Every year since 2010 I’ve done a series of December diaries focusing on a variety of seasonal topics ranging from music to food to ugly sweaters. (Full disclosure: I did ONE Seasonal diary in 2008, and 2009 (eleven years ago?! time flies!!) was the first December K2 was with us so I was a little distracted :-)).
Despite the fact it’s 2020 and it feels like everything is different, I can’t ignore this theme, so let’s get seasonal! Don’t worry if Christmas isn’t your thing- while my personal December perspective is primarily secular but culturally Christian-based with a vibrant dose of earth-centered Winter Solstice mixed in thanks to almost two decades as a Unitarian Universalist, these diaries are for everyone who is alive and reading this. In other words, if there’s a holiday in December that makes you happy, that you mark differently than all the other days, or that (in any other year but this one) involves negotiating about who brings what food… or even if there isn’t... this is a place for you!
We started off with Christmas Blend coffee, and followed up with a look at traditions old, new, and adapted for 2020. On Tuesday I doled out sweet confections, and now… well now it’s December 24th, Christmas Eve for many in places influenced by Western Christianity. Grab whatever you’re drinking on this evening magical to so many in the world, whether it mark the birth of a lowly babe who would change history, the lengthening of days post-Yule, or simply a crisp magic winter’s night (in the Northern Hemisphere, substitute warm summer in the Southern). Then join me below the Story Break…
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As a final nod to my annual seasonal series (and borrowed from 2019’s since I have way too many presents to wrap still!) I bring you the classic poem, thankfully within the public domain for easy sharing! Imagine us all in front of a fire, listening to this classic tale read aloud:
Ok, settle in as we spend this Eve with A Visit from St. Nicholas, aka Twas The Night Before Christmas. Because I am an originalist :), I bring you the 1823 version published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel. If you’re interested in pie fights, consider the tale’s controversial authorship while we read:
ACCOUNT OF A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap—
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprung from the bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys—and St. Nicholas too:
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack:
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jirk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle:
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
May you be safe, and blessed with magic — be it flying reindeer, miraculous births, the flickering of candlelight, or that provided by the love of friends and family no matter where you and they are. Please enjoy our humble offerings of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures.
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From susans:
Every day since the last inauguration has been so tense and full of ugly, it can be hard to tell one from another. Ojibwa names it in today’s New Day Cafe.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, December 23rd 2020, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
TOP PICTURES
Top Pictures for yesterday, December 23rd 2020. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!