Silent Night, most loved and sung carol.

Christmas time is here!  I will not do as many postings as I have in the past about Christmas.  It is my favorite holiday but I will just do two postings and then another one when it gets closer to New Year.

I never knew this about Silent Night till I watched the show about it on this last Sunday.

The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Silent Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time!

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

Interesting facts about Christmas.

Today is Christmas Day!   The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sings this song so great! What a wonderful way to celebrate the day of song.

I just thought it would be interesting to post some facts about Christmas down.

• That Christmas is the only holiday that gets a lot of controversy over.  About saying Seasons Greetings instead of Merry Christmas, wither the carols should be sung or not, calling it a Holiday tree instead of Christmas tree. 
• That it’s the only holiday that is celebrated over 3 months. 
• The only holiday that we say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Christmas.
• Attached to Happy New Year as well as Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
• The one holiday that has carols attached to it instead of saying Christmas songs and the most of any holiday that I know of.
• That celebrates a day of birth of the Lord.
• That has a plant that we decorate inside the house.
• That the event actually happened in spring time not winter time, though we celebrate it in a month different than the month it actually happened. 
• The only holiday that uses the phrase "Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men"
• The only holiday that we are told to keep throughout the coming year and not just at the end of the year when we are thinking about it the most.

Feel free to let me know if you can think of any more that I haven't already listed.  Thanks.

The symbols and meaning of Christmas.

I was looking for something to tell the meaning of the symbols that we use at Christmas time and came across this site that looked really good to use.  The author is unknown.  Its called Teach the Children.

                                                                  TEACH THE CHILDREN

I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house.  I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise saw Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.  He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. 

"What are you doing?" I started to ask.  The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had a tears in his eyes.  His usual joy manner was gone.  Gone was the eager, boisterous character we all know.

He then answered me with a simple statement, "TEACH THE CHILDREN!"

I was puzzled; what did he mean? He guessed my question, and with one quick movement pulled a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.  As I stood puzzled, Santa said,  "Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas.  The meaning now-a-days Christmas has forgotten."

Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it in front of the fireplace.  "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree green all year round, representing the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR.   "Teach the children the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago.  God promised a Saviour for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE.   "Teach the children that the candle symbolises that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of Jesus who fills our lives with light."

Once again he reached into his bag and pulled out a WREATH and placed it on the tree.  "Teach the children that the wreath symbolises the real nature of love.  Real love never ceases, like Gods love which has no beginning or end."

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF.  "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus symbolise the generosity and kindness we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF.  "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality.  It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Saviour.  The red holly represents the blood shed by Him." 

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT.  "Teach the children that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only SON...We thank God for his very special gift."  "Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy Baby and gave HIM gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."

Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree.  "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook.  The crook on the staff helps to bring back the lost sheep to the flock."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.  "Teach the children that it was the angels that announced the glorious news of the Saviour's birth.  The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth goodwill to men."

Suddenly, I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL.  "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring to guide us to God.  The bell symbolises guidance and return.  It reminds us that we are all precious in the eyes of God."

Santa looked back and was pleased.  I saw the twinkle in his eyes as he said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center for I am, but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."

The Christmas Carol to start off the Christmas "Oh Holy Night"

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving!  Now to look forward to Christmas! 

I like to start out with this Christmas carol Oh Holy Night!  This version is John Sullivan Dwight's.  The carol we usually hear the most. 

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

My 100 post and Remembering Thanksgiving

Wow!  I've published 100 posts since I started this blog!  Its amazing of how much I've done since I've started.   I've great followers who read my post.  I get great comments back from my readers!  I hope to continue on with another 100 to make it to 200! 

I'm sure you know what a turkey is, who the pilgrims were, what Plymouth Rock is?  These questions are about why we celebrate Thanksgiving.  It seems that as soon as Halloween is over all the stores and decorations for Christmas comes out.  We are going to answer those questions and hopefully make you remember why we celebrate Thanksgiving!

• What is a turkey?  A turkey is a bird that is a native animal to the United States.  When natives from Europe came here to America and saw the bird they called it guinea fowl (turkey fowl) since they were imported from Turkey.  Over time the name got stuck with the bird Turkey.  Today we eat it with everything else at the meal of Thanksgiving.  Amazing note that Benjamin Franklin was wanting to name the turkey the national bird instead of the bald eagle.  I'm glad that we have the bald eagle as the national bird.  I can't picture myself eating an eagle versus the turkey.

• Who are the pilgrims? They are people who left parts of Europe to escape the ruling of a leader that gave no freedoms (religion).  They were wanting to find a place to where they could worship they want to worship without having any fear of being imprisoned or death.  They came over on the ship called the Mayflower and settled in Plymouth, MA.  When they arrived here they noticed that they were not alone.  They noticed Indians (Native Americans) lived here.  The Indians and the Pilgrims did not get a long very well.  They were some hardships between the two.  It then came a time that they realized for them to be able to survive the winter storms they are going to have to get along with the Indians.  The Indians knew what herbs, vegetables, grains etc.  to grow.  Some food was new to the Pilgrims, but they were in time able to come to an understanding.  Which that eventually became the Thanksgiving feast.

• What is Plymouth Rock? Is the supposed place that the Pilgrims landed on when they arrived here in America in the year 1620.  It is an important part of America history.  Though there is no proof that Mayflower Pilgrims actually landed here on this spot or not.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving let us not forget the reason why we celebrate it before it gets lost and forgotten.

We should all be able to get along with each other.

We have different beliefs, religions, cultures, language, color, etc.  Why can we not just get along with everyone.  There are two songs that I would like to include in this post. 

This one is played at Disney park where you go in a ride and hear the words as you are on the ride:
It's a world of laughter, a world of tears

its a world of hopes, its a world of fear
theres so much that we share
that its time we're aware
its a small world after all

CHORUS:
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small, small world

There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
its a small world after all.

This song was done recently at a get together of various religions all coming as one.
This song is played at Christmas time when we think of peace on Earth more than any other time of the year.

Let there be peace on Earth,
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With god as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

Hope for the Future! Live for the Future! Welcome 2011!

What a Christmas this year was.  It was great being with family.  I'm glad that my blog for this month was to focus on the Savior, except the Pearl Harbor one, and his birth that we remember at this time of year. 

This year of 2010 has been a great year and looking forward to New Years Day! The day to celebrate the New Year of 2011. 

I was watching an episode of "Lois and Clark The Adventures of Superman" and it was about this time of year that we celebrate Christmas and the New Year.  At the beginning of the episode Lois and Clark walk into the Daily Planet and we notice

• The two countries want to sign a peace treaty from the news report on TV.
• A huge Christmas tree in the middle of the room with decorations and lights.
• Clark's parents are in town and enjoying themselves.
• Lois's mother is in town and feels good.
• Jimmy is excited to have a girlfriend to come over to the work party.
• Mr. White is happy
• Lois is glad to turn in her news story for the newspaper.
• A multi millionaire who thanks Superman for saving his life.
• Superman stopping a family man, who robs a bank.

During this time the magical being, not from our world, has followed Superman and meets him in one of the elevator of the Daily Planet and decide to play a game.  We notice that the hours of 12:00pm-4:00pm repeat over and over several times and that Clark Kent is in this loop of repeating time.  As the story goes along we notice changes to occur

• The Christmas tree keeps getting smaller and smaller till its like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree with little life to it and only one ornament on it.
• The peace treaty goes good peace to full blown war to who cares.
• The parents of Clark get heated up between the two into arguing and Jonathan just about has a heart attack.
• The mother of Lois starts drinking and doesn't give a care in the world.
• The date of Jimmy looks more like a gangster of the street.
• The multi millionaire gets angry at Superman for saving his life and wishes to be left alone.
• The police give up on taking the guy who robbed the bank, into custody.
• Mr. White is depressed that he didn't get to be Santa Claus for his two boys.
• Lois gives up turning in her great news story for the newspaper.

Clark doesn't understand what is happening, that things are going good and head to being worse and awful. He realizes that Clark needs to change something and fast.  Clark Kent then talks to Lois and tells her what has been happening.  The magical being is loving this for he realizes that he wants to rule the planet and have Superman leave.  Clark Kent doesn't leave and Lois realizes the same thing for hope to be alive.  So then the next loop Lois and Clark fix the right and give hope again to everyone and at the end of the episode the magical being realizes he can't stay any longer and leaves. 

If we as humans don't have hope then what is life then?

• Gloom
• Doom
• Despair
• Sad
• Miserable
• Hate
• Death
• Lifeless
• No color just blah.

Whereas if we do have hope:

• Color
• Life
• Happiness
• Joy
• Love
• Laughter
• Fun

Ever heard the phrase, "Live for the Future"? If we have no hope what is there to live for? We would be in a state of mind that is not the mind to live.  Especially not the one that the Savior would want us to live.  The Savior knew that life would be hard but would be worth it.  That we would have hard times, challenges, trials, etc.  The idea of hope is a good thing to have. 

2011 is a year of opportunity, learning, growing, loving, caring, serving, etc.  If we have hope we can conquer the evil that face us, able to endure the trial, overcome the challenge, be a better person. 

Hope for the future!
Live for the future!
Welcome 2011!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!