Christmasy Things - Sharing III

So many wonderful things and stories are being posted in the days leading up to Christmas. I thought I'd just do a final little bit of sharing of things that have made me laugh or perhaps mist up or just smile with the joy of sharing with my wonderful blog buddies.

And I thought I'd also share the incredible frescoes that adorn the bedroom of the Cardinal in the Museo Romano at the Palazzo Altemps near Piazza Novona. We went in to see the Presepe of the King of Naples and stayed to view some of the most fascinating Greek and Roman sculptures in the setting of a Renaissance palace.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth ...

• Michelle over at Bleeding Coffee has posted one of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes panels: Christmas Eve. Bill Waterston always seemed to able to capture the honesty of childhood - warts and all. But in this one there are not warts, only love and tenderness. Thanks Michelle.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.

• One of the great things about blogging, and there are many, is that you find out all sorts of things about people you love. My darling Dora tells us all about a Christmas party where the celebration reached a new high.

And they came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe laying in a manager.

• Every day since the first of December my friend Larry has been opening an new door of Rome on his Internet Advent Calender. Its been an incredible series of photo giving a peek into the history of the city. If you haven't been opening them every day from my sidebar might I suggest going over to Amoroma and opening a few doors.

... and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

• Jeff has been posting a different sort of Advent Calender. First he revealed some of Santa's dirty little secrets and now he's leading us up to Christmas with music and dance. Again there are too many good things so just go over to World o'Jeff and click around.

The Madonna and Child

• And though its not a blog entry I came across a book review for The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford in the Toronto Star. Writer Hans Werner has had adverse comments from a few "devote" Christians for his slightly irreverent remarks but I enjoyed it. And looking around I realize how Dickensian many of our traditions are.

Buone Feste a tutti!
24 dicembre - San Giacobbe