It is said that the first Christmas tree in America was erected at Trenton, in New Jersey colony. In 1776, by Hessian soldiers hired by the British to help subdue the rebellious followers of General Washington.
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Little Drummer Boy
"The Little Drummer Boy" (originally known as "Carol of the Drum") is a popular Christmas song written by the American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. First recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family, the song was further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale; the Simeone version was re-released successfully for several years, and the song has been recorded many times since.
In the lyrics, the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the Nativity of Jesus. Without a gift for the Infant, the little drummer boy played his drum with approval from Jesus's mother, Mary, recalling, "I played my best for him" and "He smiled at me". Despite the song's popularity, the story of the drummer boy is fictional. However, it teaches a Biblical principle that is based upon the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25: 14-30. This parable demonstrates that dutiful servants who multiply the gifts/talents entrusted to them by God demonstrate faith in the Goodness of God. Whereas, to store or hide something given to you by God demonstrates contempt for God's agenda and His kingdom.
For King + Country sing "Little Drummer Boy"
The role of a drummer boy during battle was
similar to that of a shofar when blown during
battles by Jerusalem and her enemies in the
Bible. The drum was used to give signals that
might not be understood by enemies and to
also rally the troops together to fight.
Friday, December 6, 2024
DIY Paper Mache Pomegranate Ornaments
You might think that pomegranates are an unlikely fruit selection to represent the Christmas holidays here in the Western part of the world, but this fruit is very much a part of Christmas in the East. These colorful, delicious edibles have ancient origins and many folks attach their folklore and symbolism to them. I've linked to histories below the directions if you would like to learn more about the pomegranate's history and the meaning associated with them.
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| Finished pomegranates for the Christmas tree. |
- paper mache pulp
- Styrofoam pellets
- acrylic paints: brown, red, pink, green and white
- masking tape
- recycled paper egg carton
- tissue paper
- white school glue
- 3 cotton balls
- wire for the stems
- typing paper, one sheet
- Mod Podge
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Cut out the cups of a cardboard egg carton. You will need two per pomegranate.
- Use masking tape to form a larger hollowed out cup of this ancient fruit.
- Mask the surfaces of the cups, first with tape and then a layer of shredded typing paper and white glue.
- Attach also the calyx shaped using masking tape and paper.
- Mix together part water and paper mache pulp. You will not need much of this pulp to cover the outside surfaces of the skin. Mix it according to the directions on the package. Let it harden over a few days. You can strategically place the faux fruit near a space heater or in the sunshine. This will help the pulp to dry faster.
- First fill the cavity of each pomegranate with tissue paper and tape the tissue down to give it a smooth surface on the inside of the ornament.
- Then fill the shallower part of that same cavity with white school glue and press the Styrofoam pellets or beads down into this glue. Let it dry.
- Unravel the cotton balls and line the outer edges of the cavity with layered white glue and cotton batting. See pictures.
- Now paint all of the surfaces red and white just as you see these in the pictures included here.
- Take more of the unraveled cotton batting and roll this around the wire to give it more thickness.
- Use a sharp-tipped pair of scissors to poke a in the top of each pomegranate. Fill the whole with glue and poke the cotton covered wire down inside. Let dry before painting the stem green.
- Shape the stems into curly looking vines. You may hang the fruit form this stem or attach a hook to it.
- Seal off all of the surfaces using Mod Podge once the glue and paint have dried.
More About Pomegranates:
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| Left, the hollow shaped pomegranates before the paper pulp has been smoothed over the outside surfaces. Right, what these ornaments look like on the back when finished. |
Sleep Holy Babe
Edward Caswall was born 15th of July 1814 and died on the 2nd of January in 1878. He was a clergyman and hymn writer who converted to Catholicism and became an Oratorian priest. His more notable hymns include: "Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise"; "Come, Holy Ghost"; and "Ye Sons and Daughters of the Lord".
He was born the son of Rev. R. C. Caswall, sometime Vicar of Yateley, Hampshire and was educated at Chigwell School, Marlborough Grammar School and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1836 with honors. Later he proceeded to Master of Arts and in 1838 he was ordained a deacon, in 1839 priest, in the Church of England. Before leaving Oxford, he published, under the pseudonym of Scriblerus Redivivus, The Art of Pluck, a satire on the ways of the careless college student.
He was curate of the Church of St Lawrence at Stratford-sub-Castle, near Salisbury from 1840 to 1847. As curate, he would invite the children who had attended morning services to the parsonage and give them breakfast. On the anniversary on one's baptism, he would give some money to buy clothes.
In the summer of 1846 he, his wife, and his brother Tom visited Ireland and one year later he resigned his curacy and, in January 1847, was received into the Catholic Church by Cardinal Januarius Acton in Rome. His brother Tom had converted to Catholicism previously. Caswall's conversion caused an estrangement from some members of his family, including his mother and brother Alfred.
His wife, Louisa Stuart Caswall, who had also become a Catholic, died of cholera on the 14th of September in 1849 while they were staying at Torquay. The following year Caswall joined the Oratory of St. Philip Neri under future-cardinal John Henry Newman, to whose influence his conversion to Catholicism was due.
He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1852. Caswall was delegated the responsibility of establishing the Oratory school, which opened in 1859. He often served as acting superior in Newman's absence.
He was born the son of Rev. R. C. Caswall, sometime Vicar of Yateley, Hampshire and was educated at Chigwell School, Marlborough Grammar School and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1836 with honors. Later he proceeded to Master of Arts and in 1838 he was ordained a deacon, in 1839 priest, in the Church of England. Before leaving Oxford, he published, under the pseudonym of Scriblerus Redivivus, The Art of Pluck, a satire on the ways of the careless college student.
He was curate of the Church of St Lawrence at Stratford-sub-Castle, near Salisbury from 1840 to 1847. As curate, he would invite the children who had attended morning services to the parsonage and give them breakfast. On the anniversary on one's baptism, he would give some money to buy clothes.
In the summer of 1846 he, his wife, and his brother Tom visited Ireland and one year later he resigned his curacy and, in January 1847, was received into the Catholic Church by Cardinal Januarius Acton in Rome. His brother Tom had converted to Catholicism previously. Caswall's conversion caused an estrangement from some members of his family, including his mother and brother Alfred.
His wife, Louisa Stuart Caswall, who had also become a Catholic, died of cholera on the 14th of September in 1849 while they were staying at Torquay. The following year Caswall joined the Oratory of St. Philip Neri under future-cardinal John Henry Newman, to whose influence his conversion to Catholicism was due.
He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1852. Caswall was delegated the responsibility of establishing the Oratory school, which opened in 1859. He often served as acting superior in Newman's absence.
"Sleep, Holy Babe" performed by the Magdalen College Choir, Oxford.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Wonderful Night Draws Near
Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled." This is the point at which the orderly and scholarly Luke opens his account of the birth of our Lord. It seems like going a long way off from and around to the end in view. But there are no isolated facts and forces in the world and all things work together. When we see providence start in we never can tell where it is going to come out. If God is about to bless us, he may start the chain of causation that shall at length reach us in some far-off place or land; or if he is about to save a soul in China he may start with one of us in the contribution we make to foreign missions. Caesar Augustus, master of the world, from time to time ordered a census to be taken of the empire that he might know its resources and reap from it a richer harvest of taxes. It was probably between the months of December and March, B. C. 5-4, that such a census was being taken in the province of Syria.
In accordance with ancient Jewish usage, all citizens repaired to the tribe and village from which they were descended, and were there enrolled. In the town of Nazareth in the north lived Joseph, a village carpenter, and Mary, his espoused wife, who though a virgin was great with child, having been overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and the mystery having been revealed to her and her betrothed husband. They were both descended from the royal line of David, and therefore to Bethlehem they must go. With us such a journey of eighty miles would mean no more than stepping on a railway car at nine o'clock in the morning and stepping off at noon. But with them it meant a toilsome journey on foot of several days. Slowly they wended their way southward, led on by the irresistible hand of Caesar, far away on his throne. The ancient Hebrew prophecy of Micah and the imperial decree of Caesar thus marvelously fitted into each other and worked together. Mary must have known of this prophecy, and we know not with what a sense of mystery and fear and joy she drew near to the predicted place where the Messiah was to be born.
Bethlehem sits like a crown on its rocky ridge. At length its walls and towers loomed in the distance, and then presently up the steep road climbed the carpenter and his espoused wife and passed through the gate into the village. When they came to the inn, it was already crowded with visitors, driven thither by the decree of Caesar that had set all Palestine in commotion. In connection with the inn, generally the central space of its four-square enclosure, but probably in this case a cave in the limestone rock, was a stable, or place for the camels and horses and cattle of the guests. Among these oriental people it was (and is) no uncommon thing for travelers, when the chambers of the inn were fully occupied, to make a bed of straw and spend the night in this place. In this stable, possibly the very cave where now stands the Church of the Nativity, Mary and Joseph found lodgings for the night. It was not a mark of degradation or social inferiority for them to do this, though it was an indication of their meager means, as wealthy visitors would doubtless have found better accommodations. by James Henry Snowden
"No Room, No Room'' - Ruth Morris Gray
The Week Before Christmas
The Week Before Christmas
Why, goodness me!" said Percy Gunn,
"Christmas is just a week from SUN!
"This present business is no fun."
Then he sat down to count his MON.
But after paying what was due,
His surplus dollars were but TUE.
Then Percy sadly shook his head,
Thinking of one he fain would WED.
The weather was depressing, too;
For first it friz, and then it THU.
And presents also he must buy
For sisters, aunts, and smaller FRI.
No answer could he find to that.
He sat and thought and thought and SAT.
And sitting still was Percy Gunn
When Christmas came, and it was SUN!
Monday, December 2, 2024
How to make ''soft-serve'' ice cream cone ornaments
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| Three ways to finish decorating these cotton batting soft-serve ice cream cones. Left, strawberry and vanilla swirl. Center, toffee crunch. Right, mint and vanilla with candy coated chocolate chunks. |
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| What the cotton batting cones look like before painting. |
These soft-serve ice cream cones are perfect for a tree decked out in candy, ice-cream and baked goods! Kids will enjoy finishing them with all kinds of craft materials too: seed beads, glitter, trims, paints etc...
Supply List:
- recycled egg carton (cardboard)
- cotton balls
- masking tape
- white school glue
- transparent glitter
- acrylic paints
- hooks for hanging
- brown paper bags
- I cut apart quite a few cardboard egg cartons while making these ornaments. Inside of each egg carton there are four sections that are shaped like cones. Cut these out and tape two together so that the shape you will be working with looks like a long tube, tapering at both ends.
- Mask all of the surfaces before layering the lower half with glue and brown paper bag scraps.
- Leave the upper cone for the layering of cotton batting and glue. Work the cotton in a spiral shape resembling soft-serve ice cream. This is the same spiral technique that I used for the cotton batting ice sickles here.
- I then painted the ice cream cones different colors. Some are pink and white, others chocolate and still more left white with glitter and sparkling balls.
- I painted the sugar cones last using a very small paint brush to sketch the diamond pattern.
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| Mint and chocolate soft serve sugar cones. |
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| Caramel, vanilla and strawberry ice creams |
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| Nut, candy or berry combined with syrup. |
See More Sweet Things To Display On and Under the Tree:
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