Christmas/The Holiday Season

Category: Christmas/The Holiday Season

Welcome To ‘Tween’ Week

Filed Under: Beliefs, Christmas/The Holiday Season by Wayne Hall — Leave a comment

December 27, 2010

Okay, Christmas has come and gone–I had a good one, thank you! We have less than a week left of 2010 and before New Year’s Day ushering in 2011. So, what is this time of year called?

I like to refer to it as “Tween” Week, the time “between” Christmas and New Year’s. Of course, I still play holiday music and enjoy Christmas information and other activities.

Because it was a “Christmas Weekend” here in the DC area, a lot of the radio stations that switched to holiday music played it through Sunday as well as Saturday, Christmas day. I really appreciated that. For me, I won’t stop thinking about Christmas until we’re firmly into January. In fact, my Mom used to leave the tree up until Presidents’ Day in February, so I’m used to a long holiday season.

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Tags: Barry Manilow, Christmas, It's Just Another New Year's Eve, New Year's Eve, Tween Week

Some Great Holiday Songs – Conclusion

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December 25, 2010

Now that we’re into the three-day Christmas weekend (love that!), I thought I’d share some songs at the very top of my favorite holiday music lists! Here goes:

I love the European melody for “Away In A Manger,” and I enjoy Judy Collins‘ version best:

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Tags: Carly simon, Jim Brickman, Mannheim Steamroller, Silent Night, The Muppets

Christmas: Some Holiday Musings

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December 23, 2010

The holiday is fast approaching, and I notice some interesting thoughts bouncing around inside my mind.

Why does Christmas have to end in the U.S. at 12:01 a.m. on December 26? It’s like a switch is thrown, and the whole season abruptly halts! No more music, no more decorations, no more holiday! I’d prefer that we ease out of it instead of throwing a switch and turning off Christmas. Personally, I keep playing holiday music until I’m well into the New Year. That’s why I collect a lot of music—to keep me happy for weeks to come! View full article »

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Tags: Christmas, diversity

Christmas: I Remember Christmas

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December 22, 2010

We never traded presents on Christmas. Maybe that’s one reason why I remain so passionate about the holiday.

Oh, that’s not to say that we didn’t give each other useful gifts like a pair of gloves, a calendar for the next year or a small gift certificate occasionally.

But that’s not what the holiday was about to our family.

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Tags: Amy Grant, Christmas, family, presents

Christmas: Travel Safely This Year!

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December 21, 2010

As one who used to travel extensively around the holidays a lot (when my Mom was still alive), I can vouch for the fact that folks drive particularly crazily this time of year. We’re in a big hurry and have little time to get things done, so we speed way up. Don’t give in to that temptation! Why? Check out this article form the National Post:

>>Christmas: The Deadliest Day Of The Year: Study

A new U.S. analysis of mortality rates during different times of year found that people are more likely to die during the holidays — notably on Christmas and New Year’s Day — and researchers cannot explain the yearly spike.

After analyzing all official United States death certificates over the 25-year period between 1979 and 2004, a trio of sociologists identified an excess of 42,325 natural deaths — that is, above and beyond the normal seasonal winter increase — in the two weeks starting with Christmas. View full article »

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Tags: Christmas, New Year's Day, travel

Christmas: My Fascination With Joseph

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December 20, 2010

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story deals with Joseph, who became Mary’s husband.

Joseph plays a very unique role. Apparently, he’s an older man who is supposed to wed Mary, a much younger wife.

When he discovers that Mary is pregnant before he marries her, he decides to cancel the wedding quietly. But God in a dream tells Joseph just what He’s doing, and Joseph continues with his plans to marry his spouse-to-be.

Joseph provides for Mary and her Child during the birth and afterwards as Jesus matures. Eventually, quietly, he passes from the scene, most likely dying due to old age.

What fascinates me about Joseph was that he played a vital role in Jesus’ life, and yet he never appeared in the spotlight, as it were. He was content to do what was needed in order to accomplish what God and Jesus wanted.

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Tags: Christmas, Joseph

Some Great Holiday Songs – 3

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December 18, 2010

Next weekend will include Christmas Day! Where did this year go?

Continuing with my holiday weekend tradition, here are some videos of my other favorite seasonal songs:

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Tags: Carpenters, Christmas, Enya, Mannheim Steamroller

‘Spider-Man’ Musical Delayed Yet Again

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December 17, 2010

You’d think a Broadway musical based on the Marvel character Spider-Man would crawl to the top of the heap. But technical problems, including injuries to cast members trying to perform the complicated and dangerous stunts, keep this show from moving forward. Here’s the latest:

>>Spider-Man On Broadway Creator “Happy” About Delayed Opening

Julie Taymor is not concerned about postponing the opening of Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark from January 11 to February 7, 2011.

“We’re happy about it,” Taymor told me last night in an interview. And why not? Even in previews, as a work in progress, Spider Man is a hit. It’s playing at 98% capacity, taking in almost $1 million a week.

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Tags: Alan Jackson, Broadway, Spider-Man, U2

The Bad Economy Hits Close To Home

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December 13, 2010

I keep reading that we’re not in a recession any longer, but you couldn’t tell it by my budget or the local economy.

Here’s a story about where I live–Montgomery County, Maryland–and how the once-prosperous government is having to deal with reduced income:

>>Montgomery braces for eyesores, safety hazards with new budget cuts

Filthy bathrooms. Tall grass. Legions of potholes.

Some analysts say those images of disrepair will become commonplace throughout Montgomery County, with widespread cuts proposed by County Executive Ike Leggett.

“[County] Council staff is concerned about the cleanliness and condition of county facilities, such as recreation centers, community centers, libraries and health care and day care facilities,” a staff memo says. “There are public health concerns and also concerns about loss of revenue that will occur if people stop participating in fee-supported activities or leasing space because of the condition of the facilities.”

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