Followers

Sunday 15 November 2015

Are there things...

...that mean Christmas to you?

In our family there was the early present from Santa's elves on Christmas Eve which contain a new nightie or pajamas so we could go to bed and await Santa's arrival...all snuggled up in our new nightwear.

Stirring the Christmas pudding mix (and getting to 'lick out' the remains of the mix from the bowl).

Checking the TV listing to see when "White Christmas" would be showing (usually Christmas Eve) because the holidays couldn't start until we had all sung along with Bing, Danny, Vera and Rosemary.

Another Christmas 'must see' was the Tom & Jerry "Night before Christmas" animation - I loved this cartoon as the Clement C Moore tale has always been a favourite.

I have a number of copies of this tale in various formats and love to see the wonderful illustrations that artists come up with to go with the tale. Last week I bought a beautifully illustrated paperback from the 'Nutshell Studios' at Barleylands (a wonderful children's book shop that reminds me of the 'Shop around the corner' from the film You've Got Mail). This week was the craft village's Festive event and all the retailers were sporting Christmas jumpers or fancy outfits - creating a fabulous atmosphere. The Nutshell was all 'decked out' and there was a super display of Christmas books including this...
...it is only 5.5 x 6.5 inches in size (there is a full size version available) but each page is a delight and I couldn't resist buying a copy...for me!
The Night Before Christmas story is printed with silhouette illustrations to support the narrative...
 ...but each page has secret interactive parts that help to bring the story to life.
However, it is the delicate paper-cut pop-up at the end of the book that is amazing...
 ...Santa and his reindeer, speeding off over the rooftops...
...and the last line of the tale "Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good-night!".

Although this is only a small book, it would make a lovely display centre-piece for over the Holidays.

As a lover of books, I can truly say that this is a book that I will treasure and enjoy.

As for the other family traditions - the DVD of White Christmas is to hand, YouTube have the Tom & Jerry cartoon and I'll just have to wait and see what the elves bring this year by way of PJs.......................................................................

6 comments:

Redanne said...

It really does look like a lovely book Toni and the Santa and Sleigh at the back is amazing! Anne xx

Sue Jones said...

aww lovely memories :) I did find Christmas SO much more exciting when I was younger - even as a teenager with all those disco's to go to and the Christmas no 1. A visit to Aunty Mary's where I was allowed a cherry brandy (Yuk!) Ha ha xx

Sandra said...

How beautiful, you'll get pleasure each year looking at it.

Virginia said...

Yep Christmas listing were a must for me too. Washing up after Christmas dinner with my dad. Love the book toni beautiful

Virginia said...

Yep Christmas listing were a must for me too. Washing up after Christmas dinner with my dad. Love the book toni beautiful

Julia Dunnit said...

That book was a great find, it's lovely. I can talk about the tastes of Christmas, but the one thing that sticks in my mind from childhood is Christmas Morning...we'd have to wait for Mum and Dad before the presents were distributed from under the tree by Dad...and he would clear up breakfast, run the hoover round, ring his sisters...it was agony!!