This is one of the prettiest versions of this song I’ve heard yet.
I hope everyone has the happiest, riskiest of holidays!
I was hoping to find a picture of a cute guy wearing a Santa hat, but all the pix I found were . . . sleazy. So, rats. Oh, wait, another fun Christmas song, this one brand new this year, depicting Santa as a bit of a rake:
See you all next week! 
There is a Christmas elf in my life that is not a good elf.
First, it stole the tea I bought yesterday.
I had to go out to buy more tea and also realized that I’d have to buy the stuff we need for xmas dinner. So horrified was I to find the elf had bought all the loose green beans–we have no shortage of labor to top and tail–leaving only the expensive bagged ones, that the elf made me forget the tea. I then went to another store to buy the tea and when I came home the elf had cunningly replaced the original tea, but while I was rejoicing, stole the gift wrap, bought under great duress at the dollar store, that I knew I had brought into the house.
And so it goes. The elf is also in charge of programming on our local NPR classical affiliate–WETA, 90.9 FM, I’m talking to you–and playing hour after hour of appalling Christmas dreck, preciously overorchestrated carols. I only hope the announcers are under instructions to throw each CD on the floor after playing, grind their heels on them, rendering them useless, and thus making future Decembers safe for people who actually like music.
The elf is in charge of gas prices. The elf instructs people to wander round stores, talking on their cell phones, and lures cashiers away. The elf has hidden my favorite knitted winter hat. The elf has…
Well, I think you get the idea. Santa or whoever, please send over a bunch of nice, helpful elves who will find the things I’ve lost, clean the house, finish the book, and make me enjoy this alleged most wonderful time of the year.
Happy holidays everyone. Are your elves behaving?
The winners of the Austen birthday blog tour from December 16 will be announced officially here today, but Sofia, who I’ve just emailed, is my winner. Congrats!
First off, Happy Holidays from Risky Carolyn!
Here’s something I didn’t know, Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas.
Transcript
Report sent to S[i]r Hen[ry] Mildmay
The Councell haveing received severall Informations that there was avery wilfull & strict observation of the day com[m]only called Christmasse day throughout the Cittyes of London & Westm[inster] by agenerall keeping of their shops shut up and that there were Contemptuous speeches used by some in favour thereof, which the Councell conceiveing to be upon the old grounds of superstition and malignancy and tending to the avowing of the same and Contempt of the present Lawes and governm[en]t have thought fit that the Parlam[en]t be moved to take the same into Consideration for such further provisions and penaltyes for the abolishing & punishing of those old superstitions observations and meeting w[i]th such malicious contradiction of offenders in that behalfe as their wisedomes shall iudge fit, They have likewise received informations of frequent resort unto and exerciseing of the idolatrous masse in severall places to the great dishono[u]r of Almightie God, notorious breach of the lawes and scandal of the governm[en]t wherein according to notice given they have already taken some Course and desire the parlam[en]t will be pleased to take that matter alsoe into their Consideration for further remedies & suppression of that Idolatrie in such way as to them shall seeme meet.That it be likewise reported to the Parl[amen]t that the Councell is informed that there are still remaining the Armes and pictures of the late King in severall Churches Halls, upon the Gates and in other publique places of the Citty of London
That the parl[amen]t bee moved to appoint whom they shall thinke fitt to see the same armes & pictures taken downe and defaced and to give an Account of their executing the same w[i]thin such tyme as they shall thinke fit to allow for that purpose
And S[i]r Henry Mildmay is desired to make this report
Celebrate as you see fit. Christmas, I heard the other day, is celebrated by 80% of Americans regardless of any religious beliefs about God or men in red suits. In other words, a number of us are celebrating a very pagan Christmas. To me, that’s a fine meaning of Christmas. Buying presents for people you love, doing nice things, saying Happy Holidays! or Merry Christmas! and meaning it. And eating cookies and other goodies.
In doorknob news, the Doorknob man did email me back and he pointed me in the direction of some astonishingly fantastic resources, including dates and pictures.
Doorknobs as we know them (the turning kind) did NOT exist in the Regency. A latch type door, which was the most common sort, could (and often did!) have what looked pretty much exactly like a doorknob. Only it was push/pull to open/close the door, not a knob that turned.
This means my hero and heroine can, indeed, have a door hardware malfunction. Is that awesome or what?
Speaking of Christmas and traditions that Oliver Cromwell failed to stamp out, we have a fairly recent tradition in our family, which is the gift exchange involving EVERYONE and is in addition to any other gifting that may go on, in which everyone buys a gift for no more than $15, and then we do that gift stealing round robin thing. It’s much fun and involves a great deal of plotting and trading and backroom deals, as well as a great deal of thought about what gift to bring. The gifts are anonymous, of course.
Afterward there is often spirited trading.
Do you have a family tradition? Share in the comments.
I can’t believe Christmas is only a few days away! I still have to finish some shopping and buy ingredients for holiday cupcakes, but the dance recital is behind me (aside from one child’s eating-confetti incident, all went well and the little sugarplums were all adorable!) and writing work is waiting for me. It’s time to make a few Christmas lists.
I already bought some of my own presents, like a Kindle 3, a cute new purple bike (to encourage myself to exercise more in the new year–now that I’ve said it here I have to do it), and a ballgown that I guess will have to wait for RWA next summer since I can’t really wear it to Target or the dog park. I have a few things on my wish list I am pretty sure I won’t be getting. Like a villa in Provence:
Or Ian Somerhalder:
Or a tiara to go with my new dress:
But I do have a few things that are a little more feasible! And if you have another TV watching history geek on your list, they might like one of these too…
Big Ben and Eiffel Tower Barbies!
This Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire doll from Madame Alexander! (They also have a fab Anne Boleyn doll…)
The Mad Men box set
Anything Hello Kitty (of course!)
This ring from Tartx (or any numbers of things from there, they have so many gorgeous items…)
Balenciaga Paris shower gel (this has become my new perfume obsession this year!)
And books, CDs, and DVDs of costume dramas are always welcome under my tree! 🙂 (Books and movies are waiting to be wrapped for everyone on my own list–but shh! Don’t tell them)
Have a wonderful holiday, and thanks so much to all our readers for visiting the Riskies and making this so much fun for me! What is on your wish list this Christmas?? What have you bought for everyone else?
