Every year since 2010 I’ve done a series of December diaries focusing on a variety of seasonal topics ranging from music to food to ugly sweaters. (Full disclosure: I did ONE Seasonal diary in 2008, and 2009 (holy crap, how did TEN YEARS go by so fast!) was the first December K2 was with us so I was a little distracted :-)). It’s time to do it again! Don’t worry if Christmas isn’t your thing- while my personal December perspective is primarily secular but culturally Christian-based with a vibrant dose of earth-centered Winter Solstice mixed in because Unitarian Universalism, these diaries are NOT meant to be siege locations in the War On Christmas. In other words, if there’s a holiday in December that makes you happy, that you mark differently than all the other days, or that involves negotiating about who brings what food… or even if there isn’t... this is a place for you!
I haven’t hosted a Christmas Eve diary since 2013, and that one was a collaborative diary with my fellow Top Commenteers. Which reminds me… tomorrow evening, we shall be presenting another such collaborative diary, so please look for it (and if you’re a Top Comments writer who hasn’t yet gotten me something, definitely send it along even if you think the deadline is past wink wink). Grab whatever you’re drinking on this evening magical to so many in the world, whether it mark the birth of a lowly babe who would change history, the third night of Hanukkah, the lengthening of days post-Yule, or simply a crisp magic winter’s night (in the Northern Hemisphere, substitute warm summer in the Southern). Then join me below the fold...
Here at Top Comments we welcome longtime as well as brand new Daily Kos readers to join us at 10pm Eastern. We strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group mailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find!
As a final nod to my annual seasonal series I bring you a classic tale, thankfully within the public domain for easy sharing! Imagine us all in front of a fire, listening to someone with a wonderful reading voice.
Ok, settle in as we spend this Eve with A Visit from St. Nicholas, aka Twas The Night Before Christmas. Because I am an originalist :), I bring you the 1823 version published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel. If you’re interested in pie fights, consider the tale’s controversial authorship while we read:
ACCOUNT OF A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap—
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprung from the bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys—and St. Nicholas too:
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack:
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jirk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle:
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
May you be be blessed with magic — be it flying reindeer, candles that stay lit for just the right amount of time, miraculous births, or that provided by the love of friends and family. Please enjoy our humble offerings tonight of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures. Thanks to the very best collaboration partner anyone could hope to have, BeninSC.
Top Comments
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
From BeninSC:
I’m submitting two comments from my Top Comments diary last night. Many deserved it, but these came later, and really touched me. This comment by ZenTrainer speaks to a great heart. And this comment, by TrueBlueMajority, is courageous in a special way.
Highlighted by CanadianKitty:
Comes this thoughtful comment by Xtreme outlier, about the long-term undermining of our country by the radical right wing. Worth the read.
Highlighted by Mempheria650:
Is this excellent comment by Slideman about hypocrisy and problems caused by the evangelical right wing!
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, December 24th, 2019, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Pictures
December 24th 2019. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!