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December 24, 2023
CHRISTMAS 2023
Brooklyn Christmas Bird of the Year: Purple Sandpiper
Purple Sandpipers are reliably present at Christmastime each year on the wave-washed rocky waterfront of my Brooklyn neighborhood along the Verrazzano Narrows. They breed in the far north, and Brooklyn is their idea of south for the winter; they arrive around Thanksgiving and stay into the spring. It’s their tradition.
December 21, 2022
December 23, 2021
On the Color Wheel
Red and Green
Are opposites
But the technical term is Complimentary Colors
They call across the Spectrum
And vibrate in one another’s presence
In a time of too much opposition
Remember how Red and Green
Resolve their conflictConjoining as the
Colors of Christmas
August 15, 2021
Today is the 100th anniversary of my Mother's birth.
December 24, 2020
December 23, 2019
Through Time, and Time Again
One Year’s Tree
Is another’s Yule Log;
Yesteryear Fuels the Future
December 24, 2018
The David Randolf Singers perform Sing We Noel Once More
Song of the Nightingale; may be confused with an angel’s
December 23, 2017
The Wren Song
The Wren, the Wren, the King of all Birds
Rolley, Rolley, where’s your nest?
We followed the Wren three miles or more
Hunting the Wren on the day after Christmas is a Celtic custom believed to descend from ancient Solstice rituals
Custer LaRue sings The Wren Song with the Baltimore Consort
Winter Wren singing its own song
December 24, 2016
CHRISTMAS 2016
The Boar’s Head Carol
The boar’s head in hand bear IBedeck’d with bays and rosemary
And I pray you my masters be merry
Quot estis in convivio
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
The boar’s head as I understand
Is the rarest dish in all this land
Which thus bedeck’d with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of Bliss
Which on this day to be serv’ed is
In Reginensi atrio
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
December 24, 2015
CHRISTMAS 2015
The Holly and the Ivy
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
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
December 24, 2014
Light the Hearth
Within Your Heart
December 24, 2013
CHRISTMAS 2013
The Old Year Now
The Old Year now away is fled
The New Year it is entered
Then let us now our sins down-tread
And joyfully all appear!
Let’s merry be this day
And let us now both sport and play
Hang grief, cast care away!
God send you a happy New Year!
The name-day now of Christ we keep
Who for our sins did often weep
His hands and feet were wounded deep
And his blessed side with a spear
His head they crowned with thorns
And at him they did laugh and scorn
Who for our good was born;
God send us a happy New Year!
And now with New Year’s gifts each friend
Unto each other they do send
God grant we may all our lives amend
And that the truth may appear!
Now like the Snake your skin
Cast off of evil thought and sin
And so the year begin
God send us a happy New Year!