an unexpected choice popped up
when I typed in
‘holiday gift treats that can be shipped’
right in the middle
of the mix of suggestions
was a box of
hostess cupcakes
the family pack
on sale
you have 30 days to return them
not exactly the special gift
I was seeking
but someone might really love them
something for everyone
those elves are open minded…
—
‘the best way to celebrate the holidays
is with great food and even better company.’
-author unknown
for a little variety, learn these words for your next holiday gathering,
some borrowed from foreign languages and others from long ago.
—-
Someone doing their Christmas shopping on December 24 is the epitome of a Yuleshard – a person who waits until the last minute to finish preparations for the holidays. This Scottish word dates to at least the mid-18th century. “Yule” is a synonym for the Christmas season, and “shard” is a corruption of the word jade and has been used since the 16th century as an insult in Middle English, referring to a worn-out horse.
Italians have the perfect word for how many feel after a holiday meal. Abbiocco refers to the drowsiness that occurs after a large meal, making it distinct from simple sleepiness before bedtime. It also involves a state of pure relaxation while delaying responsibilities, something that tends to occur on holidays. The word originated in central Italy from two verbs, abbioccare and abbioccarsi, meaning “to exhaust” and “to doze off,” respectively.
It’s easy to overindulge during holiday meals, and those who do might need to take advantage of a yule-hole. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a yule-hole is “the hole in the waist-belt to which the buckle is adjusted, to allow for repletion after the feasting at Christmas.”
A bummock is an alcoholic beverage brewed to enjoy at a “merry meeting” — aka a holiday party. This Scottish drink has been around since at least the early 19th century, but an 18th century definition of “bummock” (sometimes spelled “boumack”) is “an entertainment anciently given at Christmas by tenants to their landlords.”
Schnapsidee is a German word that translates literally as “booze idea,” something many people have during the holidays. It’s a ridiculous, ill-advised idea that sounds like it was made up during a drunken state — sledding off the roof at a holiday party, for example. (Don’t do that!) Germans tend to use the word to describe any outlandish idea, though, whether alcohol was involved or not.
—
‘action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.’
-mark twain
—
source credits: word smarts, rachel gresh, vintage postcards, pinterest, bbc, wasau news
for the second time
i’ve had the honor of volunteering
with local law enforcement officers, firefighters, marines,
first responders, heroes of all kinds,
community members
athletes from university sports teams
all there to host children from across the area
from families who are underserved in our surrounding community
the parents receive a stocking filled with gift cards
for gas, food, things for home, other things they want or need
the children stay with us
for an afternoon/evening of fun, food, activities, a santa visit,
and holiday shopping
for loved ones,
for warm outdoor winter wear for themselves,
holiday pajamas, cuddlies,
for things on their dream wish list,
(we find some things to pass on to a parent to give them from santa for holiday gifts)
along with some other things they’ve been hoping for or need
so joyful to see
most children wanted to buy things for those they loved first
we had to steer them back to also choosing some things for themselves
these are children who struggle
yet still understand the joy found in giving to others
j, the little guy who was trusted with myself and a young sherriff’s officer
said his mom’s very favorite thing in the world was mountain dew
he chose this as the first thing to put in our cart
he also bought some toys for his two cats
but just wrote ‘to: cats’ on the tag
so they would both share them
for ‘papa-grandpa’, some chicken noodle soup
j is an only child, raised by a single parent
he’s not had an easy life
yet, he has a gentle spirit
watched the fish in the tanks for a long while
wanted to take them home and let them go
‘because they are prisoners in there’
loves nature, being outside, running,
catching minnows and letting them go,
fishing and letting them go,
and everything at recess
he played hide and seek in the store with us
laughed with no filter
seemed to love every minute where his role
was to just be a child, enjoy all the fun, he certainly deserves it all
even the giant sugar cookie he decorated
with all of the five colors of frosting on it
and every kind of sprinkle.
—-
“the greatness of a community is most accurately measured
by the compassionate actions of its members.’
-coretta scott king
Jordi Prat Pons.Books that had been cast aside, unwanted.
Villa del Arte Galleries Barcelona (at Mandarin Oriental). Passeig de Gràcia 38-40
—
“it really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tired into a single garment of destiny. whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.”
-REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
—
*Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.
it’s a big decision, take your time.
—
national donut day is celebrated on the first friday of june. established by the salvation army in 1938 to honor the “donut lassies” — women who served donuts (originally a European delicacy) to hungry american soldiers duringWW I. once they returned home, american soldiers longed for the donuts they had overseas. they grew increasingly popular in the u.s., and americans have been loving donuts ever since.
—
“do-not touch my donut.”
-me
—
image credit: washtenaw dairy
let us celebrate cinco de mayo by recognizing the power of determination and the courage to never give up.
On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army unexpectedly defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Although not the end of the war, the victory was a testament to the Mexican military’s unshakeable spirit and inspired the Cinco de Mayo celebrations we still see today. Outside of the state of Puebla, where the battle occurred, it’s a relatively minor holiday in Mexico. But many Mexican immigrants carried the tradition with them to America. Today, Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo with festivals, parades, music, food, and artesanía.
In Mexico, artesanía is a traditional craft or folk art piece. Artists of all skill levels produce artesanía, including pottery, fabrics, toys, and other crafts. It often features bright colors and decorative details that date back to the ancient temples, pyramids, and other historical objects found throughout Mexico.
—
Paul Klee, Forest Architecture, 1925, pen and watercolour on paper mounted on card
swiss painter, draftsman, and printmaker 1879-1940
—
“art should be like a holiday;
something to give a man the opportunity to see things differently,
and to change his point of view.”
-paul klee
the beauty of this mardi gras float is really something. 1908, new orleans, louisiana, usa
—
“mardi gras a state of mind.’
-*ed muniz
*ed muniz (1940– 2023) was an American politician who served as mayor of Kenner, Louisiana.
He was also the founder and Captain of the Krewe of Endymion,
which annually hosts the largest parade and party of the New Orleans Mardi Gras season.
—
art credit: wikicommons- public domain
on the lunar new year, 2024 – the year of the dragon
—
may the new year shower you with luck and love
and
may it be as bright as all the lanterns that light up the sky.
—
art credit: etsy.com
coco the dog
fully enjoyed the family and friends christmas eve party
and on this fine day would like to wish you all a merry christmas
and
to all a good nap.
—
“christmas is the day that holds all time together.”
-alexander smith
I didn't have my glasses on.... 