Fun Monday - A Few Of My Favorite Things...

Fun Monday

Our hostess for Fun Monday is the craft addicted, soccer mom, Mama Lang and she has asked us to share what our three favorite Christmas Carols are and a photo of our favorite Christmas "thing", whether it be a Christmas tree, mantle decoration, church, etc.

I have several favorite Christmas carols. In fact, I pretty much like ALL Christmas carols. However, I have to admit that when they are played on the radio two weeks before Thanksgiving I usually change the station. I don't know about you, but I do not officially get into my "Christmas mode" until AFTER Thanksgiving. And there's nothing like some good ol' Christmas music to get you into the Spirit of the season, after Thanksgiving that is.

I tend to like the traditional Christmas carols that I am sure most of you have heard. My all time favorite is Silent Night. This carol was originally written as a poem in 1816 by an Austrian priest named Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and is the most famous Christmas carol of all time! When we sing this song at our Christmas Eve candlelight service, it always brings me to tears.

I also like Angels We Have Heard On High. This Latin song contains the verse, "Gloria Inexelsis Deo", which means Glory to God in the Highest. It is the song the angels sang to the shepherds when Christ was born (Luke 2:14).

Away In A Manger brings back many child hood memories for me. It was written in 1885 by James R. Murray. Enjoy this video by the popular Christian Rock band, Casting Crowns. (Scroll down to pause music player in order to hear the below video.)





My favorite Christmas "thing" would have to be my Christmas tree. There is something so mesmerizing and symbolic about the tree and the lights. It makes the whole room feel cozy and festive. After 12 years of cutting a fresh tree, we decided to go with an artificial one. I loved the tradition of going out on a cold winter's day, sometimes in the snow in search of the perfect evergreen, but I have to say that I don't mind getting the artificial one out of the box in the warmth of my own home, plugging it in and having it decorated in less than 45 minutes! Did you know that the evergreen is a symbol of God's everlasting love for us all? In the early 1600's evergreens were placed in homes, decorated with colored paper and small toys and illuminated with wax candles, which symbolized Jesus as the light of the world. The tradition is still carried on today, only with electric lights and colorful ornaments. I like to collect ornaments from every "special place" I visit and then adorn them on my tree. It is fun to look at them from year to year and remember each one's significance.

Click on image to enlarge - Do you see a critter under the tree?? This is one of Kiki's favorite places to hang during this festive season.

Now, be sure to click on over to Mama Lang's to see the other FM participants.