My most memorable Christmas

 

Growing up in a household that was 1/2 Italian and 1/2 heinz 57 made for some fun holidays. My mother was the Italian part..The cooking would commence the start of Christmas week, and last until the Eve. Food would abound in our house. Then there is the dishes all the relatives would bring in.

Christmas Eve dinner was purely Italian. Every pasta, sauce and dessert imaginable. It was the one time of year my parents let us kids sip red wine- a big thrill! 
The one Christmas I remember most was when I was 7. My grandmother had been diagnosed with Lung cancer and  was  given 3-6 months to live. I knew this would be my last with her.
She sat in a chair and I next to her on the floor while we opened presents. I held her hand and wished it would last forever. I burned everything from that Christmas in to my mind, never to forget it.

That next March she passed. After that, Mom stopped the Italian food and Christmas was never the same.

 So, Once Senior and I were married. I started the tradition up again with my own little family. I have cooked meatballs, fresh bread, boiled spaghetti noodles, and my special sauce. The house smells heavenly. Christmas Eve is a magical time. I love seeing the excitement on the little faces of our boys, and I am so thankful for the things we have and my family to celebrate this Christmas with.

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas !

-JUGM

origins of greetings...

I always find it fun to research the origin of things. So, with all the hub-bub-aloo with wishing people " Merry Christmas" vs "Happy Holidays" I decided to put my fingers to work on the ole computer and find out is saying "Happy Holidays" really all that taboo by Christians.

The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Messe. The Cristes-messe referred directly to the specific date set aside for the Mass of Christ, a commemoration of the birth of Christ. The word became “Christ Mass” in Middle English and then “Christmas” in modern English. To wish someone “Merry Christ Mass” or “Christmas” was to wish them to be filled with joy on the singular day set aside to recognize the birth of Christ.

But, I bet a lot of people did not know that "happy holidays" comes from the old english "halidaeg" "Hali" meaning "holy" and "daeg" meaning "day" So, those days were meant to be kept holy and free from work or any labor. Therefore, then or now, to wish someone “Happy Holidays” is to wish them happiness from the first night of Advent through the Feast of the Epiphany, including Christmas. For me, I use to be one of those that despised being wished "happy holidays" but now, after thoroughly searching and learning its origins, I find it completely okay.

So, there you all have it. A short but sweet origin of both seasonal greetings. Whether you say one over the other..both are steeped in religious belief and my personal christian roots.
 I am sure it drives all  Non-believers, liberals and people who retain political correctness completely nuts to wish them one of these religious greetings.

So for all my wonderful blog followers... I wish you all :

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

-JUGM

wow!

NYPD officers send a powerful message to Mayor DeBlasio as he entered to hold a press conference on this afternoons execution of two officers.

RIP officers Ramos and Liu.....

from a galaxy far, far away

This is for all the " Star Wars" fans out there. One clever home owner in California did this fantastic light display. It was recently featured on ABC's " Christmas light fight" 

boys and mud

 

"The world is mud-licious

and

puddle -wonderful"

 - ee cummings

 

What is it about dirt and water that draws a boy in ? They see a puddle and simply can't help themselves. They must throw rocks and watch the water splash. They must try to build some sort of fort and a moat and slay dragons.   The lure of mud is better then any toy you can give them.  I love to watch them outside playing, the imaginative things they create and to stand back and do all the wonderful things that makes them "boys"

 

-JUGM

? for you...

 

How do you keep a turkey in suspense? 

as the rooster crows...

 I know this is silly, because for most of you a crowing rooster is a dime a dozen and a daily occurrence. But, these are our first experience with owning chickens, and we were over the moon today when one of our Banty Roosters aka: "The God Father"  (It's a long story) . Found his voice and has been singing ever since :