Santa needs a little break

Really nothing to see past here (placeholder for next year's Christmas stuff)

The Essentials
If you can only watch a couple of holiday specials, these are the ones to watch. This is the proverbial 'hall of fame' of Christmas programming.

1. It's a Wonderful Life (click to watch)

How It Should Have Ended : It's A Wonderful Life
http://youtu.be/9mjaeMlNIi4

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (click to watch)

3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (click to watch)

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (click to watch)

5. Frosty the Snowman (click to watch)

Cartoons

6. Disney's Very Merry Christmas Sing-Along

7. The Smurfs Christmas Special (click to watch)

8. The SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special (click to watch)

9. A Garfield Christmas (click to watch)

10. The Boondocks Christmas Special (click to watch)

11. Disney: A Christmas Gift (click to watch)

12. Batman: Holiday Knights (click to watch)

13. The Madagascar Penguins: Christmas Caper (click to watch)

14. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (click to watch)

15. Bugs Bunny: The Fright Before Christmas (click to watch)

16. Tom & Jerry: The Night Before Christmas (click to watch)

17. Scooby Doo's Christmas Special (click to watch)

18. Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Christmas Blast (click to watch)

19. Vintage Rudolph Cartoon from 1948 (click to watch)

20. Vintage Frosty the Snowman Cartoon (click to watch)

21. Donald Duck's Christmas (click to watch)

22. A Space Ghost Christmas (click to watch)

23. Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (click to watch)

24. Darkwing Duck: It's a Wonderful Leaf (click to watch)

25. Arthur the Aardvark: Arthur's Perfect Christmas (click...ch)

26. Chip 'n Dale: The Christmas Tree (click to watch)

27. A Cosmic Christmas (click to watch)

28. Little Audrey: Santa's Surprise (click to watch)

29. Christmas Comes but Once a Year (click to watch)

30. Ginger Nutt's Christmas Circus (click to watch)

Stop-Motion Animation (Claymation)

31. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (click to watch)

32. The Year Without a Santa Claus (click to watch)

33. Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (click to watch)

34. Davey & Goliath: Christmas Lost & Found (click...ch)

35. Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration (click ...ch)

Versions of 'A Christmas Carol'

36. Mickey's Christmas Carol (click to watch)

37. Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (click to watch)

38. Richard Williams' A Christmas Carol (click to watch)

Sitcoms
The sitcom is another mainstay of Christmas.

39. The Simpsons Christmas Episode (click to watch)

40. The Flinstones Christmas Episode (click to watch)

41. Scrubs: Christmas Episode (click to watch)

42. The Beverly Hillbillies: Christmas Episode (click to watch)

43. That 70's Show: Christmas Episode (click to watch)

44. Friends: Season 6 Christmas Episode (click to watch)

45. Seinfeld: Festivus (click to watch)

46. Ozzie & Harriet: Christmas Episode (click to watch)

47. Mork & Mindy: Mork's 1st Christmas (click to watch)

48. Veronica's Closet: Veronica's Christmas (click to watch)

49. The Brady Bunch: The Voice of Christmas (click to watch)

50. A Very Brady Christmas (click to watch)

51. Family Ties: A Christmas Story (click to watch)

52. Family Ties: A Keaton Xmas Carol (click to watch)

Music Videos

53. Bing Crosby: White Christmas (click to watch)

54. Karen Carpenter: Merry Christmas Darling (click to watch)

55. Band Aid: do They Know it's Christmas? (click to watch)

56. Faith Hill: where Are You Christmas (click to watch)

57. Elmo & Patsy: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (...ch)

58. Mariah Carey: All I Want for Christmas is You (click t...ch)

59. Paul McCartney: Wonderful Christmas Time (click to watch)

60. Judy Garland: Silent Night (click to watch)

61. Run DMC: Christmas in Hollis (click to watch)

62. David Bowie & Bing Crosby: Drummer Boy (click to watch)

63. Elvis Presley: Blue Christmas (click to watch)

64. Billy Idol: Jingle Bell Rock (click to watch)

65. Kenny G: Merry Little Christmas (click to watch)

66. U2: It's Christmas Baby (click to watch)

67. John Lennon: Happy Xmas (War is Over) (click to watch)

68. Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra: It's a Marshmallow Wo...ch)

69. Trans Siberian Orchestra: Christmas Canon (click to watch)

70. Christina Aguilera & Brian McKnight: Merry Little ...ch)

71. Wham!: Last Christmas (click to watch)

72. Kelly Clarkson: O Holy Night (click to watch)

73. Whitney Houston: Do You Hear What I Hear (click to watch)

74. Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song (click to watch)

75. Johnny Mathis: Silver Bells (click to watch)

Miscellaneous Specials & Documentaries
This is a mish-mash of some different Christmas programming that I didn't know how to categorize

otherwise. Still, you'll find some interesting (non-animated) stuff.

76. Ali G Christmas Message (click to watch)

77. Mythbusters Christmas Special (click to watch)

78. Christmas Unwrapped: The Truth About Christmas (click ...ch)

79. The Naked Chef: Christmas Comes Early (click to watch)

80. The Worst Christmas Jobs in History (click to watch)

The Commercials
Of course, with all that Christmas television programming there's bound to be an equal amount of holiday-themed advertising. Here are some of my favorites. I'm partial to the Hershey's Kisses commercial.

81. The Coca-Cola Holiday Truck (click to watch)

82. Fruity Pebbles Christmas Commercial (click to watch)

83. McDonalds : Ice-Skating Ronald McDonald (click to watch)

84. Honey Nut Cheerios (click to watch)

85. Hershey's Kisses Christmas Commercial (click to watch)

86. DirectTV: Bad Guys Become Good for the Holidays (click...ch)

87. Coca-Cola: Teach the World to Sing (click to watch)

88. Victoria's: Dazzle Me (click to watch)

The Parodies, Sketches & Spoofs
Because poking fun at Christmas may be irreverant, but it can also be pretty damned funny. Here are some short clips and sketches that have some fun with Christmas.

89. The Three Little Pigs' Christmas (click to watch)

90. South Park: Merry F@%#%ing Christmas (click to watch)

91. Mad TV: Raging Rudolph (click to watch)

92. Indian Santa Claus: Funny Sketch (click to watch)

93. Family Guy: Christmas CD Ad (click to watch)

94. Christmas with Mr. Bill (click to watch)

95. Jeff Foxworthy: The Redneck 12 Days of Christmas (clic...ch)

96. Scrubs Performs 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (click to watch)

97. Dogs Barking 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' (click t...ch)

98. A Christmas Gory: Christmas Story Spoof (http://youtu.be/UlcYUL9srn8)

99. If Santa Claus Were Like Fox TV's '24' (x)

The Abominations
Of course, not all holiday specials are created equal. Folks have create a lot of horrible Christmas programming over the years. I'm not about to subject myself to watching or cataloging all of them, but here are a few to get you started. But note that you have been warned - these will have you crying out: "oh the humanity" before too long.

100. Star Wars Holiday Special ( http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xn5gsj_the-star-wars-holiday-special_shortfilms )

101. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (http://youtu.be/Oyrb-iSkpFE)

It's just around the corner

Here's a Christmas greeting from Iggy Pop -



Happy Holidays to you, Iggy




We're all having our Christmas Eve dinner of the seven fishes, we keep losing track of how many fishes we've consumed, (it might have something to do with the number of bottles of white wine that we've consumed.) 

Why not watch these cartoons for your family while we try to sober up -

Claus and Effect or Yule… Be Sorry  Rocky and Bullwinkle -




 A Christmas Plotz, Little Drummer Warners   Animaniacs -




One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.


Now that you're in the proper mood for the holidays - I'll leave you with these thoughts from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his poem, Christmas Bells:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
    And wild and sweet
    The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
    Had rolled along
    The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
    A voice, a chime,
    A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
    And with the sound
    The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
    And made forlorn
    The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
    "For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."



I've told my kids and maybe you'll tell yours - Dammit kids, get to bed!  The sooner you go to sleep, the quicker Christmas will be here.



Norad Santa

And so it goes.


Here's a just released CIA photo of Dr. Caligari's father not being so charmed by the dr.'s shenanigans.

A little 'less syrupy' holiday special

In case you've grown tired of all of those kids holiday specials, here's one that's a tad more adult - Pee Wee's Christmas Special:



So what did we learn by watching this special - when Cher says the secret word 'year' you better scream really loud!


Today’s Christmas video countdown – A Hip Hop Christmas (Old School)

Christmas Rappin   Kurtis Blow -




Christmas in Hollis  Run D.M.C. -




Beat Street Santa's Christmas Xmas Rap -




Cold Chillin' Christmas  the Juice Crew  -




Let The Jingle Bells Rock  Sweet Tee -




The Christmas Song   David Banner  -




Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto   Snoop Doggy Dogg -





And so it goes.

Songs we sing in the car

( I am behind my time. I was making rather merry yesterday...to quote Bob Cratchit.)
Today's Christmas Countdown - first time guest programmer: Mary's favorite songs

Santa Baby -




Over the river and through the wood -




Jingle Bells -




O Holy Night -




Angels We Have Heard On High -





And so it goes.

On TV, it's Christmas 365 days a year.

Today's Christmas Countdown - It's a TV Christmas

No Room At The Inn  Newhart




Merry Christmas Mr. Bean




Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid  The Mary Tyler Moore Show




Christmas Cheers  Cheers -




The Holiday Armadillo  Friends -



The Monkees Christmas Show




Twas The Night Before Christmas  The Honeymooners





And so it goes.

No man is a failure who has friends

December 20, 1946 -
The Frank Capra film It's A Wonderful Life had a preview showing for charity at New York City's Globe Theatre, (a day before its official premiere) on this date.



The film is regarded as a classic and is a staple of Christmas television around the world, although, due to its high production costs and stiff competition at the box office, financially, it was considered a flop.

(Another, more adult alternate ending of the film) -



This is truly a strange little film.


It really now the start of the Christmas season: Darlene Love makes her annual appearance on the David Letterman Show tonight to sing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) -

Darlene Love's 2012 appearance




And here's Darlene Love's very first Christmas appearance




Our Second Christmas video countdown – Happy Holiday from Prisoner 1073015

Phil Spector - Biography




The Phil Spector Christmas Album



Jay Thomas and the Lone Ranger Story  (2012)





And so it goes.

It's only fair play

Today's Christmas video countdown - Male Rockers Perform:

Merry Christmas, Baby  James Brown -




Pretty Paper  Roy Orbison -




Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)  The Ramones  -




Blue Christmas  Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -




Christmas Bells (I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day)  Bob Dylan -




Christmas Island   Leon Redbone  -




Feliz Navidad  Jose Feliciano -




Fairytale Of New York   The Pogues & Kirsty McColl -



And speaking of alcoholic holidays, here the wonderful poem A Child's Christmas in Wales read by it's author, Dylan Thomas -




And so it goes.

Yeah, I didn't win Mega-millions either

Today's Christmas countdown - Holiday Cartoons:

Toyland Premiere (1934) -




Pluto’s Christmas Tree  -




The Night Before Christmas  (1933) -




Santa's Suprise  -




A Night Before Christmas (1949)  -




And finally - Christmas with Liberace -



because what kids doesn't want to spend Christmas with Mr. Showmanship

I'm not sure how long you can keep being on the 'nice' list this year.  Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip.

Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?

December 17, 1843 (there is some controversy concerning this actual date) -

Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, on this date. Dickens wrote the novel after his first commercial failure. His previous novel, Martin Chuzzlewit had flopped, and he was suddenly strapped for cash. Martin Chuzzlewit had been satirical and pessimistic, and Dickens thought he might be more successful if he wrote a heartwarming tale with a holiday theme.



He got the idea for the book in late October of 1843, the story of the heartless Ebenezer Scrooge, who has so little Christmas spirit that he wants his assistant Bob Cratchit to work on Christmas Day.



Dickens struggled to finish the book in time for Christmas. He no longer had a publisher so he published the book himself, ordering illustrations, gilt-edged pages and a lavish red bound cover. He priced the book at a mere 5 shillings, in hopes of making it affordable to everyone. It was released within a week of Christmas and was a huge success, selling six thousand copies the first few days, and the demand was so great that it quickly went to second and third editions.



God bless us, everyone!!!


Today’s Christmas video countdown – A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (1969) -



Scrooge (1951) -



(It isn't really Christmas in our home unless we are watching this at about 2 am Christmas morning 'assisting Santa' with the gifts.)

A Christmas Carol  Tom Lehrer-



Green Christmas  Stan Freberg - (1958) -




And there is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than drinking spirits -

Eggnog is usually thought of as a Christmas beverage and to tell the truth I am not a huge fan of Eggnog. So I find it amusing that the recipe that I'm posting is for Eggnog.

Coquito, a Puerto Rican twist on the classic, is a family favorite and I thought I’d share it with you and perhaps you can try it out on your family.

Please note: these drinks go down quite smoothly and are very potent – they could be administered as a calmative for frayed nerves during the holiday season.

Ingredients:

* 4 large egg yolks
* 1/4 cup of sugar
* 1/2 can of (14-ounces) condensed milk
* 1 14-ounce cans evaporated milk
* 1 1/2 cans of 15-ounce cans cream of coconut
* 1/2 of a Fifth of white rum (or more)
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 teaspoon coconut (or vanilla) extract


Tools:

* Drink Blender
* Can opener
* Glass


Directions:
Add the egg yolks, sugar, spices and vanilla into the blender. Mix until well blended.

Add the evaporated & condensed milk to the blender and briefly mix. (Condensed milk is very thick - you may want to open the can up all the way and scrap out all of the milk with a spatula.)

Vigorously shack the can of cream of coconut (it tends to separate.) Pour the cream of coconut into the blender and mix well. Scrap out any remaining coconut stuff from the can.

Add the rum and mix. Taste. If you think you need more rum, add it.

Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Serve cold.


And so it goes

It's ladies night

Today's Christmas video countdown - Female Performers:


Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree   Brenda Lee -




Angels From the Realms of Glory   Annie Lennox -




O Come, O Come, Emmanuel  Linda Ronstadt  -




Happy Christmas   Debbie Harry -




Christmas Wrapping   The Waitresses -




Minnie And Santa    Cyndi Lauper -




We Three Kings   Patti Smith -




Merry Christmas Baby   Sheryl Crow -

And so it goes.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Today's theme is funny Christmas songs (that aren't about the vehicular homicide of your grandmother by St. Nick,)


Elf's Lament Barenaked Ladies -




Another Christmas Song  Stephen Colbert -




Christmas in Heaven Monty Python -




It's the Most Fattening Time of the Year Bobby Rivers -




And why not, Christmastime for the Jews  SNL -




So laugh it up folks

And so it goes.

Hey, it's snowing outside

 (Runing very late today - this is an encore Christmas special)

Today's Christmas countdown - Those gentlemen from Philadelphia were so moved by our themes concerning Frank and Dino that after much grappa and threatened 'kisses of death', I have be persuaded (forced at gunpoint) to have another Mobbed Up Christmas. This is not to say that any of these singers are in anyway associated with organized crime. It's just that Frankie Cervello, Molluschi Vincenzo, Joey Finocchio, etc, 'requested' these songs.


What will Santa Claus Say When he Finds Everybody Swinging  Louis Prima -




Oh Come All Ye Faithful   Jerry Vale -




Christmas is Everywhere  Paul Anka -




You're All I Want For Christmas   Al Martino -




Buon Natale  Jimmy Roselli -



After many shots (of scotch) and plates of scungilli, vongole prime and fried calamari, the boys want to wish everyone 'Buon Natale'.

You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.

OK, Frank wasn't the only member of the Rat Pack to sing carols - today's theme is A Dean Martin's Christmas (Dean died on Christmas day in 1995.)

Marshmallow World -




I'll Be Home for Christmas -




Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer -




Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! -




What the hell, let's have the entire Rat Pack for Christmas -




Ahhh, you can practically taste the Bourbon in the air.



And so it goes.

It's a Sinatra Christmas

Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night - be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels.


White Christmas  -




Adeste Fideles  -




Jingle Bells -




It Came Upon A Midnight Clear -




Santa Claus Is Coming To Town  -

What says Christmas more (part 2) ...

than music by kids abused by their domineering father- (the Motown edition)

Today's Christmas countdown - A Jackson Five Christmas


Up On The House Top -




Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year-




Little Drummer Boy  -




I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus  -




We here at ACME are wishing you time to enjoy the simple pleasures of this holiday season.  And if not, Joe will be coming by to give you the beating of your life.

And so it goes.

What says Christmas more (part 1) ...

than music by kids abused by their domineering father

Today's Christmas countdown - A Beach Boys Christmas

Little Saint Nick -



Santa's Beard -




Merry Christmas, Baby -



Christmas Day -




Another Christmas song they got around to sing in between the verbal abuse from their father -




There is no place like home for the holiday.



And so it goes.

I don't eat the snows of Decemeber

A Christmas Miracle - The Making of a Charlie Brown Christmas




A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio




In honor of our depressed little pal:  Let's all get in the mood and have a depressing Christmas -

Joy  - Tracey Thorn




Little Mary Christmas - Roger Christian




Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison




Silver & Gold - Sufjan Stevens




And what holiday would be complete without Tom Waits -


You may daub your eyes now, you just have a little dust in them.  I know you are not crying.

It matters only that you love

Let's have a happier way to remember John Lennon on this sad anniversary






Here's my second guest programmer Julie's favorite Christmas jingles (both, she and her sister, are quite passed out from making too much Christmas merry)

Last Christmas - Ariana Grande




All I want for Christmas Is You

;


Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry




The Singing Dogs Jingle Bells




Little Drummer Boy - Pentatonix





And so it goes

Isn't this the definition of ZOMBIE

If you are a cold, lifeless object that wanders around, seeking human companionship, shouldn't we be fleeing from you?


December 7, 1969 -
Another Rankin/Bass production, Frosty the Snowman, premiered on CBS-TV on this date.



Voice actress June Foray was cast for both Karen and the Teacher and had recorded vocals for both characters. However, only her recordings for the Teacher made it into the final special as another actress was called in to replace Foray's Karen, for reasons that even Foray herself to this day does not know.


Frosty The Snowman - Jimmy Durante



The original recording of "Frosty The Snowman" by Gene Autry was his seasonal follow-up to his successful recording of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1949. This time he peaked at #7 in December 1950.


The Snow Man (1940)




Frosty The Snowman (1953)




Snowman's Dilemma (1960)




The Snowman (1982)



When this program first aired on PBS stations in the United States, the introduction featured a newly filmed introduction by David Bowie instead of Raymond Briggs on the grounds that the animation needed a star.



And so it goes.

He'll come around when chimes ring out

It's the Feast of Saint Nicholas (yes, that St. Nick.) Amongst other things, he is the patron saint of children and was known for his generosity. He's also known as the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, merchants, the falsely accused, prostitutes (Huh), repentant thieves, pharmacists and broadcasters.

Let's check out some other ways St. Nick has been portrayed:

Here Comes Santa Claus -




Conan O'Brien Santa Claus training -




History of Santa -




History of gift giving -




Today is the 49th anniversary of the original broadcast of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, we have a second Christmas video countdown today - Rudolph!


Original Rankin/Bass Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer GE Commercials





Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer cartoon from 1944 -




Aflac Insurance's holiday spot - Rudolph.




Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  Gene Autry -

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo

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Did You Know?
After A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens wrote several other Christmas stories, one each year, but none was as successful as the original.

Among some of the titles were -

And so it goes


There are 19 more shopping days until Christmas

It's never too early

We have one holiday under our belt and another to come.



You probably should start thinking about where the tree is going to go.


We asked back one of our guest programmers (I actually had no choice, she'll always hanging around here.) to give us a few of her favorite holiday songs.  Take it away Olivia -

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer




I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus




Santa Claus is Coming to Town




Jingle Bells




Jolly Old St. Nicholas




There are 20 more days until Christmas

It's the Eighth night of Hanukkah.

You've probably run out of gifts at this point, wrap your family's fresh laundry as the gift that shows you've done the laundry.

At this point, look up a local oil recycler - it will do better for everyone as a biofuel.


And here, I promise, is the last set of songs celebrating Hanukkah -

Hanukkah With Veronica Monica




Mrs. Maccabeus - Ben Aronin




Chanukah Jewish Rock of Ages




How Do You Spell Channukkahh  -




Hey, somebody has to clean up all of that wax on the break front. And somebody's got to dump all of this oil.


It's that time of year again

OK kids, PNC bank has reported that there is a 7.7% increase in the price of the items needed for the 12 days of Christmas. In the 30th year of the survey PNC has found that the 12 items come out to a grand total of $27,393 which is a $1,762 increase from last year.



These prices are, of course, just for one verse of the song. If you add up the total cost of all the items from the entire song (what PNC Wealth Management calls “The True Cost of Christmas”) it would surmount $114,651 !

Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters  -




Bob and Doug MacKenzie -




The Twelve Days of Yaksmas -




Allan Sherman -




Frank Kelly's Christmas Countdown-




12 Tiny Christmas Tales




There are 21 more days until Christmas

Festival of the Daughters (Chag haBanot)

Maybe I've miscounted, is it the seventh night?

In parts of Northern Africa countries, such as Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco,

tonight is celebrated as commemoration of Judith's beheading of the General Holofernes (impress your friends with that one.)


Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah - Erran Baron Cohen




Hank Azaria wishes you a Happy Chanukah!




CNET News : Techie ways to celebrate Hanukkah




Happy Hanukkah - Matisyahu




As this is the anniversary of St. Elvis' comeback - It's an Elvis Christmas today

Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)




Santa Claus Is Back In Town




Blue Christmas




If Every Day Was Like Christmas




If you've touched yourself inappropriately, don't worry, you're listening to Elvis; he understands.


There are 22 more days until Christmas

Don't worry - there's only a few more days

It's the Sixth Night of Hanukkah

At this point you may want to skip the unnecessary calories and just drink the oil - but not too much.  Mussolini used to use this as a torture for his political enemies.


Hanukkah Song -  Ash Soular




I Saw Hanukkah Harry Beat Up Santa




Candlelight - The Maccabeats




Captain Smartypants sings Dreidel

You should begin thinking about where you are going to store your Menorah? (I don't mean to insinuate that you aren't normally observant. Perhaps you proudly display your heirloom menorah in your living room. I can't be everywhere.)


Nothing says Christmas more that a pair of ukele playing knitted puppets - It's a U800 Christmas Special



Before you go - Ellie wants to make latkes for her family.  She buys potatoes for $8.50 and onions for $4.65 at the supermarket. She pays for the groceries with a twenty-dollar bill. How much change will Ellie receive?


There are 23 more days until Christmas

It's the Fifth Night of Hanukkah

Impress your friends: The fifth night of Hanukkah is called 'the darkest night', not because it falls on one of the last days of the Hebrew month of Kislev (meaning there is no moon), but because it is the only night of Hanukkah that can NEVER fall on Shabbat.

The oil fatigue may have already set in. Hold on, you will get through this.


A Musical Channukah Quiz by Gladys Gewirtz




Chanukah Makes You Jewtiful - Jew Direction




Eight Nights A Week




Not to be a Debbie Downer but sometimes the underlying reason for the holidays is lost in the fog of war -

Christmas Truce of 1914




White Christmas - Bing Crosby




Christmas Eve In My Home Town - Kate Smith




Christmas in Vietnam - Private Charles Bowen




Marines in Iraq for Christmas




Christmas in Afghanistan




Happy Christmas (War is Over) - Sheryl Crow




There are 24 more days until Christmas