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Friday, November 27, 2015
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
The Holly and the Ivy
This pretty holiday song is a traditional British tune that we may not be so familiar with since it rarely shows up in the States as a standard Christmas carol. This particular carol has been around since at least 1911, but has been noted in an early list of songs that dates back to the early 1800s. It is possible that it dates back even further, but there is no proof of it. It was once described as a “touchingly simple class of religious ballad” by a reviewer in the early 1800s. It almost was misplaced forever, but one copy managed to make it through to a collector who was compiling a list of songs in 1849. The early versions do not contain any music for the carols, but it was called an old French carol.
The church started using holly and ivy in their decorations in the 15th century, and they are part of the traditional British holiday décor. Holly is associated with the winter solstice in druid lore and the Romans have paired up holly with Saturn. Henry VIII paid tribute to holly and ivy in a love song that he wrote. He is as true as the holly and the ivy are green in the winter. Holly and ivy have even been used to represent men and women with women being the ivy and men the holly. Make your own interpretation here. The story goes that the men would sing of the great traits of the holly and how horrid the ivy was, and likewise, the women would sing of the virtues of the ivy and the hideous nature of the holly. These “carols”, “sing alongs”, “ battles of the bands” took place when, apparently, there was nothing else to do. The only way to resolve the “fight” was to take it under the mistletoe.
Holly, ivy and mistletoe are forever green plants that have long been associated with the Christmas season.
- 1
- The holly and the ivy,
- When they are both full grown,
- Of all the trees that are in the wood,
- The holly bears the crown.
- The rising of the sun
- And the running of the deer,
- The playing of the merry organ,
- Sweet singing in the choir.
- 2
- The holly bears a blossom,
- As white as the lily flower,
- And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
- To be our sweet Saviour.
- The rising of the sun, etc.
- 3
- The holly bears a berry,
- As red as any blood,
- And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
- For to do us sinners good.
- The rising of the sun, etc.
- 4
- The holly bears a prickle,
- As sharp as any thorn,
- And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
- On Christmas Day in the morn.
- The rising of the sun, etc.
- 5
- The holly bears a bark,
- As bitter as any gall,
- And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
- For to redeem us all.
- The rising of the sun, etc.
- 6
- The holly and the ivy,
- When they are both full grown,
- Of all the trees that are in the wood,
- The holly bears the crown.
- The rising of the sun, etc.
While you enjoy this carol, enjoy these lovely gift ideas from our talented artists.
Red Garnet Flowers in Evergreen
Amidst The Ferns Fern and Dragonfly Double Toggle Switch WallPlate
Green Aventurine and Olive Luster Beaded Bracelet
Hand Knit Holiday Tree All Cotton Picture Dishcloth or Washcloth
Antique Postcard Christmas Eve Salor's Greetings
Victorian Beaded Bracelet, Pearl Bracelet
Green Earrings, Lampwork Bead Earrings
Big Dangly Handmade Fused Glass Starfish Beach Earrings
Peace Sign Dream Catcher with Green Peace Beads Handcrafted from Walnut Wood
Green Plaid Pet Scrunchie Neck Ruffle
Neck Warmer Green Hand Knit Shield Pattern Dark Sage Caron Simply Soft
Silver Celtic Bracelet, Celtic Knot Bracelet
18mm Round Afghanistan Green Jade Gemstone 18" Necklace
Green Elephant Favor Tags
Green Yellow Leaf Earrings Swarovski Crystals Sterling Silver Long Dangles
Green Mountain Jade Oiled Bronze Crystal Necklace Bracelet Earrings
Transparent Sage Green Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads
Green and Red Swarovski Christmas Earrings
Recycled Bottle Christmas Ornament, Fused Glass Green Wreath, 3 Inch
Emerald Green Abstract Pendant Earring Set
Peridot Green Crystal Dangling Chain Earrings Sterling Silver Wires
Kingman Green Blue Turquoise Nugget Sterling Silver Beaded Bracelet
See something you just cannot live without or that would make a great gift for someone on your gift list?
Buy it now because handmade, artisan jewelry is HOT, HOT, HOT and sells fast!
Enjoy all of these goodies, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, you can find more at:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week10
Here We Come A’Wassailing
Deck the Halls
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
I Saw Three Ships
The 12 Days of Christmas
Children Go Where I Send Thee
Do You Hear What I Hear?<
The Little Drummer Boy
All of these handmade designers are ready to make something for you. Just ask them!
Enjoy,
Julie and Blu
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Friday, November 20, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Little Drummer Boy
This is an American carol that was written in 1941 and was originally titled “The Carol of the Drum”. It was sung by the Trapp Family Singers in 1955, and it was released by Harry Simeone Choral in 1958. The words and music were written by Katherine Kennicott Davis and tell the story of a poor boy who the Magi took along with them to see the baby Jesus. Since he was poor, he nothing to give but his drum. He garnered Mary’s approval with his playing.
It was based upon a Czech carol and when she wrote the parts for her choral group, she had the tenor and bass creating the drum sound while her altos sang harmony to the soprano’s tune. She was never able to identify the Czech tune that was her basis for this song.
When the Trapp Family Singers heard the song, they wanted to record it, and they did so just prior to their retirement. The song was renamed when Simeone recorded it, and both he and the Trapp family made minor changes to the original composition.
It is interesting to note that the story has a parallel French story that revolves around a juggler who had nothing to give the Virgin Mary, so he juggles in front of a statue of her. The statue smiles at him and/or throws him a rose to show her approval. In 1902, this story was an opera, and in 1984, it became a TV movie titled The Juggler of Notre Dame.
This song has been covered 220 times in seven languages. Jimi Hendrix recorded this song, and it was the last song he ever recorded. It’s worth looking up the video for it. It’s typical Jimi 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF59w_7mKMM
I am going to let you guess who these two awesome guys are singing this version of The Little Drummer Boy. Both have very distinct voices, but when blended, they lose their distinction. No, it’s not Dylan, although he does have a version that, like Jimi, is typical him.
For the curious, it is Johnny Cash and Neil Young.
On that drumbeat, let’s go shopping!
Big Red Heart with Roses
Handmade OOAK Bracelet Sugilite Pink Amethyst Swarovski AB Silver With Decorative Toggle Clasp
Pink Quilted Look Cover fits Silhouette Cameo
Pink and Yellow Necklace and Earring Set
Pink Blossoming Friendship Tree Handcrafted Greeting Card Any Occasion
Victorian Charm Bracelet, Pearl Bracelet
Sparkling Pink Dichroic Glass Dangle Earrings
Peach Freshwater Pearl Dangles, Swarovski Crystals
Paris Party Centerpieces in Pink for Birthday
Pink Jade Gemstone Bunny Rabbit Charm Bracelet
Kumihimo Dragon Scale Salmon Pink Plus-Size Handmade Bracelet
Flamingos ACEO watercolor print
Candy Cane Westie Terrier Applique Embroidered Hand Towels Pink
Hearts And Swirls Wood Wall Art Handmade From Oak Wood
KevsKrafts
Sleeveless Girls Crocheted Dress
Orange White Shell Fan Handmade Beach Necklace
Wild Flowers Hand Painted Polymer Clay Pendant
Ribbon Yarn Scarf
Short Small 14 Inch Choker Rose Petal Pink White Beaded Opalite Czech
Opaque Light Pastel Bubble Gum Pink Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads
Pink Rhodonite Oval Gemstone Sterling Size 8 Ring
See something you just cannot live without or that would make a great gift for someone on your gift list?
Buy it now because handmade, artisan jewelry is HOT, HOT, HOT and sells fast!
Enjoy all of these goodies, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, you can find more at:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Here We Come A’Wassailing
Deck the Halls
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
I Saw Three Ships
The 12 Days of Christmas
Children Go Where I Send Thee
Do You Hear What I Hear?
All of these handmade designers are ready to make something for you. Just ask them!
Enjoy,
Julie and Blu
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Friday, November 13, 2015
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Do You Hear What I Hear?
This pretty Christmas carol is not found in crumbling hymn books or on the back of a bar napkin from a pub in Ireland dating to the 14th century. Nope, this lovely song is a much more modern tune that has a very interesting history.
Written in October of 1962 by Noel Regney and his spouse, Gloria Shayne Baker, this was both a response to a project request and a plea for peace. These two wrote together often enough, but it was usually Noel who wrote the music and Gloria wrote the lyrics except in this case. They were contacted by a record producer to come up with a new Christmas song, and they hesitated because they were opposed to the commercialization of Christmas. Instead, the Cuban missal crisis was his inspiration for the lyrics. The pair was not able to perform their song because it caused them great emotional despair.
The lyrics "Said the night wind to the little lamb, 'Do you see what I see?'" and "Pray for peace, people everywhere" were written while watching mothers pushing their babies and toddlers along the streets in New York. The whole thought of the Cuban Missal Crisis broke their hearts and fed the fuel to create. This crisis was very real, and people lived with the threat of nuclear war at any moment. They wrote the song while desperate for peace, and it was released after Thanksgiving of 1962, which was after the resolution of the crisis.
The most well known rendition of this song is by Bing Crosby who performed it on the Bob Hope show. The most admired performance of this song by the authors was Robert Goulet’s version because it was as if he were shouting “pray for peace, people everywhere”.
On that note, here is Mr. Goulet’s version.
While the crisis ended and other things took place, this is still a very powerful song that has been part of the Christmas tradition for over 50 years.
As you enjoy this song, take a look at all of these wonderful gift ideas from some very talented artists and collectors.
White Howlite Bracelet with Gunmetal Charm for a Small-Medium Wrist
Romantic Couple Dancing
Paris Theme Cover fits Silhouette Cameo
Puppy Love Dalmatian and Beagle Hanging Dish Towel With Hand Knit Topper and Ties
925 India Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet
Earthy Jasper Carnelian Earrings Carved Bone Beads Gold Tone Handmade Jewelry
Crocheted Snowflake Ornament
Red and White Christmas Angel Pendant
Hand Beaded White Flower Earrings
White Freshwater Pearl Bracelet
White Pearl Bracelet, Victorian Style Bracelet
Gnome Party Tent Cards
Vintage Wedding Bouquet Necklace
White Heart Bead Necklace and Matching Earrings
Ivory White Art Deco Vintage Plastic Earrings Scalloped Shaped
Rustic Natural Magnesite and Copper 19 inch Gemstone Necklace
Three Shepherds Christmas Ornament using White Lace
Cow, Rooster, And Chicken Farmyard Scene Christmas Ornament
Ladies Shawl Wrap Hand knit Ladder Lace Winter White Caron Simply Soft Cream
Opaque White Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads
Lampwork Sterling Silver Earrings
White Pelicans 5 x 7 note card print of original watercolor painting Florida migrating birds
Classic Red Tartan Plaid Pet Scrunchie Neck Ruffle
Christmas Snowman Earrings, Handmade Swarovski Pearl Crystals Holiday Winter Jewelry
White Glass Pearl Necklace Set Two Strands With Earrings Gift Box
White Mother of Pearl Shell and Diamonique Sterling Earrings Judith Ripka
See something you just cannot live without or that would make a great gift for someone on your gift list?
Buy it now because handmade, artisan jewelry is HOT, HOT, HOT and sells fast!
Enjoy all of these goodies, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, you can find more at:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Here We Come A’Wassailing
Deck the Halls
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
I Saw Three Ships
The 12 Days of Christmas
Children Go Where I Send Thee
All of these handmade designers are ready to make something for you. Just ask them!
Enjoy,
Julie and Blu
PS – last week, I included a copy of the song, but in editing, it was lost – so here it is again:
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