The Magic of an Old Calendar Christmas

For many people, the holiday season is either hectic in not good ways or simply bleak.

Or maybe it's a combination of both.

Here's how we sidestepped that.

Many years ago, we moved our family Christmas to January 7. I actually elaborated on the reasons for that in this column for The Herald-News.

Our holiday season is moves at a fairly even pace and is, overall, serene and filled with reflection.

Now our work life is more hectic during this time of year. But that is all the more reason to eliminate the hustle and bustle elsewhere.

Now January 7 can be a loud and uproarious simply because we have a large family.

But because of the pandemic and other life situations, we have also celebrated small and quiet January 7 Christmases.

But large or small, loud or quiet, it is still neither hectic nor bleak.

It is not hectic because our advent period is six weeks and our main Christmas season is twelve days, culminating on January 7 and then fading away to February 4. So post-holiday blues can't get a foothold.

By the time our Christmas season ends, we are preparing for Calkins Day and Valentine's Day. Once those holidays past, spring is right around the corner.

Yes, we have our share of arguments and bickeringsl what family doesn't?

Granted, the odds are one day each of us will spend Christmas Day alone, without any of the above. 

But if we dwell on the "reason for the season," we're not really alone, are we?

Christmas 2020 Film Festival

For some people, a cherished part of Christmas/holiday season is watching and rewatching the old holiday favorites.

For me, these TV specials and movies were part of my childhood - and there's still a few classics I've yet to see. But none of them were part of my adulthood.

How can that be, you may wonder.

Well, when I was a stay-at-home mom when my oldest children were young and before the advent of home VHS, you could only catch them on TV. And my children's father wouldn't give up his shows for children's Christmas specials. 

But by the time we had home VHS, I had three children under five. So I could pop in a VHS for them to watch while I caught up on housework.

As they grew, God blessed us with three more children. By the time number four arrived, I was already a homeschooling mom. Now anyone who's had a house filled with children and has home-schooled knows there's always one child (not always the same child) who doesn't get his or or her work done, with reasons ranging from overall slothfulness to not grasping the concepts.

So I would spend extra time to make sure the work was grasped and completed. And then I caught up on housework while the kids watched holiday specials. Next year, I would tell myself.

Then I became a single mom and worked two jobs (and for a short time, three jobs). Then I became a married mom who worked two jobs, as did my husband Rob. Then we became a home-schooling family again. You can do the math: two parents plus four jobs taking care of six kids equals little free time.

Those were glorious years, by the way. And they passed very quickly. Watching holiday films was not on my top any number of list things to do.

We were talking about this the other day. Somehow, my kids have memories of me watching with them, most likely because I popped in and out of the room on the way to another room and sat for a few minutes.

But to sit down and watch an entire Christmas show or movie? Nope!

This year I have the time and no family get-togethers, which sounds dismal, right? 

Quick rabbit trail.

Remember back in the 1970s (well, maybe not, if you're a young person reading this blog), when people proclaimed that women could have it all? Well, I believe anyone can "have it all," although the right time for "all" is often not in the same time frame.

Scripture says "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." And that is true with our lives.

I've had big traditional Christmases, new calendar Christmases, old calendar Christmases, Christmases full of cooking, and baking, and gift buy, and gift wrapping, and running around town to visit family and friends.

I've had two-parents Christmases and single parent Christmases, and house filled with people Christmases. I've had Christmases where work usurped our traditions. And last Christmas morning, I walked a hot chocolate and my little Christmas tree to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet where a friend from high school with lung cancer was spending Christmas. This year, that same friend is spending Christmas in heaven.

This year, we'll be "zooming" part of our Christmas. 

Also this year, I'm catching up on Christmas movies.

Here's my roster:

Wednesday night: It's a Wonderful Night.

Thursday night: Alastair Sims' A Christmas Carol (my favorite version).

Friday throughout the day: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and (if I can find it) Charlie Brown Christmas. (all favorites from my childhood).

Saturday: Reginald Owens' "Scrooge."

Sunday night: Not sure. I do have a virtual Christmas party with the 5 a.m. writers group that sounds waaaay more put together than anything I did for WriteOn Joliet. Time for me to get my act together.

The rest of the time between then and January 2: I have seen none of these (although I've seen part of the second and clips of the third).

White Christmas

Christmas in Connecticut

Miracle on 34th Street

And everything I didn't watch on the original list before I ran out of time (see above).

By the way, I'm running a special promotion on BryonySeries books in order to help out The Book Market in Crest Hill. 

I've already sent the first batches of coupons (THANK YOU to all who supported this special sale). Find details here: bryonyseries.com/promotions.

You thought I'd forgotten to spam you today, didn't you?

Photo by Timothy Baran

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 7 through Jan. Jan. 12 (And Self-Publishing Seminar Recap)

A few less stories this week as I play catch-up from the holidays, which in features world, starts in September and continues nonstop through the first of the year.

Adding to the mix that I worked the news end of things on a holiday and then taking a day off to compensate, and having Monday off for my anniversary date (the company has each employee take a free day in the month he/she was hired, which is very nice), already puts me at a deficit of three days.

Oh, and I had a big project to complete under a tight deadline, which too me an entire day. I also learned 2018 will bring not one, but the start of two newsletters by moi.

As I've previously mentioned, I'll be starting a newsletter for the BryonySeries this year. Details are HERE.

But The Herald-News has asked me to start one, too, beginning this month. I was given some direction as to the vision, with me mulling on how to best execute that vision.

As you can see, it's an exciting start to the new year.

Last night, nearly twenty brave souls ventured into the sleet to learn the basics of "how to self-publish for nearly free," with a couple people actually traveling a distance to do so. I estimated two hours for the event, and we used up every bit of it.

Nearly everyone, it seemed, received something use from the time (and from the handout), and one gentleman even asked me to autograph it! So a good time (and the quaffing of some great coffee at Book and Bean Cafe) was had by all.

For those who missed it and are sorry they did, not to worry. There's more events coming up, including a WriteOn Joliet meeting on Jan. 18 and the Calkins Day celebration and book signing on Feb. 11. Details are HERE.

Now where do you find features, fiction, and me?

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time): Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) is at www.bryonyseries.com. 

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you're read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Here are the stories that ran in features this week:


Why some Joliet area churches celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7

The answer lies with church history and how people once marked the passage of time.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/04/72fa64f0ec884df98d8817c50dd03f2e/index.xml

Just one of the villagers

Joliet man found adventure in life's simplicity

The more others share memories of Joe Baltz with his wife Marie Pierre Baltz, the more Marie Pierre realizes “what a great man he was” and “what a complete man he was.”

Joe Baltz of Joliet died on Nov. 4 at age 71.

“Not only was he complete in what he did,” Marie Pierre said, “but my feeling now is that I am discovering the man I lived 44 years with.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/04/eaa94b173d104ceb84697e33ee4f42fc/index.xml?page=1

Channahon beekeeper keeps puppies' paws safe

"There's nothing I make in the paw wax that's bad for the dogs," Parhsall said. "It's just basically beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter and olive oil. No petroleum products, nothing like that."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/12/26/2ccddcf7893e4b8d845824680d638786/index.xml?page=1

Plainfield's Blueberry Hill Breakfast Cafe: home-cooked meals in a friendly atmosphere

The epitome of blueberry breakfast dishes is in Plainfield.

It's called the Baked Blueberry French Toast. The texture was more dense than traditional French toast and the cream cheese frosting was "more refreshing than sweet," said one diner.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/06/f5ea9f7da50b4ff3a6e0014528b36756/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter

Merry Christmas! (Huh?)

Years ago when our family moved from the Christian West to the Christian East, we made friends with some families that celebrated Christmas on Jan. 7.

Some of these friends celebrated only on Jan. 7 and some celebrated on Dec. 25 and Jan. 7. Sometimes we celebrated with them, a Christmas with family and a Christmas with friends.

Gradually, we incorporated Jan. 7 as ours, especially after my youngest daughter Rebekah was born on Jan. 7 (making her 24 years old today).

The idea behind the switch was less about the present and more about the future. As the children grew up, married, and had children and families of their own, moving our celebration as an immediate family would give them the freedom to celebrate the popular date with their new families, incorporating their traditions and starting their own, while also allowing them to celebrate as a unit with their siblings.

Through the years, Dec. 25 became the date we celebrated with extended family. And Jan. 7 became the "siblings all together under one roof" Christmas.

But why Jan. 7? The answer is explained in this story I wrote for today's Herald-News.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/04/72fa64f0ec884df98d8817c50dd03f2e/index.xml

Whenever and however you celebrate, what's most important, I think, is that you celebrate.

Christ is born! Let us glorify Him!

Harry Belafonte "Mary's Boy Child" (1956)

Why We Celebrate Old Calendar Christmas

WHEW! Take one day off, and watch the emails pile up! Busy morning this morning, and no blog yesterday, as it was a full Christmas Day, but I'll try to briefly explain why we did what we did.

First of all, as Eastern Orthodox Christians, we strongly believe in preparation and celebration. Our advent is six weeks long and begins before Thanksgiving. The traditional preparation consists of fasting from meat, dairy products, and eggs for the six weeks. Before we had health issues and food allergies, we actually kept this fast (which also shows up during Lent and for two other two-week periods throughout the year); now we substitute other things.

I can't stress the preparation enough. The journey to the joy is as important as the joy. Gradually, we do the other things the secular world seems to do quickly and intensely. We add a few decorations here and there. The tree goes up and is garnished over time. Mostly, the preparation is internal, making room in our spirits to receive the ultimate in Christmas gifts: Jesus Christ.

When Christmas does arrive, we aren't burned out from a month of preholiday parties. We welcome it joyously, from Christmas Eve on December 24 through January 7 and beyond, for if you're really loath to bid Christmas good-bye, the Christmas season doesn't really end until Jesus' presentation in the temple, commemorated by Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox on February 2. 

And, yes, we have kept our tree up that long.

What we did yesterday, the practical reasons why our family celebrates on the seventh, these are for another blog. I have over 100 emails calling my name, and a manuscript calling my name. I obviously don't have an hour to spend with Before the Blood this morning, but fifteen or twenty minutes should nicely connect me to it.

The weekend, after all, approacheth. :)

Christ is born! Let us glorify Him!

A Child's Dream of a Star by Charles Dickens

Someone gave me a copy of The Complete Ghost Stories of Charles Dickens (and you thought his only specters were Jacob Marley and the trio of Christmases of Past, Present, and Future), but last night I read a story in that book that didn’t seem to quite fit the collection.

As I was reading, A Child’s Dream of a Star, I kept waiting for the story to turn delightfully ugly, but it was a simple, innocent, and enjoyable read to the expected end, although it does deal with death.

A much more appropriate reading for Julian Calendar Christmas than a vampire saga.

Many sources offer this story online.