscuits. It is all about love, the heart you can see in the photograph above is for someone special. Every day in life is special, but Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. ****** December 2 Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree! Christmas coming around again eh? Yeah I mean it must be nearly a year since the last one Oh it's a good twelve months Yeah yeah You getting anything for your Granny this year? Well I thought about it I couldn't be bothered Well it's the thought that counts innit Yeah that's how I see it What do you fancy for Christmas then Kim Wilde as usual, kidding myself though arent't I It's hopeless really it's pathetic I suppose in a way It is yeah - hello who is this? Merry Christmas Melvyn It can't be Come on Mel how about pulling a cracker By the look of you darling I think I already have Get it Rockin' around the Christmas tree At the Christmas party hop Mistletoe hung where you can see Every couple try to stop Come on Melly-pops Rockin' around the Christmas tree Let the Christmas spirit ring Later we'll have some pumpkin pie And we'll do some caroling Pumpkin pie anyone? You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear Voices singing let's be jolly Deck the halls with boughs of holly Rockin' around the Christmas tree Have a happy holiday This is so corny Everyone's dancing merrily in the new old fashioned way Wow I am in the most almighty Christmas groove I haven't had this much fun Since "Two little boys" was number one If my friends could see me now How do I look? Ridiculous You little tease A dance, Kimberley?... References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdnaPAJgAQI ****** December 3 Thoughts on Christmas Spirit by Ms. Carver's English Language Arts class  Photo: My own. Christmas spirit is how someone acts who loves Christmas and shows it by being kind to others. Also, it is the spirit of wanting to give and help people in need. People who have Christmas spirit are cheerful and happy about celebrating to birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas spirit is basically being cheery and nice around the holiday. A big way people show Christmas spirit is by caroling. People also show Christmas cheer by giving gifts and decorating for the holiday. Also by wishing a merry Christmas to others and donating to the poor. Christmas spirit is one’s feeling and attitude toward Christmas. People who are full of Christmas spirit usually are nice to others. Like if someone has no family or friends to see during the holidays they might invite them to come to their house for Christmas. Also, they might help someone decorate for the holidays. Plus, Christmas is all about giving and spending time with family so people with Christmas cheer might give someone a present. Another way people act toward others is cheery. They can be cheery by cheering someone up. They also act positive toward others so if someone does not have any Christmas spirit you can give an act of kindness to that person. Basically, people with Christmas spirit are helpful and cheery to others. ~Lindsey Beaver, 7th Grade, Corriher Lipe Middle School The way I define Christmas spirit is the joy of giving, the kindness people have towards others, and celebrating Jesus’s birthday. There are many ways people show Christmas spirit, such as by wishing people a Merry Christmas, decorating, donating, buying gifts for the poor, and spreading kindness. Christmas spirit to me is the way a person feels and acts towards Christmas. It’s how someone feels at Christmas time. It’s can also be their attitude towards Christmas. Christmas spirit can spread to people. People who have Christmas spirit show excitement and joy around this holiday. Christmas spirit is very contagious. Someone who is full of Christmas spirit act towards others with kindness. Someone full of Christmas spirit may invite someone with no family to come to their house. They might give people a present to show how thankful they were for that person. They also might donate toys and presents for people in need. Also, people with Christmas spirit could cheer up another person who doesn’t show any Christmas spirit. They could share the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus’s birth and to be with friends and family members. People with Christmas spirit show their love for Christmas and others. ~Madison Beaver, 7th Grade, Corriher Lipe Middle School I think Christmas spirit is when someone is very happy and joyful around Christmas time. It is something people have all the time during Christmas season and others can tell when someone has it. I think the only people that have Christmas spirit is the people who are in love with Christmas and go all out when the season comes around. Also, the people who don’t really like Christmas don’t have Christmas spirit and they’re probably really grumpy. Christmas spirit is something that keeps everyone together and happy during Christmas. Some people eat, sleep, and breathe Christmas! Also, in my opinion, they probably like to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They would rather give things to people than to receive anything. Someone that is full with Christmas spirit act very kind and joyful towards others. Also, they are very appreciative and grateful for the people around them. They are very loving and nice towards other people, to the point where it rubs off on others. These people with the Christmas spirit in them will act very jolly and sincere towards people. They also do selfless acts for others when they’re in need. They’re also very generous and considerate of others. They’ll go above and beyond for anybody and everybody that’s in need. Lastly, they always put people before themselves no matter what. ~Kayla Brown, 7th Grade, Corriher Lipe Middle School ****** December 4  Photo: My own A quiet evening Wonders of lights and colours Want to be with you. ****** December 5  References: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pieter_Brueghel_the_Younger_-_Adoration_of_the_Magi_-_WGA3613.jpgReferences: Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564 -1638) Adoration of the Magi Date: 16th century Are not Pieter Brueghel's paintings like a novel? Adorable, right? What do you see? ****** December 6 Nikolaus Day in Germany!  Photo: My own. I polished my boots really bright And placed them on the sill last night. Now I can’t wait to go and see What St. Nick has left for me. Nuts and treats and so much more And all the sweet things I adore. ****** December 7  Photo: My own. What Christmas is all about Christmas is a time for celebration, To spread love, to offer friendship, For reconciliation. Christmas is a time for reflection, To illuminate hope, to alleviate suffering, For communication. Christmas is a time for happiness, To wash away sorrow, to embrace a neighbour, For tenderness. Christmas is a time for giving, To accept gifts, to give thanks, For living. Christmas is a time to cast differences aside, To pardon transgressions, to forget grievances, To abandon foolish pride. Christmas is a time to remember, All the people in the world Who are suffering in December. ****** December 8 Sunday, 2nd Advent 2019  Photo: My own. Advent are the four weekends leading up to Christmas Eve and the Christmas celebration in particular. I believe that, no matter whether we are religious or not, they should be getting the attention they deserve. Behind all this stand beautiful traditions, traditions that connetct us to the past. Traditions that will forever connect us to our grandparents and parents, to everything that is also us. The four candles of Advent prepare our hearts for love, for togetherness, for memories, for melanchly perhaps because some of our loved ones cannot be with us. But they are in the spirit of Advent, they are with us at the table, they are these candles lit up every Sunday, too. The first candle is for Hope. Hope should never die in our hearts, hope makes the world turning and beautiful. The second candle is for Faith. Have faith in whatever you believe, it makes you the incredible person you are. Have faith in yourself because it is your heart that can tell you what is right and good for you; it is your heart and no one else who is able to do that. The third candle is for Joy. Is not that a joy to live today, with all the love we have, with all the people around us that we love and care for? Enjoy and take every day as it comes for they are unique. Unique as you are yourself. The fourth candle is for Peace. Try to make peace with yourself if not everything was achieved this year. You can try again, and you know the things that you want to improve, right? See the chances in that, aren't they great? ****** December 9 Wintertime by Norah Jones In the wintertime there's a candlelight I only get from you I'm alone, but I feel alright In the summertime and the fall In the spring when the house is dark Doesn't bother me at all I know, I know it's in the light The shadows start to move There's a hurt, in the wintertime Makes it hard for you There's a dream, a dream I had That makes me sad on the road That the sun keeps running from Everyone I love I know, I know, I know I'm leaning I'm leaning on you It's hard, I know, I know there isn't Much that you can do I know, I know, I know I'll make it I'll make it through In the wintertime there's a candlelight I only get from you I know, I know, it's only light It's only light to you But there's a thing called the wintertime I can't make it through I know, I know, I know I'm leaning I'm leaning on you It's hard, I know, I know there isn't Much that you can do I know, I know, I know I'll make it I'll make it through In the wintertime there's a candlelight I only get from you References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwwfEgF2lmU ****** December 10  Photo: My own. The Christmas List See that list? And where I made the tick? Well, if you are the writing- lists- type this won't be to your liking. Of course, just at Christmas, lists can be immensely helpful. We want to make it special. We want to make Christmas festive. We want to make it perfect for everyone. A good plan, right? Lists will help you not to forget. They will help you to stay organised. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Please feel free to write as many lists as you like. But, you know, when we go back to the basics of what Christmas means we will find that it is impossible to make it perfect. Christmas is messy. It is unpredictable. It is also the most wonderful time of the year. It is celebrating love. And love cannot be planned. Love just happens. So, it's not very recommendable to plan your Christmas to the utmost detail. If we do we will probably experience that no one can really measure up to our strategically written lists. People have feelings, and they might be different from ours. We should try to give our loved ones room to express theirs. And, of course, we should not hide our feelings from them. We are entitled, as much as they are, to have a voice, to feel loved and understood. If anyone makes a bit of an effort Christmas will become the highlight it deserves and is meant to be. ****** December 11  Photo: My own My gingerbread house Covered with icing and yelly drops Christmas is afoot. ****** December 12 The Mistletoe Kiss At Christmas, mistletoe, normally a common parasitic plant, has advanced to being a star in the huge basket of traditions. In December, kissing beneath the mistletoe is one of the big things to do! Mistletoe at Christmas is associated with romance and love. In Germany, it is not that common that we do that, but the story of where the tradition stems from is an intriguing one. By the 18th century, steeling a kiss from your girl beneath a mistletoe that hung from the ceiling became a lovely custom that kind of snowballed to the popularity it has today. It is said it's bad luck if you refuse to kiss should you happen to stand beneath a Christmassy mistletoe twig. Please keep that in mind! So, want to know what to when a mistletoe is calling you? Here are some instructions. This is exactly the way it should b done... References: Christmas advert of Yellow Pages, 2003. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=786sCIp8iXg ****** December 13 A Day of Giving  Last night was a day of giving to people, to children in particular, that are not as fortunate as you and I perhaps. We should think of them every day, not on when it is Christmas time. Among other radio and TV stations, the Bavarian Broadcasting Germany staged and chaperoned a donation gala, supported by celebrities from TV, sports, and politics that spoke for their charity projects. I was a part of this by voluntarily taking the phone calls on the donation hotline. It was overwhelming and utterly touching how giving and friendly people have been. Children gave their pocket money, absolutely moving! From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you every one who could spare some money and donate it to the children's projects. Thank you so much to all of you. Sternstunden it was called, and moments of glory they had been.  References: Bayrischer Rundfunk Deutschland ****** December 14  Photo: My own. Christmas Long Ago By Jo Geis Frosty days and ice-still nights, Fir trees trimmed with tiny lights, Sound of sleigh bells in the snow, That was Christmas long ago. Tykes on sleds and shouts of glee, Icy-window filigree, Sugarplums and candle glow, Part of Christmas long ago. Footsteps stealthy on the stair, Sweet-voiced carols in the air, Stocking hanging in a row, Tell of Christmas long ago. Starry nights so still and blue, Good friends calling out to you, Life, so fact, will always slow… For dreams of Christmas long ago. ***** December 15  Photo: My own. I wish you a happy 3rd Advent or, for those that don't celebrate it, a cheerful and Christmassy Sunday. Just one week to go until Christmas! If you are still waiting for your Christmas spirit to come I might have an idea. Get out your nicest clothes and shoes! Look at them and imagine how you dress up for Christmas Eve. Try them on if you like. I promise you, once you have done that you will immediately feel all the charm Christmas has to offer. Feel the magic! ****** December 16  Photo: My own. Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. - Dale Evans Rogers - ****** December 17 The Twelve Days Of Christmas On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me Three French hens, two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Six geese a laying, five gold rings, four calling birds Three French hens, two turtle doves And a partridge… References: https://youtu.be/r3Sx7ZQDFZ4 ****** December 18  Photo: eatsmarter.de What's your Christmas meal? Mecklenburg Christmas Duck Preparation and baking time: 3 hours Serves: 5 to 6 people 1 duck (3 kg) 2 apples 120 gram dried plums 120 gram prunes 120 gram dried apricots salt 1 tablespoon honey 1. Preheat the oven to 160 C 2. Wash the duck thoroughly, even inside 3. Rub in the salt and be generous with it, even inside 4. Chop all of the fruits and stuff the bird with it, sew it with thick thread 5. Place the duck in the oven on a deep roasting tray filled with 1 liter of water 6. Whilst baking, use the roasting juice and water the duck with it 7. Twenty minutes before the bird is done coat it with honey and let it bake 8. After about 3 hours, remove the duck from the roasting tray and prepare a gravy from the roasting stock As a side dish we serve potatoes, red cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. ****** December 19 Do you have some favourite Christmas films that you love to watch at this season? Well, I have some suggestions for you. 1. Un Conte de Noël – A Christmas Tale (France, 2008) The troubled Vuillard family is no stranger to illness, grief, and banishment, but when their matriarch requires a bone-marrow transplant, the estranged clan reunites just in time for Christmas. So lovely! 2. Fanny and Alexander (Sweden, 1982) Two young Swedish children, Fanny and Alexander, experience the many comedies and tragedies of their family, the Ekdahls. 3. 2046 (Hong Kong, 2004) Several women enter a science fiction author's life over the course of a few years, after the author has lost the woman he considers his one true love. This is not a Christmas film as expected, please watch! 4. It's A Wonderful Life (USA, 1946) An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. Oh, who does not know this one? References: www.imdb.com and youtube.com ****** December 20  Photo: My own. Christmas time has come Everyone will celebrate Come on and join in. ****** December 21  Glade yul, Viggo Johansen, 1891 References: wikiart.com Is not that a lovely scene? On the radio tonight elderly people talked about their Christmas time when they were children. Usually, I'm not a frequent radio listener, but I was hooked by their experiences. Aged people are mostly very lovely, very wise, and very interesting conversationalists. One of the women spoke about the Christmas tree they had at home, and I was stunningly reminded on that painting you see above. She said her family tree was nothing like the ones we know today. Days before Christmas Eve her mother had baked gingerbread figures like little horses, gingerbread men and women, gingerbread stars and bells. These biscuits and apples were the ornaments. Two days before Christmas Eve her mum put up the tree at night when the children were sleeping. The next morning the door to the parlour with the tree was locked up for the next days, the children weren't allowed to go inside. Her father, she went on, was in charge to light the wax candles when it was time to sit down and celebrate the Holy Night. He sneaked into the parlour and when he had finished lighting her mum rang a little bell. The whole family gathered at the door at this signal; they took each other's hands and together they walked in. What a wonderful story, I thought. It taught me that it can be very good to remember the basics in life and go back to them. All we need is love, understanding, and the chance to be ourselves. Please remember how lucky we are today. It's not only about the presents we should think. It is also that very often it is not necessary to make a fuss about minor things when just a nice question would do to find the answer. ****** December 22 Day of giving  References: dreamstime.com What about thinking of people with a job that is quite challenging, but no one really notices what they do all day? For example, think for a moment about the women and men that bring your mail and parcels every day. Especially at Christmas it is very demanding on them, don't you think? I'm sure that they wonder where all the elfs are to help them? So, what about giving them a small present too? Just to show that you appreciate what they do all day long? Wouldn't that be a fantastic idea? ****** December 23 Let's go back to 100 years ago  References: Redlands Daily Facts December 23, 1919 was a Tuesday This date was 36,525 days ago December 23rd 2020 is on a Wednesday Someone born on this date is 100 years old ****** December 24 Christmas Eve Silent Night Mike Oldfield References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hYhUpnjFv4 Happy Holidays, everyone! I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful time these next days. Have fun and enjoy every moment with family and friends. Thank you so much for reading my posts! Ute
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