25 December 2011 - Christmas Day

“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.”
~ Theodore Roethke ~

The traditional Advent Calendar runs from 1-24 December,
and so did mine, here in the Picture Book. But since we are still in Christmas, I thought I’d throw in an extra greeting today.

In Sweden, we open our presents on Christmas Eve.
In many other countries, you open yours on Christmas Day.
Where ever you happen to be on the Earth and in your
Christmas traditions, I wish all you Bloglings out there:

>>> Merry Christmas ! <<<

 

This post will be linked to Shadow Shot Sunday (2).

Advent Calendar – Saturday 24th December 2011

♫ Silent Night, Holy Night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born. ♫ 

* * * Merry Christmas to you all! * * *

 

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Gospel of Luke, chapter 2 (New International Version)

Advent Calendar – Friday 23rd December 2011

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

 

Friday My Town Shoot Out  theme of the week is “Lights”.

Advent Calendar – Thursday 22nd December 2011

“When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out -
because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed,
what comes out is what is on the inside.”

~ Wayne Dyer ~

Advent Calendar – Wednesday 21st December 2011

“On your feet wear the Good News of Peace,
to help you stand strong.”

~ Ephesians  6:15 ~

Advent Calendar – Tuesday 20th December 2011

“Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.”
~James 1:17 ~

Advent Calendar – Monday 19th December 2011

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la la.
‘Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la la.

Sing along at YouTube!

Advent Calendar – Sunday 18th December 2011

“It is only the modern that ever becomes old-fashioned.”

~ Oscar Wilde  ~

 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Today is the 4th Advent Sunday.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they
may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16  (Sermon on the Mount)

Advent Calendar – Saturday 17th December 2011

“I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation.”

~ George Bernhard Shaw ~

Advent Calendar – Friday 16th December 2011

 ”A friend is someone who understands your past,
believes in your future, and accepts you
just the way you are.”

(source unknown)

 

Friday My Town Shoot Out theme this week is “Layers”.
[I’m thinking layers of clothes and  layers of photo editing…]

Advent Calendar – Thursday 15th December 2011

“I’m so clever that sometimes I don’t understand
a single word of what I’m saying.”

~ Oscar Wilde ~

Advent Calendar – Wednesday 14 December 2011

“Hatred is blind, as well as love.”

~ Oscar Wilde ~

Advent Calendar – Tuesday 13th December

 

Watch a Swedish Lucia Morning at YouTube.

Read about the tradition in a blog post of mine from 2010.

Advent Calendar – Monday 12th December 2011

“Santa Claus has the right idea - visit people only once a year!”

~ Victor Borge ~

[Not familiar with Victor Borge? Get to know him at YouTube]

Advent Calendar – Sunday 11th December 2011

“Better three hours too soon than one minute too late.”
~ William Shakespeare ~

 

Today is the 3rd Advent Sunday.

“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
~ 2 Peter 1:19 ~

Advent Calendar – Saturday 10th December 2011 - Time

“The only reason for time is so that
everything doesn’t happen at once.”
~Albert Einstein ~

Advent Calendar – Friday 9th December 2011

“The wheel of fortune turns around incessantly,
and who can say to himself, I shall today be uppermost.”
~ Confucius ~

 

 

 This post will be linked to Friday My Town Shoot Out.
The theme of the week is ‘Wheels’.

 The old engine wheel is an all-year-round decoration at the entrance of a restaurant recently opened in the premises of an exhibition hall which once upon a time was an engine shed.

There is also an old engine kept inside the exhibition hall :

Advent Calendar – Thursday 8th December 2011

“Sometimes the most urgent thing you
can possibly do is take a complete rest.”
~ Ashleigh Brilliant ~

Advent Calendar – Wednesday 7th December 2011

“Bear with the faults of others as you
would have them bear with yours.”

~ Phillips Brooks ~

 

(Yes, you are allowed to laugh!)

Advent Calendar – Tuesday 6th December 2011

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling,
but of the life-long attempt to acquire it.”

~ Albert Einstein ~

 

This post will be linked to Ruby Tuesday at Work of the Poet.

 

~~~ ♥ ♥ ♥ ~~~

 

In some European  countries (not in Sweden though), 6th December  is celebrated as St Nicholas Day.

Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaus the Wonderworker, was a historic 4th-century Greek Bishop of Myra (=Demre in modern-day Turkey). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus.  (Read more in Wikipedia)