"Magnificat" is a Latin term applied to the Latin text of the song of Mary, found in Luke, Chapter 1. Mary composes the song of praise and thanks to God upon learning that she is carrying the Christ Child. "And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our forefathers.’"
Sunday, June 28, 2015
To the Moon, Alice
How far has the Bible been shared? The farthest on record was on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968. While orbiting the moon, Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anderson did a live television broadcast showing images of earth and the moon from space while reading from the book of Genesis.
Another Christmas Celebrity
Born on Christmas Day 1949 in Quitman, Texas, Sissy Spacek worked as a singer before pursuing an acclaimed acting career. She has received several lead actress Oscar nominations, including for the horror classic Carrie as well as the dramas Missing and In the Bedroom, and won for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter. She has also been featured in Get Low and The Help.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
I Love Loosely
Speaking of being halfway to Christmas, today is actually not a bad time to start your Christmas shopping... although actress Lucille Ball once said, " Sounds like a good idea, but how do you know in June who your friends will be in December?"
From God's Word...
We are half-way through the year to Christmas! Here is an excerpt from the Gospel of Luke:
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’"
—Luke 2, 8-14
Alternative Trees
Feeling a bit feisty about having a traditional cone-shaped tree for the holidays? With the growth of the artificial tree industry, you now have many options: For starters, there are trees made to be hung upside-down from a corner of the ceiling. Some even come with ceiling stands. It sounds odd, but if you have showcase ornaments, it really displays them well. Other options include palm trees, saguaro cactus, or even topiary animal shapes.
Cache a Northern Star
Geocaching is a popular activity among folks who own a GPS unit (and most cell phones). People visit geocaching.com and download specific coordinates for small hidden boxes and canisters and then head out to discover them. If Santa is into geocaching, he may discover the nearest ones to the North Pole (at least that we have been able to find) are in the town of Barrow, Alaska.
Christmas in Egypt
Though Egypt is largely a Muslim country, Christians on the Eve of Christmas go to church wearing a completely new outfit. The Christmas service ends at midnight with the ringing of church bells; then people go home to eat a special Christmas meal known as “fata,” which consists of bread, rice, garlic, and boiled meat.
On Christmas morning they visit friends and neighbors. They take with them “kaik,” which is a type of shortbread, which they take with them to give to the people they visit and eat with a drink known as “shortbat.” Christmas Day has been a public holiday for Christians although it is drastically reduced in favor as Muslim fundamentalists persecute Christian believers.
The Longest Day
Traditionally, the summer solstice occurs on June 21, making it the longest day of the year. The day is the Feast of St. John the Baptist, whose faith in Jesus as the Savior of the world was “as deep as the day is long.”
Amish Colored Popcorn
Who would have guessed the Amish would come up with the ultimate over-the-top Christmas treat? Amish Acres General Store in Nappanee, Indiana, sells popcorn with colored hulls. While the popcorn pops white as usual, the kernel retains the red, blue, or purple color, making for a very unique string of popcorn on your tree.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Steinbach Nutcrackers
Thanks to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, old-world wooden nutcrackers will forever be associated with Christmas, and no one makes them better than the Steinbach Nutcracker Company in Germany. The company that was founded by Herr Christian Steinbach years ago, producing a wide variety of wooden nutcrackers and "smokers," is today run by his daughter, Karla Steinbach. According to their Web site, the largest collection known is owned by Claudia Davis in Hayden Lake, USA, who has over 5,000 various Steinbach items.
Van Allsburg Birthday
Chris Van Allsburg was born June 18, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has won the Caldecott Honor several times for his work writing books for children, including “The Polar Express” in 1985. He attended the University of Michigan and received an MFA degree from Rhode Island School of Design. One of his trademarks in his work can be found in his illustrations’ perspective. The scenes are frequently viewed from a child's height.
John Wesley Birthday
Today marks the birthday of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church. Known for his ability to reconcile widely differing theological opinions, Wesley believed a person could achieve "Christian Perfection" by allowing God's grace to guide the heart through prayer, reading of scripture, observance of the sacraments, and meditation. It is through these "methods" the Methodist Church gets its name. Together with brother Charles, the Wesleys wrote a number of hymns, many often sung during the holidays.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Choral Music Maestro, Roger Wagner
Famous choral director Roger Wagner was especially well known for his annual Christmas concerts, which always included his own choral setting of the Gospel of the Nativity according to St. Luke. It included choral settings of traditional carols and the reading of the Gospel by a famous celebrity. It was originally written by Maestro Wagner for the Tennessee Ernie Ford television show in the early 50's.
We take a moment out here for self-promotion: Mr. Wagner was gracious to select one of our compositions at one of his final concerts in Los Angeles, The Carols of Christmas. We were honored to be a part of his great legacy. Our lyrics were set to music by Burton York, who is also my brother, and who was a baritone in the Roger Wagner Chorale.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Tourtiere, Eh?
Tourtiere is a meat pie traditionally made for Christmas in Canada. You will need:
- 2 large potatoes, peeled
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp. ginger
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/4 teaspoon ground savory
- 1 bay leaf; 1/8 tsp. cloves
- a pinch of cinnamon,
- salt
- pepper
- pie crust for 2 pies.
Cut up potatoes; cook in boiling water 20 minutes. Drain and mash. Brown pork; drain off excess fat. Stir in remaining ingredients, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Cover; simmer 20 minutes, stirring often. Discard bay leaf. Stir in potatoes; cool. Roll half the pastry into a 12-inch circle. Line a 9-inch deep pot pie pan with pastry. Trim pastry even with rim. Fill with meat mixture. Roll out remaining dough. Place over filling; trim to 1/2 inch beyond rim. Seal, flute, and cut small slits in the top. Cut out decorative shapes from dough scraps and place on top if desired. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes.
Friday, June 12, 2015
U.S.A.'s Official Living Christmas Tree
Mary Wickes
Wickes suffered from numerous ailments in the last years of her life including kidney failure, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, severe low blood pressure, ischemic cardiomyopathy, anemia and breast cancer (stage of cancer unknown), which cumulatively resulted in her death from surgical complications on October 22, 1995, at age 85.
Chillin' with a Christmas Martini
Martini's are the rage, but making a Christmas one is easy! Take 1 oz. vodka, 1/2 oz. peppermint schnapps, and a small piece of a candy cane and put it in a shaker with ice. Shake it to a count of 20 to get it really wintery cold, and then strain it into a martini glass. For a garnish, put a small candy cane on the edge -- or if you plan ahead of time, crush a candy cane with some bar sugar and rim the glass before the pour.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Master of Misrule
The Lord or Master of Misrule is a title bestowed on a person who oversees the games and partying during Christmas celebrations, especially on Twelfth Night. All were subject to his whim, including the king, as the Lord of Misrule posed riddles, challenges, and games during the revelry.
Tree Care
How to care for your Christmas tree:
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
The Good News Is...
Joyeux Noël! In France, Christmas is called Noel. This comes from the French phrase “les bonnes nouvelles," which means "the good news" and refers to the gospel.
When to Book Airfare
Do you plan to travel during the holidays this year? Early airfares can be less, and you can get some deals in June. Utilize fare tracker services such as Travelocity's FareWatcherSM system, which allows travelers to input their favorite destinations and receive e-mail notifications when those routes drop in price.
Consider booking during the two-week travel period following Thanksgiving as bargains can usually be found around the country across all modes of transportation.
Some seasoned travelers suggest you shop for airline tickets on Tuesdays because that is the day most airlines update their airfare prices. If you time it right, you can pick up some bargain airfares that are limited in quantity.
Another way to save is to shop alternate airports as opposed to a city's primary airport. It can pay to book alternate routes, especially when shopping for large cities within the United States.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Christmas Greetings
Mailing Christmas cards is a declining tradition. In 2005, 1.9 billion cards were sent in the U.S.; that number fell to 1.4 billion in 2014. Many of the major card companies like Hallmark and American Greetings offer E-cards, along with other sites like Jib-Jab. In the UK, Christmas cards account for almost half of the volume of greeting card sales, with over 668.9 million Christmas cards sold in the 2008 festive period. Interesting to note; Only one in 100 Christmas cards sold in Britain in 2006 contained any religious imagery or message, according to an article by the Daily Mail, a British tabloid.
In Eastern Orthodox countries, the cards are called New Year Cards, as Christmas is celebrated after the calendar year begins. They are sent before Christmas with design emphasis given to the New Year, omitting religious symbols.
June 6
"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."
-- Washington Irving
Friday, June 5, 2015
Name That Magi!
The Magi have been given different names depending on the sect of Christianity. From Greek texts in the 8th century came the Western church's names Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. But Ethiopian Christians call them Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater, and Armenian Christians call them Kagpha, Badadakharida and Badadilma. None of these names are particularly Persian, though, as the Magi are believed to be, although Caspar may have come from the Coptic gospel of Thomas, who visited a king named Gudapharasa, or Gaspar. The Syrian Christians use the names Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hirmisdas, which are names that originated more accurately from the southern part of Iran.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
'Tis About Tinsel
Tinsel was first created in Nuremberg, Germany, around the year 1610 and was originally made of shredded silver. The name comes from the Old French word "estincele," which means "sparkle." When it became popular, it was too expensive to continue making it out of silver, and so lead was substituted. Of course, lead is poisonous; so in the 1960s they began making it out of mylar plastic. Still, be careful with it. Even modern tinsel can be a choking hazard for children or pets.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Strings of Popcorn
Do you like strings of popcorn on your tree but hate the mess of making it? Then visit www.stephendouglasinc.com, where you can order 12 foot strands in various styles, all strung with real popcorn and coated for longevity.
Mantecados
Mantecados are small, crumbly cookies that are popular at Christmastime in Spain. They come in different flavors and are wrapped in brightly colored wrappers.
Traditionally almond or anise flavored, in some parts of La Mancha a cup of wine or citrus peel is added. But their popularity is not only in Spain. Spanish women took their recipes for mantecados with them to Central and South America. The name comes from the Spanish word "manteca," which means "lard," and it is a significant ingredient that contributes to the crumbling texture of the small treats.
The 12 Days, In Depth
According to Ann Ball's book, "A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals," there was once a time in England when the singing of hymns was illegal. So in order to teach catechism to young children, songs like the now-famous “12 Days of Christmas” were taught -- with the following meaning: Instead of referring to a suitor, the "true love" mentioned in the song refers to God. The "me" receiving the presents is symbolic of every baptized person.
- The partridge in the pear tree is Jesus Christ, and in the song, He is symbolically presented as a mother partridge who feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings.
- Two turtle doves: The Old and New Testaments
- Three French hens: Faith, hope and charity
- Four calling birds: The four Gospels
- Five gold rings: The first five books of the Old Testament or the Torah
- Six geese a-laying: The six days of creation
- Seven swans a-swimming: The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Eight maids a-milking: The eight Beatitudes
- Nine ladies dancing: The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
- Ten lords a-leaping: The Ten Commandments
- Eleven pipers piping: The eleven faithful disciples
- Twelve drummers drumming: The twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed
Christmas Tree Treatment
Here is another reason to recycle your Christmas tree: It can be used to fight disease. A company has developed a way to use the needles from discarded Christmas trees to manufacture shikimic acid, a significant ingredient in Tamiflu, an antiviral drug also known as oseltamivir. The drug is used in fighting outbreaks of bird influenza. Though shikimic acid exists in many plants, not all plants have enough to make extracting it commercially worthwhile. Pine, spruce, and fir needles, however, can yield as much as 40 grams per kilogram of needles.
Goodwill Toward Men
Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or were given to the people who repaired them. Goodwill Industries International is now one of the world’s largest nonprofit providers of education, training, and career services for people with disadvantages, such as welfare dependency, homelessness, and lack of education or work experience, as well as those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
Goodwill operates as a network of 184 independent organizations in the US, Canada, and 14 other countries. In 2007, Goodwill earned more than $3.16 billion and used 84 percent of that revenue to provide employment and training services to more than 1,113,000 individuals. Donate, volunteer, and shop at a local Goodwill store.
Fonts for the Memories
Some folks prefer to make their own Christmas greeting cards; so here is a tip: Consider searching and downloading some Christmas-themed fonts for your publications. Many of them are free and come in designs of snow and candy canes. But be sure the site you are downloading from is a reputable site. The last thing you want to download is a present from some virus spreading ne’er do well. Make sure your virus software is working overtime. You might also consider buying a few as well. FontMarketplace.com offers many great selections.