What The Dickens!

*The last Sunday before Christmas in Norway is called "Dirty Sunday." It is the day when housewives are allowed to skip Church and clean the house for Christmas. (Sounds like a bit of Holiday chauvinism, even to an ol' Scrooge like me!)

*According to 'Tis The Season, from Anton Publications, the average number of ornaments on a Christmas Tree is 75.

*In the 4th Century, Pope Julius I declared December 25 as the day to celebrate Christ's birth. It was already established as a Pagan holiday honoring the sun-gods, and Julius felt that it would help the public to remember Christmas as well.

*In addition to Tiny Tim, my clerk Bob Cratchit's other children are Peter, Belinda, Martha, and "the two young Cratchits."

*My deceased partner, Jacob Marley, was played by Goofy in Disney's "Mickey's Christmas Carol." Jacob never cared much for that bit of casting!

*And You Might Not Have Known (Or Cared!) That...

-Jimmy Buffet was born on Christmas Day,1946

 -Jefferson Davis died on Christmas Day, 1889

 -Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day, 1776

 -Calvin Cooledge lit the 1st National Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve, 1923

-Franklin Pierce, 14th President, decorated the 1st White House Tree in 1856

-The "Pequod" in Moby Dick set sail on Christmas Day 

-Christmas Island, an Australian territory whose capital is The Settlement, is in the Indian Ocean.

-Cranberry Sauce is made from marsh-whorts (Yummy!)

-Roy's CD version of "A Christmas Carol", on which he portrays the 23 characters from the story, is 65 minutes of pure joy and is a great last-minute gift at just $9.95 (www.achristmascarolreading.com)

 Festive Feastings...

Wassail was a favorite Christmas beverage in my time and for centuries before that. The word is derived from Old Norse and Old English, and means "be in good health" or "be fortunate." Here is a modern take (We didn't have slow-cookers or crock pots in my day...) on my Nephew Fred's recipe:

*2 quarts sweet apple cider*2 cups orange juice*1 cup lemon juice*1 large can pineapple juice*1 whole cinammon stick*12 whole cloves*honey to taste

Combine all ingredients into a large pot on the stove and simmer for 10-15 minutes - DO NOT let mixture come to a boil. The ingredients may also be combined in a slow-cooker and heated on high until mixture is hot, but not boiling. Reduce setting to low.

Nephew Fred also added a bit (actually more than a bit...) of dark beer or brandy to his recipe. (Or it can be added to the individual serving.) Wassail!