10 Things in every Hallmark Christmas Movie

I edited this list froma  piece found here.

1. Actors You Haven’t Seen in at Least a Decade. Not all the actors and actresses are has-beens or d-list, but it’s been awhile since we’ve seen these faces. At least they’re gorgeous! It’s easier to watch bad acting when you have some eye candy … right?

2. A Cheesy Romantic Plot.  Of course the guy gets the girl every single time, but not until the ex-comes back and tries to foil the new romance. But it’s so much fun to watch! Even if the acting isn’t particularly good, or their chemistry is reminiscent of a cold fish, we still need to see the kiss of perfect strangers who fall in love in just 48 hours.

3. Snowfall and a Christmas Tree Farm – not slush or icey snow but always perfect white flaky snow in Hallmark Christmas movies. Of course on Christmas day there’s a beautiful white coating on all of the trees. Speaking of trees, everyone grows up on a Christmas tree farm in Hallmark-land.

4. Perfect Hair and Makeup. While it’s snowing outside, the characters hair and makeup are always flawless. Perfectly curled hair, luscious red lips and never covered in hats.

5. Some Santa Clause Sub-Plot. A lot of these Hallmark movies include a Santa storyline. Maybe it’s set in a small town in Alaska which is really the North Pole. Or maybe he’s Santa Jr. and uses a convertible to deliver gifts. Whatever the setting, Santa is never far behind … even if he’s just an all knowing guy ringing the bell and doling out advice.

6. Christmas Magic. An angel perhaps like in Mr. Miracle or Angels and Ornaments. Or maybe a Magic Stocking. Whatever the drama happening in the characters lives, Christmas magic always prevails.

7. Epic-ly Decorated Homes. Have you ever wondered how much it would really cost to deck the halls likes these folks?

8. Horribly Placed Products. Do we really need to see that ten second close up of a can of Folgers? Or how many shots do we need to see of that Ford Explorer pulling in the driveway? I get it, you need to pay those salaries.

9. A Single Parent. OK not all movies include the single parent story, but so many do it had to be included. A spouse away in the service injured and can’t return. Or a widow who isn’t ready to celebrate Christmas. Or perhaps an uncle who is now the guardian of a child who is an orphan. So many of these movies tug at the heartstrings, but almost always end with a fairy tale family ending.

10. Carolers. Seriously, name one time someone has sung Christmas carols outside your home in the past 20 years?

For a list of Hallmark Xmas movies click here.

Second Rate Christmas Films

Channel 5 have been showing Christmas films this year (2022) so I thought I'd check some out. I watched the following - Random Acts of Christmas, A New England Christmas, Christmas in Vienna, The Christmas Toy Maker, Christmas in Harmony and Three Sisters at the Christmas Chateau. They all have Christmas in the title, plenty of snow and Christmas trees and decorations, carefully thought through Christmas music, etc. They are all made for TV I think and often have alternative titles. What I had not expected quite was that all the ones I have seen have been romantic comedies. I find this genre unsatisfying as whatever problems come along you know that the couple highlighted are going to be together by the end. I would guess that the closer to Christmas you get the better these film would be. They are quite wholesome, even having a Christmas veneer in some cases. I notice that Hallmark made more then one of them. They are designed for people with nothing better to do, I guess. For some reason the actors tend to be in their thirties rather than twenties and so there always need to be some back story to explain why they are still single. Always lots of kids too, understandably.

10 Lesser known Christmas songs 10 Eternal Gifts

This Kate York composition is on Leigh Nash's Waiting for this

Santa knows what I want for Christmas
But Jesus knows what I need
It can't be purchased wrapped up and placed
Under an eight foot tree

I need patience, kindness - virtues like these
To bend on my knee at the manger
Santa may bring these that last for a year
But eternal gifts come from the Saviour

Some days come where I'm plain selfish
I can't think of no one but me
Then I think of all that I'm blessed with
And how it's always best to give than to receive

I need faithfulness, love, generosity
To open my home to a stranger.
Santa may bring things that last for a year
But eternal gifts come from the Saviour

I need patience, kindness, generosity
To bend on my knee at the manger
Santa may bring things that last for a year
But eternal gifts come from the Saviour

10 Lesser known Christmas Songs 9 Angels Song

Robert Lowry

This song was written by Robert Lowry and I have it on Kate Rusby's Angels and men where it is listed as Rolling downward

Rolling downward, through the midnight,
Comes a glorious burst of heav’nly song;
’Tis a chorus full of sweetness—
And the singers are an angel throng.

Glory! glory in the highest!
On the earth goodwill and peace to men!
Down the ages send the echo;
Let the old earth begin again!

Wondering shepherds see the glory,
Hear the word the shining ones declare;
At the manger fall in worship,
While the music fills the quivering air.

Christ the Saviour, God’s Anointed,
Comes to earth our fearful debt to pay -
Man of sorrows, and rejected,
Lamb of God, that takes our sin away.

Kings with riches see the splendour
Bringing treasures from a far off land
Join the chorus full of wonder
While the music sounds across the land.

Rolling downward, through the midnight,
Comes a glorious burst of heav’nly song;
’Tis a chorus full of sweetness—
And the singers are an angel throng.

10 Lesser Known Christmas Songs 8 Angels we have heard

This is French carol translated into English by James Chadwick in the 19th century. We use the tune for Angels from the realms of glory, probably a better hymn.

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly, sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brief delight

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing,
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
While our hearts in love we raise, etc

I have versions by Page CXVI and The Roches.

Other verses

Shepherds in the field abiding,
Tell us when the seraph bright
Greeted you with wondrous tiding,
What you saw and heard that night.

Refrain

We beheld—it is no fable—
God incarnate, King of bliss,
Swathed and cradled in a stable,
And the angel strain was this:

Refrain

Choristers on high were singing
Jesus and His virgin birth,
Heavenly bells the while a-ringing
Peace, good will to men on earth.

Refrain

10 Lesser known Christmas songs 7 Awake arise good Christians

Awake, arise good Christians, let nothing you dismay,
For unto us our Saviour was born upon this day!
The self-same moon was shining that now is in the sky,
When a holy band of angels came down from God on high!

Hosanna! Hosanna! To Jesus we'll sing,
Hosanna! Hosanna! Our Saviour, our King.

“Fear not, we bring good tidings, for on this happy morn,
The promised One, the Saviour, in Bethlehem's town was born!”
Up rose the simple shepherds, all with a joyful mind,
“Then let us go in haste,” they say, “This Holy Child to find.”

And like unto the shepherds, we wander far and near,
And bid you wake, good Christians, the joyful news to hear:
Awake, arise, good Christians, Let nothing you dismay,
For unto us our Saviour was born upon this day!
(repeat first verse and chorus twice)

This is abother Yorkshire one sung by Kate Rusby on Sweet Bells

10 Lesser known Christmas songs 6 Drive the cold winter away

Census at Bethlehem Bruegel the elder

This is an Elizabethan song, again from Kate Rusby's The Frost is all over

All hail to the days that merit more praise
Than all the rest of the year,
And welcome the nights that double delights,
As well for the poor as the peer!
And good fortune attends each merry man's friend,
That doth but the best that he may;
Forgetting old wrongs, with music and songs,
To drive the cold winter away.

'Tis ill for a mind to anger inclined
To think of small injuries now,
If it's wrath that you seek, do not lend her your cheek
Nor let her inhabit thy brow.
Cast out of thy books malevolent looks,
Both beauty and youth's decay,
And wholly consort with mirth and sport
To drive the cold winter away.

Oh this time of the year is spent in good cheer
And neighbours together do meet,
Oh to sit by the fire, with friendly desire,
Each other in love to greet.
And old grudges forgot are put in the pot,
And sorrows aside they all lay,
The old and the young doth carol this song,
To drive the cold winter away.

When Christmas tide comes in a like a bride,
With holly and ivy clad,
For twelve days of the year are spent in good cheer
In every household is glad.
Then the country guise is then to devise
Some gambols of Christmas play,
And every young man does the best that he can
To drive the cold winter away.

This is another version

All hail to the days that merit more praise
Than all the rest of the year,
And welcome the nights that double delights,
As well for the poor as the peer!
Good fortune attend each merry man's friend,
That doth but the best that he may;
Forgetting old wrongs, with carols and songs,
To drive the cold winter away.

This time of the year is spent in good cheer,
And neighbours together do meet,
To sit by the fire, with friendly desire,
Each other in love do greet;
Old grudges forgot, are put in the pot,
All sorrows aside they lay,
The old and the young doth carol his song,
To drive the cold winter away.

To mask and to mum kind neighbours will come
With wassails of nut-brown ale,
To drink and carouse to all in the house,
As merry as bucks in the dale;
Where cake, bread and cheese is brought for your fees,
To make you the longer stay;
At the fire to warm will do you no harm,
To drive the cold winter away.

When Christmastide comes in like a bride,
With holly and ivy clad,
Twelve days in the year, much mirth and good cheer,
In every household is had;
The country guise is then to devise
Some gambols of Christmas play,
Whereat the young men do best that they can,
To drive the cold winter away.

When white-bearded frost hath threatened his worst,
And fallen from branch and brier,
Then time away calls, from husbandry halls
And from the good countryman's fire,
Together to go to plough and to sow,
To get us both food and array;
And thus with content the time we have spent
To drive the cold winter away.

I also have instrumental versions by Horslips to the traditional tune

10 Lesser known Christmas songs 5 Wish you a merry Christmas

This is a traditional song sung with various words. This is a SouthYorkshire version as sung by Kate Rusby on The Frost is all over

We singers make bold, as in days of old,

To celebrate Christmas and bring you good cheer;

Glad tidings we bring to you and your King,

To wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year

We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Glad he shepherds amazed as upward they gazed,
Behold holy angels to them drawing near;
Sing peace to all men as onward they came
To wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

So join heart and hand across this great land
In hope, peace adn kindness throughout the New Year,
In an innocent way be merry today,
To wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
And we ...

I also have versions by Enya and by Richie Blackmore

Seasonal Quiz 07

1. Who according to tradition was NOT one of the Three Wise Men?

A. Balthazar B. Caspar (Gaspar or Jasper)

C. Socrates D. Melchior

2. Which of the following has NOT been one of Santa's helpers through the ages?

A. Black Peter B. Tomtar

C. Knecht Ruprecht D. Grandfather Frost

3. Which of these is not another one of Santa's names?

A. Jultomten B. Knecht Ruprecht

C. Julesvenn D. Joulupukki

4. Which of the following is NOT another name for the gift-giving spirit of Saint Nick?

A. Burklaas B. Beelzebub

C. Befana D. Belsnickel

5. Where did the tradition of leaving out a stocking, shoe or "Santa Sack" probably come from?

A. The medieval legend of St. Nicholas dropping gold down a chimney

B. People used to leave out clean stockings in case Santa ripped his going down the chimney

C. The original St. Nicholas was known for his wealth, generosity and lavish clothing

D. The stockings were always hanging by the fire to dry anyway

6. Why is the day after Christmas known as "Boxing Day" in the UK?

A. Because of the fisticuffs that frequently break out between siblings over who gets to play with which toys by this time

B. Because boxes of solicited money were opened

C. Professional Boxing matches were frequently scheduled for the day for entertainment

D. Unwanted presents are traditionally boxed up and returned to the store

7. When is Saint Nicholas' Feast Day?

A. December 25th B. December 6th

C. Winter Equinox D. January 7th 

8. Instead of reindeer, what is Santa rumoured to use to pull his sleigh when he delivers presents in Australia?

A. Zebras B. Wallabies

C. Boomers D. Koala Bears

9. Saint Nicholas was born in the country we now call … ?

A. Canada B. Finland

C. Turkey D. Holland

10. People in which of these 4 countries do NOT celebrate Christmas by going on a beach picnic?

A. Australia B. New Zealand

C. South Africa D. Iceland

Answers

C

D (Grandfather Frost is Santa's name in Russia)

B (These are Santa's names in Sweden (Jultomten), Finland (Joulupukki) and Norway (Julesvenn). Knecht Ruprecht is one of Santa's Germanic helpers)

B (Befana brings gifts to Italian children and Burklaas to German children. Belsnickel used to bring presents to German-American immigrants in the 19th century)

A (It is said that Saint Nicholas once dropped gold down a chimney so three daughters could avoid lives of desperation)

B (Some say the term relates to alms boxes opened and distributed to the poor on December 26th. More likely it relates to the earthenware boxes used by British employees to collect Christmas tips in. Eventually the practice was replaced by a day off work and/or a Christmas bonus)

B (Although it's not really celebrated here much, any good Dutch child could tell you that St Nicholas' Feast day is Dec. 6th! That's the day they get their treats!)

C (Boomers are big male kangaroos, which are more accustomed to the heat in Australia than reindeer are)

C (According to legend, Saint Nicholas was born in the heart of the Roman Empire in Patera, Turkey)

D  (In three of the countries, their warm climates make beach picnics a perfect family outing to celebrate Christmas. Iceland isn't as fortunate in December.)

10 Lesser known Christmas songs 4 O holy night

"O Holy Night" ("Minuit Chretiens!" or "Cantique de Noël") is a Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, Chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) written by a wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau (1808–1877). In both the French original and the English version of the carol, as well as many other languages, the text reflects on Christ's birth and on redemption.

O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night,
O night divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from the Orient land.
A King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night,
O night divine.

I know it in this form from Leigh Nash's Wishing for this. I also have it by Jon Anderson on his Three ships and The Chieftains' Bells of Dublin where the vocalist is Rickie Lee Jones (and featuring Suzie Katayama on cello) with these extra words

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

10 Lesser known Christmas songs 3 Ane sang of the birth of Christ

Ane Sang Of The Birth Of Christ (Balulalow)

Scottish 16th Century written by James, John and Robert Wedderburn

I come fra hevin here to tell

The best nowells that e'er befell

To you their tythings trew I bring

And I will of them say and sing.

To you this day is born ane child

Of Marie meik and Virgin mild.

That blissit bairn bening and kind (bening and kind)

Shall you rejoyce baith hart and mind.

Lat us rejoyis and be blyth

And with the Hydris go full swyth

And see what God of his grace has done

Throu Christ to bring us to his throne

My saull and life, stand up and see

What lyis in ane cribbe of tree.

What Babe is that, sa gude and fair? (sa gue and fair?)

It is Christ, God's Son and Air.

The silk and sandell thee to eis

Ar hay and sempill sweilling clais,

Whar thou greit glorious God and King

As thou in hev'n war in thy ring.

And war the warld ten times sa wide,

Cled ouer with gold and stanes of pride

Unworthie yit it were to thee

Under thy feet ane stule to be.

O my deir hart, yung Jesus sweit,

Prepare thy creddil in my spreit!

And I shall rock thee in my hart

And never mair fra thee depart.

Bot I sall praise thee evermoir

With sangis sweit unto thy gloir.

The kneis of my hart sall I bow,

And sing that rycht Balulalow.

This is again from Carols and capers by Maddy Prtor and the Carnival Band

10 Lesser known Christmas Songs 2 My dancing day

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;

I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love

Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance.

In a manger laid, and wrapped I was

So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.

Other verses go as follows

Then afterwards baptized I was;

The Holy Ghost on me did glance,
My Father’s voice heard from above,
To call my true love to my dance.

Into the desert I was led,

Where I fasted without substance;
The Devil bade me make stones my bread,
To have me break my true love's dance.

The Jews on me they made great suit,

And with me made great variance,
Because they loved darkness rather than light,
To call my true love to my dance.

For thirty pence Judas me sold,

His covetousness for to advance:
Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold!
The same is he shall lead the dance.

Before Pilate the Jews me brought,

Where Barabbas had deliverance;
They scourged me and set me at nought,
Judged me to die to lead the dance.

Then on the cross hanged I was,

Where a spear my heart did glance;
There issued forth both water and blood,
To call my true love to my dance.

Then down to hell I took my way
For my true love's deliverance,
And rose again on the third day,
Up to my true love and the dance.

Then up to heaven I did ascend,
Where now I dwell in sure substance
On the right hand of God, that man
May come unto the general dance.

I know the first part from the Maddy Prior and the Carnival band album Carols and capers. The traditional song goes back to Mediaeval times and is said to be the root of the modern song Lord of the dance.

10 Lesser known Christmas songs 1 Awake my soul

Awake my soul! Awake my tongue!
My glory wake and sing
To celebrate the holy birth
Of Israel's King.

Awake, awake my soul
Awake, awake awake my soul, awake my tongue
Awake me

O happy this night that brought forth the light
Which makes the blind to see
The Dayspring from on high came down to thee.

Awake, awake my soul
Awake, awake awake my soul, awake my tongue
Awake me

In Bethlehem
The Christ child he lies
Within a place obscure
Your Saviour's come
O sing to God on high

This is by Benjamin Keach and I know it from Page CXVI's Advent to Christmas

A fuller version goes

Awake my soul! Awake my tongue!
My glory wake and sing
To celebrate the holy birth
Of Israel's King.

Awake, awake my soul
Awake, awake awake my soul, awake my tongue
Awake me

O happy this night that brought forth the light
Which makes the blind to see
The Dayspring from on high came down to thee.

Awake, awake my soul
Awake, awake awake my soul, awake my tongue
Awake me

In Bethlehem
The Christ child he lies
Within a place obscure
Your Saviour's come
O sing to God on high

Roxy Music (The Dumbells) Christmas 1980

Christmas One Liners

I wondered why the snowman was looking through the sack of carrots. Turns out he was picking his nose!

There are only 24 letters in the Christmas alphabet. There’s no L!

Not saying I live in a rough area but just bought an advent calendar and half the windows are boarded up!

What nationality is Santa Claus?

North Polish

Two snowmen in a field, one turned to the other and said "I don't know about you but I can smell carrots!"

What goes "oh oh oh"?

Santa walking backwards.

Why did Santa go to a psychiatrist? He no longer believed in himself.

My wife asked me if we could have something more 'Christmassy' on the television. So I put FIFA on and played in snowy conditions.

What's black and white and red all over? Santa covered with chimney soot.

Behold the great Creator makes

This is a little known Christmas hymn found found in New Christian Hymns (198)

1. Behold the great Creator makes

Himself a house of clay,

A robe of virgin flesh He takes

Which He will wear for aye.

2. Hark, hark, the wise eternal Word,

Like a weak infant cries!

In form of servant is the Lord,

And God in cradles lies.

3. This wonder struck the world amazed,

It shook the starry frame;

Squadrons of spirits stood and gazed,

Then down in troops they came.

4. Glad shepherds ran to view this sight;

A choir of angels sings,

And eastern sages with delight

Adore this King of kings.

5. Join then, all hearts that are not stone,

And all our voices prove,

To celebrate this holy One

The God of peace and love.

It's from a poem by Thomas Pestel[l] (c1586-1667), in Sermons and Devotions Old and New (1639). The above are stanzas 5-9 of A Psalm for Christmas Day Morning. The first 4 verses (printed in a book of his poems in 1940) are as follows:

Fairest of morning lights, appear, Thou blest and gaudy day,

On which was born our Saviour dear; Arise and come away.

See, see, our pensive breasts do pant, Like gasping land we lie,

Thy holy dews our souls do want. We faint, we pine, we die.

Let from the skies a joyful rain Like mel or manna fall

Whose searching drops our sins may drain, And quench our sorrows all.

This day prevents His day of doom; His mercy now is nigh;

The mighty God of Love is come, The dayspring from on high.

[Gaudy = feast; mel = honey; prevents = comes before; doom = judgment]

Some biographical detail for Pestel in another post, I hope.

Road to Versailles at Louveciennes (The Snow Effect) Pissarro 1869

 

Camille Pissarro, "Road to Versailles at Louveciennes (The Snow Effect)"

1869, oil on canvas

Ny Kirree fo Niaghtey

William Henry Gill (24 October 1839 - 27 June 1923) was a Manx musical scholar who wrote and composed anthem of Isle of Man, "Arrane Ashoonagh Dy Vannin". He lived most of his llife in London.

Words by W. H. GILL

Air, 'Ny Kirree fo Niaghtey'

The snow's on the mountains, the snow's in the gill;

My sheep they have wander'd all over the hill;

Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go

Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow.

The dogs in the haggard are barking aloud

At the moon, as she struggles from under the cloud;

Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go

Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow.

Take staves and take lanterns, put on your carranes (shoes);

We'll hunt in the mountains; we'll hunt in the plains;

Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go

Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow.

Then up rose those shepherds; with haste they did go

Where my sheep lay all buried deep under the snow;

They sought them with sorrow; they sought them with dread,

And they found them at last, but the sheep were all dead.

A version by Horslips in Manx can be found here.