Aug 242023
 

     Ah Labor Day. September 4th.  A Federal Holiday instituted to celebrate the Unions. To most, it’s just another day off. The last BBQ of the summer season. Football, beer and a good cookout. To the more seasonal minded of us it is the meteorological start of Autumn. ( The beginning of the changeover from the summer weather pattern to the fall pattern. ) The Astronomical start of actual Autumn or as it’s known The Autumnal Equinox, is on September 23. It is called the Equinox due to there being equal amounts of day and night.

     But back to my original thought. I have to confess that I am one of those. I am an Autumn freak! Yes, while I have a year round love of Christmas , I am of the mind that there are only 2 seasons. Fall and waiting for fall. While I live in probably the worst place for Autumn, I do not let lack of fall colors detract from my overall love of Autumn. Nor does it detract from the whole Christmas season! Why you ask. Simple.

     I love the change of seasons. The air has a crispness to it. Gentle breezes flow bringing with them the smells of bon fires, pine and all of the cook smells of the various treats soon to tempt our tummys. As we get closer to Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas you can sense the softening of the attitudes of the masses. Well for the most part anyway. Some people allow the stresses of family and shopping for that perfect gift to take away from their joy. Joy, Thats what it should be about. Sweaters! Thats the ticket. Sweaters and hoodies. Flannel in abundance. Beanies and other forms of headgear. That first Pumpkin Spice from the various outlets. with the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg. Music, TV specials and Peanuts (with Snoopy of course) for every holiday. It is unfortunate that politics will overshadow the days and news everywhere. Our country that is now so divided thanks to a few politicians that put a pall over everything.  .  They think they know better than us what we need. The power grab is ongoing as the two major sides vie for absolute power over the people. These are the great detractors from the joy and peace we are supposed to feel.

     My mission this year is to break away from all that and try to feel the real reason for the season. To make at least one person smile every day. I will enjoy the season and all it is about and try to make at least one person forget the daily strife and political warfare that invades everything just long enough to give thanks for what we have in spite of the Congress of whores in Washington. I look forward to falling leaves, falling temperatures and gentle Autumn breezes. I look forward to longer nights and clear skies. And that most delectable delight Cider! I look forward to giving out candy, roasting turkey and roasting chestnuts. I look forward to TSO and Mannheim Steamroller on tour. (Cant afford to go but wait for them anyway). TV specials from CMA, Kelly Clarkson and Michael Buble’. I will be searching the skies on Christmas Eve for that jolly fat man and his sleigh.  And most of all I try to remember the real reason for the season.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

 

     That my friends is the reason. If we could all just remember that just for a short time the world would be a better place.

 

Nuff said

——-Publius

 

Nov 072022
 
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Santa’s on Ham Radio

Share the magic of Ham Radio and Santa Claus with your children, grandchildren, and neighborhood kids.

The Santa Net is held every evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas on 3.916 MHz at 7:00PM Central Time.

 

 

 

 

For the 16th consecutive year, The 3916 Nets will be presenting The Santa Net on 3.916 MHz. Good girls and boys can talk to Santa Claus, via amateur radio, nightly at 7:00 PM (Central) starting Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, through Christmas Eve, December 24th.

Oct 272022
 

by Rita Giordano

Christmas Village is coming back to LOVE Park and City Hall for its 15th season of twinkling lights, yummy gingerbread, and all manner of holiday festivities – both Old World and this year, distinctly Philly.

One of the city’s most popular holiday destinations, Christmas Village and its open-air German Christmas Market will hold a preview weekend November 19 and 20 and open for the season November 24 through December 24.

Special attractions this year include a double-decker carousel, a ferris wheel and a children’s train. That’s on top of the more than 110 local and international vendors, wine and spirits tastings, food offerings, live entertainment and more.

“Christmas Village in Philadelphia is getting ready for a season full of festivities,” said Christmas Village President Thomas Bauer. “We’re excited to update the LOVE Park section with brand-new wooden booths, creating an even more cheerful feeling. This is the biggest investment in the history of our company, and we’re thrilled to share the new look and feel of Christmas with our visitors.”

The event’s authentic German Christmas Market will include The Alm, an Old World-style beer garden, as well as European culinary favorites like Helmut’s Strudel, spiked hot cider and mulled wine, flamed-grilled bratwurst, gooey Swiss Raclette cheese and Belgian fries. German dance bands will keep things lively on German American Weekend on December 3-4.

But this year’s Christmas Village will also be a celebration of the many cultures that make up Philadelphia, according to city Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell.

 

“Thanks to the city’s partnership with The Welcoming Center, Esperanza, and the South Street Headhouse District, visitors to Christmas Village will see more local businesses that represent the diversity of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods,” said Lovell, “bringing their local handmade arts and crafts to the largest audience in the region during the holidays.”

As part of the Christmas Market, over 40 local vendors of the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market at Dilworth Park will be selling artworks, toys, jewelry, clothing, sweets and more.

And on Christmas Village’s Family Day, December 10, children can get their photograph taken with the event’s own mascot, Phil the Reindeer, or other favorites like superheroes and princesses.

In addition to the Christmas Village and the Holiday Market festivities, Philadelphia’s Holiday District organizers plan to hold the City Hall Christmas Tree lighting ceremony with performances on December 1 from 6 to 9 p.m., followed by the second annual Market Street Holiday Parade on December 3 from 5 to 6 p.m.

‘Tis the season.

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