Susanna McLeod's Blog
Posted by Susanna McLeod
Growing up, I remember listening to the music of the great Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians on the radio. In later years, the musician became a staple on New Year’s Eve television. Their big-band, orchestral style music – full of zest and glee - made a huge impression on me, and I still enjoy their get-up-and-dance music today.
Guy Lombardo was born in London, Ontario in 1902. He was born into a musical family; he became the leader of the family band at age 15. The Lombardo Brothers’ Orchestra and Concert Company consisted of Guy Lombardo and his three brothers, who formed a quartet, and occasionally adding their sisters and father as vocalists. The name was changed in 1924 to Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians, with instruments ranging from saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, drum and violin. Over the years, the orchestra grew to sixteen musicians producing wonderful melodies.
Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians was no small-time band. Immensely popular with music fans, the group had sold well over 300 million records by the early 1970s, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, with 100 albums to their credit. Guy Lombardo died in November 1977. His elegant, vivacious music remains a highlight of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Happy new year and welcome 2008!
Posted by Susanna McLeod
This Christmas, it has been a challenge to uphold the family seasonal traditions. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we don't even have a Christmas tree put up this year, nor many decorations inside or outside. Because of new work and pressing time, this is the first year in decades that we have not kept to the historic family rituals. We may feel festive but we certainly don't look it. And the time is hurtling along so fast, that Christmas will be long gone in mere hours.
With our children grown and having kids of their own, our home is no longer the historic centre place of the family holiday. That has, of natural course, switched to the children's home. But, we are lucky that we all continue to live in the same area. We will still manage to gather for the gift-giving tradition of opening presents in the morning with cherished family. The dinner traditions of roasted turkey, savoury stuffing, and mashed potatoes under delicious gravy will be adhered to. Homemade apple and pumpkin pie will fill in the tiny spaces left in our stomachs after the meal, and then great discussions as the feast dishes are cleaned and put away. I find these simple rituals comforting and necessary, a form of family history.
Do you have Christmas traditions passed down through family history, or does your holiday change with each year?
Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may your home be filled with warm traditions of the season.
Posted by Susanna McLeod
The tradition of Christmas cards began long ago in Victorian England. On orders of his customer Sir H. Cole in 1843, illustrator John Calcott Horsley designed a monochromatic card with scenes of helping the poor with food and clothing, and with a centre piece of a feast. The words, “merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you” were added, and at least 1,000 cards were printed and sent out.
About thirty years later, Christmas cards became a North American staple, though there are some examples of early seasonal postcards from 1860 and on at Collections Canada. As more people became card designers, the structures evolved to include fancy devices such as pop-up sections, and decorations like ribbon, fabrics and fringe.
Unless you make them yourself, today’s cards aren’t, well, Victorian.
Mostly printed on card stock, only the rare card may have a bit of fabric or sequins. The more elaborate cards just don’t do well in the mail system any more. My favourite is the card with a wintry scene that has sparkly swaths on the trees and skating pond. I can’t place where in my childhood such preference comes from – it somehow gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
I look forward to receiving Christmas cards in my mailbox. The hand-written missives mean someone has taken the time to think of me, pick up a pen and perhaps compose a short message plus signature, and then address the envelope. It’s a time-consuming chore compared to typing up a note and zipping it off by email. While I appreciate any contact, I truly appreciate and thank those who put pen to paper.
Well, it’s time to get my own pen going and get the festive cards into the mailbox. Somebody might be waiting.
Posted by Susanna McLeod
As I write this blog this evening, I am listening to a wonderful concert by internationally renowned musician and conductor Andre Rieu and his superb orchestra. The lilting strains of violins, clarinets, French horns and other instruments is a delight to my ears. Though this PBS special is not seasonal, Christmas seems to be time when music of all sorts comes into view, more than any other time of year. I find it enchanting.
Aside from the canned holiday music being played over and over in stores, there is such a short time period when listening to Christmas and other unique music is possible. In only a couple of weeks, it will all be gone again. Though I could listen to CDs over and over, the thrill of hearing something by chance is lost that way, and it’s the prospect of pleasant surprise that is so enticing.
The first music recognized as a Canadian Christmas song was written hundreds of years ago. Penned in 1640, the music was created by Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary who came to Canada in 1625. His mission was a station with the natives near Georgian Bay, where he made great effort to learn the Huron language and customs. De Brebeuf’s music about the birth of baby Jesus is still played and sung today, a lengthy 367 years later. You might recognize the title: it is The Huron Carol.
Posted by Susanna McLeod
Sitting on the floor in front of the television as a little girl, the Christmas specials on television captured my heart. The first to snag me was A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). Snoopy gaily dancing to Linus and Lucy music, the frustration Charlie Brown felt about commercialism, Linus’ reciting of the Christmas Story bible passage, and the joyful decorating of the little tree, still give my holidays a twinge of delight.
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (1966) captivated me next. I sang along with the television to Thurl Ravenscroft’s crooning of “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch” and the Whoville citizens singing “Welcome Christmas, come this way”. I winced as the Grinch tried to whip his little dog into pulling the huge sled, overloaded with a giant bag of Christmas goodies, and cheered as Grinch’s heart “grew two sizes that day”. It’s a great moment of redemption, don’t you think?
Another seasonal must-watch for me is Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer with the voice of Burl Ives as narrator Sam the Snowman. This superbly-crafted stop-motion film was made in 1964. We all understand Rudolph, ostracized for being different and wanting to start a new life, but then finding a place for himself and others, too.
Frosty the Snowman and The Return of Frosty were later favourites that I watch for every festive season. But now, my most anticipated program is The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) featuring Jim Henson’s amazing Muppets. It’s a colourful retelling of the dramatic A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens in 1853 and originally on black and white television in 1951. Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat host the Muppet version. Michael Caine portrays a plausible Ebenezer Scrooge.
You know where you’ll find me in the evenings… I’ll be on the couch, revelling in Christmas spirit.
