'Tis The Season - A Special Gift

A Special Gift
From http://www.24kvintageart.com

"Christmas Countdown Vintage Christmas"

"Christmas Countdown PDF E-Book: This fascinating Christmas countdown collection explores a different aspect of the history and traditions of Christmas. Each day, starting on December 1st and continuing through to Christmas, features an article about the origins of Christmas traditions, wonderful poems from earlier centuries and beautiful vintage Christmas artwork and illustrations from postcards and prints.

There are authentic Christmas recipes from times past, from medieval and Victorian times and beautiful desktop wallpapers featuring vintage art and antique art reproductions that you can download."

Go to for your special gift: http://www.24kvintageart.com/library/christmas-countdown.html


While looking for something else that I had stored on my computer I just happen to come across this great e-book that I had downloaded some time ago. I hope you will enjoy it.

"A Day Of Infamy"

 December 7, 1941, Sunday at 7:55 AM
Attack On Pearl Harbor 

"The staggering loss of life to US forces was over 2,400 with more than 2,000 others wounded. Indeed the largest total killed in one day/one engagement with an enemy force until the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Japanese had inflicted the worst defeat in American military history upon our forces. Hawaii was a US territory at the time and not yet a state. Another big difference from 9/11 to note is that most of these casualties were members of the armed services and not civilians." Source: http://www.pearlharborday.org/

1941 was a long time ago and most of the service personnel that survived the Pearl Harbor attack have since died but not all. I for one still have relatives that served during WWII. To them I give my sincere gratitude for all they did.

USS Arizona
Over 1,000 Sailors Are Entombed Under This Memorial

The Day Of Infamy
By Tiffini Bankos

        That fateful day, in December

        Is a day for all, to remember

        For it is the day we remember the lives that were lost at sea

       A day that still lives, in infamy

       The damage that has been done

       The battles that have been won

      We owe our thanks to those who gave their lives so we could be free

       On that day of infamy

        So now at night we pray

        For those who died that fateful day

Tis The Season - Christmas Quiz

In my searching and plowing through many sites and pages to find information, facts and fun stuff to post this month, I came across this Christmas Quiz. It is provided by TLC.

The Ultimate Christmas Quiz

I wish you much luck in trying to pass this one. I funked it miserably. Better do some more research and study what I find then maybe I can pass it.

Not as easy as you may think. 

Many more gifts in the form of post to come so stay tuned. There is no telling what I will come up with next for my Christmas gift to you.

It's The Season - Christmas Tree

Oh! Christmas Tree
Oh! Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree can be real or artificial. It doesn't really make any difference because it is the joy and blessings behind the Christmas tree that carries so much meaning.

Until I was 21 we always celebrated Christmas at my Grandparents house. I can remember how thrilled  and elated I was to be able to help my Grandmother decorate the tree on Christmas eve. That's right. My Grandmother never put up the Christmas tree until Christmas eve. And, it was always a real fir tree.

Now, they are put up way before Christmas. The reason must be to hurry up and bring on the joy and the wonder of the Christmas season. You can't put up a Christmas tree without having a smile on your face and feeling this great inner joy. Well, unless those dang lights are so tangled up you get so frustrated and throw them in the trash and go get some more. Been there - done that. Now I just leave them on my artificial tree.

The tradition of putting up and decorating a tree for Christmas goes way back to the 16th century. That's a long time, folks.

And, did you know a star or angel is also traditional. They represent the Star of Bethlehem and the band of angels at the nativity.

I found some very interesting tid-bits about the origin and history at this site Christmas Tree Farm Network.
Worth the read.



“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other” ~~ Burton Hills

It's The Season - Hanukkah

Hanukkah also romanized as Chanukah
8 Day Festival of Lights

Festival of Lights is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple. It begins on the eve of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev.   






According to chabad.org, Hanukkah for 2010 is Dec. 1st - Dec. 9th. This is also where I got the information for most of this post.

The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukiah, one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The typical Menorah consists of 9 branches. Uncontaminated olive oil was used




More than twenty-one centuries ago, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who sought to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.

Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality.




Source for most of this post:
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm

 

 Happy Hanukkah