Monday, August 29, 2016

The Traditional Christmas Story and Tales of Santa

Traditional Christmas Eve Stories

Christmas is the central reason I paint windows. The images and the spirit of the celebrations portray hope and joy in a bitter and cold season. The scenery depicted in the birth of the Christ child and the story of Santa Claus are seeded with delight and wonder. Both are accompanied by a magical quality found in no other tale. One is religious scripture, while the other is a whimsical story.


(The images below are from my Zazzle product line. The site does use cookies to track visits and customers.)

The Christmas and winter holiday season are held dear to all those that celebrate and await its arrival. We look forward to traditions and activity and goodies that are only found during this time period. We cook feasts, seek out and wrap unique gifts, and decorate our homes with warm, festive items. The season is ripe with fun and festive traditions. We spend a small fortune on these holidays in order to bring the spirit of the season to our homes and the hearts in our lives. 


The Reason for the Season - Nativity Scene


The Story of the Christ Child


There are several accounts of the Nativity event in the bible. What believers know for certain is that the Christ child was born in Bethlehem in a manger. He was born King of Kings in a barn of sorts because of the conditions the city his earthly parents traveled to were overcrowded. The original Christmas story is populated with this trio, angels, shepherds, and Wise Men. The image of the Guiding Star is the reason we place stars on our trees for decoration. These figures play prominently in holiday songs and Christmas Carols.

Carols featuring Thomas Kinkade's Art



The scriptures may be found in the King James version Bible for reference. The Christ child's birth may be found in the book of Luke 2:1-20. The story of the Wise Men is found in the book of Matthew 2:1-12. These are given here so that you may save the scriptures for reading on Christmas eve. The readings may be begun by one family member and passed along to the next or read by one in its entirety.


The Three Wise Men - Christmas Card


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The Christmas Nativity Story from Luke and Matthew 

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The Christmas Nativity Story - Poster

Nativity Video


See also: https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-nativity?lang=eng

These are the moments I remember when I pull out my art supplies and brushes and begin a themed window painting. The moment in our history when the birth of a tiny child changed the world. His arrival marks the ray of hope looked for since ancient history. His mission was one of ultimate love and that is what I feel when I am creating the images that celebrate this occasion. I mean no religious views here, I am simply stating why I paint with such passion. This moment gives me such a calm feeling and it is a joy to reflect this statement in my art and the music I may be caught singing as I complete the work. I am so overcome at times in my work and the spirit that I may shed tears during the work. I feel so blessed to be able to share art in this way with all that pass by the paintings.



The Story of Santa and St. Nick

Santa is known by many names. Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, are among the titles this jolly character is called. He is the excitement of the night before Christmas. Children lie in wait all twilight for his arrival. Some youngsters try to sneak a sound or a sight of the large elf. Others obediently jump under their blankets and drift away during the reading of a beloved story poem.

The Night Before Christmas was originally titled A Visit from St. Nicholas and it has been a holiday tradition for almost 200 years. originally posted in 1832 anonymously, it was claimed by Clement Clarke Moore in 1837.

The story is a picturesque view of a wholesome family Christmas. It describes the atmosphere of the home and the enlightened mood of the holiday spirit. It tells of the suit Santa wears and details the reindeer team's names and activity. The prose is a wonderful way to welcome the close of the evening holiday preparations.



A Visit from St. Nicholas - Poster

Rankin-Bass' Twas The Night Before Christmas



In Closing

I implore you to read each of these accounts in reverence to your children during the holidays. Encourage them to read the stories to you. The delight of these seasonal messages will place good memories on their hearts. The tales will stay with them through life and create a moment they will always look back on fondly. 




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