Y is for Yule

 

When Yule gets mentioned I can be pretty sure that we are not talking about Christmas 2025!  Yule is a nostalgic word, evoking well-dressed, jolly ladies and gentlemen shown on tins of Quality Street.  It's about an age of innocence when children thought themselves lucky if they got an orange and 6d in their stocking.  

I have a strong suspicion that it's nostalgia for a Christmas that never was.  

When I was a child in the fifties I remember my parents talking about the Christmas of their childhoods, Christmas before the Second World War and during that war.  And the theme was that we, as children, didn't have the pure, authentic Christmas which they had as children and it was far too centered on presents and glitter and excess.  In fact, they were making the same sort of remarks about Christmases past as I hear being said today as we oldies look back to our childhoods.  I'll add to the chorus by saying that the plastic tubs of Quality Street aren't as nice as the tins we used to have. 

In fact, I wonder how long saying, "It's not like the Christmases we had" has been as traditional at Christmas as mince pies!

X is for the X factor

 

Quite easy to think of this one - X means Christ in Xmas.  Faith is the centre, the fabric, the past, the present and the future of my Christmas celebrations.  

But there are little things which enrich the annual celebration of Christ's birth.  When I was in the regulars I lead Christingle services on Christmas Eve and the memory of the wonder on children's faces as we sang "Away in a manger" by candlelight is something I still treasure.  

These days I cook quite a few Christmas puddings (fifteen this year) and give most of them away but in return I get home-made mince pies, sausage rolls,  things which I don't make but remind me of my friends on Christmas Day.

There are decorations given to me by friends over the years, precious bits which lack commercial perfection but which bring the perfect gift of love.  And it is the gift of love which matters.  

 

W is for Wreath

 One of our local churches has a brilliant fund raiser every year.  The churchwarden has a friend who is a florist and she organises a wreath making session.  We pay for the session and there is also a raffle.   The organiser provides wreath bases, ribbon and a few essentials.   Everyone takes greenery and whatever bits and pieces they want to decorate their wreath.  The organiser provides wreath bases, ribbon and a few essentials.  And somehow we also take nibbles and drinks for a pleasant evening together.  

Except that this year I booked my place, paid for it, and then was ill that day.  There isn't a loo in that church so I just couldn't go.

But the organiser sent the wreath which the demonstrator had made.  How kind is that!!!

V is for visit

 

Yesterday it was hard to write a post about "U" but today I had a choice for "V".  The obvious subject was the Virgin Mary, but instead I wanted to share the Advent Collect with you.  In many Anglican churches it is used throughout Advent in addition to the collect for the day.  The more modern version omits the word "visit" but I remember being struck by it as a child.  

Almighty God,

Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness,

and put upon us the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life,

in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility;

that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead,

we may rise to the life immortal;

through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

Another thing I remember as a child is being taken on seemingly innumerable visits to people I didn't really know but who were known to my parents as people who would have a lonely Christmas.  It's a custom I still maintain as do many others.  

The posh gentlemen have got fed up with walking as their feet are so sore and they are considering giving up the idea of visiting.  (The camels went on strike a while ago.)  They've now hijacked my car and my trundle truck.  And it would appear that they pinched some Elastoplast for their blisters!   

And I've just had a visit from Jack, not to sort my garden but to exchange presents.  Jack, thank you for all you do.  I hope you (and all my readers) have a blessed Christmas and a peaceful 2026.  

U is

 difficult! 

When it comes to Christmas words I found seeking words beginning with U to be an Unpropitious aim.  Urged on be my determination to give no-one chance to take Umbrage at my failure to post a full advent calendar, I tried to Use my brain.  It is an Uneasy exercise.

Unity would be ideal, with all people being Unified for the common good.  Ultimately.  Unwrapping Unity from the parcels Under my tree would be wonderful.  It would truly make this Christmas Unique.  

(Sorry, don't know what the posh coves are doing today as Holly Dog needs me for day care.)

T is for Tree

 

At last!  The posh coves are on the move.  At the moment they are travelling through a magic forest of fir-shaped trees covered with holly leaves and stars and with bright stars twinkling out of it.  They've checked it out and decided these are not the best stars to follow unless they want to go around in circles.  

So, onward they go.  They're not sure where they are going but they are going.  

The tree looks suspiciously like a coloured version of the tree I made last month, courtesy of Holly Dog

S is for sprouts - of course!

 

The love/hate vegetable to end all love/hate vegetables.

Sprouts aren't among my favourites but Christmas dinner wouldn't be the same without them.  When I was a little girl they were straight from the garden: these days they are Christmas loss-leaders in every supermarket.  I was going to order just six loose sprouts but that would cost more than a 500g net so I've ordered the net and found a recipe for sprout soup.   

The posh chaps are huddled around a campfire doing a meal plan for their travels.  They sorted a route (sort of) but none of them is much good at map reading so they might just follow a star.  They've decided to include sprouts as the camels quite like them as an occasional treat.  They wanted chocolate but I'm not letting them have any.  I remove the chocolate from the cupboard each morning and dispose of it Carefully.  That's my job as a responsible adult.

Sorry this is so late in the day.  I've had problems with uploading photographs.  

R is for reindeer

 

Time for some crummy cracker jokes.

Why did Rudolph get a bad grade in school?  He went down in history.

 What do you get if you cross a reindeer with a bell?  Jingle all the way.

 What did Santa say when he and Mrs Claus gazed up into the sky?  It looks like rain, dear!

 Sorry.  A terrible joke mood overtook me.  It is nearly Christmas.   You'll have to forgive me.   

Q is for Quiz!

 1. Which country is credited with starting the tradition of decorating Christmas trees?A) England, B) Germany, C) Norway, D) Austria

2. In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” how many total gifts are given?

A) 78, B) 182, C) 364, D) 432

3. What popular Christmas beverage was originally marketed as a medicinal tonic in the 19th century?

A) Mulled wine, B) Hot chocolate, C) Eggnog, D) Wassail

4. Which author wrote A Christmas Carol?

A) Oscar Wilde, B) Charles Dickens, C) Mark Twain, D) Hans Christian Andersen

5. In which modern-day country was St. Nicholas born?

A) Greece, B) Italy, C) Turkey, D) Israel

6. Which Christmas song was the first to be broadcast from space?

A) Silent Night, B) Jingle Bells, C) White Christmas, D) O Holy Night

(Answers below.)

But what are the posh chaps and their animals up to?  

I was rather worried about them yesterday as all three of them are rather portly gentlemen and chocolate can't be good for them so I confiscated it.  I allowed the carrot to stay.  

Today they are consulting a map.  It won't get them far but I'm not sure if they could charge their SatNav on a camel's back.

1.B) Germany, 2C) 364, 3C) Eggnog, 4B) Charles Dickens, 5C) Turkey, 6B) Jingle Bells

P is for presents

 

For several years I was in a Santa Sack Swap which was organised on line.  There are blogs which I first read while getting ready for a swap and which I still read today.  The participants were all crafters, usually sewers, and I got some lovely hand made things.

One year I was chatting to a friend and she thought it a lovely idea so I now have a swap with her.  The rules are that things must be mostly home made, but re-gifting and used things are OK with the odd low-cost bought item (OK, I mean chocolate!) being allowed as well.  We have a stocking and a sack which we swap each year.  There is a distinct possibility that C may read this so no piccies!

Today's news about the posh gents is confusing me.  Another one has arrived and they're having a meeting around a bar of chocolate while the animals are meeting at one end of a carrot.  Are these presents they are planning  for someone?  It all seems a bit odd to me.  I hope time will tell.

O is for offerings

In many households Christmas is a time of abundance.  We’ve thought about it, budgetted, saved and planned and Christmas is the time when we enjoy a few extras.  That’s how it is my house and probably yours too.  I’ve got some special things stored in the freezer and Mr Sainsbury will bring a few more before the big day.

But it’s not like that for everyone.  Many will rely on foodbanks and other charities for Christmas dinner, and many will be worried about paying for the fuel to cook it.  Tiny Tim is still around.  Special shelters for homeless people will be opened and doubtless will be very well used.

When Christmas is over there will still be great need and aching poverty.  Many will be malnourished or cold or frightened.

Over the next few days Eric Milner-White’s Bidding will be used at many services.  We are called to worship but reminded that “because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children”.

Remembering is not enough.  Generous offerings of our money, our resources, our time and our prayers are called for. 

N is for Nativity Set

 Odd things are happening in my sitting room.

It started with someone deciding to build a stable.  I don't remember being asked to comment on the planning proposal.  It just appeared.  

And then animals arrived.  Last Saturday we had  three sheep, one horse, one donkey and one goat.  We now have a shepherd and a chap with a lantern and he has a faint odour of beer around him.  The shepherd looks more useful.  He may be needed as one sheep didn't survive the whole scene spinning on its axis to reveal the remaining cupboards and it's now laying on its side.  And, as Catriona commented, someone will be needed to clean up the mess produced by three sheep, one horse, one donkey and one goat.  

But what is happening here?  All this week people and animals who look far too posh to live in stables have appeared.  We have two upper class gents, two camels and two horses.  The gents are trying to look busy but three of the animals are having none of it and are having a sit down.  The angel looks rather bemused.

What can it all mean?  I'll let you know when I know myself.  

M is for Memories

 I think memories are one of the most important parts of Christmas!

I have memories of being a little girl and being taken to see Father Christmas and then he came to visit me while I slept.

My nephew in disguise.  He's now 53.

Memories of my teens and twenties with parties.  And Christmas in Nigeria when my Christmas dinner walked into my flat for its last jaunt on its own two feet!

Memories of my nephew having Christmas with us and delighting in his excitement. 

Memories of going home from work in my early working life on Christmas Eve knowing I had a run of two to four days off.  That was brilliant.

Memories of doing six services between lunchtime Christmas Eve and lunchtime Christmas Day and then cooking Christmas lunch for twelve.  Then leaving everyone else to do the washing up while I went for a snooze.  

Memories of board games and other silly games before making sure all eleven of my guests had everything they needed for the night.  And then cooking bacon butties for twelve on Boxing Day.

And now I have quiet Christmases reflecting on previous years and the love I have received from God throughout my life and especially in the last year.  

L is for love

 Right at the heart of Christmas there is love.  

Love shines on despite tangled lights, overcooked sprouts or dreadful jokes from crackers.

Love is hidden in wonky gifts made by children, jumpers lovingly knitted by grans, and hours spent by dads assembling easy-to-put-together toys.

Love sustains us through traffic jams or train cancellations as we struggle to join our loved ones. 

Love is in community events, making sure people who are elderly and infirm can get to church or Christmas concerts.

Love is in increased donations to food banks and charities.

Love is served up with the turkey and Christmas pud eaten at home or taken to a housebound person.

And love is available to every one of us, wherever we are.

May you know love this Christmastide and always.  

K is for King's Speech

Except that most of my memories of this are of the Queen's Speech!  It is properly known as His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech but I had to look that up.  Everybody calls it the King's Speech.  

For non Brits or those not living in Commonwealth countries (I think it is broadcast overseas, maybe you could comment) The King's Speech is a Christmas Day event when the monarch reflects on the past year and often on the Christmas gospel.  

It was originally just on the radio but since 1957 it has also been on TV.  It's pre-recorded.  When I was a child I seem to remember that the Queen sat behind a desk to speak to us, but the speech has gradually become less formal.  These days it usually includes video of royal events during the year.  

Back in 1932 the script was written by Rudyard Kipling but King Charles writes his own Christmas speech.  Last year he reflected on the 80th Anniversary celebrations of D Day and on war in our own times and he spoke of Christ entering the darkness of the world.  He went on to speak of the care and support he had received while being treated for cancer.  He reminded us of the communities who were determined that civil disorder and destruction should not prevail against justice, care and concern and so got out brushes and shovels and cleared the mess.  There was footage of him being surrounded by a group hug and of Prince William wearing a pinny and helping to serve meals in a community kitchen.

When I was a child we always watched as a family, including members of my extended family who had come for lunch.  It was a fixed point in the afternoon.  These days I'm more likely to watch a streamed version.  

But watch it, I will!!!

(I've included a link to last year's speech which includes a British Sign Language interpreter.)

J is for Jesus

Even if you haven't guessed what I would write about so far in this Advent Alphabet, you probably guessed this one.   Maybe to you it sounds a bit trite to say Jesus is the Reason for the Season, but so he is.

Many of my readers share my own faith but many more want to hear the Christmas story.  When I was in the regular vicars I introduced a service of Christingle on Christmas Eve because parents wanted their children to hear the central story on Christmas Eve and they wanted to hear it in church, from the vicar and not just from the telly.  I know it was a high point of Christmas for many parishioners to the extent that I had to do the same service twice every Christmas Eve so that everyone could get in.  If I'd stayed longer I think we might have had three sittings!

I know that commercial tat screams louder than Christian truth but the excitement around Christmas means that most people do hear the spiritual message, and many who do not come to church regularly, come at this time.  Few people can tell me the story of the Ascension Pentecost or the Resurrection as confidently as they can tell the Christmas story.  If they don't know the Nativity story it's highly unlikely they know the others!

I is for imagination

Imagination is the key which unlocks the magic of Christmas.  Much of Christmas looks like a pile of tat to the critical adult observer, but with a child's imagination comes magic.  That fairy on the tree may grant your wish, Santa will come but you must go to sleep first

And we all love the magic.  Even the most cynical adult feels a little sadness when a child no longer believes in Santa Claus.

We adults use our imaginations to appreciate truth.   As the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols puts, it, "Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmastide our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger."

H is for Hope

The advent wreath has four candles and in many traditions they represent Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

Hope is a small, single candle, shining boldly against the darkness.  It doesn't pretend everything is perfect, rather it trusts that God is at work even when we can't see what he's up to.

Today's candle, peace invites us to slow down and make room for Christ's peace to enter us and show in our words and actions.

Next week's candle, joy, won't mean loudness either.  It's about God stepping into our imperfect world, and about seeing him in kindness offered, in moments of peace.  Joy strengthens our hearts as we journey towards Christmas.  

The final candle, the fourth Sunday in Advent, speaks of love.  God draws near us in quiet ways, for love is never forced, never loud, never distant.  Advent love is patient. It makes room. It listens. 

May you know hope, peace, joy and love this Advent.

G is for gnome

Elves aren't the only magical creatures to have muscled in on Christmas.  Gnomes have established themselves too!

I made these two fine fellows to adorn bottles of prosecco.

And this Dopey one to hang on my tree.  

This seems a good opportunity to check on the stable which has appeared in my sitting room.  

With three sheep, one horse, one donkey and one goat.

But it's six chocolates lighter.

F is for Feliz Navidad

 

Feliz Navidad; or Frohe Weihnachten; or Feliz Natal.  That's Merry Christmas in Spanish, German or Portuguese.  May Christ bring us joy whatever language we speak.

I love to use the NORAD Santa tracker on Christmas Eve and have done so for many years.  It reminds me just how far Santa travels, how many people he visits.  

Click on the link and it will take you to the Advent countdown and Santa tracker.  Norad  (The North American Aerospace Defense Command) exists mainly to provide aerospace monitoring of aircraft, missiles and space vehicles so tracking Santa is well within its remit.  Santa's mission is, of course, considered not to be hostile and Norad will offer any necessary assistance should he find himself in difficulties.  They have been tracking Santa every year since 1955 so their archive of information is extensive.  By Christmas Eve the team will be on full alert and minute by minute reporting of Santa's journey will be available.  In the meantime games, music, movies etc are available.  Do visit!

E is for elves

Elf filling a stocking to help Santa

 I don't remember elves being "a thing" when I was a child.  Santa just did the job unaided.  I suppose that the population of the world has increased so much in the last seventy years that sorting out presents is too big a job even for Santa and he needs a few helpers.  

Don't tell any local children but I am a supply elf.  It's true.  The last couple of years Santa has been head scratching a bit over just how many elves he needs so he has recruited me to help with a few knitted gifts.  Last year he asked me to make scarves, this year it's hats.  I wish he'd put in his order a little earlier as I've got three hats to make: only two are knitted and none is made up!

Better get back to work.

D is for decorations

 

I rather envy those of you who have decorations which your children made when they were young and which you now show to your grandchildren.  The decorations I put up are largely homemade but by me.  There is such vitality in things made by children.

When I was a little girl we lived in quite a large house with a staircase which turned twice so the Christmas tree stood in the stairwell and even little people could reach through and put decoration on the upper branches.  

First to go on were the fairy lights.  Every summer the lights would lose their plug as it was needed for something else so at Christmas another lightly used electrical appliance would lose its plug.  Even when that went on, the lights never worked first time and Daddy had to check every bulb before the set could be put on the tree.   Inevitably they needed another sort-out once they'd been put in place.  

And then the fairy herself could go on the tree.  As the youngest I was always allowed to do this.  She was an incredibly tatty fairy, probably a pre-war jobby, but for me she was magic.  Then tinsel, saved every year until it was nearly bald.  The baubles in those far off days were always blown glass, so pretty but so fragile.  Finally, lametta and maybe some cotton wool for the gaps.  

The other decorations are not so clear in my memory.  Mummy always fetched in lots of greenery, some of which was sprayed gold or silver.  She had some logs of wood which her brother had drilled to form candle holders and he'd made smaller holes so sprigs of holly could be added and arranged.  

The decorations never went up before the twentieth of the month, except for cards which were pinned to vertical streamers attached to the picture rail around each room.  My parents received a lot of cards and leaving them so late would have made for a long and tedious job.  

Memories of a secure and loving childhood.  

C is for candles

 

These days I have LED candles.  I know real candles are prettier but for all sorts of reasons I go for rechargeable LED jobbies.  But, not matter what, candles are probably my favourite Christmas decoration. 

There’s something timeless about the soft glow of a candle.  What is it about a simple flame that feels so essential to Christmas?

A few days before Christmas it will be the winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night here in the northern hemisphere.  Light symbolises triumph over darkness, hope replacing despair.  Even the smallest light can change the atmosphere around it.  So candles remind us of that tiny baby

On Sunday the first candle of the Advent wreath was lit in church.   Each Sunday leading to Christmas, another will be lit.  The ritual slows us down, if only for a moment, encouraging us to reflect while we rush through December’s to-do lists.  Candles do something that lurid Christmas lights can’t: they create ambiance.

There is something wonderful in a candle: it offers a moment of stillness.   In a season known for its hustle, a lit candle slows the pace.

This Christmas, may the soft light of candles calm and brighten your home and your spirit.

1st December. B is for Blogmas

 

There's always a lot to read in Blogland in the run up to Christmas!  So many people, myself included, make an extra effort to post daily so there's lots to read and some wonderful ideas shared.  I'm trying to do an Advent alphabet.  

Advent Sunday is anywhere from November 27 to December 3, depending on which day Christmas falls that year.  

Commercial advent starts today with the first chocolate being consumed from many a calendar.  I put my stable out yesterday (Advent Sunday) and today the first figure has appeared.  I won't be showing the stable every day but will give updates a couple of times each week.  And we just might follow the Magi on their journey.

So my Blogmas is sorted: an Advent alphabet and the goings on in the stable.  I will think about food, charities, socialising, and anything else which occurs to me.  I've actually worked out in advance the theme of all my Blogmas alphabet posts.  

So, here's the first view this year of my Advent stable.  Nothing strange or startling.  Just one sheep.

And being a big kid, I put a chocolate in each cupboard as well.  Happy Advent to one and all!