Author Archive for: Editor
Entries by Jeff Westover
Stevie Wonder and Andra Day Sing Someday at Christmas
This Christmas season is already carrying dark marks of distress. From rumored wars to the Pope’s comments about Christmas being a charade to protesters taking down Christmas trees it seems there’s an edge to this season we have not seen in a very, very long time. Perhaps one of the lost messages of Christmas was […]
The First Christmas Tree in England
It was the British royal family’s German connections which led to the introduction of the Christmas tree custom in England. King George III’s wife, Queen Charlotte — who was of German descent– arranged for a great yew tree to be erected inside the Queen’s Lodge at Windsor on December 25 1800. A party of children […]
Katy Perry’s Forgettable Christmas Song
Some are saying this is the new viral video of Christmas. We cannot imagine why. This video is emblematic of nearly everything wrong with Christmas today. It’s boring, it’s over-the-top, it is commercial and there is nothing original about it. But you’re going to watch it anyway because it’s Katy Perry. Oh, and the music? […]
Ancient Connections of Thanksgiving and Christmas
Here is some fodder for your Thanksgiving day discussions around the turkey — which is the more sacred holiday in America, Thanksgiving or Christmas? Check your learning of history at the door. This history of both holidays goes back further than you know — and both are related to each other in significant ways. Watch […]
Singing with Drumsticks
For three years we have avoided sharing this video. That’s how much we don’t like this song. But, nearly 20 million views over three years makes this song something of a tradition — to somebody out there. It comes from Nicole Westbrook who uses — no kidding — a turkey leg as a microphone to […]
Mistletoe Research
So what happens if you pretend to be a survey taker and your tool of the trade is mistletoe? Here’s a famous prank duplicated now the world over:
Pentatonix Releases Joy to the World
For the third consecutive year smash group Pentatonix has released something for Christmas, this time it’s a very un-traditional version of Joy to the World. Though looking more worldly than ever the angelic sound remains in this indeed VERY joyful version which is bound to go Christmas viral yet again:
Lindsey Stirling Performs What Child is This
She’s world famous now. But just a few years ago when she made this video you had to be a YouTube freak to know her. Here is one of her few Christmas contributions:
St. Augustine Brings Christmas to England
Known as the “Apostle of the English,” Augustine (also called Austin; not to be confused with Augustine of Hippo, who came earlier) founded the Christian Church in southern England and became the first archbishop of Canterbury. Augustine was selected as leader of a mission of several dozen monks to England in the 590s. The mission […]
Legend of the Christmas Orange
Nicholas, as you know, was a Bishop long before he ever was a Saint. This story is but one of many that make up his legend and it is sacred to those who consider him a saint. He had heard of a family that lived closed by — not even members of his faith — […]
