THE
‘X’ CHRONICLES NEWSPAPER
Where Fact Is Fiction and Fiction Is Reality - Publishing Since 1991
Vol 26, No 12 A REL-MAR McConnell Media Company Publication
Merry Christmas
The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-20
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.
Late - December 2017 $1.25 USD
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, what the shepherds said to them.
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 19 But Mary treasured up all these things
and they were terrified. and pondered them in her heart.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying
afraid. I bring you good news that will cause and praising God for all the things they had
great joy for all the people. heard and seen, which were just as they had been
11 Today in the town of David a Savior told.
has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the
Lord. 1
2 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
 2 Inside This Edition The ‘X’ Chronicles
The ‘X’ Chronicles Newspaper The ‘X’ Zone Radio & TV Show
with Rob McConnell

Late December 2017 - 92 Pages Some ‘X’ Zone Affiliates Past & Present

KKRP AM 1610 - Oklahoma

Print: ISBN: 978-1-927758-59-5 Digital: ISBN: 978-1-927758-58-8 AM 1590 WPUL - Daytona Beach FL
AM 1150 KHRO - El Paso TX
These are just SOME of the stories and articles in this edition of AM 1600 KOHI - St. Helens OR
AM 1350 KCHR - Charleston MO
THE ‘X’ CHRONICLES NEWSPAPER AM 1400 WZNG - Shelbyville / Nashville TN
TalkStar 840 - Titusville, Orlando, Mims FL
Page 01: The Birth Of Jesus FM 107.7 WMEX - Rochester NH
FM 89.7 KNTS - John Day OR
Page 03: Sharing My Christmas Memories With You AM 1330 WELW - Cleveland OH
Page 05: Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! Jokes AM 1340 KSEK - Pittsburgh KS
AM 1510 WDRF - Woodruff SC
Page 08: 31 Facts You Didn’t Know About ‘X’mas AM 1600 KOHI - St Helens OR
Page 09: What Is The Christmas Story FM 104.7 KEIF, Enid, OK
Page 12: Christmas Traditions Around The World AM 1320 WARL - New Bedofrd, MA
FM 99.1 KRUP - Dillingham, AK
Page 13: 50 Things You Don’t Know About ‘X’mas AM 1150 KHRO - El Paso, TX
Page 14: Epiphany, The Feast Of The Three Kings AM 1590 WPUL - Daytona Beach, FL
X Files Paranormal Network
Page 15: The History Of Christmas Carols America Talk Radio
Page 17: When Is Christmas Celebrated? UKHDRadio
Page 18: The Colors Of Christmas EURO-HDRadio
AM 630 CKOV - Kelowna BC
Page 20: Charles Dickens’ Inner Child AM 580 CFRA - Ottawa ON
Page 23: Christmas, The Paranormal And Krampus AM 920 CJCH - Halifax NS
Page 24: Are The Ghosts Of Christmas Real? AM 1330 CHLW - St. Paul, AB
FM 104 CJSB - Swan Lake, MB
Page 25: A Charlie Brown Christmas Is A Classic FM 90.1 CHMZ - Tofino, BC
Page 26: 15 Best Christmas Carols FM 99.5 CIMM - Ucluelet, BC
FM 98.9 CFPV - Pemberton, BC
Page 28: The Biblical Star of Bethlehem AM 1620 WDHP - Frederikstead USVI
Page 31: 5 True, Old-Fashioned Christmas Miracles UK High Definition Radio
Page 32: Talking Animals That Became A Christmas Legend Turquoise Radio
Starcom Radio Network
Page 33: Christmas Belongs To The Poor
Page 35: Celebrating Christmas In Th eMilitary 27 Asian Countries, Including...
The Philippines
Page 37: 4 Christmas Myths We’ve All Bought China
Page 38: Santa’s Reindeer Names And Personalities Hong Kong
Page 40: 6 Christmas Stories Of Wonder And Love Taiwan
Korea
Page 45: Celebrity Christmas Wishes Africa
Page 48: 25 Best Christmas Stories Of All Time India
Europe
Page 49: The Little Drummer Boy STAR CABLE - Asia
Page 52: The Background Of Ebenezer Scrooge
Page 66: Famous People Born On December 25th
November 2017 Statistics
Page 70: Psychic Predictions For 2018 Digital Downloaded Countries
Page 71: Help A Child In Foster This Christmas 141
Digital Downloaded by Cities
Page 72: Christmas Is A Sad Season For The Poor 3,164
Page 74: Handling A Broken Heart At Christmas Estimated Digital Downloads
Page 78: Helping The Homeless At Christmas 7,926,112
Page 79: Pets And The Christmas Holidays The ‘X’ Chronicles Newspaper is published by REL-
Page 80: NORAD Tracking Santa’s ‘X’mas Flight MAR McConnell Media Company. The contents of this
material are (C) Copyright 1991-2017 by REL-MAR
Page 81: Elves In Ontario Make Dreams Come True McConnell Media Company and may not be copied or
reprinted in whole or in part without the express written
Page 82: A Letter From Santa To All Children consent of the publisher. All opinions, articles, comments
Page 85: Christmas Carols To Sing With Friends or statements of fact expressed in The ‘X’ Chronicles
Newspaper advertisers are strictly their own and are not
Page 76: SimulTV to be construed as those of or in any manner endorsed by
Page 78: False Science Facts Everyone Knows REL-MAR McConnell Media Company, Rob
McConnell, The ‘X’ Chronicles Newspaper, The ‘X’
Page 80: The Children Will Dream The Future Zone Radio & TV Show, its affiliated stations or
employees or advertisers. REL-MAR McConnell Media
Page 82: SimulTV Company assumes no responsibility for claims made by
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and do not endorse any product and or service mentioned
Page 90: The ‘X’ Zone Broadcast Network Broadcast Schedule herein. To advertise in The ‘X’ Chronicles, please contact
Page 91: Services Offered At REL-MAR McConnell Media Company us at (905) 575-1222 or send an email to:
publisher@xchroniclesnewspaper.com.
 Sharing My ‘X’mas Memories With You
Sharing My Magic of
Christmas Memories With
You
By Rob McConnell
As a young child, I can remember the magic that
the Christmas Season brought to the world.
The spirit of love and joy that filled the
air. Happiness and smiles could be seen on the
busy streets of Montréal and in the little south
shore community, some 30 miles south of
Montreal of Chambly where we lived, and in
the hustling- bustling stores as holiday shoppers
bought gifts for their loved ones. People would
dig deep into their pockets to put a little bit of
help into The Salvation Army Donation
Kettles…bring food to the various shelters…
and the thriving St. Stephen’s Church Christmas
Bizarre that was organized to help the less
fortunate of the congregation and community.
There was something very magical
about watching the Santa Claus Parade on
television and then watching Santa arrive at
Montreal’s downtown Eaton’s store where
Mom and Dad would take my younger brother
and I to see Santa.
Even today, many years later as I write
this article, I can feel the Magic of Christmas...
that very same feeling as when we rode the
escalators up to the 5th Floor in Eaton’s and that
all inspiring feeling as we walked up the ramp
to see Santa, all over again.
That magical feeling is still felt each and
every time I open a Christmas Card from family
and friends.
Memories flood of times gone by when
watching TV when there is a commercial about
a Christmas show that I watched with family
during Christmas oh so many years ago, when
growing up in Chambly, Quebec, along a small
river where we fished in the summer, and skated
on in the winter.
I can still smell the honey cake as it
baked that my Mom still makes to this very day
at Christmas time. I can still hear Mom and Dad
singing Christmas carols as we decorated our
home for Christmas and the feeling of love and
wholeness as aunts, uncles and cousins would
visit to bringing with them the love that we all
shared with each other.
The night that Dad would take my
brother and I to buy our Christmas Tree was a
sure sign that some night very soon, Santa
would be making his magical flight around the
world, bringing toys to all the boys and girls,
who, of course had tried their very best
throughout the year to be as good as they could
be.
Dad always knew where to find “The
Perfect Christmas Tree” which he proudly paid
for and brought to our car for the trip home.
There is something very magical about being in
the center of a Christmas Tree lot being surround
by the Christmas Trees that would all bring so
much joy to so many people. If Christmas had a
smell, I am now certain it is that of a real
Christmas Tree!
A day or two before Christmas, Dad
would always ask for our help when he brought
our Christmas Tree into the house from the back
porch, where we had proudly displayed our
Christmas Tree for all to see who passed our
home. Smiles and the feeling of pride were felt
by my brother and I for we knew that this
magnificent tree was going to adorn our home as
a testament to the Magic of Christmas. I always
thought of our Christmas Tree as a beacon for
Santa and his reindeer to find our home, making
sure that he delivered the right gifts to the right
house.
Christmas Eve was always filled with
magic at our home. During our baths, the
Christmas Angels would bring brand new
pajamas to my brother and I and we would find
them under the Christmas Tree that now adorned
our living room. Only the Christmas Tree lights
were now on our tree, since every year we had
been told that the Christmas Angels would
return to decorate our tree later that night, before
Santa arrived.
Our little hearts were now pounding with
anticipation, knowing that in just hours, that in
the very spot where my brother Anthony and I
were now picking up our brand new pajamas,
Santa himself would be standing there.
I remember proudly thinking to myself
that Dad always picked the most beautiful
Christmas Tree in the world and that it was now
in our living room. Mom would then help us
strategically place milk and cookies in the living
room for Santa to help nourish him on his
worldwide mission of happiness, love, peace
and joy.
Mom and Dad would then tuck my
brother and I into our beds, reminding us that the
sooner we went to sleep, the sooner Santa would
3
come. Dad would then sing or read us a story
that lulled us to sleep.
In the early hours of Christmas morning
my brother and I would wake-up, (waking the
other up if he was still sleeping) to magically
find a Christmas Stocking filled with fruit,
candy and toys at the end of our beds. With all
the anticipation that two little boys could stand,
we would ever so quietly creep down the stairs
to peek into the living room, to see if Santa had
been to our house yet.
As we approached the living room, you
could actually feel the Magic of Christmas
beaming out from the living room and then there
is was, in its entire splendor, a glorious, fully
decorated wonderful Christmas Tree with oh so
many presents beneath.
Santa had come! The glass of milk that
we had left for Santa was now empty and the
cookies we had left for him were gone!
After a little while of just staring in
wonderment at all of the presents under our
Christmas Tree, the anticipation was too much
for our little hearts to behold. We would run up
the stairs to Mom and Dad’s room loudly
exclaiming that Santa had been here!
Never too tired to wake up with a smile
and a loving “Merry Christmas,” Mom and Dad
would drag themselves out of bed to join us on
our Christmas morning ritual of tearing through
the layers of Christmas present wrapping paper
to see what glorious presents Santa had brought.
The feeling that is felt by one and all, the
young and the old, with their family and loved
ones during the Christmas Holiday Time is truly
the Magic of Christmas.
Throughout Christmas Day, family and
friends always stopped by to exchange
Christmas wishes as Mom prepared the
Christmas dinner. Even now, I can smell the
turkey cooking in the oven.
(Continued on Page 4)
Past editions of
The ’X’ Chronicles Newspaper, go to:
rel-mar.com/digital-publications
 4 Sharing My ‘X’mas Memories With You
Sharing My Magic of
Christmas Memories With
You
Continued from Page 3
At Christmas Dinner, our entire family
sat around the table. Mom and Dad, my brother
Anthony, my Grandmother, Aunt Barbara and
Uncle Joe and cousins Melody and Joe Jr., Aunt
Liza, Uncle Sid and cousin Dorothy, Aunt
Georgie and Uncle Peter and cousins Peter and
Nadine, Aunt Margaret and Uncle Stan and
cousins Wayne and Stephen and finally Aunt
Flo and Uncle Mack. All was right with the
world.
Over the years and with the passing of
time, our Christmas Dinner table is not as large
as it used to be.
However, I believe that every Christmas
the Christmas Angels that now come and visit,
bringing with them the Magic of Christmas that
still fills our hearts, include my Grandmother,
Uncle Stan, Aunt Margaret, Cousin Wayne,
Aunt Liza, Uncle Sid, Cousin Dorothy, Uncle
Joe, Uncle Peter, Aunt Georgie, Cousin Peter,
Uncle Mack and Aunt Flo.
Although they no longer sit at our table
but they will always live in our hearts because
of the yearlong effect that the Magic of
Christmas has on us all and how much they still
mean to me.
As Christmas Day would come to an
end, and we would be tucked into our beds,
kissed on our foreheads by Mom and Dad, all
was right with the world. My brother and I
could not wait until next year when our home
and our hearts would once again be filled with
the Magic of Christmas.
Throughout my many years, I have seen
the Magic of Christmas fill the hearts of our
children and our grandchildren and I often
wonder, why the Magic of Christmas is not be
felt the rest of the year. Just imagine what a
wonderful world this would be, if every day
were to be like Christmas Day.
BECOMING
A GUEST ON
THE ‘X’
ZONE
RADIO
SHOW
I believe in my heart of hearts, that one
day the Magic of Christmas will live all year
long and that mankind will love and live as one,
all because of a child who was born on
December 25 in a manger.
My mother asked me the other day why
people line up to see Santa Claus and not Jesus?
It took me a few days, but Mom, the
answer is very simple.
“While here, as we live our lives, we
line up to see Santa who, reminds us all of the
miracle that happened so many years ago on
December 25. However, Mom, I believe that
when we pass from this reality, what we call
life, and when we pass to what so many believe
is heaven, we too, like Nanny, Aunt Liza, Uncle
Sid, Cousin Dorothy, Uncle Stan, Aunt
Margaret, Cousin Wayne, Uncle Peter, Aunt
Georgie and Cousin Peter, Uncle Mack and
Aunt Flo will line up to see Jesus.”
This Christmas, we celebrate the newest
member of The McConnell Clan, little Caroline
who was born to our Son Ryan and Daughter-in-
law Ashley, and little sister to Cian.
Now, filled with the Magic of
Christmas, it is my Christmas Wish that I have
If you would like to be a guest
been able to fill the hearts of those who read this on
article with the Magic of Christmas, and to each THE ‘X’ ZONE RADIO
and every one of you, may your hearts be filled
with love and joy for this and every Christmas
SHOW,
to come. go to
From Laura, myself and our family, The www.xzoneradiotv.com
’X’ Zone Radio & TV Show and The ‘X’
Chronicles Newspaper, Merry Christmas
and click on the
Everyone and the very best of health, love, “TO BECOME A GUEST”
happiness and spirituality for the New Year and tab at the top of the page and our
every year thereafter.
To end this article, and for the last time
booking producer,
this, I would to end with this sentence from STEPHANIE McCONNELL
“The Night Before Christmas”: “Merry will contact you when your
Christmas to All, and to All, a Good Night.”
Or as Tiny Tim said, “A Merry
completed form is received
Christmas to us all God bless us every one.” or
For REL-MAR McConnell Media Contact Stephanie Directly at
Company, The ‘X’ Zone Radio & TV Show and
The ‘X’ Chronicles Newspaper, The ‘X’ Zone
Broadcast Network and all our corporate smcconnell@xzbn.net
divisions, I am, Rob McConnell.[]
 The Night Before Christmas 5
A Visit from St. Nicholas
By Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when

all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a
mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney
with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be
there;
The children were nestled all snug in
their beds;
While visions of sugar-plums danced in
their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my
cap,
Had just settled our brains 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
His eyes—how they twinkled! his
the matter.
dimples, how merry! Biblical Christmas Card
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like Messages & Wishes
a cherry!
sash.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like Today in the town of David a Savior has
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen
a bow, been born to you: he is Christ the Lord.
snow,
And the beard on his chin was as white ~ Luke 2:11
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
as the snow;
When what to my wondering eyes did
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his We have seen His star in the East, and have
appear,
teeth, come to worship Him.
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny
And the smoke, it encircled his head like ~ Matthew 2:2
rein-deer,
a wreath;
With a little old driver so lively and
He had a broad face and a little round For unto us a child is born...
quick,
belly ~ Isaiah 9:6
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl
More rapid than eagles his coursers they
full of jelly. And suddenly there was the angel,
came,
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly a multitude of the heavenly host,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called
old elf, praising God and saying:
them by name:
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite “Glory to God in the highest.”
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now
of myself; ~ Luke 2:13
Prancer and Vixen!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to The Song of the Angels:
Blitzen!
dread; “Glory to God in the highest
To the top of the porch! to the top of the
He spoke not a word, but went straight to and on earth, Peace.”
wall!
his work, ~ Luke 2:14
Now dash away! dash away! dash away
And filled all the stockings; then turned
all!"
with a jerk, And there were shepherds out in the field,
As leaves that before the wild hurricane
And laying his finger aside of his nose, keeping watch by night.
fly,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount
rose; and the glory of the Lord shone around them.
to the sky;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave ~ Luke 2:8:9
So up to the housetop the coursers they
a whistle,
flew
And away they all flew like the down of “She shall bring forth a son,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St.
a thistle. and thou shall call His name Jesus;
Nicholas too—
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove for He shall save His people from their sins.”
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the
out of sight— ~ Matthew 1:21
roof
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a
The prancing and pawing of each little
good night!”[] “Behold...
hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning I bring you good tidings of great joy.”
around,
For The VERY BEST of ~ Luke 2:10
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came Radio Programming in the
with a bound. Jesus is the reason
He was dressed all in fur, from his head World of the Paranormal For this Christmas Season.
to his foot, and
And his clothes were all tarnished with God gave His greatest gift to us
ashes and soot; The Science of on that first Christmas Day
and may the wonder of it
A bundle of toys he had flung on his Parapsychology always guide and light your way...
back,
And he looked like a pedaler just 24 / 7 / 365 Visit MERRY CHRISTMAS!
opening his pack. www.xzbn.net
 6 Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! Jokes
Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho!
Jokes
• What do vampires sing on New Year’s Eve?
Auld Fang Syne.
• Why did Santa’s helper see the doctor? He
had a low elf-esteem.
• What happened to the man who stole an
advent calendar? He got 25 days.
• What kind of motorbike does Santa ride? A
Holly Davidson.
• Why was the turkey in the rock group?
Because he was the only one with
drumsticks.
• What do you call a line of men waiting for a
haircut? A barberqueue.
• What do snowmen wear on their heads? Ice
caps.
• Why was the snowman looking through the
carrots? He was picking his nose.
• A man walks into a bar... ouch.
• What did Adam say the day before
Christmas? “It’s Christmas, Eve.”
Ten things you never knew about
Charles Dickens's A Christmas
Carol
1 The great historian Thomas Carlyle
went straight out and bought himself a turkey
after reading Dickens’s tale of the redemption of
Scrooge. Novelist William Thackeray, not
always an admirer of Dickens, called A
Christmas Carol a “national benefit”; one
American entrepreneur gave his employees an
extra day’s holiday. Publication had been a huge
success, selling in excess of 6,000 copies.
Dickens had began writing his “little Christmas
book”, as he called it, in October 1843 and
worked on it feverishly for six weeks, finishing
it at the end of November, just in time for
Christmas.
2 As he wrote, Dickens wept and
laughed and wept again and would often take
long night walks through London, covering
anywhere between 15 or 20 miles “when all
sober folks had gone to bed”. When he
completed the book, he “broke out”, as he
himself described it, “like a madman”.
3 The story is loosely based on Gabriel
Grubb, a character in The Story of the Goblins
Who Stole a Sexton, which appeared in
Dickens’ first published novel, The Pickwick
Papers. In the story, a gravedigger determined
not to make merry at Christmas, is kidnapped
by goblins and convinced to change his ways.
4 Two months after the publication of A
Christmas Carol, Parley’s Illuminated Library
pirated it. Dickens sued and won his case. The
pirates, on the other hand, simply declared
themselves bankrupt, leaving Dickens to pay
£700 in costs, equal to £56,364 today.
5 Within six weeks of its publication, the
book hit the London stage in an adaptation by
Edward Stirling, which ran for more than 40
Roswell
nights before transferring to New York’s Park
Theatre. Also in the same city, a musical version
was staged which was hampered badly on
in the
opening night, when brawling broke out,
drowning out the bass drum that ushered
Marley’s ghost as he rose through a trapdoor.
21st Century
6 In 1853, 10 years after its publication,
Charles Dickens gave the first public
performance in Birmingham’s town hall. He
performed it in front of a rapturous crowd of
2,000, all working people from the town, and it
lasted just under three hours. Before this time,
no great author had performed their works in
public and for profit, which many thought
beneath Dickens’ calling as a writer and a
gentleman.
7 On performance days Dickens stuck to
a rather bizarre routine. He had two tablespoons
of rum flavoured with fresh cream for breakfast,
a pint of champagne for tea and, half an hour
before the start of his performance, would drink
a raw egg beaten into a tumbler of sherry.
During the five-minute interval, he invariably
consumed a quick cup of beef tea, and always
retired to bed with a bowl of soup.
8 He always presented himself to his
audience in full evening dress, with a bright
buttonhole, a purple waistcoat and a glittering
watch-chain. His stage equipment consisted of a
reading desk, carpet, gas lights and a pair of
large screens behind him to help project his
voice forward.
9 Without a single prop or bit of
costume, Dickens peopled his stage with a For nearly 30 years, Kevin Randle has
throng of characters, it is said, “like an entire been investigating the case of the UFO
theatre company… under one hat”. The arrival crash near Roswell, New Mexico. He
of Scrooge always created a sensation; Dickens
became an old man with a shrewd, grating voice
has interviewed hundreds of people
who claim knowledge of the event,
whose face was drawn into his collar like an
ageing turtle. During the Fezziwigs’ party, his been through boxes of documents,
fingers would dance along the reading table in a stood on the first crash site, and
mad array of little hops and pirouettes. It is provided information to dozens of
reported that the audience “fell into a kind of others who asked for it. Now, he has
trance, as a universal feeling of joy seemed to
invade the whole assembly”.
reviewed all those audio and
videotaped interviews, examined
10 Dickens began with A Christmas
Carol, and he ended with it. His last reading of hundreds of files that relate to the
the little book took place in London at St crash, and has returned to Roswell in
James’s Hall, on March 15, 1870. At the end of an attempt to put all that information
the performance, he told his audience: “From into a proper perspective. In Roswell in
these garish lights, I vanish now for evermore,
with a heartfelt, grateful, respectful, and
the 21st Century he has taken a
dispassionate reevaluation of all that
affectionate farewell.” There was a stunned
silence, broken by a tumult of cheering, hat- material collected by so many people
waving and the stamping of feet. With tears over so many years and has provided a
streaming down his face, Dickens raised his new look at what happened. This is a
hands to his lips in an affectionate kiss and book that clears away all the clutter that
departed from the platform for ever. He died
three months later, aged 58. []
has masked the truth for so long, strips
away the various lies that surrounded
the case, exposed the Air Force
Hi, this is Mac Alexander, the attempts at cover up and found a core
International Director of Programming of solid information that tells us all
for The ‘X’ Zone Broadcast Network where the case stands today.
with each and everyone around the
world a Very Merry Christmas and may ROSWELL IN THE 21ST
the love of Christmas bring Peace to all
those around the world who find CENTURY
themselves in conflict. Marry Christmas is available at
and Happy New Year Everyone. www.amazon.com
 When Disaster Strikes 7

When Disaster Strikes

Disasters often strike without warning and leave a trail
of destruction in their wake. Yet armed with the right
tools and information, survivors can fend for
themselves and get through even the toughest
circumstances. Matthew Stein's When Disaster Strikes
provides a thorough, practical guide for how to prepare
for and react in many of life's most unpredictable
scenarios.

In this disaster-preparedness manual, he outlines the

materials you'll need-from food and water, to shelter
and energy, to first-aid and survival skills-to help you
safely live through the worst. When Disaster Strikes
covers how to find and store food, water, and clothing,
as well as the basics of installing back-up power and
lights. You'll learn how to gather and sterilize water,
build a fire, treat injuries in an emergency, and use
alternative medical sources when conventional ones are
unavailable.

Stein instructs you on the smartest responses to natural

disasters-such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and
floods-how to keep warm during winter storms, even
how to protect yourself from attack or other dangerous
situations. With this comprehensive guide in hand, you
can be sure to respond quickly, correctly, and
confidently when a crisis threatens.

Author, engineer, designer, and green builder, Mat Stein was born and raised in Burlington Vermont. His parents
started him walking on skis at age three, hiking at age 5, backpacking at age seven, hunting at age 10, rock climbing
and extreme skiing at age 11. The Green mountains of Vermont, White mountains of New Hampshire, and the
Adirondack’s of upstate New York were his four-season childhood play grounds. After graduating from MIT in
1978, where he majored in Mechanical Engineering, the lure of the “real mountains” of the west drew Mat across
the country to California.
A thirty year interest in alternative healing got its start while Mat was still a freshman at MIT, when he witnessed
the miraculous remote healing of a crippled friend (big shake up to his scientific “Billiard Ball Theory of the
Universe” way of thinking). Over the years, this interest expanded to the use of herbs, homeopathy, and other
alternatives to heal medical conditions that weren’t responding to western style medicine.
The engineer, carpenter, and backwoodsman sides of Mat found peace, harmony, and synergy through renewable
energy, green building, and self-reliance. Today, Mat owns and operates Stein Design and Construction, providing
product design services, engineering analysis, and green building.
It was a true epiphany that started Mat firmly on the path of self-reliance, emergency prep, and sustainability.
Around Thanksgiving of 1997, during his morning session of prayer and meditation, in answer to a simple request for “guidance and
inspiration”, Mat received a fully developed “story board” type of pictorial outline that popped into his head instantaneously. It was the outline
for a massive handbook to help people be more self-reliant, live more sustainably, and prepare to weather the coming storms as we pass through
this age of uncertainty and change. After three years of work, this “cosmic download” crystallized into his first book, When Technology Fails.
Stein has appeared on numerous radio and television programs and is a repeat guest on Fox News, MSNBC, Lionel, The ‘X’ Zone
Radio Show, Coast-to-Coast AM, and the Thom Hartmann Show. For more information, visit Mat’s websites listed below.

When Disaster Strikes is Available at Amazon.com

www.whentechfails.com
www.matstein.com
 8 31 Facts You Didn’t Know About ‘X’mas
31 Facts You Didn't Know
About ‘X’mas
By ‘X’ Chronicles Staff
Tis the season to be...well informed. We all love
Christmas, but how much do any of us actually
know about why Christmas is the way it is?
Here are 31 facts about Christmas trees, Santa
Claus, and Rudolph that you (probably) didn’t
know. Smarten up!
1. Christmas supposedly marks the birth
of Jesus Christ on December 25. But there is no
mention of December 25 in the Bible and most
historians actually believe he was born in the
spring.
2. December 25 was probably chosen
because it coincided with the ancient pagan
festival Saturnalia, which celebrated the
agricultural god Saturn with partying,
gambling, and gift-giving.
3. Many of the popular Christmas
traditions today found their roots in Saturnalia:
Branches from evergreen trees were used during
winter solstice as a reminder of the green plants
that would grow in spring when the sun gods
grew strong.
4. These evergreen branches became the
foundation of our Christmas tree. Germans are
thought to be the first to bring “Christmas trees”
into their homes at the holidays and decorate
them with cookies and lights.
5. The Christmas tree made its way to
America in the 1830s but wasn’t popular until
1846, after Germany’s Prince Albert brought it
to England when he married Queen Victoria.
The two were sketched in front of a Christmas
tree and the tradition instantly became popular.
Royal fever was real even back then.
6. The well-known reason we give
presents at Christmas is to symbolize the gifts
given to baby Jesus by the three wise men. But
it may also stem from the Saturnalia tradition
that required revelers to offer up rituals to the
gods.
7. Because of its roots in pagan festivals,
Christmas was not immediately accepted by the
religious. In fact, from 1659 to 1681, it was
illegal to celebrate Christmas in Boston. You
were fined if you were caught celebrating.
8. Santa Claus comes from St. Nicholas,
a Christian bishop living in (what is now)
Turkey in the fourth century AD. St. Nicholas
had inherited a great deal of wealth and was
known for giving it away to help the needy.
When sainted, he became the protector of
children.
9. After his death, the legend of St.
Nicholas spread. St. Nick’s name became Sint-
Nicolaas in Dutch, or Sinter Klaas for short.
Which is only a hop, skip, and jump to Santa
Claus.
10. Santa Claus delivering presents
comes from Holland’s celebration of St.
Nicholas’ feast day on December 6. Children
would leave shoes out the night before and, in
the morning, would find little gifts that St.
Nicholas would leave them.
11. And stockings come from this story:
A poor man with three daughters couldn’t afford
the dowry to have them married. One night, St.
Nicholas dropped a bag of gold down the man’s
chimney so that his oldest daughter would be
able to get married, and the bag fell into a
stocking that was drying by the fire.
12. One of the reasons we leave milk
and cookies for Santa is because Dutch kids
would leave food and drink for St. Nicholas on
his feast day.
13. And we leave carrots for Santa
Claus’ reindeer because, in Norse mythology,
people left hay and treats for Odin’s eight-
legged horse Sleipnir “in hopes the god would
stop by their home during his Yule hunting
adventures.” Dutch children adopted this
tradition too, and would treats for St. Nick’s
horse.
14. The look of Santa Claus we have
today was created at an 1804 meeting of the
New York Historical Society, where member
John Pintard handed out wooden cutouts of jolly
old St. Nick in front of stockings filled with
toys.
15. Though Santa Claus has worn blue
and white and green in the past, his traditional
red suit came from a 1930s ad by Coca Cola.
16. And the image of him Santa Claus
flying in a sleigh started in 1819...and was
dreamt up by the same author who created the
Headless Horseman, Washington Irving.
17. Rudolph was actually conceived by
a department store, Montgomery Ward, as a
marketing gimmick to get kids to buy holiday
coloring books.
18. Rudolph almost didn’t have a red
nose either: At the time, a red nose was a sign of
chronic alcoholism and Montgomery Ward
thought he would look like a drunkard.
19. Rudolph was almost named Rollo or
Reginald. Reginald the Red-Nosed Reindeer
doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
20. The poem that introduced us to the
other eight reindeer, “A Visit From St.
Nicholas,” actually named dropped Dasher,
Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Duner
and Blixem. (Which, like Donner and Blitzen,
come from the German words for thunder and
lightning.)
21. Over the years, other reindeer have
been name checked on Santa’s sleigh team, such
as: Flossie, Glossie, Racer, Pacer, Scratcher,
Feckless, Ready, Steady, and Fireball (no
relation to the whiskey).
22. The first batch of eggnog in America
was crafted at Captain John Smith’s Jameston
settlement in 1607, and the name eggnog comes
from the word “grog,” which refers to any drink
made with rum.
23. “Silent Night” is the most recorded
Christmas song in history, with over 733
different versions copyrighted since 1978.
24. Legend has it that “Silent Night”
was written by a Father Joseph Mohr in Austria,
who was determined to have music at his
Christmas service after his organ broke. In
reality, a priest wrote it while stationed at a
pilgrim church in Austria.
25. Meanwhile, “White Christmas” is
the best-selling song of all time.
26. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
actually has a truly depressing back-story:
songwriter James "Haven" Gillespie was broke,
jobless, and his brother had just died when he
was asked to write a Christmas song. He was
originally too overcome with grief, but
eventually found inspiration in his brother’s
death and the Christmas memories they had
together.
27. The original lyrics to “Hark! The
Herald Angel Sings” were “Hark! How the
Welkin rings!” Welkin is an old, English term
for Heaven. A preacher later tweaked the lyric.
28. “Jingle Bells” was originally
supposed to be a Thanksgiving song.
29. Boston church leaders tried to have
the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
banned in the 1950s because they thought it
“promoted physical intimacy.” Singer Jimmy
Boyd had to fly to Boston and explain to them
why it wasn’t obscene.
30. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for
Christmas Is You” is considered to be the most
popular Christmas song now. In the music
video, Santa is played by Mariah’s then-
husband, Tommy Mottola.
31. And the highest-grossing Christmas
movie of all time is How the Grinch Stole
Christmas. The Jim Carrey version. Who knew?
For The VERY BEST of Radio
Programming in the
World of the Paranormal and
The Science of Parapsychology
24 / 7 / 365 Visit
www.xzbn.net
 What Is The Christmas Story?
What is the Christmas
story? The history behind
our festive traditions and
Santa Claus
How many of us stop to think how it
all began? Discover where our
Christmas traditions come from and
how we celebrate Christmas Day on
the 25th of December
They're the essential bits of Christmas.
Squeezing a fir tree into your living room.
Eating an odd-looking bird. Welcoming an
intruder who breaks in by coming down the
chimney. Gazing at your fifth mince pie of the
day and finally wondering what on Earth might
be in it.
How many of us stop to think how it all
began? Dennis Ellam did... and today he
explains where our festive traditions come
from.
Father Christmas
Red robes, white beard, waist-slapping jollity
and booming ho-ho-hos. He's been around for
ever, hasn't he?
Well, actually only since 1935, when
Haddon Sundblo, a Madison Avenue
advertising man, created Santa Claus for a
Coca-Cola campaign.
In previous lives he was thinner and
paler, a character based on a 4th Century Asian
bishop called Nicholas, who became the patron
saint of children in most of Europe.
It was in Holland, where they called him
Sinterklaas, that he earned his reputation for
giving stuff away. A small pair of wooden shoes
would be left by the fireplace and he would fill
them with sweets. No question of trying to fit in
a fashionable bodkin, let alone a Nintendo Wii.
Different countries still have their own
variations on the theme, but that fat bloke in a
red suit has pushed them all to the cultural
margins.
What about Rudolph the red-nosed
reindeer? Debt-ridden shopworker Robert Mays
invented him in 1947 as the hero of a bestselling
book that made him a fortune. The song, written
by an adman and a professional composer, came
two years later. Who says Christmas isn't
magical?
Christmas crackers
The mastermind behind the Christmas cracker
was a London sweetshop owner called Tom
Smith. In 1847, after spotting French bonbons
wrapped in paper with a twist at each end, he
started selling similar sweets with a "love
motto" inside.
They were so popular as a Christmas
novelty that Tom made them bigger and
included a trinket. But the real flash of
inspiration came when he poked the fire and a
log exploded with a sharp CRACK! That gave
him the idea for a package that went off with a
bang.
He launched his "Bangs of Expectation"
with top-of-the range gifts such as jewellery,
ivory carvings, perfume and miniature dolls. By
1900 he was selling 13 million a year.
But we can't blame Tom for the corny
jokes and paper hats. They came later.
Mistletoe
Kissing under the mistletoe really took off a
couple of centuries ago, but the plant's racy
reputation dates back much further than that.
In 300BC, the ancient Druids cut sprigs
of the climber from the trunks of oak trees with
a golden knife. They believed it had sexual
powers and, boiled with the blood of a pair of
sacrificial white bulls, that there wasn't a finer
aphrodisiac.
Its reputation lived on. By the 18th
Century mistletoe balls, trimmed with ribbons,
hung in the best hallways, where demure young
ladies could stand waiting underneath, lips
puckered.
The magic wears off, though. After each
kiss, the gentleman should pull off a berry until
there are none left, after which the rest of it
should be ceremonially burned, otherwise it's 12
months of bad luck and celibacy.
Turkey
Goose was the popular choice for Christmas
dinners for generations. Middle-class families
with lots of relatives might go for a boar's head,
while the seriously rich showed off with a swan.
The turkey didn't arrive until the 1600s,
when merchants brought it back from America
and marketed it as an exciting new festive taste
- if you stuffed it with sage and onions and laced
it with cranberries, that is. And ignored its
natural dryness.
It really took off with the Victorians
after Charles Dickens had Scrooge ordering a
turkey in A Christmas Carol.
Nowadays a turkey isn't just for
Christmas. It's for sandwiches well past Twelfth
Night. Followed by curries if you're not careful.
Mince pies
Strictly speaking, it's illegal to eat them on
December 25, so watch out.
Feasting at Christmas was banned by
9
Oliver Cromwell in 1647 as "lewd behaviour"
and that particular law has never been repealed.
Mincemeat at first meant what it said.
There were bits of shredded meat among the
dried fruits and spices.
The first recipes were probably brought
back from the Middle East by the Crusaders.
But it was the Victorians who realised
the concoction might taste better with the meaty
bits left out.
Christmas pudding
A close relative of the mince pie. And just as
challenging to the waistline.
It first appeared on the table in the 14th
Century when it was more like a porridge made
of beef and mutton, with currants, prunes,
raisins and spices stirred in, plus a liberal
lashing of wine, thickened with breadcrumbs
and egg.
In the 1700s, minus the meat, it became
a fruity end to the Christmas meal. And in the
1830s Eliza Acton - the Delia of her day -
included a Christmas pudding recipe in her
cookbook.
For a humble pud, it's shrouded in
superstition. You're supposed to stir it in an east
to west direction, representing the journey of
the Three Wise Men.
A silver coin hidden inside brings good
luck to whoever finds it. Unless, of course, he
swallows it.
(Continued on Page 11)
10 Holistic Cancer Foundation
Dr. Carl O Helvie
HOLISTC
CANCER
FOUNDATION
Meet Carl O Helvie, R.N., Dr.P.H., - Carl O Helvie, R.N.,
Dr.P.H. is a registered nurse with a doctorate in Public
Health (Johns Hopkins) and over sixty years’ experience as
a nurse practitioner, educator, author and researcher. He has
published 8 books and chapters in 4 additional ones, and
published 40 articles, presented over 55 research papers
internationally and 60 papers for lay groups. Some of his
books resulted from his development and over 35 years
refinement of the Helvie Energy Theory of Nursing and
Health that has been used internationally in practice,
education and research by 9 countries. Read more about
Carl O Helvie at www.HolisticCancerFoundation.com and
www.BeatLungCancer.com..
www.HolisticCancerFoundation.com
CARL O HELVIE
HOLISTIC CANCER
FOUNDATION
The Carl O Helvie Holistic Cancer Foundation differs from others
because we focus on:
A holistic approach
Multiple aspects of education, research, patient care and politics
Multiple cancer types
A holistic approach consists of combining physical, mental and spiritual
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(cancer and recovery) and may need to be assessed and included in any
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An important part of any cancer program is education for those who
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This gap provides a rationale for both funding patient care and
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cancer care and funding. Please visit and donate today!
 What Is The Christmas Story?
What is the Christmas
story? The history behind
our festive traditions and
Santa Claus
Continued from Page 9
The tree
So who DID suggest cutting down a huge piece
of shrubbery, dragging it into the house,
covering it with lights, then sticking a model
fairy on top? Then leaving it there until it drops
needles all over the floor.
Blame a German. The Romans had hung
up the odd bit of green branch, but it was
evangelist Martin Luther from Saxony who first
decorated a whole fir tree.
That was in 1510. The idea finally
spread to Britain during Queen Victoria's reign
when her German-born husband Prince Albert
had one sent over to remind him of his own
childhood Christmases.
A drawing of the Royals and their
children standing around their perfect tree
appeared in the Illustrated London News in
1846 - and next year there was a rush to copy
them.
Artificial trees were invented in the
1930s, by the Addis Company, who turned them
out using spare machines in their, er, toilet-
brush factory.
Cards
Not surprisingly, the custom of sending
Christmas cards didn't start until there was a
postal service to deliver them.
The first were sent in 1843 by Sir Henry
Cole, boss of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
He was far too busy to write letters so had an
artist design 1,000 cards, illustrated with a
festive family scene on the front and printed
with the greeting, "A Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year to You".
Horrified at being caught out, all his
friends sent him one back the next year.
In 1880 cards had become so popular
that the public were warned for the first time to
post early for Christmas. A few of them might
still be at the bottom of a mailsack somewhere...
Tinsel
The first mass-produced Christmas decoration,
it was made in Europe in the 1600s from sheets
of silver alloy hammered until they were paper-
thin and cut into strips.
The idea was to reflect the light from
candles and fireplaces. Problem - after a few
Christmases, the silver turned black. A cheaper,
throwaway tinsel made from aluminium-based
paper swept the festive market in the 1950s.
Problem - it went up like a flash when it caught
fire.
Now we have a modern tinsel made
from PVC that won't discolour and won't burn.
Problem - it's toxic and can't be recycled. Over
to you, Greenpeace... []
The top 30 Christmas
cracker jokes of 2016
revealed - and they're
actually funny
1. How will Christmas dinner be different after
Brexit? No Brussels.
2. What do workers at Sports Direct get for
Christmas dinner? About five minutes.
3. How do you recognise a Christmas tree from
BHS? All the branches have gone.
4. I bought my mum Mary Berry’s cookbook for
Christmas, I tried to get Paul Hollywood’s but
he’d sold out.
5. What’s David Cameron’s favourite Christmas
song? All I Want For Christmas is EU.
6. Why has Hillary Clinton asked Santa for a
23-letter alphabet? Because she is sick of F-B-I
7. Why didn’t Roy Hodgson go to visit Santa at
the North Pole? He couldn’t get past Iceland .
8. Why are Jeremy Corbyn ’s Christmas cards
on the floor? His cabinet collapsed .
9. Prince Philip looks out of the window on
Christmas Eve. “That’s some reindeer,” he says.
The Queen replies: “63 years. Yes, that is a lot.”
10. What’s the difference between the
clementine in your Christmas stocking and
Donald Trump? Nothing, they’re both a little
orange .
11. What do you get if you cross Donald Trump
with a Christmas Carol? O Comb Over Ye
Faithful.
12. What’s the best advice you can give at the
UKIP Christmas party? Avoid the punch .
13. Why did the three wise men only have
frankincense and myrrh? Because Team GB
took all the gold .
14. Which parent is likely to do the Christmas
shop at Tesco this year? Dad might, Marmite
11
not.
15. Why can’t the England football team play
Yahtzee this Christmas? Because they got rid of
Allardyce.
16. I can’t get to the chocolates in my advent
calendar. Foiled again.
17. Why is Bob Dylan’s sleigh so quiet?
Because it has Nobel.
18. Why is everyone filing for divorce and
custody of the kids this Christmas? Tis the
season to be Jolie.
19. Who might be cooking Christmas dinner at
Number 10 this year? Theresa May.
20. Why can’t Mary Berry eat turkey
sandwiches? Paul Hollywood took all the bread.
21. Why doesn’t Sam Allardyce help load
Santa’s sleigh? Because it takes him 67 days to
get the sack.
22. Why did the snowman pull out of Strictly?
Because he got cold feet.
23. How do you pay respect to David Bowie this
Xmas? By serving some Ziggy pudding.
24. What’s Tom Hiddleston starring in over
Christmas? The Night Manger
25. What does Nigel Farage do to the hall with
boughs of holly? He Dexit.
26. What did Tim Peake get in his stocking this
year? Galaxy and Milky Way.
27. Why did Ed Balls fail an audition to play one
of Santa’s reindeer in a Christmas pantomime?
Because he’s no Dancer.
28. What’s Donald Trump’s favourite type of ice
cream? Wall’s.
29. Why’s Santa going round the world this
Christmas Eve? He’s playing Pokemon Ho Ho
Ho.
30. How do snowmen leave the EU? They
trigger Icicle 50. []
 12 Christmas Traditions Around the World
Christmas traditions
around the world: The
countries celebrating in
January and waiting for
gnomes rather than Santa
How Christmas is celebrated varies
around the world, from UK traditions
dating back to Victorian times to
popular German markets today

As we hit the shops for Christmas gift buying

and prepare for a hearty roast and maybe a visit
to church on the big day, it is worth
remembering not everyone celebrates Christmas
like us. Christmas Day as presents can start arriving on boomers'. It is also tradition to play backyard
In fact, not everyone even celebrates December 6. That's because this is St Nicholas cricket on Boxing Day as the test match from the
Christmas on December 25, and for them Day, or Sw. Mikolaj Day and St Nicholas is Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney to
Christmas is even further away. known as the original Father Christmas.Unlike Hobart Yacht Race begins.
Across the world, some countries Santa in the UK, this character dresses in the
celebrate Christmas on January 7 and use a white and gold of a Bishop, rather than red and Russia: Similar to other eastern European
whole host of traditions that are different from white. Families traditionally enjoy 12 dishes - countries, families eat 12 dishes to represent the
the Santa and his sleigh and mistletoe we are including the country's famous pierogi 12 apostles on Christmas Eve, including
familiar with. dumplings - on Christmas Eve. The feast is beetroot soup, fish and stuffed cabbages. They
These countries mark Christmas preceded by Opłatek, a type of Christmas wafer. then attend Church and enjoy a Christmas meal
differently because they use the Julian calendar on January 7, abiding by the Julian calendar.
rather than the Gregorian one. Norway: If you are living in Norway, the
We take a look at the different days tradition is to exchange presents are exchanged Nigeria: Christmas in Nigeria is a family
Christmas is celebrated across the world, as well on Christmas Eve. They are sometimes event. Many families will throw Christmas
as how traditions vary. delivered by Santa Claus, although he goes by parties that will last all night long on Christmas
the name Julenissen. But gifts also come in a Eve, then on Christmas Morning, they go to
The Netherlands: Here, the most important more unique form - being brought by small church to give thanks to God. Homes and streets
day of the festive season is December 5, when gnomes called Nisse. And in contrast to the are often decorated and most homes have
Sinterklaas, or St Nicholas, arrives by steamboat mince pies and whisky British children put out artificial Christmas trees. Nigerians do eat
from his home in Spain. Until the 19th Century, for Santa and Rudolf, many families in Norway turkey at Christmas. However, in addition, a
Sinterklaas operated alone, bringing well- will leave out rice porridge for the Nisse who are traditional Christmas meal may include beef,
behaved children presents and apparently believed to watch over farm animals. They will goat, sheep, ram or chicken.
spiriting bad youngsters away in his sack for re- also leave a sheaf of wheat out for birds to eat
education and a beating. However, in 1850, over Christmas. Vietnam: In Vietnam Christmas Eve is often
children's author Jan Schenkman drew him with
more important than Christmas Day. The
a black servant, who later became known as Argentina: Argentinians decorate their homes country used to belong to France and there are
Zwarte Piet or Black Pete. It became Zwarte with lights and wreaths and hang red and white still French influences in its Christmas
Piet's job to go down the chimney to deliver garlands of flowers on their doors. Christmas traditions. For example, like in France, the
presents and catch the less fortunate children. trees are also popular and they are often special Christmas Eve meal is called 'reveillon'
decorated by December 8 - the feast of the and has a 'bûche de Noël' (a chocolate cake in
Iceland: The land of ice and snow has no Annunciation, when Christians remember when the shape of a log) for desert. Vietnamese people
fewer than 13 Santa Clauses. Thirteen days Mary was told she would have the baby Jesus. like to give presents of food and at Christmas a
before Christmas, the first Santa descends from The Nativity scene, or pesebre, is also an bûche de Noël is a popular gift. Santa is called
the mountains and visits each house to put treats important Christmas decoration in Argentina. Ông già Noel - which translates as Christmas old
in children's shoes while they sleep. Well- Here, the main Christmas meal is eaten during man.
behaved children get presents such as mandarins the evening of Christmas Eve. Popular dishes
and sweets, while bad kids typically receive include roasted turkey, roasted pork, stuffed Sri Lanka: Although Sri Lanka is mostly
something less attractive, such as a potato. The tomatoes and Christmas bread and puddings like Buddhist (just 7 per cent of people are
next day the second Father Christmas comes to 'Pan Dulce' and Panetone. People often set off Christians) Christmas is still a public holiday.
town and so on. Then on December 25, the first fireworks at midnight and 'toast' the start of For Christians in Sri Lanka, the Christmas
one goes back, the next day the second one goes Christmas Day. season starts on December 1 when people let off
back. January 6 is called "the thirteenth" and is
fire crackers at dawn. The streets are decorated
the last day of Christmas because that day the Australia: Christmas comes in the middle of
and shopping centres have large Christmas trees
last Santa goes home. the summer holidays here, so often it's more in them. In Sri Lanka, Santa is known as
about the BBQ than roast turkey with gravy. Naththal Seeya.[]
Germany: Here, Christmas Eve is the most Australians hang wreaths on their front doors
important day of the festive season. Families and sometimes go carol singing on Christmas
traditionally mark the occasion with a feast and Eve. People also decorate their houses and
For The VERY BEST of Radio
a visit to church for midnight mass. Some gardens with Christmas trees and lights. Programming in the
families will sing at Christmas but in general the Australians also decorate their houses with World of the Paranormal and
mood is one of contemplation and reflection. bunches of 'Christmas Bush', a native tree with
small green leaves and cream coloured flowers.
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 50 Things You Don’t Know About ‘X’mas
Christmas facts: 50 things
yule never know about
Christmas
After queuing up to get your turkey, you arrive
home only to find the cat has swallowed most of
the tinsel and you completely forgot to buy any
tangerines.
But have you ever stopped to wonder
how these traditions started - why we kiss under
the mistletoe, or give each other stockings full of
goodies?
1. Speedy Santa: US scientists
calculated that Santa would have to visit 822
homes a second to deliver all the world's
presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650
miles a second.
2. Robins: Robins on cards were a joke
150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics
and were named after them.
3. Mince Pies: Although now mostly
vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were
made with beef and spices.
4. Tangerines: The tradition of putting
tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century
French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and
tangerines at the houses of the poor.
5. Three Wise Men? Despite the tale of
three wise men paying homage to baby Jesus,
the Bible never gives a number. Matthew's
Gospel refers to merely "wise men".
6. Wassailing: Carols began as an old
English custom called wassailing, toasting
neighbours to a long life.
7. Carols: Carols weren't sung in
churches until they were introduced by St
Francis of Assisi in the 13th century.
8. Stockings: Hanging stockings out
comes from the Dutch custom of leaving shoes
packed with food for St Nicholas's donkeys. He
would leave small gifts in return.
9. Angels Singing?: There is no
reference to angels singing anywhere in the
Bible.
10. Christmas Trees: Nearly 60 million
Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.
11. Noel: The word Noel derives from the
French expression "les bonnes nouvelles" or
"the good news".
12. Baby Jesus: Jesus was probably
born in a cave and not a wooden stable, say
Biblical scholars.
13. Xmas: The abbreviation Xmas isn't
irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation
for Christ.
14. Tallest Tree: The world's tallest
Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a
Washington shopping mall in 1950.
15. White Christmas: The chances of a
white Christmas are just 1 in 10 for England and
Wales, and 1 in 6 for Scotland and Northern
Ireland.
16. The Birth of Jesus: Many
theologians estimate that Jesus wasn't born on
December 25 but sometime in September
between 6BC and 30AD.
17. Jingle Bells: James Pierpont's 1857
song Jingle Bells was first called One Horse
Open Sleigh and was written for Thanksgiving.
18. Turkey: Before turkey, the
traditional Christmas meal in England was a
pig's head and mustard.
19. Banning Christmas: In 1647, after
the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell banned
festivities. The law wasn't lifted until 1660.
20. World's Biggest Snowman: In
1999, residents of the state of Maine in America
built the world's biggest ever snowman. He
stood at 113ft tall.
21. A Merry Greek Christmas: The
Greeks celebrate Christmas on January 7,
according to the old Julian calendar, while Xmas
presents are opened on New Year's Day.
22. Eating a Christmas Tree: Many
parts of the Christmas tree can actually be eaten,
with the needles being a good source of Vitamin
C.
23. Holly: The holly in a wreath
symbolises Christ's crown of thorns while the
red berries are drops of his blood.
24. Christmas Cards: The first
commercial Christmas cards were
commissioned by civil servant Sir Henry Cole in
London in 1843. Featuring a family drinking
wine, one sold for #8,469 last year.
25. Hanging Presents: Hanging
presents on trees may come from the Druids
who believed the tree was the giver of all good
things.
26. Christmas Crackers: The largest
Christmas cracker - 45.72m long and 3.04m in
diameter - was pulled in Australia in 1991.
27. Shopping Spree: The long shopping
spree before Christmas began in America when
relatives of soldiers posted overseas in the
Second World War were encouraged to mail
gifts early.
28. Christmas Songs: Jingle Bells was
the first song broadcast from space when
Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally
Schirra sang it on December 16, 1965.
29. Christmas Comets: Astronomers
believe the Star Of Bethlehem, which guided the
wisemen to Jesus, may have been a comet or the
planet Uranus.
30. The Many Names of Santa: Santa
has different names around the world - Kriss
Kringle in Germany, Le Befana in Italy, Pere
13
Noel in France and Deushka Moroz
(Grandfather Frost) in Russia.
31. Christ's Mass: The word Christmas
comes from the Old English "Cristes maesse"
meaning "Christ's Mass".
32. Bing Cosby: The bestselling Xmas
single ever is Bing Crosby's White Christmas,
shifting over 50million copies worldwide since
1942.
33. Band Aid: In Britain, the best-selling
festive single is Band Aid's 1984 track, Do They
Know It's Christmas?, which sold 3.5million
copies. Wham! is next in the same year with
Last Christmas, selling 1.4million.
34. Artificial Trees: Upside-down
artificial Xmas trees are sold to allow more gifts
to be piled under.
35. Oslo: Since 1947 Oslo has sent an
Xmas tree to London to thank us for our help in
the Second World War.
36. Christmas Pudding: Christmas
pudding was originally a soup made with raisins
and wine.
37. Cracker Design: London
sweetmaker Tom Smith created the first
Christmas crackers in 1847, based on the sweet
wrapper design.
38. Dutch Santa: Santa Claus comes
from a Dutch folk tale based on Saint Nicholas,
or Sinterklaas, who gave gifts on December 6.
39. Boxing Day: Boxing Day gets its
name from all the money collected in church
alms-boxes for the poor.
39. Mistletoe Kisses: Kissing under the
mistletoe is thought to spring from Frigga, the
Norse goddess of love, who was associated with
the plant.
41. The Beatles: The Beatles hold the
record for most Xmas number 1 singles, topping
the charts in 1963, 65 and 67.
42. Electric Trees: Electric tree lights
were invented by Edward Johnson in the US in
1882.
43. Early Christmas Trees: They may
date back to pagan traditions, but the earliest
known reference to a Christmas tree is in a
German pamphlet from 1570.
44. Christmas Movies: The highest-
grossing Christmas movie is 2000's How The
Grinch Stole Christmas, which has raked in
#175m so far.
45. Santa in Iceland: There are 13
Santas in Iceland, each leaving a gift for
children. They come down from the mountain
one by one, starting on December 12 and have
names like Spoon Licker, Door Sniffer and Meat
Hook.
46. Rudolph the Reindeer: Rudolph the
red-nosed reindeer was invented for a US firm's
Christmas promotion in 1938.
47. Chocolate Coins: Gold-wrapped
chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who
gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
48. The First Christmas: THE first
Christmas celebrated in Britain is thought to
have been in York in 521AD.
49. Christmas Bonus Law: IN Greece,
Italy, Spain and Germany, workers get a
Christmas bonus of one month's salary by law.
50. Czech Christmas: In the Czech
Republic they enjoy dinners of fish soup, eggs
and carp. The number of people at the table must
be even, or the one without a partner will die
next year.[]
 14 Epiphany, the Feast of The Three Kings
Epiphany, the Feast of
The Three Kings
Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas
on 6th January (or January 19th for some
Orthodox Church who have Christmas on 7th
January) and is the time when Christians
remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called
the Three Kings) who visited Jesus.
Epiphany is also when some Churches
remember when Jesus was Baptised, when he
was about 30, and started to teach people about
God. Epiphany means 'revelation' and both the
visit of the Wise Men and his Baptism are
important times when Jesus was 'revealed' to be
very important.
Some Churches celebrate use Epiphany
to celebrate and remember both the visit of the
Wise Men and Jesus's Baptism!
Epiphany is mainly celebrated by
Catholics and Orthodox Christians. It's a big
and important festival in Spain, where it's also
known as 'The festival of the three Magic Kings' At Epiphany in Belgium, children dress
up as the three wise men and go from door to
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Spanish and some other Catholic children
receive their presents - as they are delivered by or sweets, kind of like Trick or Treating on SIMULTV
the Three Kings! Halloween. Children in Poland also go out
In Spain on Epiphany morning you singing on Epiphany.
might go to the local bakers and buy a special In Ireland, Epiphany is also sometimes
cake/pastry called a 'Roscón' (meaning a ring called 'Nollaig na mBean' or Women's
shaped roll). They are normally filled with Christmas. Traditionally the women get the day
cream or chocolate and is decorated with a off and men do the housework and cooking! It
paper crown. These are normally a figure of a is becoming more popular and many Irish
king (if you find that you can wear the crown) women now get together on the Sunday nearest
and a dried bean (if you find that you're meant Epiphany and have tea and cakes!
to pay for the cake!). In Catalonia it's known as In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
a Tortell or Gâteau des Rois and is stuffed with (which celebrates Christmas on 7th January),
marzipan. twelve days after Christmas, on 19th January,
In France you might eat a 'Galette des the three day celebration of Ethiopians Timkat
Rois', a type of flat almond cake. It has a toy starts. This celebrates Jesus's baptism. www.SimulTV.com
crown cooked inside it and is decorated on top Epiphany Eve (also known as Twelfth
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traditional to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de Candlemas. []
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In Portugal, people take part in
McConnell;
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the kings). The Howard Bloom Show;
In Italy, some children also get their
presents on Epiphany. But they believe that an Special Features with Special Guests
old lady called 'Befana' brings them. Children including lectures and speaking
put stockings up by the fireplace for Befana to engagements with Stanton Friedman,
fill. Len Kastern, Grant Cameron, Paul
In Austria, at Epiphany, some people Hellyer and many others;
write a special sign in chalk over their front
door. It's a reminder of the Wise Men that
visited the baby Jesus. It's made from the year
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 The History of Christmas Carols
The History of Christmas
Carols
Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of
years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols.
They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter
Solstice celebrations as people danced round
stone circles (The word carol originally meant
to dance to something). The Winter Solstice is
the shortest day of the year, usually taking place
around the 22nd December. The word Carol
actually means dance or a song of praise and
joy! Carols used to be written and sung during
all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing
them at Christmas has really survived.
Early Christians took over the pagan
solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave
people Christian songs to sing instead of pagan
ones. In 129, a Roman Bishop said that a song
called "Angel's Hymn" should be sung at a
Christmas service in Rome. Another famous
early Christmas Hymn was written in 760, by
Comas of Jerusalem, for the Greek Orthodox
Church. Soon after this many composers all
over Europe started to write 'Christmas carols'.
However, not many people liked them as they
were all written and sung in Latin, a language
that the normal people couldn't understand. By
the time of the Middles Ages (the 1200s), most
people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas
altogether.
This was changed by St. Francis of
Assisi when, in 1223, he started his Nativity
Plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang
songs or 'canticles' that told the story during the
plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new
carols were in Latin; but normally they were all
in a language that the people watching the play
could understand and join in! The new carols
spread to France, Spain, Germany and other
European countries.
The earliest carol, like this, was written
in 1410. Sadly only a very small fragment of it
still exists. The carol was about Mary and Jesus
meeting different people in Bethlehem. Most
Carols from this time and the Elizabethan
period are untrue stories, very loosely based on
the Christmas story, about the holy family and
were seen as entertaining rather than religious
songs. They were usually sung in homes rather
than in churches! Traveling singers or Minstrels
started singing these carols and the words were
changed for the local people wherever they
were traveling. One carols that changed like this
is 'I Saw Three Ships'.
When Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans
came to power in England in 1647, the
celebration of Christmas and singing carols was
stopped. However, the carols survived as people
still sang them in secret. Carols remained
mainly unsung until Victorian times, when two
men called William Sandys and Davis Gilbert
collected lots of old Christmas music from
villages in England.
Before carol singing in public became
popular, there were sometimes official carol
singers called 'Waits'. These were bands of
people led by important local leaders (such as
council leaders) who had the only power in the
towns and villages to take money from the
public (if others did this, they were sometimes
charged as beggars!). They were called 'Waits'
because they only sang on Christmas Eve (This
was sometimes known as 'watchnight' or
'waitnight' because of the shepherds were
watching their sheep when the angels appeared
to them.), when the Christmas celebrations
began.
Also, at this time, many orchestras and
choirs were being set up in the cities of England
and people wanted Christmas songs to sing, so
carols once again became popular. Many new
carols, such as 'Good King Wenceslas', were
also written in the Victorian period.
New carols services were created and
became popular, as did the custom of singing
carols in the streets. Both of these customs are
still popular today! One of the most popular
types of Carols services are Carols by
Candlelight services. At this service, the church
is only lit by candlelight and it feels very
Christmassy! Carols by Candlelight services are
held in countries all over the world.
The most famous type of Carol Service
might be a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,
where carols and Bible readings tell the
Christmas Story. []
Merry Christmas and
Happy Christmas
We wish people a 'Happy Birthday', and if
you're in the USA in November and December
you might say 'Happy Holidays', so why do we
say 'Merry Christmas' more often than 'Happy
Christmas'?!
Saying 'Merry Christmas' rather than
'Happy Christmas' seems to go back several
hundred years. It's first recorded in 1534 when
John Fisher (an English Catholic Bishop in the
1500s) wrote it in a Christmas letter to Thomas
Cromwell in 1534 "And this our Lord God send
you a mery Christmas, and a comfortable, to
your heart’s desire."
There's also the carol "God Rest You
Merry, Gentlemen" which dates back to the 16th
century in England. It comes from the West
Country in England and it was first published in
the form we know it today in 1760.
In the English language of the time, the
phrase 'Rest You Merry' didn't mean simply to
be happy; 'rest' meant "to keep, cause to
15
continue to remain" and 'merry' could mean
"pleasant, bountiful, prosperous". So you could
write the first line as "[May] God keep you and
continue to make you successful and
prosperous, Gentlemen" but that would be hard
to sing!
The comma in the phrase should be
AFTER the 'merry' not BEFORE it! But it's
often put after the merry which changes the
meaning to make 'merry Gentleman' and so a
'Merry Christmas'!
The term 'Merry Christmas' might well
have been made very popular in 1843 from two
different sources.
The first Christmas Card, sent in 1843
by Sir Henry Cole, had this wording on it: "A
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to
You".
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
was also published in 1843 and the phrase
'Merry Christmas' appears 21 times in the book!
Charles Dickens also quoted "God Rest You
Merry, Gentlemen" in A Christmas Carol, but
changed it to: "God bless you, merry
gentleman! May nothing you dismay!" moving
the comma to before the merry!
The Carol "We Wish You a Merry
Christmas [and a Happy New Year]" is another
old carol from the 'West Country' (South West
England) but was only first published in 1935
and this probably confirmed the use of 'Merry
Christmas' over 'Happy Christmas'. []
WATCH
THE ‘X’ ZONE CHANNEL
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16 You Can Beat Cancer

YOU CAN BEAT LUNG CANCER:

Using Alternative/Integrative
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr Carl O Helvie (1932- ) grew up in Gouverneur, New York and functioned as a
nurse practitioner, educator, author, and researcher for 60 years. Most of his degrees and practice have been in
public health and wellness. During his years in academia he wrote 10 books and book chapters, over 55
articles, gave 57 research papers around the United States and Europe, developed a nursing theory, and
received funding for and established a nursing center and provided primary care for homeless and low income
individuals and families. He also overcome lung cancer using natural interventions after being given 6 months
to live by conventional medicine in 1974. Since retirement he has written two additional books and has been
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Health from the American Publc Health Association, and most recently was listed in Wikipedia.

w w w. b e a t l u n g c a n c e r. n e t
 When Is Christmas Celebrated
When Christmas is
Celebrated
Many people think Christmas is on December
the 25th and that's all there is to Christmas.
However, for many people around the world, in
different countries and in different Christian
traditions, Christmas lasts for a lot longer than
that - and it's even celebrated at different times!
When Christmas is Celebrated
Although December 25th is the date when most
people celebrate Christmas, there are some
other dates as well!
Some churches (mainly Orthodox
churches) use a different calendars for their
religious celebrations. Orthodox Churches in
Russia, Serbia, Jerusalem, Ukraine, Ethiopia
and other countries use the old 'Julian' calendar
and people in those churches celebrate
Christmas on January 7th.
Most people in the Greek Orthodox
Church celebrate Christmas on December 25th.
But some still use the Julian calendar and so
celebrate Christmas on 7th January! Some
Greek Catholics also celebrate on January 7th.
In Armenia, the Apostolic Church
celebrates Christmas on January 6th. It also
celebrates 'Epiphany' on this day.
Advent - The Time Before Christmas
Before Christmas, many Christians use the time
of Advent to prepare themselves and get ready
to celebrate the joy of Christmas, when
Christians celebrate of the birth of Jesus, who
they believe is the Son of God.
Advent is normally a period of four
Sundays and weeks before Christmas. In many
Orthodox and Eastern Catholics Churches
Advent lasts for 40 days, starting on November
15th.
In Orthodox Churches which celebrate
Christmas on 7th January, Advent start on 28th
November!
During Advent many people fast (don't
eat certain foods). The types of food people give
up depends on their church tradition and where
in the world they live.
After Christmas - The 12 Days of Christmas
and Epiphany
After Advent, traditionally, Christmas
celebrations (and often a feast!) started on
Christmas Day and lasted for 12 Days - so they
were known as The 12 Days of Christmas! The
celebrations finished on the evening of 5th
January, which is better known as Twelfth
Night.
Throughout history, the 12 Days of
Christmas were a time of feasting and fun.
Following Twelfth Night, on 6th
January, is Epiphany, when people remember
the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three
Kings) who visited Jesus when he was a baby;
and the Baptism of Jesus when he was an adult.
Epiphany/Twelfth Night is also the time
when it was traditional to take your Christmas
decorations down - although some people leave
them up until Candlemas.
Candlemas - The End of Christmas
You might think that Christmas ends when you
take the Christmas Decorations down - but it
doesn't! After both Christmas and the season of
Epiphany, the end of the Christmas celebrations
come on February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas,
with Candlemas.
Candlemas, also known as the
'Presentation of Jesus at the Temple' or the
'Feast of the Purification of the Virgin (or
Mary)' is the when some Christians remember
the time when Mary and Joseph took the baby
Jesus to the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem to give
thanks to God for giving them a son.
It's a very important day in some
Orthodox and Catholic churches.
The name Candlemas comes from
'Candle Mass' because in many Candlemas
services, the candles are blessed to be used in
churches during the coming year or are given
out to people for them to use in their homes and
private prayers.
In many Catholic churches, it's a time
when people remember and renew promises
they've made to the church and celebrate some
of the prophesies which were given about Jesus.
In many Eastern/Orthodox churches, an
all night vigil is held on the night before the
candle blessing ceremony. In the morning, the
candles are blessed and are given out to people.
Favorite Christmas Card
Messages & Wishes
May this Christmas end the present year on a
cheerful note and make way for a fresh and
bright New Year.
Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year!
May the good times and treasures of the
present become the golden memories of
tomorrow.
Wishing you lots of love, joy and happiness.
Merry Christmas!
May your Christmas sparkle with moments of
love, laughter and goodwill,
And may the year ahead be full of contentment
17
and joy.
Have a Merry Christmas.
May the Christmas seasonfill your home
with joy,your heart with love and your life
with laughter.
May the peace and blessings of Christmas be
yours;
And may the coming year be filled with
happiness.
With all Good Wishes for Christmas and the
New Year.
The gift of love.
The gift of peace.
The gift of happiness.
May all these be yours at Christmas.
A wish for peace and happiness
at Christmas and throughout the New Year.
As you relish the goodies, decorate every
nook and corner of your home and enjoy the
get-togethers...
May the joy and festivities continue to
radiate in your lives, long after Christmas is
gone.
Merry Christmas!Happy New Year!
Christmas Greetings!
With many good wishes for Christmas and
the coming year.
Peace, good will and happiness for you at
Christmas and always.
May the peace and joy of Christmas be with
you today and throughout the New Year.
May the peace and joy of Christmas live in
your heart all year long. []
Craig West here, the producer of
The ‘X’ Zone Radio Show with Rob
McConnell, to each and everyone
out there, MERRY CHRISTMAS
and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
 18 The Colors of Christmas
The Colors of Christmas
There are several colors which are traditionally
associated with Christmas. This site uses Red,
Green and Gold. But why do we have them and
what do the colors represent?
Most the colors and their meanings come
from the western/northern European traditions
and customs, when Christmas is in the middle of
winter and it's dark and cold.

Green
Evergreen plants, like Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe
have been used for thousands of years to
decorate and brighten up buildings during the
long dark winter. They also reminded people
that spring would come and that winter wouldn't
last forever!
The Romans would exchange evergreen
branches during January as a sign of good luck.
The ancient Egyptians used to bring palm
branches into their houses during the mid winter
festivals.
In many parts of Europe during the
middle ages, Paradise plays were performed,
often on Christmas Eve. They told Bible stories
to people who couldn't read. The 'Paradise Tree'
in the garden of eden in the play was normally a
pine tree with red apples tied to it.
Now the most common use of green at
Christmas are Christmas Trees.
Red
As mentioned above, an early use of red at
Christmas were the apples on the paradise tree.
They represented the fall of Adam in the plays.
Red is also the color of Holly berries,
which is said to represent the blood of Jesus
when he died on the cross.
Red is also the color of Bishops robes.
These would have been worn by St. Nicholas
and then also became Santa's uniform!
Gold
Gold is the color of the Sun and light - both very
important in the dark winter. And both red and
gold are the colors of fire that you need to keep
you warm.
Gold was also one of the presents
brought to the baby Jesus by one of the wise
men and traditionally it's the color used to show
the star that the wise men followed.
Silver is sometimes used instead of (or
with) gold. But gold is a 'warmer' color.
White
White is often associated with purity and peace
in western cultures. The snow of winter is also
very white!
White paper wafers were also sometimes used to
decorate paradise trees. The wafers represented
the bread eaten during Christian Communion or
Mass, when Christians remember that Jesus died
for them.
White is used by most churches as the color of
Christmas, when the altar is covered with a
white cloth (in the Russian Orthodox Church
Gold is used for Christmas).
Blue
The color blue is often associated with Mary, the
mother of Jesus. In medieval times blue dye and
paint was more expensive than gold! So it would
only be worn by Royal families and very rich
people. Mary was often painted wearing blue to
show she was very important.
Blue can also represent the color of the
sky and heaven.
During Advent, purple and sometimes
blue is used in most churches fort he color of the
altar cloth (in the Russian Orthodox Church red
is used for advent). []
Traditions of Christmas
Bells
Bells, especially Church Bells, have
traditionally been associated with Christmas for
a long time. In the Anglican and Catholic
churches, the church day starts at sunset, so any
service after that is the first service of the day.
So a service on Christmas Eve after sunset is
traditionally the first service of Christmas day!
In churches that have a Bell or Bells, They are
often rung to signal the start of this service.
In some churches in the UK, it is
traditional that the largest bell in the church is
rung four times in the hour before midnight and
then at midnight all the bells are rung in
celebration.
In the Catholic Church, Christmas and
Easter are the only times that Mass is allowed to
be held at Midnight. It's traditional that at both
midnight Masses, the church and altar bells too
in many cases are rung while the Priest says the
"Gloria" (Gloria in excelsis Deo).
Having a Mass at Midnight at Christmas
dates back to the early church, when it was
believed that Jesus was born at midnight,
although there has never been any proof of this!
A lot of Churches have midnight services on
Christmas Eve, although not every church will
have a mass or communion as part of the
service.
In many Catholic countries such as
France, Spain and Italy, the midnight mass
service is very important and everyone tries to
go to a service.
In Victorian times, it was very
fashionable to go carol singing with small
handbells to play the tune of the carol.
Sometimes there would only be the bells and no
singing! Handbell ringing is still popular today.
The Tradition of Mistletoe
at Christmas
Mistletoe is a plant that grows on range of trees
including willow, apple and oak trees. The
tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to
the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to
possess mystical powers which bring good luck
to the household and wards off evil spirits. It
was also used as a sign of love and friendship in
Norse mythology and that's where the custom of
kissing under Mistletoe comes from.
When the first Christians came to
Western Europe, some tried to ban the use of
Mistletoe as a decoration in Churches, but many
still continued to use it! York Minster Church in
the UK used to hold a special Mistletoe Service
in the winter, where wrong doers in the city of
York could come and be pardoned.
The custom of kissing under Mistletoe
comes from England. The original custom was
that a berry was picked from the sprig of
Mistletoe before the person could be kissed and
when all the berries had gone, there could be no
more kissing!
The name mistletoe comes from two
Anglo Saxon words 'Mistel' (which means dung)
and 'tan' (which means) twig or stick! So you
could translate Mistletoe as 'poo on a stick'!!!
Not exactly romantic is it!
Mistletoe was also hung on the old
English decoration the Kissing Bough.
 2018 Directory of Who’s Who 19
THE ‘X’ ZONE DIRECTORY OF WHO’S WHO
2018 EDITION
IS HERE!

2018 Edition

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 20 Charles Dicken’s Inner Child
Charles Dickens’s Inner
Child
by Christopher Hitchens
Those who study Charles Dickens, or who keep
up the great cult of his admiration, had been
leading a fairly quiet life until a few years ago.
The occasional letter bobs to the surface, or a bit
of reminiscence is discovered, or perhaps some
fragment of a souvenir from his first or second
American tour. The pages of that agreeable little
journal The Dickensian remained easy to turn,
with little possibility of any great shock. At least
since The Invisible Woman, Claire Tomalin’s
definitive, 1991 exposure of the other woman in
Dickens’s life—the once enigmatic Nelly
Ternan—there hasn’t been any scandal or
revelation.
And then, in late 2002, The Dickensian
carried a little bombshell of a tale: it seemed
that in 1862, during Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s visit
to London, he had met Dickens. And not only
met him but elicited from him the exact
admission that we would all have wanted the
great man to make. Here is how it goes in En-
glish, as summarized by Dostoyevsky in an
1878 letter to a certain Stepan Dimitriyevich
Yanovsky. According to this, the two men met at
the offices of Dickens’s own personal magazine,
All the Year Round. And here’s how the
confessional session went:
He told me that all the good simple
people in his novels, Little Nell, even the holy
simpletons like Barnaby Rudge, are what he
wanted to have been, and his villains were what
he was (or rather, what he found in himself), his
cruelty, his attacks of causeless enmity towards
those who were helpless and looked to him for
comfort, his shrinking from those whom he
ought to love, being used up in what he wrote.
There were two people in him, he told me: one
who feels as he ought to feel and one who feels
the opposite. From the one who feels the
opposite I make my evil characters; from the
one who feels as a man ought to feel I try to live
my life. Only two people? I asked.
So convenient and neat was this package
that many first-time recipients endorsed it
without even bothering to cut the ribbon, let
alone ask why something as tasty as a
Dostoyevsky original had lain unscrutinized for
so long. Original? Come to think of it, where is
the Russian version? Between 1862 and 1878—
in other words, the dates of the meeting and the
report of it—what was S. D. Yanovsky doing to
busy himself? We know little about him, other
than that he treated the great writer’s
hemorrhoids. The Russian version of their
correspondence doesn’t seem at all traceable
now.
So it was sweet while it lasted, the rumor
of a meeting between two great literary titans:
an encounter that one of them didn’t even find
interesting enough to put in a letter. It could
have happened, but I doubt it. That’s the
wonderful thing about the celebration of
Charles Dickens: he truly is ranked among our
immortals, and it truly doesn’t matter if the
legend should sprout and then drop a
Dostoyevsky or two.
We can certainly count the coincidences
between his biography and his fiction among
the things that make Dickens eternally
fascinating. Opening his own memoir, the most
inept fictional narrator of my generation showed
that he was out of his depth by dismissing “all
that David Copperfield kind of crap.” Mr.
Holden Caulfield may one day be forgotten, but
the man who stumbled across the little boy
trapped in the sweatshop basement, and realized
their kinship, will never be. In the second
chapter of David Copperfield, and not in any
tongue-in-cheek exchange with the expert on
the lower depths of St. Petersburg, is where we
find the clue:
This may be fancy, though I think the
memory of most of us can go farther back into
such times than many of us suppose; just as I
believe the power of observation in numbers of
very young children to be quite wonderful for its
closeness and accuracy. Indeed, I think that
most grown men who are remarkable in this
respect, may with greater propriety be said not
to have lost the faculty, than to have acquired it;
the rather, as I generally observe such men to
retain a certain freshness, and gentleness, and
capacity of being pleased, which are also an
inheritance they have preserved from their
childhood.
(Continued on Page 21)
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 Charles Dicken’s Inner Child
Charles Dickens’s Inner
Child
Continued from Page 20
Charming, is it not—seductive even—
the manner in which that somewhat
overpunctuated Victorian sentence suddenly
gives way and yields a deposit of “freshness, and
gentleness, and capacity of being pleased.” It is
all there to emphasize the one central and polar
and critical point that Dickens wishes to enjoin
on us all: whatever you do—hang on to your
childhood! He was true to this in his fashion,
both in ways that delight me and in ways that do
not. He loved the idea of a birthday celebration,
being lavish about it, reminding people that they
were once unborn and are now launched. This is
bighearted, and we might all do a bit more of it.
It would help me to forgive, perhaps just a little,
the man who helped generate the Hallmark
birthday industry and who, with some of his less
imposing and more moistly sentimental prose
scenes in A Christmas Carol, took the Greatest
Birthday Ever Told and helped make it into the
near Ramadan of protracted obligatory
celebration now darkening our Decembers.
But imagine the power that Dickens had.
By a few brilliant strokes of the pen, he revived
and restored a popular festival and made it into
a sort of social solidarity: a common defense
against the Gradgrinds and the Bounderbys and
the men who had been responsible for the
misery of the Hungry Forties. For the first time,
the downtrodden English people were able to
see a celebrity, a man of wealth and fame, who
was on their side. We have verbatim reports—
sometimes in letters from the author himself—of
the speeches he made to enthusiastic crowds in
halls across the nation, just as we have the
author’s cue cards for the electrifying evenings
in 1869 when he staged the murder of Nancy by
Bill Sikes, so it’s clear that Dickens had the sort
of demagogic power that could have been
dangerous in other hands. It’s also quite clear
that he can’t have modeled a villain like Sikes,
or a heroine like Nell, on his own character. No,
he was drawing on much wider and deeper
sources of potency. The main one was the sheer
stubborn existence of so many people whom the
system had disregarded. Begin thinking about it
and you start to whisper a list to yourself: the
pathetic Jo, the crossing sweeper; Smike; Mr.
Micawber; Amy Dorrit; Mr. Dick—all of them
with pain to feel and a life to lead, and many of
them kept going (like poor Dick Swiveller) only
by a certain unique sense of humor and the
absurd. Dickens was able to mine this huge
resource of London life, becoming its conductor
and chronicler like nobody since Shakespeare
himself, and always remembering, as he noted in
the last stages of The Old Curiosity Shop, to
“keep the child in view.”
And here’s my birthday or anniversary
present to you. You can forget that sense of guilt
you have. The one about being not quite sure
which character is from which book. None of us
really knows, and there is no shame in it.
Probably Dickens himself wasn’t certain much
of the time. As Jane Smiley notices in Charles
Dickens:
The first ten parts of Oliver Twist were
written at the same time Dickens was writing the
last ten parts of Pickwick. Each section of Oliver
Twist ran to about eight thousand words, and
each section of Pickwick ran to about that or a
bit more, so Dickens was writing ninety pages a
month of these novels, while also working on
other essays, articles, speeches, and plays.
Evidence is that he would write the dark, ironic
chapters of Oliver Twist first, then the light,
comic chapters of Pickwick.
So it’s all right to confuse Podsnap and
Pecksniff, or to ask whether the incident of the
mutton chops in the fireplace is at Mrs.
Todgers’s establishment or Mrs. Jellyby’s, and
whether the missing baby belongs to either or
both of them, or to Mrs. Gamp—a character
over whom Dickens quite lost control. The same
goes for the settings: the Circumlocution Office
and the High Court of Chancery—indeed the
whole vast apparatus of the Jarndyce-and-
Jarndyce lawsuit—are all part of the same
narrative. Cut into it at any point and you have
taken a simultaneous tranche out of Sydney
Carton and the “infant phenomenon.” That
Dickens should have had the nerve to call
himself, simply, “the Inimitable” may seem
conceited. All right then, so it was.
We can’t hope to “read” all of Dickens
by the light of this single candle of access to
boyhood. He showed his biographer John
Forster a section from the autobiography he
never completed that said quite a lot about his
apprenticeship to the grime and shame of the
blacking factory so that Forster could write
about “the attraction of repulsion” as the spring
of David Copperfield, and indeed of everything
he wrote. This leaves a nice little area of
darkness in which we can speculate about the
motives of the lad as he maneuvers for his
liberty. On the other hand, we don’t have so
much guidance on which to rely when it comes
to the pallid, worried, wraithlike little girl who
slips disturbingly through so much of Dickens’s
fiction, taking here the shape of Little Dorrit,
and of Florence Dombey with her brother, and
then the infant Agnes and—above all—Little
Nell. It seems impossible that no such rapidly
evaporating diminutive female haunted
Dickens’s own life at some stage. Possibly he
simply and shrewdly “knew” that Victorian guilt
about the endangerment of such creatures was a
continuous “draw” (“Is Nell dead?” they say the
New York crowds cried out as the dreaded
installment of The Old Curiosity Shop was
freighted to the waiting wharf), but we have to
draw our own conclusions from scanty
evidence.
For instance, and from a deep boiling
layer of anxiety and rage that goes well beyond
anything Dostoyevsky might or might not have
been told about, we have the Dickens who wrote
to his best female friend, Angela Burdett-Coutts,
in 1857, telling her of his yearnings to
“exterminate” the Indian rebels against British
rule. We have the Dickens who joined his
friends Thomas Carlyle and Ruskin against
Darwin, T. H. Huxley, J. S. Mill, and the other
Victorian humanitarians, to support Governor
Eyre of Jamaica in his war of torture and
execution and reprisal against the rebels of that
country. We have—this is in some ways the
most depressing of all—Dickens’s surreptitious
hatred for Americans, even as he was making his
way from one scene of their immense hospitality
21
to the next in the 1840s. Admittedly, he had a
qualified beef with those Yankee publishers who
wouldn’t part with royalties, but this hardly
licences what he wrote in private to his friend
the actor William Macready about America’s
being “a low, coarse and mean nation” that was
“driven by a herd of rascals Pah! I never knew
what it was to feel disgust and contempt, ’till I
travelled in America.” The Dickens mean streak
is quite something when you strike it.
This renders it all the more impressive
when he tries to make restitution. For instance,
he was obviously very impressed when a
prominent Jewish lady, Mrs. Eliza Davis, wrote
him an anguished letter after the 1838
publication of Oliver Twist. She was obviously
terribly upset about the character of Fagin and
was not even quite willing to concede that some
Jews had been involved in the stolen-goods
racket. At any rate, Dickens went into the matter
and convinced himself that he’d been part of an
injustice. He thereupon did three things: He
softened the description of Fagin in later
versions of the book. When he himself took part
in public “readings” from the story, he
downplayed the “Jewish” characteristics of the
villain. And he then created a whole new
character to order. In Our Mutual Friend, we
encounter a Jewish moneylender named Mr.
Riah, who is friendly and helpful to Lizzie
Hexam and Jenny Wren. I admit that I find this
personage almost too altruistic to be true, but it
says something for Dickens, surely, that he
would take someone who had the same
occupation as the infamous Shylock, but none of
Shylock’s vices, and insert him at the heart of
business, at a time when vulgar prejudice was
easy to stir up. The story isn’t as well known as
it ought to be.
The next instance of the victory of the
large spirit comes from his second visit to the
United States, in 1867. Dickens did his very best
to clean up after himself, once again accepting
lavish hospitality, but this time not taking
revenge for it in a nasty, boring novel named
Martin Chuzzlewit or a cruel and hastily written
travelogue named “American Notes” (For
General Circulation), in which the not-too-
clever pun suggests that American currency is
bankrupt. Having successfully miscalculated the
exchange rate, Dickens publicly offered to
include a speech of praise for the U.S.A. in
reprints of his two books about the country—
and actually kept the promise even after the wild
applause had died away and he had gone back
home to England. Possibly he would not be an
American hero if he had not performed this now
forgotten act. But then, the “attraction-
repulsion” principle, of which he spoke so
readily, seems to have meant that he could
sometimes let himself be “claimed” by those—
from his neglected children to the mobs that he
so feared—who loved him in spite of himself.[]
22 The Voice

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 Christmas, Paranormal and Krampus 23
Christmas, Paranormal
Belief and Krampus.
by
Amberrose Hammond

Proof and belief. Two frustrating words that are

the crux of the paranormal enthusiast and
skeptic alike. “Show us the proof!” the skeptic’s
demand, shaking their fists in the air for added
emphasis. And while this may grate at the minds
of the paranormal believer out there, we’d all
love to to be able to show them that proof.
Someday. Maybe. Hopefully. Until then, all we
have is our good old fashioned faith.
There’s not another holiday that evokes
as much emotion, nostalgia and raw belief as
Christmas. Every adult has memories of
presents under the tree in the morning, believing
in Santa Claus or…the moment they found out
Santa Claus wasn’t real. I didn’t have that
moment of shock and horror, such as casually
finding my presents hidden under my parent’s
bed. I just stopped believing one year. My
cousin on the other hand, gripped onto the idea
of Santa Claus as if she were hanging over a
dark chasm filled with hungry wolves. She
refused…absolutely refused…to believe that
Santa wasn’t real and we were perhaps getting a
little too old to believe Santa was anything more
than a metaphor.
On Christmas day, we had the family get
together at her house. As soon as I arrived, she
would rush me upstairs to her bedroom every
year to show me what “Santa” got her. This day,
she proudly pointed to a new stereo set up in the
corner of her bedroom, complete with two tape
decks for recording and “high speed dubbing,”
an AM/FM radio, and a record player on top.
Two tower speakers were on each side of it. It
was 1991 and that stereo was damn awesome.
“Look what Santa got me!” she proudly
exclaimed, standing next to the stereo as if it was
her son on the first day of school. I looked at her,
shocked she had just said that.
microscope or in a lab somewhere. Belief in the months and around Christmas as a way to pass
“Santa didn’t get that for you…your
magical and miraculous around Christmas time the time. Ghost stories were immensely popular
parents did,” I bluntly said, not caring if feelings
is a little more tolerated and even encouraged. In in the mid 19th century and onward. Most
should be hurt. She looked at me, unblinking.
fact, Christmas used to be the time when ghost everyone is familiar on some level (unless you
“No…Santa got it for me,” she said
stories were shared. Go figure! live under a rock) with Charles Dicken’s, A
defiantly.
Christmas Carol from 1843, where Ebenezer
“Santa isn’t real,” I retorted back. But
Ghosts and Goblins at Christmas? Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas
she didn’t say anything more to defend herself
past, present and future. We can actually thank
and I decided it wasn’t worth it. If she wanted to
The history of Christmas is fascinating and has Victorian England for many of our current
still believe in Santa, I wasn’t going to fight her
its roots in ancient Pagan celebrations such as holiday traditions we still celebrate such as
on it.
the winter solstice and yule. Because December Christmas cards. For whatever reason, telling
The following Christmas she discovered
is the darkest time of the year, our ancestors ghost stories at Christmas became a forgotten
a Barbie toothbrush in her parents attic space.
believed that was the time of the year to be tradition and left for the month of October. But
She then received said toothbrush in her
scared of ghosts and goblins. It was dark and really, what a perfect time for a ghost story…
stocking from “Santa” on Christmas day. The
cold outside and obviously that made it easier when we are actually encouraged to believe in
cover was blown. Her belief in Santa went
for the dead to return and torment the living (as magic and unseen forces working behind the
straight out the chimney he used to come down
if cold and darkness weren’t enough already.) scenes in our great, big world.
and she joined the millions of kids who have to
go through the crushing realization that Santa The winter solstice symbolically celebrated the
death of the Earth and its coming rebirth with (Continued on Page 24)
isn’t real. As we grow up, we are told a lot of
things are not real that we used to believe were the returning sunlight and spring season ahead.
just as true as the sun rising everyday. For the ancients, death was a central To one and all
As I grew up and became more and more theme in December. It was the perfect time for a
obsessed with paranormal topics, I found myself ghosts and December 24 was considered the VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
starting to believe in the unbelievable again, or time when the veil was thinnest and the dead
the things we are encouraged not to believe in could easily pass from their world into ours. and a
because they cannot be proven under a The English Victorian’s used to tell ghost HAPPY 2018 NEW YEAR
stories around the hearth in the cold winter
 24 Are the Ghosts of Christmas Real?
Christmas, Paranormal
Belief and Krampus.
Continued from Page 23
Paranormal Christmas Superstitions
If you are born on Christmas, you can not die by
drowning or hanging. Lucky you!
If you are born on Christmas, you are
more prone to seeing the dead. Other versions
say the dead will never bother you if born on
this day. So I guess you’ll have to talk to
someone born on Christmas and get their
opinion on this one.
Think a few evil spirits are lurking
around your home? Open the doors of your
house on Christmas Eve at midnight and let
those wild spirits fly out into the night sky! Or
the first to open the door on Christmas needs to
yell “Welcome Father Christmas!” and then the
bad spirits will be let out.
Candle’s left to burn over night in the
window or windows of a house ensured good
luck. If the candle is blown out in the
morning…well…it’s just not good. Not good at
all for you.
If you deny someone a kiss under the
mistletoe, bad luck is sure to find you and don’t
replace the mistletoe until next year with new
mistletoe, or more bad luck will find you.
While researching facts about the
history of Christmas, I found the most
awesome, Krampas. Krampas is terrifying and
his main purpose is to punish bad children,
while St. Nicholas rewards them. It’s a classic
God/Devil, Good/Evil, Dark/Light metaphor.
His popularity is mostly in European, Alpine
towns. Some speculate Krampas is a pre-
Christian entity and this guy is totally his own
Black Metal band, complete with goat horns,
black body hair, cloven hooves, a long pointed
tongue and chains he whips around. It doesn’t
get any more metal than that.
Krampas whips his chains around, stuffs
kids into bags to steal them away, eats kids if
he’s hungry enough and has been known to beat
bad children with birth sticks like in the old 19th
century postcard pictured above.
On December 5, 2015, many places in
Europe hold Krampusnacht or “Krampas Night”
parades that are pretty amazing on the costume
scale.
Hopefully you’ve been slightly
enlightened now with some strange facts about
Christmas to share with the family this holiday.
Now go listen to that song by Journey “Don’t
Stop Believin,” and yell the chorus over the
rooftops. Because when we stop believing in
things, this world becomes a pretty dull place to
live in. []
Are The Ghosts of
Christmas Real?
by CNY Paranormal
In popular culture, ghosts generally take on one
of two roles. They are either portrayed as a
figure of fear, as in horror movies; or are
portrayed as a moral compass, serving as a role
model, or a harbinger of things to come. This
second is usually found in Christmas movies,
where ghosts appear to guide characters to a
better (and usually heartwarming) future.
The most famous example of this is a
Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens.
This novella was then turned in to multitudes of
movies, and adapted to fit many scenarios, all
which involve a character heading down a bad
path and ‘ghosts’ (sometimes actual, and
sometimes metaphorical) helping them get back
on the right path.Looking at the original, there
are four ghosts that Ebenezer Scrooge
encounters on his journey. These are the ghosts
of Christmas past, present, and future, as well as
his deceased partner Jacob Marley.
From the perspective of a paranormal
investigator, the identities of these ghosts
become clear.
Jacob Marley, the first ghost we
encounter, is someone that Scrooge is familiar
with. He lived a life similar to Scrooge’s, and
has come to warn him, and try and get him to
change. Marley is the instigator of the entire
paranormal experience. It is believed that once
a person dies, they see their life, and the
decisions they make in that life, more clearly. It
is apparent that Marley, with the perspective
gained on the other side, regrets his choices, and
puts Scrooge on the path to changing his life.
The Ghost of Christmas Past is
portrayed as an androgynous person, with a
flame-like light on its head. It’s purpose in the
story is to illuminate Scrooge’s past, to show
him his past experiences, and what made him
hate Christmas so much. This spirit falls into the
intelligent haunting category. Spirits, because
they are made from energy, are able to
manipulate the electrical field of the living,
giving them whatever mental images and
messages the spirit desires. While Ebenezer is
under the impression that they are traveling
through time to his childhood, the spirit is most
likely manipulating Ebenezer’s thoughts so he
believes he is an independent observer of his
childhood memories.
The Ghost of Christmas Present is
similarly an intelligent haunting. He is
portrayed in a manner close to how Father
Christmas is portrayed. He represents the Spirit
of Christmas, and as such, provides Scrooge
with images of joyful Christmases. He also
provides Scrooge with warnings about the path
he is currently on, and the consequences of this
path. It seems that this Ghost is also
manipulating Scrooge’s thoughts to give him
the idea that he is traveling to different
locations.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is
the final ghost Scrooge encounters. This spirit
seems more like an entity. He has the physical
appearance of Death, and leads Scrooge around
soundlessly, refusing to answer any of his
questions. This Ghost shows Scrooge the future,
most importantly his own death, alone and
unloved, and the untimely death of Tiny Tim
Cratchett. It is these horrifying visions that
cement Scrooge’s determination to become a
better person. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Come returns Scrooge to his home, where he
wakes up on Christmas, determined to change
his ways.
Looking at these ghosts deeper doesn't
change the ultimate point of the story, which is
to live life in a generous manner, and embrace
the spirit of giving and kindness not just one day
a year, but every day. We hope that all of our
readers have a happy holidays, filled with
kindness and giving.[]
This is Stephanie McConnell, Senior
Producer, wishing all the guests and
listeners of The ‘X’ Zone Radio & TV
Show, and all the member of the world
wide ‘X’ Zone Nation, a Very Merry
Christmas and Spirituality and Love
filled New Year and every year here
after.
From my family, Ronnie,
Victoria, Brooklyn and Olivia, MERRY
CHRISTMAS everyone.
 A Charlie Brown Christmas Is A Classic
What Makes A CHARLIE
BROWN CHRISTMAS a
Classic?
By Michael Walsh
The best part of Christmas is watching the same
beloved holiday movies again, and this year
we’re paying tribute to our favorites by
breaking down everything that makes them an
annual must-watch. In this Classic Christmas
Movie Breakdown we’re looking at the the story
of a child struggling to enjoy the holiday thanks
to the commercialization of the season, A
Charlie Brown Christmas.
If you want to see how much the world of
entertainment has changed over 50 years, watch
this 1965 commercial for A Charlie Brown
Christmas. CBS would get inundated with
complaints from confused viewers if they used
the word “impudent” in an ad today. Yet this
classic is timeless because its themes–the
corruption of the true spirit of Christmas and
battling depression–are as relevant today as they
were when it first aired. And despite being a
cartoon for kids, Charlie’s struggles with
isolation are relatable to many who struggle
during the holiday season. But those all too
familiar problems are why the ending is as
powerful now as it ever was. A Charlie Brown
Christmas presents the issues of the season
honestly, and then delivers a hopeful message
about why things can get better.
Isn’t there anyone who knows what A
Charlie Brown Christmas is all about?
Sure, I can tell you what this holiday
classic is all about.
Does Santa appear? Is he real?
No sign of Santa, not even one of his “helpers.”
There are wonderful winter touches to help set
the right holiday mood though, like a frozen
pond full of kids ice skating, a school Christmas
pageant, and decorations across the snow-
covered town.
Do any magical creatures talk? This could be
a matter of semantics, because there are no
magical creatures to be found here like in Frosty
or Rudolph. However Snoopy does the
following things: decorates his dog house with
Christmas lights, goes ice skating, reads the
newspaper, dances, and does spot-on
impressions of other animals. Maybe that’s not
magical, but that is one amazing dog.
Are there any religious components? Maybe
more than any other Christmas movie except
It’s A Wonderful Life which features a real
angel and a literal act of God, A Charlie Brown
Christmas wouldn’t be as beloved without its
connections to the Christian holiday. At first the
kids Christmas pageant is another example of
how the holiday’s true meaning has been lost, as
the children ignore their director Charlie and
only worry about the size of their roles. But
Charlie hits his breaking point after his sad little
tree is mocked for not being a fancy shiny
aluminum one. He screams, asking if anyone
knows what Christmas is all about. What
follows is one of the best moments in Christmas
movie history, as Linus recites a passage from
the Book of Luke about the birth of Christ. But
it doesn’t matter what religion you may or may
not follow, because the message Linus is
sharing is one of hope for all humanity and the
dream mankind will find peace on Earth.
How lovable is the main character? If you
don’t love Charlie Brown, I don’t know what to
tell you. Charlie Brown is the best. He spends
most of this special depressed because he can’t
find the same happiness in Christmas that
everyone else does. His sister Sally sees the
holiday as her opportunity to cash in on good
behavior, while his dog Snoopy is concerned
with winning the local Christmas decoration
competition. Meanwhile all of the other kids
treat Charlie like crap, and make fun of his tree.
But because Charlie is the best, he
manages to overcome all of that when Linus
reminds him Christmas isn’t about yourself and
what you can get, it’s about spreading good
cheer to others. That’s when Charlie realizes
he’s not the one with the problem, which
inspires everyone else to spread some good
cheer his way.
He might be a blockhead, but he’s a
lovable one.
How evil is the villain? There is no pure villain
to be found here, although most of the kids are
so awful to Charlie Brown you’ll find yourself
wondering if it’s okay to hate an eight year old.
(It is. It definitely is.) The true villain is the
commercialization of Christmas, which is
responsible for Charlie’s problems, and is still
an issue for many.
How sincere or cynical is the movie
about Christmas?
It’s very cynical about how Christmas
can be corrupted into a greedy contest to see
who can soak Santa for the most gifts, and who
can decorate their home with the gaudiest light
display. But between Linus’s speech and the
way the kids finally come together to show
some love to Charlie and his tree, it’s ultimately
a sincere story about the message of hope and
25
peace Christmas was founded on.
Does anyone sing? Is there a big group sing
along? It ends with the kids singing “Hark! The
Herald Angels Sing.” It’s a wonderful ending to
a beautifully crafted story.
What are the biggest Christmas themes? The
corruption of the true meaning of Christmas,
peace on Earth, and good will towards men. We
call those the big ones.
Most memorable quote? “That’s what
Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” Yes it is.
Best scene? The final scene, after Charlie thinks
he has killed his tree but the other kids fix it up,
all singing together. But it’s not the absolute
best, because that goes to moment that is also
the answer to our final question.
Most emotional moment? It’s not only that
Linus cuts through the commercialization of
Christmas with a simple message to remind us
that for one day a year we can all unite to make
life better for others, it’s the immediate effect it
has on Charlie’s spirits. It’s poignant, beautiful,
and hopeful.
There’s a reason A Charlie Brown
Christmas has aired on TV every single
Christmas season since its premiere: it has a
message we need to hear every year to help us
get through the next one.
Gift wrap your thoughts for us and place
them under our comments section below. []
 26 15 Best Christmas Carols
The 15 Best Christmas
Carols (Religious)
15. “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

14. “I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)”

13. “The Little Drummer Boy (Carol of the

Drum)”

12. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

11. “The First Noel”

10. “Joy to the World”
9. “Good King Wenceslas”
8. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
7. “Angels We Have Heard on High”
6. “Silent Night”
THE ‘X’ ZONE RADIO SHOW
with ROB McCONNELL
From the world of the PARANORMAL to the science of PARAPSYCHOLOGY - Welcome to
The 'X' Zone.... a place where Fact is Fiction and Fiction is Reality where Canadian broadcaster,
the host, creator and executive producer, Rob McConnell has been at the helm of this
Internationally syndicated terrestrial radio and satellite programming since 1991.
Since 1992, Rob has interviewed more than 4,100 guests, all of who can be view at
www.rmmcpublishing.com/guestsofthex.

5. “We Three Kings of Orient Are”
4. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
3. “What Child is This?”
To read what guests have said about their visit to The 'X' Zone Radio/TV Show, go to
www.rmmcpublishing.com/guestcomments.
To contact Rob McConnell - Email - robmcconnell@xzbn.net

2. “O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)”

1. “O Holy Night” www.XZBN.net

Honorable Mentions:

• “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

• “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”

• “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

• “Away in a Manger”

• “Once in Royal David’s City”

• “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming”

• “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella”

• “All I Want For Christmas Are My Two A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Front Teeth” with DR. KEVIN RANDLE
• “The Hoola-Hoop Song” DR KEVIN RANDLE, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel who served combat tours as a
helicopter pilot in Vietnam and an intelligence officer in Iraq. He has been studying UFOs for
• “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” nearly fifty years. He has investigated some of the most famous UFO cases including the
Levelland sightings and series of sightings over Washington, D.C. in 1952. He has been
• “The Christmas Song” consulted for dozens of documentaries about UFOs and has made presentations to dozens of
colleges and other organizations. He is considered one of the leading experts into the Roswell
• “O Christmas Tree” UFO crash of 1947. He had written more than 25 books about UFOs including the recently
published Roswell in the 21st Century and hosts a blog, KevinRandle.blogspot.com. To contact
• “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” Dr Kevin Randle - Email - drkevinrandle@xzbn.net

• “Christmas Shoes” Past Guests Include: Don Schmitt, Philip Mantle, Peter Robbins, Nick Redfern, Don Ecker, Jan
Harzan, John Greenwald, Barry Greenwood, Lorna Hunter, Lance Moody, Don Ledger, Paul
• “Where Are You Christmas?” Kimball, Chris Rutkowski, Col. Charles Halt, Curt Collins, and many others.

• “White Christmas”

• “Holly Jolly Christmas”

From Channel 365 - channel365.com

www.XZBN.net
 Know the Name, Know the Person 27

Know the Name

Know the Person
What does your name say about you?
What’s in a name?

More than most of us realize. Discover personality secrets

hidden in the arrangement of the letters in names. In our busy
world, we must make decisions about people quickly, to hire or
not; to share personal information, or not; to do a business
transaction or not; to trust with money or not. Often there is not
enough time to know the person sufficiently before making a
decision that could cost both time and money along with one’s
reputation. Knowing what to look for in a name provides an
immediate insight into others, as well as our own, personality
traits. This is a must read for everyone who wishes to have
insights into others.

After reading this book, you will be able to analyze any name.
By learning Neimology you will:
• Find out how first, middle and last names, as well as nicknames, affect behavior and thinking.
• Realize potential conflicts with others and how to avoid them.
• Discover how to meet and connect with someone immediately.
• Know what types of gifts are appreciated.
• Learn how to sell to people in a style so that they will want to buy.
• Learn how to quickly access strengths and identify what support is required for
yourself and others in order to succeed.
• Become an excellent conversationalist depending on the name of the person you are addressing.

We are our names. Recognize what others reveal in their names, and what others immediately
know about you, once you know Neimology.

Neimology: The study of the placement of the letters in a name and how they interact with each
other to reveal hidden secrets about one’s character.
Visit www.KnowtheName.com & Available at Amazon.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: As the creator of Neimology® Science, Sharón Lynn Wyeth has supported
thousands of people around the world in understanding themselves and others better. In her seventh
year of teaching math, having been a math major herself, she noticed that she was getting impressions
of how a student would behave when she was making seating charts at the start of the year from the
person’s name. Her curiosity led her to write down her impressions, as she wanted to get to know her
students for who they were. After three months of teaching she read her initial impressions and was
amazed at the accuracy. Generally Joshua's were brilliant and a bit obnoxious, Stephanies were
stubborn, and Rachels pretty, etc. She followed her fifteen years of research conducted in forty-nine of
the States with three years of field work in over seventy countries testing her theories. Everywhere she
spoke people asked how to find out more information so she wrote the Amazon bestseller, "KNOW
THE NAME, KNOW THE PERSON: Decoding Letters to Reveal Secrets Hidden in Names". Her
book has garnered frequent praise and has earned a Literary Excellence Award. Wyeth is an educator
and former school administrator, and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows. Sharón
also teaches and certifies people to become Neimology® Scientists. Available on Amazon.com.
 28 The Bibilical Star of Bethlehem
Can Astronomy Explain
The Biblical Star of
Bethlehem?
Bright stars top Christmas trees in Christian
homes around much of the world. The faithful
sing about the Star of Wonder that guided the
wise men to a manger in the little town of
Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. They’re
commemorating the Star of Bethlehem
described by the Evangelist Matthew in the
New Testament. Is the star’s biblical description
a pious fiction or does it contain some
astronomical truth?
Puzzles For Astronomy
To understand the Star of Bethlehem, we need
to think like the three wise men. Motivated by
this “star in the east,” they first traveled to
Jerusalem and told King Herod the prophecy
that a new ruler of the people of Israel would be
born. We also need to think like King Herod,
who asked the wise men when the star had
appeared, because he and his court, apparently,
were unaware of any such star in the sky.
These events present us with our first
astronomy puzzle of the first Christmas: How
could King Herod’s own advisors have been
unaware of a star so bright and obvious that it
could have led the wise men to Jerusalem?
Next, in order to reach Bethlehem, the
wise men had to travel directly south from
Jerusalem; somehow that “star in the east”
“went before them, ‘til it came and stood over
where the young child was.” Now we have our
second first-Christmas astronomy puzzle: How
can a star “in the east” guide our wise men to the
south? The north star guides lost hikers to the
north, so shouldn’t a star in the east have led the
wise men to the east?
And we have yet a third first-Christmas
astronomy puzzle: How does Matthew’s star
move “before them,” like the tail lights on the
snowplow you might follow during a blizzard,
and then stop and stand over the manger in
Bethlehem, inside of which supposedly lies the
infant Jesus?
What Could The ‘Star In The East’ Be?
The astronomer in me knows that no star can do
these things, nor can a comet, or Jupiter, or a
supernova, or a conjunction of planets or any
other actual bright object in the nighttime sky.
One can claim that Matthew’s words describe a
miracle, something beyond the laws of physics.
But Matthew chose his words carefully and
wrote “star in the east” twice, which suggests
that these words hold a specific importance for
his readers.
Can we find any other explanation,
consistent with Matthew’s words, that doesn’t
require that the laws of physics be violated and
that has something to do with astronomy? The
answer, amazingly, is yes.
Astrological Answers To Astronomical
Puzzles
Astronomer Michael Molnar points out that “in
the east” is a literal translation of the Greek
phrase en te anatole, which was a technical term
used in Greek mathematical astrology 2,000
years ago. It described, very specifically, a
planet that would rise above the eastern horizon
just before the Sun would appear. Then, just
moments after the planet rises, it disappears in
the bright glare of the Sun in the morning sky.
Except for a brief moment, no one can see this
“star in the east.”
We need a little bit of astronomy
background here. In a human lifetime, virtually
all the stars remain fixed in their places; the
stars rise and set every night, but they do not
move relative to each other. The stars in the Big
Dipper appear year after year always in the
same place. But the planets, the Sun, and the
Moon wander through the fixed stars; in fact,
the word planet comes from the Greek word for
wandering star. Though the planets, Sun and
Moon move along approximately the same path
through the background stars, they travel at
different speeds, so they often lap each other.
When the Sun catches up with a planet, we can’t
see the planet, but when the Sun passes far
enough beyond it, the planet reappears.
And now we need a little bit of astrology
background. When the planet reappears again
for the first time, and rises in the morning sky
just moments before the Sun, for the first time in
many months after having been hidden in the
Sun’s glare for those many months, that
moment is known to astrologers as a heliacal
rising. A heliacal rising, that special first
reappearance of a planet, is what en te anatole
referred to in ancient Greek astrology. In
particular, the reappearance of a planet like
Jupiter was thought by Greek astrologers to be
symbolically significant for anyone born on that
day.
Thus, the “star in the east” refers to an
astronomical event with supposed astrological
significance in the context of ancient Greek
astrology.
What about the star parked directly
above the first crèche? The word usually
translated as “stood over” comes from the
Greek word epano, which also had an important
meaning in ancient astrology. It refers to a
particular moment when a planet stops moving
and changes apparent direction from westward
to eastward motion. This occurs when the Earth,
which orbits the Sun more quickly than Mars or
Jupiter or Saturn, catches up with, or laps, the
other planet.
Together, a rare combination of
astrological events (the right planet rising
before the Sun; the Sun being in the right
constellation of the zodiac; plus a number of
other combinations of planetary positions
considered important by astrologers) would
have suggested to ancient Greek astrologers a
regal horoscope and a royal birth.
Wise Men Looking To The Skies
Molnar believes that the wise men were, in fact,
very wise and mathematically-adept
astrologers. They also knew about the Old
Testament prophecy that a new king would be
born of the family of David. Most likely, they
had been watching the heavens for years,
waiting for alignments that would foretell the
birth of this king. When they identified a
powerful set of astrological portents, they
decided the time was right to set out to find the
prophesied leader.
If Matthew’s wise men actually
undertook a journey to search for a newborn
king, the bright star didn’t guide them; it only
told them when to set out. And they wouldn’t
have found an infant swaddled in a manger.
After all, the baby was already 8 months old by
the time they decoded the astrological message
they believed predicted the birth of a future
king. The portent began on April 17 of 6 B.C.
(with the heliacal rising of Jupiter that morning,
followed, at noon, by its lunar occultation in the
constellation Aries) and lasted until December
19 of 6 B.C. (when Jupiter stopped moving to
the west, stood still briefly, and began moving
to the east, as compared with the fixed
background stars). By the earliest time the men
could have arrived in Bethlehem, the baby Jesus
would likely have been at least a toddler.
Matthew wrote to convince his readers
that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. Given
the astrological clues embedded in his gospel,
he must have believed the story of the Star of
Bethlehem would be convincing evidence for
many in his audience. []
Online Shamanic Classes 29
30 So, We’re Still Here. Now What?
 5 True, Old-Fashioned Christmas Miracles 31
5 True, Old-Fashioned
Christmas Miracles That
Will Restore Your Hope
for The Holidays

These true stories from readers like you

prove that a well-timed letter, a handful
of pennies, or a single gust of wind can
make an ordinary Christmas a
cherished memory.

The Mail Train’s Gift: A Life-Changing

Message

My mother told me this story from World War I

many years ago. Christmas 1917 was coming,
but because her brother Archie Clikeman was
missing in action and presumed dead, the family
was not going to celebrate.
windows. plaza.
The townspeople of Parker, South
Santa poked his head through a window The streets were streaming with aimless
Dakota, always joked that the small-town
and said to our kids, “Oh, there you are! I was servicemen, all missing the joy and solace of
postmaster read all the postcards whenever the
wondering where I’d find you tonight.” being home for Christmas.
mail train came into town. On that Christmas
Naturally, the kids were thrilled to We began singing familiar Christmas
Eve, he lived up to his reputation.
pieces. They made sure we told Santa which songs, and in a short time, the volume increased
The family was always grateful that the
motel we were staying at so he could find them. markedly. I climbed up onto the rim of the
postmaster, instead of waiting for the rural mail
My wife and I had tucked away gifts for the trip, fountain to an astonishing sight—a sea of
to go out the day after Christmas, called my
as we knew we wouldn’t have time to shop servicemen on the plaza singing with all their
grandmother and told her that Archie was being
along the way. hearts. When a song ended, I started another,
held as a prisoner of war. Archie even wrote on
The cartop carrier and out-of-state just beginning the words, and it was
the postcard that he was well.
license plate might have been a giveaway, but immediately picked up.
Of course, my mother said, that turned
whatever it was, that Santa really made We sang every traditional song I could
out to be the best Christmas ever. Archie came
Christmas 1961 a memorable one for our kids. think of and didn’t leave the servicemen until
home after the war and lived to a ripe old age.
— Dave Grinstead, Bellingham, Washington near midnight, carrying a beautiful memory
— Kay Johnson, Parker, South Dakota
with us. — Winnie Phillips Stark, Modesto,
Fate Threw a Tree at Us California
Our Pennies Made All the Difference
During the hustle and bustle of Christmastime The First 23-Week Preemie to Survive in
Many years ago, when I was making 75 cents an
1958, we told our children, ages 3 and 4, about More Than A Decade
hour, my three children asked for bicycles for
the beautiful Christmas tree we would have in a
Christmas, but I couldn’t afford them.
few days. On Christmas Eve, at the bakery we A few years ago, we wrote of the miraculous
So that January, I put three bikes on
had recently purchased, we counted the receipts, survival of a baby born at 26 weeks. This year
layaway. I paid all through the year, but a week
cleaned the shop and headed for home with our we have Samuel Rodriguez, born in April at just
before Christmas, I still owed $14.50. The
two sleepy children. 23 weeks and three days, the result of a
Saturday before Christmas, my son Ricky asked
Suddenly, we remembered we had not spontaneous placental abruption (separation of
how much I needed. When I told him, he asked
gotten a tree. We looked for a vendor who might the placenta from the uterus). All Samuel's
if he could pour the pennies out of the penny jug
have a tree left, to no avail. mom, Jennifer Freseda of Tioga Texas,
we kept.
About a mile from home, we stopped for remembers is waking up to labor pains and
I said, “Son, I don’t care, but I know
a red light. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and rushing to the hospital (Medical City, Plano),
there’s not $14.50 worth of pennies in there.”
something hit the front of our truck. My where she learned her baby's sole chance of
Ricky poured them out, counted them,
husband went out to investigate. survival was emergency C-section (these are the
and said, “Mom, there’s $15.50 worth of
The next thing I knew, my husband was myths and facts about C-sections you should
pennies.” Ecstatic, I told him to count out $1 for
throwing a good-sized evergreen into the back know about). Sam actually took a breath upon
gas so I could go get the bikes.
of the truck. He went into the mom-and-pop emerging, but doctors immediately intubated
I’ve always thought of this as our little
store at the corner where we were and asked the and rushed him to the Neonatal Intensive Care
miracle. It was as blessed a Christmas as anyone
proprietor how much he wanted for the tree. He Unit (NICU). When Jennifer and her husband
could ever have. — Dot Williams, Canton,
said he wasn’t selling Christmas trees that year. were finally allowed to see their baby, Jennifer
Georgia
We never did find out how the tree got in nearly collapsed from the shock. "He was the
the middle of the road, but somehow we feel we tiniest thing, hooked up to all these wires. I was
Santa Found Us on the Road
know. Incidentally, it was the most beautiful frightened and powerless."
tree we have ever had. — Gertrude Albert, Samuel spent four months in NICU,
At Christmastime, in 1961, our family was on
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during which he had two surgeries, including
the way from Seattle to a new assignment on the
surgery to correct a heart abnormality. On
East Coast, and we checked into a motel in
Our Carols Hit the Right Ears August 9, the day before his actual due date,
Watertown, South Dakota. It was not the best
Samuel was discharged from the hospital, a
time to travel with young children, who were
I was with a small group of young guys and gals healthy baby boy, albeit with an apnea monitor
concerned about Santa finding us on the road.
caroling on Christmas Eve, in 1942 San Diego, and supplemental oxygen. "I didn't even know
We headed into town to find a store, and
California. We wandered downtown to babies so small could survive," Jennifer
as our car approached an intersection, there was
Broadway, the main street, and stopped at a marvels.[]
a Santa right in the crosswalk! He held up his
block of green grass with a fountain on the
hand for us to stop, and we rolled down our
 32 Talking Animals That Became A Legend
How Talking Animals
Became a Christmas
Legend
BY Maureen Monahan

For all its very logical and sensible legends and

traditions, Christmas has quite a few strange
ones too (like, say, gravity-defying reindeer).
Some rare bits of Christmas mythology are even
stranger still, like the one that claims that at the
stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, animals
gain the power of speech.
The legend—most common in parts of
Europe—has been applied to farm animals and
household pets alike, and operates on the belief
that Jesus’s birth occurred at exactly midnight Henderson’s 1879 book Folk-lore of the
on Christmas Day, leading to various Northern Counties of England and their Borders "Mary Did You Know"
supernatural occurrences. Many speculate that recounts the legend that, on Christmas Eve, bees
the myth has pagan roots, or may have morphed assemble into a type of choir:
(originally by Mark
from the belief that the ox and donkey in the
Nativity stable bowed down when Jesus was
“Thus the Rev. Hugh Taylor writes: ‘A Lowry (lyrics) and
man of the name of Murray died about the age
born. In any case, the story has since taken on a of ninety, in the parish of Earsdon, Buddy Greene (melody))
life of its own, with variations ranging from In some cases, the myth of the singing
sweet to scary. bees circles back to that of the kneeling oxen:
According to The Christmas Troll and “[…]In the parish of Whitebeck, in Cuberland, Mary, did you know
other Yuletide Stories by Clement A. Miles, bees are said to sing at midnight as soon as the that your Baby Boy would one day walk on
variations of the legend can be surprisingly day of the Nativity begins, and also that oxen water?
sinister for holiday lore. One tells the story of kneel in their stalls at the same day and hour.” Mary, did you know
vengeful pets plotting against their masters, like So, singing bees, plotting pets, that your Baby Boy would save our sons and
this tale from Brittany: clairvoyant horses, praying oxen, and more, all daughters?
“Once upon a time there was a to illustrate the power of Christmas Eve—short Did you know
woman who starved her cat and dog. At of supernatural power, it certainly has a strong that your Baby Boy has come to make you
midnight on Christmas Eve she heard the dog hold on the collective human imagination. [] new?
say to the cat, ‘It is quite time we lost our
This Child that you delivered will soon
mistress; she is a regular miser. To-night
deliver you.
burglars are coming to steal her money; and if
she cries out they will break her head.’
Mary, did you know
‘Twill be a good deed,’ the cat replied.
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind
The woman in terror got up to go to a
man?
neighbor's house; as she went out the burglars
Mary, did you know
opened the door, and when she shouted for help
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with
they broke her head.”
His hand?
And then there’s “The Friendly Beasts,”
Did you know
a lighter version of the legend in the form of a
that your Baby Boy has walked where
Christmas carol. The hymn takes a less literal
angels trod?
approach to the “talking animals” theory,
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed
instead focusing more on the connection each
the face of God?
animal had to Jesus’s birth: “’I,’ said the
donkey, shaggy and brown, ‘I carried His
Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo
mother up hill and down; ‘I,’ said the cow, all
white and red, ‘I gave Him my manger for His
The blind will see.
head,’” and so on with the sheep and dove. The
The deaf will hear.
song’s origins purportedly lie in a mostly-
The dead will live again.
forgotten French medieval feast day, The Fete
The lame will leap.
de L’Ane, or “The Feast of the Ass,” which
The dumb will speak
honors Mary, Jesus, and Joseph’s flight into
The praises of The Lamb.
Egypt, and the donkey who transported them.
The carol was born of an early Latin hymn
Mary, did you know
commonly sung at the feast, “Orientis partibus
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Adventavit asinus," or “From the East the ass
Mary, did you know
has come,” which included a chorus of “Hail,
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the
Sir donkey, hail!”
nations?
The variations of Christmas legend
Did you know
about special or supernatural animal behavior
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect
are diverse and far-reaching, and not all
Lamb?
necessarily involve animals speaking. In John
The sleeping Child you're holding is the
Howison’s 1821 Sketches of Upper Canada,the
great "I am"
author recounts a Native American who told
him that “[It’s] Christmas night and all deer fall
upon their knees to the Great Spirit.” William
 Christmas Belongs To The Poor
Christmas Belongs To The
Poor
By Jeff Goins
For years, I never understood Christmas.
Admittedly, I was a bit of a Scrooge. It just
seemed like the whole thing was a farce.
Every made-for-TV movie I watched
between Thanksgiving and New Year’s preached
the same gospel: “It’s not about presents.” But
then, every Christmas morning, I was inundated
with presents. It didn’t make sense. Someone
was lying.
My parents, and probably yours, would
conclude every Dec. 25 with the same nervous
question: “So… did you get everything you
wanted?”
Are you kidding me? Everything I
wanted? Is this what we want to teach our
children about life? That you can get everything
you want?
I remember being a kid. I never got
everything I wanted. (Thank God.) My parents
had the best of intentions at heart. Most do. But
this is telling of our culture.
Maybe it’s America. Maybe it’s
humanity at its most broken. But I shudder to
think of the implications of that phrase:
everything you want.
Over the years, I’ve grown cynical of
Christmas. I’ve run out of good gift ideas, gotten
fed up with the shopping mall feeding frenzy
and been downright angry at ungrateful people.
It’s made me want to write off the whole
ridiculous holiday. (Told you I was a Scrooge.)
But there’s another story to tell.
When Mary finds out she’s pregnant
with the Jesus, she sings a song—a pretty
interesting one:
He has brought down rulers from their
thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good
things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his
descendants forever, even as he said to our
fathers. (Luke 1:52-55)
When I first read this, I swear I heard
Santa Claus instantly drop dead of a heart attack.
“He has sent the rich away empty …” Does that
sound like everything you wanted? Not quite.
God loves the poor. He is among them.
And if we are going to celebrate the birth of His
Son with any sense of conscience, we must be
with them, as well.
A few years ago, I spent the month of
December hanging out with a community of
homeless men and women who lived under a
bridge in downtown Nashville. My friend Paul
and I brought them candy canes, shoes and
coats. Sure, we gave them gifts. But they gave us
a gift we could never repay: They opened our
eyes to the spirit of Christmas.
As it turns out, it’s not about holiday
specials and sugar cookies. Nor is it about
getting everything you ever wanted. Through
the dirty and downtrodden and nearly forgotten,
I learned what Dec. 25 is really about:
compassion.
I caught an old rerun of Frasier the other
night. It was a Christmas episode. On the show,
Frasier meets a homeless man who tells him,
rather pointedly, what Christmas is all about:
“The rest of the year belongs to rich people with
their fancy houses and expensive foreign cars,
but Christmas, Christmas belongs to guys like
us.”
Frasier forgets his wallet and can’t cover
the cost of his meal. The homeless man and his
friends cover it. This is the great irony and
paradox of Christmas, of learning to live
compassionately: We don’t give to the poor;
they give to us.
One Sunday afternoon in 2007, I drove a
car full of Christmas presents to a small rented
house in south Nashville. A family of three lived
in that home—without a phone, sometimes
without heat and seemingly without hope.
A week before, this family didn’t think
they were going to be able to have Christmas at
all that year. But there was another story to be
told.
A church group of about 30 people
banded together to buy gifts, food, toys and
more for this family. The best Christmas gift I
received that year—maybe ever—was the look
on the two children’s faces as I pulled up in my
Buick, the back seat and trunk full of presents
from perfect strangers.
“How could this be?” they marveled.
They were told Santa wasn’t coming this year.
This had to be magic. And indeed it was.
After a long hiatus, I believed in
Christmas again.
Christmas belongs to the poor—let’s not
forget that. We should be raising our glasses to
them, to the outcast and the hungry, the
handicapped and oppressed. Maybe if we’re
lucky, they’ll let us in on the true spirit of the
season.
This year, my wife and I are doing something
different for Christmas. No, we won’t be
celebrating it on the streets (unless the
opportunity presents itself). However, we will
be finding a way to connect with those in need.
We’re buying gifts. But not just any kind of
gifts. The kind that make a difference. In your
33
hustle-and-bustle holiday, I hope you find an
opportunity to do something similar. (If you’re
looking for a way to give back, check out World
Vision’s Gift Catalog. It’s one of the best ways I
know to reconnect with the true spirit of
Christmas.) Because there’s just something
about celebrating Christmas without the poor
that feels dishonest.
May we connect with the story of a boy
born in a manger and find Christmas where it
belongs — in humble places, like barns and
dumps and alleys. This is where we’ll find baby
Jesus, if we’re willing to look. And maybe He
will lead us, like He promised, out of our own
prisons. []
I Heard The Bells On
Christmas Day - Poem by
Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
'There is no peace on earth, ' I said
'For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.'
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
34 Long Distance Shamanic Healing
 Celebrating Christmas In The Military
Celebrating Christmas In
The Military
By Jacey Eckhart
I was born holiday blessed. Yet the moment I
married into the military, I became holiday
cursed. My husband has deployed four times
over Christmas, suffered travel orders every
December, and always pulled the duty section
that worked on Christmas Day.
I would like to say I was always
completely OK with this particular chain of
events. Indeed, I was not. So I took notes from
spouses who seemed like they knew what they
were doing when it came to celebrating
Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanza or Winter
Solstice alone.
If you are going through your first or
second or fifth holiday deployment, here are
some of the things we hear from our
Military.com readers that really help couples get
through the holidays:
Carry Kleenex: During our first Christmas
deployment, every time I thought of my
husband on the ship alone at Christmas, I
overflowed with tears. I couldn’t imagine
anything more lonely. I was all of 22. So every
time I saw something that reminded me of
Christmas, I imagined my darling and burst into
tears (which is why I think certain people
should not be married at 22 … just sayin’.)
Other people did not understand this.
Other people never really understand what it
feels like to have your loved one deployed over
the holidays. Our readers say that a Deployment
Christmas happens to you alone -- even if you
live in a town populated by other deploying
military families. No one can help you with this
more than you can help yourself. So carry your
own Kleenex and keep moving forward.
Drink Of The Milk of Human Kindness:
During a holiday deployment, you will be
surrounded by opportunities to enjoy the
holidays with other people. School concerts,
holiday pageants, parties at work and volunteer
opportunities will happen just like they do when
your servicemember is at home. Don’t avoid the
kindness of other people just because you are
alone. Decide you will attend everything you
are invited to for at least one hour. Then you can
go home if you want and drink of the milk
called Egg Nog and Skype your darling.
Cool It On The Care Packages: Depending on
where your servicemember is stationed, they
may not have space for a lot of stuff you send in
a care package. Now is the time to talk about
what your servicemember wants most -- which
will be YOU. And a bunch of other stuff that
cannot go in a care package. Hear that and know
that this means you are not required to send
them something that will make them so happy
that they will not notice they are deployed on
Dec. 25. That isn’t possible. Instead, take some
of the pressure off and send the little things that
say you care.
Gather Your Team: Ask yourself where you
will feel happiest on the big day -- at home?
35
With family? With friends? Then go there.When
my kids were age 8 and 4, I wanted them to
have Santa surrounded by lots of people who
loved them. So I packed everything and went to
my parents' house even though my neighbors
thought I was crazy to take on the trip. My
brothers spontaneously decided we would have
an all-day Monopoly tournament Christmas
Day, which really distracted me from the fact
my husband was gone.Yay for awesome
brothers!
PARANORMAL STAKEOUT
Do It For The Kids: During my husband’s last with
deployment Christmas, I wished Christmas
LARRY LAWSON
would just not come that year. I wished we
could skip it. Instead, I had an eight-year-old Investigating and Research Ghosts,
who gave me the countdown to Christmas every Hauntings, and things that go “BUMP” in
single day. His sister wanted to bake a bunch of the night using Police Investigative
cookies. Their brother wanted to make out with Techniques to Solve the Paranormal.
his girlfriend in front of the Christmas tree.
To contact Larry Lawson - Email -
Creating holiday memories for our kids was the
larrylawson@xzbn.net
motivation I needed most. My husband eagerly
read the emails with all our holiday details.And
our kids remember those Deployed Christmases
just as happily. Totally worth it.
www.XZBN.net
Employ Whackadoo Holiday Traditions: One
of the things about being a military family at the
holidays is that you often have to improvise.You
can’t go to the same holiday service at your
childhood church because you live 1,200 miles
away from your childhood church.You can’t go
to the same light show or concert you saw last
year because you don’t live anywhere near
where you lived last year.
One important thing grown military
brats say that made the difference was all the
silly little holiday traditions their parents carried KNOW THE NAME,
from house to house.At our house, we wear
these silky robes my sailor brought home from
KNOW THE GENIUS IN YOU
Okinawa one year.Our managing editor’s with SHARON LYNN WYETH
family looks for a local greasy spoon for From the creator of NEIMOLOGY,
pancakes on Christmas Eve wherever they are Sharon Lynn Wyeth interviews and discovers
stationed.One of our bloggers relies on new the genius in the name of her guests and will
pajamas and yet another showing of the tell listeners how they can find out what their
Griswolds to make it through the day.Repeat. names tells them about their inner genius. To
Repeat. Repeat until a tradition is made. contact Sharon Lynn Wyeth - Email -
knowthename@xzbn.net
(Continued on Page 36)
Merry Christmas From IPBN Radio.com
www.XZBN.net
 36 Celebrating Christmas In The Military
Celebrating Christmas In
The Military
Continued from Page 36

Plan Your Endgame: Sometimes during a

holiday deployment you are having a good
time.Sometimes you have just had enough
holiday fun. Sometimes you get tired of trying to
make everyone feel better about your holiday
situation. Sometimes all this happens within the
course of a single hour.Cheryl Gansner, one of
our SpouseBuzz bloggers, says that the most
positive thing you can do for yourself is to set a
boundary for when it is OK to leave the
festivities. Telling people you are going to head
up to the shower (and then sneaking off to bed)
is usually socially acceptable. Keeping up
appearances does not have to last 24/7.

Talk To Your Servicemember: Our

Military.com readers report that when they were
deployed over the holiday, the command went
all out to provide a nice meal and holiday cheer.
Still, it was just another day, which meant they
could sometimes be short on the phone. Or a
little irritable. Or hungry for every single detail
of home. Be open to whatever spirit your
servicemember brings to the phone or Skype or
email that day. You are “home” to them and this
is a great day to celebrate that.

It Is Only One Day: Our readers say that the

loneliest moment in military life is when you
deliver a baby on your own. The only thing that
is lonelier is Christmas Day on your own. The
last time we did a deployment holiday, I invited
our usual houseful of guests -- our kids, the
boyfriends and girlfriends, our friends the
Petersons, the Petersons' visiting mother-in-law.
I had them all. I talked to my husband twice that
day. Everything was beautiful. The food was
perfect ... and I found myself lingering in
hallways, as if I could slip around unnoticed,
uninvolved. I secretly wanted the holiday to be
over and I didn’t want anyone else to know
about it. I wanted to get to my bed and call Brad
and have him tell me that I had done a good job.
That he was proud of me. That we would be
together next year.

Your Turn Next Year: December holidays roll

around every year without fail. This time next
yearm your servicemember will most likely be
home. The cookies will taste a little crisper. Your
tree will shine a little brighter. Your holiday hugs
will be a little warmer. Use this holiday apart to
bring your family closer than ever. []

From Everyone at
CHANNEL 365
www.xzbnchannel365.com
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR
 4 Christmas Myths We’ve All Bought
4 Christmas Myths We've
All Totally Bought
And the truth behind them
BY TYLER HUCKABEE
Christmas might be the most heavily
mythologized thing of all time. Sure, it starts out
with the myth about Santa and eight tiny
reindeer, and most of us unlearn that one pretty
early, but then there are other myths that start
getting broken down. Eventually you learn that
December 25 wasn’t Jesus’ actual birthday,
Rudolph wasn’t part of the original gang and
“Jingle Bell Rock” is terrible.
But no matter how many myths we take
down, there always seem to be a few more. Here
are some common myths about Christmas a lot
of people—even Christians—still believe about
the holiday.
December 25 Used to Be a Pagan Holiday
By this point, most people are probably aware
that December 25th wasn’t Jesus’ literal
birthday. The more popularly held view now is
that December 25th was a holiday that
celebrated one of the Roman gods, and
Christians just re-appropriated it. But actually,
that’s not totally correct either.
According to Andrew McGowan of the
Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, there’s really
no record of a pagan holiday on or around
December 25th. In all likelihood, choosing
December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth was
a bit of an educated guess. Tertullian of
Carthage estimated that Jesus was crucified on
March 25th, and Christian tradition held that he
died on the same day he was born: the Feast of
Annunciation. And exactly nine months after
March 25th? December 25th.
“Xmas” is taking the “Christ” out of
Christmas
Wherever the word “xmas” is used as shorthand
for “Christmas,” you can be sure there will be a
few people claiming the “x” is a weapon of
those secularists and their unending War on
Christmas.
Actually, the usage of “X” for
“Christmas” is almost as old as the holiday
itself. In the fourth century, when Constantine
elevated Christianity into a state religion, he
started using “X” as a symbol for Jesus Christ.
Parchment was expensive at the time, so it was
it was common for people to use shorthand for
popular words like Jesus.
According to Vox, “XPMas” had
become a popular nickname for Christmas by
about 1021, which was later shortened to
“Xmas.” The phrase has stuck ever since,
making it an interesting literary holdover from a
millennia ago, but not particularly relevant to
the alleged secularization of Christmas.
Three kings came to visit Jesus on the night
he was born
It’s hard to know where to begin with this one
because the pop culture idea has become so
prevalent. Many (although not all!) Christians
37
now know that the Bible doesn’t specify the it’s safe to assume that, in this case, kataluma is
number of “wise men” who came to visit Jesus, referring to a family guest room.
but that’s not the only myth at work here. In Now, the word “manger” here does
addition to the number, many of us are confused mean an animal feeding trough, but at the time,
about who these people were. They weren’t a family’s animals were often brought into the
kings, but magi. We get our English word for house itself at night to protect them from theft.
“magician” from the same root, and they were It was not at all uncommon for families have
actually closer to magicians than they were to mangers in their ground-floor rooms so the
royalty. animals could be fed at night while the human
Magi were usually men of noble birth members of the household slept in the upper
who devoted themselves to studying ancient levels.
wisdom of all kinds, something like a cross So what probably happened was this:
between a philosopher, an astrologer and that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem
annoying guy at parties who listens to too many expecting to be able to stay with Joseph’s
podcasts. The cuddly pictures of the magi family. But the guest room was full by the time
showing up around the same time the shepherds they arrived, so Mary and Joseph stayed
did is wrong, too. While the shepherds did show downstairs with the animals. Not exactly an
up on night of Jesus’ birth, according to the ideal scenario for giving birth, but not a barn
Gospel narrative, the magi came later—maybe a either. []
lot later. We know they arrived after Jesus was
presented at the temple, which would have been
at least 40 days after His birth.
We also know Herod ordered his
soldiers to kill every child in Bethlehem
younger than 2 years old, so we can assume
Jesus was under 2. That means the magi showed
up anywhere between 40 days and 2 years to
congratulate Mary and Joseph on their new
baby.
Hey, it’s the thought that counts.
Jesus was born in a stable, because there was
no room in the inn.
We have to be careful here, because this is such
an important part of many people’s vision of the
Christmas story. The Bible does say that Jesus
was laid in a manger, which gave rise to the
popular notion that all this happened in a barn
next to an inn. But the Bible doesn’t say that
and, in fact, there is good reason to assume
otherwise.
The greek word being translated to “inn”
here is kataluma. That word can mean “inn,” but
it doesn’t have to. The only other time kataluma
is used in the New Testament is in reference to
the well-furnished guest room where Jesus ate
the Last Supper with His disciples. We know
Joseph had family in Bethlehem (which is why
He traveled there to take the Roman census) so
 38 Santa’s Reindeer Names & Personalities
A List of Santa's Reindeer
Names and Their
Personalities
BY Cynthia Sageleaf
There are Santa’s reindeer and then there are
Santa’s reindeer. What are they like? Are they
mischievous? Are they funny?
Clement C. Moore used secretive means
to reveal the names of eight reindeer in his
poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
But once the world found out, people
began to make songs about them, and Santa
started using their names every time he took off
in the sled. But, what do people really know
about the reindeer?
They have funny names and there is a lot
of talk about the eight famous reindeer (there’s
even a ninth and a tenth—the other reindeer!)
during the holiday season. But, during their time
off, what do they do?
Dasher: The Speed Demon
Who hasn't heard of Dasher?
He’s one of the fastest reindeer in
Santa’s herd. He’s always ready to dash out the
door. For that reason, he excels at track and field
during the off-season.
So, after his yearly tenure at the North
Pole, he might find himself at a high school
track and field meet, trying to run the 800-yard
dash. You can bet he’s usually the first to finish.
“Dasher” originally came from a
German name, Dascher, meaning "purse-
maker." Whoa! He can sew! One has to wonder
if he is the Father of the Modern Hand Bag.
Are You Like Dasher?
• loves to be social
• good at sports; prefers track and field
• doesn't mind the cold
• aware of fashion
• loves to party
• happy
• has a big heart
Dancer: The Salsa Phenomenon
Dancer is a reindeer with a unique personality.
He’s completely extroverted. When he’s not
helping Santa, he’s having dance parties.
His favorite genre is Latin music due to
the strong rhythm. He would be happy to dance
with Enrique Iglesias.
Since dancing is his passion, he knows
the tango, salsa, meringue, and even has
ventured into contra- and square-dancing. Do-
si-do-ing can be a little difficult, but he likes it.
Plus, you’ll never find him without a
bell around his neck, as he never hesitates to
indulge in pomp and circumstance.
Are You Like Dancer?
• has good hand-eye-foot coordination
• great at dance moves
• loves wearing colorful clothes
• popular among the elves
• loves eating popcorn
• loves a celebration
• loves to go to the movies with friends
Prancer: The Fairest of Them All
Prancer loves the other reindeer and would do
anything for them.
But he also loves to carry a mirror to
regard himself on the sleigh every now and
then. He has to look his best all the time because
he never knows quite who he’s going to meet.
Mrs. Clause made him a special
reindeer-harness that is red and green with extra
attachments for his mirror, comb, and brush.
He often is found in the elves’ factory
prancing around gracefully with all the other
reindeer, elves, and helpers cheering him on.
Are You Like Prancer?
• always is sure to look great
• loves his accessories
• great at baking (especially mint-flavored
cookies)
• absolutely loyal
• has high energy
• totally thinks out loud
• enthusiastic
• favorite song: Santa Claus is Comin' to
Town
Vixen: The Most Enchanting Reindeer
Vixen is the comedic reindeer known for lots of
magic tricks. The other reindeer often get
slightly annoyed with his ability to make things
disappear and reappear.
He’s great at tricking the other reindeer
out of their candy canes. He also has a weakness
for yummy Santa-shaped chocolates.
Santa, however, loves Vixen’s tricks
because they really come in handy on Christmas
Eve. That bag of toys is quite large, and that
chimney is quite small . . .
Are You Like Vixen?
• very smart
• loves to be the center of attention
• cool, calm, and collected
• everyone likes to confide in him
• gifted at magic tricks
• loves to help others, especially Santa often
runs late
Comet: An All-Around Wonderful
Reindeer
Comet is out of this world—as his name
implies. He’s quite handsome and is always
smiling. He’s easy-going and loves to play ball
with all the young fawns.
All the children of the world seem to
look up to him. Santa, of course, loves this
about Comet.
In the days before Christmas, Santa will
head out with Comet to check his list and see
how children all around the world are doing.
When they see Comet, they flock to pet him
because he’s quite adorable and so laid-back.
He just loves the attention the children
shower upon him. Plus, he inspires little
children to be on their best behavior.
Are You Like Comet?
• loves to make people laugh
• incredibly smart
• laid back
• likes flexibility
• once he makes up his mind to do something,
he'll get it done
• always willing to lend a helping hand
• loves honesty and playing fair
Cupid: Loves Sharing Love
Cupid is an affectionate reindeer. She has
Christmas reins decorated with red and green
little heart-shaped bells. Her motto is “Spread
the Love.”
She often carries mistletoes and
mysteriously places them all around peoples’
entryways at Christmastime. That way, people
don’t forget to hug and kiss during the season.
She’s always singing, too. The other
reindeer roll their eyes when she begins singing
“Joy to the World” for the thousandth time.
She also makes appearances on
Valentine’s day, showering people with red
hearts.
Are You Like Cupid?
• favorite colors are red and green
• loves jazzy Christmas music
• really good at finding mistletoe
• really good with bows and arrows
• cannot stand it when a friend is sad and will
do anything to help
• oves helping Santa eat his cookies and milk
• has a sweet tooth, but also likes a good,
crunchy carrot
(Continued on Page 39)
 Santa’s Reindeer Names & Personalities
A List of Santa's Reindeer
Names and Their
Personalities
Continued From Page 39
Donner: Always a Party
Donner’s name comes from “thunder” in
German. This is for good reason. He’s always
noticed when entering a room because he’s got a
deep booming baritone voice.
He loves to sing those low notes. His
joyous renditions of “Santa Baby” makes all the
reindeerettes swoon.“Santa Claus is Coming to
Town” and “Here Comes Santa Claus” always
receive high marks and rowdy applause from his Olive is the tenth reindeer to join Santa’s herd.
fellow reindeer.
He loves hanging out with Blitzen, too. line from Rudolph’s song, “…all of the other
Together, they can really belt out some dynamic reindeer used to laugh and call him names…”
duets.
Are You Like Donner?
• loves to take charge
• loves to sing and loves jazz music
• very creative
• very close to a couple of reindeer friends, thought Rudolph was an amazing asset to
like Blitzen
• loves a good debate
• hums Christmas songs a lot, even while
flying
• prefers dark chocolate
Blitzen: Fast as Lightening
Blitzen’s name comes from the German word
for “lightning”. He’s fast, playful, and like a bolt
when it comes to helping Santa deliver his
Christmas goodies.
When Santa yells “faster!", Blitzen has
the ability to infuse an electric charge into the
other reindeer to make them zap through the sky,
fast as lightning. He’s also best reindeer-buds
with Donner, and they often hum duets to
themselves while flying high in the skies.
Are You Like Blitzen?
• gets everything done extremely fast
• he's zippy everywhere he goes
• has a tenor voice that complements Donner's
baritone
• when not working, he loves a good
Christmas movie
• always on time
• almost always finishes projects
• loves spontaneity
Rudolph: Santa's Guiding Light
Rudolph is Santa’s famous ninth reindeer. He
joined the herd a few years after the original
eight. At first, he was terribly self-conscious.
He suffered from low self-esteem because he
had an odd red nose. It wasn’t until Santa
recognized his rosy bulb as a beacon of light
that he was ushered into his role as leader of
the herd.
Because his nose glowed, he was able to lead
Santa safely around the world, on the
snowiest of nights... and other reindeer
agreed that Rudolph just had to stay with the
herd.
Now, when Rudolph isn’t helping on the sleigh
ride, he loves to play hide-and-seek with the
other reindeer. He has the advantage, though. He
can light up dark places effortlessly and find the
other reindeer every time.
Are You Like Rudolph?
• humble
• a little shy
• is a leader when he needs to be
• loves reindeer games
• very playful around friends he knows well
• loves helping others
• loves seeing new places
• steady worker, helping the elves to get all
their Christmas tasks done
Olive: Not Just Another Reindeer
She had a precarious start. You may recall the
Many people heard, “Olive, the other
reindeer…” Well, it’s true. Olive is the other
reindeer.
She did, in fact, laugh at Rudolph with
his big red nose, but it was only because she
Santa’s team, and she really wanted to be a part
of it.
So, she started out by mocking Rudolph,
but then later realized that wasn’t becoming for
a reindeer. Besides, everyone knows that when
you tease your friends, it's because you really
like them.
She shyly apologized to Rudolph, and
they have been best friends ever since. She loves
to play hide-and-seek, too, and is especially
good at finding the Abominable Snowman.
Are You Like Olive?
• insightful and intelligent
• only a little shy, but very outgoing once she
gets to know you
• also loves reindeer games
• really good at making good friends
• great sense of humor
• prefers to work behind the scenes
• always has a lot of projects going on
• lives in a gingerbread house []
39
SEEK REALITY
with
ROBERTA GRIMES
ROBERTA GRIMES is a business attorney
who had two extraordinary experiences of
light in childhood. She then spent decades
studying nearly 200 years of abundant and
consistent communications from the dead,
quantum mechanics, and the nature of
consciousness and she shares what she has
learned about what actually is going on in an
enjoyable and easily understood trilogy. The
Fun of Dying – Find Out What Really
Happens Next details what we now know
about the afterlife. The Fun of Staying in
Touch details some of the ways that the dead
give us signs of their survival, and also many
of the ways that we can communicate with
them. The Fun of Growing Forever reveals
what must be the easiest and most powerful
method for attaining rapid spiritual growth
and building your own best life, both while
you are on earth and forevermore.
Seek Reality explores the amazing
fact that neither mainstream science nor
mainstream Christianity is able to help us
much as we try to understand our one reality.
Together we use information from both
sources plus nearly 200 years of abundant
and consistent afterlife evidence to construct
a reasonable – and beautiful! – understanding
of what actually is going on. What will be
common knowledge in the second half of this
century can be your glorious reality today. -
www.robertagrimes.com.
Some of Roberta’s past guests
include: Lisa Smartt, Craig Hogan, David
Burfoot, Mark Anthony, Susanne Wilson,
Andy Pavarini, Cyrus Kirkpatrick, Wendy
Zammit, Debbie Malone, David Low,
Virginia Hummel, and Roy Stemman.
To contact Roberta Grimes - Email -
robertagrimes@xzbn.net.
www.XZBN.net
 40 6 Christmas Stories of Wonder & Love
6 Christmas Stories of
Wonder and Love
’Tis Better to Give

I knew I was not supposed to be quite so excited.

I was too old for that. At age eleven, the oldest
and my mom’s “grown up” girl, I had to keep
my cool. I was in middle school after all. But
every chance I got, when I was alone, I checked
each present under the tree. I read every tag and
felt every package, guessing at the contents
within. I had examined each gift so often that I
could tell which present went to which person
without even looking at the tags.
It had been a tough year for my family.
Whenever my mom looked over at the tree and
scattered presents, she would sigh and warn us,
“There won’t be as much for Christmas this on TV, or laugh about late at night with friends? paused. Wouldn’t it be so much more fantastic if
year. Try not to be disappointed.” Christmas hadWell, thanks to a little determination, some luck, I could surprise her? I pictured myself just
traditionally been a time for my parents to spoil
and a generous helping of Christmas Spirit, my showing up, knocking at her door. What a state
us. In years past, the presents would pile up and
dream became a reality. of shock she would be in! I laughed gleefully to
spill out from under the tree, taking over the My family is Canadian, although my myself as I pictured her face when she opened
living room. I had heard the phrase “giving is sister moved down to Australia a few years ago the door and saw me. She loves pranks and
better than receiving,” but thought that whoeverto study speech pathology. She was graduating practical jokes of all sorts. Pulling off a prank
had said that must have been out of their mind. just before Christmas, but due to my own like this would certainly be the ultimate gift, and
Getting presents was the whole point! It was thescholarly schedule back home, I would not be if I were successful, she’d probably be more
reason I couldn’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve.unable to make it down in time for her excited about my unconventional arrival than
On Christmas morning, we eagerly graduation. She was understandably even my attendance at her graduation.
waited in the hallway until Dad told us disappointed, and I felt guilty that I wasn’t able Slowly the idea evolved in my mind. For
everything was ready. We rushed into the living to be there for her on this most special of a surprise of this grand a scale, I needed a much
room and let the wrapping paper fly. We made occasions. more dramatic arrival than just a ring of the
weak attempts to wait and watch while other While I was talking to my supervisor the doorbell. For me, Christmas surprises are
family members opened their presents, but as week before my sister’s graduation, the epitomized by presents. Or at least boxes. What
the time passed we lost our self-control. conversation drifted toward Christmas plans. if I could arrive in a box? I started to plot. Then,
“Here’s another one for you,” said Mom When I mentioned that I would be missing my brilliance struck. Getting delivered in a box to
as she handed me a package. I looked at it, sister’s graduation by less than forty-eight my sister’s house by couriers! I knew if I pulled
confused. Having spent so much time examining hours, she commented, “Well, if you want to go, this off, my presence at her graduation and my
the presents before Christmas, I recognized thisI have no problem with it, so go ahead!” I grand arrival would be the best Christmas
one. But it had not been mine. It was my mom’s. couldn’t believe my luck! I nearly jumped for present I could ever give my sister. No one
A new label had been put on it, with my name joy. “Just make sure you get permission from appreciates a prank like a prankster!
written in my mother’s handwriting. admin,” she added. My heart sank. The Although I was leaving in less than
“Mom, I can’t…” administration at my school was notorious for seventy-two hours, I frantically jumped on my
I was stopped by my mother’s eager, denying any sort of time-off requests, and last- computer in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and
joyful look—a look I could not really minute pleas would undoubtedly draw nothing started Googling courier companies. One of the
understand. “Let’s see what it is, honey. Hurry but ire. I almost didn’t bother asking, because I first I came across, and the only one willing to
and open it.” knew it would be a waste of time and I didn’t go along with my Christmas surprise, was
It was a blow dryer. Though this may feel like a thorough chastisement. Plus, I knew CouriersPlease. At first the branch manager said
seem but a simple gift, to me it was so much the answer already: no. But something in me no, pointing out that Christmas was their busiest
more. Being an eleven-year-old girl, I was decided to try, just in case. Maybe it was the season and he couldn’t spare a courier for this
stunned. In my world, where receiving hope that the Christmas Spirit would somehow rather unorthodox request. But he suddenly and
outweighed giving by light years, my mom’s act permeate the administrative office at this time of inexplicably warmed up to the idea and actually
of selflessness was incomprehensible. It was a year. volunteered to dress up and deliver me himself.
huge act. Tears filled my eyes and I thought in When I returned home to find the The Christmas Spirit strikes again!
disbelief about how much my mom must love Associate Dean’s reply in my inbox, I steeled Upon arrival in Australia, the manager
me to give up her Christmas so I could have a myself for disappointment. I gritted my teeth, met me in full uniform, but that wasn’t all. He’d
few more presents. opened the e-mail, and started to read. And re- brought one of his couriers, plus a
I have always remembered that read. And re-read, just to make sure I’d CouriersPlease van along for the ride as well!
Christmas fondly. It had such an impact on me. understood. Approval? I could actually go? I They even had a reinforced box prepared for me
As an adult with children in my life whom I rubbed my eyes—there must be a mistake. But that they’d already tested at the office. I’d
adore, I can now understand my mom’s actions. no. I was flabbergasted. There was no logical thought it would be easiest to walk up to the
I see how she was not “giving up her Christmas” explanation. I couldn’t believe my luck! The doorway, and then jump in the box while they
as I had thought, but was finding an even greater
only explanation I could possibly come up with rang the doorbell. But no, they insisted; my
joy in her Christmas because giving truly is was that the Christmas Spirit had been lurking in sister might see me through the window and
better than receiving. My mom’s simple act the heart of my Associate Dean when she’d read they certainly didn’t want to jeopardize my
meant the world to me. my request. Christmas surprise. Instead, they parked a few
- Jennifer Yardley Barney Immediately, I called the airline. hundred meters up the street, where they loaded
Miraculously, even during the busy Christmas me in the box and carried me all the way up to
The Christmas Spirit Strikes Again season, I was able to change my ticket to arrive my sister’s, where they rang the doorbell and
the day before my sister’s graduation. announced they had a delivery for her.
I always dreamed of pulling off the surprise With news this fantastic, I was bursting
prank of a lifetime. You know, the kind you see to tell my sister. But, fingers on the dial, I (Continued on Page 41)
 6 Christmas Stores of Wonder & Love
6 Christmas Stories of
Wonder and Love
Continued From Page 40
I couldn’t see the look on my sister’s face as she
opened the door to couriers with a surprise
delivery, but I could tell from her voice that she
was more than a little perplexed. This soon
morphed into utter disbelief and shock when the
box was opened and she saw her older sister
sitting inside smiling up at her. She was at a
complete loss for words, and I will never forget
the look on her face as she opened those flaps on
the box.
It was such a gift to be able to attend my
sister’s graduation, and to show her my love by
giving her the most unique, unconventional
Christmas present in the history of our family. It
was a memory both she and I will cherish
forever. It also served as a lesson for me: never,
ever underestimate the power of the Christmas
Spirit. It can move hearts, minds, and yes, even
people in boxes.
- Heather Thompson
Sharing a Legacy of Love
When my mother died at the age of eighty-four,
my four sisters and I were heartbroken. How
could we ever get over the loss of this warm and
loving woman, a talented artist who enjoyed life
in spite of its challenges and always doted on her
husband, daughters and grandchildren?
For weeks after, my sisters and I would
meet for dinner, laughing and crying over old
memories. When it came time to sell the home
my mother loved, we spent many days in
disbelief, clearing out her belongings. I
remembered reading an Ann Landers column
years earlier that discussed how many siblings
fight bitterly over the possessions left by their
deceased parents. I thought, “How lucky we are
that will never happen to us.” Somehow, we
easily and peacefully divided Mom’s
belongings—furniture, jewelry and household
items—among ourselves and a few charities.
Although I expected there might be a tug of war
over her paintings, that never happened. Pretty
good considering there were five daughters and
four grandchildren. No conflicts, squabbles or
disputes at all. Until we discovered the old
nativity set in a box in Mom’s closet.
I remembered Mom telling the story of
how she acquired the manger. An old friend who
did carpentry work gave it to my mom and dad
as a Christmas gift when they were first married.
My sister, Eileen, however, remembers it
differently. Mom told her she found the crèche
in a garbage can belonging to Mrs. Bingham, the
elderly lady who lived across the street from us.
Unlike some of the ornate versions found
in today’s stores, this manger was crafted from
dark wood and completely unadorned—just a
roof, a floor and a railing surrounding it. Though
beautifully crafted, there was one flaw: one side
of the double gate in front was lopsided. Mom
filled it with three figurines to start—Mary,
Joseph and the Baby Jesus. For many years after,
she continued to add others—the Wise Men,
shepherds, angels, and animals. As kids, we
loved the annual rites of the Christmas season,
specially taking the nativity set and decorations
down from the attic and carefully putting them
in place. When the sisters all married and
grandchildren came along, they added new
characters of their own to the stable, including a
set of the three little pigs.
After Mom’s death, when the nativity set
emerged, no one was prepared for the battle that
would follow. My sister Joanne was the first to
claim the manger, insisting it was the only one
of Mom’s possessions that she really wanted.
Her wish was granted. But when my niece
Mandy found out, she called from her apartment
in California to voice her objection. She was
clearly emotional as she repeated a decades-old
promise made to her by my mother: “Nanny
promised me that I could have the nativity set
when she was gone,” she cried. “The nativity set
belongs to me.” Joanne felt strongly that as
Mom’s daughter, she had first dibs. Neither she
nor Mandy would budge.
When the disagreement showed signs of
becoming a full-blown family feud, we realized
something had to be done. Enter the family
arbitrator, my sister Eileen, who somehow saw
through the fog. But as Mandy’s mother and
Joanne’s sister, could Eileen handle this
dilemma fairly? Temporarily, she set aside the
emotion of the dispute, and thought logically.
The nativity set was just a wooden stable, not an
irreplaceable masterpiece of art. The beauty was
in the eye of the beholders, the perception of two
people who coveted a simple item owned by
someone they loved. Couldn’t a copy be
created? Of course! She would order the wood
from the lumberyard and get someone to build a
second manger.
The following day, Eileen went to Centre
Millwork and stood in line behind several
contractors ordering lumber from a young man
with a crewcut. He was wearing a tag with his
name, Brett, written in green magic marker.
When Eileen’s turn came, she had to shout over
the sound of buzzing saws. She pointed to the
nativity set in her arms and told him the story,
explaining that it was causing a major rift
between her sister Joanne and her daughter
Mandy. Brett took the stable from her, held it up
with one hand and laughed, “They’re fighting
over this?”
“Yes,” Eileen explained. “I know it
seems crazy, but it was my mother’s and they
both loved her very much. Is there any way you
could measure and cut some wood so we could
41
have a duplicate built?
Brett said, “Leave it here. I’ll see what I
can do.” Eileen left, hoping he could come up
with a minor miracle. That’s what it would take
to satisfy the two women in her life that were
squabbling.
A few days later, she received a phone
message saying that her order was ready. When
Eileen arrived at the hardware store to pick up
the wood, she couldn’t believe what she saw —
two identical stables sitting side by side. Brett
had not only cut and measured the wood, he had
built a second manger. “I know you wanted
them to look the same, so I added a couple of
dings and flaws that were in the original. Hope
that’s okay.”
Sure enough, the new stable had the
same lopsided front gate. “Okay?” Eileen said in
tears. “You have no idea what this will mean to
my sister and my daughter. To the entire family.
I don’t care what this costs. Your work has saved
the day.”
“That will be $3.75 for the materials,”
Brett said. When Eileen insisted on paying him
more, he said, “I didn’t do it on company time. I
built it at home so I won’t charge you for the
labor.” He pointed to the new manger. “I hope
this helps your family have a merrier
Christmas.”
Eileen left Brett with a large tip and a big
hug of thanks. When she got home and called
Joanne and Mandy about her creative solution,
they were very happy and extremely relieved
that the problem was resolved. One phone call
later, Joanne and Mandy had agreed that Joanne
would take possession of the new stable as well
as some of the old figurines—including Mary,
Joseph and the infant. Mandy would get to keep
the original—just as Nanny promised.
- Kathy Melia Levine
(Continued on Page 42)
 42 6 Christmas Stores of Wonder & Love
6 Christmas Stories of
Wonder and Love
Continued From Page 41
Catch
Following Christmas dinner, my family was
relaxing around the kitchen table. We had all
enjoyed traditional turkey, sweet potatoes lightly
glazed with brown sugar, and a final wedge of
pumpkin pie topped with a dollop of ice cream.
The good cooking smells still lingered; the oven
remained warm. My sister, our chef, was
basking in the compliments—“Fabulous meal,”
“I really couldn’t eat another bite,” “Everything
was wonderful.” Dad had risen from his chair
and was contentedly standing nearby.
My nephew, never one to sit still for too
long, began dribbling his new basketball around
the table and throughout the kitchen. Upon
nearing Dad, he stopped—almost uncertainly.
With shaking, wrinkled hands, Dad had reached
out for the ball. He did not speak, and the boy,
confused, looked up and over at us. It took some
convincing, but the ball was gingerly passed
over.
I watched my father closely to see what
he would do. A playful smile appeared on his
face. The twinkle in his eyes shone brighter than
any Christmas lights. Holding the ball and
reaching forward, Dad bounced it on the floor
then caught it.
This action was repeated. Nodding
approvingly, he then turned towards our
assembled group. Gently tossing the ball away,
Dad began a game of catch.
The ball continued to be passed through
eager pairs of outstretched hands. Cries of “Over
here!” rang through the warm kitchen. Dad’s
active participation in this game was remarkable
to me, since he had advanced Alzheimer’s
disease. This dementia had robbed him of many
memories and the recognition of people, places
and points in time. Despite this, Dad clearly
recognized the ball and what you could do with
it.
In my younger years, playing with Dad
was rare. To his credit, Dad worked hard and
provided for us. He was very private and never
showed nor shared much emotion; his game of
choice was chess, which he did eventually teach
me how to play. As an adult, I had become a
caregiver and watched helplessly as Dad
declined. Connecting moments between father
and son had been few and far between before he
took the basketball.
I’m not sure how long we played catch.
Watching the clock was not important. Dad
gleefully led us until he began to tire. What I do
know is that our game ended all too soon, and it
was time to face the reality of dirty dishes piled
high on countertops. The moment, though, will
certainly last forever. On this Christmas, Dad
gave me a special memory—one that I will
always treasure.
- Rick Lauber
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a very
HAPPY NEW YEAR
from
Nikita - REL-MAR Office Assistant
A Christmas Present, Delayed satisfied my dad’s Naval sense of order.
The downside was we opened one
present at a time so everyone could “appreciate”
I was ten the summer my dad helped me buy my
each other’s gifts. Neither Liz nor I
first ten-speed bicycle from Father Allen. I put
“appreciated” this system because we went last.
up $60 of my grass cutting and snow shoveling
After the obligatory “oohs” and “aahs,” each of
money, and my dad put up the other half. I
us held up our present for family review, a
would pay him back in installments over the
process that averaged about five minutes or so.
next six months. Although it was the kind of
This meant Liz and I had to wait about forty-five
bike you’d expect a priest to have (dull silver,
minutes between each present, so patience was
slightly worn, no baseball cards in the spokes), it
in short supply—when one of us pulled out a
was my ticket to the adult world.
belt or package of underwear, we seethed the
I spent that summer and autumn riding as
entire time.
if to put Greg LeMond to shame. My sister Liz,
My dad, a master showman, liked to
a prisoner of her five-speed and banana seat,
keep a few of Santa’s better presents for the end.
never had a chance to keep up. We’d always
On that fateful Christmas morning, he gave me
been stuck with hand-me-downs from our older
a used portable record player. I was ecstatic—I
brothers and sisters, a few of whom had
was finally untethered from the “family stereo”
notoriously bad taste in bikes. Now, however, I
that all of us fought over.
was able to ride to every corner of town,
Alas, my elation was short-lived after
sometimes even as far as the beach. In those
my dad called my sister to the kitchen. “We have
heady days before one acquires a driver’s
one more gift for you,” he said as he opened the
license, a good bike is a magic carpet.
door that led to the garage. There, on the steps,
Just before the Christmas deadline to pay
stood a brand new ten-speed Schwinn. I didn’t
my dad back, we were hit with several
hear her screams of joy—all I could hear was the
snowstorms. This allowed me to shovel enough
sputtering engine of the lawnmower, the endless
driveways to pay off my debt. I was now
scraping of the metal snow shovel on concrete.
officially a bike owner; it was a feeling unlike
I’d endured far too many hours of indentured
any other.
servitude for my used bike; that Santa could give
It’s important to note that while my mom
Liz this sparkling machine less than a week later
and dad were fantastic parents, they couldn’t be
was a sign that he was losing his touch. Could
trusted with the awesome responsibility of
Mrs. Claus be putting something in his food?
buying appropriate Christmas presents. They
I slumped onto the floor. My ten-speed
were too quick to pass off gloves, sneakers, and
chariot had turned into a pumpkin in the time it
shirts as “presents.” And while we might say a
took my sister to hop on the gleaming leather
prayer over the Baby Jesus in the manger on our
seat.
way to church, He seemed too busy at this time
“Let’s go for a ride, Rob!” she sang, my
of year to leave presents under the tree. We
dad holding the bike upright as she put her feet
outsourced our requests for the really good
on the pedals.
presents to Santa.
“Too snowy to ride,” I muttered, pushing
For her family of seven kids, my mom
the record player farther away from me. The
developed a system in which she decorated the
outside of seven large boxes with different types symbolism seemed lost on my dad.
of wallpaper. We each had our own box that
(Continued On Page 43)
contained six or so presents, and we’d close our
eyes and reach in to grab one when it was our Checkout www.xzbn.net for the best of
turn. This cut down on hours of wrapping and Paranormal / Parapsychology Radio
 6 Christmas Stores of Wonder & Love
6 Christmas Stories of
Wonder and Love
Continued From Page 42
I seethed for the rest of the day, then the rest of
the week. My dad was not someone to whom we
complained about presents (not if we ever
wanted to see another, anyway). Santa always
seemed to lose interest after Christmas, rarely
accepting returns or trade-ins. That left the Baby
Jesus, but He wasn’t answering my prayers—I
could tell because Liz’s bike had yet to crumble
into a pile of rust flakes.
After a few weeks of watching me pout,
my dad finally pulled me aside. “Everything
okay?”
“It’s not fair,” I whined. “I worked so
hard for my bike, and it’s not even new. Then
Liz gets a brand new bike as soon as I make the
final payment. She didn’t have to do anything
for it.”
My dad smiled. “She didn’t have to do
anything for it because it’s not really for her,” he
said, and then left the room.
What did that mean? I didn’t want her
bike—it had the girly bar that sloped down to
the ground and a flowery white basket on the
handlebars. I could turn it in for a new set of
action figures, I figured, but she’d been on it
every day since Christmas—no way they’d let
me take it back now. I eventually got over it,
chalking it up to elf error (the naughty and nice
list can be cumbersome).
By spring Liz and I were riding all over
town together now that she could keep up. Sure,
I’d lose her on the steep slopes, but I always let
her catch up when we went downhill. Initially,
the youngest children in a large family form a
bond out of necessity—older siblings can be
taxing, and there are only so many locked doors
one can hide behind. Sometimes, you need
someone else in the foxhole with you.
As we grew, Liz and I became true
friends. We biked down to swim at the local
pool, then put in seven miles to take the free
town tennis lessons together. We planned secret
parties when my parents went on trips and
played a game of “Who can leave less gas in the
tank” when we finally got our drivers’ licenses.
I relied on her to put names to faces when we
were at parties, and she treated my best friends
as her personal dating service. We ended up at
the same college, and even graduated the same
year.
Still, I wasn’t smart enough to figure out
what my dad meant until years later. That brand
new bike was not a gift for Liz—it was a gift for
me. He’d given me the gift of my sister’s
company, the ability to stay together rather than
drift apart in the face of my ability to travel. He
gave me my best friend.
It’s a gift I’ve treasured every day since.
- Robert F. Walsh
Pepper’s Last Gift
Whatever life threw at us each year, come
Christmas our family had one constant tradition:
our dog Pepper opened our presents for us.
When our beloved Black Lab mix had been a
gangly adolescent puppy, we had only given her
unbreakable gifts to unwrap—things like
pajamas and steering wheel covers. She proved
to be so careful that we soon gave her any gift
that wasn’t edible. Every time, Pepper found the
seam in the wrapping paper with her snout and
held the present down gingerly with her
forepaws. Her front teeth pried up the lip of
paper with the utmost care. Then she removed
every inch of wrapping paper before stepping
back to lie in the midst of our gathering. She
never bit or scratched the gifts themselves.
Friends and relatives who joined our
family celebrations never believed Pepper could
be so delicate until they witnessed her talents.
Watching our sweet dog unwrap gifts always
warmed the holiday, which was often a little
bittersweet because college, studying abroad, or
work commitments often kept my two sisters
and me away.
One year, everyone made it home for a
Christmas together. I was back from Ireland,
Kaci flew in from Arizona, and Kara visited
from college. Mom’s jubilance kept her busy
baking cookies for us all. Our Christmas season
should have been perfect.
It couldn’t feel perfect, though, because
Pepper’s health was deteriorating. Her life had
already been longer than we expected—she was
fourteen—and yet her mind was still sharp. Her
enthusiasm for life made us feel better. But her
body could not keep up with her spirit. She’d
already shown the usual signs of deafness and
stiffness. That year, her hips and back legs
started giving out on her. We knew we would
soon have to make a difficult decision.
It was likely Pepper’s last Christmas, so
we decided to make sure she enjoyed it. On
Christmas Eve, we gathered around the tree to
open an early present. We each took a turn and
then called Pepper to open one more. But her
tangled legs could not navigate the boxes and
shredded wrapping paper on the floor. She
stumbled over the obstacles, and soon she
disappeared into the next room. She crumpled
back to the floor, as out of the way as she could
get.
We were heartbroken. Could Pepper
even participate in her last Christmas?
Pepper stayed on the periphery of all our
holiday activities. Throughout the day, we gave
gifts but did not feel very giving. We shared
43
stories over cinnamon rolls that tasted bland. We
played games by the tree whose twinkles had
dimmed.
That evening, Kaci said what we’d all
been thinking: “I wish Pepper could have helped
open presents this year.”
We all put down our mugs of spiced tea.
“Maybe she still could,” Kara said.
“But there’s none left,” Mom reminded
her.
Kara jumped up and left the room. We
heard her opening drawers and cabinets in the
kitchen. She returned with a box of dog biscuits,
scissors, and a roll of tape.
“Hand me that green paper,” Kara told
me, pointing at a large sheet at my feet. She cut
a small section from the paper and wrapped a
single dog treat in it. She held it up as if she had
just struck gold. “Now there’s a present for her!”
I knelt on the floor next to Kara and
wrapped another dog treat. Kaci and Mom
joined in, too. Soon, we had four elegantly
wrapped dog biscuits in a row on the floor. We
cleared the floor of discarded wrapping paper.
We tucked our legs under us as we perched out
of the way on the furniture.
“Go get Pepper,” we urged Mom. We all
bounced like eager children.
Mom went into the next room. “You
want to open a present, girl?” she coaxed. In a
moment, Pepper stuck her head into the room.
Her ears were fully perked with anticipation and
curiosity.
She skidded on stilted legs to the row of
presents. She sniffed all four in order, and
looked back and forth between them. She’d
never had such a wide choice of gifts before.
Soon, Pepper selected her first Christmas
gift. She nimbly turned the present with her
forepaw, just like she was a spry young dog once
more. She tugged every last scrap of paper off
the dog treat before she chewed it with her
customary grace.
Our family swelled with glee.
Pepper licked the last crumb from the
floor. She eyed the remaining three presents,
then turned to Mom as if asking, “May I please
open another?”
“Go ahead, girl!” Mom encouraged.
(Continued on Page 45)
44 House Number Twenty-Nine

House Number Twenty-Nine

by William S Peckham
House Number Twenty-nine is a
mystery with a touch of the
paranormal. The story follows Sean
Kennedy and his friend, best selling
author Stanley Renton, after the
restoration of 29 Livery Lane.
Together they write a book about
Sean’s experiences with apparitions
while restoring the century-old
house. They discover that three of
the former owners are still living,
so they invite them to the old house.
Stories are told and experiences are
shared… stories of a murder, an
attempted suicide, disbarment of a
lawyer, indiscretions of two
teenagers… even the fraud and
mishandling of corpses. The co-
authors move forward with
research on the history of House
Number Twenty-nine.

Sean finalizes plans for a family

holiday to Boston, Los Angeles and
Disneyland. Their flight from
Boston to Los Angeles is booked on
American Airline’s Flight 11,
September 11, 2001.

The Kennedy family survives the terrorist attack on New York City – a hit man bent upon
revenge – a fiery attack on their family home and an intense, threatening interrogation by
CCIS.

Sean and Stanley write the novel about 29 Livery Lane. It becomes a best seller and the
two friends continue to co-write until Stanley’s death.

www.williamspeckham.com
 Celebrity Christmas Wishes
Celebrity Christmas
Wishes
by Holly Nichol
It’s Christmas, and celebrities are sharing their
holiday wishes with their fans and followers on
social media. Check out stars’ messages below.
Merry Christmas!
Just Bieber wrote, “Merry Christmas
everyone :)” and added a link to his song “Under
the Mistletoe.”
Niall Horan tweeted with emojis for
presents, a tree and beer, “Merry Christmas
everyone. Have a great day.”
Susan Sarandon urged, “While
celebrating, remember those w/ no home, peace
or future & vow to change that in 2017. In the
most trying times real change happens.”
Khloe Kardashian wished, “Merry
Christmas my babies!!! Let us keep Christmas
beautiful without a thought of greed! May we
remember the true meaning and spread love.”
President Donald Trump simply stated,
“#MerryChristmas.”
Paul McCartney expressed, “Here’s
wishing you a wonderful Christmas time. Have
a brilliant Chrissy y’all! Love Paul
#HappyChristmas.”
Mariah Carey wished her fans, “Thank
you, #Lambs! Merry Christmas!!”
“Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful
holiday. Merry Christmas!” added Dolly
Parton.
Next to pictures of himself and his kids,
Mark Wahlberg wrote, “Merry Christmas from
the Wahlbergs!”
Malin Akerman shared, “Merry merry
Xmas Happy happy Chanukah Joyful Holidays!!
With love from Spain.”
“#MerryChristmas from the
McDermotts!” wrote Tori Spelling, with a
picture of her growing family.
With herself photoshopped leaning her
arm on Queen Elizabeth, Madonna tweeted,
“We Both Wish All of our loved ones a very
Merry X-Mas!!”
Jane Lynch offered, “Happy Merry
everyone! It’s been…well, it’s been a year.
Thanks for staying in your hearts. Here’s to
music!” “
Merry Christmas to all!!” exclaimed
Brandi Glanville.
And Kelly Ripa said, “Santa baby.
Merry Christmas to all.”
Reese Witherspoon wished, “Merry
Christmas y’all!!! Hope you’re spending the day
bundled up and cozy with your family!”
Along with a picture of herself and her
family, Paris Hilton tweeted, “Celebrating
Christmas with my all my beautiful cousins &
aunts. #FamilyisEverything.”
Kerry Washington posted a picture of
herself sitting on Santa’s lap, with the simple
message, “Very Merry. Xo”
Steve-O shared, “I’m not a big fan of
Christmas cards, this year I just texted
@realjknoxville [Johnny Knoxville] a photo of
my wiener. Merry Xmas!!!” “Merry
Christmas to all and to all a goodnight and no
I’m not Santa,” wrote Aaron Carter.
Patrick Stewart also shared a photo of
himself sitting on Santa’s lap with a note that
45
read, “Father Christmas! (Also, Father-in-law… 8 Surprising Facts About ‘How
) Happy Holidays to all.”
Cristiano Ronaldo tweeted, “Merry
The Grinch Stole Christmas’
Christmas world.”
J.K. Rowling offered, “Remember,
1. The original storybook Grinch was black-and-
Christmas Day is, in the end, just a day. It isn’t a
white with pink eyes. It was the idea of Dr.
test or a scorecard of you or your life, so be kind
Seuss’s friend, fellow animator and director,
to yourself.”
Chuck Jones, to make the grumpy character
Ozzy Osbourne wished, “Merry
green for the animated short.
#Christmas Easter Bunny,” alongside a picture
of him dressed as Santa and holding a toy rabbit.
2. The Grinch’s scheming smile is actually based
“Merry Christmas everyone,” tweeted
on Chuck Jones’ grin (minus the termites, of
Mischa Barton with emojis of a Christmas tree,
course).
a heart, and Santa.
Rob Lowe simply expressed, “Merry
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! marks the
Christmas everyone!!!!!”
first time Dr. Seuss centered a story on a villain
“Merry Christmas,” added Alec
who changes his ways. Prior to 1957, his
Baldwin.
previous books included Horton Hears a Who!,
“Merry Christmas. And to anyone who doesn't
If I Ran The Zoo and The Cat in The Hat.
have someone to hold, I feel you. You arent
alone. Here’s a cyber hug. To all a good night,”
4. Thurl Ravenscroft, who sings the theme song
wished Evan Rachel Wood. Gossip Cop will
of the short, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,”
continue to update as more celebrities share their
was also the voice of Frosted Flakes cereal
Christmas wishes. []
mascot Tony the Tiger for more than 50 years,
from 1951 until his death in 2005.
6 Christmas Stories of
5. For the 2000 live-action remake of the story
Wonder and Love that starred Jim Carrey as the profusely cynical
Continued From Page 43 protagonist, both Eddie Murphy and Jack
Nicholson were both considered for the part.
For the next few minutes, Pepper opened each of
her Christmas presents. While she did, she 6. It took Jim Carrey three hours daily to get into
reminded us of the sheer joy of being together. his Grinch suit, which was made of individually
Our family felt whole—not because we were in dyed green yak hairs.
the same room, city, or country, but because our
love bonded us together.In the new year, Pepper 7. Not since 1939’s The Wizard of Oz have so
let us know it was time to call the veterinarian. many characters in a film, including all extras,
Her passing, while tearful, was peaceful. In its worn such heavy stage makeup. And it paid off!
own way, her passing was also a celebration of The film won the 2000 Academy Award for Best
life, because she gave my family so much love Makeup.
and laughter. Long after I forgot each of my
presents, I still cherish Pepper’s final Christmas 8. The lyrics for “You’re a Mean One, Mr.
gift. She taught me that no matter where we each Grinch” were written by Seuss with the help of
spend the holidays, and no matter what the Chuck Jones. The brainstorm session for the
passing year brings, the smallest act of heartfelt song, which increasingly describes the Grinch as
giving can unite our family through our love. a sinister and unhygienic brute, was basically an
For me, that knowledge is the longest-lasting old-fashioned diss battle between the two
gift of all. - Zach Hively [] friends. []
46 Jesus King of Edessa

J E S US
King of Edessa
by Ralph Ellis
The biblical Jesus - discovered in the historical record.
Contemporary coins and statue of Jesus discovered in Syria.
Why is Jesus missing from the historical record? Jesus was an influential king (the King
of the Jews) and probably the most famous monarch of the last two millennia, so why
cannot we find archaeological evidence for his life? The answer is that we have been
looking in the wrong location.

Following 25 years of research, Ralph Ellis has discovered that Jesus was a prince of
Edessa in northern Syria. The Edessan monarchs were Nazarene Jews who helped build
the Temple of Jerusalem and saved Judaea from starvation during a great famine. But, just
like Jesus, they were also religious and political revolutionaries who tried to take control
of Judaea, but were thwarted by the Roman Army. Thus there are many links and
similarities between the biblical accounts and the princes and kings of Edessa.

However, in addition to this, Ralph Ellis has discovered that one of the princes of Edessa
had the same names as Jesus. Jesus was called (King) Jesus Emmanuel, while one of the
Edessan monarchs was called King Izas Manu(el). Equally interesting, is the fact that all
of the Edessan monarchs wore a plaited Crown of Thorns. The biblical Jesus was crucified
wearing this same plaited Crown of Thorns because he was this very same prince and king
of Edessa.

Thus we now know who Jesus was, where he lived, and who his family were. Visit his city,
see the ruins of his citadel, gaze upon his statue, handle his coins. In reality, Jesus was a
son of King Abgarus au Kama of Edessa, a minor princeling with a small realm, a large
treasury, and even bigger ambitions. But the so-called Wise Prince of northern Syria came up against an intractable Rome, and his many plans
crumbled to dust. The historical records then indicate that this revolutionary prince of Edessa was crucified outside Jerusalem, along with two
other leaders of the revolt, but he was reprieved and taken down from the cross by a man called Joseph(us). And yes, this familiar-sounding
account is from the historical record, and not from the gospels.

Readers might imagine that the true history of this region might undermine much of the biblical story that the gospel authors have crafted. But
in reality the gospels always did say that Jesus was a Nazarene (Mat 2:23) and a king (Luk 23:38), and so this new analysis changes very little
in the gospel story. The only real difference is that the true history of the region indicates that the strategies and goals of King Izas (King Jesus)
were much more far-reaching than the gospel accounts like to admit. In reality, the goal of King Izas and the Edessan monarchy was to use
their newly united Kingdom of Judaeo-Syria as a springboard to take over the throne of Rome. Yes, King Izas (King Jesus) wanted to become
Emperor of Rome - which is why he was so closely linked to the Roman 'Star Prophesy' (the eastern star at his birth), and why he suffered a
Roman rather than a Jewish form of punishment.

This is a scholarly study of all the available historical evidence, including the Tanakh, Talmud, Josephus Flavius, the Roman historians, and
venerable Syriac historians like Moses of Chorene and Yohannes Drasxanakertci.

We suggest that readers start with 'Cleopatra to Christ' and then 'King Jesus'. The wait before arriving at the last episode in the trilogy will be
worthwhile, for if a book could be valued on its 'eureka moments' then this final book would be priceless. v3.5

www.edfu-books.com
 Liberating Jesus 47

L I B E R AT I N G J E S U S
By
Roberta Grimes
Roberta Grimes spent
decades studying nearly
200 years of afterlife
evidence and forming a
detailed picture of what
happens at and after death.
She then discovered that
two thousand years ago
Jesus told us things about
God, reality, death, the
afterlife, human nature,
and the nature of reality
that perfectly match the
afterlife evidence in even
small details. She outlines
many of these
correspondences in
appendices to her books
The Fun of Dying (2010,
2014) and The Fun of Staying in Touch (2014). In Liberating Jesus
Roberta offers compelling evidence that the earliest Christians
misunderstood the meaning and the message of Jesus. She
demonstrates that all the correspondences between the Gospels and
the afterlife evidence amount to nothing less than a new revelation
from God. And she shows us that once we put aside the magic-
thinking notion that the whole Christian Bible must be the Inspired
Word of God just because the earliest Christians said it was, we at
last free Jesus to bring to humankind the messages directly from
God that long ago were His true life’s purpose. His promise remains
as fresh today as it was two thousand years ago, and now it is
confirmed by the afterlife evidence: if we will live according to the
teachings of Jesus, we can create the Kingdom of God on earth.

SEEK REALITY RADIO SHOW

WITH
ROBERT GRIMES
IS NOW ON
THE ‘X’ ZONE BROADCAST NETWORK
Visit www.xzbn.net for Broadcast Days and Times

www.RobertaGrimes.com
 48 25 Best Christmas Stories of All Time
25 Best Christmas Stories • Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. • Critics Consensus: Its many imitators (and
• Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis sequels) have never come close to matching
of All Time Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald the taut thrills of the definitive holiday
Gardiner action classic.
#25 - WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) • Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman,
• Critics Consensus: It may be too sweet for #16 - TOKYO GODFATHERS (2003) Reginald VelJohnson, Bonnie Bedelia
some, but this unabashedly sentimental • Critics Consensus: Beautiful and
holiday favorite is too cheerful to resist. substantive, Tokyo Godfathers adds a #6 - THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE
• Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera- moving -- and somewhat unconventional -- CHRISTMAS (1993)
Ellen, Rosemary Clooney entry to the animated Christmas canon. • Critics Consensus: The Nightmare Before
• Starring: Toru Emori, Aya Okamoto, Christmas is a stunningly original and
#24 - BAD SANTA (2003) Yoshiaki Umegaki, Shôzô Îzuka visually delightful work of stop-motion
• Critics Consensus: A gloriously rude and animation.
gleefully offensive black comedy, Bad Santa #15 - BETTER WATCH OUT (2017) • Starring: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara,
isn't for everyone, but grinches will find it • Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Glenn Shadix, Danny Elfman
uproariously funny. • Starring: Levi Miller, Olivia DeJonge, Ed Directed By: Henry Selick, Tim Burton
• Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Oxenbould, Dacre Montgomery
Tony Cox, Brett Kelly #5 - HOW THE GRINCH STOLE
#14 - RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS (1967)
#23 - THE BISHOP’S WIFE (1948) TALE (2010) • Critics Consensus: How the Grinch Stole
• Critics Consensus: The Bishop's Wife • Critics Consensus: Rare Exports is an Christmas brings an impressive array of
succeeds thanks to the strength of winning unexpectedly delightful crossbreed of talent to bear on an adaptation that honors a
performances from a stellar cast, which deadpan comedy and Christmas horror. classic holiday story -- and has rightfully
includes Cary Grant and Loretta Young. • Starring: Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, become a yuletide tradition of its own.
• Starring: Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Ilmari Järvenpää, Peeter Jakobi • Starring: Boris Karloff, June Foray, Thurl
Young, Monty Woolley Ravenscroft, Eugene Poddany
#13 - UN CONTE DE NOEL (A
#22 - BATMAN RETURNS (1992) CHRISTMAS TALE) (2008) #4 THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
• Critics Consensus: Director Tim Burton's • Critics Consensus: A sharp black comedy (1940)
dark, brooding atmosphere, Michael about a chaotic family holiday gathering, A • Critics Consensus: Deftly directed by Ernst
Keaton's work as the tormented hero, and the Christmas Tale is always involving, thanks Lubitsch from a smart, funny script by
flawless casting of Danny DeVito as The to an impressive ensemble cast. Samson Raphaelson, The Shop Around the
Penguin and Christopher Walken as, well, • Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Mathieu Corner is a romantic comedy in the finest
Christopher Walken make the sequel better Amalric, Jean-Paul Roussillon, Anne sense of the term.
than the first. Consigny • Starring: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart,
• Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut
Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken #12 - THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN’S
CREEK (1944) #3 - HOLIDAY INN (1942)
#21 - A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1951) • Critics Consensus: The Miracle of Morgan's • Critics Consensus: With the combined might
• Critics Consensus: The 1951 adaptation of Creek finds director Preston Sturges at his of Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Irving
Charles Dickens' timeless classic is perhaps most zanily subversive -- not to mention Berlin working in its favor, Holiday Inn is a
the most faithful film version -- and Alastair hilarious. seasonal classic -- not least because it
Sim's performance as Scrooge is not to be • Starring: Eddie Bracken, Betty Hutton, introduced "White Christmas" to the world.
missed. William Demarest, Diana Lynn • Starring: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire,
• Starring: Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale
Mervyn Johns, Hermione Baddeley #11 - RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED
REINDEER (1964) #2 - MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
#20 - GREMLINS (1984) • Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. • Critics Consensus: Irrefutable proof that
• Critics Consensus: Whether you choose to • Starring: Burl Ives, Larry D. Mann, Billy gentle sentimentalism can be the chief
see it as a statement on consumer culture or Richards, Paul Soles ingredient in a wonderful film, Miracle on
simply a special effects-heavy popcorn flick, 34th Street delivers a warm holiday message
Gremlins is a minor classic. #10 - A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS without resorting to treacle.
• Starring: Zach Galligan, Hoyt Axton, (1965) • Starring: Edmund Gwenn, John Payne,
Frances Lee McCain, Phoebe Cates • Critics Consensus: A family Christmas Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood
Classic for all.
#19 - ELF (2003) • Starring: Peter Robbins, Tracy Stratford, #1 - IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
• Critics Consensus: A movie full of Yuletide Christopher Shea, Sally Dryer • Critics Consensus: The holiday classic to
cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family define all holiday classics, It's a Wonderful
comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will #9 - A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) Life is one of a handful of films worth an
Ferrell's funny and charming performance as • Critics Consensus: Both warmly nostalgic annual viewing.
one of Santa's biggest helpers. and darkly humorous, A Christmas Story • Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed,
• Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob deserves its status as a holiday perennial. Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Newhart, Edward Asner • Starring: Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, • Directed By: Frank Capra []
Melinda Dillon, Ian Petrella
#18 - TRADING PLACES (1983)
• Critics Consensus: Featuring deft interplay #8 - ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011) From Everyone in the Video /
between Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, • Critics Consensus: Aardman Animations Television Production Division
Trading Places is an immensely appealing broadens their humor a bit for Arthur of
social satire. Christmas, a clever and earnest holiday film
REL-MAR McConnell Media
• Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, with surprising emotional strength.
• Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Company,
Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche
Nighy, Jim Broadbent MERRY CHRISTMAS
#17 - CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT and
(1945) #7 - DIE HARD (1988) A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
 The Little Drummer Boy
Katherine K. Davis - The
Little Drummer Boy
"Almost Wrote Itself"
by Kathy Warnes
Katherine K. Davis wrote the Little Drummer
Boy in 1941, and since then he has drummed his
timeless message into the hearts of people
everywhere. There are different versions of the
story of Katherine Kennicott Davis’s creation of
the Little Drummer Boy. One version of the
story says that Katherine freely translated a
Czech carol called The Carol of the Drum, in
1941. Another version of the story has it that she
arranged the Little Drummer Boy with Harry
Simone, Jack Halloran, and Henry Onorati and
another version of the story says that she wrote
the song herself while “trying to take a nap.”
The bibliography of her musical career
indicates that Katherine K. Davis wrote and
arranged The Little Drummer Boy in 1941, but
she produced a lifetime of music before she
wrote the Little Drummer Boy. Katherine
Kennicott Davis Composed Her First Musical
Composition at Age 15.
Katherine Kennicott Davis was born in
St. Joseph, Missouri, on June 25, 1892, and she
graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1910.
When she was just 15, Katherine wrote her first
musical composition called “Shadow March.”
She studied music at Wellesley College in
Massachusetts, and she won the Billings Prize
for composition there in 1914. After she
graduated, Katherine stayed on at Wellesley and
taught music theory and piano as an assistant in
the Music Department. She also studied at the
New England Conservatory of Music in Boston
and traveled to Paris to study with Nadia
Boulanger.
After she returned from Paris, Katherine
Kennicott Davis taught music at the Concord
Academy in Concord, Massachusetts, and at the
Shady Hill School for Girls in Philadelphia. She
wrote many of her more than 600 compositions
for the choirs at her school. She was a member
of the American Society of Composers, Authors
and Publishers and Stetson University in
DeLand, Florida awarded her an honorary
doctorate.
Katherine Kennicott Writes “Let All
Things Now Living”
Katherine told colleagues that in the
1920 she had found the traditional Welsh folk
tune, the Ash Grove in the Book of National
Songs. She wrote the harmonization and a
descant for the tune and published them in 1939,
with her text under the name of John Cowley,
one of her pseudonyms. She called her new song
THE ‘X’ ZONE TV CHANNEL
Is Coming To SimulTV
www.simultv.com
49
Let All Things Now Living, and it became a
favorite Thanksgiving hymn of many church
From The Graphics and
choirs and congregations.
Katherine Kennicott Davis Writes The Photography Department
Little Drummer Boy
at
The Little Drummer Boy is the story of a
poor boy who couldn’t afford a gift for the REL-MAR McConnell
newborn Christ Child, so he played his drum at
Media Company,
the manger with Mary’s approval. The baby
smiled, delighted with the Little Drummer Boy’s MERRY CHRISTMAS
skillful playing. The story of the Little Drummer
and a
Boy resembles a twelfth century legend that
Anatole France retold as Le Jongleur de Notre HAPPY NEW YEAR
Dame or Our Lady’s Juggler. The French legend
said that a juggler juggled in front of a statue of
THE ‘X’ ZONE RADIO / TV SHOW
Mary and the statue, depending on the version of
with
the story, either smiled at him or threw him a
ROB McCONNELL
rose. In 1902, Jules Massenet adapted the story
L*I*V*E Mon - Fri
into an opera and in 1984, the television film
on SimulTV
The Juggler of Notre Dame the statue both
smiled at the juggler and threw him a rose. In
1955, shortly before they retired, the Trapp
Family singers recorded the Carol of the Drum.
This song resembles the Little Drummer Boy
both in music and lyrics. The only difference is
the line “The ox and lamb kept time.” In The
Carol of the Drum, the line is the “The ox and
ass kept time.”
Henry Onorati Arranges His Version of The
Carol of the Drum
www.
In 1957, Henry Onorati re-arranged The Carol of
SimulTV.
the Drum for the Jack Halloran Singers to record
on Dot Records, but Dot didn’t release the
.com
record in time for Christmas. In 1958, Henry
Onorati introduced his friend Harry Simeone to
the Carol of the Drum. Harry Simeone was a
conductor and arranger from Newark, New
Jersey, who had worked on several Bing Crosby
movies and worked as conductor for a television
show called The Firestone Hour from 1952-
1959. Harry Simeone re-arranged the song and
re-titled it The Little Drummer Boy. He recorded
it with the Harry Simeone Chorale on the album
Sing We Now of Christmas. Harry Simeone and
Henry Onorati were given joint credit with
Katherine K. Davis for the song even though
they had only arranged it. This was Harry
Simeone’s first album with a chorus and it was
released at Christmas time every year from
1958-1962. It became a holiday classic. A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
with KEVIN RANDLE
(Continued on Page 51) www.XZBN.net
50 Book Of Mysteries
 The Little Drummer Boy 51
Katherine K. Davis - The
Little Drummer Boy
"Almost Wrote Itself"
Continued from Page 49

The Little Drummer Boy Becomes a Beloved

Holiday Carol

Since the 1950s, The Little Drummer Boy has

appeared in over 200 versions in seven
languages in all kinds of music genres. In 1964
Marlene Dietrich recorded a German version of
the Little Drummer Boy. The Beverly Sisters
and Michael Flanders recorded hit versions of
The Little Drummer Boy in 1959, and in 1972,
the Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the
Royal Scots Guards had a hit version of the
carol. Bing Crosby and David Bowie recorded
the most popular version of the Little Drummer
Boy as a duet with Peace On Earth for Bing
Crosby’s Television Christmas special in 1977.
The duet version was written after David Bowie Pa rum pum pum pum Merry Christmas To One And All!
admitted he hated the song that he was I am a poor boy too
scheduled to sing. Bing Crosby performed The Pa rum pum pum pum With the current, unprecedented blending
Little Drummer Boy while David Bowie sang I have no gift to bring of cultures and religions, many of us find
the new song Peace on Earth. The duet Pa rum pum pum pum ourselves unsure of how to address the
eventually became a classic. That's fit to give our King Christmas season without offending those
In 2008, BBC disc jockey Terry Wogan Pa rum pum pum pum, of different faiths.
and singer Aled Jones recorded a new version of rum pum pum pum,
the Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy duet for rum pum pum pum Regardless of the tapestry woven around
a charity album released to help Children In Christ, Christianity and Christmas,
Need. Issued as a single, it climbed to a UK Top Shall I play for you Jesus’s one abiding message was one of
hit for them. Pa rum pum pum pum love. A concept found in all faiths, love
On my drum carries no offence.
Katherine Kennicott Davis Writes a Lifetime
of Music Mary nodded This year as always, I wish my brothers
Pa rum pum pum pum and sisters from all walks of life – the
Katherine Kennicott Davis continued writing The ox and lamb kept time earth and all living upon her, the blessing
music until she fell ill in the winter of 1979- Pa rum pum pum pum of a true Christmas.
1980. On April 20, 1980, she died at the age of I played my drum for Him
87 in Littleton, Massachusetts. Her musical Pa rum pum pum pum May your hearts be filled with love, your
legacy included operas, choruses, children’s I played my best for Him lives full of joy and your spirits at peace.
operettas, cantatas, piano and organ pieces and Pa rum pum pum pum,
songs like Let All Things Now Living, and The rum pum pum pum, Much love,
Little Drummer Boy. She left all of the royalties rum pum pum pum
and proceeds from her musical compositions to ~ Gwilda Wiyaka ~
Wellesley College’s Music Program. Then He smiled at me
Katherine K. Davis once quipped that Pa rum pum pum pum
The Little Drummer Boy “had been done to Me and my drum []
death on radio and TV,” but musicians all over
the world continue to sing and record her song.

The Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me

Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring

Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the kIng
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

Little baby
 52 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Walking through the streets of 1843's London,
at night, Dickens thinks about his developing
story ideas. He conjures-up a character called
"Ebenezer Scrooge."
Maybe that miserly old man once had a
partner who was equally stingy. Dickens calls
that now-dead chap "Jacob Marley."
Scrooge and Marley value money above
all else. They have no love for anyone. They
care about accumulating wealth. They do not
share their resources with anyone and have no
plans to use their worldly gains to help the poor.
Is there an antidote to such selfish
living? Dickens, writing during the months of
October and November, in 1843, thinks about
the "Spirit of Christmas." Could that be an
antidote to selfish living?
In 1843, however, people in Britain do
not celebrate Christmas in the commercial sense
(of today’s Christmas). While many people go
to church, on Christmas, and engage in the long-
standing tradition of “making merry,” not all
children receive presents. While it is “the
season” to care about others, not much is done
to help those in need.
People, throughout Britain, aren’t really
thinking about the less-fortunate among them.
So ... Dickens decides to send a message
through his story. He invents three different
"Spirits" - or "Ghosts" - who will teach his main
character - Ebenezer Scrooge - a few lessons.
In the process of educating Scrooge,
Dickens finds a way to return "Old Marley" to
his former home - a commercial building
located in the City of London. Now a ghost,
Marley pays a visit to the dwelling’s current
resident (his old partner, Ebenezer).
Dickens creates the Cratchit family,
from the Camden district of London, where
poor-but-respectable people live. Despite their
poverty, the Cratchits - with their many children
- have a loving home.
One of the Cratchit children, however,
suffers from the negative impacts of poverty.
Tiny Tim will die unless he gets help.
With this story structure in place,
Dickens quickly writes his novella. The author
could use the extra cash such a story could
generate, if it catches-on with the public.
What was Christmas like, for people in
Britain, during the first half of the 19th century?
The answer depends on whether a person was
from a wealthy or a poor family.
In any given year, some of Britain’s
national newspapers didn’t even mention
Christmas. Wealthy families exchanged
presents, played games, enjoyed music and held
gatherings (featuring special meals and
Christmas puddings), but poor families were
fortunate just to have the day off.
If they scrimped and saved, poor
families could afford to share a Christmas meal,
but no one was thinking about giving or
receiving presents. There wasn’t enough money
for such things at a time when young children
worked long hours to help support their
families.
Even wealthy families, in England, did
not have Christmas trees or send holiday cards
during the first part of the 19th Century.
England’s first Christmas cards were produced
by Henry Cole and John Horsley in 1843, the
year in which Dickens wrote “A Christmas
Carol.”
England’s early Christmas trees may
have first appeared when Queen Charlotte (the
German-born wife of George III) decorated
(and lit) fir trees during the 1780s and 1790s.
But Christmas trees in Britain didn’t become
popular until Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince
Albert, made them a part of the royal Christmas.
(The pair married in 1840.)
The Prince Consort carried-over such
traditions from his native country (Germany) to
the land of his new wife. In 1848, the Illustrated
London News published a picture of the royal
family around their Christmas tree. That image
did much to popularize Christmas trees in
England. In its 23 December 1848 issue, The
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Times described the beautiful tree with these
with KEVIN RANDLE
words:
www.XZBN.net
The tree employed … is a young fir,
about eight feet high, and has six tiers of
branches. On each branch are arranged a
dozen wax tapers. Pendant from the branches
are elegant trays, baskets, and bonbonniers,
and other placements for sweetmeats of the
most varied kind, and all forms, colours, and
degrees of beauty.
No one in England, however, was
thinking about Santa Claus (or “Father
Christmas”) during that time frame, since those
customs were not-yet part of British culture. It
wasn’t until the 1870s that Saint Nicholas
became popular in England. England did have
a tradition of a jolly figure who represented the
“Spirit of Christmas.” Dickens borrowed from
that tradition when he created the second of his
Three Spirits.
Dickens finished his story by the end of
November, 1843, just in time to publish it for
Christmas that year. Not only was the story
popular, it actually changed the culture, helping CONNECTING WITH COINCIDENCE
people to remember that it was the time of year with DR. BERNARD BEITMAN, MD
to share with others less-fortunate. www.XZBN.net
(Continued on Page 55)
 The Power of Home Numbers 53

The Power of Home Numbers

By Jesse Kalsi
THE POWER OF HOUSE NUMBERS –

THE POWER OF HOME NUUMBERS - By Jesse Kalsi - The

information in this book is all true. It is based on Jesse Kalsi’s more
than twenty years experience in using numbers to help thousands
of people find happiness and success. Jesse says, “I have learned,
the hard way, that I benefit from working with my own personal
numbers and that I suffer when I ignore what the numbers tell me.”
The information contained in this book is all true. This is the story
of countless people with whom I’ve met over the past twenty
years. I read their energies based on their house numbers, name
numbers, dates of birth, telephone numbers, business numbers,
business addresses, bank account numbers, Social Security
numbers, and every other kind of number. I read their energies,
singly and in various combinations. Based on my intuition and
knowledge, and by the grace of God, I am thankful to have been
able to be of service to thousands of people.

ABOUT JESSE KALSI:

JESSE KALSI is a world-renowned numerologist. He specializes

in residential and business numerology and provides valuable
insight on the power of numbers and how they affect our lives. In
his book, The Power of Home Numbers, he combines his Eastern
upbringing with his Western experience to bring awareness and
understanding of this phenomenon.
Over the past 15 years, Jesse has consulted thousands of
people and affected their lives positively. His clients include
prominent business people and extremely successful
communication and entertainment companies. Jesse Kalsi has
appeared on many radio and television shows in the U.S., and his
unique perspective on Numerology has amazed his audience.
A successful real estate broker by trade, Jesse Kalsi is also
a Certified Federal Aviation Administration Flight Instructor and
holds a commercial pilot’s license. He received his Bachelor’s
Degree in India and holds an LLM in International Legal Studies
from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
Jesse Kalsi graduated from the National Defense Academy
of India and pursued advanced studies at the Indian Military
Academy. He served as a Captain in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Gurkha
Rifles, formerly called “The Queen’s Own.” Intending to devote
his life to military affairs, Jesse left the army when he was
informed of his true life purpose while posted at the Jammu-
Kashmir frontier. He originally came to the U.S. to learn to fly, but
eventually returned here to make his home in California.
Jesse lives in Northern California with his wife Karen,
daughter Amrita, and son Eshan.

www.JesseKalsi.com
54 From Out of the Woodwork
From Out of the Woodwork
A Tal e of Ghost ly Proportions
by
William S Peckham
Some Of William’s Many Reviews:
From Out of the Woodwork begins with a bang. The first line
is an attention getter. The story is lively with action and
colourful characters. One of the most tragic events of the
1900s is linked with one from the 2000s. It's a good read,
with sprinkles of fun woven into some historic events that
were not so fun.
- Dorothy Brotherton, Journalist, Kelowna BC.
I enjoyed the original way the author wove history into the
story through the apparitions and his years in the home
improvement field lends an air of authenticity to the story. It's
for anyone who enjoyes a story with a touch of the
paranormal and a mystery.
- Lisa Brandt, Broadcaster and Author of Venus Rising.
www.WilliamSPeckham.com
29 Livery Lane, a century house, once a house of some
distinction and class now, fallen into disrepair, is purchased by
Sean Kennedy. Sean, a contractor in Toronto, buys old houses,
guts them and turns them into multi- family monstrosities...
slums waiting to happen. When he starts work on his latest
project, 29 Livery Lane, he encounters visions of former owners.
At first, he is stunned by these apparitions, but as time moves on
he welcomes them. Through these visions he learns about the
house and some of the nine former owners. As a result of what
he learns he decides to restore the old house not destroy it for
profit.
The apparitions come to him when he touches books,
reads letters, rummages through old boxes, finds a locket or
reads a manuscript of a murder mystery. Through his many
visions Sean gradually learns about the house, the way it looked
in grander days and the fate of nine former owners, who left their
indelible marks upon the house. The Phillips family, the original
owners, left a story of love, closeness of family and a sea
voyage, also the story of Stanley Renton, best-selling author,
arrested for a murder which took place in the old house.
The story of the Kennedys, the present owners, is also one
of love and family closeness and the deadly days of the terrorist's
attacks on the Trade Centre Towers in New York, September 11,
2001.
Sean, through his research, meets Stanley Renton the only
living, former owner. Sean and his family become very close
friends with Stanley, during the restoration period.
When an apparition of a young mother and her daughter
appears to Sean he figures that the daughter, Angelina Weston,
could still be living and she might be able to shed some light
upon the house and the way it looked. His meeting with Angelina
turns into a warm friendship with this woman, now in her late
eighties. The friendship blossoms and grows to include Stanley
Renton as well.
The tales of the former owners lead Sean down many
paths over a one-hundred-year period... from a trip on the St.
Lawrence River in a small boat in the early 1900s to the
recapture of a violent murderer in Niagara-on-the Lake, in 2001.
The closing chapter of the book connects the Kennedys,
the new owners, to the Phillips, the first owners. Stephen Phillips
sends his wife and two children to Ireland to visit her mother and
books their return on a cruise ship, April 10, 1912. Sean
Kennedy also books a holiday for his wife and two children to
visit her mother and father in England and then meet him in
Boston, on September 10, 2001. Where they plan to continue on
to Los Angeles and Disney Land the next day, September 11,
2001. Available on CreateSpace.com and Amazon.com.
 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 52
Charles Dickens begins "A Christmas
Carol," his story about Ebenezer Scrooge, by
introducing us to someone who was an
important part of Scrooge's earlier life: Jacob
Marley, his deceased partner.
What's the business of Scrooge &
Marley? Where is their office located? Why
does Scrooge think Christmas is a "humbug?"
Is there any hope for this incredibly selfish man
to change his ways?
Hereafter is an abridged version of the
first part of "Stave One," entitled "Marley's
Ghost."
Marley was dead. There is no doubt
whatever about that. The register of his burial
was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the
undertaker. Scrooge signed it. Old Marley was
as dead as a door-nail.
Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course
he did. Scrooge and he were partners for I don’t
know how many years. Scrooge was his sole
executor, his sole administrator, his sole friend,
his sole mourner. There is no doubt that Marley
was dead.
Scrooge never painted out Old Marley’s
name, however. There it stood, years
afterwards, above the warehouse door: Scrooge
and Marley. The firm was known as Scrooge
and Marley. Sometimes people new to the
business called Scrooge Scrooge, and
sometimes Marley, but he answered to both
names. It was all the same to him.
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the
grindstone, was Scrooge! A squeezing,
wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching,
covetous, old sinner! The cold within him froze
his old features, nipped his pointed nose,
shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his
eyes red, his thin lips blue
Nobody ever stopped him in the street to
say, with gladsome looks, “My dear Scrooge,
how are you? When will you come to see me?”
No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no
children asked him what it was o’clock, no man
or woman ever once in all his life inquired the
way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even
the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and
when they saw him coming on, would tug their
owners into doorways and up courts; and then
would wag their tails as though they said, “No
eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark
master!”
But what did Scrooge care!
Once upon a time—of all the good days
in the year, upon Christmas Eve—old Scrooge
sat busy in his counting-house. It was cold,
bleak, biting foggy weather, and the city clocks
had only just gone three, but it was quite dark
already. The door of Scrooge’s counting-house
was open that he might keep his eye upon his
clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond was
copying letters. Scrooge had a very small fire,
but the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller
that it looked like one coal. But he couldn’t
replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his
own room; and so surely as the clerk came in
with the shovel, the master predicted that it
would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore
the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to
warm himself at the candle
“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save
you!” cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of
Scrooge’s nephew.
“Bah!” said Scrooge, “Humbug!”
“Christmas a humbug, uncle!” said
Scrooge’s nephew. “You don’t mean that, I am
sure?”
“I do,” said Scrooge. “Merry
Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What’s
Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills
without money; a time for finding yourself a
year older, but not an hour richer. Let me leave
it alone. Much good may it do you! Much good
it has ever done you!”
“I am sure I have always thought of
Christmas time,” returned the nephew, “as a
good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable,
pleasant time; the only time I know of, when men
and women seem by one consent to open their
shut-up hearts freely. And therefore, uncle,
though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver
in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good,
and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!
Come! Dine with us to-morrow.”
“Good afternoon,” said Scrooge.
“I am sorry, with all my heart, to find
you so resolute. A Merry Christmas, uncle!”
“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge.
“And A Happy New Year!”
“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge.
His nephew left the room without an
angry word.
The clerk, in letting Scrooge’s nephew
out, had let two other people in. They had books
and papers in their hands, and bowed to him.
“At this festive season of the year, Mr.
Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen,
“it is more than usually desirable that we should
55
make some slight provision for the Poor and
destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time.
Many thousands are in want of common
necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want
of common comforts, sir.”
“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge.
“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman,
laying down the pen again. But under the
impression that they scarcely furnish Christian
cheer of mind or body, a few of us are
endeavouring to buy the Poor some meat and
drink, and means of warmth. We choose this
time, because it is a time, of all others, when
Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.
What shall I put you down for?”
“Nothing!” Scrooge replied. “I wish to
be left alone. I don’t make merry myself at
Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people
merry. I help to support the prisons and
workhouses - they cost enough. Those who are
badly off must go there.”
“Many can’t go there; and many would
rather die.”
“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge,
“they had better do it.”
Seeing clearly that it would be useless to
pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew.
Foggier yet, and colder! Piercing,
searching, biting cold. The owner of one scant
young nose, gnawed by the hungry cold as bones
are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge’s
keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol:
but at the first sound of “God bless you, merry
gentleman! May nothing you dismay!”
Scrooge seized the ruler with such
energy of action, that the singer fled in terror,
leaving the keyhole to the fog and frost.
At length the hour of shutting up the
counting-house arrived.
With an ill-will Scrooge dismounted from
his stool, and admitted the fact to the expectant
clerk, who instantly snuffed his candle out, and
put on his hat. (Continued on Page 56)
 56 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 55
“You’ll want all day to-morrow, I
suppose?” said Scrooge.
“If quite convenient, sir.”
“It’s not convenient,” said Scrooge,
“and it’s not fair. If I was to stop half-a-crown
for it, you’d think yourself ill-used, I’ll be
bound?”
The clerk smiled faintly and observed
that it was only once a year.
“A poor excuse! But I suppose you must
have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next
morning.”
The clerk promised that he would; and
Scrooge walked out with a growl.
Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in
his usual melancholy tavern; and having read
all the newspapers, and beguiled the rest of the
evening with his banker’s-book, went home to
bed. He lived in chambers which had once
belonged to his deceased partner. They were a
gloomy suite of rooms, in that was old enough
now, and dreary enough, for nobody lived in it
but Scrooge, the other rooms being all let out as
offices.
Now, it is a fact, that there was nothing
at all particular about the knocker on the door,
except that it was very large. Also, that Scrooge
had seen it, night and morning, during his whole
residence in that place. And yet Scrooge, having
his key in the lock of the door, saw in the
knocker, without its undergoing any process of
change, not a knocker, but Marley’s face.
Marley’s face. It was not angry or
ferocious, but it looked at Scrooge as Marley
used to look: with ghostly spectacles turned up
on its ghostly forehead.
As Scrooge looked fixedly at this
phenomenon, it was a knocker again. He said
“Pooh, pooh!” and closed the door with a bang.
The sound resounded through the house
like thunder. Every room above, and every cask
in the wine-merchant’s cellars below, appeared
to have a separate peal of echoes of its own.
Scrooge was not a man to be frightened by
echoes. He fastened the door, and walked across
the hall, and up the stairs. Slowly, too, trimming
his candle as he went.
You might have got a hearse up that
staircase. There was plenty of width for that,
and room to spare; which is perhaps the reason
why Scrooge thought he saw a locomotive
hearse going on before him in the gloom. Half-
a-dozen gas-lamps out of the street wouldn’t
have lighted the entry too well, so you may
suppose that it was pretty dark with Scrooge’s
dip.
Up Scrooge went, not caring a button for
its being very dark: darkness is cheap, and
Scrooge liked it. But before he shut his heavy
door, he walked through his rooms to see that all
was right.
Sitting-room, bedroom, lumber-room.
All as they should be. Nobody under the table,
nobody under the sofa, and a small fire in the
grate. Nobody under the bed; nobody in the
closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was
hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the
wall.
Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and
locked himself in; double-locked himself in,
which was not his custom. Thus secured against
surprise, he put on his dressing-gown and
slippers, and his nightcap; and sat down before
the very low fire.
As he threw his head back in the chair,
his glance happened to rest upon a bell, a
disused bell, that hung in the room. It was with
great astonishment, and with a strange,
inexplicable dread, that as he looked, he saw
this bell begin to swing. It swung so softly in the
outset that it scarcely made a sound; but soon it
rang out loudly, and so did every bell in the
house.
This might have lasted half a minute, or
a minute, but it seemed an hour. The bells
ceased as they had begun, together. They were
succeeded by a clanking noise, deep down
below; as if some person were dragging a heavy
chain over the casks in the wine-merchant’s
cellar. Scrooge then remembered to have heard
that ghosts in haunted houses were described as
dragging chains.
Is Scrooge about to get a visit from a
ghost?
As Christmas approaches, Ebenezer
Scrooge keeps to himself. He refuses to help
those who are poor. He refuses to "make merry"
himself. He thinks it's all a "humbug" and has
even turned-down an invitation to celebrate the
holiday with his only nephew.
Alone, in the home once occupied by his
now-dead partner Jacob Marley, Scrooge hears
bells ringing. Then he hears another strange
sound.
He has a visitor. It's the ghost of Jacob
Marley who is noisily dragging chains.
Hereafter is an abridged version of the
second part of "Stave One," from Charles
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." To hear a
dramatization of the abridged "Marley's Ghost,"
click on the "Narration" for this chapter.
Then he heard the noise much louder, on the
floors below; then coming up the stairs; then
coming straight towards his door. It came on
through the heavy door, and a specter passed
into the room before his eyes. Upon its coming
in, the dying flame leaped up, as though it cried,
“I know him! Marley's Ghost!"
The same face: the very same. Marley in
his pigtail, usual waistcoat, tights and boots.
The chain he drew was clasped about his
middle. It was long, and wound about him like a
tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it
closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers,
deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel.
Though he looked the phantom through
and through, and saw it standing before him;
though he felt the chilling influence of its death-
cold eyes; he was still incredulous, and fought
against his senses.
“How now!” said Scrooge, caustic and
cold as ever. “What do you want with me?”
“Much!” - Marley’s voice, no doubt
about it.
“Who are you?”
“Ask me who I was.”
“Who were you then?” said Scrooge.
(Continued On Page 57)
THE JESSE KALSI RADIO SHOW
THE POWER OF HOME NUMBERS
COMING SOON TO
WWW.XZBN.NET
 Enjoy A WESTGATE Vacation!
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 55
“In life I was your partner, Jacob
Marley.”
“Can you - can you sit down?” asked
Scrooge, looking doubtfully at him.
“I can.”
“Do it, then.”
Scrooge asked the question, because he
didn’t know whether a ghost might find himself
in a condition to take a chair. But the ghost sat
down on the opposite side of the fireplace, as if
he were quite used to it.
“You don’t believe in me,” observed the
Ghost.
“I don’t,” said Scrooge.
“What evidence would you have of my
reality beyond that of your senses?”
“I don’t know,” said Scrooge.
“Why do you doubt your senses?”
“Because,” said Scrooge, “a little thing
affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach
makes them cheats. You may be a crumb of
cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato.
There’s more of gravy than of grave about you,
whatever you are!”
Scrooge was not much in the habit of
cracking jokes, nor did he feel, in his heart, by
any means waggish then. The truth is, that he
tried to be smart, as a means of keeping down
his horror.
How much greater was his horror, when,
the phantom taking off the bandage round its
head, as if it were too warm to wear indoors, its
lower jaw dropped down upon its breast!
Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped
his hands before his face.
“Mercy!” he said. “Dreadful apparition,
why do you trouble me?”
“Man of the worldly mind!” replied the
Ghost, “do you believe in me or not?”
57
“I do,” said Scrooge. “I must. But why
do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come
to me?”
“It is required of every man,” the Ghost
returned, “that the spirit within him should walk
abroad among his fellow men, and travel far and
wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is
condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to
wander through the world and witness what it
cannot share, but might have shared on earth,
and turned to happiness!”
“You are fettered,” said Scrooge,
trembling. “Tell me why?”
“I wear the chain I forged in life,”
replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link, and
yard by yard; is its pattern strange to you?”
“But you were always a good man of
business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge, who now
began to apply this to himself.
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing
its hands again. “Mankind was my business.
(Continued On Page 58)
 58 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 57
At this time of the rolling year I suffer
most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-
beings with my eyes turned down, and never
raise them to that blessed Star which led the
Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor
homes to which its light would have conducted
me!”
Scrooge was very much dismayed to
hear the spectre going on at this rate, and began
to quake exceedingly.
“Hear me!” cried the Ghost. “My time
is nearly gone. I am here to-night to warn you,
that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping
my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring,
Ebenezer. You will be haunted by Three Spirits.
Expect the first to-morrow, when the bell tolls
One. Expect the second on the next night at the
same hour. The third upon the next night when
the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate.
Look to see me no more; and look that, for your
own sake, you remember what has passed
between us!”
When it had said these words, the
apparition walked backward from him; and at
every step it took, the window raised itself a
little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was
wide open.
Scrooge followed to the window:
desperate in his curiosity. He looked out.
The air was filled with phantoms,
wandering hither and thither in restless haste,
and moaning as they went. Every one of them
wore chains like Marley’s Ghost.
Whether these creatures faded into mist,
or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell. But
they and their spirit voices faded together; and
the night became as it had been when he walked
home.
Scrooge closed the window, went
straight to bed, and fell asleep.
It wouldn't be a sound sleep, however.
Something would soon awaken Ebenezer.
Ebenezer Scrooge did not start his life as
a selfish, grumpy person. As the "Spirit of
Christmas Past" reminds him, Ebenezer's early
life included joyful moments.
What if the "Sprit of Christmas Past"
could take Scrooge back to those earlier days?
What would they find? Was there a point in his
life when Scrooge changed? What caused him
to change?
When Scrooge awoke, it was so dark,
that looking out of bed, he could scarcely
distinguish the transparent window from the
opaque walls of his chamber until suddenly the
church clock rolled a deep, hollow, melancholy
ONE. Light flashed up in the room upon the
instant, and the curtains of his bed were drawn
aside. Scrooge found himself face to face with
the unearthly visitor who drew them
It was a strange figure - like a child: yet
not so like a child as like an old man. Its hair,
which hung about its neck and down its back,
was white as if with age; and yet the face had
not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was
on the skin. The arms, hands, legs, and feet were
bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white; and
round its waist was bound a lustrous belt. It
held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand;
and, in singular contradiction of that wintry
emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer
flowers. But the strangest thing about it was,
that from the crown of its head there sprung a
bright clear jet of light.
“Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming
was foretold to me?” asked Scrooge.
“I am!” The voice was soft and gentle.
Singularly low, as if instead of being so close
beside him, it were at a distance.
“Who, and what are you?” Scrooge
demanded.
“I am the Ghost of Christmas Past."
“Long Past?” inquired Scrooge.
“No. Your past. The things that you will
see with me are shadows of the things that have
been; they will have no consciousness of us.
Rise! And walk with me!”
It would have been in vain for Scrooge
to plead that the weather and the hour were not
adapted to pedestrian purposes; that bed was
warm, and the thermometer a long way below
freezing; that he was clad but lightly in his
slippers, dressing-gown, and nightcap; and that
he had a cold upon him at that time.
The grasp, though gentle as a woman’s
hand, was not to be resisted. He rose, but
finding that the Spirit made towards the
window, clasped his robe in supplication.
“I am a mortal,” Scrooge remonstrated,
“and liable to fall.”
“Bear but a touch of my hand there,”
said the Spirit, laying it upon his heart, “and
you shall be upheld in more than this!”
As the words were spoken, they passed
through the wall, and stood in the busy
thoroughfares of a city. The Ghost stopped at a
certain warehouse door, and asked Scrooge if he
knew it.
“Know it!” said Scrooge. “Was I
apprenticed here?”
They went in. At sight of an old
gentleman sitting behind a high desk Scrooge
cried:
“Why, it’s old Fezziwig!”
Old Fezziwig laid down his pen, and
called out in a comfortable, oily, rich, fat, jovial
voice:
“Yo ho, there! Ebenezer! No more work
to-night. Christmas Eve! Clear away, and let’s
have lots of room here!
It was done in a minute. In came a
fiddler with a music-book. In came Mrs.
Fezziwig, one vast substantial smile. In came
the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and lovable.
In came all the young men and women
employed in the business. Away they all went,
twenty couple at once; hands half round and
back again the other way; down the middle and
up again.
There were more dances, and there were
forfeits, and there was cake, and there wasa
great piece of Cold Roast. But the great effect
of the evening came when the fiddler struck up
“Sir Roger de Coverley.” Then old Fezziwig
stood out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig. A
positive light appeared to issue from Fezziwig’s
calves. They shone in every part of the dance.
When the clock struck eleven, this
domestic ball broke up. Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig
took their stations, one on either side of the
door, and shaking hands with every person
individually as he or she went out, wished him
or her a Merry Christmas.
“A small matter,” said the Ghost, “to
make these silly folks so full of gratitude. He
has spent but a few pounds of your mortal
money.”
“It isn’t that,” said Scrooge, speaking
unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self.
“He has the power to render us happy or
unhappy; to make our service light or
burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. The
happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost
a fortune.”
“My time grows short,” observed the
Spirit. “Quick!”
This was not addressed to Scrooge, or to
any one whom he could see, but it produced an
immediate effect. For again Scrooge saw
himself. He was older now; a man in the prime
of life. His face had not the harsh and rigid lines
of later years; but it had begun to wear the signs
of care and avarice.
(Continued On Page 59)
DATE TO BELIEVE AND DARE TO BE
HEARD AT
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 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 58
At this time of the rolling year I suffer
most. He was not alone, but sat by the side of a
fair young girl in a mourning-dress: in whose
eyes there were tears.
“It matters little,” she said, softly, to
Scrooge’s former self. “To you, very little.
Another idol has displaced me; and if it can
comfort you in time to come, as I would have
tried to do, I have no just cause to grieve.”
“What Idol has displaced you?” he
rejoined.
“A golden one. I have seen your nobler
aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-
passion, Gain, engrosses you.”
“What then?” he retorted. “Even if I
have grown so much wiser, what then? I am not
changed towards you. Have I ever sought
release from our engagement?”
“In words. No. Never.”
“In what, then?”
“In a changed nature; in an altered
spirit; in another atmosphere of life; another
Hope as its great end. But if you were free to-
day, to-morrow, yesterday, can even I believe
that you would choose a dowerless girl; do I not
know that your repentance and regret would
surely follow? I do, and I release you. With a
full heart, for the love of him you once were.
May you be happy in the life you have chosen!”
She left him, and they parted.
“Spirit!” said Scrooge, “show me no
more! Conduct me home. Why do you delight to
torture me?”
“One shadow more!” exclaimed the
Ghost.
“No more!” cried Scrooge. “No more. I
don’t wish to see it. Show me no more!”
But the relentless Ghost pinioned him in
both his arms, and forced him to observe what
happened next.
They were in another scene and place; a
room, not very large or handsome, but full of
comfort. Near to the winter fire sat a beautiful
young girl, so like that last that Scrooge believed
it was the same, until he saw her, now a comely
matron, sitting opposite her daughter. The noise
in this room was perfectly tumultuous, for there
were more children there, than Scrooge in his
agitated state of mind could count; and every
child was conducting itself like forty. The
consequences were uproarious beyond belief;
but no one seemed to care; on the contrary, the
mother and daughter laughed heartily, and
enjoyed it very much; and the latter, soon
beginning to mingle in the sports, got pillaged
by the young brigands most ruthlessly.
But now a knocking at the door was
heard, and a rush immediately ensued toward it,
just in time to greet the father, who came home
attended by a man laden with Christmas toys
and presents. Then the shouting and the
struggling, and the onslaught that was made on
the defenseless porter! The scaling him with
chairs for ladders to dive into his pockets,
despoil him of brown-paper parcels, hold on
tight by his cravat, hug him round the neck,
pommel his back, and kick his legs in
irrepressible affection! The shouts of wonder
and delight with which the development of every
package was received! The terrible
announcement that the baby had been taken in
the act of putting a doll’s frying-pan into his
mouth, and was more than suspected of having
swallowed a fictitious turkey, glued on a wooden
platter! The immense relief of finding this a false
alarm! The joy, and gratitude, and ecstasy! They
are all indescribable alike. It is enough that by
degrees the children and their emotions got out
of the parlor, and by one stair at a time, up to the
top of the house; where they went to bed, and so
subsided.
And now Scrooge looked on more
attentively than ever, when the master of the
house, having his daughter leaning fondly on
him, sat down with her and her mother at his
own fireside; and when he thought that such
another creature, quite as graceful and as full of
promise, might have called him father, and been
a spring-time in the haggard winter of his life,
his sight grew very dim indeed.
“Spirit!” said Scrooge in a broken voice,
“remove me from this place.”
“I told you these were shadows of the
things that have been,” said the Ghost. “That
they are what they are, do not blame me!”
“Remove me!” Scrooge exclaimed, “I
cannot bear it! Leave me! Take me back. Haunt
me no longer!”
As he struggled with the Spirit he was
conscious of being exhausted, and overcome by
an irresistible drowsiness; and, further, of being
in his own bedroom. He had barely time to reel
to bed, before he sank into a heavy sleep.
The Spirits, however, were not done with
Scrooge. He would soon get a visit from a
gigantic ghost who didn't mince words just to
make Ebenezer feel better about himself.
True to his word, Marley's ghost foretells
a second visit from a "Christmas Spirit." This
time Ebenezer Scrooge meets the "Spirit of
Christmas Present."
59
What kind of life is Scrooge living at the time of
"Christmas Present?" Is he proud of his actions?
Should he be? Is he blind to the reality of the
world around him? Does he even see the needs
of others? Does he understand the positive
impact he could make if he were less-selfish?
What about the family of his clerk, Bob
Cratchit? Does Scrooge know that Bob has a
son, "Tiny Tim," who suffers from a lack of
daily needs because his family cannot afford to
keep him healthy? Could Scrooge be a help to
Tim?
Scrooge awoke in his own bedroom. There was
no doubt about that. But it, and his own
adjoining sitting room into which he shuffled in
his slippers - attracted by a great light there -
had undergone a surprising transformation. The
walls and ceiling were so hung with living green,
that it looked a perfect grove. The crisp leaves
of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the
light, as if so many little mirrors had been
scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went
roaring up the chimney, as that dull hearth had
never known in Scrooge’s time, or Marley’s, or
for many and many a winter season gone.
Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of
throne, were turkeys, geese, game, brawn, great
joints of meat, long wreaths of sausages, mince-
pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot
chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges,
luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and
seething bowls of punch. In easy state upon this
couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see;
who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike
Plenty’s horn, and who raised it high, to shed its
light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the
door.
“Come in!” exclaimed the Ghost.
“Come in! And know me better, man!”
Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his
head before this Spirit.
(Continued On Page 60)
 60 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 59
He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been;
and though its eyes were clear and kind, he did
not like to meet them.
“I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,”
said the Spirit. “Look upon me! You have never
seen the like of me before!”
“Never. Spirit,” said Scrooge
submissively, “conduct me where you will. I
went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt
a lesson which is working now. To-night, if you
have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.”
“Touch my robe!”
Scrooge did as he was told, and held it
fast.
Holly, mistletoe, red berries, ivy, turkeys,
geese, game, poultry, brawn, meat, pigs,
sausages, oysters, pies, puddings, fruit, and
punch, all vanished instantly. So did the room,
the fire, the ruddy glow, the hour of night, and
they stood in the city streets on Christmas
morning, where (for the weather was severe) the
people made a rough, but brisk and not
unpleasant kind of music, in scraping the snow
from the pavement in front of their dwellings.
There was nothing very cheerful in the climate
or the town, and yet was there an air of
cheerfulness abroad.
The poulterers’ shops were still half
open, and the fruiterers’ were radiant in their
glory. There were great, round, pot-bellied
baskets of chestnuts, shaped like the waistcoats
of jolly old gentlemen. There were pears and
apples, clustered high in blooming pyramids;
there were bunches of grapes, made to dangle
from conspicuous hooks, that people’s mouths
might water as they passed; there were piles of
filberts, mossy and brown, recalling, in their
fragrance, ancient walks among the woods, and
pleasant shufflings ankle deep through withered
leaves.
The Grocers’! Oh, the Grocers’! Nearly
closed, with perhaps two shutters down, or one;
but through those gaps such glimpses! The
scales descending on the counter made a merry
sound, the blended scents of tea and coffee were
so grateful to the nose, the raisins were so
plentiful and rare, the almonds so extremely
white, the sticks of cinnamon so long and
straight, the other spices so delicious, the
candied fruits so caked and spotted with molten
sugar as to make the coldest lookers-on feel
faint.
The figs were moist and pulpy,
everything was good to eat and in its Christmas
dress; the customers were all so hurried and so
eager in the hopeful promise of the day, that they
tumbled up against each other at the door,
crashing their wicker baskets wildly, and left
their purchases upon the counter, and came
running back to fetch them, and committed
hundreds of the like mistakes, in the best humor
possible.
But soon the steeples called good people
all, to church and chapel, and away they came,
flocking through the streets in their best clothes,
and with their gayest faces.
Scrooge and the Ghost passed on,
invisible, straight to Scrooge’s clerk’s; and on
the threshold of the door the Spirit smiled, and
stopped to bless Bob Cratchit’s dwelling with the
sprinkling of his torch.
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, Cratchit’s
wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned
gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap and
make a goodly show for sixpence; and she laid
the cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit, second of
her daughters, also brave in ribbons; while
Master Peter Cratchit plunged a fork into the
saucepan of potatoes.
And now two smaller Cratchits, boy and
girl, came tearing in, screaming that outside the
baker’s they had smelt the goose, and known it
for their own; and basking in luxurious thoughts
of sage and onion, these young Cratchits danced
about the table.
“What has ever got your precious father
then?” said Mrs. Cratchit. “And your brother,
Tiny Tim! And Martha warn’t as late last
Christmas Day by half-an-hour?”
“Here’s Martha, mother!” said a girl,
appearing as she spoke.
“Why, bless your heart alive, my dear,
how late you are!” said Mrs. Cratchit, kissing
her a dozen times, and taking off her shawl and
bonnet for her.
“We’d a deal of work to finish up last
night,” replied the girl, “and had to clear away
this morning!”
“Well! Never mind so long as you are
come,” said Mrs. Cratchit.
“There’s father coming,” cried the two
young Cratchits, who were everywhere at once.
“Hide, Martha, hide!”
So Martha hid herself, and in came Bob,
the father, with his threadbare clothes darned up
and brushed, to look seasonable; and Tiny Tim
upon his shoulder. Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a
little crutch, and had his limbs supported by an
iron frame!
“Why, where’s our Martha?” cried Bob
Cratchit, looking round.
“Not coming,” said Mrs. Cratchit.
“Not coming!” said Bob. “Not coming
upon Christmas Day!”
Martha didn’t like to see him
disappointed, if it were only in joke; so she came
out and ran into his arms, while the two young
Cratchits hustled Tiny Tim, and bore him off into
the wash-house, that he might hear the pudding
singing in the copper.
His active little crutch was heard upon
the floor, and back came Tiny Tim, escorted by
his brother and sister to his stool before the fire;
and while Bob compounded some hot mixture in
a jug with gin and lemons, Master Peter and the
two young Cratchits went to fetch the goose,
with which they soon returned in high
procession.
Mrs. Cratchit made the gravy hissing
hot; Master Peter mashed the potatoes with
incredible vigour; Miss Belinda sweetened up
the apple-sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates;
Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at
the table; the two young Cratchits set chairs for
everybody.
At last the dishes were set on, and grace
was said. It was succeeded by a breathless
pause, as Mrs. Cratchit prepared to plunge the
carving knife into the breast; but when she did,
and when the long expected gush of stuffing
issued forth, one murmur of delight arose all
round the board, and even Tiny Tim, excited by
the two young Cratchits, beat on the table with
the handle of his knife, and feebly cried Hurrah!
There never was such a goose. Its
tenderness and flavor, size and cheapness, were
the themes of universal admiration. Eked out by
apple-sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a
sufficient dinner for the whole family. But now
Mrs. Cratchit left the room to take the pudding
up, and bring it in.
A great deal of steam! The pudding was
out of the copper. A smell like a washing-day!
That was the cloth. A smell like an eating-house,
and a pastry cook’s next door to each other, with
a laundress’s next door to that! That was the
pudding! In half a minute Mrs. Cratchit entered
- flushed, but smiling proudly - with the pudding,
like a speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm,
blazing in half of half-a-quartern of ignited
brandy, and bedight with Christmas holly stuck
into the top.
Oh, a wonderful pudding! Bob Cratchit
said that he regarded it as the greatest success
achieved by Mrs. Cratchit since their marriage.
Everybody had something to say about it, but
nobody said or thought it was at all a small
pudding for a large family.
At last the dinner was all done, the cloth
was cleared, and the fire made up. Then all the
Cratchit family drew round the hearth and Bob
proposed:
(Continued On Page 61)
 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
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Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 59
“A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears.
God bless us!”
Which all the family re-echoed.
“God bless us every one!” said Tiny
Tim, the last of all.
He sat very close to his father’s side
upon his little stool. Bob held his withered little
hand in his, as if he loved the child, and wished
to keep him by his side, and dreaded that he
might be taken from him.
“Spirit,” said Scrooge, with an interest
he had never felt before, “tell me if Tiny Tim will
live.”
“I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost,
“in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch
without an owner, carefully preserved. If these
shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the
child will die.”
Scrooge cast his eyes upon the ground.
But he raised them speedily, on hearing his own
name.
“Mr. Scrooge!” said Bob; “I’ll give you
Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!”
“The Founder of the Feast indeed!”
cried Mrs. Cratchit, reddening. “It should be
Christmas Day, I am sure,” said she, “on which
one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy,
hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. “I’ll drink
his health for your sake and the Day’s,” said
Mrs. Cratchit, “not for his!
The mention of Scrooge’s name cast a
dark shadow on the party, which was not
dispelled for full five minutes.
After it had passed away, Bob Cratchit
told them how he had a situation in his eye for
Master Peter, which would bring in, if obtained,
full five-and-sixpence weekly. Martha, who was
a poor apprentice at a milliner’s, then told them
what kind of work she had to do, and how many
hours she worked at a stretch. All this time the
chestnuts and the jug went round and round;
and by-and-bye they had a song from Tiny Tim.
There was nothing of high mark in this.
They were not a handsome family; they were not
well dressed; their shoes were far from being
water-proof; their clothes were scanty; and
Peter might have known, and very likely did, the
inside of a pawnbroker’s. But, they were happy,
grateful, pleased with one another, and
contented with the time; and when they faded,
and looked happier yet in the bright sprinklings
of the Spirit’s torch at parting, Scrooge had his
eye upon them, and especially on Tiny Tim, until
the last.
The Spirit bade Scrooge hold his robe,
and passing on, sped whither? To sea. To
Scrooge’s horror, looking back, he saw the last
of the land, a frightful range of rocks, behind
them; and his ears were deafened by the
thundering of water, as it rolled and roared, and
raged among the dreadful caverns it had worn,
and fiercely tried to undermine the earth.
Built upon a dismal reef of sunken rocks,
some league or so from shore, on which the
waters chafed and dashed, the wild year
through, there stood a solitary lighthouse. Great
heaps of sea-weed clung to its base, and storm-
birds - born of the wind one might suppose, as
sea-weed of the water - rose and fell about it,
like the waves they skimmed.
But even here, two men who watched the
light had made a fire, that through the loophole
in the thick stone wall shed out a ray of
brightness on the awful sea. Joining their horny
hands over the rough table at which they sat,
they wished each other Merry Christmas; and
one of them, the elder, too, with his face all
damaged and scarred with hard weather, struck
up a sturdy song that was like a Gale in itself.
Again the Ghost sped on, above the
black and heaving sea - on, on - until, being far
away, as he told Scrooge, from any shore, they
lighted on a ship. They stood beside the
helmsman at the wheel, the look-out in the bow,
the officers who had the watch; dark, ghostly
figures in their several stations; but every man
among them hummed a Christmas tune, or had a
Christmas thought, or spoke below his breath to
his companion of some bygone Christmas Day,
with homeward hopes belonging to it. And every
man on board, waking or sleeping, good or bad,
had had a kinder word for another on that day
than on any day in the year; and had shared to
some extent in its festivities; and had
remembered those he cared for at a distance,
and had known that they delighted to remember
him.
It was a great surprise to Scrooge, while
listening to the moaning of the wind, and
thinking what a solemn thing it was to move on
through the lonely darkness, to hear a hearty
laugh. It was a much greater surprise to
Scrooge to recognize it as his own nephew’s, and
to find himself in a bright, dry, gleaming room,
with the Spirit standing smiling by his!
“Ha, ha!” laughed Scrooge’s nephew.
When Scrooge’s nephew laughed, Scrooge’s
niece, by marriage, laughed as heartily as he.
And their assembled friends being not a bit
behindhand, laughed out, lustily.
“He said that Christmas was a humbug,
as I live!” cried Scrooge’s nephew. “He believed
it too!”
61
“More shame for him, Fred!” said
Scrooge’s niece, indignantly.
“He’s a comical old fellow,” said
Scrooge’s nephew, “that’s the truth: and not so
pleasant as he might be. However, his offences
carry their own punishment, and I have nothing
to say against him. Who suffers by his ill
whims? Himself, always. Here, he takes it into
his head to dislike us, and he won’t come and
dine with us. What’s the consequence?
“Indeed, I think he loses a very good
dinner,” interrupted Scrooge’s niece. Everybody
else said the same, and they must be allowed to
have been competent judges, because they had
just had dinner; and, with the dessert upon the
table, were clustered round the fire, by
lamplight.
“I was going to say,” said Scrooge’s
nephew, “that the consequence of his taking a
dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is,
as I think, that he loses some pleasant moments.
He may rail at Christmas till he dies, but if he
finds me going there, in good temper, year after
year, and saying Uncle Scrooge, how are you?
If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor
clerk fifty pounds, that’s something!”
After a while they played at forfeits; for
it is good to be children sometimes, and never
better than at Christmas, when its mighty
Founder was a child himself. There was a game
of blind-man’s buff. Of course there was. And I
no more believe Topper was really blind than I
believe he had eyes in his boots. Because, the
way he went after that plump sister in the lace
tucker, was an outrage. Knocking down the fire-
irons, tumbling over the chairs, bumping against
the piano, smothering himself among the
curtains, wherever she went, there went he!
Scrooge had imperceptibly become gay
and light of heart. But the scene passed off; and
he and the Spirit were again upon their travels.
Much they saw, and far they went, and
many homes they visited, but always with a
happy end.
(Continued On Page 64)
62 The Sun Is Gone
THE SUN IS GONE
A Sister Lost in Secrets, Shame, and Addiction, and How I Broke Free
What they are saying about The Sun Is
Gone
“A deeply intimate and moving story of trauma, loss,
addiction, tragedy and the possibility of redemption.” –
Gabor Maté M.D., author of In the Realm of Hungry
Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction.
"Addiction is a family disease and it will take a change of a
whole family to turn it around. A poignant story of sibling
love, the ability to change and the impact family structure has
on recovery." - Dr. Frank Lawlis, Author Not My Child,
Chairman of the Dr. Phil Advisory Board and Co-founder
of the Lawlis Peavey PNP Center.
"A courageous and unflinching portrait of a sister's journey to
help her brother and ultimately herself. The Sun is Gone
highlights the need to take personal responsibility for our
choices, mistakes, and the learning process that is inherent in
making real changes in your life." -- Carrie Wilkens Ph.D.,
Co-author Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness
Help People Change
www.JodeeProuse.com
How many times have you lost yourself in some chronic family crisis,
giving and giving until there is no more left to give—and yet you give
more. Out of love, out of duty, out of knowing that everyone looks to
you?
Whether that awful situation is a result of a horribly
dysfunctional family, chronic drug or alcohol addiction, sexual or
verbal abuse, living with the mentally ill, raising a disabled or autistic
child, the pain of a disintegrating marriage and divorce, the
responsibility that comes with parental healthcare decline, a jailed or
arrested partner or some other trauma?
As women, we have often learned from childhood that we are
the ones that must be the peacemakers, the problem-solvers, the
fixers—the ones to make concessions. And we sometimes do this with
dire consequences, losing our selves, sometimes our partners and our
children -- and even our souls.
Jodee Prouse knows this from experience. Her painfully honest
book The Sun Is Gone about trying to halt the alcoholic decline of her
beloved brother, amidst a lifetime of family crisis and dysfunction, is
both a cautionary tale and beacon of hope for women to find the
strength to make painful, but personally healthy choices.
Her story begins as a child where she becomes her sweet little
brother’s protector as her alcohol-fueled father rages in the night. The
grand-daughter, step-daughter, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, niece,
great-niece, aunt, cousin and ultimately sister to alcoholics, she
becomes the one pillar of strength in her immediate household as her
neglectful and emotionally-withholding mother moves on to a new
partner and divorce again. Eventually starting her own family with a
loving husband and two children, and beginning a business, Jodee
remains her brother, Brett’s best friend and safe harbor.
But as his drinking becomes apparent, grows worse and more
self-destructive, Jodee is drawn into a maelstrom of pain, co-
dependence, and battle of wills with her other family members. Her
deep love for her brother propels her forward to make choices and
sacrifices that are disempowering for herself, Brett and others.
Yet, finally, despite excruciating emotional pain, she comes to
realize that she must put herself and her husband and children first—
and set boundaries—that she cannot fix someone else’s life. For
anyone dealing with an addictive family member, this experience will
especially resonate.
But today, Jodee Prouse asserts that the need for women to take
back the control over their own lives –and disengage from the
maelstrom within a family crisis -- to no longer be an enabler -- is
universal.
Now a full time speaker and advocate living in Alberta CAN
and Oroville, WA, after successfully building and selling her highly
regarded beauty company, Jodee is also urging families to stop hiding
in shame from “family secrets”—to deal with hidden emotions by
sharing, speaking out and getting help, to lance wounds that lead to
pain, addiction, rage, regrets and family crisis.
Says Jodee: “I know what it is like to feel powerless to
something that takes control over your life. It is not easy to break
patterns of all we have ever known, even when our choices hurt us or
hurt the ones we love. I know that sometimes these behaviors are
etched deep inside...But when we lose ourselves in someone else’s
addiction or issue, we are no good to anyone; not ourselves and
certainly not the one’s we love. In the end, we are not culpable for
someone else’s path. Just our own.”
And that’s the deepest form of love and understanding.
Through her book and message, Jodee inspires people to: LEARN.
ACCEPT. FORGIVE. HEAL.
Available at Amazon.com
 On Planet Earth All Lives Matter
THE SCIENCE OF MAGIC
with GWILDA WIYAKA
Gwilda Wiyaka author of So, We're Still Here. Now What? Spiritual
Evolution and Personal Empowerment in a New Era, is considered by
many to be today's foremost expert on the modern day application of
ancient shamanic principles. She is the founder and director of the
Path Home Shamanic Arts School, a Colorado state-certified
occupational school of the shamanic arts. Gwilda is also a preceptor
for the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where she
provides instruction to medical doctors on the modern interface
between shamanism and allopathic medicine for the University's
School of Medicine's Complementary and Alternative Medicine
course.Radio Talk Show Host, author, teacher, singer, musician,
visionary and much more. Email - gwildawiyaka@xzbn.net
www.XZBN.net
63
CONNECTING WITH COINCIDENCE
with DR. BERNARD BEITMAN, MD
Dr. Bernie Beitman, MD, author Connecting with Coincidence: The
New Science for Using Synchronicity and Serendipity in Your Life, is
the first psychiatrist since Carl Jung to attempt to systematize the
study of coincidences. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of
Virginia and former Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the
University of Missouri-Columbia. He attended Yale and completed a
psychiatric residency at Stanford. Dr. B has received two national
awards for his psychotherapy training program and is internationally
known for his research into the relationship between chest pain and
panic disorder. In addition, he has edited two issues of Psychiatric
Annals that focus on coincidences. Dr. B is the founder of
Coincidence Studies. To contact Dr B - drberniemd@xzbn.net
www.XZBN.net
 64 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 61
In almshouse, hospital, and jail, in
misery’s every refuge, where vain man in his
little brief authority had not made fast the door,
and barred the Spirit out, he left his blessing,
and taught Scrooge his precepts.
“Forgive me,” said Scrooge, as they
stood together in an open place, “but I see
something strange, protruding from your skirts.
Is it a foot or a claw?”
From the foldings of its robe, the Spirit
brought two children; wretched, abject,
frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at
its feet, and clung upon the outside of its
garment. They were a boy and girl.
Scrooge started back, appalled.
“Spirit! are they yours?” Scrooge could
say no more.
“They are Man’s,” said the Spirit,
looking down upon them. “This boy is
Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both,
but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow
I see that written which is Doom, unless the
writing be erased.”
“Have they no refuge or resource?”
cried Scrooge.
“Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit,
turning on him for the last time with his own
words. “Are there no workhouses?”
The bell struck Twelve.
Scrooge looked about him for the Ghost,
and saw it not. As the last stroke ceased to
vibrate, he remembered the prediction of old
Jacob Marley, and beheld a solemn Phantom,
draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along
the ground, toward him.
This "solemn Phantom" does not speak words to
Scrooge, but its actions will cause old Ebenezer
to become very afraid. No longer will his
favorite phrase - "Bah, Humbug!" - trip so easily
from his lips.
The journey Ebenezer Scrooge takes
with the "Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be" is the
most-terrifying of all for the old miser. He sees
the body of a man, lying on his bed, who
obviously died alone and unloved. Who is that
man?
Scrooge hears a group of people talking
about the dead man in a very disrespectful way.
He sees his belongings sold-off for next-to-
nothing. If the person had any money in life, it
isn't helping him now. Who is that man?
Ebenezer begins to worry that the man
might be him. Is this what his future holds? Can
he change his ways? Why show him such
scenes unless there is a hope of change?
The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently,
approached. When it came near him, Scrooge
bent down upon his knee; for in the very air
through which this Spirit moved it seemed to
scatter gloom and mystery.
It was shrouded in a deep black garment,
which concealed its head, its face, its form, and
left nothing of it visible save one outstretched
hand. But for this it would have been difficult to
detach its figure from the night, and separate it
from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
He felt that it was tall and stately when it
came beside him, and that its mysterious
presence filled him with solemn dread. He knew
no more, for the Spirit neither spoke nor moved.
“I am in the presence of the Ghost of
Christmas Yet To Come?” said Scrooge. “Ghost
of the Future!” he exclaimed, “I fear you more
than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your
purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live
to be another man from what I was, I am
prepared to bear you company, and do it with a
thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?”
It gave him no reply. The hand was
pointed straight before them.
“Lead on!” said Scrooge. “Lead on! The
night is waning fast, and it is precious time to
me, I know. Lead on, Spirit!”
They scarcely seemed to enter the city;
for the city rather seemed to spring up about
them. But there they were, in the heart of it,
among the merchants.
The Spirit stopped beside one little knot
of business men. Observing that the hand was
pointed to them, Scrooge advanced to listen to
their talk.
“No,” said a great fat man with a
monstrous chin, “I don’t know much about it,
either way. I only know he’s dead.”
“When did he die?” inquired another.
“Last night, I believe.”
“Why, what was the matter with him?”
asked a third. “I thought he’d never die.”
“God knows,” said the first, with a
yawn.
“What has he done with his money?”
asked a red-faced gentleman.
“I haven’t heard,” said the man with the
large chin, yawning again. “Left it to his
company, perhaps. He hasn’t left it to me. That’s
all I know.” Bye, bye!”
Scrooge was at first inclined to be
surprised that the Spirit should attach
importance to conversations apparently so
trivial; but feeling assured that they must have
some hidden purpose, he set himself to consider
what it was likely to be. It could scarcely be
supposed to have any bearing on the death of
Jacob, his old partner, for that was Past, and
this Ghost’s province was the Future.
He looked about in that very place for
his own image; but another man stood in his
accustomed corner, and though the clock
pointed to his usual time of day for being there,
he saw no likeness of himself among the
multitudes that poured in. It gave him little
surprise, however; for he had been revolving in
his mind a change of life, and thought and hoped
he saw his new-born resolutions carried out in
this.
They left the busy scene, and went into
an obscure part of the town, to a shop where
iron, old rags, bottles, bones, and greasy offal,
were bought by a grey-haired rascal.
Scrooge and the Phantom came into the
presence of this man, just as a woman with a
heavy bundle slunk into the shop. But she had
scarcely entered, when another woman,
similarly laden, came in too; and she was
closely followed by a man in faded black.
“Let the charwoman be the first!” cried
she who had entered first. “Let the laundress be
the second; and let the undertaker’s man be the
third.”
“What have you got to sell?” asked Joe.
“Half a minute’s patience, Joe, and you
shall see. Who’s the worse for the loss of a few
things like these? Not a dead man, I suppose. If
he wanted to keep ’em after he was dead, a
wicked old screw,” pursued the woman, “why
wasn’t he natural in his lifetime? If he had been,
he’d have had somebody to look after him when
he was struck with Death, instead of lying
gasping out his last there, alone by himself.
Open that bundle, old Joe, and let me know the
value of it. Speak out plain.”
Joe went down on his knees, and having
unfastened a great many knots, dragged out a
large and heavy roll of some dark stuff.
“What do you call this?” said Joe.
“Bed-curtains!”
“Ah!” returned the woman. “Bed-
curtains! Don’t drop that oil upon the blankets,
now.”
“His blankets?” asked Joe.
“Whose else’s do you think?” replied the
woman. “He isn’t likely to take cold without ’em,
I dare say. Ah! you may look through that shirt
till your eyes ache; but you won’t find a hole in
it, nor a threadbare place. It’s the best he had,
and a fine one too.”
(Continued On Page 65)
 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 64
Scrooge listened to this dialogue in
horror.
“Spirit!” said Scrooge. “The case of
this unhappy man might be my own. My life
tends that way, now. Merciful Heaven, what is
this!”
“Spirit! Let me see some tenderness
connected with a death, or this dark chamber,
Spirit, will be for ever present to me,” said
Scrooge.
The Ghost conducted him to poor Bob
Cratchit’s house; and found the mother and the
children seated round the fire.
Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy little
Cratchits were as still as statues, and sat looking
up at Peter, who had a book before him.
“ ‘And He took a child, and set him in
the midst of them.’ ”
Where had Scrooge heard those words?
He had not dreamed them. The boy must have
read them out, as he and the Spirit crossed the
threshold. Why did he not go on?
The mother laid her sewing upon the
table, and put her hand up to her face.
“The color hurts my eyes,” she said.
The color? Ah, poor Tiny Tim!
“They’re better now again,” said
Cratchit’s wife. “It makes them weak by candle-
light; and I wouldn’t show weak eyes to your
father when he comes home, for the world. It
must be near his time.”
“Past it rather,” Peter answered,
shutting up his book. “But I think he has walked
a little slower than he used to, these last few
evenings, mother.”
“I have known him walk with - I have
known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his
shoulder, very fast indeed. But he was very light
to carry,” she resumed, intent upon her work,
“and his father loved him so, that it was no
trouble - no trouble. And there is your father at
the door!”
She hurried out to meet him; and little
Bob in his comforter - he had need of it, poor
fellow - came in. His tea was ready for him on
the hob, and they all tried who should help him
to it most. The two young Cratchits got upon his
knees and laid, each child a little cheek, against
his face, as if they said, “Don’t mind it, father.
Don’t be grieved!”
Bob was very cheerful with them, and
spoke pleasantly to all the family.
“You went today, then, Robert?” said his
wife.
“Yes, my dear,” returned Bob. “I wish
you could have gone. It would have done you
good to see how green a place it is. I promised
him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My
little, little child!” cried Bob. “My little child!”
He broke down all at once. He couldn’t
help it.
“Spectre,” said Scrooge, “something
informs me that our parting moment is at hand.
I know it, but I know not how. Tell me what man
that was whom we saw lying dead?”
The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come
conveyed him to a dismal, wretched, ruinous
churchyard.
The Spirit stood among the graves, and
pointed down to One.
“Before I draw nearer to that stone to
which you point,” said Scrooge, “answer me
one question. Are these the shadows of the
things that Will be, or are they shadows of things
that May be, only?”
Still the Ghost pointed downward to the
grave by which it stood.
“Men’s courses will foreshadow certain
ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,”
said Scrooge. “But if the courses be departed
from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with
what you show me!”
The Spirit was as immovable as ever.
Scrooge crept toward it, trembling as he went;
and following the finger, read upon the stone of
the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER
SCROOGE.
“Am I that man who lay upon the bed?”
he cried, upon his knees.
The finger pointed from the grave to him,
and back again.
“No, Spirit! Oh no, no, Spirit, hear me!
I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I
must have been but for this. Why show me this,
if I am past all hope! Assure me that I yet may
change these shadows you have shown me, by
an altered life!”
For the first time, the kind hand faltered.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and
try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past,
the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all
Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out
the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may
sponge away the writing on this stone!”
Holding up his hands in one last prayer
to have his fate reversed, he saw an alteration in
the Phantom’s hood and dress. It shrunk,
collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost.
Old Marley predicted that Scrooge would have
visits from "Three Spirits," but he did not tell
Ebenezer what would happen after that. Let's
find out whether those visits made a difference
in Scrooge's life.
Scrooge awakens, on Christmas
morning, a changed man. He shocks everyone
who previously knew him with his Christmas-
Day actions.
He anonymously sends Bob Cratchit and
his family the "prize turkey," so they can enjoy a
wonderful Christmas dinner. He more-than-
generously gives to the poor (although he'd
previously refused to give anything at all). He
surprises his nephew, Fred, by accepting the
invitation to share Christmas with his family.
In short ... Scrooge is determined to live
a better life and learn from the ghostly visits.
With this story, Charles Dickens touched
a nerve with the people of his city (London), his
country (England) and the rest of the world.
Instantly popular, the novella was already in its
second printing weeks after its release.
Although Dickens did not reintroduce
Christmas celebrations, per se, he greatly
contributed to the "spirit of the season" by
reminding everyone to think of others
(especially those who are less-fortunate). And
so it continues to this day when this 1843-work
remains part of the annual holiday celebrations.
Yes! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was
65
his own, the room was his own. Best and
happiest of all, the Time before him was his own,
to make amends in!
Running to the window, he opened it, and
put out his head. No fog, no mist, no night;
clear, bright, stirring, golden Day.
“What’s to-day, my fine fellow?” said
Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday
clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look
about him.
“To-day! Why, Christmas Day.”
“It’s Christmas Day!” said Scrooge to
himself. “I haven’t missed it. Hallo, my fine
fellow! Do you know the Poulterer’s, in the next
street but one, at the corner?” Scrooge inquired.
“I should hope I did,” replied the lad.
“An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “A
remarkable boy! Do you know whether they’ve
sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there?
Not the little prize Turkey, the big one?”
“What, the one as big as me?”
“A delightful boy! It’s a pleasure to talk
to him. Yes!”
“It’s hanging there now,” replied the
boy.
“Is it?” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it,
and tell ’em to bring it here, that I may give them
the direction where to take it. Come back with
the man, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back
with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give
you half-a-crown!”
The boy was off like a shot.
“I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s!”
whispered Scrooge. “He sha’n’t know who sends
it. It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim.”
The hand in which he wrote the address
was not a steady one, but write it he did,
somehow, and went down-stairs to open the
street door, ready for the coming of the
poulterer’s man. It was a Turkey! He never
could have stood upon his legs, that bird. He
would have snapped ’em short off in a minute,
like sticks of sealing-wax.
Scrooge dressed himself, and at last got
out into the streets. The people were by this time
pouring forth. Walking with his hands behind
him, Scrooge regarded every one with a
delighted smile.
In the afternoon he turned his steps
towards his nephew’s house.
He passed the door a dozen times, before
he had the courage to go up and knock. But he
made a dash, and did it.
“Is your master at home, my dear?” said
Scrooge to the girl.
“Yes, sir.”
“Where is he, my love?” said Scrooge.
“He’s in the dining-room, sir, along with
mistress.”
“He knows me,” said Scrooge, with his
hand already on the dining-room lock. “I’ll go
in here, my dear. Fred!”
“Why bless my soul!” cried Fred,
“who’s that?”
“It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come
to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?”
Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t shake
his arm off. He was at home in five minutes.
Nothing could be heartier. His niece looked just
the same. So did Topper when he came. So did
the plump sister when she came. Wonderful
party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity,
won-der-ful happiness!
(Continued On Page 66)
 66 Famous People Born On December 25th
The Background of
Ebenezer Scrooge
Continues From Page 65

But he was early at the office next

morning. Oh, he was early there. If he could
only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit
coming late! That was the thing he had set his
heart upon.
And he did it. The clock struck nine. No
Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. Bob was full Annie Lennox
eighteen minutes and a half, behind his time.
Famous People Born On (Singer-songwriter)
Bob’s hat was off, before he opened the December 25th Nationality: Scottish
door; his comforter, too. He was on his stool in Year of Birth: 1954
a jiffy, driving away with his pen, as if he were Justin Trudeau
trying to overtake nine o’clock. (23rd Prime Minister of Canada) Conrad Hilton
“Mr. Cratchit!!” growled Scrooge, in Born In: Ottawa, Canada (American Hotelier and Businessman)
his accustomed voice, as near as he could feign Nationality: Canadian Died On: 03 January 1979
it. Year of Birth: 1971 Born In: San Antonio, New Mexico Territory,
“What do you mean by coming here at United States of America
this time of day?” Rod Serling Nationality: American
“I am very sorry, sir,” said Bob. “I am (Screenwriter, TV Producer, Narrator) Year of Birth: 1887
behind my time.” Died on 28 June 1975
“You are?” repeated Scrooge. “Yes. I Born In: Syracuse Shane MacGowan
think you are. Step this way, sir, if you please.” Nationality: American (British-Irish musician)
“It’s only once a year, sir,” pleaded Bob. Year of Birth: 1924 Born In: Royal Tunbridge Wells
“It shall not be repeated. I was making rather Nationality: British
merry yesterday, sir.” Alexandre Trudeau Year of Birth: 1957
“Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,” (Journalist)
said Scrooge, “I am not going to stand this sort Born In: Ottawa Clara Barton
of thing any longer. And therefore,” Scrooge Nationality: Canadian (Nurse)
continued, “I am about to raise your salary!” Year of Birth: 1973 Died On: 12 April 1912
Bob trembled, and had a momentary Born In: North Oxford, Massachusetts, U.S.
idea of calling to the people in the court for Sissy Spacek Nationality: American
help. (Actress, Singer) Year of Birth: 1821
“A merry Christmas, Bob!” said Born In: Quitman, Texas, United States
Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be Nationality: American Ramdev
mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. “A Year of Birth: 1949 (Yoga Guru)
merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I Born In: Mahendragarh
have given you, for many a year! I’ll raise your Nawaz Sharif Nationality: Indian
salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling (Prime Minister of Pakistan) Year of Birth: 1965
family, and we will discuss your affairs this very Born In: Lahore
afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking Nationality: Pakistani Madan Mohan Malaviya
bishop! Make up the fires, and buy another Year of Birth: 1949 (Politician & Educationist)
coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Died On: 12 November 1946
Cratchit!” Muhammad Ali Jinnah Born In: Allahabad, India
Scrooge was better than his word. He Died On: 11 September 1948 Nationality: Indian
did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, Born In: Karachi Year of Birth: 1861
who did NOT die, he was a second father. Nationality: Pakistani
He became as good a friend, as good a Year of Birth: 1876 Cab Calloway
master, and as good a man, as the good old city (Singer)
knew, or any other good old city, town, or Humphrey Bogart Died On: 18 November 1994
borough, in the good old world. Some people (Actor) Born In: Rochester
laughed to see the alteration in him, but his own Died On: 14 January 1957 Nationality: American
heart laughed: and that was quite enough for Born In:New York City Year of Birth: 1907
him. Nationality: American
He had no further intercourse with Year of Birth: 1899 Carlos Castaneda
Spirits; and it was always said of him, that he (Author)
knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man Atal Bihari Vajpayee Died On: 27 April 1998
alive possessed the knowledge. (Former Prime Minister of India) Born In: Cajamarca, Peru
May that be truly said of us, and all of Born In: Gwalior Nationality: American
us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Nationality: Indian Year of Birth: 1925
Every One! Year of Birth: 1924
Karl Rove
And ... from everyone at Awesome Stories ... Anwar Sadat (Political Consultant)
have a wonderful holiday season! [] (Former President of Egypt) Born In: Denver, Colorado
Died On: 06 October 1981 Nationality: American
Date of Birth: 1950
MERRY CHRISTMAS Born In: Mit Abu al-Kum
Nationality: Egyptian
JOYEUX NOEL Year of Birth: 1918 (Continued on Page 67)
 Famous People Born On December 25th 67
Ashley Nichole Guitarist)
Famous People Born On (YouTuber) Died On: 11 May 2003
December 25th Borin In: Riverside, California, USA Born In: Folkestone
Nationality: American Nationality: British
Continued From Page 66
Year of Birth: 1989 Year of Birth: 1945
Ahmed Ben Bella
Akong Rinpoche Barbara Mandrell
(First President of Algeria)
Died On: 08 October 2013 (Musician, Actor, Singer, Television actor,
Died On: 11 April 2012
Born In: Kham Television producer, Songwriter)
Born In: Maghnia, Algeria
Year of Birth: 1939 Born In: Houston
Nationality: Algerian
Nationality: American
Year of Birth: 1916
Damon Blake Year of Birth: 1948
(Musical.ly Star)
Alannah Myles
Minnesota, USA Jessica Origliasso
(Singer)
American (Singer, Actor, Songwriter)
Born In: Toronto
1999 Born In: Albany Creek
Nationality: Canadian
Nationality: Australian
Year of Birth: 1958
Armin van Buuren Year of Birth: 1984
(Record producer, Club DJ, Disc jockey,
Quentin Crisp
Composer) Tuomas Holopainen
(English Writer & Gay Icon)
Born In: Leiden (Pianist, Composer, Poet, Record producer,
Died On: 21 November 1999
Year of Birth: 1976 Songwriter)
Born In: Sutton, Surrey, UK
Born In: Kitee
Nationality: British
Priya Anjali Rai Nationality: Finnish
Year of Birth: 1908
(Pornographic actor, Actor) Year of Birth: 1976
Born In: New Delhi
Louis Chevrolet
Nationality: Indian, American Chevalier de Saint-Georges
(Founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car
Year of Birth: 1977 (Composer, Conductor, Fencer, Concertmaster,
Company)
Military personnel)
Died On: 06 June 1941
Jimmy Buffett Died On: 10 June 1799
Born In: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of
(Singer, Writer, Novelist, Aviator, Musician, Born In: Baillif
Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Singer-songwriter, Autobiographer, Actor, Nationality: French
Nationality: Swiss, American
Children's writer) Year of Birth: 1745
Year of Birth: 1878
Born In: Pascagoula
Nationality: American Perdita Weeks
Ernst Ruska
Year of Birth: 1946 (Actor)
(Inventor of Electron Microscope)
Born In: Cardiff
Died On: 27 May 1988
Dido Nationality: British
Born In: Heidelberg
(Singer-songwriter) Year of Birth: 1985
Nationality: German
Born In: Kensington, London, England
Year of Birth: 1906
Nationality: British Eric Gordon
Year of Birth: 1971 (Basketball player)
Angelus Silesius
Born In: Indianapolis
(Priest)
René Girard Nationality: American
Died On: 09 July 1677
(Philosopher, Anthropologist, Sociologist, Year of Birth: 1988
Born In: Wrocław
Professor, Writer, Literary critic,
Nationality: German
Mythographer) Lisa Origliasso
Year of Birth: 1624
Died On: 04 November 2015 (Singer, Composer, Actor, Songwriter)
Born In: Avignon Born In: Albany Creek
SaraBeautyCorner
Nationality: French Nationality: Australian
(YouTuber)
Year of Birth: 1923 Year of Birth: 1984
Born In: Slovenia
Nationality: Norwegian
Kenny Everett Don Norman
Year of Birth: 1987
(Radio personality) (Engineer, Computer scientist, Psychologist,
04 April 1995 Writer)
George Koval
Seaforth, Merseyside Born In: United States of America
(U.S. Born Soviet Spy)
British Nationality: American
Died On: 31 January 2006
1944 Year of Birth: 1935
Born In: Sioux City, Iowa, United States
Nationality: Soviet Russian
Louise Bourgeois Claude Chappe
Year of Birth: 1913
(Sculptor, Visual artist, Artist, Painter) (Inventor)
Died On: 31 May 2010 Died On: 23 January 1805
Gerhard Herzberg
Born In: Paris Born In: Brûlon
(Physical Chemist, Physicist)
Nationality: French,American Nationality: French
Died On: 03 March 1999
Year of Birth: 1911 Year of Birth: 1763
Born In: Hamburg, Imperial Germany
Nationality: Canadian,German
Henry Sy Gotthard Heinrici
Year of Birth: 1904
(Entrepreneur, Businessperson) (Officer, Military personnel)
Born In: Xiamen Died On: 13 December 1971
Larry Hoover
Nationality: Filipino Born In: Gusev
(Criminal)
Year of Birth: 1924 Nationality: German
Born In: Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Year of Birth: 1886
Nationality: American
Noel Redding
Year of Birth: 1950
(Bassist, Musician, Singer-songwriter, (Continued On Page 69)
 Q

68 Cahira O’Donnell
 Famous People Born On December 25th
Famous People Born On
December 25th
Continued From Page 67
Robert Ripley
(Anthropologist, Journalist)
Died On: 27 May 1949
Born In: Santa Rosa
Nationality: American
Year of Birth: 1890
Dev
(politician, actor)
Born In: West Bengal
Nationality: Indian
Year of Birth: 1982
Eve Pollard
(Novelist, Journalist)
Born In: London
Nationality: British
Year of Birth: 1945
Michael P. Anderson
(Officer, Astronaut, Physicist)
Died On: 01 February 2003
Born In: Plattsburgh (city), New York
Nationality: American
Year of Birth: 1959
Corky Ballas
Born In: Houston
Nationality: American
Year of Birth: 1960
Marco Mengoni
(Singer-songwriter, Singer)
Born In: Ronciglione
Nationality: Italian
Year of Birth: 1988
Jairzinho
(Association football player, Association
football manager)
Born In: Duque de Caxias
Nationality: Brazilian,Venezuelan
Year of Birth: 1944
La Fouine
(Actor, Singer)
Born In: Trappes
Nationality: French, Moroccan
Year of Birth: 1981
Desireless
(Singer)
Born In: Paris
Nationality: French
1952
Naushad
(Screenwriter, Composer, Film score composer)
Died On: 05 May 2006
Born In: Lucknow
Nationality: Indian
Year of Birth: 1919
Kid Ory
(bandleader, conductor, jazz musician)
Died On: 23 January 1973
Born In: Louisiana
Nationality: American
Year of Birth: 1886
Ravish Malhotra
(Astronaut, Test pilot)
Born In: Lahore
Nationality: Indian
Year of Birth: 1943
Hanna Schygulla
(Singer, Musician, Stage actor, Film actor)
Born In: Chorzów
Nationality: German
Year of Birth: 1943
Bruce Wasserstein
(Banker, Financier, Investment banker)
Died On: 14 October 2009
Born In: Brooklyn
Nationality: American
Year of Birth: 1947
Orlando Gibbons
(composer, organist)
Died On: 05 June 1625
Born In: Oxford
Nationality: British
Year of Birth: 1583
Ben Macintyre
(Journalist)
Born In: England
British
Year of Birth: 1963
Pete Brown
(Poet, Lyricist, Singer-songwriter, Song book,
Writer)
Born In: Ashtead
Year of Birth: 1940
Personality Traits &
Characteristic of Famous
People Born on December
25
Personality
Highly independent and sociable, Capricorn
born on the twenty fifth day of December are
affable people with lots of love and concern.
They have a strong will and a good sense of
direction. What makes them different from their
Capricorn counterparts are their intuitive
capabilities and a good understanding of others.
Though these people are sociable folks who
enjoy the company of others, they equally value
their alone time too. December 25 individuals
like doing things on their own and rarely seek
the help of others. It is due to this that self-
sufficiency is seen in high quantity in these
individuals. Another interesting aspect of the
personality of people with this birthdate is that
they are drawn to life’s mysteries and challenges
and aim for new age learning and holistic
healing.
Health
The health concern for individuals born on
December 25 is a lifelong battle. These people Lucky Days (of the month):
have trouble sticking to health regimen and thus
are prone to facing depleting health. December
69
25 individuals need strong motivation to watch
what they eat and work out daily. Taking
nutritious food and maintaining a daily exercise
routine is a hard task for December 25
individuals which they need to practice in order
to attain overall vitality. Also, since these people
are prone to suffering from brittle bones at old
age, December 25 individuals need to include
calcium supplements at an early age. Including
weight bearing exercise is also a good way to
keep the bones intact and moving.
Finance
Financial concerns for December 25 individuals
is far-fetched subject. These people are
hardworking by nature and are prepared to slog
in the additional hours to keep the money
rolling. Also, since these people are adept at
handling finances well, they do not have much
trouble monetarily. What’s more, December 25
individuals are blessed with a good luck and are
likely to create additional finance source or
inherit money.
Career
Unlike other Capricorns, individuals born on
December 25 look for mundane work choices.
These people are blessed creatively and have
immense knowledge and wisdom. As such, ideal
career options for these people are ones that
allow them to use their creativity and
knowledge. Also, contrary to other Capricorns
who seek limelight and love to deal with people
on a one-to-one basis, December 25 individuals
are happy to work behind the scene and do not
crave for any limelight or attention.
Relationship, Marriage & Children
Unlike other Capricorns, December 25 born
individuals are not solely dependent on
relationships. These people are mostly self-
sufficient and as such do not pay much
importance to building or maintaining
relationships. However, they do like their
friends or family members to step in once in a
while and take over their responsibilities.
Romantically too, they are not in a hurry to form
love bonds. In fact, seeking a permanency in a
love relationship is something December 25
individuals evade from. However, when they
find a perfect soul mate, they give in to the
person with total commitment and complete
devotion. An ideal partner is one who shares an
intellectual rapport and has similar ambition and
view of the world. Nevertheless, it would take
long for these people to settle down due to their
emotionally cold and distant behaviour. As far
as parenting is concerned, December 25 men
and women are extremely affectionate and
supportive. They are quick to discipline but are
forgiving too.
Lucky Color:
Dark Green Shades
Lucky Number:
7, 16, 25, 34, 43, 52
Lucky Days (of the week):
Monday, Thursday
7, 16, 25
Happy Birthday One And All!
 70 Psychic Predictions for 2018
Psychic who predicted
Trump, Brexit makes
compelling prophecies for
2018
The psychic who predicted disastrous events
like Donald Trump's election and Britain's exit
from the European Union has more terrifying
predictions for 2018.
Craig Hamilton-Parker, the self-
proclaimed prophet who predicted Hillary
Clinton's resignation from politics in 2017 has
some pretty glum predictions for 2018 too,
including: including an attack on North Korea, a
chemical weapons attack on a major European
city and the fall of the world's economy.
The psychic has predictions for the
world with topics ranging from terrorism, the
economy and the environment.
The psychic wrote on his blog: '2018 will
be a year of political turmoil and environmental
crisis caused by dramatic and unprecedented
weather.'
Among his predictions he accurately • Kim Jong Un will be deposed by his
predicted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
would announce their engagement, and
own people and he will go missing, with some
claiming he is living a secret new life in China.
STRINGER’S
predicted New Zealand would suffer from • Japan will pay to hire American missile
another severe earthquake, and predicts a failed
attempt at impeaching President Donald Trump
defence services.
• A well-known American company will
ZINGERS
be involved in a massive Bitcoin fraud, which
and the eruption of a volcano near Naples.
While most of his predictions are will be uncovered and thwarted. The funds will in
gloomy, there is a silver-lining, Parker has be intended for terrorism and war. Barry’s Bay, Ontario
predicted that Kim Jong Un will be overthrown • Terrorists will make an airborne
by his people after US forces strike a key trade chemical weapon gas attack by multiple drones
on a European capital city. It could be either STRINGER’S ZINGERS is a unique
route. novelty sign and product artisan shop in
Adding that Kim will then disappear London or Berlin, or both.
• A chemical weapon attack on a school Barry's Bay, Ontario, headed by Ronnie &
with speculations of him living a new secret life Stephanie.
in China. will be thwarted at the last minute.
He wrote on his blog: 'Many of the above From signs for the cottage or favourite
predictions are pretty gloomy but I feel that ECONOMIC PREDICTIONS:
establishment to doll houses, all are
there will be a simultaneous growth in handmade and custom designed.
spirituality for the people of the world that will • The Euro will crash in 2018, and by the
now start to lead us into a Golden Age. end of the year and into 2019 riots will take
place because of the steep economic decline. Customized orders take 3 - 4 weeks.
'Conflict and hardship plus growing
environmental problems will bring good people • The UK and US will be hit by the weak
Euro but their economies will bounce back For more information or to place your order,
together and ignite a desire to seek the true email: stephanie@stringerszingers.com
purpose of human life.' quickly and the pound and dollar will once again
be seen as good investment opportunities for
international money, investment. Visit STRINGER’S ZINGERS Online at
ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTIONS: www.stringerszingers.com
• When the Euro crashes Denmark and
• Mount Vesuvius in Italy will erupt and Italy will follow Britain's path and leave the
Naples will be evacuated. European Union.
• There will be an increase in seismic
activity - including places that have been tremor US PREDICTIONS:
free for 1,000 years - with one very serious
earthquake in New Zealand. • There will be an attempt to impeach
• The southern seas will be impassable in Donald Trump by mid 2018, but it will fail
places due to a massive ice shelf breaking from which will end up making him more popular.
the Antarctic. • Trump will initiate a massive trade deal
• There will be record hurricanes in the with Britain right before Bexit, leaving the EU
Caribbean. shaken.
• The Mexico border wall will not be
TERRORISM AND WORLD CONFLICT built, however there will be drones and sensors
PREDICTIONS: to do the job.
• US will rent nuclear weapons to Japan. From Everyone at
• A US warship will be sunk by a mine or STRINGER’S ZINGERS
• A world flu epidemic, possibly linked MERRY CHRISTMAS
to biological warfare started by North Korea or terrorist operation.
• The US will lose trade in the East as and
a terrorist group. A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
• A trade embargo with North Korea will China and Russia form a military and economic
fail and the US will strike at railway line and alliance in response to the North Korean crisis
bridge to disrupt imports. and US protectionism. [] www.stringerszingers.com
 Help A Child In Foster This Christmas 71
How to Help a Child in
Foster Care this
Christmas
By. Dr. John DeGarmo

The holiday season; a time for joy, a time for

happiness. Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years,
Kwanzaa; a time of giving and of family. It is a
time of wonder and excitement for millions of
children across the nation, and across the globe.
It is a time when memories are made, and love is
shared.
Yet, for so many children in the foster
care system, it is anything but a time of joy, a
time of excitement. Indeed, it is just the
opposite. ‘Tis the season? Not for the roughly
half a million children in foster care in the
United States. It is often a time of great sadness
and despair. For these children, it is a reminder other times of the year. This might also include
of so much anxiety and trauma in their young Disclosure Radio/TV Network
helping out school supplies at the beginning of Dream Maker Media
lives. Many foster children are faced with the the school year, birthdays, paying for school
realization that they will not be “home for the Euro Radio/TV Network
field trips and summer camps, and other Hamilton TV Network
holidays,” so to speak, with their biological activities that are special to the child. Indeed,
family members. It is a reminder that they are Haunted Kitchens TV Show
many foster parents simply cannot afford to He Says She Says Radio/TV Show
separated from their parents and family. provide all of the opportunities to their foster
Do you remember waking up as a child Investigations 36;
child; opportunities that help the child escape IPBN Radio/TV Network
on Christmas morning? If you were like me, from their trauma, and opportunities to heal
you couldn’t wait to get your parents up, and IPBN Music Network
from their suffering. When we all come Magical Mystical Tours
dash into the room where your Christmas tree together to help the child in foster care in such a
was. Wrapping paper flying, screams of joy and Mutual Broadcast Network, Canada
way, we are all helping to not only bring some Mutual Broadcast Network, International
surprise, great food, family surrounding you; it holiday cheer to a child in need, we are changing
was truly a magical day. News Zine Communications
the life of a child. News Zine Publications
For children in foster care, though, it is a After all, isn’t that what this time of year
very different experience. When they wake up Open Mic Radio Network
is all about? Paranormal Blues
Christmas morning, and are surrounded by
people who just may be strangers to them, Paranormal Court TV Show
ABOUT DR. JOHN DeGARMO: Dr. John Parapsychology Today
strangers who are laughing and having fun, it DeGarmo has been a foster parent for 14 years,
can be a very difficult time for them, indeed. To Para Science Radio/TV
now, and he and his wife have had over 50 RAM Media
be sure, it is a day that is a stark reminder to children come through their home. He is the
these children that they are not with their own REL-MAR Publishing
director of The Foster Care Institute, a RNN Radio/TV
family. It is during the holidays when families consultant to legal firms and foster care
are supposed to be together, yet these children in Sirius Digital Broadcast Network
agencies, as well as a speaker and trainer on TalkStar Radio Network
care are not. They are not with their families, many topics about the foster care system Dr.
and they may not know when they will see them The Cup & Saucer Magazine
DeGarmo and his wife were recently named a The Galactic Museum
next. Good Morning America Ultimate Hero. He is
More than likely, a foster child will have The ‘X’ Chronicles Newspaper
the author of several foster care books, including The ‘X’ Zone Store
feelings of sadness and grief, as he is separated the The Foster Parenting Manual, and writes for
from his own family during this time of family The Ultimate Media Guide
several publications, including Foster Focus Too Politically Correct Radio Show
celebration. After all, he is separated from his magazine. He can be contacted at
family during a time that is supposed to be WIFI Broadcast Network
drjohndegarmo@gmail, through his Facebook WIKI Broadcast Network
centered AROUND family. Quite simply, they page, Dr. John DeGarmo, or at The Foster Care
want to go home, to live with their family WIKI Hamilton
Institute. WIKI Publishing House
members, despite the abuse and trauma they
may have suffered from them, and despite all WTP Media
that you can and do offer and provide for him. MERRY CHRISTMAS XZBN Channel 365
Therefore, this time of holiday joy is especially XZBN Music Channel
difficult.
AND XZBN News Channel
You can help these children. You can HAPPY NEW YEAR XZBN Travel
help a child in foster care have a truly Merry XZBN Network
Christmas; perhaps their very first Merry The ‘X’ Zone Channel
From All the Staff at - ‘X’ Zone Mystical Destinations
Christmas.
Sadly, far too many children in foster ‘X’ ZONE News
REL-MAR McConnell Media Company ‘X’ Zone TV Channel
care have never had gifts to open on December Angel Broadcast Network
25th. My wife and I try to make it a day that the The Author Network
children both never forget, and one that they are REL-MAR McConnell Media Company
Beyond A Reasonable Doubt TV Show Hamilton, Ontario
able to escape their pain and suffering and Canadian Broadcast Network
simply revel in being a child. Our “foster Canada
Canadian News Network www.rel-mar.com
grandparents” help us accomplish this. Like our Canadian Media Services
dear friends have done, you, too, can reach out admin@rel-mar.com
Digital Broadcast Network (905 575-1222
to the foster parents in your community and Digital Satellite Network
“adopt” a child during the holiday season, or (800) 610-7035
 72 Christmas Is A Sad Season For The Poor
Christmas is a Sad Season
for the Poor
By John Cheever - December 1949
Christmas is a sad season. The phrase came to
Charlie an instant after the alarm clock had
waked him, and named for him an amorphous
depression that had troubled him all the
previous evening. The sky outside his window
was black. He sat up in bed and pulled the light
chain that hung in front of his nose. Christmas
is a very sad day of the year, he thought. Of all
the millions of people in New York, I am
practically the only one who has to get up in the
cold black of 6 a.m. on Christmas Day in the
morning; I am practically the only one.
He dressed, and when he went
downstairs from the top floor of the rooming
house in which he lived, the only sounds he
heard were the coarse sounds of sleep; the only
lights burning were lights that had been
forgotten. Charlie ate some breakfast in an all-
night lunchwagon and took an Elevated train
uptown. From Third Avenue, he walked over to
Park. Park Avenue was dark. House after house
put into the shine of the street lights a wall of
black windows. Millions and millions were
sleeping, and this general loss of consciousness
generated an impression of abandonment, as if
this were the fall of the city, the end of time. He
opened the iron-and-glass doors of the
apartment building where he had been working
for six months as an elevator operator, and went
through the elegant lobby to a locker room at
the back. He put on a striped vest with brass
buttons, a false ascot, a pair of pants with a
light-blue stripe on the seam, and a coat. The
night elevator man was dozing on the little
bench in the car. Charlie woke him. The night
elevator man told him thickly that the day
doorman had been taken sick and wouldn't be in
that day. With the doorman sick, Charlie
wouldn't have any relief for lunch, and a lot of
people would expect him to whistle for cabs.
Charlie had been on duty a few minutes
when 14 rang—a Mrs. Hewing, who, he
happened to know, was kind of immoral. Mrs.
Hewing hadn't been to bed yet, and she got into
the elevator wearing a long dress under her fur
coat. She was followed by her two funny-
looking dogs. He took her down and watched
her go out into the dark and take her dogs to the
curb. She was outside for only a few minutes.
Then she came in and he took her up to 14
again. When she got off the elevator, she said,
"Merry Christmas, Charlie."
"Well, it isn't much of a holiday for me,
Mrs. Hewing," he said. "I think Christmas is a
very sad season of the year. It isn't that people
around here ain't generous—I mean I got plenty
of tips—but, you see, I live alone in a furnished
room and I don't have any family or anything,
and Christmas isn't much of a holiday for me."
"I'm sorry, Charlie," Mrs. Hewing said.
"I don't have any family myself. It is kind of sad
when you're alone, isn't it?" She called her dogs
and followed them into her apartment. He went
down.
It was quiet then, and Charlie lighted a
cigarette. The heating plant in the basement
encompassed the building at that hour in a
regular and profound vibration, and the sullen
noises of arriving steam heat began to resound,
first in the lobby and then to reverberate up
through all the sixteen stories, but this was a
mechanical awakening, and it didn't lighten his
loneliness or his petulance. The black air outside
the glass doors had begun to turn blue, but the
blue light seemed to have no source; it appeared
in the middle of the air. It was a tearful light, and
as it picked out the empty street and the long file
of Christmas trees, he wanted to cry. Then a cab
drove up, and the Walsers got out, drunk and
dressed in evening clothes, and he took them up
to their penthouse. The Walsers got him to
brooding about the difference between his life in
a furnished room and the lives of the people
overhead. It was terrible.
Then the early churchgoers began to
ring, but there were only three of these that
morning. A few more went off to church at eight
o'clock, but the majority of the building
remained unconscious, although the smell of
bacon and coffee had begun to drift into the
elevator shaft.
At a little after nine, a nursemaid came
down with a child. Both the nursemaid and the
child had a deep tan and had just returned, he
knew, from Bermuda. He had never been to
Bermuda. He, Charlie, was a prisoner, confined
eight hours a day to a six-by-eight elevator cage,
which was confined, in turn, to a sixteen-story
shaft. In one building or another, he had made
his living as an elevator operator for ten years.
He estimated the average trip at about an eighth
of a mile, and when he thought of the thousands
of miles he had travelled, when he thought that
he might have driven the car through the mists
above the Caribbean and set it down on some
coral beach in Bermuda, he held the narrowness
of his travels against his passengers, as if it were
not the nature of the elevator but the pressure of
their lives that confined him, as if they had
clipped his wings.
He was thinking about this when the
DePauls, on 9, rang. They wished him a merry
Christmas.
"Well, it's nice of you to think of me," he
said as they descended, "but it isn't much of a
holiday for me. Christmas is a sad season when
you're poor. I live alone in a furnished room. I
don't have any family."
"Who do you have dinner with,
Charlie?" Mrs. DePaul asked.
"I don't have any Christmas dinner,"
Charlie said. "I just get a sandwich."
"Oh, Charlie!" Mrs. DePaul was a stout woman
with an impulsive heart, and Charlie's plaint
struck at her holiday mood as if she had been
caught in a cloudburst. "I do wish we could
share our Christmas dinner with you, you
know," she said. "I come from Vermont, you
know, and when I was a child, you know, we
always used to have a great many people at our
table. The mailman, you know, and the
schoolteacher, and just anybody who didn't have
any family of their own, you know, and I wish
we could share our dinner with you the way we
used to, you know, and I don't see any reason
why we can't. We can't have you at the table,
you know, because you couldn't leave the
elevator—could you?—but just as soon as Mr.
DePaul has carved the goose, I'll give you a
ring, and I'll arrange a tray for you, you know,
and I want you to come up and at least share our
Christmas dinner."
Charlie thanked them, and their
generosity surprised him, but he wondered if,
with the arrival of friends and relatives, they
wouldn't forget their offer.
Then old Mrs. Gadshill rang, and when
she wished him a merry Christmas, he hung his
head.
"It isn't much of a holiday for me, Mrs.
Gadshill," he said. "Christmas is a sad season if
you're poor. You see, I don't have any family. I
live alone in a furnished room."
"I don't have any family either, Charlie,"
Mrs. Gadshill said. She spoke with a pointed
lack of petulance, but her grace was forced.
"That is, I don't have any children with me
today. I have three children and seven
grandchildren, but none of them can see their
way to coming East for Christmas with me. Of
course, I understand their problems. I know that
it's difficult to travel with children during the
holidays, although I always seemed to manage
it when I was their age, but people feel
differently, and we mustn't condemn them for
the things we can't understand. But I know how
you feel, Charlie. I haven't any family either. I'm
just as lonely as you."
Mrs. Gadshill's speech didn't move him.
Maybe she was lonely, but she had a ten-room
apartment and three servants and bucks and
bucks and diamonds and diamonds, and there
were plenty of poor kids in the slums who
would be happy at a chance at the food her cook
threw away.
(Continued On Page 73)
 Christmas Is A Sad Season For The Poor
Christmas is a Sad Season
for the Poor
Continued From Page 72
Then he thought about poor kids. He sat down
on a chair in the lobby and thought about them.
They got the worst of it. Beginning in the fall,
there was all this excitement about Christmas
and how it was a day for them. After
Thanksgiving, they couldn't miss it. It was fixed
so they couldn't miss it. The wreaths and
decorations everywhere, and bells ringing, and
trees in the park, and Santa Clauses on every
corner, and pictures in the magazines and
newspapers and on every wall and window in
the city told them that if they were good, they
would get what they wanted. Even if they
couldn't read, they couldn't miss it. They
couldn't miss it even if they were blind. It got
into the air the poor kids inhaled. Every time
they took a walk, they'd see all the expensive
toys in the store windows, and they'd write
letters to Santa Claus, and their mothers and
fathers would promise to mail them, and after
the kids had gone to sleep, they'd burn the
letters in the stove. And when it came Christmas
morning, how could you explain it, how could
you tell them that Santa Claus only visited the
rich, that he didn't know about the good? How
could you face them when all you had to give
them was a balloon or a lollipop?
On the way home from work a few
nights earlier, Charlie had seen a woman and a
little girl going down Fifty-ninth Street. The
little girl was crying. He guessed she was
crying, he knew she was crying, because she'd
seen all the things in the toy-store windows and
couldn't understand why none of them were for
her. Her mother did housework, he guessed, or
maybe was a waitress, and he saw them going
back to a room like his, with green walls and no
heat, on Christmas Eve, to eat a can of soup.
And he saw the little girl hang up her ragged
stocking and fall asleep, and he saw the mother
looking through her purse for something to put
into the stocking—This reverie was interrupted
by a bell on 11. He went up, and Mr. and Mrs.
Fuller were waiting. When they wished him a
merry Christmas, he said, "Well, it isn't much of
a holiday for me, Mrs. Fuller. Christmas is a sad
season when you’re poor.”
"Do you have any children, Charlie?"
Mrs. Fuller asked.
"Four living," he said. "Two in the
grave." The majesty of his lie overwhelmed
him. "Mrs. Leary's a cripple," he added.
"How sad, Charlie," Mrs. Fuller said.
She started out of the elevator when it reached
the lobby, and then she turned. "I want to give
your children some presents, Charlie," she said.
"Mr. Fuller and I are going to pay a call now, but
when we come back, I want to give you some
things for your children."
He thanked her. Then the bell rang on 4,
and he went up to get the Westons.
"It isn't much of a holiday for me," he
told them when they wished him a merry
Christmas. "Christmas is a sad season when
you're poor. You see, I live alone in a furnished
room."
"Poor Charlie," Mrs. Weston said. "I
know just how you feel. During the war, when
Mr. Weston was away, I was all alone at
Christmas. I didn't have any Christmas dinner or
a tree or anything. I just scrambled myself some
eggs and sat there and cried." Mr. Weston, who
had gone into the lobby, called impatiently to
his wife. "I know just how you feel, Charlie,"
Mrs. Weston said.
By noon, the climate in the elevator
shaft had changed from bacon and coffee to
poultry and game, and the house, like an
enormous and complex homestead, was
absorbed in the preparations for a domestic
feast. The children and their nursemaids had all
returned from the Park. Grandmothers and aunts
were arriving in limousines. Most of the people
who came through the lobby were carrying
packages wrapped in colored paper, and were
wearing their best furs and new clothes. Charlie
continued to complain to most of the tenants
when they wished him a merry Christmas,
changing his story from the lonely bachelor to
the poor father, and back again, as his mood
changed, but this outpouring of melancholy, and
the sympathy it aroused, didn't make him feel
any better.
At half past one, 9 rang, and when he went up,
Mr. DePaul was standing in the door of their
apartment holding a cocktail shaker and a glass.
"Here's a little Christmas cheer, Charlie," he
said, and he poured Charlie a drink. Then a maid
73
appeared with a tray of covered dishes, and Mrs.
DePaul came out of the living room. "Merry
Christmas, Charlie," she said. "I had Mr. DePaul
carve the goose early, so that you could have
some, you know. I didn't want to put the dessert
on the tray, because I was afraid it would melt,
you know, so when we have our dessert, we'll
call you."
"And what is Christmas without
presents?" Mr. DePaul said, and he brought a
large, flat box from the hall and laid it on top of
the covered dishes.
"You people make it seem like a real
Christmas to me," Charlie said. Tears started
into his eyes. "Thank you, thank you."
"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!"
they called, and they watched him carry his
dinner and his present into the elevator. He took
the tray and the box into the locker room when
he got down. On the tray, there was a soup, some
kind of creamed fish, and a serving of goose.
The bell rang again, but before he answered it,
he tore open the DePauls' box and saw that it
held a dressing gown. Their generosity and their
cocktail had begun to work on his brain, and he
went jubilantly up to 12. Mrs. Gadshill's maid
was standing in the door with a tray, and Mrs.
Gadshill stood behind her. "Merry Christmas,
Charlie!" she said. He thanked her, and tears
came into his eyes again. On the way down, he
drank off the glass of sherry on Mrs. Gadshill's
tray. Mrs. Gadshill's contribution was a mixed
grill. He ate the lamb chop with his fingers. The
bell was ringing again, and he wiped his face
with a paper towel and went up to 11. "Merry
Christmas, Charlie," Mrs. Fuller said, and she
was standing in the door with her arms full of
packages wrapped in silver paper, just like a
picture in an advertisement, and Mr. Fuller was
beside her with an arm around her, and they both
looked as if they were going to cry. "Here are
some things I want you to take home to your
children," Mrs. Fuller said. "And here's
something for Mrs. Leary and here's something
for you. And if you want to take these things out
to the elevator, we'll have your dinner ready for
you in a minute." He carried the things into the
elevator and came back for the tray. "Merry
Christmas, Charlie!" both of the Fullers called
after him as he closed the door. He took their
dinner and their presents into the locker room
and tore open the box that was marked for him.
(Continued on Page 74)
 74 Christmas Is A Sad Season For The Poor
Christmas is a Sad Season
for the Poor
Continued From Page 73
There was an alligator wallet in it, with Mr.
Fuller's initials in the corner. Their dinner was
also goose, and he ate a piece of the meat with
his fingers and was washing it down with a
cocktail when the bell rang. He went up again.
This time it was the Westons. "Merry Christmas,
Charlie!" they said, and they gave him a cup of
eggnog, a turkey dinner, and a present. Their gift
was also a dressing gown. Then 7 rang, and
when he went up, there was another dinner and
some more toys. Then 14 rang, and when he
went up, Mrs. Hewing was standing in the hall,
in a kind of negligee, holding a pair of riding
boots in one hand and some neckties in the other.
She had been crying and drinking. "Merry
Christmas, Charlie," she said tenderly. "I wanted
to give you something, and I've been thinking
about you all morning, and I've been all over the
apartment, and these are the only things I could
find that a man might want. These are the only
things that Mr. Brewer left. I don't suppose you'd
have any use for the riding boots, but wouldn't
you like the neckties?" Charlie took the neckties
and thanked her and hurried back to the car, for
the elevator bell had rung three times.
By three o'clock, Charlie had fourteen
dinners spread on the table and the floor of the
locker room, and the bell kept ringing. Just as he
started to eat one, he would have to go up and
get another, and he was in the middle of the
Parsons' roast beef when he had to go up and get
the DePauls' dessert. He kept the door of the
locker room closed, for he sensed that the
quality of charity is exclusive and that his
friends would have been disappointed to find
that they were not the only ones to try to lessen
his loneliness. There were goose, turkey,
chicken, pheasant, grouse, and pigeon. There
were trout and salmon, creamed scallops and
oysters, lobster, crabmeat, whitebait, and clams.
There were plum puddings, mince pies,
mousses, puddles of melted ice cream, layer
cakes, Torten, éclairs, and two slices of Bavarian
cream. He had dressing gowns, neckties, cuff
links, socks, and handkerchiefs, and one of the
tenants had asked for his neck size and then
given him three green shirts. There were a glass
teapot filled, the label said, with jasmine honey,
four bottles of aftershave lotion, some alabaster
bookends, and a dozen steak knives. The
avalanche of charity he had precipitated filled
the locker room and made him hesitant, now and
then, as if he had touched some wellspring in the
female heart that would bury him alive in food
and dressing gowns. He had made almost no
headway on the food, for all the servings were
preternaturally large, as if loneliness had been
counted on to generate in him a brutish appetite.
Nor had he opened any of the presents that had
been given to him for his imaginary children,
but he had drunk everything they sent down, and
around him were the dregs of Martinis,
Manhattans, Old-Fashioneds, champagne-and-
raspberry-shrub cocktails, eggnogs, Bronxes,
and Side Cars.
His face was blazing. He loved the
world, and the world loved him. When he
thought back over his life, it appeared to him in
a rich and wonderful light, full of astonishing
experiences and unusual friends. He thought that
his job as an elevator operator—cruising up and
down through hundreds of feet of perilous
space—demanded the nerve and the intellect of
a birdman. All the constraints of his life—the
green walls of his room and the months of
unemployment—dissolved. No one was ringing,
but he got into the elevator and shot it at full
speed up to the penthouse and down again, up
and down, to test his wonderful mastery of
space.
A bell rang on 12 while he was cruising,
and he stopped in his flight long enough to pick
up Mrs. Gadshill. As the car started to fall, he
took his hands off the controls in a paroxysm of
joy and shouted, "Strap on your safety belt, Mrs.
Gadshill! We're going to make a loop-the-loop!"
Mrs. Gadshill shrieked. Then, for some reason,
she sat down on the floor of the elevator. Why
was her face so pale, he wondered; why was she
sitting on the floor? She shrieked again. He
grounded the car gently, and cleverly, he
thought, and opened the door. "I'm sorry if I
scared you, Mrs. Gadshill," he said meekly. "I
was only fooling." She shrieked again. Then she
ran out into the lobby, screaming for the
superintendent.
The superintendent fired Charlie and
took over the elevator himself. The news that he
was out of work stung Charlie for a minute. It
was his first contact with human meanness that
day. He sat down in the locker room and gnawed
on a drumstick. His drinks were beginning to let
him down, and while it had not reached him yet,
he felt a miserable soberness in the offing. The
excess of food and presents around him began to
make him feel guilty and unworthy. He regretted
bitterly the lie he had told about his children. He
was a single man with simple needs. He had
abused the goodness of the people upstairs. He
was unworthy.
Then up through this drunken train of
thought surged the sharp figure of his landlady
and her three skinny children. He thought of
them sitting in their basement room. The cheer
of Christmas had passed them by. This image
got him to his feet. The realization that he was in
a position to give, that he could bring happiness
easily to someone else, sobered him. He took a
big burlap sack, which was used for collecting
waste, and began to stuff it, first with his
presents and then with the presents for his
imaginary children. He worked with the haste of
a man whose train is approaching the station, for
he could hardly wait to see those long faces light
up when he came in the door. He changed his
clothes, and, fired by a wonderful and unfamiliar
sense of power, he slung his bag over his
shoulder like a regular Santa Claus, went out the
back way, and took a taxi to the lower East Side.
The landlady and her children had just
finished off a turkey, which had been sent to
them by the local Democratic Club, and they
were stuffed and uncomfortable when Charlie
began pounding on the door, shouting "Merry
Christmas!" He dragged the bag in after him and
dumped the presents for the children onto the
floor. There were dolls and musical toys, blocks,
sewing kits, an Indian suit, and a loom, and it
appeared to him that, as he had hoped, his arrival
in the basement dispelled its gloom. When half
the presents had been opened, he gave the
landlady a bathrobe and went upstairs to look
over the things he had been given for himself.
Now, the landlady's children had already
received so many presents by the time Charlie
arrived that they were confused with receiving,
and it was only the landlady's intuitive grasp of
the nature of charity that made her allow the
children to open some of the presents while
Charlie was still in the room, but as soon as he
had gone, she stood between the children and the
presents that were still unopened. "Now, you
kids have had enough already," she said. "You
kids have got your share. Just look at the things
you got there. Why, you ain't even played with
the half of them. Mary Anne, you ain't even
looked at that doll the Fire Department give you.
Now, a nice thing to do would be to take all this
stuff that's left over to those poor people on
Hudson Street—them Deckkers. They ain't got
nothing." A beatific light came into her face
when she realized that she could give, that she
could bring cheer, that she could put a healing
finger on a case needier than hers, and—like
Mrs. DePaul and Mrs. Weston, like Charlie
himself and like Mrs. Deckker, when Mrs.
Deckker was to think, subsequently, of the poor
Shannons—first love, then charity, and then a
sense of power drove her. "Now, you kids help
me get all this stuff together. Hurry, hurry,
hurry," she said, for it was dark then, and she
knew that we are bound, one to another, in
licentious benevolence for only a single day, and
that day was nearly over. She was tired, but she
couldn't rest, she couldn't rest. []
 Handling A Broken Heart At ‘X’mas
Five Ways to Handle a
Broken Heart During the
Holidays
by Liz Marie
While I wouldn't say that there is an ideal time
of year to have a broken heart, I do think that
there is one season in particular when it's
especially hard to deal with heartache. The
holidays aren't particularly kind to those
grieving the end of a relationship and can make
dealing with your broken heart seem nearly
impossible. While I'm sure you wish you could
just hibernate from the world and re-emerge in
the New Year, it's just not practical during the
holidays when you have parties and family
functions to attend. Here are some ways to
handle a break-up during what is supposed to be
the most wonderful time of year.
1. Create a Buffer Zone
One of the biggest issues you'll face
during the holiday season is how many people
you're going to have to deal with. Parties, family
dinners, and gift exchanges galore means that
you'll likely bump into people you haven't seen
in awhile who want to know how your
relationship is going and wondering where your
boyfriend is. Awkward! Instead of facing it
alone, rally the troops! For example, if you'd like
to prevent your nosy uncle from barraging you
with questions on Christmas Eve, ask your mom
or sister if they would tell him in advance that
you'd prefer not to talk about it. Don't feel
embarrassed to use this buffer technique, it's a
lot less embarrassing then having your
relationship status being discussed at the dinner
table.
have to divide your time up again.
4. Step Away From Social Media
Taking a brief social media hiatus is amazing company you are and you will even
always one of my favourite break-up tips, but it's look forward to your dates... with yourself!
especially important to disconnect if you're
going through a holiday heartbreak. First of all,
it's engagement season and even though I am
sure you're oh so very happy for all your friends
and acquaintances who get engaged this time of
year, it can magnify how alone you feel. Don't
let yourself fall into a comparison trap! The best
way to make sure that you don't spend hours
crying while looking at your Facebook newsfeed
full of proposal photos and cute couples kissing
under the mistletoe is to limit your time on
social media. Pop in every once in a while but
don't let yourself fall down the rabbit hole.
5. Spend Time Alone
There is a lot going on this time of year
and it might seem like a good idea to throw
yourself headfirst into all of the parties and
events to distract yourself from the pain you're
dealing with. It's great to have fun and surround
yourself with people you enjoy, but it's also
important not to distract yourself to an extent
where you're just avoiding working through
your emotions. Make time for yourself daily,
whether that means lingering in bed on the
weekends or reading a book at a coffee shop
with your favourite holiday drink. Chances are,
75
you might feel a bit uncomfortable being alone
at first and that's completely understandable!
Soon though, you'll begin to realise what
What Homesless Shleters
Are Looking For During
The Christmas Season
• Clothing – socks, blankets, warmclothes,
hats, toiletries and footwear;
• Useful food like basic canned goods;
• Entertainment – from second-hand
books to toys for kids (and although
second-hand toys are thoughtful, every
kid likes something new that has only
ever belonged to them);
• Christmas gifts (think luxuries like
biscuits, cakes, chocolates, sweets and
board games);
• Monetary Donations.
Your Local Police, Fire Department and
Clergy would be help you to find your local
organization or shelter that can use your
help. Remember, if you are not part of the
solution, you are part of the problem.

2. Look Ahead To the New Year

If December is the worst time of year to
deal with heartache, January is one of the best!
The New Year is full of optimism, new
beginnings and the chance to recreate yourself
and your life. Instead of waiting for the first of
the year to get excited about your new single
life, start now! Make a list of all the things you'd
like to do or accomplish in the New Year and get
cracking. Chances are you have a lot more free
time now that your relationship has ended--step
away from the Netflix and use it wisely!
3. Embrace Your People
As anyone who has ever been in a relationship
can attest to, being part of a couple during the
holidays isn't exactly a walk in the park. It's
stressful to have to spend time with two (or
more!) sets of family members, friends, and go
to multiple office holiday events. This year, it's
all about you and the people you love most in
the world. This year, you don't have to worry
about impressing your boyfriend's parents nor
do you have to spend Christmas Eve with
anyone except your own family. This year, you
can be totally and completely selfish with the
most important gift you have to give - your time.
Spend extra time with your close family and
friends this year, because chances are by time
next year's holiday season rolls around you
probably will have met someone new, and might
TWO GOOD TO BE TRUE
with JUSTINA MARSH and PETER MARSH
JUSTINA MARSH was born in Florida but moved to the Midwest at an early age. Justina knew from
a young age that she had some special gifts that others did not but did not know exactly what these gifts
were. Her parents told stories about ghosts Justina would talk to or how she would point out orbs floating
around the room. Justina’s great grandmother practiced as a psychic many years ago and she is part of
a family lineage of psychics. She decided to pursue an education and graduated with a bachelor’s degree
in chemistry. Justina works as a chemist but also wants to do more. Justina was always interested in
learning all she could about the world. She realized that she could help share information using her
psychic abilities. She is very interested in the paranormal world and conspiracy theories. To Contact
Justina Marsh - Email - justinamarsh@xzbn.net
*** AND ***
PETE MARSH was born in Dorset, England. His family later moved inland to Wiltshire, England.
Growing up, his formative years were spent not far from Stonehenge or from the Avebury stone circles.
He always had an interest in the unexplained in the world. Pete trained as an engineer with qualifications
in materials science. After moving to Norway, he emigrated to the United States to further his career. In
recent years, Pete has become increasingly interested in the history of the world, which has progressed
into studying spiritual beliefs. Pete continues to work as an engineer, and spends much of his spare time
researching the true nature and purpose of mankind. Pete does not claim psychic abilities, but has
learned to trust his intuition. Pete’s mother and grandmother were both psychically gifted. To Contact
Justina Marsh - Email - petemarsh@xzbn.net
www.XZBN.net
76 SimulTV
 Merry Christmas From REL-MAR 77

KAL’S KORNER with KAL KORFF: Kal Korff has been an
Analyst, Broadcaster, Commentator and Investigative Journalist on or
for such popular TV networks as ABC, CNN, Discovery Channel,
FOX, History Channel, MSNBC, NBC, National Geographic and has
appeared on countless radio shows and in the newspapers, including
National Public Radio’s Science Fridays, Art Bell’s Coast-to-Coast
AM, Dr. Seth Shostak of SETI, Jeff Rense’s Sightings, Laura Lee
Show, San Francisco Examiner, Prague Post, Metropolitni Expres,
Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, Phoenix New Times,
Daily Review, Argus, Huffington Post, Stanford Daily, San Jose
Mercury News, Oakland Tribune, Ohlone Monitor, Omni, Skeptical
Inquirer, Skepsis, True, Saga UFO Report, Beyond Reality, Fortean
Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Frontiers of Science, LBC Radio,
Daily World TV, RTL, DW2, TV Nova, Radio Praha, Radio Free
Europe, YouTube, Scribd, Facebook, Twitter, ‘X’ Zone Radio Show
and others. To contact Kal Korff - Email - kalkorff@xzbn.net
CHRISTA NEHLS is a gender communication expert. While
providing even better communication for the genders, she brings peace
to the people and reduces misunderstandings and divorce rates and
improves company revenues because the people communicate
effectively. She is: Founder of CN Counseling and Inventor of the
L.I.S.A.-method, she is a business coach and trainer for highly skilled
people and people in leading positions. Her passion is: to lighten the
fire in the eyes of her customers, to see how they relax and straighten
when they recognize their way and finally move on to it. Her motto is:
"Actions speak louder than words." So she empowers people to come
into action and go ahead. She does what Being an author, publisher
and speaker she gives her readers and her audience hints, tipps and
tricks to go ahead, to change their lifes to a life they love to live. Her
first book, already published in Germany, is called Denkpausen" and
will be available in English called "Think A Moment!" and more books
to come. Email - christa@tellusradio.com

www.XZBN.net www.XZBN.net

Songs and Stories for Soldiers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated

to providing free, customizable electronic entertainment for members of the
American Military, both active and retired. We will be providing MP3 players,
with headsets and USB connection cable or the most recent technology, free to
American Military. We will start with active duty wounded, and as their needs
are met we will branch out to Veterans and VA hospitals across the United
States.

songsandstoriesforsoldiers.us
 78 Helping The Homeless At Christmas
What kind of help do
homeless people most need
at Christmas?
Christmas consumerism can be lovely when
kept in its place. We are not Grinches here. Still,
if you’re yearning to do something different this
year, one option is to look at some different
ways to help the homeless.
Christmas is an emotional time where
people often have high expectations of
happiness. Even if you don’t have much time,
money or independence, you can still help the
homeless at Christmas in non-judgemental ways
that make a difference.
The best way to start is to search online
for an organised homeless shelter or soup
kitchen in your area, and see what sort of help
they’re looking for over the Christmas period.
They work with the homeless all the time, and
have a concrete plan in place for ways to support
those on the streets.
Donate money to food banks
Some supermarkets offer to pass your
donated food onto food banks who help feed the
homeless. Of course, it’s great if you donate to
them. But it’s worth knowing that food banks
can already buy from supermarkets at wholesale
prices.
Why not donate your money to food
banks directly? This way, they can get the food
they most need. If you prefer to donate food,
food bank websites are likely to have a wishlist.
Food banks help all kinds of people and
they always struggle to meet demand. When you
donate to a food bank, you can REALLY make a
difference.
Donate to homeless shelters
Shelters might well be looking for
donations of:
• Clothing – socks, blankets, warm clothes,
hats, toiletries and footwear
• Useful food like basic canned goods
• Entertainment – from second-hand books to
toys for kids (and although second-hand toys
are thoughtful, every kid likes something
new that has only ever belonged to them)
• Christmas gifts (think luxuries like biscuits,
cakes, chocolates, sweets and board games)
Donations are not only used by the shelter but
are also given out on the door to those who are
unfortunate enough to be turned away due to no
spare beds.
Raising money to help the homeless
Sure, there’s not much time until
college/school/work finishes for the holidays.
But it really doesn’t take long to set up a
donation day.
Contact a shelter and find what
donations they want.
Agree with your principal / headteacher /
student union / boss that you can have a
donation day.
Get them to agree to your putting a large
box or two in a public area that people can fill
with the donations that the shelter of your choice
is looking for.
Get your principal / headteacher / student
union / boss to promote the donation day in the
ways they know best.
Tell all your friends and ask them to help
fill your donation box.
Then get someone with a car who loves
you to deliver the donations to the homeless
shelter.
If you’re in a position to be able to do the
above, you could really help the homeless this
Christmas.
Volunteering with homeless shelters
Shelters nearly always need people to
help out with the cooking and serving of
Christmas dinner, and also with cleaning up.
Loved ones might not be keen on your doing
this, because they’re looking forward to
spending time with you. That’s fair enough.
Then again, Christmas is a long day. Your family
might be willing for you and a friend to spend a
couple of hours helping out with the cooking at
a homeless shelter. Alternatively, you could
consider putting in a couple of hours of
volunteer work on the days surrounding
Christmas Day, and save that day for yourself
and loved ones.
Giving presents and care packages
Obviously, you want to respect personal
space and not give presents to an individual
where they’re not wanted.
To give or not to give a Blessing Bag?
There’s a lot of conflict around how
appropriate care packages or ‘blessing bags’
might really be. Typically, these packages
contain items related to food and hygiene,
including toothpaste, toothbrushes, deoderant,
lip balm and all the things you might imagine
someone to need if they’re homeless. It can
make you feel good to use your money and time
to give a blessing bag, but how useful is it,
really?
The problem with blessing bags is that
their contents make a lot of assumptions about
the person they’re being given to. Homeless
people have different needs and goals, and gifts
like those mentioned above may not always be
welcome. Things like soap can be relatively easy
to get. If someone doesn’t have a toothbrush or
use it, they may feel a need for it – and might not
be inclined to start using it just because they
were given one. Homeless people may also have
different dietary restrictions (like diabetes, or
Crohn’s) that you may not be aware of, same as
anyone else.
If in doubt, get in touch with a homeless
shelter.
Presents for pets?
A pet is a constant source of company for
anyone who’s homeless. Buy a marrow or dog
treat or two, and see if you can find a spare clean
blanket. Wrap the blanket and dog treat tidily
with a festive ribbon, put it in a bag, then
wonder around until you find a homeless person
with a dog. Offer them your present, be your
own sweet self, and you’ll be virtually
guaranteed to have made their day (and their
beloved canine companion’s day, too).
Money?
As with blessing bags, this is an area of
heated discussion. SERIOUSLY, though. It’s not
your place to judge what the money will be
spent on.
Money is light, easy to carry and
relatively easy to hide on your person. Money
gives someone who’s homeless the power and
independence to make their own decisions about
what they want. You can’t possibly know a
person on the streets better than they know
themselves. Money can be turned into warm
drinks, tampons or new shoes. It can be used to
get a bed at a shelter, or to top up minutes on a
pay-as-you-go phone.
Gifts are always well-meant. Empathy
towards someone right there in front of you –
someone who’s often treated as invisible – is
vital. Any action you take to make a difference
could really help. Whatever you do, your
support counts.
Your Local Police, Fire Department and Clergy
would be help you to find your local
organization or shelter that can use your help.
Remember, if you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem. []
 Pets And The Christmas Holidays 79
8 Tips to Keep Your Pets
Safe During the Holidays
By Clarissa Fallis

As you prepare for the holidays, it’s easy to

forget about the small things that can cause a
real danger to dogs and cats.
By taking a little time to ensure your
home is ready for a pet-friendly holiday, you can
evade possible tragedy or large vet bills. Here
are 8 tips:

1. Secure the Tree

Decorating your home can be one of the best

holiday traditions. If you have a Christmas tree,
keep this in mind: Dogs and cats can be drawn
to the exhilarating outdoor smells that the tree
brings inside, so make sure it’s secure in the
stand so pets don’t accidentally push it over.

2. Choose Ornaments Wisely

If you plan to throw a holiday party, consider and probably much busier than it normally is."
Ornaments, tinsel and lights can cause serious leaving a cute, festive note on the food table to However, if people feel strongly about
hazards. Keep both breakable ornaments and remind guests not to share holiday treats with bringing a pet into the family during the
small stuffed ones out of reach; they can easily the pets. Drinking cups (especially those filled holidays, Powelson suggests they adopt the
be mistaken for a dog toy. Wires for lights need with alcohol) and plates should be kept out of animal from a shelter or buy from a reputable
to be hidden so your pets don’t chew through reach of your pets. breeder rather than at a pet store.
them and cause an electrical shock. Another tip: Give your pets an early Here are three things Powelson says
Ornamental string, ribbons and tinsel dinner before the party so they are less tempted people should carefully consider before bringing
may attract your cat. Although he will love to beg for food. that pet home:
playing with these decorations, they can cause
damage to his GI tract. It may be easier to keep 7. Create a Safe Haven for Pets During 1. If you’re a parent, are you prepared to look
your tree separate, perhaps in a room where the Parties after the pet?
animals cannot enter. Or put up a baby gate. "Often what happens, if a child is given
During parties, some pets can become a pet for a gift, that novelty will wear off," said
3. Avoid Giving Your Pet Fragile Presents overstimulated and stressed out, so have a safety Powelson. "Is the parent prepared to take full
spot available. This location should be away responsibility for the animal? If the answer is
If you choose to give your pet gifts for the from the festivities and should have fresh water, no, then don’t bring the pet into your home."
holiday, make sure the presents are big enough a couple of toys and a comfortable place to
to minimize the choking hazard. sleep. 2. Is this something your child (or sibling or
Be aware of your dog’s chewing habits; partner) has wanted for an extended period
if you have a puppy or an active chewer, avoid 8. Prevent Your Pet From Slipping Out of time?
toys that can be broken into smaller pieces. "Is this something they have wanted for
Even my own dog, who rarely chews With all the people coming in and out of your a long time or has it just come up and is it a
anything other than Greenies, started carrying door, it can be easy for a pet to sneak outside. whim?" said Powelson. "Did they watch Men In
around a small plastic cat ball with a bell inside. Have your pet’s microchip and tag information Black and they fell in love with that dog? If
It broke into several small pieces in his mouth. up-to-date. Notify your neighbors that you will you’re giving someone (a pet as) a gift, you need
Luckily, it didn’t cause any damage, but it sure be having a party and to call you right away if to really, truly believe that person understands
freaked me out! they see one of your pets outside unattended.[] it’s a lifetime commitment."
New stuffed squeaker toys can be a hit;
but make sure that if your dog rips out the Pets as Christmas gifts: 3. And if you’re adamant about getting that
pet, must you do it over the holidays?
squeaker, you quickly throw it away.
Things to consider before "If you do want to give someone a rescue
4. Keep Harmful Foods Away From Your Pets pet for Christmas, give them an 'IOU,'" said
buying Powelson. "I owe you a kitten. I owe you a dog.
Sweet, fatty and spicy foods that we commonly I owe you a hamster. Wait until Christmas day
eat during the holidays are certainly not intended CBC and then look at bringing that pet into the
for pets and can cause an upset stomach or even family." []
life-threatening illness. As Canadians scramble to purchase holiday gifts
If you have these foods around your for loved ones, one animal advocacy group is
home, make sure they are securely put away and warning people away from placing that kitten or
out of reach to avoid a toxic emergency. puppy under the Christmas tree.
"Christmas time is a really hectic and
5. Stay Away From Dangerous Holiday Plants stressful time for families and bringing in an
animal into a new environment is a very
Other things that can cause severe illness in dogs stressful experience for that pet and for the
and cats are holly and mistletoe. If you have family," Paws for Hope Executive Director
animals, it’s better to avoid this seasonal Kathy Powelson told The Early Edition.
shrubbery. "We just don’t feel that it is the best time
to bring in an animal into an environment that is
6. Helpful Holiday Party Hints going to be much louder than it is normally is
 80 NORAD Tracks Santa’s ‘X’Mas Flight
NORAD
Tracks Santa
North American Aerospace Defense
Command
On Dec. 24, 1955, a call was made to the
Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD)
Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
However, this call was not from the president or
a general. It was from a young child in Colorado
Springs who was following the directions in an
advertisement printed in the local paper – the
youngster wanted to know the whereabouts of
Santa Claus.
The ad said “Hey, Kiddies! Call me
direct and be sure and dial the correct number.”
However, the number was printed incorrectly in
the advertisement and rang into the CONAD
operations center.
On duty that night was Colonel Harry
Shoup, who has come to be known as the “Santa
Colonel.” Colonel Shoup received numerous
calls that night and rather than hanging up, he
had his operators find the location of Santa
Claus and reported it to every child who phoned
in that night.
Thus began a tradition carried on by the
North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD) when it was formed in 1958. Today,
through satellite systems, high-powered radars
and jet fighters, NORAD tracks Santa Claus as
he makes his Yuletide journey around the world.
Every year on December 24, fifteen
hundred volunteers staff telephones and
computers to answer calls and e-mails from
children (and adults) from around the world.
Live updates are provided through the NORAD
Tracks Santa Web site (in seven languages), over
telephone lines, and by e-mail to keep curious
children and their families informed about
Santa’s whereabouts and if it’s time to get to
bed.
Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa
Web Site receives nearly nine million unique
visitors from more than 200 countries and
territories around the world. Volunteers receive
more than 140,000 calls to the NORAD Tracks
Santa hotline from children around the globe.
This year, children and the young-at-
heart are able to track Santa through Facebook,
Twitter and YouTube. To follow us on any of
these Web sites, type in @noradsanta into the
search engine and start tracking.
NORAD Tracks Santa has become a
magical and global phenomenon, delighting
generations of families everywhere.
For more information about NORAD
Tracks Santa, please visit www.noradsanta.org
For more information about NORAD,
please visit www.norad.mil
Where Do All The Letters
To Santa Go?
Every year kids from all across the world write
letters to Santa and they're usually addressed to
"The North Pole." A location that is un-
deliverable and sure to be "Returned to Sender"
under any normal circumstance. However, has
anyone gotten a letter sent back addressed to
Santa? Most likely not, unless you have Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to
absolutely zero holiday spirit or heart for that allow postal employees and citizens to respond
matter. to the ever growing number of letters received
Parents stamp and mail these letters for every holiday season.
their children to keep the tradition going. They In the 1940s, mail volume for Santa
are a window into the very essence of Christmas increased so much so that the Postal Service
make believe, often requiring the suspension of extended the same invitation to charitable
disbelief we all wistfully remember so well from organizations, community groups and
our childhood. corporations to help respond to children who
But where do all these letters go? What wrote letters to Santa.
happens to them? Surely USPS has to have some
sort of strategic game plan to tackle the shear 106th Anniversary
volume of Santa letters that come in every year?
This year, 2016, the Postal Service is celebrating
Where do letters to Santa go? the 104th anniversary of the Operation Santa
Program as it continues to fulfill the dreams of
Not all letters addressed to Santa end up at the children nationwide. More than one hundred
North Pole. Some go to the U.S. Post Office, years later, postal employees, volunteers and
where thousands of elves can adopt letters and organizations remain committed to making
make a child's wish come true! children’s Christmas wishes come true.
Letters from Santa program
The Post Office "Letters to Santa" What They Do
Program is now in its 100th year. Postal
employees go through the hundreds of The Postal Service has Operation Santa sites in
thousands of letters addressed to "Santa Claus, action around the country. In the vast number of
North Pole, Alaska" to separate out those that locations postal employees respond to the letters
express serious need. by providing a written response signed by Santa,
One 13-year-old boy who sent a "Dear while other Post Offices may work with local
Santa" letter to the U.S. Post Office this year schools, municipalities and community groups
asked only for covers for his bed, "so I can stay who volunteer for the joyous task.
warm this winter." Each year, however, in select Post
Another letter from a 12-year-old wanted Offices the general public is invited to “adopt”
nothing for himself, just something for his single Santa letters. In all locations where the public
mother, because she worked so hard. may adopt letters written to Santa, strict privacy
Some of the letters are answered by guidelines are in place. Any member of the
charitable groups, businesses, schools, postal public choosing to adopt a letter may simply
employees and individual anonymous givers, respond in writing or if they choose grant the
who can come to participating branches, pick wish, a decision that is left to the individual.
letters and go shopping. New York City’s Operation Santa serves
In some states, USPS now has Santa as the largest public adoption Post Office in the
reply to most of your children's letters! Parents country. A “Big Apple” tradition that has
are asked to complete the "North Pole changed very little since the 1940s and one
Postmark," and the Letters from Santa Program which continues to thrive in the heart of the
responds to the youngsters. Manhattan, much to the delight of those who
visit the iconic James A. Farley building.[]
USPS SANTA MAIL:
Operation Santa
Background
As much as history reveals, the Postal Service
began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than
100 years ago. However, it's involvement was
made official when in 1912 Postmaster General
 Elves in Ontario Make Dreams Come True 81
Group of 'elves' in
Wallaceburg, Ont. make
children's Christmas
dreams come true
Volunteers rushed to area stores to
buy exactly what each child asked for

CBC

Kylee Labadie and her daughters started their

Saturday with a visit to Santa and ended it
almost in tears after a group of "elves" in
Wallaceburg, Ont. worked some Christmas
magic to make their wishes come true.
Forty children sat on St. Nick's lap and
read off their holiday wish list at the Knights of next few months approaching community enthusiasm are what makes the jolly old elf's
Pythias Hall. It's a tradition that plays out in members and businesses and asking them for belly shake like a bowl full of jelly.
cities and towns across Canada — but this time money. "Santa's laugh is total abandonment. He's filled
the ritual was a little different. The only problem was, he couldn't tell with joy," Kotowich told CBC Radio's
them what it was for. Afternoon Drive host Bob Steele.
Volunteers had a horse on standby "I told them a very vague story that I "He loves the season and the idea of
wanted to organize something special for kids people sharing, giving and caring for each other.
A woman wearing a knitted reindeer sweater but I couldn't tell them what it was … but it It just exudes from his entire body. It's this full-
with flashing lights sat at Santa's elbow, would be pretty cool," he explained. "These bellied laugh, his head is thrown back and his
diligently writing down every child's requests in people gave me money without knowing what entire body gets into that laugh."
detail. Then the list was whisked away to a they were giving it to." Kotowich, who is also the director of
group of volunteers spread out at Canadian Tire They managed to raise about $14,000 choirs at the University of Windsor spends time
locations and stores across the municipality who and with some help from area business owners, during the holiday season teaching Santa's
found exactly what each kid wanted and quickly arranged for 25 volunteer "elves" to spend a subtleties to those wanting to don the red coat
wrapped it up. Saturday running around to make the miracle and black boots.
"We were prepared for Xboxes and iPads happen. His advice? Anyone can play Santa as
and iPhones, toy trucks, Barbie houses," said One person was even waiting outside long as their attitude's right.
local radio host Greg Hetherington, who helped Toys 'R' Us in Windsor. They were called on "It's the spirit of the season," he said.
organize the event. "We weren't sure if would when a toy couldn't be found anywhere in "It's about loving, caring and sharing and is that
get an ask for a real, live pony but we figured we Chatham-Kent. spirit with you? Is your ability to listen, to
better be ready for it — so we had a horse "That runner got it in Windsor, hit the initiate conversation, is that sincerity there?"
ready." 401 and made it to Canadian Tire in time for the He first started playing Santa as a student
After their children left Santa, each family to arrive," said Hetherington. "It was at the University of Manitoba. With a rich
parent was given a note telling them to pick up a priceless." baritone voice, six-feet frame and large, what he
gift bag at the Wallaceburg Canadian Tire, but He added he doubts he'll ever see calls, "prairie boy" figure, a friend thought he'd
when they arrived they "got a whole lot more," something like the Santa surprise happen ever be a perfect fit to play jolly ol' St. Nick.
said Hetherington. again. At first Kotowich was reluctant, thinking
"I see the ladies coming up the aisle with "It was pretty touching. There are some the role of Santa was beneath him. But once he
presents wrapped and I'm like 'No way, this isn't families that need help this time of year and we tried it, the role fit him perfectly.
happening,'" said Labadie. "Sure enough, when had all of these community members who were "Within two seconds of stepping onto the
we got up there I had to fight back my tears. The willing to help," he explained. "They did it out set, just seeing the reaction from the parents and
moment was just, I'm even getting chills of their kindness of their heart … it's what we kids, I thought, 'How can you not?'" []
thinking about it, it was amazing." should do."
As her daughters five-year-old Nathalie
and four-year-old Amelie Roberge tore away the Beginning to feel a lot like
paper to find Shimmer and Shine and My
Littlest Pet Shop toys, they shrieked with Christmas
delight.
"I find it unbelievable," said Labadie. Hetherington said it will be a while before he'll
"Every person I saw I tell about it. It's definitely be able to pull the same stunt again.
a pay it forward kind of thing." "If I'm at a secret Santa event I think
She added her oldest daughter Jaidyn they'll be onto me," he joked, adding that all the
was watching the celebration and regretted leftover cash will support Christmas charity
skipping her chance to take a turn on Santa's lap drives in Chatham and Wallaceburg.
— even if 12 is a little old for that kind of thing. But the Christmas spirit he helped pass
along is still going strong in Labadie's house.
Miracle a year in the making "It definitely put the kids in the mood for
Christmas," she laughed. "Now they think Santa
The plan that led up to the holiday miracle was is coming next week." []
set in motion a year before when Hetherington 'Santa's laugh is total abandonment,' says
and a few of his friends started talking about professional Santa trainer
finding a way to make Christmas special. Where does Santa's laugh come from?
They settled on a strategy then swore If you ask professional Santa trainer
each other to secrecy. Hetherington spent the Bruce Kotowich, an overabundance of joy and
82 SimulTV Lite
A Letter From Santa To All Children 83

Santa Claus
North Pole, Canada, H0H 0H0

Hello My Little Friend:

While enjoying a cup of delicious hot cocoa

and watching the reindeer training games, I
noticed my busy elves were putting the finishing
touches on today's toy orders. There have been
so many good boys and girls this year, the
workshop is filled to the ceiling with toys.
The Elves reminded me of how hard you've
tried to be good this year.
You've been feeding your pets, being a
good friend, most of the time even though you
sometimes forget to take out the garbage.
Your teacher told me in a letter she sent me
that you've put a lot of effort into improving
your grades too. For these reasons and many
others, your name has been placed on my "Nice
List". Well done!
So...I am sure that you will continue to be
kind, courteous, helpful and studious, and the
elves will make sure to put that something very
special in my sack for you.
At twilight on Christmas Eve, the view is
brilliant as I make my way around the world
with the help of the brave people at NORAD
who make sure that my flight plan is safe and
the best possible.
I look forward to visiting you again this
Christmas. So, remember to go to bed early and
I always appreciate some milk and cookies
and the reindeer love carrots.
Wishing You and Your Family Very
Merry Christmas,
Santa Claus
84 Find Your Path Home
 Christmas Carols To Sing With Friends
Here Comes Santa Claus
Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
are pulling on the reins.
Bells are ringing, children singing;
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your
prayers,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He's got a bag that is filled with toys
for the boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
What a beautiful sight.
Jump in bed, cover up your head,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Deck the Halls
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Mr. Grinch
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel,
You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as
charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch,
You're a bad banana with a greasy black
peel!
You're a monster, Mr. Grinch,
Your heart's an empty hole,
Your brain is full of spiders, you have
garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch,
85
I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine- Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
and-a-half foot pole! Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the
You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch, night
You have termites in your smile, He will bring us goodness and light,
You have all the tender sweetness of a He will bring us goodness and light."
seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch,
Given a choice between the two of you Silent Night
I'd take the seasick crocodile!
Silent night, holy night,
You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch, All is calm, all is bright
You're the king of sinful sots, Round yon virgin mother and child.
Your heart's a dead tomato splotched Holy infant so tender and mild,
with moldy purple spots, Mr. Grinch, Sleep in heavenly peace.
You're a three decker sauerkraut and Sleep in heavenly peace.
toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce! Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch, Glories stream from heaven afar,
With a nauseous super "naus"!, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
You're a crooked dirty jockey and you Christ the Savior, is born!
drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch, Christ the Savior, is born!
Your soul is an appalling dump heap Silent night, holy night,
overflowing with the most disgraceful Son of God, love's pure light
assortment of rubbish imaginable Radiant beams from thy holy face,
mangled up in tangled up knots! With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
You're a nasty wasty skunk,
Your heart is full of unwashed socks,
Rudolf the Red-nosed
your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch,
Reindeer
The three words that best describe you
are as follows, and I quote,
Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer
"Stink, stank, stunk"!
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
Do You Hear What I Hear?
you would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
used to laugh and call him names.
"Do you see what I see?
They never let poor Rudolf
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
play in any reindeer games.
Do you see what I see?
Then one foggy Christmas eve
A star, a star, dancing in the night
Santa came to say:
With a tail as big as a kite,
"Rudolf with your nose so bright,
With a tail as big as a kite."
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then all the reindeer loved him
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
as they shouted out with glee:
"Do you hear what I hear?
"Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer,
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
you'll go down in history!"
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the the sea,
With a voice as big as the the sea."
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty
king,
"Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold--
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold."
Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
 86 Christmas Carols To Sing With Friends
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and
triumphant,
Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of
angels;
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
True God of true God, Light from Light
Eternal,
Lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Refrain
See how the shepherds, summoned to
His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful
footsteps;
Refrain
Child, for us sinners poor and in the
manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and
awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so
dearly?
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this
happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh
appearing.
Refrain
Grandma Got Run Over By
A Reindeer
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house
Christmas eve.
You can say there's no such thing as
Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.
She'd been drinkin' too much egg nog,
And we'd begged her not to go.
But she'd left her medication,
So she stumbled out the door into the
snow. We Wish You A Merry
Christmas
When they found her Christmas mornin',
At the scene of the attack.
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
There were hoof prints on her forehead,
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
And incriminatin' Claus marks on her
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a
back.
Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your
Grandma got run over by a reindeer,
kin;
Walkin' home from our house Christmas
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy
eve.
New Year.
You can say there's no such thing as
Santa,
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup
Now were all so proud of Grandpa,
of good cheer. Refrain
He's been takin' this so well.
See him in there watchin' football,
We won't go until we get some;
Drinkin' beer and playin' cards with
We won't go until we get some;
cousin Belle.
We won't go until we get some, so bring
some out here. Refrain
It's not Christmas without Grandma.
All the family's dressed in black.
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
And we just can't help but wonder:
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
Should we open up her gifts or send
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a
them back?
Happy New Year.
Grandma got run over by a reindeer,
Walkin' home from our house Christmas
eve.
You can say there's no such thing as
Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.
Now the goose is on the table
And the pudding made of fig.
And a blue and silver candle,
That would just have matched the hair in
Grandma's wig.
I've warned all my friends and
neighbours.
Better watch out for yourselves."
They should never give a license,
To a man who drives a sleigh and plays
with elves.
Grandma got run over by a reindeer,
Walkin' home from our house, Christmas Wishing You and Yours
eve. Love, Peace and Spiritual for
You can say there's no such thing as Now and Forever.
Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.
Merry Christmas
and
For The Very Best Radio Programming from
The World of the Paranormal and the A Happy New Year
Science of Parapsychology, 24/7/365
Tunne Into XZBN Rob & Laura and Family
www.xzbn.net
The Fun of Series by Roberta Grimes 87

www.RobertaGrimes.com www.RobertaGrimes.com

www.RobertaGrimes.com www.RobertaGrimes.com
88 The REL-MAR Digital Publications Store

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REL-MAR
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 Connecting with Coincidence
Connecting with Coincidence
The New Science for Using Synchronicity and Serendipity in Your Life
Bernard Beitman, MD is the
first psychiatrist since Carl
Jung to systematize the study
of coincidences. He
developed the first valid scale
to measure coincidence
sensitivity, and has written
several coincidence articles
for Psychiatric Annals. The
author or editor of 16
professional books, he is a
visiting professor at the University of Virginia,
attended Yale Medical School and completed a
psychiatric residency at Stanford. NOW you can
listen to Connecting with Coincidence Radio Show
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www.coincider.com
89
We've all experienced or heard of surprising events and
unexplainable coincidences—money that seems to come
from nowhere, a spontaneous idea that turns into a life-
changing solution, meeting our soulmate on a flight we
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Often these coincidences are explained as being controlled
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Bernard Beitman, a leading expert on Coincidence
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cannot complete the entire puzzle, and in this fascinating
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occurrence of meaningful coincidences in our lives.
Where other books on coincidences tend to be theoretical,
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ways in which readers can use them in their own lives. He
reveals:
• How to activate your observing self so you don't miss
synchronistic moments
• How serendipity can offer insights into solving
problems or making difficult decisions
• Why stress activates meaningful coincidences
• Which states of mind impede our ability to experience
synchronicity
• How to interpret the meaning of a coincidence
• Why being attuned to coincidences is a learned
skill—and how to hone your sensitivity.
 90 The ‘X’ Zone Broadcast Network - xzbn.net

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92 My Thomas by Roberta Grimes

M Y T H O M A S
by
Roberta Grimes
When Martha Skelton finds herself falling in love with a
shy young burgess named Thomas Jefferson, it feels like an
inconvenience. Widowed at twenty-two, Martha has no
desire to lose the independence she has gained in the wake
of her husband's death. But she cannot deny her feelings
indefinitely. Despite her intentions, her friendship with
Thomas develops into an intense and all-consuming love.

History casts a shadow on Martha's newfound joy. Through

her father's slave and mistress, Betty Hemings, she comes
to understand the true nature of slavery, an institution she
has always taken for granted. As Betty's revelations tear
down the walls of her ignorance, Martha begins to work
with her husband to end the despicable practice forever.

This story is essentially true. Thomas Jefferson was such an

obsessive record-keeper that we know what he was doing
nearly every day of his adult life, and all the public things
he is quoted as saying in My Thomas come from his
contemporary writings. Martha's marriage to Thomas
spanned the decade from 1772 to 1782, so it put her at the
center of the audacious grab at freedom that was the
American Revolution. Jefferson's writings suggest that if
he had not been widowed, he would have retired from
politics following the war and devoted himself to finding a
way to end slavery that could have truly and forever healed
the separations between the races. It is hard to read
Martha's story now and not think about what might have
been.
ROBERTA GRIMES is a business attorney who had two experiences of light in
childhood. She then spent decades studying nearly 200 years of abundant and
consistent communications from the dead, quantum mechanics, and the nature of
consciousness to learn in detail what happens at and after death. She shares her
discoveries in The Fun of Dying – Find Out What Really Happens Next (Greater
Reality, 2010, 2014). Her sequel, The Fun of Staying in Touch (Greater Reality, 2014),
details the many ways in which the dead give us signs of their survival and the exciting
new ways that we can contact them. Roberta has been a guest on more than 100 radio
programs during the past year, recently including The ‘X’ Zone Radio Show with Rob
McConnell. She delivers weekly podcasts on WebTalkRadio.net that feature
interviews with prominent experts. Her iTunes podcast archive has hundreds of
thousands of subscribers. Visit Robert Grimes Online at www.RobertaGrimes.com.
MY THOMAS is NOW Available at bookstores everywhere including:
Barnes & Noble, Costco, Target, Books-A-Million, Hudson Booksellers,
Walmart, Kmart, Sam's Club, Walgreen's, CVS & Amazon.com.

www.RobertaGrimes.com