Seasonal Glossary

It’s late in the season by most shoppers’ standards, but not too late to list a few English words and terms relating to Christmas, New Year's, and the end of Twelve Days.  Including some Cannon Family traditions and favorites for the season, this incomplete glossary is my idea of "an alphabetical list of terms or words found in or relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations; a brief dictionary."  – Google defined

A cappella choir   “without instrumental accompaniment.”  – Google defined
(a Christmas favorite on tour from East High School, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Amahl   a disabled shepherd boy as the main character in the 1951 production, “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti; 
three wise men from the East are following an extraordinary star

Bailey, George   main character in Frank Capra's classic film (released in USA on December 25, 1946) and the book (©1947), "It's a Wonderful Life"

Bethlehem the small town or "city of David" where Jesus was born (Luke 2:4 and Matthew 2:1)
Caroling   here we come ... a wandering through the neighborhood, singing Christmas songs  and sometimes getting a treat to eat
Christmas   annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; (Christmas Day is December 25th.)

Gift giving  a Christmas tradition of sharing with family and friends; (cookies are a favorite for giving and receiving – yes, that's a hint :)

Grapefruit   breakfast food on Christmas Day at the Cannon homes

Holly & ivy   Christmas decoration available on eBay;

("The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional British folk Christmas carol."  
– Wikipedia)

Isaiah   “a Hebrew prophet who was believed to have lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ," whose coming he foretold.  – biography.com;

(Isaiah 9:6)   "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."   

Jesus Christ   The Son of God.  "He was Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New Testament."  – jesuschrist.lds.org
Lights   on trees, houses, mountiainsides; "a key element of  our celebration"  – LFF 12/4/2016 post, "Loving the Light"
Mary   "was highly favored of God and chosen to be the mortal mother of Jesus Christ."  – lds.org

“Messiah”   “… oratorio by German-born English composer George Frideric Handel, premiered in Dublin on April 13, 1742 ..."  – britannica.com;  (titled “Messiah”, not “The Messiah”)

Mormon Tabernacle Choir   features the annual Christmas Concert by the "360-voice ensemble based in Salt Lake City" and enhanced by The Bells on Temple Square (32 musicians)  – mormontabernaclechoir.org

“Music & The Spoken Word is a weekly, 30-minute broadcast of choral music and inspirational words.”  “First aired in 1929 …”  – mormontabernaclechoir.org

The Nativity   birth of Jesus Christ; Luke chapter 2 is a special reading on Christmas Eve; children may dress up to create the manger scene
New Year's   Eve (12/31), Day (1/1), resolution (a positive promise)

Orchestra at Temple Square   "a 110-member orchestra located in Salt Lake City ... created in 1999 under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley, then the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ..."  – Wikipedia

Poinsettia   “... popular as a houseplant at Christmas.”  – Google defined

Reindeer   a deer with large antlers found in some cold climates (believed to pull the sleigh for Santa Claus or Father Christmas)  
– www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/festivals-christmas
plural reindeer (occasionally) reindeers.  – dictionary.com

Santa Claus   a jolly, older man believed to manufacture toys (with help from Mrs. Claus and elves at North Pole) and deliver them to good girls and boys worldwide on Christmas Eve

Three Kings Day   also known as Epiphany

“Friday 6th Jan, 2017 will be …  Celebrating the day upon which the three kings [wise men] arrived at Bethlehem [and gave gifts to infant Jesus], Three Kings Day is twelve days after Christmas day, and marks the end of the Christmas period.”  – daysoftheyear.com

Trimming the tree   hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree; (not pruning)
Twelve Days of Christmas   whenever the family likes to celebrate, sing the long song, and deliver anonymous gifts each day.

White Christmas   "a Christmas with snow on the ground"  – englishclub.com;

a dreamy song folks love to sing

KISS ("Keep It Simple, Santa!")

Sweet!

Kay's firstborn with cousins at Ned's grandmother's Christmas Eve '75