Why do angels have wings? In early Christian times God’s messengers walked as men. But after the sweeping conversions of the pagan world Christian artists found inspiration in the flying deities of ancient faiths.
of a White Christmas… As far as I’m concerned, white Christmases can stay in Vermont, but I want you to have that tune in your head as I tell the story of little Israel Baline, and the man he came to be. Israel was born in Temun, Russia in 1888. His family was Jewish and …
Heap on more wood!–the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still. –Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, VI Little Jack Horner sat in his corner Eating a Christmas pie. He put in his thumb, and pulled out a plumb, And said, “What a good boy am I!” –Little …
On Monday I began posting recipes for hot drinks (mostly non-alcoholic; you’ll have to scroll past a couple of posts about the weather). Monday was cocoas and chocolates. Tuesday Teas. Wednesday and Thursday Coffees. Alcoholic hot drinks today. So pour yourselves a hot drink, grab a book and stay warm. (Mostly I’m just making sure …
This is one of two Christmas books at Zeugma’s Project Gutenberg post today. I’ve only read what’s posted here but it looks just delightful. At Gutenberg. The Escape of Alice A Christmas Fantasy By Vincent Starrett The red linen covers opened slightly, and a little girl slipped out, leaving behind her a curious vacancy in …
It’s a beautiful book. I wonder how its contents compares to newer books of the sort.
There’s a happy feeling Nothing in the world can buy, When they pass around the chocolate And the pumpkin pie It’ll nearly be like a picture print By Currier and Ives These wonderful things are the things We remember all through our lives! Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, Ring ting tingling too Come on, …
Commenting on @wellsprynge’s Vatican II post, I was reminded that I have a book, Great Sermons on the Birth of Christ by Celebrated Preachers (Smith, ed., 1963) which includes a Christmas Day sermon by Luther. Quite interesting but too long to post. (But if someone wants to ead it, I can scan as a pdf …
Every child should know “The Fir-Tree,” “The Legend of Babouscka,” and “Christmas at Fezziwig’s Warehouse” because that’s how culture works.
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Note there’s not a cell phone in sight! Found while sitting on the floor in front of the little commode that contains a stack of Christmas books. From Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book: Carols, Stories, Poems, Recollections, Molly Rockwell, ed. Simon and Schuster, New York, 1977.
