...of Christmas saw me cycling through the frosty London suburbs en route from an elderly relative - with some glorious moments of beauty with a sudden vista of a park or a church or pleasant row of houses, all sparkling in the wintry morning. Christmas trees were being bundled out of houses and mulched into the big grinders-on-the-back-of-vehicles-from-the-local-Council that are now used for this. Somehow it's reassuring that people stick to the Twelfth Night tradition, and it gets mentioned in the press and so on. Here at Bogle Towers we take down the cards and decorations, but keep up the Crib until Feb 2nd (Candlemas) - although this last is a relatively new tradition as I always used to stack away the Crib too, thinking that it was only in churches that it could be kept up until the 40th day.
When I was a child, we actually used to take down our Tree on New Year's Day and generally had a bonfire in the garden - in my memory the Christmas trees in the 1960s were less grand and used to shed their needles far more rapidly...I think today they get sprayed with some sort of preservative, and there is also a greater variety of types and some are definitely bushier and more beautiful...decorations are grander too (remember modest strips of crepe paper with tinsel down the middle?) but don't let's get into a discussion about the merits of lavish over-the-top lighting displays and mammoth fFather Christmasses on rooftops...
Jamie hates having the wreath and decorations taken down so I have to do it when he's out.
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We also starrtede keeping our crib up a couple of years ago. The local Anglican church where we sometimes sing has always done this. So we have to save a bit of space in the cupboard for its return!!!! By now you will be in the way to US of A. We also enjoy your articles in Oremus. Liz.
I'm finding it very hard to let go of Christmas this year. Last year I made a permanent space on the sill above the kitchen sink for a miniature cast-resin nativity....a daily reminder to keep the christmas spirit in my heart year-round.
Dear Joanna:
This will read like a “fan” letter. I have never written one of those in my life but after seeing you on Fr. Pacwa’s program (spelling due to the fact that I’m American :) ) and learned a couple of things I decided to put fingers to keyboard to do just that. First, I learned that your husband James thinks that you talk too much in your series. Secondly, you seemed to be genuinely surprised when a woman told you how much she enjoyed your program. I decided then that I would add my voice to hers and tell you that I’m betting that there are many more people who think the same thing but they don’t write.
I watched your interview with Fr. Mitch Pacwa last night. I could hardly believe that your husband thinks that you talk too much. I have enjoyed all of your programs, at least all that I know of. Your Feasts and Seasons is entertaining. You come across as a fun but not silly, devout yet not stodgy Catholic lady. Since I’m a history enthusiast and an amature cook “Feasts and Seasons” is right up my ally. I have one of your books, A BOOK OF FEASTS AND SEASONS, plus I have The DVD FEAST & SEASONS of the Church. Keeping with the “history enthusiast” theme, I have the series that your husband and you did called CATHOLICISM The Heart of History (I love it).
If I happen to see you on other programs I stop what I’m doing to watch if I can because I find you delightfully interesting. For example your program I believe is called “Catholic Lives” presents to your audience very, very interesting people whom we would go through life never having known they exist if you did not share them with us. My favorite so far is the Sister who ran (runs?) a riding school. In conclusion, please tell your husband that you don’t talk too much at all. I admit that you are loquacious and there are some people who should learn to keep quiet but you do not number among those people.
Here is hoping we see more of you through the years,
Annie
Anon has more or less said all that I would like to have written..I really enjoyed your session with Fr Mitch.
another big thank you
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