- Christmas Illumination: Gift ideas, calendar of events ...
- Jeroden : The elves and Denis Jero Jeroden invite you to their beautiful Christmas village.
- The Christmas Elves : Association of Friends of Santa Claus whose purpose is to promote all that relates to Christmas.
- PLAITs : Facebook page of Mrs. Claus, with over 650 songs!
- Christmas : Muriel's blog that shares with us his love for this wonderful festival and especially his passion for Santa. Starting December 1, Muriel also offers a calendar of Advent, at this address .
- Wild Wild Western : the blog of the West's true! Because it's not just Christmas in life, and because a good western that is always good! Fred Jay Walker shares with us his passion for western, popular movies and good TV series through DVD reviews, movie reviews, books, news ...
This year I decided that you will be surprised of December 25 just hours before! Yes ... First of all because you've been good and you have so well deserved.
Then, for the most magical Christmas is waiting, it's Advent, is the day when we observe the stars and is expected feverishly Santa and his reindeer eating clementines or nibbling chocolates. So I wish you all spend a night purely magic and to participate in this extraordinary environment, I wanted you to discover this little greeting card ahead of time. That gift, and it is for all of you who followed me during these three years is to thank you for stopping by to see me for reading, for letting me or sent some comments or small friendly words. This card is the Christmas present that I offer.
And ... tomorrow you will have problems better to do than go see me. You'll no doubt a few things to unpack, to give kisses and laughter to share.
Here the user guide: First, turn on the sound, It's important! Then click on the link below and wait for loading the card, it can be a bit long so do not worry. Once the card is loaded, click on the decorated tree and ... Let us guide you ... by Santa and his reindeer! ...
Hello everyone I'm 22, my first real Christmas began 7 years ago when I arrived at my beautiful family, I never had a Christmas as I have now.
There is a tree which is 1 m 50 2 m wide and 30 high, it touches the ceiling. Given that there are many roughly thirty foot gift. The menu is a great aperitif that includes rolled ham (one slice of ham with spreadable garlic and herbs and a piece of pickle to cut inside and rolled) and a large table filled with chocolate Mm's, Lion, Kitkat, Mars, then all sorts of chocolates without forgetting the atmosphere of the family reunited. Throughout my life I had at the moment of pure happiness 7 Christmas and I thank my parents-in for all they gave me the joy of Christmas and love Christmas.
As a kid, my family lived in Belfast. Three weeks before Christmas, my dad went off into the woods to cut a Christmas tree. He must chose a 3 meter high because the tree was touching the ceiling. We decorated the tree with lots of strings and it was also a nursery, complete with all the figurines. Mom always kept his crib and figurines, I have also today, I'll show them. Dad had a bread oven and each year in December he prepared all sorts of cakes, pies and Saint Nicolas small brioche. In Belfast, I was 3 years and I still remember everything. The year I turned 15, he always made her cakes! December 6, at night, San Nicolas was going home and we brought my sister and me buns in the shape of little men, an orange and candy. eight days before Christmas, my grandmother came to visit us and stayed with us at home until early January. She always came with a very large suitcase filled with at least 25 packets of sweets! She spoiled my sister and me. For her, Christmas was sacred, was a celebration of children. My grandmother was very religious, she was not rich, but she was very generous and was keen to celebrate children. Christmas Eve, the night we went to midnight mass, and on returning home, before going to bed, he had to leave the window ajar because Santa was passing by. We opened the gifts the next morning. Santa brought us usually dolls or toys and clothing. The clothes were very important in my family for Easter and Christmas we always brought new clothes, was paramount. And clothing should be different at Easter and Christmas. early January, we also had a visit from Santa in January, he brought us chocolates and a small book. My grandmother remained until Epiphany and moved again to her home.
Personally it´s time of reunion and sharing. My family is split in several places of the state, so Christmas Eve is the perfect oportunity to get together in a small town by the coast where we all were born. Every year we do pretty much the same, at 10pm we have a huge and delicious meal and at midnight we open the presents. There´s always some person who is charged of hand arround them. After that: fireworks. That´s the most exciting and touching thing of all ´cause we all individually reconnect with out thoughts. At least that´s how I feel in that moment. Arround 1am we all have desert, usually we buy all those sweet stuff, typical of Chritmas. And we get the visit from our neighbours With toast and We Have Them.
Each year, we went to Christmas Mass with my mother. I can not remember if it lasted 1H or 1:30 but I wonder how I wanted all this time there listening to the words incomprehensible to a child?! I was very religious but still ...
Before leaving, I always thought about putting a glass of water for Santa Claus. When we returned, I went first into the bathroom to make sure the glass of water had been drunk. was the thrill for me through the heart because it meant he was well spent there.
These days, I leafed through photo albums of my childhood triggering thoughts of my parents who do not understand why I come back in the past now, and I saw my crib, my fir time and my toys under the tree including some who were out of my memory and others when I exclaimed "But where did this toy ?!!!"
I've Always Loved Christmas as I have a huge family get together and all weekends in my Mum's house And The House Is Packed with All the adults and Their children (all 12 of them!) & The house Is So noisy goal we all love it! It's the one time of year we are all together. I'm particularly looking
forward this year to have it Will Be Our First Christmas With Our baby girl - I've Already Bought loads of Christmas decorations and can not wait to put them up. Santa Claus will definitely Be Stopping at Our house this year too (Even though it's more for us Than her!)!
It is early morning in winter When I awake with a heart full of hope! Is it last night, as I hope! Has he filed his present discretely in the dark?
I do want more, the wait is unbearable, I know! While the house is still asleep, I get up quietly. I borrow the stairs and along the corridor, and when I open the parlor door, outside is still dark.
Fir gently illuminates its lights, and diffuses into the room a pleasant golden light. I approached slowly and there: Yes! It's them! All gifts as expected, Santa brought them!
I tore all the pretty paper frantically To find out what, in my opinion, I won! Have I not been a good little girl and polished Throughout this past year!
A final gift waiting for me, though! a surprise, from my heart, I am thrilled! Opening the shutters by pushing the wings, I discover my campaign bleached soft! My toys
hugged, I never left the window. I spend the day watching the little flakes falling. Today, I Friesian my whole being! For the first time in my life, I knew a wonderful Christmas snow!
Tales Christmas for download on the site of the INA
For the Christmas season, the National Audiovisual Institute offers a promotional rate for downloading a selection of Christmas videos. This selection, Christmas stories for children and adults " includes 11 films, adaptations of literary classics, modern tales for adults, funny movies or poetry ... The 11 videos can be purchased at the unit, two rates depending on the length: 2.99 € (under 30 minutes) or € 3.99 (over 30 minutes). The promotional pack of 11 videos is available at this time to 19.99 € instead of € 38.89 (cost of engraving and shipping included).
December 29, 1962 Conte Michele Angot (31'09) parents Denis have a small toy factory plush: giraffes, lions, elephants, donkeys ... Among donkeys, it is one that is like no other: an end serial never know the glory of the windows, while all his brothers are gone. Cadi is its name, is suffering. He dreams of wonderful adventures. But a fairy agrees to fulfill the desire of Cadi: become a real ass. And here in Paris Cadi ...
Story December 10, 1967 after a wacky tale of Roland Topor (25'05) Veronique a young Parisian, December 24 saw a shaggy dog. She has to go in the morning at the National Library and boarded a taxi, the radio announces a crazy time ... The driver, of Russian origin, the results in a funny journey through time in a Russian atmosphere and crazy. So it is a rabbit with its caretaker with whom she had an appointment.
New Clothes of the Grand Duke December 23, 1972 adaptation of the tale by Hans Christian Andersen (57'24) A long time ago, in an imaginary state, two thieves devise a scheme to get rich easily at the expense of the Grand Duke who governs the country by abusing his foolish vanity and his excessive vanity. It is a small child discovering the hoax.
The Male Volante December 24, 1959 modern Christmas story, written by Claude Santelli and directed by Marcel Craven (28'05) In a Parisian building on the same floor rub a piano teacher, and poor bohemian and a meticulous accounting and tyrannical. The first is the debtor and the second deadline falls on December 24. Fortunately, two angels will come flying in a trunk to get the piano teacher of this impasse.
Little Claus and Big Claus December 25, 1964 (66'45) Jacques Prevert, adaptation and dialogue, Paul Grimault, illustrator and designer Pierre Prevert, director, sought to soften the cruel tale by creating a female character who brings a note of youth and purity thank you in the fight without opposing the Great Claus and Little Claus. Both men live in the same city. They have the same name without parents. One of four horses, the other one. To distinguish them we call the Great Claus and Little Claus.
December 25, 1962 "The brave little tailor" from the folktale collected by Brothers Grimm, adapted by Marianne Oswald and Remo Forlani, and directed by Yves-André Hubert (26'03) The tale recounts the adventures of a young man fearless and clever at times of castles and knights in the fantastic scenery of the Rhine. Reluctant hero, because one fine morning he had the idea of eating a slice of marmalade which had arisen demanding seven flies, the little tailor is going to run the adventure. This triumph of a giant ferocious and tyrannical, a wizard and his unicorn before meeting at the end of his journey a beautiful princess.
Subject to a Little Story December 24 1965 Christmas story written by Frédérique Hébrard and directed by Robert Valey (19'10) Upon exiting the theater, Genevieve, a young talented actress, is expected by some admirers. An unknown lady reminds him of his debut ten years ago. A young actor, Paul, then gave him the reply lorqu'elle won first prize at the academy, what does it become? Genevieve goes alone and found her husband, wealthy man who was waiting. She decides to drive the next day his children to department stores, see the toys and Santa Claus ... but it will make a very strange encounter.
For Christmas story aimed at grownups, Marcel and Marcel Moussy Bluwal made the bet to place the fictional December 24, 1958, within the exact time of release. Filmed on location in a suburban setting night (Colombes, Neuilly-Plaisance, Bobigny, Bridge Coal), the film operates and restores the appearance of strange and fantastic desert landscapes - yards, vacant lots - that no man's land, neither city nor country, which fringe the city. (31'33) His day was over, Roger, a cameraman on television, even the Buttes-Chaumont to pass Eve family. He starts driving his first "two horses", brand new. But in Colombes, near the Villa des Roses, where his wife awaits him, the adventure surprises in the guise of the mysterious "Lady of Christmas," a motorist down, full of gifts. This unexpected passing the leads in a turbulent equipped through the suburbs of bums and bad guys ...
Cinderella January 10, 1966 (70'35) The authors took the story down. Here, Cinderella is a rich heiress who wants to overcome the constraints of the environment where it lives. She wants to marry for love, despite opposition from her stepmother and sisters and despite the young man "good" that his family provided for spouses. It achieves its purpose because in 1966 the young girls decided finally get what they want. And what she wants is their idol, the singer who replaced pace in their dreams Prince Charming (Claude François).
January 17, 1966 Transposition of the modern tale of Perrault (55'09) In a provincial town, an old lady dies, poisoned verbena. While his legacy, a cat, returns to Rifle niece. Rifle returns to Paris with the cat which is simply a descendant of the tale of Puss in Boots. Its mission is to help Carabine, a penniless girl and unambitious, indolent, and without the large building. One solution is to Puss in Boots to save it: the rich husband ... This fiction is embellished with songs and dances.
The Tree and the Boy May 4, 1978 (25'17) Michel, a small boy, lives on a farm at the foot of Hochkönigsburg. He goes to school by logging roads. One day a tree talking to him. A friendship develops between the shaft and then the child finds it nature but also the cruelty of adultes.Le role is played by Jean Michel Charles Van Halle.
Today, a greeting card signed by the famous American brand Hallmark ... but not just any greeting card, it's actually a short animated film of the loveliest. I'll let you discover ...
The thermometer drop, drop and yet declining, there is no possible doubt, winter is here. Migratory birds have one thing in mind is leave quickly from here to fly to the south and the more civilized lands in hot countries. This cartoon is a delightful ingenuity, humor and poetry. I leave you with the birds ...
The song ragtime Alabamy Bound "was composed by Robert Hoffman in 1909.
XmasFLIX definitely has a multitude of wonderful videos in the hood. Today, he shares with us Carrousel Boreal , a French short film animation 12 minutes Ladislas Starewitch signed, made in 1958. What can I say except that it is a masterpiece of pure poetry.
Ladislas Starewitch is a Russian director of Polish origin (February 8, 1882 to February 26, 1965), settled in France in 1920, specializes in animal-puppet animation stop-motion (motion animation, a technique invented in 1907). Some of his films have been released on DVD, read about the chronic Site DVD Classik .
I leave you with this inventive little film, magical, rare ... who opened and still opens many good walks to a multitude of directors, one could cite in bulk: Ray Harryhausen, Tim Burton, Michel Gondry, Wes Anderson ...
12 Days of Christmas festive period and are a very mysterious that starts on Boxing Day, 26 December and ends January 6, Epiphany. Epiphany ("event" or "appearance" in Greek) is a feast of origin pagan. After the festivities at the winter solstice (Saturnales. ..), January 6 marked the increasing day length and hence the resurgence and rebirth of light. The Epiphany is celebrated is the end of the Christmas cycle of 12 days. Epiphany was later Christianized (religious festival celebrating the presentation of the Child Jesus to the Magi).
"Twelfth Night" - David Teniers the Younger (1640)
During these 12 days, located after the winter solstice, the daylight steadily decreasing and then the expected return of clarity. During these 12 days of night still, these 12 days and 12 nights dark well, it tries to unravel the mysteries of the future through small details or symbolic actions sometimes "magical". It protects citizens through fires purifiers, there is nature and animals, moisture, mist, moon, and we draw from these observations various omens for crops and climate of the coming year .
Thus, during this cycle of 12 days, each day is a month of the year. In France, according to ancient folk traditions, each of these days the weather announcement the month to which it is associated with (we have elsewhere in France a multitude of sayings about this). And who has not in his immediate circle an "old" can predict the weather or the crops of the coming months just looking at the sky? " It often amused, and yet ... most of the time, the future gives them right! Here is what this popular tradition:
Look how are conducted Since Christmas For twelve days after these twelve days The twelve months will have their course
By region, this cycle changes name, see the same duration. In Provence, it is called "Calendo" (Calende time that actually extends to Candlemas), in the Perigord it begins at St. Catherine (November 25th), Berry is named the "difficult" it is of Lorraine "12 small month, "in other regions are" Ajeti "and Quebec have the" log ".
Note that in most parts of the world where we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, the festivities begin (often several weeks before) by lantern parades, visits by groups of children dressed up singing and dancing , going from house to house to collect some goodies: Halloween 31 October in the Anglo-Saxon, St Martin on November 11 in Germany, Sink Tuck on November 25 in the North Canadian, parades and belsnickels Mummers Christmas in Quebec, festivals and parades in St. Lucia on December 13 Scandinavia, etc. ...
A rhyme is associated with these 12 festive days. This folk song enumerates a list of all gifts received absolutely incredible and unlikely during this period of 12 days at a daily gift. This song was first published in England in 1780, it is not known, however the exact origin of the rhyme (it would perhaps of French origin). The first musical version was recorded in England in 1842 by James O. Halliwell.
One theory is that this rhyme is an allegory, each gift designating a particular religious teaching. This song would have been used to circumvent the ban imposed on religious practice English Catholics during the second half of the sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century. We have learned the catechism to children. Note however that this theory is based on no evidence speaks for itself. The symbols developed:
"My love" should be heard as the infant Jesus.
Day 1 - The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus on the Cross. The pear tree is the symbol of Adam, who crunched the forbidden fruit
Day 2 - The two doves are a reference to the Old and New Testament.
Day 3 - The three clucking hens are faith, hope, love.
Day 4 - The four birds are singing the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Luke, Mark, John.
Day 5 - The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Book of Numbers Deuteronomy.
Day 6 - Six Geese Pond would be six days of creation (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Sunday reserved for the rest of God).
Day 7 - Seven swans swimming would refer to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, fear of the Lord and finally piety. But they could also symbolize the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, sloth).
Day 8 - Eight farm milking remind the eight beatitudes of Jesus' sermon on the mount.
Day 9 - The nine ladies dancing represent the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, temperance.
Day 10 - Ten men jumping symbolize the 10 commandments.
Day 11 - Eleven pipers were the eleven apostles of Jesus.
Day 12 - The twelve drummers represent beliefs of the Twelve Apostles Creed.
The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes meanwhile suggests that these gifts represent a list of different dishes or activities, each corresponding to one month of the year.
To conclude, I would say that overall it is very difficult to bring out the rhyme or meanings evidence (if any simplemement it is useful to teach young children to count and run their memory while having fun), being probably the most interesting to sing and transmit to future generations to ensure survival of our cultural heritage so it does not turns off.
The principle is simple and repetitive, just sing a new verse by repeating then all those that have been said before. Here's the rhyme, good luck!
The first day of Christmas, my true love gave me a partridge in a pear tree.
the second day of Christmas, my true love gave me two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the third day of Christmas, my true love gave me three clucking hens, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the fourth day of Christmas, my true love me singing four birds, three hens clucking ,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave me five golden rings, four birds singing , three hens clucking ,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave me six geese ponding, five golden rings, four birds singing , three hens clucking , two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
The seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave me seven swans swimming, six geese ponding, five golden rings, four birds singing , three hens clucking ,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave me eight farm milking, seven swans swimming, six geese ponding, five golden rings, four birds singing , three hens clucking , two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the ninth day of Christmas, my true love me nine ladies dancing, eight farm milking, seven swans swimming, six geese ponding, five golden rings, four birds singing , three hens clucking ,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave me ten men leaping, nine ladies dancing , eight farm milking, seven swans swimming, six geese ponding, five golden rings, four birds singing, giggling three hens, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave me eleven pipers, ten gentlemen leaping nine ladies dancing , eight farm milking, seven swans swimming, six geese ponding, five golden rings, four birds singing , three hens clucking , two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave me twelve drummers, pipers eleven, ten gentlemen leaping, nine ladies dancing , eight farm milking, seven swans swimming, six geese sponding, five golden rings, four birds singing , three hens clucking , two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
To complete the rhyme, I suggest you go check out the site dltk-holidays coloring which offers 12, each corresponding to a 12-day song. See also the Quebec site secret mountain where you can browse the CD booklet of Christmas carols by their carefully edited, or even order the album (listen to audio excerpts online). On the site meteo.org you will also find a multitude of sayings related to the cycle of 12 days of Christmas.
Here's a little cartoon Alvin and the chimpmunks . It is original, but do not panic, it is not very talkative. If you do not understand the lyrics, it does not matter, just remember that Alvin has requested a hula hoop to Santa. Does he succeed in getting the message?!
All right you Chipmunks ! Ready to sing your song? - I'll say we are ! - Yeah ! - Let's sing it now ! - Okay, Simon ? - Okay ! - Okay, Theodore ? - Okay ! - Okay, Alvin ?.. Alvin ?!... ALVIIIIN! - OKAY!!!
Christmas, Christmas time is near Time for toys and time for cheer We've been good, but we can't last Hurry Christmas, hurry fast Want a plane that loops the loop Me, I want a hula hoop We can hardly stand the wait Please Christmas, don't be late.
- Okay fellas get ready. That was very good, Simon. - Naturally. - Very good Theodore. - Aaaahhh ! - Ah, Alvin, you were a little flat, watch it. Ah, Alvin ?! Alvin ?! ALVIIIIN ?!!! - OKAY !
Want a plane that loops the loop. I still want a hula hoop. We can hardly stand the wait, Please Christmas, don't be late. We can hardly stand the wait, Please Christmas, don't be late.
- Very good, boys ! - Lets sing it again ! Yeah, lets sing it again ! - No, That's enough, lets not overdo it - What do you mean overdo it? - We want to sing it again! - Now wait a minute, boys - Why can't we sing it again? - [chipmunk chatter] - Alvin, cut that out... Theodore, just a minute. Simon will you cut that out? Boys !...
Today, a recipe for the sweet tooth of chocolate fudge black. This British confectionery, chocolate delicious small bites, a bit tender. Generally added to the preparation of nuts or vanilla. They are also found in many other flavors: caramel, white chocolate, maple syrup, peanut butter, etc. ... But today, we will focus only on dark chocolate.
prepare the day before the tasting. For a small forty fudges, you will need:
250 grams of dark chocolate to make pastries 200 g sweetened condensed milk 100 g walnuts or pecans or hazelnuts ... 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (more or less, adjust to taste)
First, if you have time, brown the nuts 10 to 15 minutes in oven on a plate covered with a sheet of parchment paper.
Roughly chop the walnuts (if you have a blender, use the "ice", but be careful not to make a powder, it is imperative to remain pieces).
Melt chocolate in double boiler, then remove from heat and add condensed milk sweet and vanilla extract. Mix well to obtain a homogeneous preparation. Add walnuts.
You will then get a fairly thick paste and a little sticky, see little malleable. Spread this paste on a plate covered with a sheet of parchment paper to a thickness of 1 to 2 cm (depending on the thickness and size that you want to give your fudge). Smooth the surface with a spatula (or the back of a spoon) and cover with another sheet of parchment paper.
Remove the plate in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, expand the plate into cubes. And here, there has more to enjoy!
You can keep the fudge at room temperature in a cool place in a sealed box. If it gets too hot at home, keep them refrigerated. In this case, take them out at least forty minutes before serving so that he found their basis.
The fudge is also an excellent gourmet gift to give to your relatives. A pretty box, some tissue paper, and voila!
There, in the forest, there was a nice tree . He was well placed, it was sunny and the air around him grew larger comrades, pines and firs. But he was so eager to grow that he perceived no sun or fresh air, not even the children of peasants who spent chatting when they were picking strawberries or raspberries.
"Oh! if I was tall like the others, "sighed the little fir, I would spread my branches and my top look the wide world. The birds building their nests on my boughs, and when the wind would, I could swing gracefully as do those who surround me. "The sun
caused him no pleasure, nor birds, nor the red clouds which morning and evening, sailed in the sky above his head.
In winter, when snow glittering lay white, it often happened that a hare leaping, jumping over the little tree - oh! it was annoying! But two winters passed, when the third arrived, the tree was large enough that the hare was obliged to go around. Oh! push, push, grow big and old, it was there, he thought, the only joy in the world.
In autumn the woodcutters came and felled some of the tallest trees. This happened every year and the young fir, which had reached a good size, trembled with fear as these magnificent trees fell to earth in a roar of crackles.
Where were they? What would become of them?
In spring, when came the swallow and the stork, the fir asked them
- Do you know where they were taken? Have you encountered?
Swallows knew nothing, but the stork seemed to think, nodded and said:
- Yes, I think I know, I met many new ships in all flew from Egypt, on these vessels there were great masters-masters, I dare say that it was they, they felt the tree.
- Oh! if I was big enough to fly over the sea! How exactly is the sea? What's it like there?
- Uh! it's hard to explain, "said Stork.
And she left.
- Rejoice in your youth, "said the sun, rejoice in thy fresh, young life is in you.
The wind kissed the tree, the dew watered it with tears, but he does not understand.
When it was Christmas time, many young trees were cut down, often not even the size or age of our tree, which, without truce or rest, always wanted to go. These young trees were always the nicest, they retained their branches, these, and were also laid on wagons and drawn by horses out of the forest.
Today a video quite amazing, a cartoon made Russian in 1913: The Insects 'Christmas (The Insects' Christmas). A big thank you to XmasFLIX for this wonderful rarity. The assembly of the soundtrack to the film Edward Scissorhands (Danny Elfman music signed, 1990) is also an excellent idea and gives this movie great poetic impulses.
