In the run up to Christmas Day I am going to share some of my memories of this time of year, some favourite food and drinks, plus some music you might enjoy. I have taken snippets from 2016 and 2018 to share with you.
On the Christmas before we left for Cape Town, I was aged nine and in a bit of a quandary. I had searched the house top to bottom looking for my Christmas presents including the in the basement which was officially out of bounds, unless I was with my sister listening to her record player which had been banished from my father’s earshot.
I had found my five year old brother’s present, which I have to say being a tomboy, I was more than envious of. It was a red cowboy hat, waistcoat and holster with a silver six shooter… I knew who the weakest link in the family was and I applied pressure daily to find out what my gift was… Eventually the week before the big day he partially cracked and announced heatedly that it had ‘four wheels and you pushed it’.
You will probably gather that a dolly pram was not exactly what I had in mind. But I was a properly brought up child, and whilst I was more excited by the books that I received, I showed appropriate gratitude for said pram, which held a blonde haired replica of what my mother considered to be the perfect child……
It took me 24 hours, but I was was wearing the holster, gun and cowboy hat which I borrowed from the end of my brother’s bed while he slept. Sadly…. when we left a few months later for South Africa the pram had to be left behind and of course by the time we got back two years later I was a teenager and it was gifted to another.
Time for a little music and here is Bing Crosby with the classic I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas
The Third Day of Christmas
We are now on Day three and in the traditional 12 days this would be 27th December and celebrates the life of St John the Apostle. John and his brother James were disciples of Jesus and John is probably the only one of the apostles who did not suffer a martyr’s death. He lived a relatively long life and is attributed as the author of several books in the New Testament.
The origins of the Twelve Days of Christmas will probably never really be clarified as several people lay claim to it. France is the likely suspect but it has been sung in various formats since about 1780 in England. I suspect that modern day pop stars would be delighted to have their songs still being chanted 240 years later.
As far as the song is concerned according to folklore the Three French Hens probably refer to a variety of chicken from France. There are a number breeds of chicken associated with France particular around the time of the origins of the song. These were the Crevecoeur, Houdans and the La Fleche. I also suspect that the elite of the day thought that using the term French Hen sounded more upmarket than chicken!
Christmas Food
Cranberries have long been associated with Christmas and as well as Cranberry sauce, they can be used to create wonderful starters. As always Carol Taylor has some amazing recipes to share for this fruit and these Camembert puffs are delicious.
Delicious recipes including one for Camembert Puffs Cranberry Recipes by Carol Taylor
Time for a carol and one of the favourites of mine as a child sung by another great artist – Nat King Cole
You cannot leave the party without enjoying a festive drink… or two
Mulled wine is not the invention of early Christmas revellers as the Romans were heating red wine a long time before and no doubt other pagan cultures too. After all it is a delightful drink. They even spiced it up and it was the invading Roman soldiers who took it through Europe and into Britain and like their long straight roads that still exist today, they left behind their recipes for us to enjoy.
It has various levels of sobriety from non-alcoholic through to lethal. Concoctions abound with port and spirits being added liberally. Apart from Christmas, it is also drunk extensively in ski resorts and there is usually a mobile aid station at the bottom of the slopes at the end of the day. I do not trust two short planks down a mountainside at 60 miles an hour, but would of course force myself to await my husband after his black runs for an hour or so, fortified with a couple of mugs of warmed wine.
In the Scandinavian countries and the Alps it is usually referred to as Glögg, or Gløgg the accent differing from place to place and dependent on inebriation.
Here is a lovely recipe that should be delightful on cold nights leading up to Christmas: Hot Mulled Wine
Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you have enjoyed the post, as always I would love to hear from you.. thanks Sally.
Loved Nat King Cole – voice smooth as hot chocolate – or mulled wine
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Thanks Cathy and both would go down equally as well.. xx
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So, today I have added cranberry puffs and mulled wine to my shopping list! Thanks, Sally.
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Wonderful Elizabeth Merry, sounds perfect..xx
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Those cranberry puffs look delicious, Sally. My parents bought my youngest sister a lovely doll when she turned seven. Laura was never a dolly girl and she didn’t want it so I took her and I still have her.
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Thanks Robbie.. and you have an amazing collection of dolls Robbie… I am sure you niece will love playing with some of them as she gets older…hugsx
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Another great post! Love the musical selections. Perfect!
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Thank you Angie…delighted you are enjoying..hugs
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The mulled wine sounds good. I don’t think I’ve ever had it. Love the picture of you and your brother.
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Thank you Marsha… it is a lovely drink at Christmas if the weather is cold. xx
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It will be cold here as I’m sure it is cold there. I checked out some of your pages promoting Carol and Deb. Nice pages. Do you ever promote your pages on social media?
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Yes Marsha… all the time.. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.. in the last 7 years they have proved to be the most effective for my needs.. and I haven’t much time with full time blogging to spend any more time on others.. I keep an eye on the stats which show which referrers are the most effective and they are the top three along with WordPress Reader. x
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I found that my pages don’t share on any social media, including Reader unless I post them manually. I also learned from Hugh to link to someone’s recent post in a mention rather than their website if we want a pingback. In as many years as I’ve been blogging, I didn’t know that! 🙂
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Glad you solved your issue Marsha.. mine share fine from here so not a problem which is useful. Enjoy the rest of the week..
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You too.
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Love me some Nat King Cole. Unforgettable, that’s what you are… Thank goodness you can’t hear me singing right now. 🤣 No one is going to mistake me for Nat.
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Lol..one of the first songs I can remember.. my sister had a Nat King Cole record and we were banished to the basement with the player..xx
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I do love mulled wine, and we often serve mulled cider on Christmas Eve. Both are delicious, but only one is appropriate for younger members of the (pre-COVID) crowd! I enjoyed your musical selections. Nat King Cole’s version of The Christmas Song is my favorite. Thanks for the wonderful post!
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Thanks Amy,,, I have never tried mulled Cider and it sounds lovely.. hope you will be able to spend time with family over this Christmas..hugsx
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Same to you, Sally. xo
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I’m sticking with yesterday’s margaritas, Sally, I was always told never to mix my drinks 🙂
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Good job Mary… I was told never to mix grape and grain… I figure Tequila is cactus so okay lol..xx
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Amazing. What lovely memories, and the Camembert Puffs. What a great idea. Mulled wine is appreciated too. Michael
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Glad you enjoyed Michael and Carol’s Camembert Puffs are delicious…hugsx
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Definitely, Sall! Yummy, feeling the weight they are producing here. Lol
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Loved the photo of you and your bro 🙂 And enjoyed learning about the fancy hen and chicken story. And always love the Christmas Song. I didn’t forget to grab a drink either. LOL Cheers to the daily parties Sal. Thank you. 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Debby… glad you picked up a drink, cheers..hugs ♥
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❤ Cheers!
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♥
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Thanks for the cranberry puffs recipe, Sally – a wonderful Christmas post with a bit of everything. Toni x
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Thanks Toni.. those cranberry puffs are very moreish..xx
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Of course you wanted to wear that red cowboy hat! Thanks for the BEST Christmas music, and Carol’s cranberry puffs look delicious.
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I did get a red straw stetson in Houston and wore everywhere until it fell apart… so did get my wish eventually..xxx
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I think I remember that story! 😍
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I’d have wanted the cowboy kit, too – especially if the six-shooter fired those caps that sparked, banged and smelt fabulous! Have to avoid cranberries in the household now as they’re Kryptonite to someone on Warfarin, but the non alcoholic punch sounds fun.
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Oh yes I remember that smell too and the lovely noise… ♥
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This was a fun read, Sally! I identified with the story of you and your little brother, with accompanying cute photo. My question is, Did that cowboy outfit come with a capgun and caps??
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Thanks Liz..it did and it left a very satisfying after smell…hugsxx
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Ah, yes, I remember it well!
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