An important part of any major holiday: the decorations! Different groups of people, celebrate different holidays at the end of the year, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even the Winter Solstice. Here are some decoration ideas for your festivities this year.
Christmas: Strings of lights and a tree topped with a star are typical Christmas decorations. Poinsettias, stockings and wreaths are other traditional objects you might find. Here in New Mexico, luminarias light walkways at night.
Hanukkah decorations feature the eight-candle menorah, the dredel, blue and white colors and the star of David. Hanukkah is not a major Jewish holiday, and decorations tend to more on the simple side.
Kwanzaa: decorations feature the colors black, red and green. Black symbolizes the people, red for their struggle, and green for the
future and hope that comes from their struggle. Black, red and green
candles are lit on the Kinara, a candle holder, during the holiday. The seven symbols of Kwanzaa are the Kinara (candleholder), Mishumaa
Saba (seven candles), Mkeka (the mat) Mazao (crops), Muhindi (ears of
corn), Kikombe Cha Umoja (unity cup) and Zawadi (gifts). The mat is laid out at the beginning of the holiday on a table in a central location in the home. Then the candle holder is set up on the mat along with the crops, corn, and unity cup. Source: https://abc7ny.com/kwanzaa-2020-kwanza-day-1-of-when-did-first-began/1131317/
Winter Solstice: The pagans, particularly of the British isles, celebrations are quite ancient, though many of their decorations were incorporated into Christmas celebrations. They often feature lots of greenery, candles, the yule log and runes (various related northern European alphabets).
He recently saw a stage play version featuring his high school history teacher. He likes that it's a very quotable movie with a quirky sense of humor. Will's favorite part is when Ralphie and his parents go to pick up a Christmas tree and he says "fudge," only he doesn't say "fudge" and then he gets his mouth washed out with soap.
He remembers watching it as a kid and he likes that it's funny and has a nice message. Joseph likes how Kevin terrorizes the hotel concierge, played by Tim Curry.
It's a classic for good reason, with great performances by James Stewart and Donna Reed. Mark's favorite scene is when Clarence reveals himself to be an angel.
Runners Up: Home Alone, Elf, Santa Claus: The Movie, and The Nightmare Before Christmas
I recently came across a very James Bond-esque, WWII era spy series, Dick Barton. It has all the characteristics of an old school radio spy show. I think it's awesome, because of how vintage it sounds. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger, and then the next episode picks up where the previous episode left off. The sound effects take you back to the late 40s, early 50s. It was the single longest running show on BBC radio at the time, and it was so popular, that people were clamoring for the release of a collection. It was very nostalgic for a lot of people. It was the first radio show of its kind to feature a female side-kick who didn't just work behind a desk, which I think is cool. I enjoy this series for its well-developed characters (especially the villians), humor and suspense.
Every Ability Plays Project is important to Will, because it was started by his friend, Tonya. EAPP provides playground equipment for children with disabilities. They have installed several pieces of equipment in Albuquerque parks. Check out their website and donate!
Brittania’s friend Abe is an ambassador for Special Olympics. He created a fitness challenge and even attended the Olympic Games! Head over to sonm.org to show them some love.
Dickens Confidential, an audiobook compilation from BBC Radio, takes the “ what if” approach to Dickens’ backstory as a newspaper man. He incorporated some of the real life stories he came across as a journalist into his fiction. In this series, a fictionalized Dickens writes about various happenings in victorian London. In one episode he works on a story about child labor, as he does in his novels, and uncovers conflict and intrigue. It was disturbing to hear some of the conditions some of these children experienced, but it did make for a very dramatic storyline. Dickens himself grew up working in a workhouse, and he didn’t want other children experiencing the same things he went through. That’s just one example, but if you love historical fiction, especially featuring real people, I highly recommend you give this series a listen.
As promised, here are my favorite Dr Finlay episodes from the audiobook I have been re-listening to. So here they are in no particular order:
In times like these it's important to reflect on what we're thankful for. With the ongoing global pandemic and other serious topics in the news right now, we are still grateful for many things, but especially family.
Joseph is very thankful for his family, particularly with the recent passing of his mother. He is especially close with his three siblings and their children and is looking forward to spending the holiday surround by the people he loves.
Mark is also very grateful for his mother and sister. Mark and his mother have lived together in Albuquerque for 28 years. They enjoy a nice, quiet Thanksgiving every year, with Mark's favorite dish, roast chicken.
Crystal is thankful not just for relatives, but all the people she considers family, like her caregiver, Candice. It's impost to appreciate all the meaningful relationships in our lives.
Will's family is important to him as well. This year he's thinking a lot about his extended family, as his uncle and aunt are moving to Colorado. He is thankful for all the times they were there for him, and he is grateful that they will still have Facetime, but it will take some getting used to to celebrate Thanksgiving without them.
1. Titanic (1997).
2. Gandhi (1982).
3. Once Upon a Time in America (1984).
4. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).
5. Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
6. Spartacus (1960).
7. Amadeus (1984).
8. Apocalypse Now (1979); Apocalypse Now Redux (2001).
9. Ben-Hur (1925, 1959).
10. The Ten Commandments (1923, 1956)
Mark's Top Ten this week got us thinking about our early music influences. So we tried to think what our first albums or favorite artists were.
Will discovered Shania Twain's album, Come On Over, which got him into country music.
Norah Jones's Come Away With Me was an early favorite of Mark's. Her voice is heavenly.
Joseph has always loved The Eagles Greatest Hits. His favorite song is Hotel California.
Lynette is a long time Michael Jackson fan. She loves the album Thriller.
Margaret's biggest early music influence was Raffi. The first album she remembers listening to on repeat was Singable Songs for the Very Young. But she had to rewind the cassette tape every time!
What albums do you remember from your youth?
I have been re-listening to an audiobook compilation of a radio show called Dr Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag by AJ Cronin. In fact, it was one of the first audiobooks I ever purchased. I loved it so much, that I decided to listen to it again. Here are my top three favorite characters:
1. Dr Finlay: He is a bit prickly, but he knows his profession well. He has a sense of humor, but it's sarcastic and he only uses it on occasion. The further you get on in the series, the more he opens up to the people of Levenford, where he has just arrived at the beginning of the series. It's fun to see his character develop and finally make some friends, including Dr Cameron, who he works with.
2. Dr Cameron: He balances out Dr Finlay, though they do have some epic disagreements. He is older, wiser and kinder. He is willing to teach young Dr Finlay the ropes, but he keeps making fun of how inexperienced he is. I do feel sorry for their housekeeper during their quarrels.
3. Janet MacPherson: Speaking of the housekeeper, Janet helps the doctors when they disagree. She gives her input about the patients, who she knows well. She's a hard worker and she's very proper. She has a "let's get down to business" personality.
The stories have been adapted for television, but I haven't watched it yet. I stumbled upon it by accident, but I'm glad I did. Next week I will post about my favorite episodes.
It is the 10th anniversary of the release of Neil Gaiman & Terry Prachett's Good Omens, so a special audiobook edition is being released today featuring cast interviews and an introduction by the author. I read it quite awhile ago, and I remember enjoying a lot. It was one of the first Neil Gaiman book I ever read. Like his other work, it is weird and funny, but mostly just weird. I have come to appreciate his sense of humor and fun characters. The book is about an angel and a demon trying to prevent the apocalypse. I'm looking forward to hearing from some of the supporting cast members, who I'm not as familiar with, as I am with David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
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| The Marigold Parade: Albuquerque also often celebrates car culture, due to its location along Route 66. |
Many of us here at Arts Connections live in the Albuquerque area. We don't just celebrate Halloween, we also celebrate Dia de los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead. That may sound like the title of a horror movie, but it's actually not scary at all! It is a day to honor our ancestors with offerings, food and celebration. The South Valley holds the Marigold Parade, which has been put on hold the past two years due to Covid, but this year they have a an exhibit at the Gutierrez Hubbell House History & Cultural Center through November 13. According to their Facebook page, "the exhibit brings together over a dozen artists, community members, local organizations, and schools to remember our dead and share in mourning and celebration of our community and loved ones through the creation of altars, a central part of the celebration of Day of the Dead." Earlier in October the annual Day of the Tread cycling race took place, featuring riders in fun costumes. In nearby Santa Fe, the yearly burning of Zozobra features a giant figure who is set on fire every year to burn away our troubles. In this region, the fall is a general time to celebrate all things mystical.
Exhibit up until November 13. Day of the Tread Zozobra
