Dual Yule
This week I’ve been teaching my students about the two Christmas stories. The new one features a roly-poly Santa, the North Pole, eight reindeer, flexible chimneys, stockings for the naughty and nice, decorated Christmas trees, and lots of presents. The old story has a poor couple’s journey, a full hotel, a smelly and noisy birth into some rags and a food trough, a bright star, traveling shepherds and kings, singing angels, and the Christ. The students been really into it … and I’ve had a blast in the process!
In most of my classes we’ve also talked about holiday consumerism (and its reach into Loudi), and I’ve even sang a lot of Christmas songs for them (about both stories). In fact, I’ve been singing everywhere … it’s so much fun to walk around the street with a santa hat on, singing carols at the top of my lungs to complete strangers. I’ve been doing it for three days now!
December 21st, 2006 at 8:21 pm EST
You should get a kettle and ring a bell….
December 21st, 2006 at 11:23 pm EST
One is Yule, the other is Christmas. I have the instructions somewhere for turning Christmas Trees into Yule Logs; they help heat my house. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is a popular one for most people to burn nowadays.
The Christmas story begins with Adam and Eve, winds through the repentence worked in the sinner by the Holy Spirit ( wow! a miraculous birth! ) , and concludes in Eternal Life given by the Father to those who believe that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.
Maybe you should dress as the angel, blow your trumpet, and sing Glory to God in the Highest. Go for it. I dare you!
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:49 am EST
aw
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:42 am EST
Hey Lance, how is everything going in China? It sounds like you are having a good time. I am praying for you!
Grace
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:59 am EST
hehe, you DO know how to get everyone’s attention!!