Wham! - Last Christmas

History Channel – The Real Story of Christmas – Full Documentary

Louis-Claude Daquin - Noël sur les jeux d'anches

Louis-Claude Daquin (1694 - 1772) The Royal Chapel At TheTimes De Louis XV. Interpreted by Olivier Latry. Baroque organ.

Louis-Claude Daquin: Noël X

A rarely-heard rendition of this enduring piece from Glenstal Abbey, Ireland. Organ: Andrew Cyprian Love

Louis-Claude Daquin »

Weekly Address: Merry Christmas from the President and the First Lady

In this week’s address, the President and the First Lady wished all Americans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Season's Greetings: Political Correctness Worries Raised Over Christmas, New Year

As Europe prepares to celebrate Christmas - it's also stepping up security measures. The German Chancellor has ordered a security review following Monday's attack on a Christmas market, in which 12 people were killed, and dozens injured.

Why the Christmas Story Is Still Relevant in a Busy World

Spirited Debate: Max Lucado discusses his new book 'Because of Bethlehem: Love is Born, Hope is Here' and why the Christmas story is still relevant in a busy world

Battle of the Billboards: Christians vs. Atheists

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël ! Fröhliche Weihnachten! Buon Natale! Felix Nativitas! Nadolig Llawen!

'We Three Kings', an original collage by James C. Christensen.
Courtesy of Google Images

Louis-Claude Daquin: Noël X

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark the Herald Angel Sing - St.Paul's Cathedral - London (UK)

Gloria in excelsis Deo Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis, Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi, propter magnam gloriam tua.

The Super-rich Ruler Who Stones Gays, Now Bans Christmas: Sultan of Brunei Threatens Muslims Who Celebrate It with Up to Five Years in Prison While Christians Must Keep Theirs Secret

Banned Christmas: Oil-rich Brunei has banned public
celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray.

MAIL ONLINE: Christmas trees, carols and even Santa hats are off in the Borneo nation / Muslims caught celebrating are threatened with up to five years in prison / The nation's non-Muslims are allowed to celebrate in their communities / But revealing their celebrations to Muslims would also lead to jail time

Lighting candles, putting up decorations and even wearing Santa hats will be off the cards in Brunei this Christmas – with offenders threatened with up to five years in jail.

The tiny oil-rich nation has banned the public celebrating of Christmas, following concern that it will affect the faith of its Muslims.

Any Muslims caught celebrating Christmas, and non-Muslims who are discovered organising celebrations, could face the lengthy prison sentence.

While non-Muslims are allowed to celebrate the holiday within their own communities, they must not disclose their plans to the nation’s Muslims – which make up 65 per cent of the 420,000-strong population.

The nation is also home to substantial Christian and Buddhist communities.

‘These enforcement measures are…intended to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the aqidah (beliefs) of the Muslim community,’ said the Ministry of Religious Affairs in a statement.

The small Borneo nation prohibits propagating religion other than Islam to a Muslim, and breaking this is a violation of the penal code.
Other banned activities include putting up Christmas trees, singing religious songs and sending Christmas greetings, reported the Borneo Bulletin. Read on and comment » | Imogen Calderwood for MailOnline | Monday, December 21, 2015

Good Grief! Obama Thinks Christmas Is about Loving Tiny Trees

Super-rich Sultan of Brunei Bans Christmas

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: Oil-rich Brunei has officially banned all public celebrations of Christmas, announced its Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The ban was implemented after a number of people were reportedly spotted wearing clothes resembling Santa Claus at Christmas time.

Businesses that publicly displayed Christmas decorations were also asked to take them down and the ministry confirmed receiving their "full cooperation" on it.

The move follows Brunei's wealthy Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's announcement last April on the introduction of a new Islamic penal code making it the first East Asian country to ever introduce Islamic criminal law.

Under the new law, Brunei's Muslim residents will face prosecution by Islamic courts for offences, including pregnancy outside marriage, failure to perform Friday prayers, and propagating other religions, reported Reuters. » | Maria Khan | Thursday, January 08, 2015

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël ! Frohe Weihnachten! Buon Natale! Felix Nativitas!

'We Three Kings', an original painting by James C. Christensen.
Collage : Google Images

Has Sainsbury’s Christmas Ad Left John Lewis Out in the Cold?

The supermarket group's take on Christmas Day 1914 in the trenches has upped the ante in the seasonal adverts battle

Read the Telegraph article and comment here | Elizabeth Anderson | Thursday, November 13, 2014

Muslim Outrage Just Caused An Awful Thing To Happen To Christmas

DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG
Read the Western Journalism article here | Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël ! Fröhliche Weihnachten! Buon Natale! Felix Nativitas! Nadolig Llawen!

'We Three Kings', an original by James C. Christensen. Image courtesy of Google Images

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. – The Gospel According to John, 1, 14

Et la Parole a été faite chair, et elle a habité parmi nous, pleine de grâce et de verité; et nous avons contemplé sa gloire, une gloire du Fils unique venu du Père. – Evangile selon Jean, 1, 14

Und das Wort ward Fleisch und wohnte unter uns, und wir schauten seine Herrlichkeit, eine Herrlichkeit, wie sie der eingige [Sohn] von seinem Vater hat, voll Gnade und Wahrheit. – Das Evangelium nach Johannes, 1, 14

E la Parola è stata fatta carne ed ha abitato per un tempo fra noi, plena di grazia e di verità; e noi abbiam contemplata la sua gloria, gloria come quella dell’Unigenito venuto da presso al Padre. – Evangelo secondo Giovanni, 1, 14

Et Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobus, et vidimus gloriam eius, gloriam quasi Unigeniti a Padre, plenum gratiae et veritatis. – Evangelium secundum Ioannem, 1, 14


Louis-Claude d'Aquin: Noël X

Pope Francis Makes Visit to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for Christmas

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pope Francis visits his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, to exchange Christmas greetings at his Vatican home


Pope Francis wished his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI a 'Merry Christmas' this week in a rare social visit to his home on Vatican grounds.

The Vatican released television footage of the exchange of Christmas greetings between the two popes late Monday -- marking just the fourth time Benedict has been filmed since resigning in February, becoming the first pope in 600 years to do so.

“It is a pleasure to see you looking so well,” Pope Francis told his 86-year-old predecessor, who met him at the door of the ex-convent where he has been living in isolation.

Pope Francis was accompanied by his person[al] secretaries and also greeted members of Pope Benedict’s “pontifical family,” which include Archbishop George Gaenswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household and Benedict's personal secretary, as well as the “Memores Domini,” a small group of consecrated women who help him.

The two walked to a nearby chapel to pray, Pope Benedict with the aid of an ivory-handled wooden cane. » | Andrea Vogt, Rome | December 24, 2013

Louis-Claude d’Aquin: Nouveau Livre de Noëls (Paris 1757)

WIKI: Louis-Claude d’Aquin »

Kuwait: Sale of Christmas Items Makes 'Mockery' of Islam - MP

ARABIAN BUSINESS: A Kuwait MP has called for a crackdown on Christmas celebrations in the state amid claims that shops were making a “mockery” of Islamic culture by selling items related to the occasion.

Less than two months after slamming the sale of Halloween items as “signs of Satanism”, MP Hamdan Al Azmi has warned Deputy Premier Sheikh Mohammad Al Khalid Al Sabah and Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al Saleh of the consequences of failing to take action against Christmas celebrations.

He said celebrating such events was “inappropriate” in an Islamic culture and authorities should not allow anyone to profit from such activities, Kuwait media reported.

While Christmas is a Christian celebration, in parts of the Gulf shops sell Christmas decorations and embrace the holiday. In the UAE, some malls have lavish Christmas decorations in a nod to the large expat and tourist populations. » | Beatrice Thomas | Sunday, December 15, 2013

Norway Told to Go Easy on the Pastries

THE INDEPENDENT: Norwegians are being warned to watch their cinnamon intake during the festive season

Hold the pastries - Norway's Food Standards Authority has issued warnings to "heavy users" of cinnamon to watch their intake this Christmas as the festive season begins.

Cinnamon contains coumarin, a substance which can potentially cause liver damage if consumed in excessive amounts, according to the FSA.

This may mean cutting down on skillingsboller, a Danish cinnamon roll popular in Norway. » | Heather Saul | Thursday, December 12, 2013