Dec 16, 2011 |
Here’s some fun and interesting facts about Christmas and decking the halls:
It is believed that Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in one month.
Reindeer didn’t accompany a chubby Santa Claus until 1809, when introduced by Washington Irving.
In the Middle Ages, some people would light a huge candle on Christmas Eve. If the candle burned out before the end of Christmas Day, it superstitiously foretold of bad luck for the coming year.
According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” as sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time: over 50 million copies worldwide.
“The Homecoming: A Christmas Special” was written for television by Earl Hamner, Jr. It was based on his novel Spencer’s Mountain, a fictionalized account of his childhood. It became the pilot for the long-running show, “The Waltons”.
There are approximately 60 calories in a standard candy cane.
It is believed that Romans invented the Fruitcake in the 1400s as a way of preserving dried fruits and nuts so they wouldn’t spoil.
In 1510, the first written record of a decorated Christmas Tree came from Riga, Latvia. The tree was decorated with artificial roses.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924 and is considered by many to be the official kick-off to the Holiday Season.
The idea of Santa Claus is based on the real Saint Nicholas, born in Fourth Century Asia Minor. Since then, his legend has remained as a kind, gentle-hearted gift giver who joyously put others’ needs before his own.
Some elements of the Christmas celebration actually began as pagan rituals; those in December celebrated “Light and Life”. The Early Church chose December 25th to celebrate in order to incorporate some of those elements in celebrating The Light and Life of Jesus Christ.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet debuted December 18, 1892 in St. Petersburg.
The three most popular Christmas gifts are clothes (especially socks and underwear), jewelry and money/gift cards.
The three most-watched Christmas movies are “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), “White Christmas” (1954) and “A Christmas Story” (1983).
Christmas is the second-most celebrated holiday in the world.
The first is New Year’s.
Nov 18, 2011 |
So last night was yet another venture into the otherworld known as Midnight Movie Premiere. That’s a story all its own.
We rode down with one group of friends to a movie theatre just over a half-hour away. We met up with another friend and decided to ride with her on the way back.
Poor Baylee! I think I kept intimidating her with my Back-Seat Driver impersonations: “Oh, Baylee, you’re a great driver, but please don’t tailgate.” (We were a good four car lengths behind any other vehicle.) “I hate driving in the fog, Baylee. I hate it!” (Visibility was at least a half mile or more, so we were fine.) After that, I did it to tease her just ‘cuz I could. “Baylee, you’re swerving.” “Baylee, look out.” “Baylee, do you want me to shut up now?”
Now, I’ve made this drive probably thousands of times over the last 20+ years. I went to University in that area. My brother used to live 3 miles away from the theatre. I can navigate these roads and the freeway without even thinking…
Unless I’ve been awake for more than 21 hours. Unless there’s a bit of fog and lot of conversation to distract me.
Get where I’m going with this? I navigated us about 20 minutes too far east. “It’s coming up. I know this road. We’re on the 210 East, so we’ll meet up with the 15 North any second now.” “Yup, any second now.” “Anyyy second noww…”
We realized we’d gone too far when we finally saw the sign proudly announcing we weren’t that far from Palm Springs. Uhm, yeah. I’ve navigated us wayyy too east. Time to backtrack.
Baylee good-naturedly made the U-turn and soon (soon is a relative term here, as we should have already been home by now) we found our way back to known territory heading north.
Baylee gave an audible sigh and said, “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Why?” I gasped. “You’re not the one who sent us so far off the beaten trek.”
“No, it’s not that,” she offered. “You’re fine. This has been a great drive. I love driving.”
“Then what??”
She sighed again just as we merged with the 15 North.
“Every time I make the drive home, other people get to head to Ontario down the Hill. I have to follow the signs leading to Barstow.”
Nov 18, 2011 |
1. Movies will never be as good as books.
2. Friends are as important as family.
3. There’s more to life than a paycheck, or lack thereof.
4. However, a paycheck can make life a little easier.
5. God is in control. Always.
6. God may not provide in the way I want, but always in the way I need.
7. Some of my most important friends are the ones I haven’t physically met yet.
8. It’s always colder in winter. This should not be news.
9. Laptop chargers are awesome.
10. Social media should not be a place to publicly vent a private matter.
11. Books are best in hardcopy.
12. Deep red is one of the best colors ever.
13. Classical music will never go out of style.
14. Christmas Spirit should be year-round. Christmas decorating, apparently, should not.
15. Thanksgiving is an attitude, not a day.
16. I may not be perfect; but I’m the perfect Me at this moment in time.
17. Chocolate covered orange jellies are bliss.
18. Crescent rolls are very versatile.
19. Midnight movie premieres are incredibly fun.
20. The morning after… notsomuch.
21. Blogging is a job.
22. Sometimes this job doesn’t pay enough.
23. Sometimes this job pays bonuses.
24. My child will always be my child, no matter how old she gets.
25. My mommy will always be my mommy, no matter how old I get.
