Music all year long

If you don't mind the occasional commercial, this online radio is great for holiday music all year long. You can choose from a variety of genres, and styles. You can even hear the same song in different formats. Have you heard all the different stylings of Rudolph or Greensleeves? Or maybe you want to hear just the crooners, or a hard rock Christmas. Whatever music you like, it's here.

Accuradio has all you need for your year long holiday fix. On the main page just head over to the "More" button and select "Accuholidays." Then just choose what style of music you want to listen to. It's that easy.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Christmas History

While most of us know about the Christian part of the holiday, what about the other contributions have been made to the holiday over the years. I want to talk about the history of this great and wonderous holiday going back centuries before the birth of Christ. We all know that Christmas is a amalgamation of many different traditions, religious and secular. Each part of this history lesson I will try to enlighten you about a specific contribution to the holiday. And don't get me wrong, I'm not an expert, just an enthusiast. The knowledge I've compiled comes from many sources and many media. I will even go so far as to say that I can't guarantee that some of it will even be true. I will try to back up history with sources and reference material if possible, for verification.

History of Christmas: Before Christ

The beginning of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight. In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Egypt, there was the celebration of the rebirth of Horus, the sun god. Because the Egyptians honoured Horus with a twelve month calendar, the festival lasted twelve days with each day symbolizing one month. Buildings were decorated with all sorts of greenery, such a palm branches. Each branch had twelve fronds, making it a small calendar. This was an ideal representation of the birth, death, rebirth cycle of the Sun.

Word of this festival traveled to Egypt's neighbors, the Babylonians, in Mesopotamia. The believed that these rituals were the heart of the Egyptians prosperity and they quickly adopted some similar festivities. Called Zagmuk, this festival incorporated their sun/creator god, Marduk. They believed that Marduk created the world, and made it one of order and peace. This wasn't easy though, to create the world Marduk had to fight the monsters of chaos.

Each year, as the days became shorted and the nights cooler, the monsters regained their strength and challenged Marduk's reign. This battle took place around the dates of the winter solstice, December 21 in our calendar. The Zagmuk festival started five days before the solstice and lasted six days after, with the peak of the festival falling on the day of the solstice itself. On the seventh day after the solstice, the Sun stayed longer in the sky, a sign that Marduk was on his way to victory. This resulted in parades and parties, and the occasional exchange of gifts. The world was renewed for another year and all was right with the Babylonian people.

Next time: Romans and Greeks

Source: thehistoryofchristmas.com and Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison

Have your cake and eat it too

I picked up this book at the library this week. I love the use of fondant icing. The cover pic is great. Everything is edible except for the berries. I love the simplicity and elegance this cake has. Inside are many different types of cakes, from traditional to informal, from religious to just winter fun. If you can, go to your local library and check it out.

Classic and Contempary Christmas Cakes by Nadene Hurst

Welcome to all. I'm going to try my hand at starting a year round Christmas blog. I've always loved the holiday and think about it all the time, even in the summer. I want to touch on many things about the holidays, secular and religious. Some things may not be for all people, but I hope to entertain, enlighted and express my joy for the holiday.

Who knows? I may even have some guest bloggers in the future. So, may all your days be merry and bright throughout the year.


"He who does not have Christmas in his heart will never find it under the tree." - Roy L. Smith

Some Assembly Required

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house

I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."
The children were quiet in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
In the kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!
We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....
Let no pieces be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can't get it right, it goes down in the basement!
When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if there were failure, only we could be blamed.
More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
All over the floor they were scattered about.
"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, where the metal is bare!
Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."
And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
With "assembly required" till morning's first light.
We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.
The coffee went cold and the night it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.
Then laying the tools away in the chest,
We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.
Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
And not have to run to the store for a thing!
"We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
For the perfect, most perfectest Christmas, I bet!"
Then off to dreamland, at last sweet repose
I gratefully went, although I suppose
There's something to say for those self-deluded
I'd forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!
I just got lost in thought.
It was unfamiliar territory.



-Unknown

http://opossumsally.homestead.com/index1.html

World Cup and stuff

Well, I have been watching a lot of footy and not playing many games the last few days. To be honest most of the games have been a load of rubbish, only a couple of good games. USA v Slovenia and South Korea v Greece were quite exciting. But, England, well they are just awful. Heskey just makes up the numbers because he doesn't contribute a thing to the team. Rooney might just have well stayed in the dressing room for all the good he did, Lennon looked scared to death and passed the ball as soon as he got it. What about running at the defence and going past people, he does that week in and week out for Spurs (and I am a Spurs fan).
Unfortunately Capello hasn't got the bottle to drop Rooney and a few of the others. Still I can see us going home early if we put in a performance on Wednesday with no passion, no skill and no desire.
Well, that's my rant, and as to games, the only ones I have been playing have been online. Well, when I can because I have been having a torrid time with my computer. For a week or so now I have been getting blue screens, freezes and crashes. I went online on my laptop and tried to get some suggestions as to the answer and the general consensus was it may have something to do with corrupt RAM. Today I went into the case to check it out and found that the RAM sticks had been cemented to the slots with something like bathroom sealer......WHAT!! After a lot of huffing and swearing, Tina, who has smaller fingers than me, managed to free them up and I took out the 2 512Mb sticks and left the 2 1Gb sticks in. Hoovered out all the dust and connected it all back up and booted.....holds breath.
Well, it's been on for an hour or so now and no problems so far (keeps fingers crossed). Just have to wait and see....for the computer and the football.

Happy Gaming!!

First Christmas Gift

  Well, I bought my first Christmas present yesterday. It's for my sister-in-law. Saw it on http://www.iqvc.com/. I love it and I think she will too. I can't say what it is because she may read this. I sent her an email with a Christmas background and a Christmas song. I told her ho ho ho, he he he, bought you a Christmas gift from QVC. No hints as to what it was. I don't think I've ever bought a Christmas gift this early. It could turn out to be a good idea to start early in the year instead of waiting until November.