Santa and Christmas

How to make Christmas Mincemeat for your own Christmas Tarts is one of the recipes you will find in this website for Christmas and Santa. Maybe your are more interested in where to find Christmas Presents or Christmas Cards, you will find links from here for those as well. And, a few tips about what life is like in New Zealand at Christmas time and maybe a photo of our Santa...so you can compare!!

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Yule Ball

Yule Ball

Yule Ball

The custom of having a Yule Ball has existed in different forms over many years. From the eighteenth century the Southern states of the United States held balls during the Christmas Season. The Texans celebrated with Christmas Eve Balls. The English celebrated the Twelfth Night of Christmas with a Costume or Mask Ball until the nineteenth century. More commonly now people celebrate New Years Eve with a Yule Ball.

Recently the 'Yule Ball' was made popular in the Harry Potter book and movie 'The Goblet of Fire', Chapter 23 is 'The Yule Ball'. The main event of this chapter, as indicated by the title, is the Yule Ball itself. During the ball, Harry learns things about several of his close friends, including Hagrid, Hermione and Ron. In the film, the Ball was presented as sort of a "wizard prom", with the dress robes of men resembling tuxedos.

The Yule Ball is know for Ron Weasley's row with Hermione Granger which divulged Ron's jealousy towards Krum, and showing his attraction to Hermione. Fans refer to the event as 'the Yule Brawl'.

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Approximate Dates of Carols

The 16th Century

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The First Nowell
The Twelve Days of Christmas

The 18th Century

We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The Holly and the Ivy
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Come All Ye Faithful

The 19th Century

Silent Night, Holy Night
Once in Royal David’s City
Good King Wenceslas
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Jingle Bells
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Away in a Manger
Ding Dong Merrily on High