Advent and Christmas
Good King Wenceslas
To learn the story listen to the hymn and read the words.
(This is 1973 postage from Britain designed by David Gentleman.)
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
King: "Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
Page: "Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
King: "Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather
Page: "Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
King: "Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
Read the words here or listen to a YouTube of the song sung in Wendat (Huron), French and English.
1) ’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:
Refrain:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.
2) 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:
3) 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.
4) O children of the forest free,
O seed of Manitou,
The holy Child of earth and Heav’n
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy,
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Twelve Days of Christmas
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. The song has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
(Thanks to M Hess for sending this one.)
Kings' Cake (Super Easy)
2 tubes of Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls
sugar
food coloring
1) Leave the five rolls attached and unroll the dough. Press dough to help attach the strips together. Re-roll the dough in the opposite direction (hot dog) and twist. Join the two strips of dough and press ends together to form a circle. Bake longer than directions on package.
2) While baking make gold, green, and purple colored sprinkles: In a bowl combine a T or 2 of sugar and a drop of food coloring. Use yellow, green, and purple (a combination of red and blue) food coloring.
3) After removing the pastry from the oven slip a coin into the cake. Squeeze on one package of frosting and allow it to melt and spread on the warm pastry. Shake sprinkles onto the warm frosting.
Cut a Perfect 5-Pointed Star
You can see how to fold and cut your star on YouTube.