by 5 people |
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Counting down, creatively
- 12 drummers drumming
- 11 pipers piping
- 10 lords a-leaping
- Nine ladies dancing
- Eight maids a-milking
- Seven swans a-swimming
- Six geese a-laying
- Five golden rings
- Four calling birds
- Three French hens
- Two turtle doves
- A partridge in a pear tree
The One Book You Need to Read
I reread this text every year
Charles Dickens's holiday page-turner, A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843. It's been made into a movie. It's been adapted into a play -- in grade school, I played the role of Tiny Tim. And it's a book with one of the best first sentences ever."Marley was dead: to begin with."
One Christmas, years ago, a relative gifted me a copy if the book featuring black-and-white and color illustrations by one Arthur Rackham. For as long as I can remember, I've returned to the text every year, usually reading the book in one or two sittings on Christmas Eve Day.
If you've never read this book before, you ought to. It's amazing.
In Search of... Santa
Nicholas: The Epic Journey from Saint to Santa Claus
Amazon Price: $18.96 (as of 07/13/2009) 
Highly Recommended Reads
I also suggest these specific titles
Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas (Stories Behind Books)
Amazon Price: $12.47 (as of 07/13/2009)
Advent and Christmas With Thomas Merton (Redemptorist Pastoral Publication)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Advent And Christmas Wisdom From Henri J.m. Nouwen: Daily Scripture And Prayers Together With Nouwen's Own Words (Redemptorist Pastoral Publication)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Television Traditions
These seasonal specials are, well, special
In 1964, an animation production company by the name of Rankin/Bass Productions came out with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." For the next 21 years, they would develop stop-motion and cel animation shows focusing on various holidays and iconic figures such as the Little Drummer Boy and Jack Frost.A book has been written about the specials, and they are certainly a holiday staple. Must-see TV. And their approach to animation is friendly yet fine art.
If you watch nothing else this Christmas, watch these.
Music to My Earmuffs
Tunes to go with tinsel
Now That's What I Call Christmas!
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Noel
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
What A Night! A Christmas Album
Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 07/13/2009)
Time-Life Music: Treasury of Christmas - Holiday Memories
Amazon Price: $19.98 (as of 07/13/2009)
A Very Special Christmas
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Fa La La, Fotos!
Seasonal snapshots, via Flickr
The Vandehey's playi...
Daniel testing Chris...
Daniel doing somethi...
Tony playing with Ch...
Dennis and Daniel pl...
Tony's first phone
The One Story You Need to Read
If you don't have time for A Christmas Carol
I also reread O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" every year. O. Henry is a surprisingly astute writer, and he penned this very piece at Pete's Tavern in New York City. Books About Christmas
New and best-selling titles
The Christmas Sweater
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 07/13/2009)
A Christmas Carol
Amazon Price: $0.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/13/2009)
A Christmas Carol
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
A Cedar Cove Christmas
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/13/2009)
Reindeer Names
Appellations for Santa's animals
- Dasher
- Dancer
- Prancer
- Vixen
- Comet
- Cupid
- Donner
- Blitzen
Movies with Mirth and Magic
These are my favorite yuletide films and flicks
A Christmas Story (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $24.49 (as of 07/13/2009)
Miracle on 34th Street
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Horton Hears a Who
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Special Edition)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
The Nutcracker / Baryshnikov, Kirkland, Charmoli
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
It's a Wonderful Life
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Other Holiday Lenses
- Christmas Beers and Ales
- If you like seasonal beers, you'll love this seasonal lens
- Christmas Cookies
- Recipes, books and tools for the kitchen
- Holiday Cooking Tips
- Feast your eyes on this lens!
- Holiday Music That Won't Kill You
- The season doesn't need to be all "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer"
- Chanukah Holiday Shopping Made Simple
- Get prepared for eight nights of presents
- New Years 2006
- Should auld acquaintance be forgot
- A Festivus for the Rest of Us
- Remember: Tinsel is distracting!
