Sounds of the Season: Part III

Part Three of our "Sounds of the Season" music recommendations comes from Mark Hudson, Adult Services Librarian and today's guest poster:


I usually wait until December to start listening to holiday music, and the music I like tends to be fairly traditional -- old hymns and spirituals, jazz and rhythm and blues from the 1950s and 1960s. Even the newer music I listen to is strongly roots-based, as you can see from my list of favorites:



-- Oy Chanukah! (Klezmer Conservatory Band)

I'll start with Hanukkah, because it always comes before Christmas. Oy Chanukah!  includes lively klezmer versions of traditional Hanukkah songs, interspersed with reminiscences and explanations of Hanukkah traditions from immigrant elders and other sources. If you're looking for just one CD to celebrate Hanukkah, this is probably the one.

Request Oy Chanukah! from the Catalog



-- Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah (Klezmatics)

In 1942, the renowned singer-songwriter and folk musician Woody Guthrie moved to Brooklyn. Through his mother-in-law, the influential Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt, he became involved with the Jewish community, and wrote songs about Hanukkah and other aspects of Jewish history and spiritual life. Woody's Hanukkah lyrics sat forgotten in archives for decades until they were rediscovered in 1998 by his daughter, Nora Guthrie, who asked the Klezmatics to write new music for them. Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah deftly mixes klezmer with country, bluegrass, funk and jazz in a collection of songs that's almost certainly destined to become a perennial holiday classic.

Request Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah from the Catalog



-- A Christmas Celtic Sojourn (Various Artists)

This album and its sequel, Comfort and Joy, have become two of my favorite Christmas music compilations. Musicians from all parts of the Celtic world perform an idiosyncratic mix of ancient and modern songs on traditional and modern instruments. Some of these songs are ethereal and contemplative, some are more raucous, but they're all beautiful and quite unusual -- definitely "off the beaten path," musically speaking. Even the few better-known melodies in the collection (e.g., "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear") are given unique interpretations and sound nothing like the more commonly-heard versions.

Request A Christmas Celtic Sojourn from the Catalog



-- Christmas in Bethlehem (Bach Choir of Bethlehem)

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, PA was organized in 1898 and is the oldest Bach choir in the United States. This collection includes some well-known Christmas hymns, along with many others you may have not heard before!

Request Christmas in Bethlehem from the Catalog



-- Soul Christmas (Various Artists)

This absolutely must-have collection is a 1991 reissue, which includes eight of the eleven tracks on the original 1968 release, plus eleven newer songs from the vaults of Atlantic Records. The artist list comprises some of the most illustrious names in soul/R&B history: Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, Carla Thomas, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, The Impressions, Otis Redding, Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, King Curtis and more.

Request Soul Christmas from the Catalog



-- Christmas Spirituals and Beautiful Star (Odetta)

Odetta, who Martin Luther King, Jr. once called "the queen of American folk music," recorded Christmas Spirituals at Carnegie Hall in 1960. In 1987, she re-recorded the same set of thirteen traditional and original spirituals in Burlington, Vermont, and the resulting CD was issued under the title Beautiful Star. The earlier recording is rougher, the later one more heavily produced. Both are magnificent.

Request Christmas Spirituals from the Catalog

Request Beautiful Star from the Catalog



-- Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz (Various Artists)

This is a collection of classic Christmas songs from the catalog of Verve Records. If you love jazz, this is the Christmas record for you! Artists presented include Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Dinah Washington and Oscar Peterson. Fitzgerald's version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" leads off the CD and is, without a doubt, my favorite version of that song ever recorded. Coltrane's version of "Greensleeves" is likewise not to be missed.

Request Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz from the Catalog

Sounds of the Season: Part II

When it comes to Christmas music, I am a traditionalist. I like the standards from the 40s and 50s and many of the stars who sang them. There have been some new songs along the way that haven't been bad, but not enough to make me stray from my old standbys.  As you will see with my list of holiday favorites, there may be a few "newer" singers and musicians, but they are still singing the oldies but goodies!

-- Johnny Mathis

Of all the Christmas albums I have listened to in my lifetime, there is none better than Merry Christmas by Johnny Mathis. Mathis, known for such hits as Chances Are and It's Not For Me To Say, has released several Christmas albums throughout his long career, but none could top that first album released in 1958. Merry Christmas combines traditional Christmas songs with more modern tunes. If you listen to the album on vinyl, as I did growing up, you'll hear the modern songs on the first side with the traditional songs on the second side.

This is one of the first albums I can every remember listening to and was well worn from the numerous times it was played.

Request Merry Christmas from the Catalog

Request Sending You A Little Christmas from the Catalog

Request The Christmas Album from the Catalog

-- Harry Connick, Jr.

I have been a fan of Harry Connick Jr. for a very long time and I own most of his albums. But my favorite album of his just might be When My Heart Finds Christmas, the first of three Christmas albums from Connick. While the other two are fine recordings, this one has a wonderful combination of traditional and original songs. 

My favorites are (It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? and the title track, When My Heart Finds Christmas. 

Request When My Heart Finds Christmas from the Catalog.

Request Harry For The Holidays from the Catalog.

Request What A Night: A Christmas Album from the Catalog.

-- A Charlie Brown Christmas

If there is someone not aware of this very special 1965 Christmas special, they must be living under a rock. As a kid I couldn't wait for this to be on television. And now as an adult I still feel the same! Besides being a Peanuts fan, I've grown to love the music as much as the show. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas was the first of many collaborations between Vince Guaraldi and the producers of the Peanuts specials. They wanted a different sound than the usual cartoon music and boy, did they ever get that! The jazz trio created a very atmospheric and beautiful accompaniment to Charlie Brown's quest to find the true meaning of Christmas.

Request A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack from the Catalog.

Request A Charlie Brown Christmas [DVD] from the Catalog.

-- Barenaked Ladies

This wonderful eclectic collection of Christmas and Hanukkah songs comes from one of my favorite bands. The band includes several very traditional songs, like Jingle Bells and God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman/We Three Kings (with Sarah McLachlan). There are also quite a few covers of more contemporary Christmas favorites like Do They Know It's Christmas? and Wonderful Christmastime. 

But for me the highlight are the original songs such as Elf's Lament (with Michael Buble), Hanukkah Blessings and Green Christmas. If you are looking for something just a little bit different, but still somewhat traditional, this is the album for you!

Request Barenaked for the Holidays from the Catalog.

--Post by Tracy

Sounds of the Season: Part I

I love Christmas music. I rarely make it until after Thanksgiving before I break out the Christmas albums, and I've been known to listen to Carol of the Bells or Star of Bethlehem during the middle of the summer.

But as much as I love The Little Drummer Boy and Merry Christmas, Darling -- there are quite a few Christmas albums I cherish that don't fit the conventional mold. Read on for my holiday music recommendations:


-- Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The 2000 soundtrack

Though I'm a big Jim Carrey fan, I confess that his live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas is not my personal cup of tea. That doesn't stop me from loving the soundtrack, however, which features original Christmas-themed songs from the Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds, Smash Mouth, Faith Hill, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The songs are mostly not featured in the film, yet still retain a very Grinch-y flavor; if Christmas is not your favorite time of year, you may be able to relate!  But there's plenty for Christmas-lovers here, too -- including an updated version of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, sung by Jim Carrey himself. (And, whatever your feelings on Jim Carrey, the truth remains: the guy can sing.)

Perfect for Scrooges and Tiny Tims alike, this album is the first one I reach for come Christmastime.

Request the Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas soundtrack from the Catalog

-- A Colbert Christmas

In 2008, Stephen Colbert (of The Colbert Report) did a Comedy Central Christmas special entitled A Colbert Christmas, complete with original Christmas songs and a plethora of musical guest stars that included Willie Nelson, John Legend, Feist, and Elvis Costello. The songs are both utterly hilarious -- the album won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album -- but also ridiculously catchy. The satire flies strong, with Colbert's "Another Christmas Song" poking gentle fun at Christmas commercialism and Feist's "Please Be Patient" using a Christmas carol standard as telemarketing muzak. (It's funnier than it sounds.)

My favorite tunes feature Colbert in duets with his guest stars. There's "Can I Interest You In Hannukah?" as performed with fellow comedy show host Jon Stewart. And then there's Colbert's duet with Elvis Costello, in the funny and surprisingly philosophical "There Are Much Worse Things to Believe In." If you're looking for some humor this holiday, give A Colbert Christmas a try.

Request A Colbert Christmas [DVD] from the Catalog

-- A Christmas Story: The Musical

Based on the holiday classic A Christmas Story, the adapted musical was first performed over 25 years after the film was first released. I've not seen the musical itself, but as a big fan of show tunes, I've checked out the soundtrack. And I'm pleased to report that, while not every song is instantly memorable, there are a whole host of selections that are: "Genius of Cleveland Street," "Up on Santa's Lap," and "When You're a Wimp," among others.

You don't have to be familiar with the original film to appreciate the tunes on the album -- particularly the opening number, "Counting Down to Christmas." If parents are frantic to get ready for the season in time, our protagonist, Ralphie, is equally frantic: he's running out of time to make his Christmas gift wishes known to his parents. After all, what's a boy who just wants an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Range Model Air Rifle BB gun (with a compass and a stock and this thing that tells time) to do??  It's Christmas from a kid's point of view, and, for the most part, the music captures that world beautifully.

Request the Christmas Story soundtrack from the Catalog



-- Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics

I recently mentioned my affection for the rude, crude, classic animated series South Park. The show runners have done a number of holiday-themed episodes, but my favorite is their musical installment, Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics. Styled like a (rather unconventional) variety show, the episode features ten holidays standards with a decided South Park twist, including O Tannenbaum, Carol of the Bells, O Holy Night, and a version of Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel sung in rounds. (The album version of the episode features an additional eight songs.)

This being South Park, most of the songs are warped to humorous effect, making for holiday music filled with the show's typical irreverent humor. For those familiar with South Park, however, it's all part of the fun, making this an ideal holiday treat for fans.

Request Christmas Time in South Park [DVD] from the Catalog



-- Straight No Chaser

A professional a cappella group, SNC first came to prominence with their holiday-themed music, performed with only vocal back-up. Though they have since released other albums, they remain best-known for their holiday offerings.

Rather than detract from the sound, the a cappella approach offers a wholly unique performance, with singers in the place of instruments creating the songs' back-up. With a handful of delightfully fun unique pieces, Straight No Chaser is an unconventional take on classic carols. Not to be missed!

Request Holiday Spirits from the Catalog

Request Christmas Cheers from the Catalog

Request Under the Influence from the Catalog

Click here to hear Straight No Chaser perform "The Christmas Can-Can"

-- Post by Ms. B 

Holiday Crafts

Looking for some craft ideas for the upcoming holidays? Look no further than the library. We have plenty of craft books to choose from. Here are just a few of the titles available.

Halloween:

-- Artful Halloween: 31 Frightfully Elegant Projects by Susan Wasinger - These 30+ costume, pumpkin, and home-decorating ideas are not just beautiful--they are scary beautiful. From unique pumpkin decorations to a “blood”-splashed dinner-party centerpiece to a Yard Specter made from two poles, a string of lights, and torn, draped fabric, these creepy but stylish Halloween projects will give your home a spooky, sophisticated look . . . with gothic flair!

-- All You Frightfully Fun Halloween Handbook by Carole Nicksin - From adorable pumpkin families and classic jack-o-lanterns to down-right scary giant spiders (eek!), the All You Frightfully Fun Halloween Handbook packs in more cute and creepy crafts for tabletops, porches and yards than you'll have room to display. The best part? Every idea comes with simple instructions and a clear list of budget-friendly supplies you'll find online or at nearby stores.

-- Best of Halloween Tricks & Treats from Better Homes and Gardens - Cool ideas for a personalizing any Halloween party From spooky to whimsical and everything in between, this all-new edition of Best of Halloween Tricks & Treats is a treasure-trove of neat ideas and helpful how-tos for adding a personal touch to Halloween parties and celebrations.

Thanksgiving:

-- Thanksgiving Day Crafts by Arlene and Herbert Erlbach - Using these easy-to-follow directions and traceable patterns, readers can make their very own miniature pilgrims, a leaves-in-the-wind glitter globe to give to someone special, pumpkin napkin rings to help decorate the table for a Thanksgiving feast, and more!

-- Martha's Classic Thanksgiving by Martha Stewart - This DVD covers the traditional Thanksgiving basics plus offers more ideas for those interested in trying something new. Includes turkey, stuffing, side dish and dessert recipes, centerpiece, table setting and decorating ideas and Thanksgiving crafts for kids.

--Thanksgiving Crafts by Jean Eick - Through easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations, this book shows readers how to make Thanksgiving crafts and decorations using everyday objects and craft materials. Activities and games are also included, as well as a brief description of the holiday.

Hanukkah:

-- Hanukkah Crafts by Karen E. Bledsoe - Provides information about the origin and customs of Hanukkah, ideas for celebrating this holiday, and directions for making such crafts as a dreidel mobile, holiday cards, and candle candy holders.

-- Happening Hanukkah: Creative Ways To Celebrate by Debra Mostow Zakarin - Explains the history and customs connected with Hanukkah and provides ideas and instructions for making greeting cards, gift wrappings, presents, decorations, and holiday foods.

Christmas:

-- Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas: Crafts, Decorating Tips, and Recipes, 1920s-1960s by Susan Waggoner - Inspired by the most sought-after treasures from the 1920s through the 1960s, Waggoner recreates a tempting array of decorations and provides step-by-step instructions that allow anyone to deck their halls with cellophane wreaths, glittered glass ornament balls, beaded bell garlands, and whimsical, tinsel-bedecked treat cups.

-- Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ornaments to Make: 101 Sparkling Holiday Trims -The wondrous assortment of handcrafted trims in this book provides hundreds of ideas to spark your creativity. The step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and patterns ensure each beautiful Christmas ornament you make is filled with the beauty of the season.

-- Christmas Crafts by Fay Robinson - Using these easy-to-follow directions and traceable patterns, you can make a stuffed snowman to keep you company on cold nights, a photo frame to give to a friend, some evergreen boughs to decorate your home, and more!

Kwanzaa:

-- Kwanzaa Crafts by Judith Hoffman Corwin - Kwanzaa Crafts offers creative projects for making a Kwanzaa place mat and candle holder, and other Kwanzaa symbols, and for holiday decorations, gifts, games, and wonderful treats to eat.

-- Kwanzaa Karamu: Cooking and Crafts For a Kwanzaa Feast by April A. Brady - Kwanzaa Karamu is full of fabulous foods you can make for a Kwanzaa feast or for your dinner tonight. Its pages are packed with easy-to-make crafts for Kwanzaa time and for all the year-round.

--Post by Tracy

The (Other) Christmas Classics

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ... there are plenty of avowed Christmas special classics. But if you're looking for something a little different to watch this holiday season, check out one of these films. They aren't Christmas specials but are, instead, movies that just happen to be set at Christmas.

Just click on the title to request it from the Library Catalog!

-- Die Hard

There's a growing movement among certain movie aficionados to name Die Hard as their favorite Christmas movie.  It's not, of course, precisely a Christmas movie, but the film -- which follows an off-duty police officer as he attempts to rescue a group of hostages trapped in a Los Angeles skyscraper -- does inarguably take place during the holiday season.

It was the movie that launched Willis's career as an action hero (as, up until that point, he'd been known as a comedy actor). Co-starring Alan Rickman in the role of the villain, the movie is an action classic that, thanks to its holiday setting, can, indeed, double as your favorite Christmas movie.

(Lethal Weapon, another classic action flick, also fits the bill quite nicely.)



-- The Lion in Winter

Starring the late, great Peter O'Toole, this historical film takes a look at the lives of King Henry II and his wife,  Eleanor of Aquitaine. It's Christmas, and Henry and Eleanor are welcoming home their three sons (Richard, Geoffrey, and John) -- as well as houseguest Philip II, the king of France (who just so happens to be the son of Eleanor's ex-husband).

It might be the twelfth century, but some things remain constant and universal, including the stress of family get-togethers. Henry and Eleanor take turns talking up their respective favorite sons for career promotion (the "promotion" in this case being the next king of England), deal with Henry's would-be mistress, and handle emerging family scandals throughout the festivities. While the movie itself is fictitious (King Henry held no such family Christmas gathering), the background of the historical figures is accurate. It makes The Lion in Winter a great film for history buffs -- or anybody stressing over family during the holidays!



-- We're No Angels

This 1955 comedy stars Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov as three convicts on the run after their recent escape from prison. Hoping to find a place to lie low, they find their way to a family-owned shop and quickly realize that offering their services as handymen will give them a more permanent place to hide out. Things get complicated when the trio realizes their new "family" is in dire financial straits -- and that they want to do what they can to help out.

Having escaped from prison just before Christmas, the film features a family holiday dinner made mostly out of stolen ingredients, not to mention a redemption story that is both funny and lightly heartwarming. (It's also one of Bogart's few comedic roles.)

-- Catch Me If You Can

We've mentioned before our love of the film Catch Me If You Can, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio as real-life (former) con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. Before he turned 21, Abagnale had cashed over 2 million dollars in fraudulent checks, while also successfully posing as an airline pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, and a college professor. Abagnale was caught and served some prison time, but redeemed himself after his release by putting his acquired skills to a more noble use. He started his own security company and served many years as a consultant to the FBI, helping to catch check forgers and creating better security against fraud and identity theft. 

The film based on his life is as much a story of his life as a criminal as it is a story about his redemption, making the recurring theme of Christmas all that more appropriate. "Christmas, Carl!" he exclaims to the FBI agent who has spent the last three holidays chasing him. "How is it we're always talking on Christmas??"

-- Iron Man 3

The latest offering in the Iron Man franchise presents us with a superhero, Tony Stark, who's fighting a different sort of bad guy: the panic attacks and PTSD brought on by the traumatic events he experienced in New York (as seen in 2013's blockbuster film The Avengers).

Though the focus of the movie is not on its Christmas setting, the idea of Christmas still permeates the story -- from Tony's ongoing quest to find the perfect Christmas gift for his girlfriend, to the appearance of his very own Ghost-of-Christmas-Past in the form of ten-year-old Harley. With the story's focus on a hero who must rebuild himself, it seems only natural to place the film on the cusp of a new year -- and during a holiday season that's all about hope.



-- Post by Ms. B

Home for the Holidays: Last-Minute Resources For Planning the (Almost) Perfect Holiday Gathering

So, something scary is happening at my mother's house this holiday season: I'll be preparing my first-ever Christmas dinner.

I always spend the holidays at my mom's -- but every year since I can remember, she's always been the cook. Over the last few years, it finally occurred to me that she's been preparing massive holiday dinners three or four times a year, every year, for nearly three decades -- and therefore definitely deserves a break. Which inspired me to volunteer to prepare the big Christmas meal this year instead.

I've been cooking for years, but this is the first time I've ever attempted a full-blown holiday feast. (I'm already wondering if my menu -- which includes roasted walnut and pear salad, potato gratin, and green beans with almonds and caramelized shallots (none of which I've ever made before) -- might prove to be a bit audacious.) I'm hoping I don't end up with a meal inspiring such reactions as you can see from the Barone family (of Everybody Loves Raymond) in the video above.

So as I busy myself preparing for my big Christmas cook-off (such as it is), I thought I'd share some of the online resources I've found to be particularly useful in preparing for the big holiday events. We have some wonderful holiday cookbooks and craft guides here at the Library -- but if you find yourself in a pinch and need some last-minute ideas for your holiday celebration, be sure to check out these sites.

-- Ms. B

RECIPES

AllRecipes.com -- Great for recipes, menu ideas, and how-tos.

FoodNetwork.com -- Another great resource, along the lines of AllRecipes. Features recipes from your favorite Food Network chefs!

Cooks.com -- Users submit their own original recipes, with other cooks logging in to rate and review after trying the dish themselves.

Betty Crocker -- Kitchen expertise from Betty Crocker "herself."

Epicurious -- Some fancier dishes for your inner gourmet chef. Includes resources like recipe-specific shopping lists, wine pairings, and a food dictionary.

Rachel Ray -- Rachael Ray is my favorite chef, and her holiday recipes are not to be missed! Particularly useful if you're planning a holiday brunch, or looking for a different kind of dessert.

CookingLight.com -- For those watching their waistline, or just hoping for healthier holiday treats, check out Cooking Light's ultimate holiday online cookbook.

Healthy Eating at Your Holiday Party -- Another list of healthy holiday choices (with recipes) ... from the Mayo Clinic!

Joy of Baking -- This site is a baker's dream resource. With tons of recipes, baking tips, and instructional videos, this is a must-visit. (Be sure to check out the holiday cookie section!)

Cocktail Enthusiast -- For the sommeliers (or just if you're a cocktail fan), here are some holiday mixed drinks, from eggnog and beyond.

CRAFTS AND PREPARATIONS

Martha Stewart -- Craft projects, entertaining tips, and also plenty of recipes.

Better Homes and Gardens -- A one-stop shop for ideas on decorating, entertaining, and cooking tips.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft - Christmas craft projects from Jo-Ann Fabric! Includes centerpieces, candy decorations, and even holiday outfits.

Michael's -- Some more ideas for Christmas projects from Michael's craft store.

DIY Network's Christmas Decorating and Craft Ideas -- Decorations, gift ideas, and tips on how to design your very own outdoor light display.

Good Housekeeping -- A different sort of holiday guide. Features step-by-step guides to getting your house "guest-ready," gift-wrapping tricks and tips, and product gift reviews.

HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDES

Holiday stress can get to us even during the merriest of celebrations -- because there's just so much to do! Let these "survival guides" give you some tips and tricks to surviving the season with your sanity intact -- and enjoy the holiday season.

Making the Most of the Holiday Season -- The APA offers five quick tips to ensure a worry-free time of the year.

Dealing with Holiday Family Stress -- NPR interviews humorist Brian Copeland for some advice on using humor to deal with our more difficult relatives.

Coping Tips for the Holidays -- The Mayo Clinic steps in again to offer tips for preventing holiday stress and depression.

Holiday Stress-Busters: for Parents -- How to make the holiday season memorable for your children and for yourself.


Happy Holidays from Ms. B, Tracy, and all of us at Monroeville Public Library!

Ho Ho Ho: Comedies for the Holiday Season

I love the holidays. There's plenty of reasons for this: the warmth, the joy, the time with my family, the mounds of gifts. (Obviously I am kidding about that last one.) (Sort of.)

But one of my favorite things about this time of year are the stories. I'm a book-lover, not to mention a movie-buff, and so tales about my favorite time of year naturally rank among my favorite books and films. There's plenty of holiday movies that I love, for making me smile -- or for tugging at my heartstrings.

But the holiday comedies tend to be my favorites. With so much food, fun, and family (especially the family!), the holidays can be a crazy time of year. It's the comedies like these that make me laugh, put this time of year in perspective -- and remember what the holidays are really all about.

So if you could use some holiday cheer, check out the list below of ten seasonal comedy classics. Happy Holidays!

Please note that not all of these films are family-friendly. Be sure to check the ratings first!

1. The Muppet Christmas Carol

With the newest Muppet movie still currently in theaters, this makes it a great time to check out their best Christmas special. The Muppets take on Charles Dickens classic story "A Christmas Carol," with Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge ... and, er, "starring" Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit. It's a surprisingly faithful adaptation of the original story -- if, of course, a bit Muppet-fied.


2. This Christmas

Family and the holiday season go hand-in-hand -- whether we like it or not. The Whitfield family is gathering together for the first time in four years, and the kids -- and their mother -- all have their share of unexpected developments to share with the rest of the family. Sparks fly, personalities clash, and the family generally drives each other crazy (complete with an all-out wrestling match) before everybody starts to remember what drew them together in the first place.

3. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

While the family's trip to Wally World still remains my favorite, the Griswolds manage to put their own unique twist on The True Meaning of Christmas in this comedy classic.


4. Elf

You don't have to be a Will Ferrell fan to enjoy this crazy comedy about a human raised by elves at the North Pole -- only to return as an adult to New York City to see if he can track down his birth parents.


5. Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights

An animated musical comedy that is not intended for all ages, this holiday movie is one of the few holiday films to focus on Jewish characters during the Hanukkah season. Adam Sandler voices a character whose mischievous ways get him in trouble with the law and leave him with a choice: spend the holiday season performing community service as an assistant referee for a youth basketball league -- or go to jail. Wacky hijinks ensue.


6. The Ref

This one's a comedy about holiday family dysfunction -- with a twist. Denis Leary stars as a thief who, coming out of a botched robbery attempt, kidnaps a married couple when his own getaway car goes missing. He quickly regrets the decision, however, when the bickering married couple (and their squabbling relatives) turn out to be more of a hassle than jail could ever be.

7. Love Actually

A bit more serious and sweet than some of these other entries (yet often still quite funny), this British romantic comedy features interlocking stories about average (and not-so-average) couples during the holidays. It's also a veritable who's-who of British actors, including performances from Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Rowan Atkinson -- and Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister.

8. Scrooged

There are enough adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" to warrant two versions on the list. This one is a darker comedy than the Muppets' entry, featuring Bill Murrary as a modern-day Scrooge whose a cynical, cold-hearted TV exec. A must-watch for Murray fans.


9. Home Alone

I can't watch this movie without being whisked back in time to my childhood. Directed by Chris Columbus (who would go on to be the first director to bring Harry Potter to the big screen), this is a movie that does what it says on the tin. Kevin McCallister's a nine-year-old kid who wishes his overbearing family would just disappear -- only to wake up one morning to find they've done exactly that. Left behind by mistake while the rest of the family flies to France on holiday might be bad enough, but then Kevin finds out his house is the target of two bungling burglars. (The sequel's not a bad watch, either.)

10. A Christmas Story

Looks like I've saved the best for last. (And come to think of it, I can't watch this movie without being whisked back in time to my childhood, either.) Ralphie only wants one thing for Christmas: a Red Ryder BB gun. But what's a nine-year-old to do when all the adults are convinced he'll only shoot his eye out? A nostalgic look back at Christmas, childhood, and the 40s, there's probably one or two scenes in here that'll have you nodding along at your own childhood memories of the holiday season.

Or maybe that's just me. (But be honest -- those mail-in prizes were never as good as you thought they were going to be, were they?)


-- Post by Ms. B

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

December is a month jam-packed with holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are all well-known celebrations at this time of year, celebrated by families the country and world over.

But December is chock-full of other, lesser-known holidays, anniversaries, and celebrations. From Festivus to Bacon Day, here's a look at some of the other special days in December that you've never heard of before:

December: Bingo's Birthday Month
The game of Bingo was created into its modern form by Edwin S. Lowe in 1929. (An older form of the game dates back several centuries.) Lowe, a toymaker, would also develop Yahtzee.

December 3: Anniversary of the First Heart Transplant
Dr. Christiaan Barnard, a South African surgeon, performed the world's first successful heart transplant at Cape Town in 1967.

December 5: Krampuslauf (or Krampus Day)
An Austrian holiday celebrated as being the day before St. Nicholas's Day. In Austrian folklore, the Krampus is a devilish companion of St. Nicholas's who is out to scare bad children. Kids are encouraged to throw snowballs at the Krampus (played by someone, usually a young man, in a Krampus costume).

December 10: Melvil Dewey's Birthday
Born in 1851, Dewey was an American librarian. He was also the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, which many libraries (including our own) still use to sort and organize their non-fiction book collection.

December 11: The United Nations' International Mountain Day
Mountains cover a quarter of the Earth's total land surface, and are home to 12% of the world's population. The UN General Assembly uses this declared holiday to help raise awareness of the importance of mountains and mountain communities, to highlight the opportunities and considerations to be taken for mountain development, and to build partnerships for positive change to the world's mountain and highland regions.

December 12: Bonza Bottler Day
Elaine Fremont invented Bonza Bottler Days in 1985 to ensure that every month had at least one holiday. How do you know when it's this month's Bonza Bottler Day? Easy -- it's the date of the month that has the same number as the month itself. (January 1, February 2, March 3 ...) "Bonza" means "super" or "fantastic" to Australians.

December 15: Cat Herders Day
If you can say that your job -- or your life! -- is like trying to herd cats, than this is the day to celebrate! (Er ... or not.) Created by Thomas and Ruth Roy, this is one of the many humorous holidays they've invented (and popularized) to celebrate the "unsung" joys (or at least humor) of everyday life.

December 17-23: Saturnalia
Perhaps the earliest December holiday? The Ancient Romans used this week-long festival to honor Saturnus, the god of agriculture. It was a time of celebration after the work of seasonal harvesting and wine-making. (Like a few other December holidays, gifts were even exchanged.)

December 21: Yalda
Celebrated on the longest night of the year (at least in the North Hemisphere), this Iranian holiday has an Indo-Iranian origin. Light and Goodness are said to spend this long night struggling against Darkness and Evil. People are encouraged to stay up all night -- telling stories, eating special food, and waiting to see the sun appear triumphant with the dawn.

December 23: "Festivus"
"A Festivus for the rest of us!" This humorous holiday was invented for an episode of Seinfeld and is meant to be celebrated by anyone who wants to enjoy the holiday season without getting bogged down in all the holiday pressure and commercialism. Charlie Brown might approve.

December 23: Humanlight Celebration
Started by the New Jersey Humanist Network in 2001, this holiday is meant to celebrate humanist values: tolerance, compassion, empathy, honesty, free inquiry, reason, rationality, and more.

December 26: Junkanoo
Celebrated with, among other things, a street parade, this day of sound and spectacle may put you in mind of Mardi Gras. Celebrators wear colorful costumes and play instruments (often homemade) in many towns across the Bahamas. (The largest parade generally takes place in the capital city of Nassau.)

December 30: Bacon Day
A particularly specific gift-giving occasion! Created in 1998, it's been celebrated in many cities the county over. Celebrate with a party and serve ham, pork rinds -- or even facon.


Happy Holidays!



-- Post by Ms. B

St. Nicholas (or is he Santa Claus?)

I love Santa Claus and I'm not ashamed to admit it! Over the years, I've been slowly collecting Santa Clauses of all types and sizes which always go on display at my house for Christmas. My collection includes Santas from many different nationalities and I'm intent on getting more!

But until I met my husband in 1998 I was not that aware that not every one who celebrates Christmas believes that Santa Claus brings their presents. In Germany, where my husband is from, the Christ Child brings presents for all of the good boys and girls on Christmas Eve.

So where does St. Nicholas fit into this?

St. Nicholas of Myra was born in 3rd century Turkey to wealthy parents, but was orphaned at a young age. He was a devout Christian who become Bishop of Myra. Tales of his benevolence and goodness, especially when it concerned children, spread throughout the area. The date of his death, December 6th, is now celebrated through out the world by the giving of gifts, following his example of generosity.

To find about more about the life of Saint Nicholas and how his life and the story of Santa Claus are related check out these titles:

Nicholas: The Epic Journey From Saint to Santa Claus by Jeremy Seal

Saint Nicholas: Life and Legend by Martin Ebon

The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas by William J. Bennett

Who is Santa Claus?: The True Story Behind a Living Legend by Robin Crichton

Santa Claus, Last of The Wild Men: Origins and Evolution of Saint Nicholas, Spanning 50,000 Years by Phyllis Siefker

And some books for the kids:

The Real Santa Claus by Marianna Mayer

The Gift From Saint Nicholas by Dorothea Lachner

The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale retold by Aaron Shepard

And for even more information be sure to check out these sites:

The Saint Nicholas Center

Nicholas of Myra: The Story of Saint Nicholas (this is the official site for a film now in production)

-- Post by Tracy