Healthy Home Newsletter December 2017 - Volume XV, Issue 12

December 2017 - Volume XV, Issue 12
Cool Blogs, Sites
& Online
Resources to
Check Out!
The Story Behind
Jingle Bells
Bostonian James Pierpont wrote “Jingle Bells” in the 1850s. It alluded
to the annual sleigh races on the mile-long stretch between the
squares in Medford and Malden, towns near Boston. The song was
published in 1857. Some music historians say that Pierpont originally
wrote it as a Thanksgiving song for a children's church program.
Others contend that "Jingle Bells" was quite racy for its time, noting its
references to speed racing and courting verses, such as "go it while
you're young." These made it unacceptable for church use. Pierpont,
the son of a minister, was considered something of a rogue. He died
in 1893 before his song became a hit. In 1902, the Hayden Quartet, a
barbershop group, recorded it and helped spread its popularity.
Some December Holiday Trivia
Christmas Day (Dec 25). Some cultural anthropologists say that the
custom of Santa climbing down the chimney on Christmas Eve stems
from an old English belief that it was good luck to sweep out the
chimney before the New Year. Others believe the lore dates back to a
legend in which St. Nicholas threw a sack of gold down a chimney to
help a poor family.
The Festival of Chanukah (Nov 30 – Dec 7) celebrates the Jewish
peoples' struggle for religious freedom. The festival has been
observed, in Israel and the Diaspora, sometimes even at the risk of
life. The story behind the holiday, of how the menorah in the Holy
Temple miraculously stayed lit for eight days, with very little oil, is
recounted each year as people light the Chanukah candles.
Boxing Day (Dec 26). A 'Christmas Box' in Britain is a name for a
Christmas present. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants
and the day when they received a 'Christmas Box' from the master.
The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give 'Christmas
Boxes' to their families.
Cool websites to
visit this month:
GoodThingsGuy.com
How about some good news for a
change? This website is on a
mission to change what the world
pays attention to. They believe
there is good news all around us,
and over 1 million readers a month
agree. They hunt down and report
on the best Good News stories
from around the World, and only
promote good news, inspirational
stories and promote only positive,
upbeat media.
www.GoodThingsGuy.com
Fatherly.com
This is a fantastic website with
resources for fathers (applicable to
mothers too!). They aim to be the
most robust source of practical
parenting advice on the Internet.
They publish next-level stories that
take interesting and unconventional
approaches – very cool and
practical stuff!
www.Fatherly.com
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