#Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen and then of course the most famous reindeer of all

[only-one-brain-cell]

The real ones start with Dasher before moving on to Prancer.

[enterprisewired]

40 fun questions about Christmas trivia to double the cheer

As you think of Christmas, the thought of Christmas trivia of course crosses your mind. The holiday season is not just about decking the halls and roasting chestnuts; it’s also the perfect time to gather friends and family for Christmas trivia fun. Whether you’re planning a virtual gathering or a cozy in-person celebration, these 40 Christmas trivia questions are sure to add an extra layer of merriment to your festivities. This comprehensive guide presents 40 Christmas trivia questions designed to double the fun at your celebrations.

1. What feast does the Grinch hate the most?

Answer: The Grinch hates the Whos’ Christmas feast.

2. In the song “Jingle Bells,” what kind of sleigh is it?

Answer: One-horse open sleigh.

3. Which country is credited with the creation of the candy cane?

Answer: Germany.

4. Who wrote the classic Christmas tale, “A Christmas Carol”?

Answer: Charles Dickens.

5. In the movie “Home Alone,” where are the McCallisters going on vacation when they leave Kevin behind?

Answer: Paris.

6. What beverage is also known as “milk punch” and is popular during the Christmas season?

Answer: Eggnog.

7. What is the name of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s dad?

Answer: Donner.

8. According to the song, what did my true love give to me on the eighth day of Christmas?

Answer: Eight maids a-milking.

9. What is the main ingredient in the traditional Christmas drink known as wassail?

Answer: Apple cider.

10. What is the name of the character played by Jim Carrey in the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”?

Answer: The Grinch.

11. In the song “Frosty the Snowman,” what made Frosty come to life?

Answer: An old silk hat.

12. What is the angel’s name in “It’s a Wonderful Life”?

Answer: Clarence.

13. According to the Bible, what brought the three wise men to Bethlehem?

Answer: The Star of Bethlehem.

14. What is the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas?

Answer: January 5th.

15. What popular Christmas song was written for Thanksgiving?

Answer: “Jingle Bells.”

16. What decoration do people traditionally kiss under during the holiday season?

Answer: Mistletoe.

17. In the movie “Elf,” what is Buddy’s favorite food group?

Answer: Candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.

18. What well-known Christmas carol’s original title is “One Horse Open Sleigh”?

Answer: “Jingle Bells.”

19. What is the name of the young boy in the “Polar Express” movie?

Answer: Hero Boy (The character is often referred to as “Hero Boy” in the credits).

20. In which country did the tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas originate?

Answer: Rome.

21. What is the name of George Bailey’s guardian angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life”?

Answer: Clarence.

22. What does the word “Noel” mean in English?

Answer: Christmas.

23. Which popular Christmas plant is known for its red and green foliage?

Answer: Poinsettia.

24. What is the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time?

Answer: “Home Alone.”

25. What are the names of Santa’s reindeer?

Answer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.

26. In the song “Winter Wonderland,” what do we pretend the snowman is?

Answer: Parson Brown.

27. What famous department store hosts a Thanksgiving Day Parade every year?

Answer: Macy’s.

28. In which country did the tradition of Christmas trees originate?

Answer: Germany.

29. What are the traditional colors of Christmas?

Answer: Red and green.

30. Which Christmas ballet is based on a fairy tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann?

Answer: “The Nutcracker.”

31. What holiday beverage is made from mulled wine and spices?

Answer: Wassail.

32. Which Christmas plant is known as the “Christmas Flower”?

Answer: Poinsettia.

33. What country did the gingerbread house originate from?

Answer: Germany.

34. In “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” what does Lucy ask for from Schroeder?

Answer: Real estate.

35. What well-known Christmas carol originated from a poem written in 1816?

Answer: “Silent Night.”

36. In what year did Coca-Cola begin using Santa Claus in its advertisements?

Answer: 1931.

37. What animated 1966 Christmas special features characters called Heat Miser and Snow Miser?

Answer: “The Year Without a Santa Claus.”

38. What is the name of the Grinch’s dog in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”?

Answer: Max.

39. Which country does the tradition of Christmas stockings originate from?

Answer: Netherlands.

40. In the movie “A Christmas Story,” what does Ralphie want for Christmas?

Answer: A Red Ryder BB gun.

Conclusion:

With these 40 Christmas trivia questions, you’re armed and ready to double the fun at your festive gatherings. So, gather your loved ones, pour some eggnog, and let the joyous competition begin. Christmas trivia is not just about the right answers; it’s about creating lasting memories and sharing laughter during the most wonderful time of the year. So, this Christmas, aren’t you gonna have a blast at Christmas trivia? Merry Christmas and happy trivia!

Also Read: Christmas Games: Fun and Festivities for the Whole Family

[trentteti]

Holiday Logic Games!

There are so many ways to get into the holiday spirit. Decorations, advent calendars, classic Christmas movies, gingerbread cookies, eggnog, submitting yourself to the unceasing churn of the late capitalist machine by doing an excess of holiday shopping.

If you ask us, though, the best way to up your holiday cheer is with a little bit of analytical reasoning. So today, we’re offering a special set of holiday-themed Logic Games. Complete these games, and you’ll be given the greatest gift of all … deductive acuity.

The LSAT-obsessed elves at the Blueprint HQ made these games, using real LSAT logic games as an inspiration. If you’re truly stumped, we’ve provided some quick tips below to help you find deductions, but you should attempt the games on your own before checking out those hints.

Reindeer Games

You know there’s Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall … the most famous reindeer of all? Wait a minute. I just listed the eight less famous reindeer, and conceded that you knew of them. Of course you recall *the most famous* reindeer. I don’t know what I was thinking. But when Santa holds a track meet for his less notable reindeer, can you figure out the results?

Santa Clause is holding a track meet for his eight less famous reindeer — Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen — which Santa dubs “The Reindeer Games.” As part of the Reindeer Games — from which Rudolph was rudely excluded — the eight reindeer compete in a 100-yard dash. Each reindeer finishes will finish the race, and there are no ties. The order in which the reindeer finish the race is subject to the following conditions:           Comet finishes before Prancer.           Prancer finishes before Vixen, Donner, and Blitzen.           Blitzen finishes before Dasher (ironically).           Cupid finishes before Dasher and Dancer.

1. Which one of the following reindeer CANNOT be one of first four reindeer to finish to dash?           a. Dasher           b. Dancer           c. Vixen           d. Donner           e. Blitzen

2. If Cupid finishes sixth, which of the following must be true?           a. Prancer finishes second.           b. Blitzen finishes third.           c. Vixen finishes fourth.           d. Donner finishes fifth.           e. Dancer finishes seventh.

3. If Prancer finishes fourth, then any of the following could be true EXECPT?           a. Cupid finishes second.           b. Comet finishes third.           c. Dasher finishes fifth.           d. Donner finishes sixth.           e. Blitzen finishes seventh.

4. How many of the eight reindeer could be the one to finish second?           a. three           b. four           c. five           d. six           e. seven

5. If Blitzen finishes seventh, which one of the following must be false?           a. Dancer finishes second.           b. Comet finishes third.           c. Donner finishes fourth.           d. Vixen finishes fifth.           e. Cupid finishes sixth.

6. if Blitzen finishes third, how many of the eight reindeer could be the one to finish fourth?           a. two           b. three           c. four           d. five           e. six

Tips: In all basic, one-to-one ordering games, you should look out for ways to combine the rules. Look for players mentioned in more than one rule. In this particular game, you can combine all the rules into a large ordering chain that includes all eight reindeer. And pay special attention to the most restricted reindeer, on both sides of the ordering chain. Comet, unsurprisingly, is super fast — he has to finish before five other reindeer. Dasher, shockingly, is not that good at dashing, and has to finish after four other reindeer.

Christmas Movies

We’re not going to bore you with another discussion about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie — obviously it’s a romantic comedy set during Christmas. But choosing which Christmas movies to view, and scheduling when to view each, can be a laborious task.

A movie theater will choose four of six possible Christmas movies — Die Hard, Elf, Frosty the Snowman, Gremlins, Home Alone, and It’s a Wonderful Live — to show over a week during the holiday season, from Wednesday through Saturday. On each day, exactly one movie is shown, and each movie that is selected will be shown only once. The schedule of the movie showings is subject to the following constraints:           Die Hard and It’s a Wonderful Life must be shown, but they cannot be shown           consecutively.           If Gremlins is shown, Home Alone cannot be.           If Elf is shown, it must be shown on Friday           If both Elf and Frosty the Snowman are shown, they must be shown on           consecutive days.

1. Which one of the following could be schedule of the moving showings, with the four movies listed in the order in which they are shown?           a. Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Die Hard           b. Frosty the Snowman, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Die Hard           c. Gremlins, Die Hard, Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life           d. Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, Frosty the Snowman, Die Hard           e. It’s a Wonderful Life, Frosty the Snowman, Elf, Home Alone

2. If Home Alone is shown on Saturday, which one of the following must be true?           a. Die Hard is shown on Wednesday.           b. Elf is shown on Friday.           c. Frosty the Snowman is shown on Thursday.           d. Gremlins is shown on Thursday.           e. It’s a Wonderful Life is shown on Wednesday.

3. Any of the following could be true EXCEPT:           a. Elf is shown immediately after Die Hard.           b. Frosty the Snowman is shown some time after Elf is shown.           c. Gremlins is shown, but not on Friday.           d. Frosty the Snowman is the only movie shown between Die Hard and It’s a           Wonderful Life.           e. More than one movie is shown between Die Hard and It’s a Wonderful Life.

4. If Frosty the Snowman is not shown, which one of the following must be true?           a. Die Hard is shown on Wednesday.           b. Elf is shown on Friday.           c. Gremlins is shown on Thursday.           d. Home Alone is shown on Friday.           e. It’s a Wonderful Life is shown on Saturday.

5. If Gremlins is shown on Thursday, how many of the six movies could be the one shown on Saturday?           a. one           b. two           c. three           d. four           e. five

Tips: Much like how Die Hard combines action with holiday cheer, or how Gremlins combines comedy with horror, or how Home Alone combines a family-friendly fun with disturbing sadism, this game combines grouping with ordering. We have to “select” four of six movies to be shown, but once we make our selection, we have to order the films from Wednesday through Saturday. Pay special attention to your most restricted film: Elf. If it’s shown, it has to be shown on Friday. You can construct two quick scenarios — one with Elf in and on Friday, and one with Elf out — to quickly advance through the questions. Also, of note: if Gremlins and Home Alone can’t both be selected, at least one of the two must be out at all times.

Made-up Holidays

There are so many great fictional holidays, from Whacking Day, to Leap Day, to Freedom Day, to Treat Yo Self Day. But none are more amazing than two Yuletide alternatives — Chrismukkah and Festivus. So put on your Yamaclaus and gather round an unadorned pole, to play a challenging game about these two Christmas competitors.

Six people — Elaine, George, Jerry, Kirsten, Ryan, and Seth — will celebrate either one or both of two made-up holidays — Chrismukkah (a Christmas/Hanukkah hybrid in which eight days of presents are followed by one day of many presents) or Festivus (an anti-commerical alternative to Christmas, which features both an “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength”). Exactly four people will celebrate Chrismukkah, and exactly four people will celebrate Festivus. Two people will celebrate both. The celebrations are subject to the following conditions:           George will not celebrate the same holiday as Jerry.           If Seth celebrates Chrismukkah, then Ryan must celebrate both Chrismukkah           and Festivus.           If Jerry celebrates Festivus, then Kirsten must also celebrate Festivus.

1. Which one of the following could be an accurate matching of the holiday to the person celebrating that holiday?           a. Chrismukkah: Elaine, George, Kirsten, Ryan                Festivus: Elaine, Jerry, Ryan, Seth           b. Chrismukkah: Elaine, George, Ryan, Seth                Festivus: Elaine, Ryan, Seth           c. Chrismukkah: Elaine, Jerry, Kirsten, Ryan                Festivus: George, Jerry, Ryan, Seth           d. Chrismukkah: Elaine, Jerry, Kirsten, Ryan                Festivus: Elaine, George, Ryan, Seth           e. Chrismukkah: Elaine, Jerry, Kirsten, Seth                Festivus: Elaine, George, Kirsten, Ryan

2. If neither Jerry nor Seth celebrate Chrismukkah, then which one of the following must be true?           a. Elaine celebrates both holidays.           b. Kirsten celebrates both holidays.           c. Ryan celebrates both holidays.           d. Elaine does not celebrate Festivus.           e. Kirsten does not celebrate Festivus.

3. Which one of the following two people could be the two who celebrate both holidays?           a. Elaine and George           b. Elaine and Seth           c. Jerry and Kirsten           d. Kirsten and Seth           e. Ryan and Seth

4. If Ryan and Seth celebrate different holidays, then which one of the following could be a pair of two people who only celebrate Festivus?           a. Jerry and Seth           b. Jerry and Kirsten           c. George and Kirsten           d. Elaine and Jerry           e. Elaine and George

5. Which one of the following two people could be the two who only celebrate Chrismukkah?           a. Elaine and George           b. Elaine and Seth           c. George and Jerry           d. George and Kirsten           e. Ryan and Seth

6. If Elaine only celebrates one holiday and George only celebrates the other holiday, then which of the following must be true?           a. Elaine celebrates Festivus.           b. Kirsten celebrates Chrismukkah.           c. Kirsten celebrates Festivus.           d. Seth celebrates Chrismukkah.           e. Seth celebrates Festivus

Tips: It doesn’t seem like it’s going to do much, but make two scenarios in this game — one with Jerry celebrating Chrismukkah and George celebrating Festivus, and one with George celebrating Chrismukkah and Jerry celebrating Festivus. It doesn’t lead to a ton of deductions, but it does give you a head start on some of the questions. Additionally, remember: when you’re forming a group of four from six potential players, as soon as you realize that two players can’t join a given group, that means the other four players must join that group.

Yankee Swap

Yankee swap — AKA white elephant, AKA dirty Santa — is coldest and most unforgiving of all Holiday ceremonies. You may think you’ve selected an amazing gift, until that gift is being pried from your unsuspecting hands by a supposed loved one. And, befitting this extremely ruthless holiday tradition, we have an extremely ruthless game about an office party Yankee swap. On the bright side, this game doesn’t quite follow the rules of a real Yankee swap … that would be very complicated.

Four officemates — Jim, Michael, Pam, and Ryan — will play a game of Yankee swap at the company Christmas party. During the first round of the Yankee swap, each officemate will select one of four gifts — a foot bath, an iPod, an old shirt, and a teapot — from a pile. The order in which they select, from first to fourth, is to be decided by a random drawing. Each officemate has ranked the presents from first (highest) to fourth (lowest), as follows:

          Jim: old shirt, iPod, teapot, foot bath           Michael: iPod, teapot, foot bath, old shirt           Pam: old shirt, teapot, iPod, foot bath           Ryan: iPod, old shirt, teapot, foot bath

The following restrictions must apply:

          Each officemate selects a gift that has not been selected previously.           Each officemate selects only one gift.           Each officemate selects the gift that he or she has ranked highest among the           unselected gifts.

1. Which one of the following is a possible matching of officemates with the gifts they select?           a. Jim: foot bath; Michael: old shirt; Pam: iPod; Ryan: teapot           b. Jim: teapot; Michael: iPod; Pam: foot bath; Ryan: old shirt           c. Jim: iPod; Michael: foot bath; Pam: teapot; Ryan: old shirt           d. Jim: old shirt; Michael: foot bath; Pam: iPod; Ryan: teapot           e. Jim: old shirt; Michael: teapot; Pam: iPod; Ryan: foot bath

2. Which one of the following must be true?           a. At most one of the officemates selects the gift he or she ranks first.           b. At most one of the officemates selects the gift he or she ranks second.           c. At least one of the officemates selects the gift he or she ranks first.           d. At least one of the officemates selects the gift he or she ranks second.           e. At least one of the officemates selects the gift he or she ranks third.

3. Which one of the following could be true?           a. Exactly two of the officemates each select the gift he or she ranks third.           b. Exactly two of the officemates each select the gift he or she ranks fourth.           c. Exactly three of the officemates each select the gift he or she ranks second.           d. Exactly three of the officemates each select the gift he or she ranks third.           e. Exactly three of the officemates each select the gift he or she ranks fourth.

4. If Pam selects the foot bath, then which of the following could be true?           a. Exactly two of the employees each select the office he or she ranks second.           b. Exactly two of the employees each select the office he or she ranks third.           c. Exactly three of the employees each select the office he or she ranks first.           d. Jim selects the iPod           e. Michael selects the teapot

5. Which one of the following must be true?           a. Jim does not select the iPod.           b. Michael does not select the foot bath.           c. Michael does not select the teapot.           d. Ryan does not select the iPod.           e. Pam does not select the iPod.

Tips: Yikes, it’s kind of tough to figure out anything in this game … unless you make scenarios. Try making four scenarios based around each of the four officemates getting the first pick. How does Jim getting the first pick (and selecting the old shirt … what a chump) affect the other officemates’ preferences? How does Michael getting the first pick (and shamelessly selecting the iPod) affect the other offciemates’ preferences? And so on and cetera. There are some important deductions to be made there. Additionally, if any officemate has a gift ranked lower than the other officemates, that officemate cannot select that gift. For instance, Michael can’t select the old shirt. Everyone has the old shirt ranked first or second, but Michael has it ranked fourth. If Michael picks early, he’ll pick something else. If Michael picks late, the old shirt will already be selected by someone else. There’s another officemate who cannot select a certain gift … try to figure who that is, and which gift he or she cannot select.

Answer Key:

Reindeer Games 1. a 2. a 3. c 4. b 5. e 6. b

Christmas Movies 1. d 2. c 3. b 4. b 5. c

Made-up Holidays 1. d 2. b 3. e 4. a 5. a 6. c

Yankee Swap 1. c 2. c 3. a 4. e 5. e

Holiday Logic Games! was originally published on LSAT Blog

[imagine-that-one-thing]

21 kids and a kiwi.

Authors Note: I really couldn't help myself when I saw the picture on H's Instagram about Kiwi and this has been torturing me in my brain ever since, so here is a lil somethin' to get us through until the next two days until KIWI comes out. 

Harry Masterlist found HERE

It was only a matter of time before he became a music enthusiast who aspired to constantly be surrounded by the beautiful, affectionate, innocent eyes of children and their laughter that is astonishingly contagious.

Five years ago when he sauntered through the front door with a crooked grin and enthusiasm through the roof with his eyes overflowing with pure delight, you weren’t surprised when the words, “I am going to be a music teacher.” Escaped his perfectly rosy lips. You glanced over at him with a cup of coffee in cupped in your palms while your body was sat up on the stool by the countertop. You gave him a generous smile and nodded. You certainly weren’t surprised at all.

He needed something to do while he was taking a break from the A-List stardom life of touring and recording.

Over the five years, he triumphantly earned his Bachelor's degree in music, completed a student-teaching experience at the school he went to growing up and received his teaching license. It wasn't as intense as you had thought it would be, you expected him to be as miserable through obtaining his degree like you were years ago, but none of it bothered him, he appreciated constantly being buried in books and papers while discovering more about his passion. He never complained on the late nights he was perched in front of his laptop revising for tests and whatever else he was stuck doing at ungodly hours.

Today, you encounter yourself with your hands and arms grappling to hold everything, car-keys, purse, and many different snacks for Harry’s music class. Since parents were allowing their children to stay after school to rehearse for the winter musical that Harry has been extremely excited about producing. Harry proposed to feed the kiddos snacks. And by Harry volunteering to feed the children, what was really inferred was that you would be left in charge of the food needs of the individual children and their various allergies and desires.

You step into the front office and give the receptionist your typically generous smile as she welcomes you, opening the door for you to enter the foyer that leads to the rest of the school's classrooms. You wander the endless hallway of dim lights, eventually making it to the music centre. As you stand outside the two wide doors, you overhear the laughter of children echoing and the soft tone of the piano playing. You grin to yourself before you manage to force the doors open, instantly causing all the little eyes to stare over at you, "Missus Y/N," a few of the little ones hurry over to you with great joy, their little arms wrapping around your legs. 

You catch Harrys chuckles before he's by your side taking the food from your arms, "Hey Missus Y/N," he chuckles with a wide grin, kissing your cheek and making his way to the table that he has evidently set up for the snacks. 

You watch as the little ones follow his every step and endeavour to assist him, all of them listening to his every instruction and holding onto his every word. 

"What do we say to Missus Y/N for bringing us the food?" He announces to his group of what you like to call, little minions.  They all glance over at you and in unison declare thanks with a charming chime of "Thank you Missus Y/N."

You give them a small laugh and assure them that they are welcome before Harry proceeds to help two little girls that are a little shorter than the rest and having a troublesome time stretching for the fruits.  

You can't help but relish him with that gorgeous grin on his face as he does everything to help all the kiddos that require his attention, making sure each and every child is taken care of. If you didn't know any better, you'd believe he was the father of all twenty-one children.

Harry stands beside you proudly, "You're going to be blown away, jus' watch." He beams as his eyes stay focused on the twenty-one children assembled in a well-defined manner. "Lilly, sweetie a little more to your left," Harry gestures graciously and she shuffles to her left, "There we go," Harry gives her a thumbs up, "Okay, on three I want you all to show Y/N what we have practised... 1...2...3." Harry counts and a warm and soothing tone of young voices harmonising together and bouncing off the walls. You proudly smile at the wonderfully sounding kids as they sing 'Rudolph the red nose reindeer,' with cute, dainty smiles as they bounce up and down gleefully. 

"You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, you know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?" With each name of a reindeer, a little one steps forward proudly. 

You allow the adorable singers to finish the song before you give them your own special standing ovation, "Wonderful, each and everyone one of you," you exclaim with such happiness etched into your heart. Little kids carolling Christmas carols is honestly one of the warmest things that you cherish. 

"Okay ladies and gentlemen, it is time to get ready for your Mummy and Daddy's to come pick you up, go get your backpacks." Harry gestures towards the other room where the backpacks and belongings are kept, "Don't forget your jackets it is cold outside."

"Can we sing another song?" One girl smiles as she walks closer to Harry and he nods.

"I think we have a few minutes, once you all collect your bags we can sing another one," Harry informs the little girl before she skips off happily towards the other room. "So, what do you think? Cute, huh?" Harry beams as he turns to you with bright eyes that have always brought joy to your fluttering heart. 

You nod your head in agreement, his little crew are by far extremely cute, especially when they're singing and enjoying themselves. "Yes, you have done a good job, they can even hold notes." 

"Yeah, they're a good little group. So, I was thinking the kids, in the beginning, they have differently decorated reindeer antlers so we know they're Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and the rest." 

"Seems like a good idea. All of them outfitted as Reindeer would be so adorable," you admit, already imagining all of the kiddos decked cutely as Reindeers.

"Mhm, I was thinking you could help me with decorating them."

"Harry," you sigh, remembering the last time he said those exact words. You got stuck last time decorating fairy wings while he slept on the couch because you got sick of scolding him and having to redo his creations because...well... he isn't steady with his hands when it comes to decorating small things with glitter glue. He tried, he really did, but he just wasn't brought into this world to decorate things, especially fairy wings. "I love you, I do, but I can't decorate reindeer outfits all on my own within two weeks."

"I know, darling, I will help."

"Harry, do I need to remind you of the fairy wings? Or the Halloween costumes?"

"Y/N," Harry chuckles, "I promise I am better at decorating Reindeer ears than I am pumpkins and fairy wings."

"Mhm, you owe me dinner and a movie night after all this." 

Harry nods, "of course, I'll even cook for yeh." 

You grin and graciously nod in agreement to his proposal. You can never turn down his propositions to cook. The second best thing to seeing him prepare the children is to observe him dance around the kitchen with nothing but a pair of sweatpants on while he hums along to his favourite songs. It's breathtaking, to say the least. 

You and Harry both stand and welcome each parent as they walk in to claim their children with wide grins when they see how the children are vibrant and beaming. 

Once the last child leaves, Harry turns to you, "Thanks, thank you for everything you do and allowing me to do this," he gestures his arms around to his little music room that has become his 'safe-haven,' you could say. His safe haven to escape the world used to be the studio, and since he is taking a hiatus with his music career as an artist, he has resorted to his music room as his place. He loves the laughter of children and the vibration of their beautiful voices as he performs on the piano and teaches them new songs. Harry loves observing their faces light up when their favourite songs get played and he especially loves it when they request some of the older songs that he has taught them with parental consent.

His eyes are evermore an eminent shade and his smile is invariably a little bit wider when he gets to spend extra time with the little ones and preparing for small musicals and recitals. He has a soft spot for kids, it is obvious, and there is a part of you that absolutely adores watching him operate his magic with so many young individuals who have a strong devotion and passion for music like he does. He is connected with them on a different level, it's beautiful to witness.

You lean up and kiss Harry sweetly before you carefully pull away, "You always support me. It is no problem. But, next time you want to sign me up for snack duty, don't remind me at midnight." 

"Yeah, sorry about that love, I forgot." 

"I know," you chuckle, "So, I was in the fruit aisle today, take a guess what I stumbled upon?" You grin cheekily as Harry crosses his arms over his chest and raises his brow.

"Well, darling, I am assuming you stumbled across the fruit."

"Smart ass," you roll your eyes at your husband who is grinning widely at his comment, "I happened to catch a glimpse at some kiwis," you inform Harry and he instantly chuckles while covering his face with his hands, "I got a few, too. I remember you enjoy them quite a bit." 

He chuckles and shakes his head, "oh my, I don't think I am ever going to live that down, am I?" 

"Mmm, no," you shake your head, "So, can you remind me how it goes again?" you purposely bat your eyes and grin at him as he rolls his eyes and curls his lips. 

It has been a while since the all-so-famous song Kiwi has been brought up. You can't really help yourself today, especially considering how at one point he came home with a box full of kiwis thanks to a dedicated fan who was quite the comedian. 

Harry steps closer to you, his hands pressing to your waists while his lips caress to the corner of your mouth. Your arms drape over his shoulders and shivers become pulsated down your spile as his soft breath steadily hits your bare neck as he slowly sings.

 "She worked her way through a cheap pack of cigarettes. Hard liquor mixed with a bit of intellect. And all the boys, they were saying they were into it. Such a pretty face, on a pretty neck."

(Tell me what you think, here). 

[ivan-yakingoff]

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Sermon Style

This evening I want to look at the very famous and familiar text "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". What we want to see is that this text is presenting to us a declaration of Santa Claus, and in this declaration there are three movements. There is: first of all, Preparation for the coming of Santa Claus; second of all, There is the coming of Santa Claus; and finally, The description of Santa Claus. So please, listen very carefully as I convey to you how the writer presents this declaration of Santa Claus to us.

'Twas the night before Christmas. Now look what the writer has said here. We are informed right at the very beginning that it was the night before Christmas-a very special holiday. You see, it will not do that this was the night before Thanksgiving, or the night before Dominion Day, or even the night before Mother's Day. No, this was the night before Christmas.

Notice also that the writer has said this was the night before Christmas. It was not a night; it was the night. For instance, it was not one of the twelve nights of Christmas, this was the night before Christmas. Now watch as we continue- When all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Now right away the author has let us know this could not be __(wherever_you_are)__ because there are all kinds of mice running around this place. So the writer continues-The stockings were hung by the chimney with care; they'd been worn for two weeks and they needed the air.

No, no, not actually. That does have good manuscript readings, but that is really not the best rendering of the text. Really it says, according to the majority of scholars-The stockings were hung by the chimney with care - now watch - in hope St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in there beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in there heads.

Now that's a very meaningful phrase, but perhaps to most of you not as meaningful as it should be, for there is in that statement a word that is perhaps not common to most of you. That word is "nestled". It probably doesn't really communicate as it used to at the time when this was written. During the historical period of the writer, this word had a different meaning altogether than it does in most circles today. You see, this word "nestled" is an old German word, usually seen in connection with chocolate. "Nestled" you know-"nestled chocolate"-which has been corrupted by the Americans to form "Nestles Chocolate". So the idea begins to form it's usually in context with chocolate.

Chocolate usually inferred warmth. If you want to convey that something is colored by an invitingly warm brown, you say that it was a chocolate brown; not chocolate warmth on a very cold evening. So you see, the writer was conveying something very tender-The children were all nestled - all chocolatey warm - all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And that probably gives an idea of the age of the children, for if they were older other things would be dancing through their heads.

Now the writer continues in his information concerning the preparation for Santa's coming. Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap. Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap-now there must be more but that's all that it says, uh uh, uh uh. Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash; threw open the shutters, and threw up the sash.

Now here we do have to go to the manuscripts, because this does not really make sense. Modern interpreters have altered the original text in order to avoid certain unpleasant realities. The better manuscripts read this way:

Away to the window I flew like a flash; threw open the shutters, and threw out the hash. The note of breath on the new fallen snow gave a luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. There was a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

Now you see, we've moved out of the preparation for Santa Claus, and into the coming of St. Nick himself. Notice what the writer says as he keeps things in line with detail. Miniature sleigh-eight tiny reindeer-a little old driver. It would not do to have a miniature sleigh and a huge monstrous muskox; or eight tiny reindeer and a humungous, slobby truck driver. Attention to detail. See how the writer has so beautifully harmonized the detail.

More rapid than angels their courses they flew, he whistled and shouted and called them by name. Isn't that tender. Santa knows each reindeer and calls them by name. Oh, how beautiful. It's not just, "Hey you, out there, get moving" or "Get moving, team." Oh no, he calls each by name. Oh, how beautiful.

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen. Better read that again. Now let's get it settled once and for all here tonight-there is no Rudolph. Let's mark that down now, right here tonight; Rudolph is a modernistic fib that has been put into the source, and I'm convinced by the Communists-red nose and all.

But it's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen; on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen. To the top of the porch; to the top of the wall; now dash away, dash away, dash away all. So up on the housetop like horses they flew (now notice the harmony) with a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. You don't have the sleigh up here, and Santa down here; no, they're all up there together on the roof-perfect literary harmony.

And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each tiny hoof. Now that's when you are glad they're tiny, otherwise there would be roofs caving in all over the place on Christmas Eve. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

Now we have moved through the preparation and coming to perhaps what is the meat of the message-the actual description of Santa Claus himself. Now I want you to listen very carefully in the next few moments, our time is almost gone, but I'm sure you have read this passage many, many times but have missed what is really being said.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot Did you get it? Why does it say "foot"? Why doesn't it say "feet"? Obviously he is dressed in fur to keep warm. He has fur all the way down one side to his foot. But evidently the other side doesn't need fur; it isn't affected by the cold. He has a wooden leg! So the very first thing I want you to see about Santa Claus is that he is a one-legged man.

Second, listen, it says His clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot He's dirty. He's a dirty, one-legged old man. And they're probably the worst kind. Now listen again.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back I ask you, what is a grown man doing running around with toys? He's senile. He's a one-legged, dirty old senile man. He looked like a peddler unopening his sack; his eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.

Now once again, I ask you, why would a man have a red nose? He's been hitting the bottle. During working hours, too. He's a real alcoholic, this guy. The beard on his chin was as white as the snow He's unshaven; probably his hair isn't even combed. But that fact we are not sure of. So we have a one-legged dirty old man who is an alcoholic and hasn't shaved in weeks and plays with toys. But there is unfortunately more.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth Now what kind of pipe? It could be a lead pipe. But the author goes on to state-And the smoke did encircle his head like a wreath. This alcoholic is smoking. I wonder what he's smoking? We're not told precisely from the text, but I wouldn't put it past this character. Pot-headed old man with a dirty habit showing irresponsibility smoking so close to a Christmas tree.

He had a broad face, and a round little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. That is just a polite way of saying he was a sloppy, fat, dirty alcoholic. He is chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf; I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. Well who wouldn't. I mean, if this guy came down your chimney and lands in your rec. room, what would you do? Laugh, or call the men in the white coats.

A wink in his eye--I don't think that's very nice and a twitch of his head, he gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He's not going to hurt you in his condition, so you might as well laugh.

He spoke not a word--antisocial-wouldn't even talk to those around him He went straight to his work--Probably the only decent thing about the man. Filled all the stockings and turned with a jerk.

Now watch the preposition. It's not "turned to a jerk"; that would shed a negative light on the witnessing writer. Rather it says "turned with a jerk". Evidently he has a helper, and this tells you the kind of company Santa keeps. Santa hangs around with a jerk.

And laying a finger the side of his nose (Now I definitely know that's not nice) and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle; away they all flew like the down of a thistle. I heard him exclaim e'er he drew out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Now, we must make sure we get the gist of this last expression. There is in the sentence what we refer to in the English language as an "elipsis". There is part of the expression missing and it must be supplied by the reader. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night." To all what? There is something missing obviously. There is a pronoun missing, so it would have to be, "Merry Christmas to you all, and to you all a good-night" thus once and for all conclusively proving Santa Claus is not from the North Pole; he is from the South Pole.

[i-n-active-blog]

Radio: You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen...

Me: oh god

Radio: but do you recall...

Radio: the most famous reindeer of-

Me, banging pots and pans together: IT MAKES NO SENSE IF YOU ASK IF WE RECALL THE "MOST FAMOUS" REINDEER. WHY WOULD HE BE FAMOUS IF HE WASN'T REMEMBERED? OF COURSE WE RECALL RUDOLPH, HE'S THE MOST FAMOUS! YOU'RE ALL IDIOTS FOR WRITING THIS LINE!

Radio: - Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose...

[delusionalcandycane]

So you and devil were close?Would you be okay with telling us another story of the time you two shared?

“Oh of course. Hmm. Oh I know a story. Grab a blanket and get cozy. This might be a long one” Chariot stands up and walks over to get a little bell and sits down again.Chariot clears his throat“Okay so this story is from a while back, when I happen upon a litter of kittens. Unsure on how to take care of them I showed them to Devil. He is usually this big tough guy and all, but the kittens melted his heart. He then asked me.

“So what did you name them?”“Oh, um well I didn’t really think of anything” 

He then held up a kitten and asked me how many there were.

“Uhh, one, two…five..eight. Nine! There are nine of them”

Devil took a moment before pointing to one kitten at a time.

“That one can be Dasher.The little one there is Dancer.That’s Prancer, Vixen Can be the little one white spot on their ear.Comet and Cupid for the two white ones Donner is the one that is sleeping. Blitzen is the bright orange one.  Did I forget any?

♫ But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all ♫

“Are you singing now?”

Chariot just laughs and continues to sing and picks up the little unnamed kitten.

♫Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerHad a very shiny nose♫

And boops devil’s nose with the kitten

Boop boop

“Chariot please”

♫And if you ever saw itYou would even say it glows♫

Boop Boop

”Chariot I swear”

♫All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names♫

Boop Boop“Okay Chariot, we are naming it it Rudolph, now stop booping my nose”“Nope, Boop” Chariot says booping Devil’s nose with his finger

“And after that i started booping his nose every time I saw him.”

[nfdeklerk]

via Twitter https://twitter.com/nfdeklerk

[ivan-yakingoff]

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Sermon Style

This evening I want to look at the very famous and familiar text "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". What we want to see is that this text is presenting to us a declaration of Santa Claus, and in this declaration there are three movements. There is: first of all, Preparation for the coming of Santa Claus; second of all, There is the coming of Santa Claus; and finally, The description of Santa Claus. So please, listen very carefully as I convey to you how the writer presents this declaration of Santa Claus to us.

'Twas the night before Christmas. Now look what the writer has said here. We are informed right at the very beginning that it was the night before Christmas-a very special holiday. You see, it will not do that this was the night before Thanksgiving, or the night before Dominion Day, or even the night before Mother's Day. No, this was the night before Christmas.

Notice also that the writer has said this was the night before Christmas. It was not a night; it was the night. For instance, it was not one of the twelve nights of Christmas, this was the night before Christmas. Now watch as we continue- When all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Now right away the author has let us know this could not be __(wherever_you_are)__ because there are all kinds of mice running around this place. So the writer continues-The stockings were hung by the chimney with care; they'd been worn for two weeks and they needed the air.

No, no, not actually. That does have good manuscript readings, but that is really not the best rendering of the text. Really it says, according to the majority of scholars-The stockings were hung by the chimney with care - now watch - in hope St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in there beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in there heads.

Now that's a very meaningful phrase, but perhaps to most of you not as meaningful as it should be, for there is in that statement a word that is perhaps not common to most of you. That word is "nestled". It probably doesn't really communicate as it used to at the time when this was written. During the historical period of the writer, this word had a different meaning altogether than it does in most circles today. You see, this word "nestled" is an old German word, usually seen in connection with chocolate. "Nestled" you know-"nestled chocolate"-which has been corrupted by the Americans to form "Nestles Chocolate". So the idea begins to form it's usually in context with chocolate.

Chocolate usually inferred warmth. If you want to convey that something is colored by an invitingly warm brown, you say that it was a chocolate brown; not chocolate warmth on a very cold evening. So you see, the writer was conveying something very tender-The children were all nestled - all chocolatey warm - all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And that probably gives an idea of the age of the children, for if they were older other things would be dancing through their heads.

Now the writer continues in his information concerning the preparation for Santa's coming. Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap. Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap-now there must be more but that's all that it says, uh uh, uh uh. Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash; threw open the shutters, and threw up the sash.

Now here we do have to go to the manuscripts, because this does not really make sense. Modern interpreters have altered the original text in order to avoid certain unpleasant realities. The better manuscripts read this way:

Away to the window I flew like a flash; threw open the shutters, and threw out the hash. The note of breath on the new fallen snow gave a luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. There was a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

Now you see, we've moved out of the preparation for Santa Claus, and into the coming of St. Nick himself. Notice what the writer says as he keeps things in line with detail. Miniature sleigh-eight tiny reindeer-a little old driver. It would not do to have a miniature sleigh and a huge monstrous muskox; or eight tiny reindeer and a humungous, slobby truck driver. Attention to detail. See how the writer has so beautifully harmonized the detail.

More rapid than angels their courses they flew, he whistled and shouted and called them by name. Isn't that tender. Santa knows each reindeer and calls them by name. Oh, how beautiful. It's not just, "Hey you, out there, get moving" or "Get moving, team." Oh no, he calls each by name. Oh, how beautiful.

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen. Better read that again. Now let's get it settled once and for all here tonight-there is no Rudolph. Let's mark that down now, right here tonight; Rudolph is a modernistic fib that has been put into the source, and I'm convinced by the Communists-red nose and all.

But it's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen; on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen. To the top of the porch; to the top of the wall; now dash away, dash away, dash away all. So up on the housetop like horses they flew (now notice the harmony) with a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. You don't have the sleigh up here, and Santa down here; no, they're all up there together on the roof-perfect literary harmony.

And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each tiny hoof. Now that's when you are glad they're tiny, otherwise there would be roofs caving in all over the place on Christmas Eve. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

Now we have moved through the preparation and coming to perhaps what is the meat of the message-the actual description of Santa Claus himself. Now I want you to listen very carefully in the next few moments, our time is almost gone, but I'm sure you have read this passage many, many times but have missed what is really being said.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot Did you get it? Why does it say "foot"? Why doesn't it say "feet"? Obviously he is dressed in fur to keep warm. He has fur all the way down one side to his foot. But evidently the other side doesn't need fur; it isn't affected by the cold. He has a wooden leg! So the very first thing I want you to see about Santa Claus is that he is a one-legged man.

Second, listen, it says His clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot He's dirty. He's a dirty, one-legged old man. And they're probably the worst kind. Now listen again.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back I ask you, what is a grown man doing running around with toys? He's senile. He's a one-legged, dirty old senile man. He looked like a peddler unopening his sack; his eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.

Now once again, I ask you, why would a man have a red nose? He's been hitting the bottle. During working hours, too. He's a real alcoholic, this guy. The beard on his chin was as white as the snow He's unshaven; probably his hair isn't even combed. But that fact we are not sure of. So we have a one-legged dirty old man who is an alcoholic and hasn't shaved in weeks and plays with toys. But there is unfortunately more.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth Now what kind of pipe? It could be a lead pipe. But the author goes on to state-And the smoke did encircle his head like a wreath. This alcoholic is smoking. I wonder what he's smoking? We're not told precisely from the text, but I wouldn't put it past this character. Pot-headed old man with a dirty habit showing irresponsibility smoking so close to a Christmas tree.

He had a broad face, and a round little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. That is just a polite way of saying he was a sloppy, fat, dirty alcoholic. He is chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf; I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. Well who wouldn't. I mean, if this guy came down your chimney and lands in your rec. room, what would you do? Laugh, or call the men in the white coats.

A wink in his eye--I don't think that's very nice and a twitch of his head, he gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He's not going to hurt you in his condition, so you might as well laugh.

He spoke not a word--antisocial-wouldn't even talk to those around him He went straight to his work--Probably the only decent thing about the man. Filled all the stockings and turned with a jerk.

Now watch the preposition. It's not "turned to a jerk"; that would shed a negative light on the witnessing writer. Rather it says "turned with a jerk". Evidently he has a helper, and this tells you the kind of company Santa keeps. Santa hangs around with a jerk.

And laying a finger the side of his nose (Now I definitely know that's not nice) and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle; away they all flew like the down of a thistle. I heard him exclaim e'er he drew out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Now, we must make sure we get the gist of this last expression. There is in the sentence what we refer to in the English language as an "elipsis". There is part of the expression missing and it must be supplied by the reader. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night." To all what? There is something missing obviously. There is a pronoun missing, so it would have to be, "Merry Christmas to you all, and to you all a good-night" thus once and for all conclusively proving Santa Claus is not from the North Pole; he is from the South Pole.