Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

Canada's oldest Christmas carol was written around 1643 by Fr Jean Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary. Commonly known as The Huron Carol, the original Huron/Wendat words were translated into English in 1926.
This stamp, based on a painting by Ronald G Wright using native motifs to recreate the nativity story, shows the hunter braves (shepherds) following the star to the lodge (stable). In the carol, the Magi are portrayed as "Chiefs from far" bringing fox and beaver pelts. 
Gitchi Manitou means Great Spirit. 
Jesous Ahotonhia means Jesus, he is born.
One of many versions for your listening pleasure. 
'
Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the hymn,
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Words: Jean de Brebeuf, ca. 1643; trans by Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926
Music: French Canadian melody (tune name: Jesous Ahatonhia)

more Christmas stamps at See it on a Postcard

ring in the holidays

A couple of months into the last winter from hell, the one that started exactly a year ago today with the ice storm that moved swiftly into the Polar Vortex and plunged into temperatures of -40C for days on end... I leapt at the chance to change one of my delivery routes to one that was inside a trio of condo buildings. (I now have 15 buildings all together, and only 10 houses, yay!) There were fewer newspapers, and a fair bit more walking, but it was INDOORS where it was all cosy and warm (and some of the elevators are put on service by the nice security guards, so I save my back from carrying all that weight). Some of these buildings are like being in a small village or a hamlet - each one has a distinct personality, even if there are several in a complex by the same developer. The lobbies are decorated with sofas and coffee tables and dressers as if you are entering a formal living room. And now they all have Christmas trees up and some have a host of decorative tchotchkes on mantles and tables that never seem to mysteriously walk off (I suppose all the security cameras help). And I have noticed that in at least one of the buildings there is a profusion of wreaths and such ornamenting the doors to the apartments. Not on all floors, mind you, but for some reason everyone on the 7th floor of the Magnolia building has taken to making their entry stand out. There are ten apartments on each floor. Walk with me on a different sort of Monday Walk for Restless Jo along the corridor....

It is hard to convey just how big some of these wreaths (and those bells!!) are. And I love the fact that except for those two longer ones with the silver balls (#10 and #3) they are all very different. I find I look forward to walking along this floor and am slightly let down as I go to the 6th floor just below and find only two lonely decorations and one of those isn't even Christmassy! Obviously, this floor is the one with the more interesting people. The ones who really get into the spirit of the season. 

Now, about those xmas tips for your newspaper carrier.......

Christmas 1912

While the Christmas snow lay deep and bright
May you be blest with all your heart's delight

I'm really not sure what to make of this odd photo postcard showing a vaguely Father Christmas-ish (or Phil Robertson) looking gentleman with fir boughs on his head, holding a doll dressed in what looks like a Chinese or Japanese dress and a ... white, long-legged dog?

This is from the Rotary Photographic Postcard Series

but then, you read the message on the back, sent to a Miss Williamson in Hastings, Ontario.

Mamma said she promised that I would write to you. She had no business promising anything like that because it takes a certain amount of my precious time to write a long postcard like this. I will be home for 4 or 5 days. Wishing you a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.  Robbie

Let's hope Robbie and Miss Williamson shared a history and a sense of humour!

All of us at PostcardFriendshipFriday share things in common.

Christmas stories

From the cookies of last year, to the cross-stitch of this year, the theme has been about home made creations for these Christmas stamps.

Both were designed by Hélène L’Heureux
the iconic gingerbread people images on the stamps are so realistic, you can almost smell the ginger and nutmeg—and taste the creamy sweet icing, according to the Canada Post website.

But what initially caught my eye was the price on the new stamps, which no-one could really explain when they came out a few weeks ago. 
But now we know why. This week, Canada Post announced their radical plans to overhaul their flailing business which is losing customers at an alarming rate by raising the price by almost 60% to $1.00 for a domestic stamp. All domestic stamps have had a P on them since 2007, meaning you can use them any time for the current rate. But, when I went to stock up on the older-than-Christmas stamps (for Postcrossing, not any nefarious reason) I discovered you can no longer buy them.
There is more to the story but you can google Canada Post to read about it.

With all the snow we've had falling, I thought I'd also include this snowflake stamp from 1971. It was designed by Lisl Levinsohn, who thought it a bit ironic that a Jewish designer was asked to create a Christmas stamp. If you look closely at the centre of the snowflake you can see a six pointed star. While not exactly a Star of David, it is a fun secret inclusion in her intricate design.

see more Christmas stamps here

Christmas 1911

Christmas 1911
Wish you a Merry Chris
From Your
teacher
Lena Knoll





PostcardFriendshipFriday

Christmas 1983

These are among my favourite stamps 
they are charming in an old world way, yet are not dated by their colours or style.

Christmas Dove (hedge sculpture)      Light of Christmas (street lamp)

World at Peace (Dove & Blackbird)

The Three Kings (chimney pots)          Christmas Post (pillar box)

see more Christmas stamps here

Merry Christmas

Christmas card from Postcrosser Ania in Poland

postcard received from Postcrosser Hsin in Taiwan

Christmas Wishes to you all

Sunday Stamps - Christmas postmarks

A couple of First Day Covers (actually my only Christmas FDCs)
The postmarks from Bethlehem, Pennsylvannia and Christmas Valley, Oregon are a nice touch

this is one of four issued in 1964 - the conifer. the others were of a mistletoe, holly, and poinsettia

in 1981 there was both a religious and a secular stamp













the Madonna & Child is a Botticelli which you can find in the Art Institute of Chicago. the other stamp is of a felt bear in a sleigh. these stamps are non-denominational because the post office hadn't decided on the pending rate change in time. they ultimately became the first stamps issued with the new 20c first class rate.


and I included this one because I think the stamp is cute, but also because it was mailed in Wales so has Welsh written on the postmark and the air mail sticker

and also because of the message dear not only to family and loved ones, but also to any card and stamp collector

Merry Christmas everyone!

see more Christmas stamps from around the world here

gay and bright

To wish you a Happy Christmas

And a New Year gay and bright

A season full of merriment

Of gladness and delight

"very much love!! Helen Robinson"

This was sent in an envelope, which at the moment I can't find, but I believe it was sent in 1936 or 1934.

the colours are unseasonal for Christmas, but very much art deco

on the reverse side is a plea to hear from the unknown recipient

Did you receive my letter?

Have expected one from you for some time? [sic]

Will write you later.

H.C.R.

see more gay and bright postcards at Postcard Friendship Friday

taunting

A Christmas present was given to me over the weekend. 

A pretty glass bowl from the Botanical Gardens gift shop.

Of course, I had to eat the chocolates to truly enjoy the oh so pretty bowl.

Sunday Stamps - Christmas

I had a hard time choosing which stamps to share this week. Then I thought, in honour of finally getting a tree to display my many collected ornaments, I would show these ornament stamps from 2010, designed by Michael Zavacky. It is hard to tell, but the international rated stamp shows pink ornaments, while the domestic stamp shows red (and I took dozens of photos in various light trying to get the right hue)  Missing is the US rated stamp which shows blue ornaments.

Glass blown ornaments were first made in Lauscha, Germany in 1847 and introduced to the US by FW Woolworth in the 1880s.

According to the Canada Post website, this 1981 issued stamp, designed by artist Anita Kunst, is the first in a series of Christmas Tree stamps honouring the 300th anniversary of the 'illuminated tree'. The other two stamps show a decorated tree typical of 1881 and 1981, neither of which I have.

In 1781 at Sorel, Quebec, Friederike von Riedesel and her husband Friedrich introduced the illuminated Christmas tree to Canada. The illuminated tree "brought by German people to Canada, symbolizes mankind's eternal hope for peace..." In 1776 he landed in Canada in charge of a sizeable contingent of German troops sent to help put down the American Revolution. Although the Baroness had two small children and was expecting another, she decided to follow her husband to Canada, arriving in 1777. She came to be known affectionately as "Lady Fritz" in North America. After a rough few years the family were settled in Quebec. To celebrate Christmas, Friederike Riedesel had the idea of putting up an illuminated Christmas tree, a spectacle which astounded her guests.

see more Christmas themed stamps from around the world here

spreading the lights of the season

A Christmas Postcard (unused) with bright gold highlights for Postcard Friendship Friday

I have already visited an elderly friend and delivered a Christmas present of gluten-free cupcakes which she happily shared with me while we drank tea and talked of family comings and goings over the past year.

light up my life

There has been very little snow in my part of the winter world, but the Christmas lights that have gone up always do a good job of dispelling the gloom of the ‘donkere dagen voor de kerst’  or the 'dark days before Christmas'. This is a saying I learned when I lived in Holland and it is very fitting indeed. While today the sun is shining and it is a balmy 6C, it has been overcast and dark for the last couple of weeks. Depressingly dark.

So when I met a friend for dinner last night, I suggested we meet in downtown Toronto so we could walk and admire the lights and the decorated windows.

Naturally, I took pictures, though it was difficult to get good shots what with all the other lights of the city getting in the way. Maybe there should be dimmer switches so that they are not so bright ALL the time. Just a thought.

there was a Santa-less sleigh driving up the middle of Yonge Street

and a tree of floating balls in Dundas Square

that changed colour from this, to a bright white to match the giant spot lights

then there was the tree in the Eaton Centre 

it is a little more modern than your usual tree 

actually, it looks more like a parasol than a tree

and it, too, changes colour

I did, however, quite like these gigantic reindeer that were standing throughout the mall.

Santa's Village

Small towns need to do something when a highway is built and diverts all the traffic past their main streets. The town of Bracebridge took advantage of their location in what is known as cottage country and also their latitude that puts them halfway between the North Pole and the Equator and decided on creating a Santa's Village.

Santa loved the idea so much that after he built a cottage for himself, he built a village for everyone to enjoy. He even cajoled the elves to build rides and attractions and to provide food for their guests all summer long.

here are people pointing at a strategically placed elf

notice the absence of the postal code















There are campgrounds open from June to September and an activity laden Christmas Fest the week before the Big Day.

It has been ion operation since 1955 and I remember going here as a kid. In spite of the $30 per person, it seems to get rave reviews as a perfect outing for families and especially the younger children as the rides and activities are geared towards them.




see more postcards at Postcard Friendship Friday

gingerbread

one last look at the gingerbread house before it is demolished

a google street view

1930

Sunday Stamps

Christmas is the theme for this week. And I honestly thought it would be easy to find many Christmas themed stamps. I was wrong. Or maybe I just haven't looked hard enough at all my postcards.

So I have resorted to two of the Canadian stamps for this year

and we can compared them with one from Australia and one from New Zealand.

Personally, I much prefer the bright vibrant colours of the antipodean stamps!

Check out Viridian's Stamp Blog for more Christmas sights on stamps

sigh

It has turned cold but is still dreary and sunless.
Watching Ellen. Hoping for some cheer and good laughs.
Pleased that Amy Poehler was on, because she is really funny.


Ellen:  "How old are your kids now?"

AmyP:  "1 and 3..."

Ellen:  "and do they know about Christmas?"

AmyP:  "they are just starting to get to know Christmas"
...
AmyP:  "I was starting to tell the kids the story of Christmas, y'know about Santa and how he lives at the North Pole..."


I may have to rethink my opinion of her.

carol

It is that time of year again. The time when I start complaining about the music on the radio. Most of the music isn't all that memorable to begin with, but at this time of year it can positively set your teeth on edge. A friend and I were walking through a Christmas market the other day and one upping each other with the worst Christmas songs ever. I won. She had no chance against me. Maybe it is because she walks to work and I drive for work and therefore am listening to more of the saccharine, schlocky, what-has-this-really-to-do-with-Christmas music. Though, to be fair, there seems to be a dearth of Christmassy music on the radio this year. For which I am thankful, but also suspicious. Maybe it is simply the stations I listen to, I thought. Or maybe it has something to do with this annoying trend to "not offend" people who don't celebrate Christmas. People who are possibly more offended by this misguided attempt to assume what they are thinking than over a tree, or greeting, or song. But I digress.

I still hold my breath whenever I push the button that prompts my preset stations, preparing for the worst. Mostly, all I get is just another innocuous, generic song. No jing-jing, jing-a-ling, or wonderful Christmastime or even do they know it's Christmas. For the record, the ultimate worst song ever has to be Red Shoes or Christmas Shoes [officially called "Can I Buy These Shoes"] Google it if you are unfamiliar, because I cannot bear to include even a clip.

Last night I tuned into one station that has this week become "your all Christmas music all the time" station, but was pleasantly surprised to hear a choir singing O Holy Night, followed by Once In Royal David's City, followed by Justin Bieber at which point I turned it off. The spell was broken.

Okay, it wasn't a perfect mix, but really, it was a surprise to hear actual Christmas Carols. And it was enjoyable. Not all Christmas songs are deplorable. I miss those old carols. (I also miss Andy Williams, but I digress)

So, I thought I would share with you a little something that has played on CBC.
A Christmas mash up of carols and songs. There is actually a contest (where you have to name the music and the words) which you can play if you go here. But for you I have included a clip, or two, of last year's renderings.

he's here

 Look who I found, sitting in his heavily decorated Santa cave.

Seriously? Doesn't he have some last minute preparations to see to? Surely it is too early? There is still six weeks. The street decorations haven't even been put up yet.

And, more importantly the Santa Claus Parade isn't for another week. Doesn't that mean he hasn't officially arrived in town?

Here he is hard at work, waving to some toddler, who seemed more attracted by the glittery balls than the man himself.

As for me, I was more interested in this cool tree that changed colours and patterns.

There was a conveniently located coffee place just behind where I was sitting, so I had myself a beverage and set my camera on burst.... there was, at one point, some dancing snowmen, but the lights didn't seem to have a consistent pattern - some were repeated more than others and I never did see the snowmen again to get a picture of them.

Of course, people, like this girl and her friends, had to have their photos taken by the tree (though as you can see, it was not very busy on a Monday night) and I was asked if I could take one of the three of them together. Of course, I could. I was given this flat thing that wasn't a camera, but some kind of fancy phone and told to just press the centre button. It took several tries and a couple more lessons before I got the hang of it. If you so much as brushed the button, or pressed it on an angle, strange things started happening - the image would zoom and swerve and sometimes disappear altogether. I did not like this device, but still I wished to play with it some more. However, once we established that a decent photo was taken she took her phone back and off they went, completely ignoring Santa.

When I got home, I found a postcard waiting for me in my mailbox. 

It was from an American, who wrote that she was looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving. She loved that holiday because "that is the day we put up our Christmas tree"

That must be the ultimate in holiday combining.