A Christmas Post
It’s 10 o’clock in the morning. Still dark, gloomy, and wet; very wet. Well it is where we live anyway. And looks set to stay that way. Even the birds are mostly silent. Yet ...
distant bells
deep in the holly
a robin sings
‘Tis the shortest day - the Winter Solstice - when bells are rung to ward off evil spirits and demons. And a carolling (virtually) we will go ...
We all have our tried-and-true favorite songs, carols and tunes to listen and sing along to – “Deck the Halls,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Let it Snow” and “Jingle Bell Rock” to name a few.
Here’s some of mine ...
Ring Out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull
The Holly and the Ivy - Maddy Prior
That’ll be Christmas - Thea Gilmore
The Winter Fair - Rosie Meeks
What are your favourite Christmas songs, carols or poems ... I’d love to know.
Wishing you safe and well.
Happy Christmas
——————-Artist Credit
A Winter's Tale, Victorian Christmas card (colour litho) by Robert Dudley
Notes
The Winter solstice 2020 in the Northern Hemisphere will be at 10:02 on Monday 21 December
All the very best in the coming year as well!
From Pacific Paratrooper!
Thank you for your good wishes. Have a lovely Christmas and hopefully we’ll have a better year in 2021
A beautiful post to celebrate the Solstice. Wishing you a happy and peaceful Christmas.
You too Deborah have a lovely happy and peaceful Christmas. I shall look forward to seeing more of your work next year.
That was a lovely haiku. Don’t know of any Christmas song except Jingle Bells:) need to listen to these songs later. Wish you a Merry Christmas.
Glad you liked it. The songs are just some old favourites I troll out every year in the hope of listening to them. Have a lovely Christmas.
A lovely post, Clive. I knew all of the songs except Rosie Meek – she has a beautiful, warm voice. As for my choices – you’ve been following those! Merry Christmas!
Ah I just slipped that one in. And yes I’ve been enjoying your Advent selections. Have a lovely Christmas.
Thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you.
You too have a lovely Christmas
Yet again, we share similar taste Clive….Jethro Tull, Steeleye Span and Thea Gilmour are very much on my Christmas music list, in fact I’ve been playing Jethro Tull (a favourite for well over 40 years…), and not just the Christmas songs, a great deal this week while painting. I will have to explore Rosie Meek. Sting’s album If on a winter’s night is also an old if unexpected favourite in our home. Wishing you a very peaceful Christmas and optimistic New Year, with hopefully a few cracks in the cloud cover.
Oh yes some real favourites. I dust off my old vinyls this time of year! I’ll have to listen to Sting – I didn’t know of that one. Glad to see you’ve picked up your brushes again. Have a lovely and peaceful Christmas too and let’s all hope for a better year in 2021.
Hi Clive – Not trying to be a curmudgeon here but for me, it’s been such a relief not to hear the usual so-called music that gets drummed into everyone at every turn in shops and etc. Being hunkered has had its blessings! That said good seasonal music is something else and to be enjoyed. And a very happy Christmas to you. And we all seek a better new year.
Couldn’t agree more Josie. At least you can choose whether to listen to my choices! Happy Christmas.
Bright solstice! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Love those little robins!
They are rather fun aren’t they. Have a lovely Christmas and New Year!
Have a lovely Christmas Clive, whatever the weather and mud! and more discoveries during 2021
You too Jane – have a lovely Christmas. And yes hope for a brighter year in 2021.
I still love the Thea Gilmore and Rosie Meek songs, but no longer listen to much Christmas music. It’s strange really because I come from a family that was filled with music. I suspect that if I were to attend a carol service (if) I would probably sing happily and with a full voice! Perhaps this post will nudge me to listen again! Have a bright mid-winter.
Like you Ashley I don’t listen to much Christmas music. But I do play these – when I remember – trusted favourites. And I can’t sing for toffee, but both my children have great voices. You too have a bright mid-winter.
Greeting to you too. I love the Robin in the holly. Deserves a song.
Yes I quite liked this one for the Winter Solstice and what’s more our church bells did ring out! A rare occurrence. The painting of the Robins reminds me of the stories of Roland Robin and the Robin family in Woman’s Weekly from the 1950’s! Have a lovely Christmas.
Jethro Tull!! That brought back memories. The distant bells must be the solstice bells. Nice haiku, Clive.
Always the first record on the old stereo as I put up the Christmas tree!!! Have a lovely Christmas.
So pleased you found my blog. And now I’ve found yours. Happy landings all round 🙂
You’ve introduced me to some new songs Clive. My favourite is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Hope you’ve had a good Christmas.
And you Andrea. Yes I like that one too. Thanks for sharing it.
[…] This festive hokku was composed by Clive Bennett. The hokku, as well as a fantastic video of the-one-and-only, Ian Anderson, can be found here. […]