General Chat

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea,
With a voice as big as the sea."

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child, shivers in the cold;
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold."

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."

Oh! You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:

Santa Claus is coming to town!

He's making a list,
He's checking it twice,
He's gonna find out
who's naughty or nice.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake.
He knows when you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!

So...You better watch out,
You better not cry
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

"Oh crimson, crimson Christmas trees,
Pohutukawa rim our seas
And flower in flame on every shore
For joy of him whom Mary bore.

(Chorus:) Babe so pure and small, Jesus God of all,
Oh with us abide this holy Christmastide."

There are 2 or 3 more verses but I am not sure at this time of night what the words are.

Huia.

Arrived home about an hour ago from our choir's Christmas concert. It is now almost midnight, time to head to bed before I turn into a pumpkin. I am certainly the right shape for it.

Huia.

What a lovely thread, my favourite Carol The night that Christ was born. was put on twice, but this was double treat for me.

As it was said puts Christ back into Christmas.

I became a Christian 66 years ago, when I was 11, and looked all around me, to see all the people that just took Christmas as a time to get drunk, and lay outside the pubs too drunk too stand.

I went home and realized that what I had been taught was true, we should be celebrating the birth of Our Saviour, not just wanting presents and things for ourselves, but remembering Christ the Lord.

Mo

Legend of the Christmas Spider

Long, long ago, on one Christmas Eve, the spiders were banished from homes while the houses were cleaned for Christmas and their webs were broken. They just managed to survive and had to move to the farthest corner of the attic for the time being. However, some of the young spiders longed to see the decorated Christmas trees and the little Christ child that came to bless the homes in the midnight. The elders tried to make them understand that they were not allowed inside the rooms but the young spiders were quite curious and adamant. Finally, the oldest and wisest spider came up with a solution and suggested that in the night, when everybody went to bed, perhaps they could creep out of their corners and get a closer look of the magical Christmas tree.

Even the adult spiders felt the thrill of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them and in midnight, when the house of a noble family was dark and silent and everybody was fast asleep, spiders crept out of their hiding place and slowly reached the Christmas tree. They were so captivated by the ethereal beauty that they spent all night in the tree, crawling up and down and examining its beautiful ornaments. They could not curb their urge to weave pretty and delicate spider webs all over the tree as they danced on its branches. In the wee hours of the morning, the little Christ child came to bless the house.

He knew that every creature was made by God and yet he knew how the mother who had worked hard all day to make everything perfect would be dismayed to find the spider webs on its tree. Thus, with a heart full of love and a smile on his lips, the Christ child gently touched the spider webs and set them sparkling and shining in silver and golden colors that made the Christmas tree look even more beautiful than before. It is said that this is how tinsel was introduced to decorate Christmas trees.

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! ~Author Unknown


I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

1. What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

2. Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

3. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain

And the first Advent candle was lit today.

Going through the hills on a night all starry
On the way to Bethlehem
Far away I heard a shepherd boy piping
On the way to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King of Kings
Is come to bring us peace on earth and he’s lying
Cradled there at Bethlehem

Tell me shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily
On the way to Bethlehem
Who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely
On the way to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King of Kings
Is come to bring us peace on Earth and he’s lying
Cradled there at Bethlehem

None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely
On the way to Bethlehem;
But a King will hear me play sweet lullabies
When I get to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky came down from on high
Hovered o'er the manger where the Babe was lying
Cradled in the arms of His mother Mary
Sleeping now at Bethlehem

Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily
Is He there at Betlhelem
I will find him soon by the star shining brightly
In the sky o'er Bethlehem

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King of Kings
Is come to bring us peace on Earth and he’s lying
Cradled there at Bethlehem

May I come with you shepherd boy piping merrily
Come with you to Bethlehem
Pay my homage too at the new King’s cradle
Is it far to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King of Kings
Is come this night and born in a stable lowly
born for you at Bethlehem

Shepherds pipe carol


Going through the hills on a night all starry

On the way to Bethlehem,

Far away I heard a shepherd piping

On the way to Bethlehem.



Angels in the sky brought this message nigh :

Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King

is come to bring us peace on earth,

and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.



Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily

On the way to Bethlehem,

Who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely

On the way to Bethlehem?



« None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely

On the way to Bethlehem;

But a King will hear me play sweet lullabies

When I get to Bethlehem. »



Angels in the sky came down from on high,

Hovered over the manger where the babe was lying

cradled in the arms of his mother Mary,

sleeping now at Bethlehem.



« Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily,

Is he there at Betlhelem? »

« I will find him soon by the star shining brightly

In the sky over Bethlehem. »



« May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily,

Come with you to Bethlehem?

Pay my homage too at the new King’s cradle,

Is it far to Bethlehem? »

One that remind me of little children singing at their nativity play :O)



Little donkey, little donkey
On the dusty road
Got to keep on plodding onward
With your precious load
Been a long time little donkey
Through the winter's night
Don't give up now little donkey
Bethlehem's in sight
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Follow that star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Little donkey, little donkey
Had a heavy day
Little donkey, carry Mary
Safely on her way
Little donkey, little donkey
Journey's end is near
There are wise men waiting for us
And to bring them here
Do not falter little donkey
There's a star ahead
It will guide you, little donkey
To a cattle shed
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Follow that star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Little donkey, little donkey
Had a heavy day
Little donkey, carry Mary
Safely on her way
Little donkey, carry Mary
Safely on her way

Isaiah 9
English Revised Version
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.

5 For all the armour of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire.

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

How time flies, seems like only yesterday, I was copying and pasting some of the Carols that were on last years list.

Anyway, Happy Christmas to All.

Mo

I am glad people are enjoying this :-)

'Oiche Nollag in Eireann' - Kerry Christmas Carol

The poem is an evocation of an old Irish custom in which each household would leave a lighted candle in their window on Christmas night. There was a pious belief that Joseph and Mary and the Child still wandered the roads of the world, looking for a place to rest from the persecution of Herod. That they should show a preference for the roads of rural Ireland was accepted as a given.


Brush the floor and clean the hearth,
And set the fire to keep,
For they might visit us tonight
When all the world's asleep!


Don't blow the tall white candle out
But leave it burning bright,
So that they'll know they're welcome here
This holy Christmas night!



These first two verses of the carol I also feel are applicable to loved ones who have passed, to let them know they are thought of , held in our hearts and still welcome in our home. So I light the candle accordingly :))

http://www.ireland-information.com/articles/irishchristmastraditions.htm

IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas traditions that are all of its own. Many of these customs have their root in the time when the Gaelic culture and religion of the country were being supressed and it is perhaps because of that they have survived into modern times.


THE LADEN TABLE

After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table was again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveller, could avail of the welcome.