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.

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December 21, 2022

Best Wishes for the Winter Solstice and all of its Attendant Holidays

 

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December 23, 2021

 

CHRISTMAS 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 conflict

Conjoining as the

Colors of Christmas

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​August 15, 2021

Today is the 100th anniversary of my Mother's birth.

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December 24, 2020

 

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December 23, 2019

 

 

CHRISTMAS 2019

 

Through Time, and Time Again

Christmas Recycles

One Year’s Tree

Is another’s Yule Log;

Yesteryear Fuels the Future

 

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December 24, 2018

 

CHRISTMAS 2018

Sing We Noel Once More   I arose one morning in the early light When the earth with frost was all shining white   Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we Noel once more   Then I went to find Guillaume my neighbor near Tell me what’s that song you so gladly hear?   Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we Noel once more   I am glad to hear the nightingale’s sweet song I have heard its notes ringing all night long   Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we Noel once more   Tis no song of nightingale or any bird ‘Twas an angel’s voice from high heaven you heard   Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we Noel once more   In a stable stall he told us born this night Is the Son of God, come from heaven’s light   Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we Noel once more   Then I took my oboe and my flageolet Guillaume took his lute and away we set   Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we Noel once more   Shepherds come with us, this little lamb to see We will give him music, sweet melody   Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel Sing we Noel once more  

 The David Randolf Singers perform Sing We Noel Once More

Song of the Nightingale; may be confused with an angel’s

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December 23, 2017

 

CHRISTMAS 2017

The Wren Song
The Wren, the Wren, the King of all Birds Saint Stephen’s Day was caught in the furze Although he was little his honor was great Jump up me lads and give him a treat
Rolley, Rolley, where’s your nest? It’s in the bush that I love best In the tree, the holly tree Where all the boys do follow me
We followed the Wren three miles or more Three miles or more, three miles or more Through hedges and ditches and piles of snow At six o’ clock in the morning

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
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December 24, 2016

 

CHRISTMAS 2016

The Boar’s Head Carol

The boar’s head in hand bear I
Bedeck’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
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