Aer Lingus have been bringing people home for Christmas since 1936. This year, they wanted to make Christmas extra special for families across the world, who couldn’t make it home to see their loved ones. Taking to social media, they quietly sought out five families for a very festive homecoming.
From San Francisco, they brought Tracey, her husband and two boys to Glasnevin to surprise Joan and Tony and reunite with their grandchildren. James’s family in Dundalk have not enjoyed Christmas dinner in their home since he emigrated to New York as they didn’t want to leave his seat empty. And they brought Brendan home to his family in Lusk to regain his title as the most boisterous family member on Christmas Day.
The December People pay tribute to a time of
year that has a special magic for everyone throughout our lives. It is a
magic that is passed on from generation to generation. Music and magic
are two items, if handed down properly, can have an infinite life and
unlimited power.
The song: Silent Night (German: "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht") is a popular Christmas
carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in
Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and
the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber.
In 1859, John Freeman Young (second Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of
Florida) published the English translation that is most frequently sung
today. The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs
slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber's original,
which was a sprightly, dance-like tune in 6/8 time, as opposed to the
slow, meditative lullaby version generally sung today. Today, the lyrics
and melody are in the public domain. The carol was first performed in
the Nikolaus-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria, on
December 24, 1818.
The movie: The Little Matchgirl In 2006,
Walt Disney Feature Animation finished production work on a new
adaptation of The Little Match Girl. The short was originally intended
to be a part of a Fantasia film, but this project was canceled. The
Little Matchgirl is last of the four shorts from the aborted compilation
to be developed as a stand alone film. It was subsequently
released as a special feature on the 2006 Platinum Edition DVD of The
Little Mermaid. "Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major" by
Alexander Borodin.
