Photo: operationlettertosanta.com
L’année à venir n’existe pas. Nous ne possedons que le petit instant présent. (Mahmûd Shabestarî)
As the quotation says, the coming year does not yet exist – meaning we have the opportunity to make of it what we wish. Enjoy what is left of 2006, and prepare yourself for a wonderful year ahead. Mes meilleurs voeux à toutes et tous pour 2007.
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Le givre étincelant, sur les carreaux gelés,
Dessine des milliers d’arabesques informes;
Le fleuve roule au loin des banquises énormes;
De fauves tourbillons passent échevelés.
Sur la crête des monts par l’ouragan pelés,
De gros nuages lourds heurtent leurs flancs difformes;
Les sapins sont tout blancs de neige, et les vieux ormes
Dressent dans le ciel gris leurs grands bras désolés.
Des hivers boréaux tous les sombres ministres
Montrent à l’horizon leurs figures sinistres;
Le froid darde sur nous son aiguillon cruel.
Evitons à tout prix ses farouches colères;
Et, dans l’intimité, narguant les vents polaires,
Réchauffons-nous autour de l’arbre de Noël.
Louis-Honoré Fréchette, Décembre
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Ma Mignonne
Je vous donne
Le bon jour.
Le sejour
C’est prison:
Guerison
Recouvrez,
Puis ouvrez
Vostre porte,
Et qu’on sorte
Vistement:
Car Clement
Le vous mande.
Va friande
De ta bouche,
Qui se couche
En danger
Pour manger
Confitures:
Si tu dures
Trop malade,
Couleur fade
Tu prendras,
Et perdras
L’embonpoint.
Dieu te doint
Santé bonne
Ma Mignonne.
Clément Marot, A une damoyselle malade
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Photo: seestanleypark.com
I wrote last week about the devastation in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, an urban green space whose beautiful forests fell victim to the hurricane-force winds of a series of autumn storms. You can find several pictures of the ruinous state of some of the lovely trees here (site from which I obtained the above image).
Also, a fund has been set up by the City of Vancouver, the proceeds of which will be put towards the purchase of new trees to be planted when the debris has been cleared out of the park. Visit the Stanley Park Tree Fund website to read about the park, or to make a donation.
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Les cadeaux et les voeux perdent tout leur charme s’ils arrivent trop tard. Leur magie n’est valable que le jour même. (Alexandra Marinina)
Ouf! Si c’est vrai, il y a une problème… J’étais en retard (comme d’habitude, voyons) avec quelques-uns de mes courriels. Il y a au moins 3 cartes et un cadeau qui est toujours en route à leurs destinaires! Et en plus, les voeux sont toujours apprécié, n’importe quand ils sont offerts, n’est-ce pas? Ainsi je ne suis pas du tout d’accord avec cette citation. Mais, il faut reconnaître que c’est une citation assez cynique… 
Et voilà, nous sommes le 26 décembre, la fête terminée, le grand repas fini, les cadeaux ouverts. Mais non! Moi, qui ai une grande famille ukrainien, attends encore de la famille qui vient de Saskatchewan, province voisin. Ils arrivent demain (ou peut-être ce soir). Alors il y aura un autre dîner en famille, encore plus de visites, encore plus de cadeaux… Puis, en 2 semaines, il y a le Noël orthodoxe, que nous fêtons également. Ce prochain mois est comme une grande fête pour moi! Parfois ça se sent comme ça ne finira jamais…
J’espère que vos soirées de Noël étaient agréable, si vous avez été seul ou en compagnie des autres. Le 24 et 25 ont été des jours pleins pour moi, très occupés, un peu stressé, mais c’est bien, c’était Noël, et Noël est comme ça. La seule embêtement: j’ai très mal à la gorge, une douleur qui a commencé hier. (J’ai passé le matin toute seule – la première fois que j’étais seule le matin de Noël! – sauf pour ma chienne Daisy, bien entendu – et j’ai chanté. J’ai chanté et chanté, plusieurs chants de Noël, surtout avec un gars qui s’appelle Mr. Crosby mais aussi avec quelques autres bonhommes peu connus, comme un Mr. Sinatra et un Mr. Martin. Et n’oublions pas les femmes, les Soeurs Andrews, Mme. Clooney… Tout pendant que je faisais des petits gâteaux de vanille, et que je dansais avec Daisy.) Malheureusement, ce n’est pas un mal à la gorge venant de mon petit concert perso; vu que j’ai aussi mal à la tête et ai du mal à respirer, je crois que les germes dans l’air m’ont offert un beau rhume pour Noël. Bah, j’ai une semaine chez moi avant que je dois retourner au travail – assez de temps pour me remettre.
Si vous continuez vos célébrations en ces jours après Noël: bon courage! C’est un peu fatigant! Sinon, saisir ce moment pour te reposer après la grande fête. De tout coeur avec vous. 
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Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we’ve no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
It doesn’t show signs of stopping,
And I’ve bought some corn for popping,
The lights are turned way down low,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
When we finally kiss goodnight,
How I’ll hate going out in the storm!
But if you’ll really hold me tight,
All the way home I’ll be warm.
The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we’re still good-bying,
But as long as you love me so,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Sammy Cahn & Jule Steyn, Let It Snow (1945)
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I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
Irving Berlin, White Christmas (1942)
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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes – how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
Clement Clarke Moore, A Visit From St. Nicholas (1822)
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He’s making a list, checking it twice…
Final day of preparations. While the elves’ workshop must be a busy place today, so are the shops and homes around here. Last day to pick up needed gifts (I myself have fallen victim to this disease yet again – I have one gift left on my list still at 11:30 on Christmas Eve), the day to clean house, set the table, cook and bake tomorrow’s feast. I will attempt to (finally) make my cupcakes – though seeing how busy my schedule is today, my success in this endeavour remains in doubt. My mum is preparing some dips and snacks for our dinner tonight; for the first time in my life, I will be opening presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.
For someone supposedly so modern and cynical, I certainly have an affection for certain traditions. One of those, in my family, was to celebrate the holiday on Christmas Day itself. Not that opening presents is the essence of the holiday – the large gathering of people and the dinner will still happen tomorrow, so that remains unchanged – but the gift-opening is part of the tradition. No matter what was happening, I always ensured I would be home in my own bed for Christmas Eve, to wake up with family on Christmas morning. When I was younger, my parents would drag out the experience by first making coffee, then a big breakfast, then urging me to go out and complete my morning chores before attacking the presents under the tree. (I was, however, allowed to open the gifts in my stocking whenever I woke up, which was usually around 5:00. ) That tradition has carried over to my adult life, where my mum and I wake up, make some coffee, play with Daisy, before turning to the arduous task of opening gifts. This year, however, my mum has to work on Christmas Day, leaving around 7:00 – so to avoid having to get up and open gifts at 5 in the morning, we’ll do the dirty work tonight. And thus, for the first time, I will be alone on Christmas Day. A seemingly insignificant change, perhaps, but it’s still left me a bit frazzled: my boyfriend’s family’s tradition is to celebrate the holiday on the 24th, meaning I’ll be a busy little bee today. But, with my Baba still in hospital, I suppose there are many traditions being broken this year.
Traditions are nice, as far as they go: they comfort us, they’re familiar, they remind us of what we value as an individual or a family or a group. But they can only go so far; the important thing is the spirit of love and reciprocity and fellowship and peace, in whatever form in which they may come.
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Minuit ! Chrétiens, c’est l’heure solennelle
Où l’homme Dieu descendit jusqu’à nous,
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de son père arrêter le courroux:
Le monde entier tressaille d’espérance
A cette nuit qui lui donne un sauveur
Peuple, à genoux attends ta délivrance,
Noël! Noël! Voici le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël! Voici le Rédempteur!
De notre foi que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l’enfant
Comme autrefois, une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les chefs de l’Orient
Le Roi des Rois naît dans une humble crèche,
Puissants du jour fiers de votre grandeur,
A votre orgueil c’est de là qu’un Dieu prêche,
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur!
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur!
Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave,
La terre est libre et le ciel est ouvert
Il voit un frère ou n’était qu’un esclave
L’amour unit ceux qu’enchaînait le fer,
Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance?
C’est pour nous tous qu’il naît, qu’il souffre et meurt:
Peuple, debout! chante ta délivrance,
Noël! Noël! chantons le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël! chantons le Rédempteur!
Placide Cappeau, Minuit Chrétiens (1847)
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Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star
upon the highest bough.
And have yourself
A merry little Christmas now.
Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (1943)
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The shortest day of the year is upon us! From now on, our days will get only brighter…
Solstice is not terribly noticed in Canada or the US, for the most part, but is a very important time of year to many people. And understandably so: there is something that feels magical about these times, as well as the equinoxes. Each signifies harmony – an utter balancing of nature. A kind of natural egalitarianism, at least for a day.
The hours between last night and tonight are variously known as Yule (Scandinavia, and Wiccan), Yalda (Iran), Dong Zhi (China), Midwinter Festival (Celtic, Druidic), Soyal (Hopi natives), Saturnalia (Romans), Karachun (Slavic).
But what do most of us in the Western world refer to it as? “Only 3 shopping days left ’til Christmas!” 
So much for the enchantment of nature…!
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Silver bells, silver bells,
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day.
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 every street corner you hear:
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 streetlights, even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures.
Hear the snow crush, see the kids rush
This is Santa’s big day
And above all this bustle you hear:
Silver bells, silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day.
Jay Livingston & Ray Evans, Silver Bells
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Click here to visit The Onion, “America’s Finest News Source”, and their Top 10 News Stories of 2006. (For the uninitiated, The Onion is a weekly satirical newspaper that prints hilarious send-ups of actual current events.)
As for this year’s Top 10, I think #9 (Generous Vice-President Cheney Gives Hard-Working Media A Field Day) and #2 (Al Gore Caught Warming Globe To Increase Box Office Profits) are tied for my favourite.
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Christmas – that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may well weave a spell of nostalgia. (Augusta E. Rundel)
As the song says, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. I adore the Christmas and New Year holidays, and everything they represent: love, peace, generosity, renewal, friends, family – and snow. The months at the end of our calendar year are generally my favourite, embued as they are with festive feelings and the desire to wear fuzzy socks and curl up beside one’s favourite people. And now, with Christmas only a few days away, the holiday spirit is out in full force. The homemade decorations and twinkling lights have been up for a few weeks now, the carols have been spinning on the stereo, and I’m hurriedly trying to finish my shopping and gift-wrapping.
Outside my window I see a clear blue sky, with the sunlight reflecting off the snow-covered ground, nearly blinding me. I will be trudging through that snow very shortly, en route to the store down the street to pick up some icing – today being Wednesday, I’ve decided to do some Christmas baking. (Why Wednesday? Well, why not?) Soon the house will be filled with an aroma of vanilla, as I dance around the kitchen, singing carols to myself and to Daisy – who will undoubtedly be getting caught underfoot as she scans the floor for any stray crumbs.
So, in the spirit of things, I’ve added a new category at the side, where I’ve gathered all of my holiday-themed posts from the past 14 months. You may have already noticed that as of the other day, I began posting one carol per day. (No special significance to the choices; just a small selection of holiday songs that I enjoy.) And if you’re feeling festive, click on this link to watch some Christmasy videos, which I will continue updating over the coming days.
In the meantime, good luck with your holiday preparations. Just don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the season, too!
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