CHRISTMAS TALES.Christmas Tales Here are some Christmas Tales for you to enjoy and use this coming Festive Season. If YOU would like to share your favourite Christmas Story with other storytellers, please send it to me. I will give you full credit! The first one is by courtesy of Taffy Thomas. It is one that he tells from his vast repertoire of Christmas tales. I call it:
The Iron Winter and the Raggedy Old Man I recently received a Christmas story from Artie Knapp. I was tempted to place it on the 'Inspiring Stories' page - it would sit equally as well there. However, since the tale arrived in November, I decided to included it here, where many of you look to find stories for the Christmas season. Artie is a children’s author and tells me that one of the largest teachers' sites in the U.S has just published his new children’s Christmas story titled 'Light On a Snowy Day'. Over 20 additional print newspapers are publishing the story in December. He writes to say that he likes my website (Thank you, Artie!) and sends me a synopsis and direct link to the story on the Teachers.net Gazette. I really like his tale and think that YOU will too. Artie Knapp is the author of many published works for young readers. His award-winning children’s book Stuttering Stan Takes a Stand was endorsed by The National Stuttering Association and the American Institute for Stuttering. A frequent contributor to the Detroit Free Press’ Yak’s Corner, Artie’s children’s literature has been featured in over 100 publications across the world. He is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and graduated from Ohio University. Artie lives in Ohio with his wife Priya and daughter Alanna. To learn more about Artie and his work, please visit www.artieknapp.com. Something slightly different - a personal Christmas story! Mary is a police officer; she is our local Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and Crime Officer. Each month we receive a newsletter, keeping us informed of the issues in our district and the various steps taken to rectify and warn us of potential problems (criminal/traffic/scam salesmen etc.) that are encountered. Mary writes it and always concludes with a personal tale. This is her story for December 2010: "THE NATIVITY PLAY." Having been born on the feast day of Our Lady, and being baptised Mary Teresa Bernadette, I always felt that I was more than qualified to play the Virgin Mary in the School's Nativity Play. But every year it was the same thing, some sweet little dark haired girl from the class was always chosen, which I felt was very unfair, A) because their real name was never Mary, and B) why did they never choose a blond? But this particular year tragedy really struck, when I was given the only remaining job left, which was as prompt and understudy. Mum had always said that “God is Good” so as the nativity play approached I prayed to God that someone would fall ill (Please remember I was only a little girl at the time!). The final rehearsal was in the morning, and the “real thing” took place in the afternoon of the last day of School, before breaking up for Christmas. Well the rehearsal was a disaster, on my part……because no one forgot their lines, and everyone was disgustingly healthy, I was gutted. But as I mentioned “God is Good!!!!” and an hour before we were due to start, Sister Monica came running back stage in a panic - “The innkeeper has diarrhoea! Who knows the part?” -“THANK YOU GOD!” - My hand shot up. “Are you sure?” asked Sister Monica “Yes Sister” I replied, as I thought, “How hard can it be!” ACT 3 Mary, Joseph and the Donkey arrive at the inn. Joseph knocks on the inn door; door is opened by innkeeper (ME!);“Good evening innkeeper, this is my wife Mary and she is heavy with child. Have you any room at the inn?” Innkeeper (ME!) replies; Joseph; Innkeeper (ME!) replies; At this point, Mary, Joseph and the Donkey were forced to come through the “Cardboard Door” into the inn. A deadly hush descended in the assembly hall, and it was only then I realised that I had just “killed” the end of the play. I could see a couple of Nuns racing towards the stage, so I flung open the “Cardboard Door” of the inn and yelled; “FIRE!” “FIRE!” “Everyone out, the chip pan's on fire, everyone get to the stable.” At this point, Mary, Joseph and the Donkey ran to the stable. I ran the other way, before the Nuns could catch me, and I hid in the toilets until it was home time. So, I never got to see the end of the Nativity Play, that year, and the following year's Nativity Play went ahead in my absence, as I was not even allowed into the assembly hall! Nuns have long memories!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Mary - as Frank Carson might say, "That's a Cracker!" Here’s a new Christmas poem (at least it’s new to me!). It was sent to me by Ed Solomon, my good friend in the U.S. and may very well resonate with those of a certain age! 'Twas the night before (senior) Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas at Rock-Away Rest,
And all of us seniors were looking our best. Thanks Ed. Have a Very Merry Christmas yourself!
If YOU are interested in hiring a Christmas Storyteller this next festive season, may I direct you to my
Festive Christmas Tales!
page. It is a fun presentation in the traditional manner with stories and magic for all the family.
LINKS TO CHRISTMAS STORY WEBSITES Here is a link to a site full of original Christmas stories, plus classic Christmas tales and legends. We like it. I hope you will too:
http://www.christmas-stories.com/ |