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Twas the Night Before Christmas

“Twas the night before Christmas when all throughout the world life 

had changed for every man, woman, boy, and girl…”

December 25th is just 1 day away and it’s fair to say, Christmas this year will be unlike any Christmas we have ever known.  Many, if not most families will be gathering with each other through a virtual meeting room or video call.  And while this type of interaction during the holidays may be the norm for those whose family members live out of state, it is not the norm for the rest of us.  Christmas Day for me and my family has always been a time of gathering, eating, talking, laughing, watching movies, and simply enjoying each other’s company for the day.  While we may exchange physical gifts, the best gifts we receive are the ones that cannot be touched but can only be felt.  Those gifts are love, joy, and peace; and it is my Christmas wish that each of you, whether you were naughty or nice, receive those gifts.

So, having said that, let me switch gears and get to the content of today’s blog, which is all about my Christmas favorites.  But before I go any further, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that as a Christian, I whole-heartedly believe Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus.  In my opinion, He was the greatest gift that was given to us all.

Okay, on with the show…

My Favorite Christmas Movies

Every year in December (before Christmas), I have a tradition.  Each weekend I prop myself up on my couch with my fleece blanket and watch one of my favorite Christmas movies.  I have been doing this since I was in my 30s and I never grow weary of watching the same movies each year.  I still cry during the same scenes, still laugh at the same things, it’s almost like watching them for the first time

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Now, watching all 3 Grinch movies may seem a bit excessive, especially because they’re children’s movies, but each version is a little different and I love them all.  The 2nd and 3rd version are new, so they didn’t exist when I first started this tradition, but because I love the original soooo much, I just had to add them to the list.

Jim Carey is an absolute fool in the human adaptation and should have received an Oscar for his performance.  And the latest adaptation, “The Grinch” teaches us an additional lesson than the original, which is selflessness.  Oh, and the new narrator and additional songs in “The Grinch” brings a modern swag to the oldie but goodie flick.

It's a Wonderful Life

Elf

A Christmas Story

A Charlie Brown Christmas

My Favorite Christmas Songs

Click to Play and Listen

Carol of Bells

This Christmas (Donny Hathaway)

Christmas Time is Here
(Toni Braxton)

O Holy Night
(Kelly Clarkson)

Mary Did You Know (Cee Lo Green)

Joy
(Whitney Houston)

Let It Snow
(Boyz II Men)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams)

Best 2020 Christmas Movie

This little movie right here!!!  Oh my goodness!  Jingle Jangle has got to be one the best movie musicals, (besides Hamilton) that I’ve ever scene.  David E. Talbert outdid himself this time.  Not only is it entertaining, and BOY is it entertaining, but I’ll come back to that part.  As I was saying, Jingle Jangle delivers solid and sound themes and lessons that any youth or adult can grasp.  Themes like faith, hope, patience, reconciliation, and a few others.  I cried, I laughed, I got off the couch and tried to copy the dance moves…yup I did.  If you read my “This Is Me” page, you will remember that I believe myself to be a dancer…but I’m not.

Now back to what I said about the movie being entertaining.  The acting was superb.  The newbies to the big screen, Madalen Mills (Journey), Justin Cornwell (Young Jeronicus Jangle), Sharon Rose (Joanne Jangle), and Lisa Davina Phillip (Mrs. Johnston) did an amazing job.  And man can they sing their faces off, you hear me?!  Forest Whitaker surprised the heck out of me.  I’ve been watching him on screen since I was a kid and never knew he could sing, he sounded good. The rest of the cast was rounded out by the incomparable Phylicia Rashad, the fantabulous Anika Noni Rose, and the hilarious Keegan-Michael Key.  

Oh, all these accolades, I forgot to give you a synopsis of the movie: Jeronicus Jangle is an eccentric toymaker and inventor and loved throughout his town for his innovativeness and passion for inventing.  After some life-changing events, he loses his passion for inventing and proceeds to live a humdrum life until someone reminds him how to believe, dream, and live again.  

So, if you haven’t figured out after reading all I wrote, that Jingle Jangle is an excellent, sensational, terrific, entertaining, and heartfelt movie for the whole family to enjoy…watch the trailer below. 

And remember, the magic lives inside of you.

My Favorite Christmas Poem

A Visit from St. Nicholas (Twas the Night Before Christmas)

‘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 the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Well, that concludes my list of Christmas favorites.  I know it was short, but sweet.  I really don’t do too much on Christmas day except open and exchange gifts, eat, and hang out with family members talking, laughing, and playing games.  For me, watching others open their gifts is far more rewarding than receiving gifts.  While I know Christmas is very commercialized and considered a pagan holiday by many, I consider it a joyous day.  I get joy from giving others joy not just on Christmas, but throughout the year.

 

 

Until we speak again…

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Smooches 

natashanicole.iam

4 thoughts on “Twas the Night Before Christmas”

  2. I love this… you captured it all : action, drama, laughs and the beauty of this Holiday Season! Merry Christmas! 🥰

    1. Thanks Tracei. I’m glad you appreciate my taste. I wasn’t sure if anyone would understand my attempt at capturing what I feel is the true beauty and spirit of Christmas.

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