Live every day with the spirit of Christmas in your heart #charity #kindness #love #Dickens

Romeo, 12, who is the second eldest son of David and Victoria, steals the spotlight in the Burberry Festive campaign, From London with Love.

Jingle and the Way is a fun Hundreds Chart Game your students will love. Use a hundreds chart and some jingle bells to race to 100.

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." -Ebenezer Scrooge Illustration by Lisbeth Zwerger, source Following intense scrutiny by Oliver Cromwell and his largely Puritan Parliament, Christmas celebrations in Great Britain were in decline. At the same time, the Industrial Revolution allowed British workers little time for the holy days. But Christmas celebrations began to make a comeback in the mid 1800's, in great part due to Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and... Charles Dickens! Happy Birthday to A Christmas Carol, published 169 years ago today, on December 19, 1843! I love this beautiful edition, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. According to Laura Grande, who writes in History Magazine: Christmas still was not observed by the majority of the population, as workhouses and mill owners refused to recognize it as a holiday, forcing their employees to work their usual shifts, which often ran longer than 10 hours a day. With the majority of England at work, it’s no small wonder that Christmas still went largely unrecognized. Dickens began writing "A Christmas Carol" in October of 1843 and the novella was completed within six weeks. By Christmas Eve, all 6,000 copies had sold out and it continued to sell out with each new edition well into the following year. The observance of Christmas had experienced a mid-Victorian revival, with a heavy emphasis on family-oriented festivities. Dickens was hailed as a hero and he did public readings of "A Christmas Carol" every holiday season from 1853-70. In total, Dickens had read his book aloud to massive crowds 127 times. {source: Laura Grande, from December 2010/January 2011 issue of History Magazine. I found the article in its entirety, here.} Another nice edition of Dicken's A Christmas Carol is this one, illustrated by P.J. Lynch. You can see many of his illustrations for the book here, on his website. Read more about the life of Charles Dickens, HERE, in my past post commemorating his 200th Birthday this year.

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The Holy Thorn Tree of Glastonbury, Somerset, is visited by thousands every year to pay homage and leave tokens of worship. Those visiting today were moved to tears on finding the tree hacked to a stump.

The 12 Best Holiday Pins of the Season.

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST WITHOUT CREDIT/PERMISSION. template credit to @zentherainbowunicorn

Ukulele Christmas Carols for beginners. Easy, simple and fun.

How families lived in their WWII backyard bomb bunkers

Catholics are expected to go to confession at least once a year. Advent is a penitential season, and in the midst of the Christmas rush it's a good idea to also get to confession. One of the things I love about the Catholic Church is the sacrament of confession. This is because the church gives us

Here’s how we enjoyed our last day together! It really hasn’t sunk in yet. We laughed, we cried, we played! Minute to Win It! Oh so fun! I made some...

The veteran actor’s take on the character is true to Dickens’ great story, which isn’t about a deathbed conversion but a midlife crisis — of the sort that rushes upon many of us at this time of year.

With a string of LEDs and a nine volt battery, redditor jingle_balls123 made a lit Christmas tree. He writes, "This is how I decorated my cubicle."Perfect. Just perfect.Link...

In the guidebook that accompanies this deck, this card is described as being about physically creating something. "Your soul longs to create because your sole purpose is to build. You love new projects that you can sink your teeth into, especially when you can merge plans with creativity."

Mosaic art is varied, diverse, and with its ancient history, often iconic. For example, early Christian examples portray luminous scenes from the Bible, glowing portraits of saints, and angels galore. These depictions, centuries old, show pivotal scenes like the Nativity. For Christmas 2019, we’ve been inspired by various images of the Nativity, celestial choirs, and even Saint Nicholas! The Church of the Nativity We really can’t talk about the subject without mentioning the restored Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Palestine. Each year, it welcomes more than 100,000 visitors in the week leading up to Christmas. This year, pilgrims can witness an original mosaic tile floor, dating back to the 4th century. The extensive renovations at the holy site have included painstaking restoration of the mosaic patterns. Image Source: Middle East Eye At the time, mosaic art was more likely to be used on the floor than the walls – it was used instead of carpet. In time, these original floors were covered, leading to exceptional preservation. For those of us who love the art form – there’s outstanding mosaic wall art. This angel was unearthed only a few years ago. She was also discovered during the extensive renovations. Crafted from rocks, shells, glass mosaic, and stone the piece dates to the 12th century. Image Source: Middle East Eye Amazingly, at the time of her discovery, the restoration team had no idea she existed! There were no records, and no indication that there was anything beneath the layers of plaster. Only a laser scan found this beautiful piece. Earliest Nativity Scenes and Their Evolution Some of the earliest depictions of the Nativity are in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy. Built in the 5th Century, its mosaic wall art was iconic. It influenced the way the Holy Family was depicted from that point forward. Scene from the Triumphal Arch at Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome. Image Source: Diaconia-IDC.org This detail shows the Adoration of the Magi. It’s formal and seems odd today. Jesus is presented not in a crib, but on a throne, attended by angels. The Star of Bethlehem can be seen just over them. The Nativity scene is one of many depicted on the Basilica’s Triumphant Arch, where the lives of Christ and Virgin Mary can be followed from panel to panel. The Nativity Scene at Basilica’s Triumphant Arch. Image Source: Diaconia-IDC.org This section shows Bethlehem, with the sheep representing the faithful flock. The early mosaic artists set the individual tiles unevenly so that they would catch and reflect the light. One can imagine how the mosaic patterns and images would seem alive in the candlelight. Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the Early Christian Arch Mosaic at Santa Maria Maggiore. Image Source: WikiArt Also from the 5th century, at the Santi Cosma e Damiano church in Rome is this mosaic piece of the Lamb of God. The level of detail in these early pieces can be admired even now. Apse of Santi Cosma e Damiano depicts the Lamb of God. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons In the 6th Century, the Sant’Apollinare Nuovo Church in Ravenna, Italy, was a showcase of the finest mosaic art. Here are two close-ups of the nativity scene from the nave. First, we see the 3 Magi, bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Three Magi Byzantine Mosaic. Image Source: Pinterest And then, Mary and infant – seated and surrounded by angels. Mary and Infant. Image Source: Pinterest It seems very stylized and formal, doesn’t it? When compared to the Nativity scenes we see everywhere at Christmas, it’s very different. There’s no stable, no shepherds, no donkeys or cows – not even Joseph. In later pieces of Christian mosaic wall art, this early style is still holding strong. For comparison, see this 13th-century depiction of Mary was the work of the artist Jacopo Torriti. This is also located at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. It’s very stylized and rather severe. Coronation of the Virgin. Image Source: wga.hu But, depictions changed over the centuries. How about this lustrous glass mosaic wall art is from the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio in Palermo, Sicily. Icon of Nativity at Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio in Palermo, Sicily. Image Source: ReginaMundi.info The 12th Century mosaic shows the common features of Orthodox Nativities that are more familiar to us. Mary is with the Christ child in a manger, surrounded by animals. Joseph is finally there – that’s him with his hand on his cheek. The shepherds have heard the news and arrived. Art from this period usually showed 3 midwives washing the baby – they are at the bottom right. Even those midwives were controversial! By the 14th Century, Western interpretations of the Nativity story had removed them from the narrative. Why? Well, the belief was that the Christ Child was born immaculate. No midwives or bathing were needed. Angels Amongst Us Mosaic of Nativity at Icon of Nativity at Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome. Image Source: wga.hu Angels were a constant in all Nativity mosaic art throughout the earliest centuries of Christianity. As seen with the Nativity scenes, styles changed with the times. Here’s a 5th Century example of a ceiling mosaic at the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. Christ is seated between two angels – depicted as tall male figures, heavily draped in white robes. Ceiling mosaic at the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.Image Source: Emplyees Oneonta Compare them to this 9th century mosaic piece from the Hagia Sophia. Standing at over 30 feet tall, Gabriel and his brother Michael must have been incredibly imposing. Image Source: Pallas Web. Also in the same location are these Seraphim. They are a more abstract interpretation of the angel motif, perhaps because they were just a part of a nameless multitude. Seraphim Mosaic, Hagia Sophia. Image Source: Pallas Web. In this 11th Century glass mosaic wall art from St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, Kyiv, Ukraine, the angel is still male – but his halo blends more subtly into the radiant background. Angel Mosaic at mosaic wall art from St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, Kyiv, Ukraine.Image Source: wga.hu By the 14th Century, the angel from Chora Church, Istanbul, Turkey is looking a bit more feminine and plump – although still quite radiant. Angel from Chora Church, Istanbul. Image Source: WikiArt. Our Angel Mosaic art combines a little bit of each, with a chubby cherub assisting the sweet trumpet-playing angel. Religious Angel Mosaic Art by Mozaico. Saint Nicholas Santa Claus, as he is most commonly known, has a saintly history. He was inspired by St. Nicholas, the former Bishop of Myra, Turkey. Born to a wealthy family in Greece, Nicholas was renowned for his charity and good deeds. St. Nikolas Mosaic Art by Mozaico. The young Nicholas gave money to the poor, opposed putting criminals to death, and aided children. Legend has it that he would leave anonymous gifts of gold for the destitute, even before he became a man of the cloth. Through time, his compassion for those in greatest need became legendary. It inspired others and imitated especially around Christmas. Why? Well, his feast day is conveniently celebrated on December 6th. Santa Clause Mosaic Art by Mozaico. The good saint is an indisputable part of history, and his original church still stands in Myra. Today, rosy-cheeked Saint Nick (Or Claus) is everyone’s favorite holiday icon. Nativity of Jesus Christ Marble Mosaic by Mozaico. With all the variations in angels, saints, and Nativity scenes, what’s your favorite? Do you prefer your angels more realistic, or more serene? Does the traditional depiction of Saint Nicholas warn your heart, or do you like the modern version? Let us know in the comments – and don’t forget to check out all of our mosaic wall art here.

Your life purpose involves bodywork, such as massage therapy, energy healing, physical therapy, or exercise training.

This is my grandma's recipe, originally from the "Spirit of Christmas" cookbook. It is made in a blender, therefore super easy but still great for breakfast on weekends or special occasions.

Here's how to spread Christmas joy and teach your kids what the season is really about. Instead of focusing on big gifts, we focus on giving!

One of my all-time favorite books is A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. I didn’t always like it. In fact, when I was much younger, I pretty much hated it. I felt like it was over-commercialized and overused during Christmas. A few years ago, while listening to an audio rendition of the book, I heard something that I felt like I had never heard before... The 'Hidden' Message The passage comes from that pivotal moment when Ebenezer Scrooge meets the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. Marley, now a chained and tormented soul, is lamenting the opportunities he

This is a guide to making DIY Swedish advent stars. Learn how to make a fun and festive craft using old books, by following this step-by-step Hometalk tutorial.

Daily Angel Oracle Card: Worthy, from the Return Of Spirit Oracle Card deck, by Cheryl Lee Harnish Worthy: “You are one of the loving spirits who has come to be in service to humanity this li…

hinking of Christmas already ( well I saw mince pies stacked neatly in Tescos today!) the russian dolls will be printed onto the lovely canvas cloth at Spoonflower and hopefully be made into bags...make up bags, tote bags, purses....all I need is to give up the day job and dust down my trusty sewing machine!

PCOS Diva - Learn To Nourish Yourself During The Cold Months Ahead To Avoid The Winter Pitfalls Of SAD, Weight Gain, Lack Of Energy, Anxiety, and Cravings.

Fr. Hardon Archives – Catholic Catechism on the Angels. Seraphim These are the highest order or choir of angels. They are the angels who are attendants or guardians before God’s throne.…