Star of The East

 Star of The East

Star of the East, that long ago

Brought wise men on their way

Where, angels singing to and fro,

The Child of Bethlehem lay --

Above that Syrian hill afar

Thou shinest our to-night, O Star!

Star of the East, the night were drear

But for the tender grace

That with thy glory comes to cheer

Earth's loneliest, darkest place;

For by that charity we see

Where there is hope for all and me.

Star of the East! show us the way

In wisdom undefiled

To seek that manger out and lay

Our gifts before the child --

To bring our hearts and offer them

Unto our King in Bethlehem!
by Eugene Field

Star of The East.

The First Noel

Vintage sheet music of "The First Nowell", from the CC.

       "The First Noel" (also written "The First Noël" and "The First Nowell") is a traditional classical English Christmas carol, most likely from the early modern period, although possibly earlier. Noel is an Early Modern English synonym of "Christmas".

        In its current form, it is of Cornish origin, and it was first published in Carols Ancient and Modern (1823) and Gilbert and Sandys Carols (1833), both of which were edited by William Sandys and arranged, edited and with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert for Hymns and Carols of God. Today, it is usually performed in a four-part hymn arrangement by the English composer John Stainer, first published in his Carols, New and Old in 1871. Variations of its theme are included in Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony.

       The melody is unusual among English folk melodies in that it consists of one musical phrase repeated twice, followed by a refrain which is a variation on that phrase. All three phrases end on the third of the scale. It is thought to be a version of an earlier melody sung in a church gallery setting; a conjectural reconstruction of this earlier version can be found in the New Oxford Book of Carols.

       The Annunciation to the shepherds and the Adoration of the shepherds are episodes in the Nativity of Jesus described in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2). The Star of Bethlehem appears in the story of the Magi (the Wise Men) in the Gospel of Matthew; it does not appear in the story of the shepherds.

• Lyrics for The Christmas Carol, "The First Noel" are here.

This old carol sung by Claire Crosby.

"The First Nowell the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay."

       "There is the whole truth of the perfect carol. If there is any poetry that can be called "inspired" (as we speak of "inspiration" in contrast to deliberate learning of an art), it is the beautiful poetry of old English Christmas carols.

       A carol was originally a song sung during a ring-dance (much like Ring-a-ring-o'roses). It was made by the people, like all true folksongs, and it had nothing to do with religion or Christmas. The word is derived from Cantare, to sing; and rola, with joy." Adkins

While Shepherds Watched

        "In 1700, Tate and Brady published A Supplement to the New Version of the Psalms. This was a collection of sixteen hymns for the Church of England. The only Christmas hymn included in the collection was  Tate's, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks. Curiously enough, it  is the only hymn of the "Supplement" which is in use today.
       Nahum Tate was a friend and literary associate of the poet Dryden. In 1690 the title of Poet Laureate was conferred upon him by King William III. Although this Christmas hymn is not the best of his poems, all his contributions to the New Version of the Psalms were received with favor in England.
       While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks was originally written for one of the oldest and most beautiful of English hymn-tunes. The tune was first published in 1592 by Thomas Este, in his Whole Book of Psalms. It had long been a favorite when Tate wrote his verses for it. In England Este's hymn-tune is known as "Winchester Old".
       There are two melodies for Tate's hymn which are, perhaps, better known in America than Este's hymn-tune. One is Willis' carol-tune. It Came upon the Midnight Clear (page 15) ; the other is an adaptation from Handel, Ring Out, Bells, Your Joyous Song (page 25). These may be used if preferred to the original, "Winchester Old"."  Kvamme

 While Shepherds Watched

While Shepherds watched their flocks by

night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

"Fear not," said he, for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind;

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind.

"To you, in David's town, this day

Is born, of David's line,

The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,

And this shall be the sign:

"The heavenly babe you there shall find

To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands,

And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith

Appeared a shining throng

Of angels praising God, who thus

Addressed their joyful song:

"All glory be to God on high,

And to the earth be peace;

Good will henceforth from Heaven to men

Begin and never cease."

by Nahum Tate (1652-1715)

Sheet music of "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" for caroling parties.

The Holidays

The Holidays

Once again, once again,

Christmas wreaths are twining:

Once again, once again,

Mistletoe is shining.

Time is marching through the land,

Decked with leaf and berry;

He leads the Old Year in his hand,

But both the churls are merry.

He speaketh in the clanging bells,

He shouts at every portal;

God speed the tidings that he tells--

"Good-will and peace to mortal."

Gladly welcome shall he be,

Even though he traces

Silver threads upon our heads

And wrinkles on our faces.

For once again, once again,

He brings the happy meeting;

Whence cynic lips may preach in vain

That life is sad and fleeting.

Christmas logs should beacon back

The wanderer from his roving;

Leave, oh! leave the world's wide track,

And join the loved and loving.

Spirits that have dwelt apart,

Cold with pride and folly,

Bring olive in your hand and heart

To weave with Christmas holly.

by Eliza Cook, 1890

Jest 'Fore Christmas

Jest Fore Christmas

Father calls me William, sister calls me Will,

Mother calls me Willie, but the fellers call me Bill!

Mighty glad I ain't a girl--ruther be a boy,

Without them sashes, curls, an' things that's worn by

Fauntleroy!

Love to chawnk green apples an' go swimmin' in the lake--

Hate to take the castor-ile they give for belly-ache!

'Most all the time, the whole year round, there ain't

no flies on me.

But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be.

Got a yeller dog named Sport, sick him on the cat;

First thing she knows she doesn't know where she is at!

Got a clipper sled, an' when us kids goes out to slide,

'Long comes the grocery cart, an' we all hook a ride!

But sometimes when the gocery man is worrited an' cross,

He reaches at us with his whip, an' larrups up his hoss,

An' then I laff an' holler, "Oh, ye never teched me!"

But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be!

Gran'ma says she hopes that when I git to be a man,

I'll be a missionarer like her oldest brother Dan,

As was et up by the cannibuls that lives in Ceylon's Isle,

Where every postpeck pleases, an, only man is vile!

But gran'ma she has never been to see a Wild West show,

Nor read the Life of Daniel Boone, or else I guess she'd know

The Buff'lo Bill and cow-boys is good enough for me!

Excep' jest 'fore Christmas, when I'm god as I kin be!

And then old Sport he hangs around, so solemn-like an' still,

His eyes they keep a-sayin': "What's the matter, little Bill?"

The old cat sneaks down of her perch an' wonders what's

become

Of them two enemies of hern that used to make things hum!

But I am so perlite an' 'tend so earnestly to biz,

That mother says to father: "How improved our Willie is!"

But father, havin' been a boy hisself, suspicions me

When jest 'fore Christmas, I'm as good as I kin be!

For Christmas, with its lots an' lots of candies, cakes an'

toys,

Was made, they say, for proper kids an' not for

naughty boys;

So wash yer face an' bresh yer hair, an' mind yer p's an' q's,

An' don't bust out yer pantaloons, an' don't wear out

yer shoes;

Say "Yessum" to the ladies, an' "Yessur" to the men,

An' when they's company, don't pass yer plate for pie again;

But, thinking of the things yer'd like to see upon that tree,

Jest 'fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be!

by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

O Little Town of Bethlehem.

       The text was written by Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), an Episcopal priest, rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the village of Bethlehem in the Sanjak of Jerusalem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his church and his organist, Lewis Redner, added the music.

A decorative copy  of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" poem
 by Wilbur D. Nesbit that visitors may download and print.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee to-night.

For Christ is born of Mary,

And, gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together

Proclaim the holy birth!

And praises sing to God the King,

And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently,

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in the world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem!

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in,

Be born in us to-day.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;

Oh come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel!

hum

Once In Royal David's City.

Once In Royal David's City

Once in royal David's city

Stood a lowly cattle shed,

Where a Mother laid her Baby

In a manger for His bed;

Mary was that Mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little Child.

He came down to earth from Heaven

Who is God and Lord of all,

And His shelter was a stable,

And His cradle was a stall;

With the poor and mean and lowly,

Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And, through all His wondrous Childhood

He would honor and obey,

Love and watch the lowly Maiden

In whose gentle arms He lay;

Christian children all must be

Mild, obedient, good as He.

For He is our childhood's pattern,

Day by day, like us he grew;

He was little, weak, and helpless,

Tears and smiles like us He knew.

And He feeleth for our sadness.

And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,

Through His own redeeming love;

For that Child so dear and gentle

Is our Lord in heaven above.

And He leads His children on

To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,

With the oxen standing by,

We shall see Him; but in Heaven,

Set at God's right hand on high;

When like stars His children crowned

All in white shall wait around.

Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)

Mary prays to her new born child, Jesus.

Christmas Glow Poem

 Christmas Glow

Scattered snow along the hillside, white as

springtime fleeces are,

With the whiter wings above them and the

glory-streaming star--

Guiding-star across the housetops; never fear

the shepherd's felt

Till they found the Babe in manger, where

the kindly cattle knelt.

Oh, the shepherds in Judea!--

Do you think the shepherds know

How the whole round earth is brightened

In the ruddy Christmas glow?

How the sighs are lost in laughter, and the

laughter brings the tears,

As the thoughts of men go seeking back

across the darkling years,

Till they find the wayside stable that the

star-led wise men found,

With the shepherds, mute, adoring, and the

glory shining round!

--Mary Austin.

A Visit From St. Nicholas

Here's a facsimilie of that famous poem, "'Twas the Night
 Before Christmas," as it was written by Dr. More 
himself nearly 100 years ago.

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas, When All Through the House" ---Here's Famous Poem as Written 91 Years Ago 

      What is the best Christmas poem ever written?

      That's an easy question, - there's hardly a man, woman or child in America who doesn't know!

      What boy or girl, indeed, in all the broad land, hasn't been thrilled by the fascination of that beautiful fairy-tale poem about good old St. Nick and his reindeers and sleighful of presents, that came down the chimney that wonderful Christmas eve?

      And here is that very poem, just as good old Dr. Clement C. Moore wrote it, nearly 100 years ago--in his own handwritting and with his own handwriting and with his own signature! And this is doubtless the very first time YOU have ever seen a copy of this precious manuscript--one of the treasures of the New York Historical Society, and which was never photographed in its entirety until a copy was made for this paper!

      Old Dr. Moore didn't think much of the poem when he wrote it for his two little children, in 1822. It was just a trifle, hardly worthy of a SCHOLAR, he thought! The author was professor of Greek and Oriental languages in the general theological seminary of New York, and a very, very learned man. He counted on his Hebrew lexicon and other ponderous works to win him fame. But they are all forgotten, and this "trifle" that he was half ashamed of is his real claim to immortality!

      And this poem has probably done more than any other thing to make out great American Christmas such a wonderful children's festival. For there wasn't much Christmas before it was written. (Utter nonsense, really folks.)

      New Yorkers used to celebrate St. Nicholas eve. December 5, as they did in Holland, without paying much attention to Christmas itself. By 1822, however, they had begun to merge the two festivals in a celebration on December 25. And the "Visit From St. Nicholas" sweeping over the country with its quick, strong appeal to children, mad the change complete and created our modern "Santa Claus" Christmas.

      This copy of the poem printed here was made by Dr. Moore in 1862, 40 years after he had first written it, when he was over 80 years old. -The Star, December 22, 1913

More Related Content:

• "The Authorship of The Night Before Christmas" by Seth Kaller
• A Visit from Saint Nicholas on Poets.org
• Peter Christoph, "Clement Moore revisited", 1982
• The Night Before Christmas Bibliography by Nancy H. Marshall
• Biography of Moore at University of Toronto's Representative Poetry Online.
• Urban Legends - Clement Clarke Moore: The Reluctant Mythmaker
• Free audiobook of Twas the Night Before Christmas from LibriVox
• Works by Clement Clarke Moore at Project Gutenberg
• Clement Clark Moore on Findagrave

* * * * * * *  

       The most popular Christmas poem ever written for children was that familiar to the world, beginning:

       "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the hourse--

       The poem was written by a very learned man, Dr. Clement Clarke Moore, a profound Greek and Hebrew scholar. He was a professor in the General Theological seminary in New York City. He was born in 1779 and died in 1863.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes the St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugarplums danced 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 sprang from my 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 reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I know in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that 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 dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked 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 laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed 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 filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang 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."

A read aloud by Minty Kidz cute gifs. added too!

Christmas Carol Poem

Christmas Carol

The earth has grown old with its burden of care,

But at Christmas it always is young,

The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and

fair,

And its soul full of music breaks forth on the

air,

When the song of the angels is sung.

It is coming Old Earth, it is coming to-night!

On the snowflakes wich cover thy sod

The feet of the Christ-child fall gently and white,

And the voice of the Christ-child tells out with

delight

That mankind are the children of God.

On the sad and lonley, the wretched and poor,

That voice of the Christ-child shall fall;

And to every blind wanderer open the door

Of hope that he dared not to dream of before,

With a sunshine of welcome for all.

The feet of the humblest may walk in the field

Where the feet of the Holiest have trod,

This, this is the marvel to mortals revealed

When the silvery trumpets of Christmas have pealed,

That mankind are the children of God.

by Phillips Brooks.

The Puritan Doll

The Puritan Doll

  by Mary E. Wilkins

Our Puritan fathers, stern and good,

Had never a holiday;

Sober and earnest seemed life to them--

They only stopped working to pray.

And the little Puritan maidens learned

Their catechisms through;

And spun their stints, and wove themselves

Their garments of homely blue.

And they never made merry on Christmas day--

It would savor of Pope and Rome;

And never there was a Christmas-tree

Set up in a Puritan home.

And Christmas eve, in the chimney-place,

There was never a stocking hung;

There never was woven a Christmas wreath,

There was never a carol sung.

Sweet little Ruth, with her flaxen hair

All neatly braided and tied,

Was sitting one old December day

At her pretty young mother's side.

She listened, speaking never a word,

With her serious, thoughtful look,

To the Christmas story her mother read

Out of the good old Book.

"I'll tell thee, Ruth!" her mother cried,

Herself scarce more than a girl,

As she smoothed her little daughter's hair,

Lest it straggle out into a curl,

"If thy stint be spun each day this week,

And thou toil like a busy bee,

A Christmas present on Christmas day

I promise to give to thee."

And then she talked of those merry times

She never could quite forget;

The Christmas cheer, the holly and yule--

She was hardly a Puritan yet.

She talked of those dear old English days,

With tears in her loving eyes,

And little Ruth heard like a Puritan child,

With a quiet though glad surprise.

But nevertheless she thought of her gift,

As much as would any of you,

And busily round, each day of the week,

Her little spinning-wheel flew.

Tired little Ruth! but oh, she thought

She was paid for it after all,

When her mother gave her on Christmas day

A little Puritan doll.

'Twas made of a piece of a homespun sheet,

Dressed in a homespun gown

Cut just like Ruth's, and a little cap

With a stiff white muslin crown.

A primly folded muslin cape--

I don't think one of you all

Would have been so bold as to dare to play

With that dignified Puritan doll.

Dear little Ruth showed her delight

In her queer little quiet way;

She did not say much, but she held her doll

In her arms all Christmas day.

And when at twilight her mother read

That Christmas story o'er,

Happy Ruth took the sweetness of it in

As she never had done before.

And then (she always said "good-night"

When the shadows began to fall)

She was so happy she went to sleep

Still holding her Christmas doll.

Winter Wonderland.

(video about Tillis Park in St. Louis by KETC)

      In the U.S. from the 1960s, beginning in tract housing, it became increasingly the custom to completely outline the house (but particularly the eaves) with weatherproof Christmas lights. The Holiday Trail of Lights is a joint effort by cities in east Texas and northwest Louisiana that had its origins in the Festival of Lights and Christmas Festival in Natchitoches, started in 1927, making it one of the oldest light festivals in the United States.

      It is often a pastime to drive or walk around neighborhoods in the evening to see the lights displayed on and around other homes. While some homes have no lights, others may have incredibly ornate displays which require weeks to construct. A rare few have even made it to the Extreme Christmas TV specials shown on HGTV, at least one requiring a generator and another requiring separate electrical service to supply the amount of electrical power required.

      In 1986, Barry "Mad Dog" Gottlieb, organized the "Tacky Xmas Decoration Contest and Grand Highly Illuminated House Tour" with a tour of decorated homes in Richmond, Virginia. Since then, people either sign up for a tour, or drive around to find houses that are the tackiest. Most of the houses on this tour are completely covered in Christmas lights, similar to the way Clark Griswold decorated his house in the movie Christmas Vacation. The tour has been featured on "NPR", "Great Things About the Holidays on Bravo", "Crazy Christmas Lights" on TLC, and HGTV among other nationally broadcast programs. Locals in Richmond refer to it as the "Tacky Light Tour" and a growing number of cities have adopted this family Christmas tradition.

      In Australia and New Zealand, chains of Christmas lights were quickly adopted as an effective way to provide ambient lighting to verandas, where cold beer is often served in the long hot summer evenings. For many years the use of Christmas lights on Australian homes was mainly limited to this simple form. In the last decade increasingly elaborate Christmas lights have been displayed and driving around between 8.00 and 10.00pm to look at the lights has become a popular family entertainment. While in some areas there is fierce competition, with Town Councils offering awards for the best decorated house, in other areas it is seen as a co-operative effort, with residents priding themselves on their street or their neighborhood.

An updated list under the "Winter Wonderland" category of all the best Christmas light displays featured on the internet:

• Velvet Rope
• Christmas lights in Medellin
• Christmas Lights Michelstadt
• Lights in downtown Toronto
• This is what $45,000 worth of Christmas lights looks like
• Christmas Lights at Time Warner Center
• Temple Square Christmas Lights
• Christmas Lights from Jonesblog
• Christmas lights in the park
• Branson Christmas Lights
• Dreaming of a warmer climate
• Christmas Lights from Dominic Luberto
• Light Displays in Stuart St. Cheltenham
• Light display resembles a spirograph

Links to webpages with more Christmas light displays.

1. Light Displays at The St. Louis Zoo
2. Washington DC Area Christmas Light Displays
3. Houston Christmas Lights
4. Archive for Christmas Lights
5. Christmas lights illuminate the night

History of Christmas Tree Lights:

• Old Christmas Tree Lights  
• Antique and Vintage Christmas Lights 
• The bulb collector 
• Bill's antique light site 

Parlor Game: Miserable Music.

   A volunteer player is seated at a piano. The player need not have much skill to play at this game. One person must leave the room, while all the remaining players choose the task the absent person is to do when he returns. When called back to the parlor, the former absent player is given a hint, but only a hint, of what he is expected to do. The other players might suggest that he is to give something to a person in the parlor or take something away from someone in the parlor. He must figure out for himself just what he is to give or take and to whom he is to do this activity. The only further clues he will have will come from the piano player. The pianist, if she is a good player, could be performing a little tune quietly while all of the game plans are made clear. And as the selected performer begins to seek to discover his task and with whom he must perform it, the pianist must "play out" clues to his success.

   As the guesser approaches the right person, or begins to discover his task correctly, whatever its nature, the music should become louder or quicker or more harmonious. If he chooses wrong tasks or people, the piano sounds should become discordant and harsh. This game can become quite boisterous and is very fun if the piano player is adept. If playing this game with a church youth group, the music minister is the proper volunteer for the piano part. This is a wonderful game to be played at choir parties after a cold night of caroling. Serve up steaming mugs of chocolate or cider while young people enjoy the riotous fun!


Parlor Game: Hunt The Slipper.

   The seekers must cover their eyes and ears or leave the designated game area while the hider hides a small, hopefully odorless, slipper (shoe). When the hider says to come and find it, or after the seekers have counted to a specific number, usually sixty or one-hundred, the seekers come out and attempt to be the first to find the object. When a seeker has the object in hand, he can alert the other players of his success by yelling "The slipper has been found!" This game is promoted as a fun, safe rainy-day game for young children.

   Often, especially when there is only one seeker, the game is played using "hot or cold," where the hider informs the seeker how near he is to the object, telling him he is cold when he is far from the object (or freezing or if he is extremely far off), and hot when he is extremely close to the object. If the seeker is moving farther from the object, he is told he is getting colder, and if the seeker is moving closer to the object, he is told he is getting warmer.

Parlor Game: Musical Chairs.

   Musical chairs is a game played by a group of people (usually children), often in an informal setting purely for entertainment such as a birthday party. The game starts with any number of players and a number of chairs one fewer than the number of players; the chairs are arranged in a circle (or other closed figure if space is constrained; a double line is sometimes used) facing outward, with the people standing in a circle just outside of that. A non-playing individual plays recorded music or a musical instrument. While the music is playing, the players in the circle walk in unison around the chairs. When the music controller suddenly shuts off the music, everyone must race to sit down in one of the chairs. The player who is left without a chair is eliminated from the game, and one chair is also removed to ensure that there will always be one fewer chair than there are players. The music resumes and the cycle repeats until there is only one player left in the game, who is the winner.

Kids playing musical chairs.

Parlor Game: Fictionary.

   Fictionary, also known as the Dictionary Game or simply Dictionary, is a word game in which players guess the definition of an obscure word.

   A turn consists of one player picking a word from the dictionary and each other player composing a fake definition. A round is completed when each player has selected a word to be guessed.

   Players earn points (1) by guessing the correct definition of a word, (2) by composing a fake definition that other players guess is the correct one, and (3) as Picker, selecting a genuine word that no players vote for.

   The winner is the player who has earned the most points after a pre-determined number of rounds.

The Supplies You Will Need:

1. A large, preferably unabridged dictionary, or even ready access to an online dictionary.
2. A pencil, pen or other writing implement for each player
3. Notecards or identical pieces of paper for each player

The Order of Play In Fictionary: Individual house rules may vary when playing Fictionary, but play usually proceeds like this:

   One player, the Picker for the turn, chooses an obscure word from the dictionary and announces and spells it to the other players. The chosen word should be one that no other player knows. If a player is familiar with the chosen word, he or she should say so and the picker should choose a different word. (Cheating only gains one point for the cheater anyway.)

   If a word has more than one definition listed, the Picker privately chooses which one to use, but in such a case must specify, "X, when it does not mean thus-and-so."

   Each player writes a crafty and credible definition of the word, initials it, and submits it to the word picker. The Picker shuffles the definitions, including their own, which is the correct one. As definitions are handed to him, the picker should check them over to ensure that they can read the handwriting and to clarify any questions. (Stumbling over or misreading a definition is usually a sign that it's not the correct one -- unless the picker is trying to bluff.)

   Once all definitions have been handed in, the picker reads the list aloud, once. The Picker may read the definitions in any order. On a second reading, each other player in turn then votes for the definition he or she believes is correct. Because the picker selected the word and knows the definition, the picker does not vote.

   One variation allows a player to vote for the definition he submitted, although he doesn't get points for doing so. (This can encourage other people to vote for that definition as well, and the player would get those points.) Another variation does not allow a player to vote for his own definition.

Other Versions of Fictionary: The board games Balderdash, Dictionary Dabble, Flummoxed, and Weird Wordz are based on Fictionary. Also, the board game Wise and Otherwise is based on the same concept, but the Picker randomly chooses a quotation, reads the beginning, and others try to create realistic endings to the quote.

Fictionary is featured as a segment on the weekly US National Public Radio quiz show Says You!, where it is known as the bluffing round.

   In the UK, Call My Bluff is a popular daytime BBC television panel game based on Fictionary. Two teams of three players (journalists, B and C list celebrities, etc) compete. A player from one team has to decide between the three proposed definitions provided by the opposing team. If the first player correctly identifies the true definition of the word, they earn their team a point. If they are wrong, the team which provided the definitions are awarded the point. Call My Bluff was first aired in October 1965, with Robin Ray as chair. Presenter, Robert Robinson, chaired it for many years. As of 2003 the programme is chaired by Fiona Bruce.

   Several US game shows have used the concept as a basis for their games: please see Call My Bluff, Take My Word For It, Wordplay, and Balderdash.

   In Japan, Tahoiya (たほいや?) featured the game under the same name. The 30 minutes late night game show aired on Fuji TV in 1993, and was rebroadcasted on Fuji TV 739 satellite channel in 2008. Tahoiya, originally meaning "a cabin used for boar hunting", was one of the chosen word in early game play.

   One variation uses a book of assorted poems instead of a dictionary. A rhyming quatrain is chosen by the picker. The first three lines are read and a fake fourth line must be made up by the other players which acts like the fake definitions.

   A variety of Fictionary called Dixonary has been on-line for over 1940 rounds, for the first fifteen years on CompuServe in its Tapcis Forum. It is believed that this game is the longest-running on-line game as it enters its seventeenth year. At the end of May, 2005, the game moved to tapcis.com when CompuServe disconnected the forum. Since May 2007 it is played on the Dixonary Google Group but is also accessible at tapcis.com.

Scoring in Fictionary: Players earn one point for voting for the correct definition, and one point for each vote cast for the definition they wrote. The Picker earns three points if no one selects the correct definition. Play then proceeds with the dictionary going to another player, which starts a new turn. A full circuit of the dictionary constitutes a round.

Wink Murder.

Wink Murder, Murder Wink, or Wink Wink Murder is a party game for many people. The absolute minimum number of players is four, but the spirit of the game is best captured by groups of at least six players, and can be played by as many as 35 players and up.

      In each round of play, one player is assigned the role of murderer, with the ability to "murder" other players by making eye contact and winking at them. If a player is winked at, they feign sudden death and are removed from the game. Other players are forbidden from winking. The objective of the murderer is to murder as many people as possible.

Variants of Wink Murder:  In one variation of the game, sometimes played by children as a class activity in primary school, another player, unaware of the murderer's identity, is assigned the role of "detective". All other players sit in a circle around the detective, whose objective is to correctly identify and accuse the murderer, minimizing the number of murder victims. A limit is often imposed upon the number of accusations the detective can make. In this version of the game, players other than the murderer and detective do not necessarily know the murderer's identity, and have no role to play in the game other than to die noticeably if winked at.

      In another variation of the game, cards such as playing cards are allocated to all players, with one specified card randomly determining the identity of the murderer — players may not reveal their cards to each other. All players who are not murderer effectively take on the role of detective, with the objective of correctly identifying and accusing the murderer. Every accusation must be seconded by another player, with a false accusation resulting in the death (that is, the removal from the round of play) of both the accuser and the seconder. This version of the game can be played in an informal setting, requiring only that players are all within sight of each other — the game can be played concurrently with other activities (such as conversation or another game).

Optional Roles for Wink Murder:

• The Accomplice is an optional role. The Accomplice kills in the same way as the murderer, but can only kill once, and the murderer may automatically win if the Accomplice is accused.
• The Nurse is another optional role, who is able to resuscitate dead players by blowing them a kiss.
• In larger groups, there may be several Nurses or Accomplices, or even several Murderers or Detectives.

Variant, Murder Handshake and Blink: Murder handshake is a variation where the players are expected to shake hands, and the murderer kills by using a special handshake, usually scratching the victim's palm. Many prefer this version of the winking version because "killing" someone is not as easily noticeable by third parties, and there's less chance for error (e.g. if a player blinks while looking at someone from the side, it could be interpreted as a wink even if he/she is not the actual killer).

      Blink is a variation where everyone keeps blinking at a fast rate and the murderer quickly 'winks' and that person dies.

Read about more parlor games here.

Parlor Game: Twenty Questions.

20 Questions game show from the 1950s

   Twenty Questions is a spoken parlor game which encourages deductive reasoning and creativity. In the traditional game, one player is chosen to be the answerer. That person chooses a subject but does not reveal this to the others. All other players are questioners. They each take turns asking a question which can be answered with a simple "Yes" or "No." Sample questions could be: "Is it in this room?" or "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" Lying is not allowed, as it would ruin the game. If a questioner guesses the correct answer, that questioner wins and becomes the answerer for the next round. If 20 questions are asked without a correct guess, then the answerer has stumped the questioners and gets to be the answerer for another round.

Parlor Game: Tiddlywinks for Children.

"One of the earlier Trix Rabbit ad. This one you get a FREE set of TiddlyWinks. For more old ads visit us at http://www.vintagetvcommercials.com"

   Tiddlywinks is an indoor game played with sets of small discs called "winks" lying on a surface, usually a flat mat. Players use a larger disc called a "squidger" to pop a wink into flight by pressing down on one side of the wink. The objective of the game is to cause the winks to land either on top of opponents' winks, or ultimately inside a pot or cup.

Parlor Game: Snap-dragon.

   A parlor game popular from about the 16th to 19th centuries. It was played during the winter, particularly on Christmas Eve. Brandy was heated and placed in a wide shallow bowl; raisins were placed in the brandy which was then set alight. Typically, lights were extinguished or dimmed to increase the eerie effect of the blue flames playing across the liquor. The aim of the game was to pluck the raisins out of the burning brandy and eat them, at the risk of being burnt. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1755) describes it as "a play in which they catch raisins out of burning brandy and, extinguishing them by closing the mouth, eat them". According to an eighteenth-century article in Richard Steele's Tatler magazine, "the wantonness of the thing was to see each other look like a demon, as we burnt ourselves, and snatched out the fruit." Snap-dragon was played in England and the United States, but there is insufficient evidence of the practice in Scotland, or other countries.

   There is a far less dangerous version of "Snap-dragon" played among college students here in the U. S.  Although, we are sure it causes many stomach aches. Players bring both very hot sauce and chips to a challenge and the individual who can swallow the greatest amount of hot sauce and chips without taking a drink of water wins. This game is often played in bars. We don't recommend it but some of you may be crazy enough to try.

Parlor Game: Blind Man's Bluff.

   Blind Man's Bluff or Blind Man's Buff is a children's game played in a spacious area, such as outdoors or in a large room, in which one player, designated as "It," is blindfolded and gropes around attempting to touch the other players without being able to see them, while the other players scatter and try to avoid the person who is "it", hiding in plain sight and sometimes teasing them to make them change direction. (The game is a variant of tag.)

   There are several versions of the game:

• In one version, whenever any player is tagged by the person who is "it", that player is out of the game. The game proceeds until all players are out of the game, at which point another round of the game starts, with either the first player or the last player to be tagged becoming the next person who is "it".
• In yet another version, It feels the face of the person tagged and attempts to identify the person, and only if the person is correctly identified does the person become "it".

   The game is known as blind man's buff in the UK and Ireland, "buff" meaning a small push. It is possible that the American name is a corruption, or it may originate from the older sense of bluff meaning to blindfold.

   Blind man's bluff should be played in an area free of dangerous obstructions so that the It player will not suffer injury from tripping over or hitting something.

   The game was played at least as far back as the Tudor period, as there are references to it being played by Henry VIII's courtiers. It was also a popular parlor game in the Victorian era.

A favourite game of Christmastide, is thus described by Thomas Miller, in his "Sports and Pastimes of Merry England":—

      "The very youngest of our brothers and sisters can join in this old English game: and it is selfish to select only such sports as they cannot become sharers of. Its ancient name is 'hoodman-blind'; and when hoods were worn by both men and women—centuries before hats and caps were so common as they are now—the hood was reversed, placed hind-before, and was, no doubt, a much surer way of blinding the player than that now adopted—for we have seen Charley try to catch his pretty cousin Caroline, by chasing her behind chairs and into all sorts of corners, to our strong conviction that he was not half so well blinded as he ought to have been. Some said he could see through the black silk handkerchief; others that it ought to have been tied clean over his nose, for that when he looked down he could see her feet, wherever she moved; and Charley had often been heard to say that she had the prettiest foot and ankle he had ever seen. But there he goes, head over heels across a chair, tearing off Caroline's gown skirt in his fall, as he clutches it in the hope of saving himself. Now, that is what I call retributive justice; for she threw down the chair for him to stumble over, and, if he has grazed his knees, she suffers under a torn dress, and must retire until one of the maids darn up the rent. But now the mirth and glee grow 'fast and furious,' for hoodman blind has imprisoned three or four of the youngest boys in a corner, and can place his hand on whichever he likes. Into what a small compass they have forced themselves! But the one behind has the wall at his back, and, taking advantage of so good a purchase, he sends his three laughing companions sprawling on the floor, and is himself caught through their having fallen, as his shoulder is the first that is grasped by Blindman-buff—so that he must now submit to be hooded."

Parlor Game: Christmas Charades.

Christmas Charades or Christmas Charade is a word guessing game. In the form most commonly played today, it is an acting game in which one player acts out a word or phrase, often by pantomiming similar-sounding words, and the other players guess the word or phrase. The idea is to use physical rather than verbal language to convey the meaning to another party. It is also sometimes called Activity, after the board game.

      Our staff ranks the level of difficulty in "acting out" particular words or phrases. In this way teams of two or more may choose from three categories of difficulty and will earn points based upon each level. Players must attempt to act out each word or phrase until all options have been played out. At the end of the Charade game the team with the most points wins.

The History of Charades: "Charades" are reported to have originated in France in the 18th century, and later spread across Europe and around the world. The first mention of charades in English was in a letter written in 1776 by Lady Boscawen, a Bluestocking and widow of Admiral Edward Boscawen. Early charades were usually in rhyming form, and contained a clue for each syllable ("my first", "my second",...) of a chosen word or phrase, followed by a clue about the entire word ("my whole"). Charades played a role in Jane Austen's Emma. One famous composer of such charades is Winthrop Mackworth Praed; others are Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. and Pope Leo XIII. An example of this form of charade, taken from an early American magazine in 1834, goes like this

"My first, tho’ water, cures no thirst,

My next alone has soul,

And when he lives upon my first,

He then is called my whole."

The answer to this charade is "sea-man". Another, composed by Jane Austen herself, is this:

When my first is a task to a young girl of spirit,

And my second confines her to finish the piece,

How hard is her fate! but how great is her merit

If by taking my whole she effects her release!

The answer is "hem-lock".

      This form of charade appeared in magazines, books, and on the folding fans of the Regency. The answers were sometimes printed on the reverse of the fan, suggesting that they were a flirting device, used by a young woman to tease her beau.

      The name "charades" gradually became more popularly used to refer to acted charades. Examples of the acted charades are described in William Thackeray's Vanity Fair and in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.

Traditional Christmas Charades:

Easy (1 pt.)
stocking(s)
Santa
rocking horse
candy cane
Santa's hat
gift
kissing ball or mistletoe
Difficult (5 pts.)
Santa's elves
chimney
gingerbread house
nutcracker
nativity
Christmas tree
Jesus' Birthday
caroling
Really Tuff (10 pts.)
hot chocolate
"The Night Before Christmas" poem
Christmas shopping
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
sugar plums
candle
cookie(s)
electric lights

Christmas Office Party Charades:

easy (1pt.)
stapler
rubber band
mouse (computer)
desk
trash can
difficult (5 pts.)
memo
computer (monitor)
paper clip
secretary
copier
coffee break
window washer
really tuff (10 pts.)
"The Boss"
overtime
getting fired
gift exchange
"Secret Santa"

Winter Wonderland Charades:
easy (1pt.)
penguin
wolf
cold
snow cone
skarf
ear-muffs
polar bear
difficult (5 pts.)
igloo
skier
parka
snow
ice skating
ice hockey
shiver
frost bite
seal
really tuff (10 pts.)
eskimo
whale blubber
snow shoe
Winter Olympics
ice sickle
sledding

Read more about Christmas Charades: Charades from Jane Austen's Christmas * Christmas Charades & Pictionary * Charades from Lovely Christmas * Christmas Movie Charades *

Christmas Eve Caroling

Caroling children make Christmas joyful. A Christmas Song poem.

Christmas Eve

A Frosty Christmas-eve ' when the stars were shining

Fared I forth alone ' where westward falls the hill

And from many a village ' in the water'd valley

Distant music reached me ' peals of bells a-ringing;

The constellated sounds ' ran sprinkling on earth's floor

As the dark vault above ' with stars was spangled o'er.

Then sped my thoughts to keep ' that first Christmas of all

When the shepherds watching ' by their folds ere the dawn

Heard music in the fields ' and marveling could not tell

Whether it were angels ' or the bright stars singing.

Now blessed be the towers ' that crown England so fair

That stand up strong in prayer ' unto God for our souls:

Blessed be their founders ' (said I) and our country-folk

Who are ringing for Christ ' in the rattling ropes that race

Into the dark above ' and the mad romping din.

But to me heard afar ' it was heav'nly music

Angels' song comforting ' as the comfort of Christ

When he spake tenderly ' to his sorrowful flock:

The old words came to me ' by the riches of time

Mellow'd and transfigured ' as I stood on the hill

Hark'ning in the aspect ' of th' eternal silence.

by Robert Bridges

 

       Did you know that Mexican children put shoes in the window instead of hanging up stockings and find them filled with gifts in the morning? Their main Christmas meal may feature hot tamales too!

Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with the children

 of Mexico. by Mi Padrino.

How to make paper cherubs for the Christmas tree:

1. Punch a hole on the top and one on each side of an inverted paper salad cup.
2. With a white pipe cleaner, form halo 21/2 inches in diameter.
3. For the head, insert pipe cleaner into a Christmas ball.
4. For arms, insert another pipe cleaner through the side holes in cup. 
5. Insert halo through top hole of cup and tape pipe cleaner inside cup. 
6. Trace pattern of wings and glue or staple these on the back of cup.
7. Insert head through top hole and tape pipe cleaner in place.
   

The Friendly Beasts.

The Friendly Beasts

Jesus our Brother, kind and good,

Was humbly born in a stable rude,

And the friendly beasts around Him stood;

Jesus our Brother, kind and good.

"O," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,

"I carried His mother up hill and down;

I carried His mother to Bethlehem town."

"O," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

"O," said the cow, all white and red,

"I gave Him my manger for His bed,

I gave Him my hay to pillow His head."

"O," said the cow, all white and red.

"O," said the sheep, with curly horn,

"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm,

He wore my coat on Christmas morn."

"O," said the sheep, with curly horn.

Thus ev'ry beast by some good spell,

In the stable dark was glad to tell

Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,

The gift he gave Emmanuel.

Tennessee Ernie Ford sings an old English Christmas carol. 
Pictures from a book illustrated by Tomie DePaola.
See a baby gift basket including a traditional nursery rhyme 
by Tomie DePola "Tomie's Baa, Baa Black Sheep"