Welcome to the second annual Carnival of Christmas, where we promote this season celebrating Christ’s birth and peace and good will toward men. We bring together a variety of posts, both secular and religion to celebrate this great Season.
As with last year, I’d like to urge support for Charitable organizations:
The Salvation Army
Operation Blessing
Catholic Charities
And let’s not forget two great Boise Charities who are well worth your support:
Boise Rescue Mission
Idaho Food Bank
I also want to acknowledge that our Jewish friends are celebrating Chanukah, and Planck’s Constant has the Carnival of Lights up to Celebrate.
This year, a movie is in theaters, that honors the true story of Christmas. My whole Sunday School class and I went to see “The Nativity” and I strongly encourage everyone to see it. Click here for showtimes in your area. Below is my podcast on “The Nativity”.
For those into Old School, Christmas Movies, It’s a Wonderful Life is freely and legally viewable online at Google Video. (Hat tip: The )
img src=”http://adamsweb.us/blog/media/barholly.gif” width=”360″ height=”16″ alt=”” />
Spirit of Christmas:
Listen to Glenn Beck read the Story of Christmas
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
Star and angels gave the sign.
~Christina Rossetti
How is Christmas itself like a fruitcake? The Random Yak elaborates in the must-read post of this carnival
Cat at Cathouse Chat hails the Newborn King
I have a post about the nameless Shepherds who bore witness to the newborn King and why they were invited.
The Random Maniyak tells us about the prophecies of Christmas at Random Yak.
Pet at Pet’s Garden Blog explains the tradition of the Christmas Wreath
Renaissance Blogger and Gribbit provide their thoughts on the first Sunday in Advent.
Sam tells a story of true generosity in A Cute Christmas Story posted at Surfer Sam and Friends.
David at Third World County reminds us that there’s always room for Christ in Christmas.
Kenton Whitman presents some ways to make Christmas last all year in A Zen Helper for Christmas posted at kentonwhitman.com — Zen-Inspired Self Development.
Xyba got out of the “normal” Christmas rut and found a way to observe the Season that’s an example to us all in A New Christmas Tradition posted at Once More Into the Breach.
The Yoest Family sends us wishes for a Merry Christmas.
Charity:
“Blessed is the season which engages the
whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
~Hamilton Wright Mabie
Kate Baggott presents A Christmas Gift for Readers posted at Babylune and the more people who visit the site, the greater her gift to readers (and the third world will be be.)You can give your own gift at World Vision’s catalog.
Christmas Music and Poetry:
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeatOf peace on earth, good-will to men!
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Micah Redding gives us his Favorite Christmas Carol posted at The Redding Brothers Blog and it’s a great one.
David at Third World County gives his thought on a wonderful Christmas song, The Gift of Gifts and with a tip of the cap to Humphrey Bogart, he plays it again, Sam with his song, “The Gift”
Cathouse Chat has high praise for Michael Smith’s rendention of the beautiful “Sing We Now of Christmas.”
Angel of Woman Honor Thyself tells us about some Christmas songs written by Jewish people.
David introduces us to some classic songs of the Season in Thursday Thirteen, 1.12: 13 Christmas Carols posted at third world county.
I let you know what I’m listening to.
A Very Sci-Fi Christmas:
Miss Cellania has done a lot of work putting together a carnivalesque Sci-Fi Christmas post at her place. It’s so good. It deserves a category of its own.
Christmas Memories and Traditions:
“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to
the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the
old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport
the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!”
~Charles Dickens
Angelo de los Angeles provides a wonderful photo guide to their Christmas Traditions posted at pomdla.
Laura Lee Donoho tells a touching story about her great grandmother in Nanny and the Christmas Birds posted at The Wide Awake Cafe.
Leticia Velasquez tells us how what she buys every year keeps her in the true Christmas Spirit in cause of our joy: What I buy every year for Christmas posted at cause of our joy.
Kevin submitted this piece by Stacey Schifferdecker, who has tips for creating a memorable Christmas in Simple Holiday Joys posted at Kevin Heath – More4kids Inc..
Marty Weil presents Whitman’s WWI General Santa posted at ephemera.
David Parker introduces us to some children Born on Christmas Day posted at Another History Blog.
Michelle tells the story of a mishap with a reindeer in Ghosts of Christmas Past #1: Rudolph with Your Nose So Bright posted at scribbit.
jen tells a love story of Christmas in Belize in one plus two: mangoes roasting on an open firepit posted at one plus two.
Vineeta Chopra her Top Five Holiday Movie Classics posted at the conscious pursuit of a good life.
Humor
Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas.-Johnny Carson
Suldog has a worthy cause for you to “donate” to in a classic case of, “One man’s doorstop is another man’s delicacy.” Learn more in Suldog’s Home For Wayward Fruitcakes posted at Suldog-O-Rama.
Sara of Sarakastic presents Why being single at Christmas rocks. Dipping Cheetos in Ice Cream is near the top of her list.
Madeleine Begun Kane presents some rules for husbands and wives to follow in order to avoid creating Office Party Follies posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.
Jennifer Miner presents What Not to Buy for Christmas: This holiday season’s worst gift ideas. posted at Suite 101.
Christmas Shopping and Finances:
This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols. But the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift — the Christ.-Frank McKibben
Your host, Adam Graham presents a way to keep Christmas shopping in perspective, read Remembering the Things that Matter Most at Christmastime posted at Bargain Value.
lilsurfergirl presents some timely advice for you last minute Christmas Shoppers in 10 Steps To Stress-free Christmas Shopping posted at lilsurfergirl.
Local Girl shows us some Hawaiian Christmas gifts in Christmas Gifts of Aloha posted at An Island Life.
For those of you who forgot the wrapping paper or don’t want to spring for it in the first place, Will Chen presents Stylish but Cheap Gift Warp Ideas posted at Wise Bread.
Nicki showcases Educational Christmas Toys posted at Home School Central.
Dan Harris alerts us to a Christmas scam in China: Ipods For $50. PS3 For $75. Wii For $100. PS3s and Xboxes For $150. Who You Kidding? posted at China Law Blog.
Bryan C. Fleming points out how some Money In The Bank can create a less stressful Christmas, posted at Bryan C. Fleming.
Stefanie celebrates the joys of Christmas plates in ‘Tis the Season posted at Random Encounter of We.
Maureen has that perfect present for the afterlife in A Casket For Christmas? posted at Empty Nest.
Jess has some Christmas Gift Ideas posted at Mommy Babble.
Julia Dorofeeva presents How to celebrate Christmas at your Dating Site! posted at Online Dating Blog.
Stefan presents cold hard facts about German Christmas Shopping posted at German Impressions.
Jennifer Miner presents Christmas gifts that are non-starters in The Jack Spade Frog Dissection Kit: Of the bad holiday gift ideas, this one is in a category of its own. posted at Suite 101.
Jennifer Miner presents Top Luxury Holiday Vacations: Christmas in Maui, and other great holiday travel ideas. posted at Suite 101.
j random american presents Gift Guide for Real Geeks of all Ages posted at Ideas in Progress.
Thanks so much to Random Yak the Christmas Alliance, and Reasoned Audacity for their help promoting this. Last year, we had a lot of late entries and I was a stickler for rules.
This year, I’ll be more charitable. If you’ve got a post that meets the Guidelines, link to us and trackback to it and you will be added at the bottom under late posts.
Merry Christmas.
Third World County linked with a late post entitled Christmas Memories.
Graciously linked by Don Surber, Mensa Barbie Welcomes You, The Lost Genre Guild, Hang Right Politics, and Caos