Nativity as Muse in Art Through Ages and Styles
From early times artists drew inspiration from Nativity scenes The Madonna and Child Holy Family and Magi shaped world famous paintings As the Middle Ages faded into the Renaissance new light emerged Artists shifted from stylized ornate detail to lifelike figures and landscapes in depictions of humble peasants adorning the Christ Child and even blacksmiths at work in the manger
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peterus
Joseph
Christ
Christmas Time Games for Family Fun
A nostalgic guide to festive play with no gear needed. Charades with Christmas themes. word play from Merry Christmas to All. Santa’s sleigh list game, and notes on Renaissance Adoration of the Magi and Nativity paintings at the National Gallery, highlighting tempera and oil techniques and the era’s realism.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Santa
National Gallery
Petrus Christus
Japs Celebrate December 25 Not a National Holiday
December 25 is not an official Japanese holiday yet stores display festive decorations and cheerful children receive gifts from Santa Claus. Some department stores employ up to 100 Santas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Japan
Santa Claus San
Silk Fringed Christmas Cards of 1870 Decline
Fringed and frosted silk cards reflecting 1870s taste show heavy allk edging. Folders type cards dominated later, as single cards were more common in the 19th century.
Pepys on Twelfth Night and Shakespeare’s Title Clash
The diary entry from January 6 1663 notes Pepys viewing Twelfth Night as silly though later critics praise the play. The piece explores why Shakespeare titled the work Twelfth Night while choosing different subject matter for its plot and references Epiphany customs and traditional festival characters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Samuel Pepys
William Shakespeare
Mr. Pepys
Shakespeare
Shakes Speare
Patrick O' Tatler
Bluestocking
Captain Blunderbuss
Sir Toby Belch
Malvolio
Olivia
Russian Socks and New Year Festivities Endure
Russian children hang stockings for Grandfather Frost on New Year Eve. Despite Communists erasing Christmas religious rites, the season’s child celebrations remain allowed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Grandfather Frost
Dutch children myth of St Nicholas sleigh horse
A Dutch belief holds that a great horse named BBipher pulls St Nick’s sleigh, with the Dygetthie in their wooden shoes with hay feeding him. The horse’s energy supposedly helps St Nick reach every house.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dasher
Dancer
Prancer
Rudolph
Netherlands
St. Nicholas
St. Nick
Carols Through the Ages From Bethlehem to English Halls
The article recounts how Christmas carols began as songs of the Nativity and spread through medieval Latin origins to English tradition. It notes the Boar’s Head carol, Good King Wenceslas, and the shepherds tale, tracing how early carols reflected mystery plays and festive custom across Britain and Canada.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Encyclopedia International
Bethlehem
Jacopone of Todi
St. Francis
Theoar
Queens College, Oxford
Oxford
St. John’s
Stephen
Wenceslas
Bohemia
St. Stephen’s
St. Stephen
Christ
Herod
England
Canada
German Trees Mark West German Christmas Tradition
The West German Christmas centers on the Christmas tree with a 400 year history. Traditionally trees were trimmed with candles, though artificial lighting for ornaments has been introduced, many still prefer the candlelight display.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Giovanni di Paolo
National Gallery of Art
Washington, D. C
Fra Angelico
Fra Filippo Lippi
Fra Filippo
Ikeensake
Smart Santas
Raney Drug
Faberge
Coty
Review
Tussy
Rubinstein
Hallmark Cards
Vibrators
Yardley
Raney Rexall Drug
Oltawa
Ottawa Herald
Balliol
Britain
elCrae
Oklahoma Tire & Supply
Montclair
Ee Montclair
Philco
Philco Cool
Ratittangeema da
Otasco
Panasonic
Table Radio
Kodak Camera