ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
DECEMBER 13th, 2009
It's SUNDAY…
My how the time has flown. It seems I just lit the first Advent candle yesterday. Now we’ve only one more Sunday after this one and Christmas will be here.
Sometimes it seems as though we spend our lives waiting, but today is a day of rejoicing as we have arrived at the midpoint of Advent and anticipate the coming of Christmas.
THINKING
Advent is the time of hope, a time to renew the light of Christ in our lives.
As He came to bring us the light of eternal life, we hope to share our light with others.
As my paternal grandparents were Hungarian I thought I’d share this interesting information I found about the 13th of December
with you all.
St. Lucy’s Day
Lucy, whose name means light and whose association with light has made her the patron saint of the "light of the body" (the eyes), once had her feast fall on the shortest day of the year. (Before the Gregorian calendar was reformed in the Middl
e Ages, December 13 was the day of the winter solstice.) For all of these reasons, St. Lucy is honored with a number of customs involving fire. Lucy candles were once lit in the home and Lucy fires burned outside.
THE MEANING OF THE CHRISTMAS WHEAT
It is an ancient Hungarian custom to offer to the Infant in
the manger the green sprouts of wheat.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the Hungarian nation and wheat is the symbol of sustenance and prosperity for this nation. It is therefore the most suitable gift for the newborn Savior.
But it also has a meaning for everyone. The new wheat symbolizes the new bread in the natural order and also the New Bread of Life in the supernatural order; for it is from wheat that the altar bread is made which becomes the Holy
Eucharist, the bread of our souls.
The wheat seeds are planted on the day of St. Lucy, the virgin martyr, December 13th. Kept in a moderately warm room and watered daily, the plant reaches its full growth by Christmas. The little daily care given to it is flavored with the joy of expectation for the approaching Christmas and spreads the spirit of cheerfulness as the tender plant reminds us of our spiritual rebirth through the mysteri
es of Christmas.
To plant the seeds, take a flower pot four or five inches in height and fill it with plain garden sod. Spread the seeds on the top and press gently, so that the seeds are covered with sod. Do not push them too deep.
Watered daily at the manger and paying its simple homage to the newborn Savior, the plant will last until about Januar
y 6th
The tradition of planting wheat on Saint Lucy's Day (December 13) comes from Hungary, Croatia, and other European nations. Plant wheat grains in a round dish or plate of soil, then water the seeds. Place the container in a warm spot. If the planting medium is kept moist (not sopping wet), the seeds will germinate and the shoots will be several inches high by Christmas. Then t
he new green shoots, reminding us of the new life born in Bethlehem, may be tied with a ribbon, if desired, and a candle may be placed near them as a symbol of the Light of Christ
Place the plate of sprouted wheat near the Nativity set where it will remind all that Christ, the Bread of Life, was born in Bethlehem, whose name means House of Bread. The wheat recalls Communion Bread which is made from wheat. It also brings to mind Christ's parables about whea
t
NEW IN THE KITCHEN
CARMEL CORN
6 quarts popped corn in large roasting pan sprayer with Pam
2 cups brown sugar
2 sticks margarine
½ cup Karo white syrup
1 teaspoon butter flavo
ring
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix together sugar, margarine, Karo, and salt in a pan and boil for 5 minutes.
Remove from stove. Add soda and butter flavoring. Pour over corn. Place in 200 degree oven for one hours, stirring every
15 minutes.
ATTIRE FOR TODAY
Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent and the rose or pink colored candle is lit. So in honor of the occasion I’ll be wearing this pink and white sweater today.
PRAYERS
Loving God, thank you for overlooking our flaws and for loving us despite our shortcomings
Amen
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Lord, hold our troops in
your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the
selfless acts they perform for us
in our time of need. I ask this in the
name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
AROUND HOME
This is the new rug I got for my bath room. The blue pretty much matches the walls in there so that is why I choose it. Sure does brighten things up a bit!
I’m almost done with everything on my list. I hope that Santa is just about ready up there at the North Pole too. Christmas is almost here!
FAMILY ALBUM
The Christmas bear and the chair she is sitting in are both quite old. The chair is older than the bear is for sure. It came from an old school house many years ago. When I was a child I remember sitting in reading circle on little chairs like this one.
COUNTING THE DAYS
We wish you a Merry Christmas!
A new Moon in your dreams promises increased wealth or a happy marriage
8 DAYS UNTIL WINTER !
12 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
AND
124 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS
Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…
Love,
ma
Pictures mostly taken by ‘ma’ and courtesy of the camera provided by my ‘babes’
1 comment:
I loved everything about your post today Ma.A very interesting story of the wheat.The little chair is delightful what memories.I love the teddy too.Your sweater is beautiful you have so many lovely sweaters.Your new bath mat is realy bright and I love the colours.Have a blessed Sunday.Take Care God Bless Kath xx
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