(For my Mom Dorothy Burkhart, who made Christmas real to me.) No matter what you may believe, or not believe is real The story of Nativity, reveals our best ideals The Wisdom of the Magi and, the Innocence of child The gift of our Salvation, and the dream of Mercy mild The Miracle of virgin […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: A Christmas Crush
Entertaining company, and rushing to the mall Writing cards and baking pies; there’s lighting to install The many things for us to do, can leave us overwhelmed It seems our ship will run aground, without us at the helm So try to keep the goal in sight, remembering just why We make the extra effort, […]
Christmas traditions around the world
When you hear the word Christmas, do you think of banana trees, hiding brooms and trips to the sauna? If not, that’s probably because you haven’t experienced Christmas in other parts of the world. For the U.S., Christmas is synonymous with Santa Claus and gift giving, but in many other countries, this isn’t the case. […]
Nick Sestanovich: Five unconventionally classic holiday tunes
I can’t help it. As much as I like to think I’m one of those people who’s nauseated by the very thought of Christmas music, I actually like a fair amount of it, enough to make my own Spotify playlist out of it. Songs that I tend to shun the other 11 months of the […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Ernie the Elf
Ernie the Elf was a grumpy old soul, all the stockings he hung always filled up with coal As he worked building toys with the elves in his guild, and he hammered and screwed and he glued and he drilled He lamented the fact that he had to build toys, for the ungrateful, bothersome world’s […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Where the Spirit Lies
It’s not about the presents, or the baubles or the bangles Or multi-colored lights, after they’re hung and un-entangled The egg-nog’s nice, but that’s not it, nor beef cut with a cleaver It’s not the Yorkshire pudding, and it’s not the chestnuts either I think it’s an idea, that’s wrapped up inside a feeling That […]
Photo: Barking up the right Christmas tree
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: The Miracle Maker
I live in the light, of a flickering flame Long ago I had hopes, and had flesh and a name It’s been many years, since I met my reward And awakened aware, in the light of the Lord ‘Twas a cold Christmas Eve, when I breathed my last breath And I prayed to bring peace, […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: An Unseen Story of Christmas
As the mouse in the wall, poked his eye through the hole He saw Mother and Father inside Preparing the toys, and the cookies and milk For when Jolly St. Nick would arrive So he waited and watched, until they went to sleep He looked out to the left and the right And then finally […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Tim
Christmastime’s upon us, and as lighted trees appear The meaning’s getting lost to us, and won’t be found I fear The money spent on presents, and on gifts it seems defines What kind of Christmas people have, and hold inside their minds Let’s stop and read or watch the tale, which Charles Dickens told When […]