But instead it just kept on raining, A veil of tears for the virgin birth
“I Believe in Father Christmas” is a song by progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). The song was written by Greg Lake and Pete Sinfield (King Crimson) and was released as a single in 1975. It features Greg Lake on vocals and acoustic guitar, Keith Emerson on synthesizers, and Carl Palmer on percussion.
A white christmas is something we rarely get here near Atlanta, Georgia. The tune though has been around all my life. The song “White Christmas” was written by Irvin Berlin[1] for the 1942 musical film Holiday Inn[2]. The composition won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 15th Academy Awards.
Stocking stuffers are small gifts, typically inexpensive and often lighthearted, that are placed in Christmas stockings as part of the holiday tradition.
The origin of the Christmas stocking tradition is often linked to the legend of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop known for his generosity. According to one popular story, St. Nicholas learned of a family in need and anonymously gifted them gold coins by tossing them down the chimney, and the coins landed in the stockings of the girls hanging by the fireplace to dry.
The Gospel of John also refers to the apostle Thomas as ‘the Twin’ (didymos) three times.
The name “Thomas” has an interesting etymology and is often associated with the Apostle Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. The name itself is of Aramaic origin, and in Aramaic, it is often interpreted as meaning “twin.” This interpretation has led to various traditions and beliefs suggesting that Thomas might have had a twin brother, Jesus of Nazareth. The etymology of “Thomas” as “twin” is connected to the Aramaic word “t’om’a,” which means “twin.”
The toy industry’s first successful line of television-inspired merchandise came from the 1973 hit, “The Six Million Dollar Man.”
The 1970s witnessed the rise of iconic and enduring toys that have become nostalgic treasures for those who grew up during that era. I was born in 1958, so I was 12 years old in 1970.
Voices singing, let’s be jolly, Deck the halls with boughs of holly
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was penned by Johnny Marks, a prolific songwriter renowned for his contributions to the Christmas music genre.
Hark! The herald angels sing, a dragon waits to eat our king.
None of the Gospels mention this unwelcome visitor to Bethlehem, but the Apocalypse does. John paints a seven-headed, ten-horned red dragon onto the peaceful Christmas canvas. You can read all about it in Revelation 12.
On the corner carolers are singing, There’s a touch of magic in the air
As a record collector, I went out and hunted down a lot of my favorites but obviously came nowhere near getting them all. These are some of the favorites that I didn’t own at the time.
It’s coming on Christmas, They’re cutting down trees
“River” is a song by Canadian singer songwriter Joni Mitchell from her iconic 1971 album “Blue,” which is celebrated for its emotional depth and introspective themes.
We eat nearly 50 million turkeys each Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving was made a national holiday in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln but there had been hints of that day being a holiday in prior years. George Washington declared Thursday, Nov. 26, 1789, to be “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” Today, about 50 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving.
