Cut a Perfect 5-Pointed Star

You can see how to fold and cut your star on YouTube.

(Thanks to M Hess for sending this one.)

Kings' Cake (Super Easy)

2 tubes of Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls
sugar
food coloring

1) Leave the five rolls attached and unroll the dough. Press dough to help attach the strips together. Re-roll the dough in the opposite direction (hot dog) and twist. Join the two strips of dough and press ends together to form a circle. Bake longer than directions on package.
2) While baking make gold, green, and purple colored sprinkles: In a bowl combine a T or 2 of sugar and a drop of food coloring. Use yellow, green, and purple (a combination of red and blue) food coloring.
3) After removing the pastry from the oven slip a coin into the cake. Squeeze on one package of frosting and allow it to melt and spread on the warm pastry. Shake sprinkles onto the warm frosting.

Twelve Days of Christmas

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. The song has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

(Thanks to M Hess for sending this one.)

To learn the story listen to the hymn and read the words.
(This is 1973 postage from Britain designed by David Gentleman.)

Read the words here or listen to a YouTube of the song sung in Wendat (Huron), French and English.

Refrain: \\

When all the birds had fled,

'Refrain:'\\

The tender babe was found,

Is not so round and fair

O seed of Manitou,

Read the words here or listen to a YouTube to the song sung in Wendat (Huron), French and English.

1) ’Twas in the moon of wintertime, When all the birds had fled, That mighty Gitchi Manitou Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim, And wondering hunters heard the hymn:

Refrain: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.

2) Within a lodge of broken bark The tender babe was found, A ragged robe of rabbit skin Enwrapped His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh, The angel song rang loud and high:

3) The earliest moon of wintertime Is not so round and fair As was the ring of glory on The helpless Infant there.
The chiefs from far before Him knelt With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.

4) O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou, The holy Child of earth and Heav’n Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy, Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.

Refrain

Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

Read the words here or listen to a YouTube.

Advent and Christmas

Good King Wenceslas

To learn the story listen to the hymn and read the words.

Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night Though the frost was cruel When a poor man came in sight Gath'ring winter fuel

King: "Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know'st it, telling Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?"
Page: "Sire, he lives a good league hence Underneath the mountain Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes' fountain."

King: "Bring me flesh and bring me wine Bring me pine logs hither Thou and I will see him dine When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went Forth they went together Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather

Page: "Sire, the night is darker now And the wind blows stronger Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer."
King: "Mark my footsteps, my good page Tread thou in them boldly Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod Where the snow lay dinted Heat was in the very sod Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure Wealth or rank possessing Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing

Advent and Christmas