I Believe in Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Do you believe in Santa Claus? Do you believe in the story of the first Noël?
Watching Christmas movies is one of my most anticipated Christmas traditions. Because I'm such a sentimental marshmallow, the syrupy stories of lost then found hope resonate with me. 


At the core of these movie plots is the question of believing in Santa Claus; which really translates into believing in the spirit of Christmas.  Santa, like all myths, is a metaphor for those qualities that both warm our hearts and keeps humanity from annihilating itself; generosity, tolerance and hope.


As stressful as things get, I refuse to abandon my neurotic desire to relive the wonder and awe of my childhood.  Christmas gives all of us the licence to that.  And why wouldn't we? 
Sure, Christmas is a mythological construction. But saying something is a myth isn't the same as saying that it's a lie. 


Our world is held together by the power of myths.  These stories explain how we exist, where we come from, who we are.  They precede art, religion and politics. They infuse our lives with meaning.  Is there anything more human than to ask "Why was I born?"


Just because we can scientifically prove that Santa doesn't inhabit a candy cane-stripped cottage at the North Pole doesn't mean that his story of generosity and magic doesn't glow in the hearts of millions of young and old alike. Is it even relevant that he be flesh and blood?


Mythology serves many purposes: 

1. Myths grant continuity and stability to a culture.
   
2. Myths present guidelines for living. 
   
3. Myths justify a culture's activities.
   
4. Myths give meaning to life.
   
5. Myths explain the unexplainable.
   
6. Myths offer role models.

Below is my favourite Christmas text which wasn't written as a piece of holiday prose but as a reply to a little girl's letter to the editor about the existence of Santa Claus. Are there such journalists as Francis Pharcellus Church today? (for the whole letter: Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus)

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."

Today, my social network is unplugged as I spend time with my family and think of all the things in life that I should be thankful for:

For my children who give my life so much meaning.
For my extended family, many whom I haven't seen in years and many whom I have had the pleasure to reconnect with these past months.
For my very close friends who have seen me at my worst and still love me unconditionally.
And for Georges, who keeps his emotions locked deep within a heart that when called upon, grows three sizes too big.

I love you all and wish you a very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with peace, love, health and…magic.

Yes Virginia! There is a Santa Claus

Greg Lake: I Believe in Father Christmas

Have Yourself a Very Diva Christmas

We're fast approaching Ho! Ho! day and what better way than to feature a couple of Diva's to keep the Yuletide gay!
Vanessa Williams actually starred in a TV movie called "A Diva's Christmas Carol." I haven't seen it but will try to; Kathy Griffith plays the ghost of Christmas Past!  I love this version of Vanessa singing "What Child is This?" as much for the amazing black & white video as for the musical arrangement. It reminds me of the sort of arrangements heard on Oscar Peterson's Christmas CD: "An Oscar Peterson Christmas" which is one of my favourites.


Although not a big "D" diva as in Judy, Maria Callas, Babs or Diana, Vanessa certainly plays one to the hilt in such shows as Ugly Betty and now, Desperate Housewives.

Vanessa Williams: What Child is This"

Cher is a big "D" Diva and she pulls out all the stops in this Phil Spector classic: "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) with some ample auto tune help from Rosie O'Donnell.
 

Cher & Rosie O'Donnell: Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

Enjoy. I hope that Santa or that other special Christmas elf leaves something really cool under your tree.

The Man with the Bag is Coming to Town

Here are two of my favourite Santa songs done in my favourite versions: Kay Starr's (Everybody's Waiting) For the Man With the Bag and Bing and the Girls with "Santa Clause is Coming to Town".


I hadn't heard "The Man With the Bag"until about 1996 when the Cocktail became cool again. We bought the Christmas Ultra-Lounge cd to play at our Toronto restaurant, Le Charolais over Christmas. Georges fell in love with the kitschy tunes and this song in particular.


"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" breaks down into two camps; the rock version ushered in with Phil Spector in 1963 and interpreted by Bruce Springsteen, The Pointer Sisters and every rocker wanna be in every Karaoke bar in the world.

I do love The Crystals version and the whole album for that matter,but whenever I hear Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters tear into the old chestnut, then it really feels like Christmas.  This was kid #3's favourite when he was little.  I'd play it in the car and we would all sing along with it.  But, should anyone forget to  sing Bing's very deep bass line: "..gather round", we'd have to rewind (remember that?) and start all over again.


What's your favourite version of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'?

Kay Starr : Everybody's Waiting for The Man with the Bag

Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters: Santa Claus is Coming To Town

Electronic Arts says It Gets Better

The staff of Video game giant Electronic Arts add their voice to the "It Gets Better Project".

Video Games | Electronic Arts | It Gets Better: EA Employees

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

A Choo Choo Christmas

For those of a certain generation, train sets were on the top of Santa's list.
I loved the whole imaginary world you created with an electric train set.  Train culture was very predominate in my hometown. Moncton was a major hub for the CNR (Canadian National Railway) in the Maritimes.


Perhaps the attraction is that, as a kid, there is very little in the grown up world that you have any say in. In this world of tiny shops, stations, stores and landscapes, you were king.


It was like being the Friendly Giant holding the power to do whatever you wanted with your little kingdom. (Sort of like Stephen Harper, really.)
Of course each Christmas I would decorate the train village with the assorted buildings, tiny trees, but also a assorted collection of cowboys, indians and assorted animals from my toy farm.
I remember first hearing "Old Toy Trains" in the sixties when Roger -"You Can't Rollar Skate in a Buffalo Herd"- Miller  released it.


I bought the book The Polar Express, complete with silver bell, for my kids when they were very young.  The book is beautiful; the story now a classic.  They retained much of the same graphic look in the film version, and while the humanoid appearance of the characters are a bit creepy, once you get past that, it is an enchanting and very moving experience.


The song, "Believe" written for the movie by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, and sung by Josh Groban is one of those Andrew Lloyd Weber-ish big ballads that get on my nerves. But when sung over the visuals from the movie, the lyrics come alive and the song soars like wind tossed snowflakes.


Can you hear the bell?

 

Deck the Halls with songs by Garland

Judy wouldn't be Judy unless there was drama. And these songs are dramatic.
The first is from her 1968 appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It was her second to last appearance on TV before passing away a year later.


I haven't heard this song before and find it very compelling.  It's represents a sentiment that isn't expressed all that much during the "merry" season (and probably with good reason).   But with statistics that report a huge bump in the amount of break ups just before Christmas, it still seems relevant.


This performance is so poignant on so many levels. If you know anything of her life story and the history of people walking out on her, it's heartbreaking to watch how she reaches deep inside her to deliver such a performance. That she does this while simply sitting in the guest chair on the Johnny Carson Show speaks to her legendary showmanship.


        


"We can be happy anywhere as long as we're together."


One of the most popular Christmas songs, "Have Yourself a A Merry Little Christmas" was introduced to us in "Meet Me in St. Louis", a movie I first remember watching at Queen Street School where the Sisters would find us wholesome Christmas films to watch each year. (they were big on Bing). It was also there that I first saw "It's a Wonderful Life".


If you think the song is a downer now, check out the original lyrics that Judy and director husband, Vincent Minnelli had insisted be replaced.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last,
Next year we may all be living in the past
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, pop that champagne cork,
Next year we will all be living in New York.
No good times like the olden days, happy golden days of yore,
Faithful friends who were dear to us, will be near to us no more.
But at least we all will be together, if the Fates allow,
From now on we'll have to muddle through somehow.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now."

It was changed again when Frank Sinatra released the song changing the line:

"Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow". to "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough,"

I prefer the the "muddle" version. It best represents what I am able to accomplish each Christmas in spite of the best intentions.


Whatever your Christmas tradition, I wish you a very, very merry one.


        
Today's question?…Why do you suppose so many choose Christmas to break up?  - Save on gifts?  - Don't want to bring him/her home to meet the parents?

Someday at Christmas?

Let's crank things up a bit with some Christmas music set to a Motown beat.

I'm a huge fan of Motown and of Stevie Wonder and The Supremes in particular. So of course I listened to all of their Christmas releases.  Admittedly, most of the Motown Christmas albums kind of sucked. They were full of fillers and versions of songs already done by other artists in the Motown stable..

Stevie Wonder's contributions to my Christmas song favourites have also become popular favourites sung by many artists of all musical styles.  But you can't beat the originals. 

An Acadian Christmas in Moncton

Growing up in Moncton in the 60's in an Acadian home set me apart from many of my classmates at Queen Street School who for the most part, were Irish Catholics. 


My paternal Grandparents who were Acadian sent me to an English school because:
 a) my mother was English and in those days, we always defaulted to English and


b) Queen Street school was very close and very Catholic.


Our Christmas traditions were much the same as other French Canadian families. We had our big meal at dinner (lunch) and ate lighter fare at supper.




At Christmas, the big event was Réveillon - Christmas Eve where we'd get to stay up late, go to Midnight Mass and then come home and dive into the great food that had had taken days to prepare. I remember my Grandmother laying out a half dozen baked Duncan Hines cakes on the table in the days leading to Christmas. I was always happy to help with the frosting.

We'd get to open a present before going to bed. It didn't leave Santa with much of a window of opportunity to drop off the rest before morning.


My favourite holiday food (after ribbon candy, barley toys and chicken bones) was Poutine Râpee. Blogger and journalist Brian Cormier has a Facebook Page dedicated to this Acadian "delicacy".


It's not the most appealing of dishes. (Wet lint ball comes to mind.) Acadian cuisine isn't known for its colour palette. Think shades of gray with the occasional hint of brown if the dish happens to be gratinéed or baked. We count on summer savoury to add colour (and taste). 

But it's a cultural thing; something you grow up with. If confronted with the same plate today, you would think that you landed on an episode of Amazing Race.


There are many dishes particular to the Moncton area and this version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" by Acadian musical group Les Méchants Maquereaux  lists a number of them.


I've translated the items given by his "true love". 
If I messed up, feel free to leave your corrections in the comments.


What's your favourite Christmas dish?

Les douze jours de noël. - Les Méchants Maquereaux


Le 1er jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Un gros messe de poutine râpée - (a whole lot more than 2)


Le 2ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Deux pec de mouques pis - (2 pecks of mussels)
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 3ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Trois six packs frettes – (3 cold six-packs "beer")
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 4ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Quatre harengs fumés – (4 smoked herrings)
Trois six packs frettes
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 5ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Cinq pets de sœurs – (like cinnomon buns made with leftover pie crust –  "nun's farts")
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 6ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Six gros homards – (6 large lobsters)
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quare harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 7ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Sept râpures molles – (like poutine râpée lasagna)
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 8ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Huit morues sèques – (8 salt cod)
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 9ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Neuf dîners bouillis – (9 boiled dinners – pig's feet, anyone?)
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 10ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Dix groses coques – (10 large oysters)
Neuf dîners bouillis
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 11ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Onze poutine à trous – (11 baked apple dumplings)
Dix groses coques
Neuf dîners bouillis
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée



Le 12ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Douze beaux maquereaux – (12 nice mackerels)
Onze poutine à trous
Dix groses coques
Neuf dîners bouillis
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée
Pis un gros messe de poutine râpée
Pis un gros messe de poutine râpée