The ABC's of Christmas ~ B

The surest way to enhance the charm and magic of the holidays, is to deck your halls with sentimental decorations and traditional touches that will bring joy all season long. ~ Victoria magazine

Welcome back dear friends! Today I'm doing the letter B of Christmas.

B is for ...Baking, Boxing Day, Baubles, Bethlehem...

When my children were growing up, I did a lot of baking for the holidays. In fact, I used to make fifteen kinds of sweets every Christmas.

Included in all that baking were pies, tarts, cookies, including gingerbread boys, donuts, two fruit cakes, fudge, and peanut brittle. I also made pate which is a rich meat pie that I still make every year. I usually make it with a bannock crust.

We had a lot of company in those days and it always gave me such pleasure to serve my goodies to special family members and friends!

The day after Christmas Day is called Boxing Day and it is a holiday which is celebrated in many countries, including Canada, Australia, and England, etc.  
There are any number of explanations for the name, however, most relate to the giving of a box of food or money to the needy. Christmas is a time for charity and good will toward men. 

Here in Canada, Boxing Day allows us some down time after the busy Christmas preparations. It is a rather relaxed affair and is usually spent with extended family and friends. Usually there are leftovers from Christmas dinner to be savoured.


This is one of the many Baubles on my Christmas tree. It is a Limoges ornament which was given to me by my mother years ago. It is a beautiful porcelain ornament of pink and white encircled with bows, butterflies, and flowers. It is topped by a little blue butterfly.

More baubles. Many of my ornaments are gifts from family and friends and hold much sentimental value like this lovely globe of angels from my oldest son. 

This snowflake was from my hubby.

'O Little Town of Bethlehem' is a popular Christmas carol which was penned by Rector Phillips Brooks {1835-1903} of Philadelphia in 1867 and the music was composed by his church organist Lewis H. Redner {1831-1908} in 1868 for the Sunday school children's choir. 

The Christmas carol was written following Rector Brooks' pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem especially at night time. 

Thank you for visiting today and thank you for your wonderful comments on the letter A.  I hope you will join me again as we talk about the C of Christmas later in the week. Have a delightful day, dear friends!

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

The ABC's of Christmas

Hearts are aglow when we fill our homes with domestic warmth, nostalgia, and the beloved trinkets that symbolize the season. ~ Victoria magazine

Good morning, my dear friends! I thought I would share something a little different beginning today. A number of years ago, I wrote the ABC's of Christmas on my Christmas blog. With the Holidays on the way, I've decided to take the next few weeks and do the same here but I have updated it a bit. I will be sharing some decorations, traditions, and some Christmas memories as well as some interesting facts. I hope you enjoy it and be inspired.

It starts today with the first letter of the alphabet, the letter A. 

A is for Advent, angels, Away in A Manger...

Although Advent Sunday begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, in secular society, the keeping of an Advent calendar is a popular tradition which usually begins on December 1.

When my hubby was in the Ministry, we always celebrated Advent in our church with the lighting of a candle each week. There were five candles in all; each candle represented a prophesy foretold of the coming of the Saviour. The fifth candle was the Christ candle which was lit on Christmas Day. It brought a special touch to each service leading up to Christmas and it was a wonderful way to get the congregation involved in the service.

When my children were growing up, I used to make my own Advent calendar. Like most families, money was tight so I had to make do with what I had. I used my art skills quite a bit in those days as well as my imagination.

My own Advent calendar was a large Christmas tree which I cut out of cardboard. I covered it with green foil wrapping paper and then drew twenty-five little ornaments each with the number corresponding to that day on the calendar tree. I drew candy canes, Christmas balls, angels, trains, toy soldiers, etc. You get the picture!
Each day, one of the boys would take his turn placing an ornament on the tree. The 25th of course, was always the Nativity. We made lots of wonderful memories in those days.

This is the angel which I used for over twenty years on top of the Christmas tree until she no longer worked.

The song, Away In A Manger, is usually the first carol that children are taught. It was originally published in 1885 and the author of the first two stanzas is unknown. The third stanza was penned by John T. McFarland. The music to the song was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1885. There are actually two melodies to the song.

Adoration of the Shepherds - Gerard van Honthorst {1590-1656}

AWAY IN A MANGER 

AWAY IN A MANGER, NO CRIB FOR A BED,

THE LITTLE LORD JESUS LAID DOWN HIS SWEET HEAD.

THE STARS IN THE SKY LOOKED DOWN WHERE HE LAY,

THE LITTLE LORD JESUS, ASLEEP ON THE HAY.

THE CATTLE ARE LOWING, THE BABY AWAKES,

BUT LITTLE LORD JESUS, NO CRYING HE MAKES;

I LOVE THEE, LORD JESUS, LOOK DOWN FROM THE SKY

AND STAY BY MY CRADLE TILL MORNING IS NIGH.

BE NEAR ME, LORD JESUS, I ASK THEE TO STAY

CLOSE BY ME FOREVER, AND LOVE ME, I PRAY;

BLESS ALL THE DEAR CHILDREN IN THY TENDER CARE,

AND FIT US FOR HEAVEN TO LIVE WITH THEE THERE.

Thank you for visiting and please join me next time for the letter B of Christmas. Wishing you a delightful day and God bless you!


Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi