Christmas Superstitions

You know it has been said that Christmas is like so many holidays stooped in superstition, even here amongst the elves talk flourishes throughout the castle about this myth or that myth. However When we sat down and asked the wisest of our members. He consroted the great book of Morima, an ancient text of our history as well as the history of Christmas itself. Here is a listing of all the various superstitions that circulate the globe. See if any of your family members knew these.

It is said :

• The first person who opens the door during the early Christmas morning should shout "Welcome Father Christmas" to welcome Christmas. This also helps bad spirits who were trapped to escape.
  
• If someone avoids the kiss under the mistletoe will have bad luck.
  
• It is mandatory to stir the pudding three times and make a wish. If you are unmarried and don’t join in, then you will not find your spouse in the next year. Wishes should be kept secret until they come true.
  
• Singing religious Christmas songs at the houses of different people was an ancient tradition. It was believed that if you turn them away without food or money or drink you are bound to suffer bad luck for rest of the year.
  
• Never give shoes to any of your loved ones during Christmas. If you do that, then that particular person can walk out of your life in future.
  
• Holly is brought during Christmas to protect family members from witches.
  
• For a greener planet after winter, green branches are brought. The Christmas tree is the centerpiece because of that.
  
• No one should work hard on something which is not mandatory during Christmas.
  
• Cakes were usually eaten on the Christmas Eve in 19th Century. However, it was believed that it would bring bad luck if cut before the day dawned. A piece of the cake should also be preserved for the Christmas day as well.
  
• A blowing wind can bring good luck during Christmas.
  
• Christmas day dinner consists nine dishes.
  
• To bring good luck fish scales should be placed under the dinner plates.
  
• After the twelfth night, all the decorations should be removed to bring good luck.
  
• The dog who screams on the Christmas Eve will go mad before the end of the year.
  
• To stay away from the rage of the impulsive forces most of the homes are well adorned on the Christmas Eve.
  
• Alcohol consumptions are not allowed on the Christmas Eve.
  
• Even though all the animals can speak on the Christmas Eve but it brings bad luck if anyone tests this superstition.
  
• The household will be blessed if the first person who visits the home during Christmas is a black haired man.
  
• The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune.
  
• Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green.
  
• You will have as many happy months in the coming year, as the number of houses you eat mince pies in during Christmastime.
  
• In Greece, some people burn their old shoes during the Christmas season to prevent misfortunes in the coming year.
  
• To have good health throughout the next year, eat an apple on Christmas Eve.
  
• The gates of Heaven open at midnight on Christmas Eve. Those who die then go straight to Heaven (an Irish beleif).
  
• Christmas candles should be left burning until Christmas morning and should rest undisturbed from time of lighting until they are snuffed.
  
• Singing Christmas carols at any time other than during the festive season is unlucky.
  

• The yule log should be lit by a piece of the log used on the previous Christmas. Once that is done, no evil spirit can then enter into the house. The remains of the Yule log were also considered lucky, and would be a protection against lightning or fire.

Santa's Favorite Christmas Carols

This morning we were in the study going over the Christmas list with Santa, since he has to begin reveiwing the nice and naughty list as soon as possible. Elmir the smaller of our elvin cousins, asked Santa, since he himself had this particular Christmas tune in his head and could not for the life of himself stop humming it, what Santa's favorite Christmas carols were. After rubbing his beard for a while, here is the list he came up which since he said naming just one just wouldn't do. So gather round the tree, or fireplace, or living room and sing these tunes, they are sure to bring joy to all of your hearts.

SILVER BELLS

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
dressed in holiday style.
In the air there's a
feeling of Christmas.
Children laughing, people passing,
meeting smile after smile,
And on ev'ry street
corner you hear:

CHORUS: Silver bells, silver bells,
It's Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Strings of street lights, even stoplights,
blink a bright red and green

As the shoppers rush home with
their treasures.
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch,
this is Santa's big scene,
And above all this bustle you hear:

REPEAT CHORUS

 

 

JINGLE BELLS

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
o'er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bobtail ring,
Making spirits bright;
What fun it is to ride and sing,
A sleighing song tonight!

CHORUS: Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh!

Day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fannie Bright
Was seated by my side.


he horse was lean and lank,
Misfortune seem'd his lot,
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got upsot:

REPEAT CHORUS

Now the ground is white,
Go it while you're young;
Take the girls tonight,
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bobtailed nag,
Two forty for his speed,
Then hitch him to an open sleigh,
And crack! you'll take the lead.

REPEAT CHORUS

ERE WE COME A-CAROLING

Here we come a-caroling
Among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wand'ring,
So fair to be seen:

CHORUS: Love and joy come to you,
And to you glad Christmas too;
And God bless you and send you
a happy New Year,
And Good send you a happy New Year.

We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door;
But we are neighbors
Whom you have seen before:

REPEAT CHORUS

Good master and mistress,
As you sit by the fire,
Pray think of us poor children,
Who wander in the mire:

REPEAT CHORUS

God bless the master of this house,
Likewise the mistress, too,
And all the little children,
That round the table go:

REPEAT CHORUS

SILENT NIGHT

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,
Heav'nly host sing, Alleluia,
Christ, the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior 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.

 

 

UP ON THE HOUSE TOP

Up on the house-top reindeer pause,
Out jumps good old Santa Claus;
Down through the chimney with lots
of toys,
All for the little ones, Christmas joys.

Ho, ho, ho! who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho! who wouldn't go!
Up on the house-top click, click, click,
Down through the chimney with
old Saint Nick.

Merry Christmas to All!!!

Hello my friends,
We here at Nutcracker Castle are gearing up for that special time of year and the jolly man himself came by this week to check on everything to ensure all is right on schedule. This year we wanted to add some elements to the site, for your enjoyment. We will be adding delicious homemade recipes by Mrs Clause herself, and also some fun attractions so be sure to keep tuning in.

Time is closing in on the big hour!!!

Hello Nutcracker fans, we just ran across a great site Historic Nutcrackers.com, hand made nutcrackers all the way from Germany, and at a great price. This is so heartwarming to see the craft still going after all these years. Oh and by the way, last night the elves made a greeeeat!!! Batch of gingerbread cookies, each one came out perfect, well at least the one's I didnt make that is lol, So I hope with only 2 more days till Santa makes his flight across the world to all the girls and boys who have been so good this year, that you have your own cookie recipe prepared for Santa. Well just wanted to say hello and hope all of you are checking the site out with all the free goodies for the kids to enjoy. And still not too late to write your letter to Santa either. He's actually still reading them as he does every year right up to the last toy request.

Turn your naughty into nice

Kids,
This year Santa wanted us to bring this tid bit of info to you. First we have discovered after doing a scan of the naughty and nice lists, he discovered that the naughty outshined the nice. Now whether it be bullying, treating your parents with disrespect, your siblings, or a stranger or teacher, he knows that although you may feel he doesn't exist, oh be very careful for he indeed does. To treat someone with disrespect is easy, any common animal can treat something this way. It's the real tough guys and girls who stand up against such treatment of others and speaks out against it. Only those who feel sorry for themselves inside, or who feel that the only way to get attention, act out this way. This is unacceptable behavior in Santa's eyes and in ours. Letters that have poured into our headquarters, report mistreatment, rude behavior on the part of others, depression, sadness, loneliness, unhappiness and most of all anger. Kids we understand that there are times when life throws curves when all we know how to hit are slow balls. We know that there are times when your parenrts don't listen to what you are saying either because they don't have the time, or don't take interest. This is where you have to be the general of the toy soldiers and reach deep without yourself to find courage and strenght. This isn't the times to throw a tantrum, or be a bully to others to hide your own shame or anger. This is the time to use your emotions for good, not for bad. No one ever felt good by being evil to another. Those who say so are giving you false hope in something that doesn't exist. So the next time you feel unaccepted, or mistreated, or even angry, find someone else to listen and let them know how you feel, don't bottle it up inside, there are people who care and who will understand what your feeling inside.

Don't let depression or sadness this year ruin your holiday

Good Morning and Happy Sunday to all of you! Today's post is more of a thought than a happening. This post is aimed at all of your young and old who are feeling the holiday economic woes. You know of whom I speak of. All of us know the feeling you are now feeling, then bitterness, the sadness, the fear. One thing I know is persepctive means everything. When you are feeling down, look around you, at others who are facing the same or worse than yourself. Go to them, speak to them. A wise elf once said that the way to conquor your own sadness is by helping another worse off than yourself. In that moment you realize just how blessed you are. I recieved a call the other day from a young man no more than 30 who had been involved in an fortunate accident, thereby losing all feeling from the neck down. He had up until that point what he thought was everything, great job, nice house, luxery car, nice family. Soon, he lost all of it over the bitterness he allowed to consume him from within. His family tried so hard to reach out to him, but he pushed this away time and again. His job required all of his bodily functions and though disibility insurance helped he soon lost it too. The house, the car, left only with his parents, his old pickup truck and his woes. But you know what happened next? Through the goodness of others and the Lord's will, he discovered something. There were others out there just like himself, some worse. He soon became involved in a volunteer group that his father had told him about, helping out others through lectures, telling his story, just talking to others who were facing the same struggles. Soon his bitterness turned to thankfulness, and his misfortune, a valuable lesson to others. His wife returned, his job now was that of speaker, counselor, mentor. When I spoke to him, the voice on the other line wasn't angry, or sad, or even lonely. It was that of praise for those who had it worse off than he had. It was a voice who praised God daily for the opportunity to help others who otherwise would have been lost. He soon realized that he wasn't the victim in this strange unanswered chain of events that took him down a dark road, but instead he was the guide for others to follow, the light that gave them hope and understanding when there were no answers to be found.
I came away from that conversation a more thankful person. Not thankful, that I was able to use all my hands and arms, but that I had the chance to speak to him, to talk to someone who actually gets what life is truly about. During this Holiday season, most of all, let us not dwell on our own mistfortunes or bad luck, or complain that we don't have enough, for look through the window of someone elses's troubles and uncover ways to make their day a little better. Don't dwell always on those who have more than we..for when you see through the glow of the lights, there well may be a dark corner where they truly set, alone, unhappy, selfish or filled with bitterness. Those are the one's who need cheering up the most.

So find the inner elf within you and find someone who needs a friend, a conversation, a gift from the heart. It may just be the medicine to cure your own Holiday woes..

Mrs Clauses's favorite Christmas Poems

Hi there, Tonight we Nutcracker Elves have been really busy trying to build Santa's prized nutcracker's in time for the trip....however Cindy our elf in training came across some of Mrs Clause's favorite Christimas poems and I'm not certain if any of you are interested in Christmas poems or not, but she wanted to share some of them. Oh by the way, next week, beginning on Thursday we will be starting our video blogging which will highlight myself and other elves videoing out messages daily instead of typing them. So be sure to take down our website address and tune in daily. Ok, Cindy is telling me to stop chatting and add the poems sooo here goes. hope you enjoy them.

IT'S NEARLY CHRISTMASI write this in September
And I can already see my breath
Because the temperature is falling
To fifty degrees or less;
There are frosted mornings
And skies are turning gray;
Next thing, there'll be snowdrifts
Fit for a sleigh.

In stores, they're gearing for Halloween
With pumpkins on display;
After October 31, we'll count the days
To shop til Kris Kringle Day;
Just when I thought the craze was over
And the presents were put away,
Alas! I hear Santa "ho-hoing",
It's nearly Christmas Day.

Christmas is a magical time,
Is there any doubt?
But I'm going to need a psychotherapist
To get my anxeties out!
The sugarplums might be dancing,
But they're messing up my mind;
The silver bells aren't doing much
To help me unwind.

September comes and October goes,
November is just a glance;
Once again, there'll be invitations
To another holiday dance;
I'll decorate the Christmas tree
With icicles, stars, and lights,
But I'll need a ton of eggnog
To get me through this night!

--Joel Bjorling, Gilson, USA Age 58

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THE LAST PRESENT UNDER THE TREE
There is one last present under the Christmas tree,
I wonder whose it is?
Is it for the little girl with the rocking horse,
Or is it for Grandma or Aunt Liz?
It looks so lonely,
Sitting there by itself;
It’d certainly be an awesome addition
On "somebody’s" shelf.

The ribbon is gold,
The paper is paisley red;
"Who does it belong to?"
Keeps rattling in my head;
I decided to snatch a peek,
And see whose name is on the card;
It’d only take a second,
It won’t be very hard.

When no one was looking,
I reached under the tree,
Carefully handling the package,
"Who knows, it may be for me!"
But when I read the card,
I thought it was extraordinarily odd,
Because the message read,
"Love and blessings," God.

--Joel Bjorling

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A Christmas Kiss

Rejoice that we are all together
For a day like this.
Two things keep us happy, warm
A Christmas hug from you my dear
And in return a Christmas Kiss.

Merry Christmas from the heart,
To ones I hope will never part.

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I Wish That I Could Wrap Up Christmas

I wish that I could wrap up all the love and Holiday cheer
That comes along with Christmas and with New Year's every year,
Pack it in a pretty box and put it on my shelf
And pull it down again each year and give it to myself.

I wish that I could tie up all my favorite carols with twine,
Wind around some ribbon, too, and for twelve months call them mine
Until the next Yuletide came when the sounds again could be unfurled
And untie every single one then give them to the world.

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Reason for the Season

When eggnog's generously filling
Each and every Christmas mug
And siblings tour miles and miles
To greet you with a hug
There's scarce else I'll be wishing
Than this simple little prayer
Of peace and calm and blessings much
On Christmas Day this year.

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Bundled Bird

Bundled bird,
It is Christmas time, so sing for us again.
Beautiful bird,
With magical rhyme, bring us smiles again.
Hold us please,
With every word, bundled bird,
Shake the snow,
Spread your wings, sing and let us in.
Bundled bird,
Warm from the storm; share your melody
It is Christmas time,
Sing once more and we will always love thee.

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Again That Time of Year is Here

Again that time of year is here
When wreaths elves lights appear
The hue of Santa's suit and sleigh
Adding color the wintry skies of gray
Until pansies roses tulips grow
Melting all of the Season's snow
But I like holly gifts Advent more
Than all that springtime holds in store
For it's this I'll tell you I so adore:
Again that time of year is here
When wreaths elves lights appear.

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Three Wise Men

Three wise men knowing not who you are
Ride across the desert following only a star.
Three wise men in honor of your birth
Ride across the desert chanting, "Peace on Earth".
Three wise men, wise by God's own hands
Ride across the desert traveling from distant lands.
Listen baby Jesus, sacred gift from Heaven handed down to Earth
Three wise men ride tonight to see your Holy mirth.

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The Winter Heart

Wish but one wish when winter comes,
Dream but one dream of the past.
The light from a fire is in all our homes
But the flames from the hearth won't last.

For faint and few are the embers,
Snuggle up and keep on your gloves;
What the Winter Heart always remembers
Is the warmth of a heart that loves.

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I walk the wicked winter wind

I walk the wicked winter wind
That dances up like nightlife
And almost am turned as snow is
To hibernate
Just one last time within your arms.

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A Christmas Limerick

There once was a boy of Ole,
Who was mean, dirty and often stole.
But one day he was caught
And for Christmas he got naught
But an empty stocking full of coal.

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A Dream of Christmas

I had kindled the hearth to warm my toes and started some Hickory brew
To heat up my insides as well, as another December day was through.
And breathing in that wholesome scent, I closed my worn eyes tight
Resolved that I might dream a bit that cold and snowy night.

In the almost formless shadows, the quiet cabin came alive.
Whispering messengers delivered me gifts as the clock struck Ten-and-Five:
The crackle of the fire, the creaking of the floor,
The childlike wintry whining of the wind beneath the door.

Like an echo ever-coming, sounds bounced from every cob:
From the eaves to the boards to my ivory doorknob.
And then in fright and worry I spun around in place
And there before my ornate mantle crept the shadow of a face.

The shadow bore a beard that stretched almost from sight.
It flickered and it quivered in the muted candlelight.
It seemed to hold immense respect for whom it reflect
And in that moment it was enough just to stay circumspect.

But as my nerves were calming enough to clearly think
The most surprising, brilliant light forced my eyes to blink.
There when I reopened them in beauty that made me gape
Were glistening elven sprites about and Santa donned in velvet cape.

Lo! It was the grandest thing to watch that cheerful pack
Race to lace the finest ruby ribbons round my tree and back.
From Santa's sleeves red ringing bells shot out like from a gun
Followed by green garlands and globes that filled the room as he spun.

Betwixt this glorious tumult open flew my shutter doors,
A gusty wind freezing cold the candles to their cores.
Gone was all illumination, in black the chamber stood.
I heard but recapitulation of the horn owl in the wood.

Then again the hearth flames livened allowing me to see -
No Christmas bells rang anywhere; no ribbons wrapped my tree.
My visit from Santa Claus had been but reverie.
So with a smile I lay me down to again with Santa be.




The Wreath is on the Door

The wreath is on the door
And the snow is on the tree
God has laid His holy hands
On all that we can see.

Be quick to raise your voice
And praise what He has brought.
Keep now His love in every choice
And Christmas in every thought.




A Winter Limerick

There once was a man made of snow,
Who grew happy and bigger whene'er the wind would blow.
But some kids playing a trick
Gave him a candle and a wick
And soon he was only H2O.