2024 Christmas in pictures

A collection of pictures from Christmas 2024.

The story behind Jingle bells song..

Long ago, in the crisp winter of 1857, a man named James Lord Pierpont penned a tune that would echo through the ages. At the time, it bore the title "One Horse Open Sleigh," a lively melody inspired not by yuletide celebrations but by the thrill of sleigh races in Medford, Massachusetts. In those days, sleigh riders often tied jingle bells to their horses and sleighs—not for decoration, but for safety. The cheerful jingling alerted others to the sleigh's approach, especially in the snowy hush of winter when visibility was low. This simple precaution became the heartbeat of Pierpont’s joyous song, capturing the spirit of dashing through the snow.

The song made its debut at Boston's Ordway Hall, performed by Johnny Pell and the spirited Ordway's Aeolians. Though not originally written with Christmas in mind, it began its journey into history. In 1889, banjo player Will Lyle recorded it on an Edison cylinder, making it one of the earliest examples of recorded music. Unfortunately, that version is lost to time, but an early vocal rendition titled "Sleighride Party" survives, a testament to the song’s enduring charm.

In the decades that followed, "One Horse Open Sleigh" began to drift into the arms of the holiday season. By the 20th century, with the rise of phonograph records and radio, its merry tune found a home in the hearts of Christmas revelers. A pivotal moment came in 1943, when Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters released their rendition, sealing its fate as a timeless Christmas classic.

What began as a practical tool for sleigh rides, jingling to keep the snowy roads safe, transformed over time into a melody synonymous with the holiday spirit. From snowy sleigh rides in Massachusetts to carolers around the globe, "Jingle Bells" has jingled its way into the hearts of millions, a festive anthem of joy and cheer.

PS:

Sourced with permission. 

Last Sunday before the Christmas of 2024

A picture tour

The Meenakshi Amma Chapel

The grape vine infront of the sacristy.

The five hundred years logo at the new church.

Thanks giving mementos infront of Mary of Vallarpadam.

A memeno for the Holy Spirit to whom the Basilica is dedicated. Very thoughtful of the donor.

A very beautiful view of the Clear blue December sky.. East of the cemetery.

The front door decoration. A warm welcome to all.

History of the church.

Thr Child Jesus

Mary 

The altar on the last Sunday before the Christmas of 2024.

Posted for all the Ransomed 'Slaves' of Mary, who could not be at Vallarpadam. 

God bless you all, wherever you are...whatever you do. 

Second Sunday In December

Second Sunday before Christmas. 

God created humans as man and woman. One is not complete with out the other, together they continue the creative process of God. There is nothing more pleasing to God than the union of man and woman in the deepest of love. There is nothing more fulfilling for a man and woman than being in love and living it.

May all those accepted the union be happy. 

God bless those who willingly gave up such a union to serve the lord with all their hearts. 

Hard Work of Six years

 Valerio Minato the photographer from Italy gave his everything to click this out of the world picture of the moon perfectly aligned  with the Basilica of Superga and Monviso mountain in Turin completely centered against the Moon. It was in  2017 that he realized the mountain peak and the hilltop basilica overlap from a certain vantage point. A little more of the study revealed that the enchanting moon also comes in line once a year. 

Even though the setting moon was captured in a crescent phase, the exposure was long enough for doubly reflected earthlight, called the da Vinci glow, to illuminate the entire top of the moon,” Minato is quoted as saying. 

Minato is taking orders for the print copy of his magic through his website:

Valerio Minato

The Advent

It's December again...They are coming to light up our world. Let's open our hearts and welcome them with all our warmth. Mary's and Joseph's child is born in millions of hearts. 

Let's make the Advent Season, a celebration of our joy in Mary's child and the devotion and love of the child's  parents. 

People come and goes, 

Thousands at Vallarpadam every day. Some intense and focussed,

 On their purpose of their visit, 

Some a general visitor,

 Some happy at the stage of their lives, And showing it, 

Some who have nothing still happy like,

Fools not asking anything, enjoying the moment of being there in their soul..

Who am I in these..