Joyeux Noel

"What would happen, I wonder, if the armies suddenly and simultaneously went on strike and some other method must be found of settling the dispute?" (Winston Churchill, November 23, 1914)

A Scot, a German and a Frenchman fraternize in Joyeux Noel courtesy https://www.amazon.com/Joyeux-Noel-Widescreen-Guillaume-Canet/dp/B000I6BJ56.

That's exactly what did happen near St. Yves, Belgium, on Christmas Eve 1914, aptly called The Christmas Truce.  The British, the French and the German soldiers laid down their guns and met in No Man's Land to exchange chocolate and champagne, play a game of football and sing Christmas carols like Stille Nacht (Silent Night).  

Author Shane Emplaincourt, a professor of Modern Languages, points out that our collective memory only lasts three generations.  After that, our collective memory becomes a cultural memory.  It is appropriate, then, that the movie Joyeux Noel, based on the Christmas Truce, debuted the same year (2005) as the last surviving member of the Christmas truce, Alfred Anderson, passed away. 

The unplanned ceasefire of La Grande Guerre is the topic of the film Joyeux Noel, the brainchild of film director Christian Carion.  The film director drew his inspiration from the book Batailles de Flandres et d'Artoir 1914 - 1918 by Yves Buffetaut.  Filmed in French, German and English, the movie focusses on a Scottish priest, a German tenor, his Danish soprano girlfriend and a French lieutenant who find themselves at the centre of the Christmas truce.  

The disputed Alsace-Lorraine territory which shifted between Germany & France for many years courtesy https://www.britannica.com/place/Alsace-Lorraine.

The film Joyeux Noel's opening scene depicts  "Un garcon" who recites the rhyme La France Attend, citing his desire for his homeland to reclaim the long disputed Alsace-Lorraine territory:

"Enfant, regarde sur ces cartes ce point noir qu'il faut effacer

De tes petits doigts tu l'ecartes, en rouge il vaut mieux le tracer."(http://wlajournal.com/wlaarchive/27/Emplaincourt.pdf0) 

He is followed by a British lad who recites a hate speech:

"To rid the map of every trace of Germany and of the Huns, we must exterminate the race.  We must not leave a single one.  Heed no their children's cry.  Slay them now, the women, too.  Or else someone day they'll rise.  But dead, they cannot do."

"Ein junge" concludes with "Hessgesang gegen England" or "Hymn of Hatred Against England" .

A German soldier, amidst the carnage, sings Stille Nacht courtesy 

https://padresteve.com/tag/joyeux-noel-film/. 

Hundreds of innocent-like young men enlist in la Grande Guerre.  But by Christmas, already a million lives have been lost in the Great War.  The horrors of trench warfare are a sobering influence on the troops.  On Christmas Eve. longing for home, the soldiers realize that they had more in common with the enemy than they first thought:  the tune Stille Nacht is familiar to the British as Silent Night.   Soldiers pull out photographs of loved ones back home.  The sight of Christmas trees on No Man's Land provides comfort to all.  Even a cat, which the German call Felix and the British, Nestor, crawls out of the trenches to celebrate le Noel.  

The Christmas truce could have lingered indefinitely:  the Germans played their harmonicas New Year's Eve; the Scots responded by playing their bagpipes.  On New Year's Day, however, the high command ordered the troops back to their trenches.  

Note:  For more about the Christmas Truce, visit http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2016/11/the-pipes-of-peace.html.

Artist's illustration of the Christmas Truce 1914 which appeared in the Illustrated London News courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce#/media/File:Illustrated_London_News_-_Christmas_Truce_1914.jpg.

Dolly Parton's Dad Inspiration for Imagination Library

"The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world." (Dolly Parton)

http://dollyparton.com/front-porch-stories/daddys-dinner-bucket-lee-parton/

Dolly Parton was born and raised in a log cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in 1946.  Dirt poor, her parents, Mr. Lee and Miss Parton, struggled to raise twelve children.  Every day her father would go to work with a green dinner bucket.  He would save something in his lunch -- a piece of pie or a part of a sandwich -- to share with his children when he returned.  While children in the first world would not think of it as much, Mr. Lee's children "would take those tasty treats to a hideaway under a blackberry bush and have a picnic fit for a king."  

Dolly thought about how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.  "At night, we used to take turns rubbing Daddy's cracked, hard working hands with corn silk lotion and we soaked and washed his tired old feet."  The tradition continued for decades until Mr. Lee passed away and gave his green dinner bucket to his friend Oscar Dunn.  It was a difficult Christmas that year, but Dolly's brother Randy had a surprise waiting for him under the Christmas tree:  the green dinner bucket.  When he opened it up, he discovered that Mr. Lee had etched his name in the green paint, something he had learned to do later in life since he never learned how to read.

Dolly grew up to be a star in country music, amassing a small fortune.  She became a prolific songwriter and wanted to promote literacy in the United States.  She decided to open the Imagination Library, her dad serving as her inspiration.  The library, now 20 years old, has donated 8.3 million books to pre-school children across the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia.

http://dollyparton.com/front-porch-stories/daddys-dinner-bucket-lee-parton/

A Green Glass Bowl, A Silver Serving Tray & A Miniature Christmas Tree

This is the day we used to visit my Grandma and Grandad Tufts' house in Toronto to celebrate Christmas. My aunt, uncle and cousins from Ottawa would join us there.  We always looked forward to certain traditions.  In the early years, Grandma would cook the turkey, but when it became too much for her, we went out for dinner.  In the early 1980's we went to the old Leaside Station Restaurant.  Later, we dined at Mother Tucker's and other Toronto eateries.

Grandma's serving tray was similar to this one, but with squared edges rather than rounded ones.  Photo courtesy cloudfront.net.  

After dinner, we would head back to their brick bungalow on Lankin Boulevard in East York where Grandma had prepared treats.  She always set out a green glass bowl filled with potato chips along with a matching dip bowl.  She also prepared 13 different kinds of Christmas cookies stacked on a triple-tiered silver tray:  shortbread, Sweet Marie bars, date pinwheels -- you name it, she made it.

                                 

Glass green bowls courtesy
https://www.rubylane.com/item/147152-GW-205/Vintage-MCM-1960s-Avocado-Olive-Green.

Beside the fireplace in the rec room sat a miniature Christmas tree, lit up with tiny lights, under which sat gifts for the children and grandchildren.  We also brought presents for Grandma, which she tore into, and Grandad, which he carefully opened with a paring knife.  

After we opened our gifts (although Grandad was still working away on his first one), Grandma would turn off the lights and treat us to a slide show.  For anyone under 30 years old, that's a series of photographs set in cardboard frames, placed into a round tray, and projected onto a screen using a projector.  Grandma would poke fun at herself and her family -- she was the only one who could get away with ribbing my dad.  Grandad would let out an infectious belly laugh with each joke.

Slides courtesy dreamstime.com.

After the slideshow, Grandad would treat us to a rendition of Danny Boy or another song on the upright piano.  On top of the piano, sat a wedding photograph of my parents, young and in love, my mom in her white satin gown and matching gloves, my dad looking dapper in his suit and tie. Opposite their photograph, was one of my aunt and uncle, on their wedding day the following year. My aunt wore a beautiful gown and sparkling tiara, my uncle, a dark suit and thin black tie.

It has been 17 years since Grandad passed away, 21 years for Grandma.  I miss the bungalow.  I miss the green glass chip bowl...the tiered silver tray...the miniature Christmas tree.  I miss Grandma's wit and Grandad's infectious laugh.  Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandad!

Miniature Christmas tree courtesy pinimg.com.

My Favourite Christmas Decoration

My Mom loves Christmas.  She has always done an excellent job decorating her house to celebrate the season.  When I was growing up, Mom would put up a large artificial tree in the living room (later rec room).  She would put a medium sized silver tree (circa 1960's) on top of the grand piano. She would hang our monogrammed red and white stockings above the fireplace.  She wrapped garland around the staircase leading up to the bedrooms.  She hung a large wreath on our front door.

But my favourite Christmas decoration was the manger scene that sat on our television set.  It came in a rectangular box which said MADE IN ITALY on the bottom.  The roof folded up to fit inside the box as did the stable.  Plastic figurines lay under the roof.  Mom would set up the stable, open up the roof to go on top, and place the figurines carefully in their spots.  Mary and Joseph sat on either side of baby Jesus, sleeping on what looked like a tiny stool lined with hay.  The donkey, ox and lamb gazed at the baby Jesus from a distance. The three wise men, their gifts in their hands, waited in a single file line to see the newborn king. The angel hung from a nail at the peak of the roof.  And the best part of all was the miniature light bulb poking through the back of the stable to serve as the Star over Bethlehem.  

There was something so peaceful about that creche.  When Rob and I bought our house we tried to find a nativity scene just like it, but to no avail.  It was one of a kind.  For more information, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scene.

Nobody Does Christmas like Disney

Nobody does Christmas like Disney.  This past week we travelled to Florida for a vacation.  When we arrived at our Mayan-themed resort Coronado Springs, it was decorated with giant poinsettias, native to Mexico.  Garland hung from the ceiling as we walked down the hallway.  A giant Christmas tree laden with ornaments and topped with an angel, stood proudly in the front entrance.  The Mayan-themed hotel had a profound effect on my husband Rob who transformed from a boisterous German into a quiet Mexican who couldn't stop saying the word "Casitas".  

tripadvisor.com

On our first full day in Florida, we travelled to EPCOT.  At the entrance to the pavilions was another large Christmas tree, this one with messages like JOYEUX NOEL, FELIZ NAVIDAD and FROHE WEIHNACHTEN hanging from it.  Poinsettia trees stood in front of the giant golf ball at the front entrance.  

photos.burnsland.com

Hollywood Studios didn't disappoint.  We celebrated Thomas' 16th birthday there.  I had seen a girl with a birthday pin on her shirt the day before so I asked at Coronado Springs about one for Thomas. We stopped at the ABC Commissary for lunch.  While Jacqueline and I were in the washroom, an employee spotted Thomas' pin.  He shouted into the microphone:  "Attention ABC Commissary!  We have a birthday in the house.  Everyone sing Happy Birthday to Thomas!"  The whole cafeteria erupted in song.  That night we were dazzled by the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.  We were happy to get back to the Casitas that night after a busy day.  

cheapskateprincess.com

Our third park was Animal Kingdom where we dared to ride on the Rapids.  Thomas stayed dry, but I got wet and Jacqueline was drenched from head to toe.  We tried drying off with the hand dryer in the washroom, but it didn't work.  Jacqueline said her shoes felt like sponges.  Normally, when we go on a trip I buy a couple of outfits ahead of time, but this year I didn't.  So, it was the perfect opportunity to shop.  Jacqueline and I got Minnie Mouse outfits.  Jacqueline's favourite item was the sparkly Minnie ears.  What a relief to be in dry clothes again!   

Mickey, Minnie & Goofy in front of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom courtesy www.diszine.com.

Last but not least, we feasted our eyes on yet another giant Christmas tree when we arrived at the Magic Kingdom, our fourth and final park.  Thomas was thrilled to meet Ariel and get a picture taken with her.  Jacqueline enjoyed the carousel, even though she is getting older now.  And my quiet Mexican husband turned back into a boisterous German during a traffic jam at the "It's a Small World Ride".  We all enjoyed a sing along performance of the movie "Frozen".  I didn't understand all of the jokes, but the kids did because they have seen the movie.  The piece de resistance was the Cinderella castle brilliantly lit up for Christmas.  That night Rob took Jacqueline to the Coronado Springs gift shop while I worked out at the hotel gym.  When I returned, Jacqueline was hiding something under her blanket -- a forbidden stuffy!  It was Olaf the Snowman from "Frozen".   

dailydisneyphoto.com

We spent our final day at the Casitas playing volleyball, ping pong and swimming in the pool. Jacqueline loved the water slide built inside a giant Mayan pyramid.  Thomas tried to beat Rob at ping pong.  Later in the afternoon we headed to Downtown Disney for supper at the Rainforest Cafe and shopping.  The Christmas store had so many beautiful ornaments.  Rob purchased a DVD about the Disney Parks.

Downtown Disney courtesy wdwfanzone.com.

We were sad to say goodbye to the Casitas.  Merry Christmas, Disney World!

  

A Christmas Book Basket

A few weeks ago, I saw a great idea on Pinterest for Christmas.  Gather a collection of 25 Christmas picture books.  Wrap them up.  Put the collection under the tree.  Every day in the month of December, have your child unwrap one book and read it to him/her.

Now, it gets expensive to buy 25 picture books.  But I did go shopping with my friend Heather in Niagara Falls, New York yesterday.  I bought a couple of hardcover books for $3.99 at Ollie's Discount Store. Two days ago, I visited Brantford Public Library's Catalogue and requested 22 Christmas books, many of which Jacqueline has never read.  I couldn't believe the selection they had.

It remains to be seen whether I will wrap them since that costs more money and is time consuming. Besides, I will be returning the library books in three weeks.  But I will put the collection in a basket or box and set it under the Christmas tree.  I look forward to Jacqueline delving into the basket.

Here is the list of books I bought or borrowed for our Christmas library this year:

1.  One Splendid Tree (Marilyn Helmer)
2.  Christmas from Heaven (Tom Brokaw)
3.  The Christmas Tapestry (Patricia Polacco)
4.  A Charlie Brown Christmas (Charles Schulz)
5.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Dr. Seuss)
6.  The Polar Express (Chris Van Allsburg)
7.  My Pen Pal Santa (Melissa Stanton)
8.  Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (Christopher J. Piehal)
9.  Boris and Stella and the Perfect Gift (Dara Goldman)
10.  Christmas in the City (Loretta Krupinski)
11.  Cobweb Christmas (Shirley Climo)
12,  How Many Miles to Bethlehem? (Kevin Crossley-Holland)
13.  The Finest Christmas Tree (John Hassett)
14.  The Tale of Baboushka (Elena Pasquali)
15.  The Great Reindeer Rebellion (Lisa Trumbauer)
16.  The Message of the Birds (Kate Westerlund)
17.  Jackie's Gift (Sharon Robinson)
18.  The Little Crooked Christmas Tree (Michael Cutting)
19.  The Carpenter's Gift:  A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree (David Rubel)
20.  The Night Before Christmas (Clement C. Moore)
21.  Mortimer's Christmas Manger (Karma Wilson)
22.  Aunt Olga's Christmas Postcards (Kevin Major)
23.  Arthur's Christmas (Marc Brown)
24.  Can't Wait Til Christmas (Mike Huckabee)
25.  The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher (Robert Kraus)


Here is the original link:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/18295942212097925/

Christmas book basket courtesy faithfulprovisions.com.