Dr. Mercola December 25 2008 56,287 views
Released in 1946, It’s a Wonderful Life still captures the hearts of new viewers over six decades later. This movie is also a wonderful metaphor for your power to change the world.
Through flashbacks we see how George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal over the misplacing of a loan and the machinations of the evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth, literally, and shows him how his town, family, and friends, would have turned out had he never been born.
The ending will surely bring tears to your eyes and remind you of how many lives YOU touch every day. Why not start a tradition with your family, and watch this inspiring movie together?But before you settle in for the main show, I have two more audiovisual gifts for you today.First, if you're as tired of the political correctness surrounding the holidays as I am, you'll enjoy this hilarious rendition of The Night Before Christmas, read by Larry the Cable Guy, part of the popular Blue Collar Comedy crew, to eight noticeably bewildered children and a studio audience.
You will love this satire.Then, to really get you into the spirit, take a look at this impressive collection of some of the most beautiful christmas trees from around the world! (And, at the end, I'll share with you the "code" behind the one of our most popular christmas carols, "The Twelve Days of Christmas.")Before the ball drops in Times Square, the Big Apple turns on its holiday charm with the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens in the 'Pathway of Peace' represent the 50 U.S. states. The world's largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy's Umbria region. Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the 'tree' is a modern marvel for an ancient cityA Christmas tree befitting Tokyo's nighttime neon display is projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague's Old Town Square, and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market, is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic.Venice 's Murano Island, renowned throughout the world for its quality glasswork, is home to the tallest glass tree in the world. Sculpted by master glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern reflection of the holiday season.Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in anticipation of Father Frost's arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden. He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall) can be found in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal. Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special enchantment of the city during the holiday season.'Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree': Even in its humblest attire, aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany's Karwendel mountains, a Christmas tree is a wondrous sight. Ooh-la-la, Galeries Lafayette! In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it's no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.In addition to the Vatican's heavenly evergreen, St. Peter's Square in Rome hosts a larger-than- life nativity scene in front of the obelisk.The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol is dressed for a party. Madrid's two-week celebration makes millionaires along with merrymakers. On Dec. 22, a lucky citizen will win El Gordo (the fat one), the world's biggest lottery.A token of gratitude for Britain's aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer Frankfurt's city hall since 1405 and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).So. Do you know the meaning inherent in the well-known carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?Today, you'll find out.From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality that the children could remember.
So there's your history lesson for today. Happy Holidays to You All!Dr. Joseph Mercola
Thank you themikeb for the Bethlehem Star link. I went to a planetarium that explained the star astronomically and historically and astrologically. How the non-Greek ancients viewed the sky as a physical map of the Middle East and the place where the star shone was also in the place in a physical map where Bethlehem would be. There were also symbolic reasons to believe one should search in Bethlehem. Layers and layers of information. They saved the planetarium finale until the end, to see the conjunction of three planets lined up like a vertical pointer, brightly blazing on the horizon, IN the constellation of Pisces, IN the section of the map that represented Judaea, wow. Interesting how other peoples spent lifetimes reading the sky, mobilized themselves into a journey, and we don't generally see symbolism.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too!
My family's favorite CHRISTMAS movie also.
love the picture of CHRISTMAS TREES from around the globe, awesome!
Thanks Doc!!
Visit here, you will enjoy it
http://www.bethlehemstar.net/
Sorry to see some do not have a CHRISTMAS spirit
It is not Christmas that is important but rather the 'spirit' of Christmas! Thank you Dr Mercola for reminding us of it. To those who hide from the world by keeping themselves busy then remember the words of this poet William Henry Davies:
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
Yesterday afternoon, along with my wife and 3 Norfolk terriers, we strolled the banks of Backwater Dam. It was cold and dampish, typical weather for this time of year. The clouds were low on the surrounding hills and mist skirted the water's surface providing this beautiful athmospheric scene. There was no wind and the silence was noticeable. The waters of the dam were still and reflecting the surrounding hills like a mirror, and the distinction between the hills and their reflection was not recognizable causing the dam to look smaller and narrow than it actually is. It was like a mirage set in perfect peace. There was one otter like animal swimming in the still water causing in its wake ripples. It was a magical moment when mother nature was smiling upon us and reminding us of her beauty. The scene is now snapped like a photo in my memory.
There is more to nature than this secular and capitalist existence of ours. It is there for those who have the eyes to see.
Thank you, Duparc, for the poem and your beautifully written paragraph.
I thank my lucky stars that I had hard-working ranch parents who took the time to take pleasure in the natural world around them....and who passed that gift on to their 12 children.
Ah, yea, Islander. You are missing a beautiful movie that DOES tell us something we all know; but it is a masterpiece of superb acting that is so excellent that one would damn near forget it's a movie. Long live the SPIRIT of this movie and others like it. Thanks again, Dr. Mercola, for sharing.....smell the roses, Islander!
Dr Mercola you are unique. For us, here in the United Kingdom, the relevance of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is so important. During the Reformation, the majority of great shrines were destroyed, as were relics and so many beautiful religions artefacts. I send on many of your comments and pages to family and friends around the world because you do not speak with 'forked' tongue as so many do. May the blessing of Christmas be with you and your family at this special time and throughout the New Year. Thank you.
Tamara and Family.
I couldn't open Mercola's pages till now, post Christmas, so my comments are post-current, but heart felt nevertheless. In this post as with others Dr. Mercola shows generocity of spirit that keeps on giving;,- in the form of invaluable information and a forum for opinions and additional information. This is Christmas, i.e. the urge and impetus in action to share, give, help and succor. Joe Mercola - a shining light , and beacon (of many) above the manger.