This post is actually a collection of Christmas legends that I absolutely love.
The first is the Legend of the Spider's Web. It is a lovely story, hearkening back to the day when Jesus Christ was but a young Child and His parents were fleeing from the murderous wrath of Herod. As the legend goes, the Holy Family took refuge in a cave, and since it was very cold a little spider sought to help warm the Family by weaving a web across the mouth of the cave. It turns out that the spider's web did more than just warm the Family, for when a troop of Herod's soldiers came by the web protected Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in a very special way. You can read this legend here. (There's another story about Christmas Spiders, which is also very lovely but not as wonderful as the Legend of the Spider's Web. You can read the Legend of the Christmas Spider here, and make your own choice about which you prefer.)
Next is the Legend of the Christmas Rose. Young Madelon was dreadfully poor, but she wanted more than anything to worship the Christ Child. Yet seeing the rich gifts being brought to the Babe in His stall she despaired of finding any gift worthy to offer the Infant Saviour. But God does not disappoint those that try to please him, and so He granted Madelon a very special Christmas miracle, and you can read about that here.
Third is the Legend of the Christmas Robin. Have you ever wondered why a Robin has such a red breast? On the night the Christ was born, the night was very cold and the fire that Joseph kindled was feeble. The Robin could not bear to see the Child suffer the piercing cold. This poem here gives an endearing explanation to the cause of the Robin's red breast.
Fourth is the Legend of the Poinsettia. Two children desired to bring some special gift to the Baby Jesus displayed in the village manger scene, as the rest of the villagers were doing. But being very poor they had nothing to bring, except perhaps a few weeds growing beside the road. God shows that a gift given with love is worth more to Him than any expensive offering. You can read this legend here.
Last is the Legend of the Candy Cane, one of my more favourites. The simple little candy cane is given a deeper meaning in regards to its colour and shape with the telling of this tale. You can read it here.
There are many legends about Christmas and Christmas decorations or traditions. These listed here are just my more favourite ones. I hope you enjoy them!
See you tomorrow for the next story. Oh, and don't forget... the contest at Cat's Mathoms is ending on Christmas Eve, so get over there if you have a First Chapter or short story or picture book you want critiqued, and make sure you leave a comment under the contest!
God bless, and Merry Christmas!
Showing posts with label Cat's Mathoms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cat's Mathoms. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Six-Sentence Saturday 12/17/2011
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| Enchanted Conversations |
In case you missed it on Wednesday, I'm holding a contest on my site at Cat's Mathoms. Everyone is welcome to participate!
Second, and more exciting, the fantastic online magazine Enchanted Conversations is not closing! There was a point where it sounded like they were going under, but happily they are not, so keep submitting to them! They are a fantastic site that publishes fairy tales with a twist, and they are wonderful, so please please please support them. Click here to read their updated guidelines. Thanks so much!
Right, now onto this:
1.) It's A Wonderful Life has got to be one of my fav'rite Christmas movies ever... I think Jimmy Stewart has something to do with that!
2.) THE GREAT IMPERSONATION is one of the best mystery books of all time!
3.) I got all my Christmas presents bought and wrapped already.
4.) I'm going to buy ingredients for Christmas cookies tomorrow, which ought to be fun!
5.) I have the weirdest idea for a story brewing in the back of my head right now, and I'm just not sure how to go about writing it.
6.) I'm LOVING Josh Groban's Little Drummer Boy right now. Take a listen and see why:
That's all for now. Merry Christmas, and God bless you all!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Words on Wednesday - The First Sentence
First sentences are the devil. Don't let anyone say they're not, because they really ARE! You need to impart so much information in one little slice of words that it almost makes you want to quit before you've started.
I won a critique giveaway awhile ago, back in July, and I was super-excited that the lady who held that contest read the first chapter and thought it was really good. The only comment she made that really stuck with me most though was about my opening sentence. It was a good sentence, but it didn't impart necessary information. This is what she said:
The first sentence is fascinating, but it doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. My first thought is “futuristic.” We’ve got a smart letterbox that can announce the mail. Furthermore, the box calls for [the MC], not one of her parents. But the book’s not futuristic (if it is, we need more signs). The assumption, both because her name is used and because she ran for the mail, is that she was expecting something important. But apparently not so. We have no clue why she ran for the mail. Does she always? Is that a way of assuaging some of her loneliness? Also, the sentence about handling the letter makes me wonder if she has powers. Can she handle objects and receive mental images? But I see no other hint of powers in this section, either.
I won a critique giveaway awhile ago, back in July, and I was super-excited that the lady who held that contest read the first chapter and thought it was really good. The only comment she made that really stuck with me most though was about my opening sentence. It was a good sentence, but it didn't impart necessary information. This is what she said:
The first sentence is fascinating, but it doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. My first thought is “futuristic.” We’ve got a smart letterbox that can announce the mail. Furthermore, the box calls for [the MC], not one of her parents. But the book’s not futuristic (if it is, we need more signs). The assumption, both because her name is used and because she ran for the mail, is that she was expecting something important. But apparently not so. We have no clue why she ran for the mail. Does she always? Is that a way of assuaging some of her loneliness? Also, the sentence about handling the letter makes me wonder if she has powers. Can she handle objects and receive mental images? But I see no other hint of powers in this section, either.
It's so important to get that first sentence absolutely perfect. You need to tell the reader, clunk, who the MC is, what the MC can do, and what's conflicting him/her, and why this sentence was written in the first place.
Because of how wonderfully illuminating this critique was, I decided that I'm going to offer a Christmas Eve First Chapter Critique giveaway over at Cat's Mathoms. You can read the guidelines for entering, and I sincerely hope you do... enter, I mean. I promise I'll give you nothing more than my own honest, and very nice opinion! (And I sincerely believe that my opinion is very honest but nice!)
God bless!
Cat
Monday, August 8, 2011
New Program: FantaMorph!!
I love Monday Miribilia. I get to talk about the random things that inspire me.
Like this program I'm using, called FantaMorph.
It's the coolest program! You can take photos of two people - or just two things, the choice is up to you - and create ONE new person, or creature. How cool is that?
I created a prototype of the character I am now in the process of revising, and I just LOVE having a face to put the voice to. It's amazing how much easier it becomes. For instance, here's a face I came up with that is absolutely BEGGING for a voice and a story:
I'm not sure who she is, or what her story will be, but isn't she so CUTE? Don't you wish you knew someone like this?
As an exercise, try this. Come up with a name that you think fits this character, and give her a character trait, a personality, and maybe a little bit of a voice.
Here's my effort:
Here name was Vanessa Heather Raine, but everyone called her Ness. She always seemed to be smiling, even when she was nervous. Then, you could only see her uncertainty because of the way she'd reach up to play with her hair.
She was mostly easy-going, but there was a strong stubborn streak inside her that was the bane of her existence. "I'd wish that someone could get rid of that stubbornness for me," she'd say, twisting a bit of hair between her fingers before tucking it behind her ear, "except that no one would recognize me without it."
That was fun! Thanks for reading! God bless and see you next time.
Oh! Don't forget, we're heading into Week Two of the Writing Buddy contest. Head on over to Cat's Mathoms and let's see your submissions.
Like this program I'm using, called FantaMorph.
It's the coolest program! You can take photos of two people - or just two things, the choice is up to you - and create ONE new person, or creature. How cool is that?
I created a prototype of the character I am now in the process of revising, and I just LOVE having a face to put the voice to. It's amazing how much easier it becomes. For instance, here's a face I came up with that is absolutely BEGGING for a voice and a story:
I'm not sure who she is, or what her story will be, but isn't she so CUTE? Don't you wish you knew someone like this?
As an exercise, try this. Come up with a name that you think fits this character, and give her a character trait, a personality, and maybe a little bit of a voice.
Here's my effort:
Here name was Vanessa Heather Raine, but everyone called her Ness. She always seemed to be smiling, even when she was nervous. Then, you could only see her uncertainty because of the way she'd reach up to play with her hair.
She was mostly easy-going, but there was a strong stubborn streak inside her that was the bane of her existence. "I'd wish that someone could get rid of that stubbornness for me," she'd say, twisting a bit of hair between her fingers before tucking it behind her ear, "except that no one would recognize me without it."
That was fun! Thanks for reading! God bless and see you next time.
Oh! Don't forget, we're heading into Week Two of the Writing Buddy contest. Head on over to Cat's Mathoms and let's see your submissions.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Six-Sentence Saturday 8/06/11
It's amazing how quickly the days go by. It's already Saturday again! How did that happen?
1.) I love creating new characters on my new FantaMorph program.
2.) I WON the July Critique Giveaway over at Marcia Hoehne's blog. Thank you, Marcia!
3.) I'm going to go out and about today and do some window-shopping and actual shopping-shopping, which I love.
4.) I could go to Staples every day and just hang out, checking out their pens, paper, craft supplies, etc.
5.) I find that I am absolutely tired by Saturday, and really enjoy sleeping in an extra hour on my weekend.
6.) Coffee is the one thing that keeps my brain from melting.
Don't forget, there's a contest going on right now over at Cat's Mathoms. You can't win the little writing buddy unless you enter, so let's see some of those submissions!
1.) I love creating new characters on my new FantaMorph program.
2.) I WON the July Critique Giveaway over at Marcia Hoehne's blog. Thank you, Marcia!
3.) I'm going to go out and about today and do some window-shopping and actual shopping-shopping, which I love.
4.) I could go to Staples every day and just hang out, checking out their pens, paper, craft supplies, etc.
5.) I find that I am absolutely tired by Saturday, and really enjoy sleeping in an extra hour on my weekend.
6.) Coffee is the one thing that keeps my brain from melting.
Don't forget, there's a contest going on right now over at Cat's Mathoms. You can't win the little writing buddy unless you enter, so let's see some of those submissions!
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