Creating a Timeline for Your Christmas Dinner Will Make it Easier and Stress-free During This Busy Time of Year
A Timeline for Your Christmas Dinner
Creating a timeline for your Christmas Dinner will make it easier and stress-free during this busy time of year. If your make brunch instead of dinner or have your dinner on Christmas Eve just move adjust the timeline ahead slightly to suit your specific needs.
Late November
Invite all of your guests. Even if they “know” to come each year it’s nice to invite/remind them. You’ll want to do this several weeks out because people plan early for the big day.
If the dinner is a potluck, keep a list of who is bringing what for the feast. (Tip: in the event they can't come at the last minute have a similar dish you can substitute if necessary.)
Determine any specific dietary needs for your guests and plan for this.
Make lists – a grocery list split into nonperishable and perishable items, decorating, house/yard cleaning and food preparation. Create a menu list and timetable for when to do what on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (this will eliminate forgetting to serve the vegetables, etc.)
If you’re serving a fresh turkey or a honey baked ham, order it now.
Take your shopping lists and check the weekly newspapers for specials and note what products are on sale on what store on each list. You can buy the nonperishable items on your regular shopping trips. By mid-December you’ll have most of that shopping completed.
Late November/Early December
Decide what table linens, china, crystal and serving pieces you’ll be using. (Tip: You can also do this when you take out the linens, dishes, etc. for your Thanksgiving Dinner if you’re also hosting that holiday.) Send your table linens out for cleaning or pressing if necessary, or, launder and iron them at home. Buy any necessary items. (Tip – Use plastic cups for cocktails, & Christmas themed paper plates for appetizers & dessert.)
Create any decorations you want to make. Pull out of storage any of your other Christmas decorations and lights. If you’re planning to use a floral centerpiece, order it now and see if they’ll deliver it. (Tip: Try to use your centerpiece and other decorations more than once if you’re hosting other parties.)
Decorate your home and outside. You might also want to put lights outside in your backyard also. I have the little white twinkle lights around the square columns in my patio and I light them whenever I entertain (even indoors) because they look very festive.
Buy your tree and decorate it. You may be a family that prefers to do a day or two before the actual holiday, or, even on Christmas Eve. I do it as soon as I get home from my Thanksgiving Holiday – I LOVE the holidays. It also stays up through “little Christmas,” January 6th.)
Mid December
Finish shopping for all your nonperishable items, including, film, batteries, candles, wine, soda, etc.
Complete your decorations and major house cleaning. Make sure your back and front yards are presentable
Clear your refrigerator out so you’ll have room for the extra groceries.
Create any favors, place cards and similar items. Wrap any gifts you’ll give to your dinner guests.
Order any fancy desserts or anything else you need for your dinner table.
Bake and freeze or store any dishes that can be prepared ahead.
The Week Before Christmas or Early Christmas Week
Purchase your perishable food items, trying to avoid going to the grocery store on Christmas Eve. (Tip – I’ve always found Tuesday and Wednesday early evenings the best time to shop for groceries.)
Verify any dishes your guests are bringing if it's a potluck
Again, bake and freeze or store any dishes that can be prepared ahead.
Dec. 23rd
Clean your produce, bake the pies and cakes and similar items. Actually, these this day is the best for cooking anything that keeps until Christmas Day
Clean your house
Thaw the turkey, if necessary
December 24th
Pick up any last minute items (the fresh turkey, bakery items, Prepare any other dishes that will keep until the next day
Set your table & bar area, buffet, dessert serving areas, etc
Chill the wine, champagne, sparkling cider, etc.
Do any last minute household chores (Tip: check the guest bathrooms to be sure they’re “good to go” and that your guest closet looks nice and has room for your guests coats and jackets.)
Christmas morning
Get the turkey roasting (or BBQ, frying in oil, etc) to fit your day’s timetable
Double check your table setting and add the necessary items
Cut the bread and cover and place on the table (or rolls, etc.)
Prepare your appetizers if you’re serving them
Prepare the remaining dishes you’ll need for the day
Clean up wrapping paper, etc. if you opened gifts at your home
Do any last minute dusting, etc. if necessary
Leave enough time for yourself to get dressed, do your hair & make up
Have a Merry Christmas!
Showing posts with label JINGLE BELL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JINGLE BELL. Show all posts
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Christmas Trees and Decorations in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana has several establishments where a customer can purchase their Christmas decorations. These decorations range from the perfect Christmas tree, to holiday towels for the bathroom and anything in-between. A few of these establishments are Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Stine’s and Greengate Garden Center.
Wal-mart has several locations throughout the city. One such location is 3415 Highway 14 E., which can be seen from Loop210. At this location, one can find holiday décor such as stockings, Christmas trees, inflatables, Christmas bouquets, lawn décor and Santa suits. Decorations such as figurines, glass platters, mugs, snack stacks, snow globes, music boxes, cardholders, photo albums and personalized decorations can also be purchased here. Wal-mart also has wreaths, ornaments, tree skirts, and Christmas music and gift baskets. For more information, call 377-477-7799 or visit www.walmart.com.
Kmart, located at 4070 Ryan Street, can also outfit a complete home for the Christmas holidays. Customers here will find home decorations such as tree toppers, garland, wreaths, tree skirts, stocking hangers, stockings, snow globes, decorative trees, novelty and stuffed animals, Christmas village pieces, electronics and animation pieces, holiday pillows and throws and holiday bath items. Kmart also has yard decorations such as lighted sculptures, lighted trees, lighted candy canes, inflatable characters, holographic decoration and projections as all sorts of lights. For more information, call 377-477-9665 or visit www.kmart.com.
Target, located at 1720 Prien Lake Road, offers its customers Christmas trees, some of which are pre-lit, décor classics, trim the tree items such as ornaments, tree toppers, tree skirts, garland and ribbon. Target also offers Trim the Home items such as stockings and hangers, wreaths and garland, decorative accents, snow globes, nativities, licensed décor, wall décor, Christmas cards and ribbon. Customers here will also find holiday food gifts, themed candles, creative candlelight, Holiday Velvet Décor and Holiday Chenille. For more information, call 377-474-2391 or visit www.target.com.
Home Depot, located at 3200 E. Prien Lake Road, is another location, which has a variety of Christmas decorations available to its customers. These decorations include fresh cut Christmas trees with stands, artificial trees that range from 4’ to 15’, inflatable yard decorations, fresh cut garland, gift bags, pre-lit garland, lights, animated figurines, snow globes, 3-D yard ornaments, grapevine deer as well as wreaths and mistletoe. For more information, call 337-475-9998 or visit www.homedepot.com.
Lowe’s, located at 2800 Derek Drive also carries Christmas decorations. Customers here will find themed Christmas trees, string lights, illuminated garland, pre-lit trees, wreaths, inflatable outdoor décor, holographics, fiber optic figurines, animated figurines and other decorations such as acrylic snowmen, 3-D decorations and more. Tree stands, tabletop décor, poinsettias and wreath storage bags are also available here. For more information, call 337-474-8220 or visit www.lowes.com.
Stine Lumber Yard and Garden Center, located at 1313 Country Club Road also has Christmas trees, fresh cut and artificial as well as ornaments, outdoor décor, wreaths, poinsettias and more. For more information, call 337-477-7512 or visit www.stinelumber.com.
Greengate Garden Center, located at 4226 Lake Street is one more location where shopping for that perfect Christmas décor can be accomplished. Here customers will find Christmas trees and more. For more information, call 337-477-6080 or visit www.ggate.com.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/15222/christmas_trees_and_decorations_in.html?page=2&cat=8
Wal-mart has several locations throughout the city. One such location is 3415 Highway 14 E., which can be seen from Loop210. At this location, one can find holiday décor such as stockings, Christmas trees, inflatables, Christmas bouquets, lawn décor and Santa suits. Decorations such as figurines, glass platters, mugs, snack stacks, snow globes, music boxes, cardholders, photo albums and personalized decorations can also be purchased here. Wal-mart also has wreaths, ornaments, tree skirts, and Christmas music and gift baskets. For more information, call 377-477-7799 or visit www.walmart.com.
Kmart, located at 4070 Ryan Street, can also outfit a complete home for the Christmas holidays. Customers here will find home decorations such as tree toppers, garland, wreaths, tree skirts, stocking hangers, stockings, snow globes, decorative trees, novelty and stuffed animals, Christmas village pieces, electronics and animation pieces, holiday pillows and throws and holiday bath items. Kmart also has yard decorations such as lighted sculptures, lighted trees, lighted candy canes, inflatable characters, holographic decoration and projections as all sorts of lights. For more information, call 377-477-9665 or visit www.kmart.com.
Target, located at 1720 Prien Lake Road, offers its customers Christmas trees, some of which are pre-lit, décor classics, trim the tree items such as ornaments, tree toppers, tree skirts, garland and ribbon. Target also offers Trim the Home items such as stockings and hangers, wreaths and garland, decorative accents, snow globes, nativities, licensed décor, wall décor, Christmas cards and ribbon. Customers here will also find holiday food gifts, themed candles, creative candlelight, Holiday Velvet Décor and Holiday Chenille. For more information, call 377-474-2391 or visit www.target.com.
Home Depot, located at 3200 E. Prien Lake Road, is another location, which has a variety of Christmas decorations available to its customers. These decorations include fresh cut Christmas trees with stands, artificial trees that range from 4’ to 15’, inflatable yard decorations, fresh cut garland, gift bags, pre-lit garland, lights, animated figurines, snow globes, 3-D yard ornaments, grapevine deer as well as wreaths and mistletoe. For more information, call 337-475-9998 or visit www.homedepot.com.
Lowe’s, located at 2800 Derek Drive also carries Christmas decorations. Customers here will find themed Christmas trees, string lights, illuminated garland, pre-lit trees, wreaths, inflatable outdoor décor, holographics, fiber optic figurines, animated figurines and other decorations such as acrylic snowmen, 3-D decorations and more. Tree stands, tabletop décor, poinsettias and wreath storage bags are also available here. For more information, call 337-474-8220 or visit www.lowes.com.
Stine Lumber Yard and Garden Center, located at 1313 Country Club Road also has Christmas trees, fresh cut and artificial as well as ornaments, outdoor décor, wreaths, poinsettias and more. For more information, call 337-477-7512 or visit www.stinelumber.com.
Greengate Garden Center, located at 4226 Lake Street is one more location where shopping for that perfect Christmas décor can be accomplished. Here customers will find Christmas trees and more. For more information, call 337-477-6080 or visit www.ggate.com.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/15222/christmas_trees_and_decorations_in.html?page=2&cat=8
Christmas Special: How Not to Cut Down a Christmas Tree
The festive holiday season is upon us. Streets and stores are decorated with festive holiday lights and ornaments. Homes across the world are decorated with strings of lights, ornaments, giant snow globes, lighted reindeer, Santa Claus and Christmas trees.
Christmas trees come in a number of forms these days. The live evergreen tree is the classic holiday favorite. There are trees to fit every taste, Frasier Fir, Balsam, Scotch Pine, long needles, short needles, tall, short, skinny, fat and even artificial trees in unnatural colors. There are all kinds of Christmas Trees. Cutting down a fresh tree at a tree farm has an old fashioned, romantic association.
Cutting down a Christmas tree at a tree farm can make a wonderful family outing, involving everyone in the choice of the tree and the of action bringing it home. Tree farms signify a type of commitment to the tree not found in a pre-cut tree lot, garden nurseries or at home stores.
This is the story about why cutting down your own Christmas Tree may not be for everybody.
We were newlyweds and our first married Christmas was fast approaching. I had told my husband that I would like to get a fresh cut tree for Christmas. I meant really fresh cut, the kind you cut down yourself. There was a tree farm a little over an hour's drive north of us. We agreed that it would be cool to drive up to the tree farm and cut down our own tree.
That is, I thought we agreed. What really happened is that my husband verbally agreed and then did exactly what he wanted to do, which did not include cutting down a Christmas Tree.
Mid December was upon us and still no tree. When I told my husband that if he didn't want to cut down a tree, I would go do it myself, he surprised me by saying okay. He supplied me with a small dull ax, and off I went on my Christmas Tree Adventure.
My route to the tree farm was not a straight one. A detour to visit a friend and a little wine delayed my arrival at the farm in the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin.The sunlight was dimming when I arrived at the tree farm. There was about a half hour to cut down a tree before closing. Boldly, I trekked through the forest of Christmas Trees, not at all concerned that I was l alone in a wooded area. A tree of the right size came into view, and I decided that was the tree for me. That is when I found out that cutting down a Christmas tree is not as easy as it looks. Especially when the ax is small and dull.
Cut it down, I did, in spite of the fact that it resisted my every cut. Then came the next part, actually getting the tree to the car. Now the light was really dim, it was cold, and I just wanted to get the tree in the trunk of the car and get home. The tree was heavier then it looked as I dragged it laboriously through the snow. Eventually I got it to the car. Anxiety set in, as sounds of people leaving and "Good Nights" filled the forest.
Somehow, I hoisted the tree, which was getting bigger and heavier by the second, into the car trunk. The trunk popped wide open with the fluffy tree inside so it had to be tide it down. I took a piece of heavy twine and started to loop it through the loop in the trunk, designed for just that. That is when things took a turn for the worse.
I stuck my finger into the hole to loop the twine. When I tried to pull out my finger, I could not. My finger was stuck in the trunk, with my hand held high in the air, above my head. It was now dark. I tugged and pulled and could not get my finger out of the trunk. I was alone in the tree section that I was in, could see no one, and they could not see me. It was now dark, but I had cleverly left my car's headlights on for light. With the setting of the sun, any warmth left in the day was gone. This would be a silly way to die. I was starting to feel trapped and fearful.
Didn't the staff patrol the grounds before leaving? It didn't seem so. I could still hear vehicles starting and people calling out "Good Night" to each other. The forest started to feel ever more deserted, and I was now cold and frightened.
Panicky, I now started calling out "Help, Help". My voice sounded very small in the dense forest, and I despaired that anyone would ever hear me calling.
Finally a man appeared with a flashlight. I explained my dilemma, and he scratched his head, puzzled. Just how do you get a finger out of a trunk? I was silently praying that his solution would not involve an Ax. He went to get help, and shortly three men appeared. As they approached, my finger magically came out the loop. So they never had to actually do anything, but it was comforting to know they would have tried.
They helped me tie the tree into the trunk, I thanked them and they walked away. I got into the car and turned the ignition switch and,....nothing. The battery was dead because I had cleverly left the lights on. One man was still visible and I called him. He had to get his truck and returned to give my battery a jump to start the car.
The prize still hadn't been paid for, so I drove to the barn. The staff gathered in the cozy barn, drinking hot cocoa. When I entered the barn I was greeted with hoots of laughter, 'Is this the lady who got her finger stuck in the trunk?" I smiled and put on a brave face, but didn't find it all that hilarious. Red faced and mortified, I paid for the tree and left.
On the long, cold, dark ride home, I never seemed to warm up. It was a miserable hour's drive.. I arrived home chilled and more then a little cranky.
My darling husband was good enough to get the tree from the car to our fifth floor apartment. There was an elevator, so his contribution was nothing compared to mine.
The next day, we put the Christmas Tree up. The tree was cantankerous to the end, resisting the tree stand, being difficult to put up. My husband straightened the tree as much as he could, looked at it critically, and said "The trunk is crooked." As you can imagine, I now wanted to throw the tree at him.
We made a decision, then and there, that for the rest of our married life, all Christmas Tree decisions would be up to him.
He skipped the romance of cutting down the trees himself and always purchased fresh trees at the local tree lot. Did I mention that having your husband go the tree lot to purchase a tree and bring it home is romantic?.
Enjoy the spirit of Xmas during the holiday season.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/465915/how_not_to_cut_down_a_christmas_tree.html?page=3&cat=30
Christmas trees come in a number of forms these days. The live evergreen tree is the classic holiday favorite. There are trees to fit every taste, Frasier Fir, Balsam, Scotch Pine, long needles, short needles, tall, short, skinny, fat and even artificial trees in unnatural colors. There are all kinds of Christmas Trees. Cutting down a fresh tree at a tree farm has an old fashioned, romantic association.
Cutting down a Christmas tree at a tree farm can make a wonderful family outing, involving everyone in the choice of the tree and the of action bringing it home. Tree farms signify a type of commitment to the tree not found in a pre-cut tree lot, garden nurseries or at home stores.
This is the story about why cutting down your own Christmas Tree may not be for everybody.
We were newlyweds and our first married Christmas was fast approaching. I had told my husband that I would like to get a fresh cut tree for Christmas. I meant really fresh cut, the kind you cut down yourself. There was a tree farm a little over an hour's drive north of us. We agreed that it would be cool to drive up to the tree farm and cut down our own tree.
That is, I thought we agreed. What really happened is that my husband verbally agreed and then did exactly what he wanted to do, which did not include cutting down a Christmas Tree.
Mid December was upon us and still no tree. When I told my husband that if he didn't want to cut down a tree, I would go do it myself, he surprised me by saying okay. He supplied me with a small dull ax, and off I went on my Christmas Tree Adventure.
My route to the tree farm was not a straight one. A detour to visit a friend and a little wine delayed my arrival at the farm in the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin.The sunlight was dimming when I arrived at the tree farm. There was about a half hour to cut down a tree before closing. Boldly, I trekked through the forest of Christmas Trees, not at all concerned that I was l alone in a wooded area. A tree of the right size came into view, and I decided that was the tree for me. That is when I found out that cutting down a Christmas tree is not as easy as it looks. Especially when the ax is small and dull.
Cut it down, I did, in spite of the fact that it resisted my every cut. Then came the next part, actually getting the tree to the car. Now the light was really dim, it was cold, and I just wanted to get the tree in the trunk of the car and get home. The tree was heavier then it looked as I dragged it laboriously through the snow. Eventually I got it to the car. Anxiety set in, as sounds of people leaving and "Good Nights" filled the forest.
Somehow, I hoisted the tree, which was getting bigger and heavier by the second, into the car trunk. The trunk popped wide open with the fluffy tree inside so it had to be tide it down. I took a piece of heavy twine and started to loop it through the loop in the trunk, designed for just that. That is when things took a turn for the worse.
I stuck my finger into the hole to loop the twine. When I tried to pull out my finger, I could not. My finger was stuck in the trunk, with my hand held high in the air, above my head. It was now dark. I tugged and pulled and could not get my finger out of the trunk. I was alone in the tree section that I was in, could see no one, and they could not see me. It was now dark, but I had cleverly left my car's headlights on for light. With the setting of the sun, any warmth left in the day was gone. This would be a silly way to die. I was starting to feel trapped and fearful.
Didn't the staff patrol the grounds before leaving? It didn't seem so. I could still hear vehicles starting and people calling out "Good Night" to each other. The forest started to feel ever more deserted, and I was now cold and frightened.
Panicky, I now started calling out "Help, Help". My voice sounded very small in the dense forest, and I despaired that anyone would ever hear me calling.
Finally a man appeared with a flashlight. I explained my dilemma, and he scratched his head, puzzled. Just how do you get a finger out of a trunk? I was silently praying that his solution would not involve an Ax. He went to get help, and shortly three men appeared. As they approached, my finger magically came out the loop. So they never had to actually do anything, but it was comforting to know they would have tried.
They helped me tie the tree into the trunk, I thanked them and they walked away. I got into the car and turned the ignition switch and,....nothing. The battery was dead because I had cleverly left the lights on. One man was still visible and I called him. He had to get his truck and returned to give my battery a jump to start the car.
The prize still hadn't been paid for, so I drove to the barn. The staff gathered in the cozy barn, drinking hot cocoa. When I entered the barn I was greeted with hoots of laughter, 'Is this the lady who got her finger stuck in the trunk?" I smiled and put on a brave face, but didn't find it all that hilarious. Red faced and mortified, I paid for the tree and left.
On the long, cold, dark ride home, I never seemed to warm up. It was a miserable hour's drive.. I arrived home chilled and more then a little cranky.
My darling husband was good enough to get the tree from the car to our fifth floor apartment. There was an elevator, so his contribution was nothing compared to mine.
The next day, we put the Christmas Tree up. The tree was cantankerous to the end, resisting the tree stand, being difficult to put up. My husband straightened the tree as much as he could, looked at it critically, and said "The trunk is crooked." As you can imagine, I now wanted to throw the tree at him.
We made a decision, then and there, that for the rest of our married life, all Christmas Tree decisions would be up to him.
He skipped the romance of cutting down the trees himself and always purchased fresh trees at the local tree lot. Did I mention that having your husband go the tree lot to purchase a tree and bring it home is romantic?.
Enjoy the spirit of Xmas during the holiday season.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/465915/how_not_to_cut_down_a_christmas_tree.html?page=3&cat=30
My Christmas Tree Adventure
For many people, the day after Thanksgiving brings a fun family tradition. No, not shopping at the crack of dawn, but Christmas tree hunting. And everyone knows that U-Cut trees are best. So after a couple of hours in freezing cold temps, when I said I found the most perfect, absolutely be-a-u-tiful tree the lot had to offer, my husband kept his skepticism to himself and chopped it down.
So now 'twas the fourth of December and our Christmas tree had been sitting in the back yard since the day after Thanksgiving.
Since then, my husband had thrown out his back and I, measuring up at a towering 5'1", decided to haul the eight foot tree in all by myself instead of patiently waiting for his back to get better - or for him to at least get back from watching the Lions game to supervise. How hard could it be? The poor thing was sitting under three inches of snow and trussed up like a Christmas goose!
I was slightly dismayed to find its resting spot located directly under a leaky rain gutter, but undaunted, took a hammer and began to chip away at the ice attaching the tree firmly to the ground. As my eight year-old stepdaughter cheered (laughed her little butt off), I managed to maneuver the thing upright.
Since reliving this is painful in itself, I'll skip the couple of pulled muscles and few thousand strategically placed pine needles.
Once the tree was snug in it's "easy" to use stand (the kind with the vicious-looking spike that miraculously holds the tree in place), I took a step back to admire my handiwork. Looked ok to me. So buying a tree that tall doesn't really allow for a star. The star doesn't necessarily have to go on top. I cut the twine that bound the branches back.
Immediately the stupid thing started to tip forward, threatening to squash me. As I hugged the eight foot tall tree, my mouth filled with pine needles, I realized I had a problem. My tree had scoliosis (severe curvature of the trunk).
I ended up leaning the thing drunkenly against the wall, noting that it not only had scoliosis, but that the trunk was not even (preventing it from sitting in the stand correctly) and it also had mange.
This was not the tree I picked out. Someone had to have snuck into my back yard and swapped their cruddy tree with my perfect one. Animals must have nested in it and chewed half its branches off. A dog must have dragged it away, rolled on it, buried it, dug it up again, and put it back in the exact same spot outside my door.
To make a long story short, we took it back to the tree farm, had them cut a couple feet off the bottom, re-drilled it and called it good. But the moral of this story is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And it's usually a good idea for the beholder to get a second opinion.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16249/my_christmas_tree_adventure.html?page=2&cat=60
So now 'twas the fourth of December and our Christmas tree had been sitting in the back yard since the day after Thanksgiving.
Since then, my husband had thrown out his back and I, measuring up at a towering 5'1", decided to haul the eight foot tree in all by myself instead of patiently waiting for his back to get better - or for him to at least get back from watching the Lions game to supervise. How hard could it be? The poor thing was sitting under three inches of snow and trussed up like a Christmas goose!
I was slightly dismayed to find its resting spot located directly under a leaky rain gutter, but undaunted, took a hammer and began to chip away at the ice attaching the tree firmly to the ground. As my eight year-old stepdaughter cheered (laughed her little butt off), I managed to maneuver the thing upright.
Since reliving this is painful in itself, I'll skip the couple of pulled muscles and few thousand strategically placed pine needles.
Once the tree was snug in it's "easy" to use stand (the kind with the vicious-looking spike that miraculously holds the tree in place), I took a step back to admire my handiwork. Looked ok to me. So buying a tree that tall doesn't really allow for a star. The star doesn't necessarily have to go on top. I cut the twine that bound the branches back.
Immediately the stupid thing started to tip forward, threatening to squash me. As I hugged the eight foot tall tree, my mouth filled with pine needles, I realized I had a problem. My tree had scoliosis (severe curvature of the trunk).
I ended up leaning the thing drunkenly against the wall, noting that it not only had scoliosis, but that the trunk was not even (preventing it from sitting in the stand correctly) and it also had mange.
This was not the tree I picked out. Someone had to have snuck into my back yard and swapped their cruddy tree with my perfect one. Animals must have nested in it and chewed half its branches off. A dog must have dragged it away, rolled on it, buried it, dug it up again, and put it back in the exact same spot outside my door.
To make a long story short, we took it back to the tree farm, had them cut a couple feet off the bottom, re-drilled it and called it good. But the moral of this story is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And it's usually a good idea for the beholder to get a second opinion.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16249/my_christmas_tree_adventure.html?page=2&cat=60
Christmas Special: Christmas Carols: The History of These Timeless Songs
"A Merry Christmas, uncle! God save you! cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the intimation he had of his approach.
"Bah!" said Scrooge, "humbug"
As the pages turn in this delightful story written by Charles Dickens there is the written sound of a Christmas Carol:
"God, bless you. merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!"
"Silent Night'', "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", "Joy to the World', "Away in the Manger', and other beautiful carols are the Christmas songs we know. Although a carol was a special form of song, today the name it is used for most Christmas songs.
The word ' carol came from the Ancient Greek word 'chorus', meaning 'to dance', or a similar word meaning 'to accompany the dance on the pipes and flutes'. The Christmas carol (also called a 'noel' in French and 'villancicos' in Spanish) is a song or hymn whose lyrics are on the Christian theme and are traditionally sung during the Christmas season. The tradition of Christmas carols stems far back as far as the thirteenth century; they are based on medieval chord patterns, which give them their uniquely characteristic musical tone. .
The earliest carols celebrated any happy event or season, and not all were of a religious nature. The dance was dropped after a time. The carols told a story and sung by minstrels or by wandering musicians; they sang their verses and stanzas and their audiences joined in on the burden (the burden was like a refrain). It was only at a later period that carols became closely tied to religion and sung in churches written to tell the Biblical story and to be specifically associated with Christmas.
Most churches have special services at which carols are sung, generally combined with readings from scripture about the birth of Christ. Tradition has it that Christmas carols were introduced into church services by St Francis of Assisi in the 12th century. In the 19th centuries and onwards the popularity of Christmas carols grew in religious observances in the United States spreading their good faith. Composers like Sir Arthur Sullivan helped to popularize the Christmas carol, and it the nineteenth century, and it is in this period that gave rise to the favorite carols, "Good King Wenceslas" and "It Came upon a Midnight Clear". There is also a tradition that gave rise to performances of serious music relating to Christmas including Handel's 'Messiah' and the 'Christmas Oratorio' by Bach.
It's difficult to imagine celebrating Christmas without the music of the season. Whether we're listening to the traditional strains of Silent Night or contemporary tunes such as the 'Little Drummer Boy', speak so much of the joy and wonderment of the season as does music.
Today carols are sung by individual singers, but are also often sung by larger groups, including professionally trained choirs. In England, and some other countries there is a tradition of Christmas carolling (earlier known as wassailing), in which groups of singers travel from house to house, singing carols, for which they are often rewarded with varied favours including money (all monies contributed to charity).
We express the joy in our faith at the coming holiday season through the singing of carols. You too can join in the singing of carols on Christmas eve, either in your church, with your friends, or at home with your family. If you are not sure of the words log on 'www.christmas-carols.net' or 'www.carols.org.uk' .
"A Merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge. With and earnestness that could not be mistaken,
as he clapped him on the Back. "A Merry Christmas, my good fellow..."
NOTES:
1) Perhaps the best known Christmas carol is 'Silent Night', written in 1818 by an Austrian assistant priest Joseph Mohr. He was told the day before Christmas that the church organ was broken and would not be repaired in time for Christmas Day. Saddened, he sat down to write three stanzas that could be sung by choir to guitar music.
2) Secular songs such as "I'll be Home for Christmas" , "Jingle Bells", "We Wish you a Merry Xmas" are not true Christmas carols, though they are also popular in the period before Christmas, and should therefore be considered to be Christmas songs.. The most popular of the present day Christmas songs is "White Christmas", which was written by Irving Berlin in 1942 during the Second World War. It was made famous by Bing Crosby.
3) Some Easter carols were written, but little by little carols came to associated with the Christmas season.
4) Many Christmas traditions are relatively recent such as Santa Claus with his team of reindeer riding through the sky bear no relation to Christmas carols.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/99699/christmas_carols_the_history_of_these.html?page=3&cat=33
"Bah!" said Scrooge, "humbug"
As the pages turn in this delightful story written by Charles Dickens there is the written sound of a Christmas Carol:
"God, bless you. merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!"
"Silent Night'', "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", "Joy to the World', "Away in the Manger', and other beautiful carols are the Christmas songs we know. Although a carol was a special form of song, today the name it is used for most Christmas songs.
The word ' carol came from the Ancient Greek word 'chorus', meaning 'to dance', or a similar word meaning 'to accompany the dance on the pipes and flutes'. The Christmas carol (also called a 'noel' in French and 'villancicos' in Spanish) is a song or hymn whose lyrics are on the Christian theme and are traditionally sung during the Christmas season. The tradition of Christmas carols stems far back as far as the thirteenth century; they are based on medieval chord patterns, which give them their uniquely characteristic musical tone. .
The earliest carols celebrated any happy event or season, and not all were of a religious nature. The dance was dropped after a time. The carols told a story and sung by minstrels or by wandering musicians; they sang their verses and stanzas and their audiences joined in on the burden (the burden was like a refrain). It was only at a later period that carols became closely tied to religion and sung in churches written to tell the Biblical story and to be specifically associated with Christmas.
Most churches have special services at which carols are sung, generally combined with readings from scripture about the birth of Christ. Tradition has it that Christmas carols were introduced into church services by St Francis of Assisi in the 12th century. In the 19th centuries and onwards the popularity of Christmas carols grew in religious observances in the United States spreading their good faith. Composers like Sir Arthur Sullivan helped to popularize the Christmas carol, and it the nineteenth century, and it is in this period that gave rise to the favorite carols, "Good King Wenceslas" and "It Came upon a Midnight Clear". There is also a tradition that gave rise to performances of serious music relating to Christmas including Handel's 'Messiah' and the 'Christmas Oratorio' by Bach.
It's difficult to imagine celebrating Christmas without the music of the season. Whether we're listening to the traditional strains of Silent Night or contemporary tunes such as the 'Little Drummer Boy', speak so much of the joy and wonderment of the season as does music.
Today carols are sung by individual singers, but are also often sung by larger groups, including professionally trained choirs. In England, and some other countries there is a tradition of Christmas carolling (earlier known as wassailing), in which groups of singers travel from house to house, singing carols, for which they are often rewarded with varied favours including money (all monies contributed to charity).
We express the joy in our faith at the coming holiday season through the singing of carols. You too can join in the singing of carols on Christmas eve, either in your church, with your friends, or at home with your family. If you are not sure of the words log on 'www.christmas-carols.net' or 'www.carols.org.uk' .
"A Merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge. With and earnestness that could not be mistaken,
as he clapped him on the Back. "A Merry Christmas, my good fellow..."
NOTES:
1) Perhaps the best known Christmas carol is 'Silent Night', written in 1818 by an Austrian assistant priest Joseph Mohr. He was told the day before Christmas that the church organ was broken and would not be repaired in time for Christmas Day. Saddened, he sat down to write three stanzas that could be sung by choir to guitar music.
2) Secular songs such as "I'll be Home for Christmas" , "Jingle Bells", "We Wish you a Merry Xmas" are not true Christmas carols, though they are also popular in the period before Christmas, and should therefore be considered to be Christmas songs.. The most popular of the present day Christmas songs is "White Christmas", which was written by Irving Berlin in 1942 during the Second World War. It was made famous by Bing Crosby.
3) Some Easter carols were written, but little by little carols came to associated with the Christmas season.
4) Many Christmas traditions are relatively recent such as Santa Claus with his team of reindeer riding through the sky bear no relation to Christmas carols.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/99699/christmas_carols_the_history_of_these.html?page=3&cat=33
Christmas Special: History of Some Well-loved Christmas Carols
Do You Know How Your Christmas Carols Came About?
JINGLE BELL ROCK
Every holiday season since 1957 - the year Decca Records released the hit with crooner Bobby Helms singing the bouncy lyrics and Hank Garland on the happy guitar - "Jingle Bell Rock" has been a Christmas chestnut. Considering the song's success, one might assume its authors celebrate the holiday season with years of fat royalties. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, songwriter Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland, now an Orange Park, Fla., resident, claims that Decca Records stole "Jingle Bell Rock" and the profits it generated from him and Bobby Helms. To this day, Garland hasn't received a penny of ownership royalties.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
Noel Regney wrote the seasonal standard with Gloria Shayne, then his wife, in 1962. It was recorded by Bing Crosby and Perry Como, among others, in more than 120 versions, in musical styles ranging from jazz and New Age to funk and reggae. But Mr. Regney wrote it as a clear and plaintive plea for peace at the time of the Cuban missile crisis, in October 1962. His favorite version was Robert Goulet's. When Mr. Goulet came to the line "Pray for peace, people, everywhere," he almost shouted the words. "I am amazed that people can think they know the song - and not know it is a prayer for peace," Mr. Regney said in an interview in The New YorkRadio France.
DECK THE HALLS
The music to Deck the Halls is believed to Welsh in origin and was reputed to have come from a tune called "Nos Galan" dating back to the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century Mozart used the tune to Deck the Halls for a violin and piano duet J.P. McCaskey is sometimes credited with the lyrics of Deck the Halls but he only edited the Franklin Square Song Collection in which the lyrics were first published. The first publication date of Deck the Halls is 1881. The author is unknown but the words are said to originate in America.
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
The heart warming Christmas song Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was first published in 1943 and was immortalized by Judy Garland when she sang this song to Margaret O'Brien and brought tears to the eyes of the audience. The lyricist was Ralph Blane and the haunting music was composed by Hugh Martin. It is undoubtedly one of the saddest Christmas songs of the century.
THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ
The Christmas Waltz' s words and music were written by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne It was recorded by The Carpenters in 1978. This lesser known Christmas standard has actually been performed quite a bit over the years. This is easily the song most likely to get hummed around the office.
THE ROCKING CAROL
This carol is of Czech origin. It was collected in the early 1920 by a Miss Jacubickova as 'Hajej, nynjej' and translated (very loosely) by Percy Dearmer, for The Oxford Book of Carols in 1928. Dearmer was a clergyman and socialist with a keen interest in contemporary concerns, social gospel and rescuing neglected English carols and introducing European carols. The final line of Dearmers's version has not appealed to everyone, and some have sought to change it, e.g. to 'Son of God and Son of Man.' The tune for the carol has a close resemblance to that of another traditional lullaby, 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star', and it is possible that this carol originally accompanied cradle rocking, a custom which began in German churches in medieval times and spread from there across Europe. The carol was popularised in the English speaking world by a recording made in the 1960s by Julie Andrews.
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Angels We Have Heard on High" is an anonymous French carol that was first published in Nouveau recueil de cantiques, 1855. Many years ago, shepherds tending their flocks in the wintry hills of southern France had a custom of calling to one another on Christmas Eve, each from his own peak, singing "Gloria in excelsis Deo, gloria in excelsis Deo," just as the angels might have first announced the birth of Christ. The traditional tune the shepherds used, probably from a late Medieval Latin chorale, is the refrain of the angels We Have Heard on High.
The music for the verse probably 18th century-comes from a different source (a popular tune of the time), as does the text itself, a translation of the old French carol "Les Anges dans nos Campagnes." They were first published together in a carol collection dated 1855.
JINGLE BELLS
Believe it or not Jingle Bells, one of the most popular and well-known American Christmas songs, was actually written for Thanksgiving! A minister named James Pierpoint was the author and composer of Jingle Bells, he wrote it in 1785 for the children celebrating Thanksgiving in his Boston Sunday School. The song was so well-received that they song it again at Christmas, and indeed Jingle Bells has been repeated ever since. The sound effects of using the bells with the song have come to represent sleigh bells and reindeers to the delight of children of all ages!
THE FIRST NOWELL
"There are some carols whose authors remain unknown, as anonymous but beloved as the shepherds in the Christmas story. Even the word "Noel" has debatable origins, making this carol all the more intriguing. "Noel" a French word, and has come to mean either "Christmas" or "carol." In this particular carol, it is used as a shout of joy at the birth of baby Jesus. It probably is derived from the Latin word "natalis" meaning "birth." When the word found its way to England, it was spelled "nowell" and came to mean "Now all is well," because that is what the angels told the shepherds, when Christ was born. The music is assumed to be from a French or English medieval shepherd's tune.
ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
Writer James Montgomery was considered something of a radical in his time, twice put in jail over editorial opinions expressed in his newspaper in Sheffield, England. The son of Moravian missionaries, he was a devout Christian, and created nearly four hundred hymns while being an active participant in political and community affairs. On Christmas Eve in 1816, he printed the words to this carol in his newspaper, perhaps the most beautiful and least controversial "editorial opinion" he ever wrote.
The poem was published in a collection three years later. It eventually was set to a melody by the blind composer and organinst Henry Smart.
THE CHRISTMAS SONG
"This song, which was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1947, was actually written by composer Mel Torme due to an inspiration of friend and lyricist Robert Wells on a sweltering summer's day. He had written a few lines in pencil on a spiral pad: Chestnuts roasting ... Jack Frost nipping ... Yuletide carols ... Folks dressed up like Eskimos. Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric, he said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. Torme wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."
CAROL OF THE BELLS
The tune for this carol was written by Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovich (1877-1921) and was based on an old Ukrainian melody. There is a legend that at the stroke of midnight on the evening when Jesus was born all the bells on earth suddenly began pealing joyously together of their own accord-and there was never a sound like it for majesty and grandeur. "Carol of the Bells," based on an old Ukrainian motif, probably springs from that legend, as it tells of the "sweet silver bells" that pealed joyously in unison. Traditionally, the "Carol o/the Bells" is sung quietly in the beginning, grows louder and ever louder as each voice adds to the tintinnabulation, and finally dies away to a pianissimo as the pealing gradually ceases.
GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN
The origin of the carol is a mystery; some say that it is from Cornwall, England. There are many various versions, some of are dated all the way back to the 15th century. Even though it was written in a minor key, this song still exudes Christmas joy, and is happy and triumphant. The music was written by Sir John Stainer, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" was typically the first carol heard on the streets of London at Christmas time. It is believed that this particular carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen continues to be enjoyed. It one of the oldest carols yet one of favorite among jazz musicians.
COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS
Charles Wesley wrote our Christmas hymn, "Come, Thou, Long-Expected Jesus." He also wrote 17 other Christmas carols. He did not want to just paint a picture of Jesus in the manger; he wanted the entire Christmas story to have a personal application. Wesley wanted to impress God's people that Jesus is not only the "desire of every nation" but should be the personal "joy of every longing heart." We also know that Jesus has the "government on his shoulders" but he was born to reign personally "in us.".
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
This Christmas carol is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics to the nativity. Good King Wenceslas was the king of Bohemia in the 10th century. Good King Wenceslas was a Catholic and is portrayed in an almost saintly vein because of his charitable attempts to give food to the poor. The saint referred to in Good King Wenceslas is St. Stephen whose feast day was celebrated on 26th December which explains why this song is performed as a Christmas carol
I SAW THREE SHIPS
The origins of this song are unknown but it is believed to be an English carol from the Victorian era. The theme for I saw three ships is extremely optimistic and the repetition rate of the chorus lines of I saw three ships ensure that the carol will be well remembered. Christmas legends concerning ships probably had their origin among people of seafaring countries. The traditional English carol "I Saw Three Ships" describes the arrival at Bethlehem on Christmas morning of the ships bearing Jesus and Mary (the English in long-ago days may not have realized that Bethlehem is nowhere near the sea).
HERE WE COME A WASSAILING
"Wassailing" was the term used long ago in England for Christmas caroling. It was an old English custom that was used to toast neighbors to a long and healthy life. The custom of wassailing may go back to the 5th century, although the first mention in print was in 1140. In ages past, kings and cheiftains used to give gifts in Europe but in Iceland, this tradition with regular folk only started a 100 years ago.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/974536/history_of_some_wellloved_christmas.html?page=2&cat=74
JINGLE BELL ROCK
Every holiday season since 1957 - the year Decca Records released the hit with crooner Bobby Helms singing the bouncy lyrics and Hank Garland on the happy guitar - "Jingle Bell Rock" has been a Christmas chestnut. Considering the song's success, one might assume its authors celebrate the holiday season with years of fat royalties. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, songwriter Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland, now an Orange Park, Fla., resident, claims that Decca Records stole "Jingle Bell Rock" and the profits it generated from him and Bobby Helms. To this day, Garland hasn't received a penny of ownership royalties.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
Noel Regney wrote the seasonal standard with Gloria Shayne, then his wife, in 1962. It was recorded by Bing Crosby and Perry Como, among others, in more than 120 versions, in musical styles ranging from jazz and New Age to funk and reggae. But Mr. Regney wrote it as a clear and plaintive plea for peace at the time of the Cuban missile crisis, in October 1962. His favorite version was Robert Goulet's. When Mr. Goulet came to the line "Pray for peace, people, everywhere," he almost shouted the words. "I am amazed that people can think they know the song - and not know it is a prayer for peace," Mr. Regney said in an interview in The New YorkRadio France.
DECK THE HALLS
The music to Deck the Halls is believed to Welsh in origin and was reputed to have come from a tune called "Nos Galan" dating back to the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century Mozart used the tune to Deck the Halls for a violin and piano duet J.P. McCaskey is sometimes credited with the lyrics of Deck the Halls but he only edited the Franklin Square Song Collection in which the lyrics were first published. The first publication date of Deck the Halls is 1881. The author is unknown but the words are said to originate in America.
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
The heart warming Christmas song Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was first published in 1943 and was immortalized by Judy Garland when she sang this song to Margaret O'Brien and brought tears to the eyes of the audience. The lyricist was Ralph Blane and the haunting music was composed by Hugh Martin. It is undoubtedly one of the saddest Christmas songs of the century.
THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ
The Christmas Waltz' s words and music were written by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne It was recorded by The Carpenters in 1978. This lesser known Christmas standard has actually been performed quite a bit over the years. This is easily the song most likely to get hummed around the office.
THE ROCKING CAROL
This carol is of Czech origin. It was collected in the early 1920 by a Miss Jacubickova as 'Hajej, nynjej' and translated (very loosely) by Percy Dearmer, for The Oxford Book of Carols in 1928. Dearmer was a clergyman and socialist with a keen interest in contemporary concerns, social gospel and rescuing neglected English carols and introducing European carols. The final line of Dearmers's version has not appealed to everyone, and some have sought to change it, e.g. to 'Son of God and Son of Man.' The tune for the carol has a close resemblance to that of another traditional lullaby, 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star', and it is possible that this carol originally accompanied cradle rocking, a custom which began in German churches in medieval times and spread from there across Europe. The carol was popularised in the English speaking world by a recording made in the 1960s by Julie Andrews.
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Angels We Have Heard on High" is an anonymous French carol that was first published in Nouveau recueil de cantiques, 1855. Many years ago, shepherds tending their flocks in the wintry hills of southern France had a custom of calling to one another on Christmas Eve, each from his own peak, singing "Gloria in excelsis Deo, gloria in excelsis Deo," just as the angels might have first announced the birth of Christ. The traditional tune the shepherds used, probably from a late Medieval Latin chorale, is the refrain of the angels We Have Heard on High.
The music for the verse probably 18th century-comes from a different source (a popular tune of the time), as does the text itself, a translation of the old French carol "Les Anges dans nos Campagnes." They were first published together in a carol collection dated 1855.
JINGLE BELLS
Believe it or not Jingle Bells, one of the most popular and well-known American Christmas songs, was actually written for Thanksgiving! A minister named James Pierpoint was the author and composer of Jingle Bells, he wrote it in 1785 for the children celebrating Thanksgiving in his Boston Sunday School. The song was so well-received that they song it again at Christmas, and indeed Jingle Bells has been repeated ever since. The sound effects of using the bells with the song have come to represent sleigh bells and reindeers to the delight of children of all ages!
THE FIRST NOWELL
"There are some carols whose authors remain unknown, as anonymous but beloved as the shepherds in the Christmas story. Even the word "Noel" has debatable origins, making this carol all the more intriguing. "Noel" a French word, and has come to mean either "Christmas" or "carol." In this particular carol, it is used as a shout of joy at the birth of baby Jesus. It probably is derived from the Latin word "natalis" meaning "birth." When the word found its way to England, it was spelled "nowell" and came to mean "Now all is well," because that is what the angels told the shepherds, when Christ was born. The music is assumed to be from a French or English medieval shepherd's tune.
ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
Writer James Montgomery was considered something of a radical in his time, twice put in jail over editorial opinions expressed in his newspaper in Sheffield, England. The son of Moravian missionaries, he was a devout Christian, and created nearly four hundred hymns while being an active participant in political and community affairs. On Christmas Eve in 1816, he printed the words to this carol in his newspaper, perhaps the most beautiful and least controversial "editorial opinion" he ever wrote.
The poem was published in a collection three years later. It eventually was set to a melody by the blind composer and organinst Henry Smart.
THE CHRISTMAS SONG
"This song, which was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1947, was actually written by composer Mel Torme due to an inspiration of friend and lyricist Robert Wells on a sweltering summer's day. He had written a few lines in pencil on a spiral pad: Chestnuts roasting ... Jack Frost nipping ... Yuletide carols ... Folks dressed up like Eskimos. Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric, he said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. Torme wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."
CAROL OF THE BELLS
The tune for this carol was written by Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovich (1877-1921) and was based on an old Ukrainian melody. There is a legend that at the stroke of midnight on the evening when Jesus was born all the bells on earth suddenly began pealing joyously together of their own accord-and there was never a sound like it for majesty and grandeur. "Carol of the Bells," based on an old Ukrainian motif, probably springs from that legend, as it tells of the "sweet silver bells" that pealed joyously in unison. Traditionally, the "Carol o/the Bells" is sung quietly in the beginning, grows louder and ever louder as each voice adds to the tintinnabulation, and finally dies away to a pianissimo as the pealing gradually ceases.
GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN
The origin of the carol is a mystery; some say that it is from Cornwall, England. There are many various versions, some of are dated all the way back to the 15th century. Even though it was written in a minor key, this song still exudes Christmas joy, and is happy and triumphant. The music was written by Sir John Stainer, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" was typically the first carol heard on the streets of London at Christmas time. It is believed that this particular carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen continues to be enjoyed. It one of the oldest carols yet one of favorite among jazz musicians.
COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS
Charles Wesley wrote our Christmas hymn, "Come, Thou, Long-Expected Jesus." He also wrote 17 other Christmas carols. He did not want to just paint a picture of Jesus in the manger; he wanted the entire Christmas story to have a personal application. Wesley wanted to impress God's people that Jesus is not only the "desire of every nation" but should be the personal "joy of every longing heart." We also know that Jesus has the "government on his shoulders" but he was born to reign personally "in us.".
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
This Christmas carol is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics to the nativity. Good King Wenceslas was the king of Bohemia in the 10th century. Good King Wenceslas was a Catholic and is portrayed in an almost saintly vein because of his charitable attempts to give food to the poor. The saint referred to in Good King Wenceslas is St. Stephen whose feast day was celebrated on 26th December which explains why this song is performed as a Christmas carol
I SAW THREE SHIPS
The origins of this song are unknown but it is believed to be an English carol from the Victorian era. The theme for I saw three ships is extremely optimistic and the repetition rate of the chorus lines of I saw three ships ensure that the carol will be well remembered. Christmas legends concerning ships probably had their origin among people of seafaring countries. The traditional English carol "I Saw Three Ships" describes the arrival at Bethlehem on Christmas morning of the ships bearing Jesus and Mary (the English in long-ago days may not have realized that Bethlehem is nowhere near the sea).
HERE WE COME A WASSAILING
"Wassailing" was the term used long ago in England for Christmas caroling. It was an old English custom that was used to toast neighbors to a long and healthy life. The custom of wassailing may go back to the 5th century, although the first mention in print was in 1140. In ages past, kings and cheiftains used to give gifts in Europe but in Iceland, this tradition with regular folk only started a 100 years ago.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/974536/history_of_some_wellloved_christmas.html?page=2&cat=74
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