America's First Christmas (and Christmas Floral Paintings)

Some historians believe the first Christmas in the United States was celebrated in 1539 by Hernando de Soto, a dozen Catholic priests, and around 600 Spanish explorers. The settlers held a Christmas Mass in Anhaica, an Indigenous village now known as Tallahassee, Florida.

The first clearly recorded Christmas in the South was in 1607 at Jamestown, Virginia. This is if you exclude a celebration in 1604 by French settlers when they tried to establish a colony on St. Croix Island off the coast of Maine.

Some call 1776 the first "American" Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer.

Alabama was the first state to officially recognize Christmas as a legal holiday in 1836. Oklahoma was the last state to recognize Christmas as a legal holiday in 1907.

By 1860, 14 states, including several in New England, had adopted Christmas as a legal holiday.

Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston. It wasn't until the 1800s that Americans began to embrace Christmas.

In the United States, Christmas was established as a federal holiday on June 26, 1870.

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(Content generated using Google develop generative AI in Search)

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In the holiday spirit? ~ Lift your spirits!
Floral paintings always lift my spirit.
Adorn any room with these art prints!

'Christmas Roses' Giclee Print - William Jabez Muckley | @AllPosters https://t.co/qcoZq8o9xR #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/T5DzMls2tA

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'A Flower that Makes You Imagine Christmas' Giclee Print - Hiroyuki Izutsu | @AllPosters https://t.co/0xSh6CRRyx #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/edQSL2fthE

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'Still-Life of Christmas Roses' Giclee Print - Charles Etienne Guerin | @AllPosters https://t.co/bi8OZkJfUZ #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/heIHmMBWtc

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'A Christmas Arrangement with Holly, Mistletoe and Other Winter Flowers' Giclee Print - Albert Williams | @AllPosters https://t.co/KJgzb8wM7C #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/PsMCEpElxc

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'Bear and Christmas Flowers' Giclee Print - Makiko | @AllPosters https://t.co/zHOXvs17tn #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/szN1bGe62B

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

REFERENCES:

Contreras, Russell. “Hispanics Led First U.S. Christmas Celebrations.” Axios. Axios, December 21, 2021. https://www.axios.com/2021/12/21/hispanics-first-christmas-celebrations-us.

‌Celebrating Holidays. “History of Christmas in America,” 2023. https://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=1046.

‌billpetro. “History of the First American Christmas: 1776.” Bill Petro. The BPC Group, November 29, 2023. https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-first-american-christmas-1776/.

‌Bhagat, Dhruti. “Boston Public Library.” Bpl.org, December 21, 2018. https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-holidays-christmas/.

‌HISTORY. “History of Christmas - Origins, Traditions & Facts | HISTORY,” October 27, 2009. https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas.

‌Dallascitynews.net. “Ten Interesting Facts about Christmas - Dallas City News,” 2023. https://www.dallascitynews.net/ten-interesting-facts-about-christmas.

‌Wikipedia Contributors. “Christmas.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, December 19, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas.

Christmas Tradition : The Gifts of the Magi

The presentation of the gifts of the Magi is an integral part of the story of the birth of Jesus.

Every year during the month of December, many people direct their minds to the story about the birth of Jesus, revered by faithful Christians as the Savior of the world. Although the nativity scene always shows the three wise men (also called the three kings) adoring a newborn baby and bearing gifts, the biblical account indicates that their visitation did not occur on the night that Mary gave birth. It was a few years later. 

Yet the erroneous tradition persists. There is also a question or debate as to whether or not there were three men at all. Because three gifts are mentioned, the assumption was made that there was one wise man bringing one gift. 3 gifts must equal 3 gift-bearers. The fact is that the number of men from the East who were led by the Star of Bethlehem was not recorded in the scriptures. Though one can question the total number of men that comprise what we refer to as “The Magi”, everybody accepts that there were 3 gifts and these offerings were gold, frankincense and myrrh.

• Trivia: What were the names of the three kings (wise men or magi)?  The 12 days of Christmas ends with the Feast of the Epiphany.  (Don't check the Bible story.  The answer is not in there.)

Gold: one of the first precious metals known to mankind; a symbol of great wealth; often presented as a donation to a king's treasury in exchange for his goodwill.

Frankincense: a useful gift for a holy man, as it was often used by those who served in a temple or other place designated as a worship center.

Myrrh: an ingredient in anointing oil but also used for embalming to prepare a body for burial. An “anointing” is when a person is set apart to perform a specific task or mission. A mixture of myrrh and aloes was used by those who wrapped the body of Jesus and laid Him to rest in the tomb. Each one of these gifts was very costly. But there is nothing in the gospel accounts to indicate that Jesus or his parents, a humble carpenter and his wife, lived an extravagant lavish lifestyle. Do suppose they took the gold and frankincense and gave it to those in charge of the temple treasury?  After all, they were very devout Jews. Do you ever wonder if Mary, the mother of Jesus, saved the gift of myrrh to be used for her Son's burial?  It seems like something a loving mother would do; especially if she knows, in advance, what will happen to her child.


(Images found at glitter-graphics.com)

 * * * Additional REFERENCES:

• "Why Did the Magi Bring Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh? - Bible History Daily." Biblical Archaeology Society. Ed. Biblical Archaeology Society Staff. N.p., 23 Oct. 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014. This Bible History Daily feature was originally published in December 2011. It has been updated.—Ed. ( <https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/ ) 

• Myers, Clara. "Bible Herbs - Writedge." Writedge. Harlow-McGaw Media, 13 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Jan. 2015. (Replacement link:  http://eeschannel.blogspot.com/p/bible-herbs-by-clara-myers.html). 

Original content 1st published at Daily Two Cents, Dec 7, 2016.
That site shut down Aug 2018.

The Genealogy of Jesus: Women Named in the Gospel of Matthew

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke Supply Information About the Ancestors of Jesus of Nazareth. One striking dissimilarity between the genealogies of Jesus, recorded in the Gospel accounts of Luke and Matthew, is the mention of five women in the Gospel according to Matthew.

The alleged differences in the genealogy of Jesus in the gospels of Matthew versus Luke are often disputed. But no one denies that Matthew mentions the names of five women.

The accounts of Matthew and Luke are the only two of the four Gospels that include a genealogy of Jesus. The majority of Bible scholars agree that Matthew was a Jew who wrote primarily for a Jewish audience; and that Luke was a Gentile who wrote for a Gentile (i.e. non-Jewish) readership. The New Testament scriptures do not reveal much biographical data about Luke, and it is not clearly stated whether he was a Gentile or Jew. The genealogy recorded in Luke traces the lineage of Jesus through Joseph, his earthly father, backtracking from Joseph to Adam, the first man. Whereas Matthew traces the lineage of Jesus, beginning with Abraham, the patriarch or father of the Jewish nation, moving forward in history to Joseph.


Over the years, there has been much dispute about the alleged differences between the genealogies and over how to reconcile or rather, harmonize these two Gospels. This article does not address these disagreements because it was written with another purpose in mind. That purpose being: to call attention to the fact that there is one striking dissimilarity that no scholar tries to reconcile or explain away. The Gospel according to Matthew includes the mention of five women.

1. Tamar, a dutiful widow who played the harlot
2. Rahab, a woman who was a harlot
3. Ruth, a dutiful widow who was destitute
4. Bathsheba, the wife of a murdered husband
5. Mary, a young girl who married a man named Joseph

(Note: Bathsheba is not mentioned by name. She is referred to indirectly as, her that had been the wife of Uriah. The other four women are named. )


Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute, at peril to her life, in an effort to shame her father-in-law into admitting publicly that he had wronged her and that he would honor his word and obey the law.

Rahab was a prostitute. It was not uncommon for men to frequent her residence. Yet, when certain men were seen entering her place of business, she risked her life to save theirs, not really knowing if they would, in turn, spare her life. 

Bathsheba, the wife of a valiant warrior, at home alone, summoned to a king's bed-chamber to satisfy his unlawful lusts and desires. Wasn't it enough that she had been violated and that she was with child because of it? Did her husband have to be murdered to cover up the act? But it was likely reported to her that her husband, Uriah, had been killed in battle. After all, he was a soldier. Nathan, the prophet, later compared Bathsheba to a little ewe lamb, the only precious possession of a poor man and that poor man had been robbed of everything he had! But who would commit such an act of cruelty? 

Ruth was a destitute widow with an uncertain future. Yet she chose to make a dangerous journey with her mother-in-law and travel to a land away from the home she had known all her life, with nothing. Would the remaining days of her life be bitter? Or would the people she had chosen to accept be willing to accept her and show her mercy and kindness? 

Mary, an innocent young girl, greeted by an angel with these words: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. What must she have thought? But my cousin Elisabeth is the wife of a priest and prophet. She and her husband have always been righteous before God, walking in all of His commandments and ordinances. (Luke 1:6) Who am I? What great thing have I done? Why is the Lord with me? Me?
 

These brief summaries provide a glimpse into the lives of these five women. Using the various scriptural references below, one can piece together their real-life stories.

• TAMAR - GEN 38: 6, 24; RUTH 4: 12; 1 CHRON 2: 4; MATT 1: 3
• RAHAB - JOSH 2: 1; 6:17, 25; MATT 1: 5; HEB 11: 31; JMS 2: 25
• RUTH - RUTH 1: 1 4: 22; MATT 1: 5
• BATHSHEBA - 2 SAM 11: 3; 12: 24; 1 KINGS 1:15, 28, 31; 2:13
• MARY - MATT 1: 16, 18, 20; 2: 11; 13: 55; MK 6: 3; LK 1: 27, 30, 41, 56; 2: 5, 16, 19

While it is true that some parts of the biblical accounts are quite scandalous, the biographies of these women can also serve as inspiring accounts of hope, courage, faith, loyalty, love, obedience, and a woman's internal beauty and quiet inner strength.

Glitter rose found at  glitter-graphics.com

Sources:

• Scriptural references can be easily researched online at Bible Gateway.
• "Seekers of the Promised Land." Great People of the Bible and How They Lived. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1974.
• Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary: An Authoritative One-Volume Reference Work on the Bible, With Full-Color Illustrations. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995.

Similar or Related Article:

• Character Study of Twelve Women: Bible Women From Ur to Nazareth - The Gospel of Matthew mentions five (5) women in the ancestry of Jesus; and from biblical accounts, we can extract the names of twelve (12) more women. 

© Photographer: Christos Georghiou | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Related articles

• Footsteps of Jesus?

Similar content also appears at Blogjob.com

Do You Know The Rules for the White Elephant Gift Exchange?

In the USA, typically, for the holidays, often at the office Christmas party, or other social gatherings we will have a white elephant gift exchange (also called Secret Santa.). Each person has to bring in one gift. They usually limit the price to $5 or $10. Nothing expensive. Something nice. Then we play the white elephant game where people exchange the gifts. It's pure wholesome happy holiday fun! (See link below.)

When you have a family you don't usually do a gift exchange. However, if you have a large family, buying gifts for everyone can be quite expensive. Imagine me. I had a family of 7 brothers and 1 sister. Some of my brothers were married with kids. I also was married with kids. Shopping for that many people without breaking your bank was a real challenge. I managed somehow. But it wasn't easy!

But then I thought of the idea of doing a white elephant gift exchange for the family when we got together to enjoy the holiday meal. I figured it would cut down on the expense of having to buy several gifts. I tried to sell this idea to family members but they wouldn't buy it.

Rules for a White Elephant Gift Exchange

• Do you participate in the gift exchange at social gatherings?

• What do you think of the idea of a gift exchange for the extended family?  Sometimes it's very expensive buying for lots of family members.  But perhaps if you did the white elephant exchange for the family get-together, it would be less expensive and probably more fun!

P.S.  Sometimes the White Elephant gift exchange is called Secret Santa.

glitter-graphics.com

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Character Study: Bible Women | Mary: Full of Grace

MARY
The mother of Jesus. No one disputes this.

Almost everyone in a predominantly Christian society knows the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Mary is introduced in the Christian scriptures, she is living in Nazareth in Galilee and she is betrothed to be married to a man named Joseph, who discovers that she is pregnant. Knowing that child could not possibly be his child, Joseph agonizes over what to do about Mary. Under Jewish law, he has two options. Option 1: Shame Mary publicly and have her stoned for infidelity. Option 2: Put Mary away quietly. The scriptures state that an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. She had committed no sin and the child that she was carrying was the result of a miracle and the fulfillment of a prophecy that “a virgin would conceive and bring forth a son who would be named Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us’.” 

Mary and Jesus - Image Credit: Paint According To The Number Set Paint Diy Children and Adult Oil Painting, Virgin Mary Jesus 

Some non-Christian sources say that Jesus was a bastard, an illegitimate child, the result of an unlawful union between Mary and someone other than her lawful husband. There is an ongoing debate as to whether the Qu’ran (Koran) states that Mary was a virgin who conceived and gave birth to Jesus, having never had sexual contact in any way with any man OR whether she was a virgin at the time the angel visited her and told her she would have a child.

Whether or not Christian and non-Christian sources agree Mary is the 5th woman mentioned by Matthew in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

• Bible References: MARY – MATT 1: 16, 18, 20; 2: 11; 13: 55; MK 6: 3; LK 1: 27, 30, 41, 56; 2: 5, 16, 19

A Lineage of Grace:Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity

Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter

“Mary, Did you Know?” - incredible acappella version by the Pentatonix

Diary Note: Today is November 21, 2014. Woke up this morning, charged up and ready to face the day. Checked my eMail and my husband's aunt had sent me this. Gotta admit it made me slow down, take a deep breath, and START MY DAY ALL OVER AGAIN!!!  Ever heard of this website. GodVine? I never heard of it. Know it now! :)

Blessings to all!!
Here Is One A Cappella Song That'll Give You Chills. THIS Is What CHRISTmas Is All About!

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That's Christmas To Me ~ Pentatonix

Glittering Xmas tree from glitter-graphics.com

Related articles

• Genealogy of Jesus: Women Named in the Gospel
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Entertainment: IN MEMORY OF: Humphrey Bogart (1899 - 1957)

Humphrey Bogart

Born: December 25, 1899

Died: January 14, 1957

Won't be much longer now and all the glamorous Hollywood movie stars that I grew up watching will be forgotten. Stars like Humphrey Bogart, who was actually already dead by 1957, a couple of years after my birth. But no matter, he was so very alive for me every Sunday afternoon when one of his movies was on the air.  He was such a bad guy in most of his flicks.  Hated Him!  But loved him!!  His most memorable role was Duke Mantee, the gangster in "The Petrified Forest".

Bet you thought of Casablanca right?

• Do you have a favorite Bogie flick? 

Ultimate Gangsters Collection:
Classics (Little Caesar / The Public Enemy

/ The Petrified Forest / White Heat [Blu-ray]

Related articles

• Lauren Bacall 1924 - 2014

Cropped screenshot of Humphrey Bogart from the trailer for the film The Petrified Forest. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



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~ Do You Remember Humphrey Bogart?
~ Do you have a #favorite #Bogie movie?
~ Would you #bingewatch old #Bogart flicks?
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— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) March 5, 2020

My Best of Halloween Posts on G+ - Halloween ~ Thanksgiving ~Christmas!

Winding down the year of 2017. It has been a productive and profitable year for Home Business Works (formerly Cmoneyspinner's Home Business Projects).  Today is October 31st and this is the last post at My Blog Stop! for the month.  Thanks for visiting, reading, and subscribing.  There are 2 more months left in 2017.  Let's hope they are happy and peaceful.  ❤

glitter-graphics.com

Recipes | Desserts | Pineapple Stuffing

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