The Christmas Season

Whether you celebrate Christmas as a secular or religious festival, or focus on some other holiday at this time of year, there is much to be said for the joy of sharing a winter festival with family and friends. Today is the Winter Solstice, which was always a very welcome day to me when I lived in Scotland.

If you've never been to Scotland, or looked at it on the globe, it's actually pretty far north. The winter dark can be depressing. Just the intellectual understanding that days lengthen after the solstice can be a boost to getting through the cold, dreary days of winter. For a Scottish solstice sunrise take a look at LindaB's Occasional Scotland.

Yesterday I was awarded a Christmas Spirit Award by Kailana at The Written World. I'd like to thank Kailana and participate by listing 5 things I love about the Christmas season.

1. Christmas carols - the tradition associated with them brings me joy. Music moves me.
   
2. Decorations - the brightness of them has always brought cheer to the cold, darker days of winter for me.
3. Family and the pleasure of sharing. My favorite part of that is the joy on children's faces as they experience the season.
4. Food - I am thankful for the plenty I have in my life. There is nothing more loving to me than preparing a meal to share with others.
5. Receiving cards and letters from those I can't visit with because of geographical distance. It is lovely to catch up with what has been happening in their lives.

My hope for you this Christmas season is that you have loving people to share the joy with. Of course I can't leave the topic without passing you a few learning links.

• An explanation of the solstice with details of how ancient architecture marked it. A purely astronomical explanation.
• I am in awe of Wendy who celebrates the solstice by staying in the dark for a day. I think that is beautiful - so in tune with nature. If you've thought of celebrating the winter solstice and need more ideas, you can find more ideas on celebrating the solstice.
• A winter solstice poem by a blogging author who loves the Middle Ages.
• Medieval Christmas portrayed by another blogging author.
  
• The history of Christmas carols.
  

Holiday mp3 in association with Amazon.com, home of the Kindle.
Sign up for Kindle alerts at the WiiAlerts site. This site has been used by people I know and I recommend it because it works!

Alice by John Fullerton from Ballads of Bairnhood

I have a very special book - Ballads of Bairnhood, edited by Robert Ford. First published in 1894 and reprinted in 1913. It was passed to me from my mother's side of the family. Although the binding of my copy is a little worse for wear, almost all of the pages are fresh and clean. I can tell which poems were favorites with my ancestors, for those pages bear the marks of loving hands. Many of the poems relate to the loss of little ones, and many others are written in the Scots dialect and might make no sense to most of my readers. I've therefore chosen to share with you tonight, a poem that, while not one of my favorites, is enjoyable and hopefully understandable to any parent.

ALICE.

Where the sunshine lingers long,
Where the birds sing merry lays,
Where the brook the ferns among
Slowly steals, there Alice strays,
Culling here and there a flower
Blooming in the greenwood bower.

There is sunshine in her face
Brighter far than in the skies;
As I gaze, it's light I trace
Beaming in her deep blue eyes;
There's a song within her heart -
May that glad song ne'er depart.

Happy, free from grief and care;
O'er the meadows fair she roams,
Breathing fresher, purer air
Than to pent up city comes:
Seeing sights that pleasure bring -
Butterflies and birds a-wing.

John Fullerton

Brought to you in association with Amazon.com - lots of poetry and Scottish stuff.

September Celebrations Lesson Plans 25th to 30th

The Giving Tree at Amazon.com

It's hard to believe that September is almost gone. Join with me in celebrating the following Weekly Celebrations taken from About.com September Fundays Calendar. I'm glad to learn that I've not missed all of September!

September 25th, Shel Silverstein's Birthday, 1930

• Shel Silverstein has a fun website with activities for kids and information for parents.
• Visit the library or the bookstore and pick out one of Shel Silverstein's books like Where the Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up and The Giving Tree.
  
• Googling for lesson plans brings up lots of hits, though many point back to Shel Silverstein's own site. Here are a selection of interesting ones: How Smart Are You With Money, Collaborative Poetry Writing, Fill In the Blank Poetry, Critical Thinking with Seuss and Silverstein, Ethical Thinking on The Giving Tree. More lesson plans from Web English Teacher.

September 26th, Johnny Appleseed's Birthday, 1775

• About.com has plenty of links, though many of them are no longer active. Try the Johnny Appleseed printables.
• Some links that look useful: The Story of Johnny Appleseed, Johnny Appleseed Junior Ecology Club, Johnny Appleseed the Pioneer, 2nd grade Johhny Appleseed art and writing, The History of Johnny Appleseed.
• More links and ideas on Johnny Appleseed and apples, including recipes, a Kindergarten lesson plan, and apple math ideas.
• Lots of apple recipes from Simply Recipes.
• Lots of books at different reading levels from Amazon.com.
  

September 27th, Ancestor Appreciation Day

• Send a free e-card to celebrate and share.
  
• If you are an American there's a pretty high probability that your ancestors came from another part of the world. For Ancestor Appreciation Day bring out a globe, atlas or wall map and talk with your family about where you came from. Research the places, traditions, food and culture and share stories. Take a few moments to say thank you to your ancestors; after all you'd not be here without them!
• Archive some family stories for Ancestor Appreciation Day. If you can't visit with an older relative call or e-mail them. If you have no older relatives visit with an older neighbor or a resident of a retirement community or nursing home and record or write notes about their stories.
• Take the time to familiarize your children with ceremonies related to the end of life transition. Talk about your experiences and what you like and don't like about ceremonies. Visit the grave or memorial of a relative if possible, or talk about people you knew growing up who are no longer alive and how you are happy to have known them.
  

September 29th, Stan Berenstain's Birthday

• The official Berenstain Bears website
• Stan's obituary at The Washington Post
• Teacher resources and related lesson plans
• Books by Stan Berenstain
• The Berenstain Bears' treehouse
  

September 30th,The Flintstones Premiered, 1960

• Flintstones websites: webrock, unofficial site, A Flintstones World.
  
• Flintstones cartoon art
• Bedrock City theme park
• Prehistoric Cave Art at Edsitement.com - scroll down for a Flintstones tie-in
• Pop Culture Icons including the Flintstones
• Flintstones stuff at Amazon.com and E-Bay

Have some wonderful Weekly Celebrations!