Nativity Characters ~ The Shepherds

We hear about the shepherds in Luke account of the Nativity.  The shepherds were a goup of men who would be out on the hills side caring from their sheep through most of the year.  They would be grubby and were certainly the lowest on social scale.  And yet it's to them that an angel appears and tells the good news.  They are ordinary men.  The shepherds hear the greeting and without hesitatiuon leave their flocks to the mecy of the night and hurry to find the things that the angels had told them.  Then they rejoiced and hurried around shaing the good news.

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Clove Oranges

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Make A Green Garland

Nativity Characters ~ The Wise Men

The three wise men

The Three wise men (or in some translations Magi or kings) are traditionally celebrated at the feast of Epithany 6th Jan.  It was believed that the Baby Jesus may actually have been as old as two when they visited.

They had been looking at the stars and followed one that they believe foretold the coming of a sviour for all the people.

They brought gifts of 

Gold ~ symbolising Kingship

Frankinscence ~ symbolising Godship

and Myrrh ~ symbolising sacrifice and tears.

Nativity Characters ~ Herod

Herod was the king of Judea.  We read about him in Matthews gospel.  The three wise men visited him in order to discover the whereabouts of the child they were seeking. Herod was a Jewish king.

Being an educated man and with access to the learned scholars of the land etc, it is surprising that Herod was not more in touch with his roots. 
He felt that the term used in the scriptures "a saviour for all mankind" was a direct threat to hi and saw Jesus as a threat and "not for him" when infact Jesus was coming to the earth as much for him as for anyone else, because God loved Herod too.

Herod made enquireies from the wise men asking where and when the star had appeared and made the pretence of wanting to go and see the baby too, but the wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. 
Herods raging then saw him issue a degree that all male children under the age of two in the vicinity of Bethlehem were to be killed.

Joseph was also warned in a dream of Herods intention and took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape him.

Christmas recipes ~ Coconut ice

What Christmas Means To Me

This will be a very personal post.  I am not prone to spilling my emotions on the web, but for once I really feel led to do so.
When I started this blog a couple of months ago, it was as a pure indulgence.  There is so much beautiful craft, music, tallent etc out there that only gets shared for a short time each year, that I decided to thoroughly embrace it.  
Christmas to me is so special. It starts in September (the day after the kids go bck to school) as it does for many crafters (for some it never stops!)  The big run up to Christmas, it seems so far away, you have time to plan, order materials, design, think and then all too soon it's nearly here.  Normally around October I get some flash of inspiration and the subject for the Christmas day service (which we lead as a music group)comes bounding into being  This year was no exception and very quickly there was a drama written and a title "missing the point".  I guess it all stems from Google refusing to acknowledge Christmas last year.  In the run up to Christms, there were christmas cards shown, but when you hovered over them the greeting was not "Happy Christmas", but "Happy Holidays".
Whilst the material Christmas takes place in every town centre or home (mine included,) when asked about traditions and what matters to people they nearly always respond with thoughts of the people they love.
I personally see nothing wrong with embracing the secular side to Christmas as you can see from this blog, but I do feel that all too often the real reson for Christmas is forgotton.
For me Christmas is about:
 The obedience of a young girl, of her future being so radically changed, of being prepared to undergo shame, of the motherly instincts, and the will to do the right thing.
Of the bravery of a man, who also prepared to face shame, but who listened and responded in love.
Of the joy of angels spreading the good news.
The wonder of shepherds, who celebrated the news of the birth of a baby, left their flocks and hurried to visit and then returned home rejoicing and telling others.
The perseverance of the wise men, who studied, waited, watched and travelled to worship a new born king.
And of course there is the baby himself, sent to the earth in human form to be the light of the world.
So please, this Christmas time take a few moments to remember why and how and that he can be your light too.
Happy Christmas

Nativity Characters ~ The Inn Keeper

 Every school nativity play featured inn keepers with their famous "no room here".  In the bible however, the inn keepers do not really get a mention at all.  
"And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
Mary and Joseph had been forced to travel to the Town of Joseph's ancestors.  The journey would have taken days and been treaturous for a heavily pregnant woman.  The thought of arriving and finding the place bustling with all the other people forced there, and being able to find no shelter other then an animal hold would be very frightening.

Christmas Films ~ The Nativity

Christmas Films ~ Elf

Baby it's cold outside!

Colours of Christmas ~ white

White is a symbol of purity.  It's associated with Christmas because of the purity and innocence of Jesus.

It is also considered to be special if snow falls on Christmas day and covers the place in a shroud of white.

Bing crosby's famous White Christmas is one of the most recorded Christmas Songs of all time.

Nativity Characters ~ Joseph

Joseph gets the raw deal in my opinion.  He was a man betrothed to a woman and then he hears rumours that his wife to be is pregnant, and he knows that there is no way the child is his.  The moral code at the time meant that it was all very embarrassing.  Joseph decided to end the agreement of marriage,

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”

 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Joseph is then shunted into the sidelines.  His part in Jesus upbringing is not heavily featured in the bible.  He is also overlooked by the writers of Christmas Carols.  There are incredibly few references to him in any carol old or new.  

Joseph's role though, was basically that of step father, a role that in modern times is prevalent and given value.

Colours of Christmas ~ Gold

When we first got married, we bought a new tree, and needing to remain frugal, I saved match boxes, oxo boxes and toothpaste tubes and wrapped them up in paper and then simply sprayed them all gold.  They were the start of my gold obsession and over the years, my cans of gold spray paint have come out every year to make new decorations fit in. Since the early days, a fair bit of white has also crept in and the boxes have been replaced with an assortment of other decorations.

Gold is of course one of the gifts given by the wise men in recognition of the Kingship of the baby Jesus.

Christmas Films ~ The Polar Express

The Colours of Christmas ~ Red

Red is a colour long associated with Christmas.  Red is a sacred colour often associated with the Blood of Jesus Christ.  It was felt that holly was a specially blessed with it's bright red berries and this was often brought from the hedgerows and forests to decorate houses.

In 1931 Coca Cola took the figure of Santa (which had developed from Saint Nicholas  A man clad in deep green) and dressed him up in their corporate colours.  This is the figure we now most think of.

Red is a special colour that the human eye actually recognises before it sees the other colours.  So it's striking nature means we are attracted to it.

In Mexico Poinsettia's feature heavily in Christmas decorations.

Christmas Plants / Christmas Trivia ~ Poisettia

It was Christmas Eve, all the children in the village were hurrying to attend the crib service in the church.  It was always a beautiful time.  Every one brought gifts to present to the Christ Child.
In one small hut standing on the edge of the village two young children wrapped their scarves around themselves, before they opened the door and went out into the night air. 
"Hurry," the boy called to his sister, "we don't want to be late", but still the girl dawdled only, her heart was heavy and her worry was apparent to the boy.
"I am sure that the most humble gift, if given in love will be acceptable" he offered.
In despair, looking around for beautiful flowers to gather and seeing none, she picked some green weeds.  As they approached the church, she hung her head in shame as the other children giggled and parents shared knowing looks.
The people entered the church and one by one went to the front to place their gifts before the nativity, elaborate baskets of fruit and ornaments were given down.  Then the whole congregation watched as the two children left their pew and took their green weeds to the front. 
"Even the most humble gift, if given in love" filled her heart as she lay the weeds down. A tear trickled down her cheek and though the tears, she saw the weed burst in to star shaped flowers of the most stunning red.  The gift had been given in love and had also been recieved with  love!

Nativity Characters ~ Elizabeth and Zachariah

Luke chapter 1 v 5~
During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He'll achieve great stature with God.

"He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he'll get the people ready for God."

Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."

But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time—God's time."

Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. "So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.

The Colours of Christmas ~ Silver

As a child I grew up with a silver tinsel Christmas Tree.  It was beautiful (in the eyes of a small child) Sparkley and shiney.  Of course, it eventually went out of fashion and our family moved on to embrace the "real tree's"
Silver is a colour long associated with Christmas and is probably derived from the sparkiling effect of snow and ice.

Vintage silvered glass decorations

Nativity Characters ~ Mary

Mary was ayoung girl, probably only around 14 years old.  Imagine her surprise when an angel appeared before her and said 
" Good morning! 
   You're beautiful with God's beauty, 
   Beautiful inside and out! 
   God be with you." 
 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. 

   He will be great, 
      be called 'Son of the Highest.' 
   The Lord God will give him 
      the throne of his father David; 
   He will rule Jacob's house forever— 
      no end, ever, to his kingdom." 
 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." 
 The angel answered, 

   The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 
      the power of the Highest hover over you; 
   Therefore, the child you bring to birth 
      will be called Holy, Son of God. 
 ^"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." 
   And Mary said, 

   "Yes, I see it all now: 
      I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. 
   Let it be with me 
      just as you say. 
   Then the angel left her."

After going to visit her realtive Elizabeth, Mary said,
"   I'm bursting with God-news; 
      I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. 
      God took one good look at me, and look what happened— 
      I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! 
   What God has done for me will never be forgotten, 
      the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. 
   His mercy flows in wave after wave 
      on those who are in awe before him. 
   He bared his arm and showed his strength, 
      scattered the bluffing braggarts. 
   He knocked tyrants off their high horses, 
      pulled victims out of the mud. 
   The starving poor sat down to a banquet; 
      the callous rich were left out in the cold. 
   He embraced his chosen child, Israel; 
      he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. 
   It's exactly what he promised, 
      beginning with Abraham and right up to now. "

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Beaded Snowflakes

Christmas Recipes ~ Candy Cane Cokies

Christmas Films ~ Muppet Christmas Carol

Christmas Recipes ~ Pepermint Creams

1 Egg white
450g/1lb Icing sugar
peppermint essence
Green food colouring (Optional)

Beat the egg white until frothy but not stiff.
Add the icing sugar (just enough to form a stiff mixture) add a few drops of peppermint essence and kneed until the colour is even.
Roll onto a lightly icing sugared surface and cut into small shapes or roll into small balls and flatten with a fork.
Place onto greaseproof paper and leave to dry out for 24 hours
Just a minor tip but if you replace the egg with water they taste just as nice and the bonus is they keep longer as there is no egg to go off - oh and any pregnant friends can eat them too as there is no raw egg in them.

Equally nice are orange creams, just replace the peppermint with orange flavoring and the green coloring with orange, and lemon creams with lemon flavoring and yellow coloring.

Christmas Drams ~ A Baby changes Everything

This drama is in two parts.  The first is set in modern times.  A man and a woman are giving a TV style monologue talking about the fact that when they have a baby it will not change their lives..... they'll just carry on  (in their dreams) and then afterwards the same couple reflect on how it did infact change their lives.
Part 2 looks at the same senario through the eyes of Mary and Joseph.  This drama was written by me  and used as the Christmas day service at All Saints Church South Cave for Christmas 2010.
 Modern setting :

It won’t change me:

Woman:  I’m pregnant.  It’s really exciting isn’t it!  (Strokes bump lovingly)   People keep telling me that life will never be the same.  Personally, I think I’ll be able to do things in the same way as before, just take the baby along with me.  It’ll be fine. 

Ooo  Do you like me new bag?  It’s sooo cute, tiny and just enough room for a purse and keys.  Guess I’ll have to get one a little bit bigger when the baby comes. 

I’ve just finished decorating, I love my home to be tidy,  I like the minimalist look. Everything tidied away.  I’ve got a great white leather sofa and a beautiful cream shag pile carpet.  

Having a baby?  No it won’t change me!

Man:  My wife’s pregnant.  It’s really exciting isn’t it.   Arrgghhh just look at her. (strokes bump lovingly)  People keep telling me that life will never be the same. Personally I think we’ll be able to do things in the same way, just take the baby along with us.  It’ll be fine.

Oooo did you hear that I’ve just bought a new sports car?  0—60 in 2.35 seconds, leather seats … it’s fantastic!

Got another party tonight as well, that’s three in the past week.  I lurve partying.

Having a baby?   No it won’t change me!

Time Passes ........

It has changed me:

Woman:  I love being a mum, look at my beautiful baby!  I didn’t think it would change me, but it has. 

Do you remember I showed you my little tiny handbag?  Well look at this (hold us bulging nappy bag)  Full to the brim it is with nappies, bottle, change of clothes, toys. No more travelling light for me.  And you know that white sofa and cream carpet, well they won’t stay clean for long with this little one getting into everything, and as for the minimalist look, well it’s gone…  toys all over my house.

Having a baby has changed me, I love being a mum!

Man:  I love being a dad, just look at our beautiful baby!  I didn’t think it would change me, but it has.

Do you remember me telling you about my fab little sports car, well it turned out that a baby, a car seat, a buggy and the rest of the baby paraphernalia just didn’t fit in. I’ve had to get a family car.  0—60 in 50 seconds but.. Who wants to be a boy racer with this little bundle in the car.

As for the parties, we’re both too tired.  I think we got woken up four times last night.

Having a baby has changed me, I love being a dad!

Biblical setting:

Mary’s story:

A baby certainly changed my life, My name is Mary and I’d like to share my story with you.

I was at home one day, just doing the normal stuff, sweeping, washing and cooking when all of a sudden I felt that I wasn’t quite alone.  I turned around and there he was standing in the room with me.

 “Greetings” he said, just like that… “Greetings you are truly blessed, The lord is with you.”  I was so confused, “what do you mean?, I asked. 

So  he said , "Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was.

Now how strange does that sound?

“but I am not married”, I said to him.  Then he told me "The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God.  You will call him Jesus” 

If that’s what God want me to do, then I will do it, I said.

But can you imagine what happened next, you see I was engaged to Joseph.  What would my family say?   I went from being a young girl planning my wedding and my whole future to having the shock of my life and travelling miles from home to a small stable where my baby was born.  My baby, so small, so special.  I held him in my arms and wondered how it would be.

Looking back now, I can tell you so many ways in which this baby changed me.

Joseph’s story:   A baby certainly changed my life too.  My name is Joseph and I’d like to share my story with you.

I was engaged to be married to Mary, then I heard the rumours that she was pregnant.  Knowing it wasn’t my baby I began to think of ways to discreetly break up with her.  It caused me a lot of sleepless nights, then one night when I finally stopped tossing and turning, I began to dream.  In the dream an angel came to me.  “Joseph” he said.  He called me by my name “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  The baby she has conceived is the son of  God. The holy Spirit has come upon her.  She will give birth to a son and he will save the people from their sins.”

I thought about the ancient scriptures that had been taught to me as a child  “A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and his name will be called Immanuel which means God is with us”.

When I woke up, everything felt better.  I went to see Mary and we were married.

Shortly afterward we travelled for the census to Bethlehem.  And that’s where our little boy was born.

As Mary held him I gazed at this beautiful baby and wondered how he would save his people from their sins.

Looking back I can tell you so many ways in which this baby changed me.

Christmas Films ~ Rudolph

Christmas Snow ~ Snowy South Cave

Christmas Tree ~ Beer Bottle Tree

Not being a beer drinker myself, I am unlikely to ever create a masterpiece like this.
If you want to have a go at making one, it makes a great excuse for a party because I personally don't see how you are going to drink the 233 bottles of beer required to create the six level tree.
The instructions for making the tree are to be found HERE

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Feather Christmas Tree

This beautiful feather Christmas tree is from a Martha Stewart Tutorial and can be found HERE.

Christmas Films ~ Miracle on 34th Street

Christmas Trivia ~ The Word Xmas

As a child, I remember being shocked to see the word Xmas representing Christmas.  I don't ever remember being told, but always felt like the use of the X was crossing out Jesus.  It is only in later years that I have been informed as to the reason for this:
The X is representative of the Greek first letter of the name Christ.
 The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as an X.  That X has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ.

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Collage Star Card

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Card Stars

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Recycled Ribbon Bow

Christmas Poem ~ T'was the night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Christmas Films ~ The Candle Maker

Christmas Plants ~ Cactus

I always associate these stunning plants with an elderly neighbour who had a wonderful gift to grow these wonderful christmas plants.
Although during the summer, the plants can be cared for outside, they should be brough inside during early October, so now is the ideal time.  The plant will flower more prolifically at Christmas if it is kept in a cool inside environment and subjected to legnthy times in the dark.  It should be watered reguallly, but the soil should be allowed to dry before you water it again.
The Christmas Cactus comes in a variety of pinks and reds which makes it perfect for yur Christmas display.

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Christmas Hangers

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Curly Decoration

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Quilled Christmas Decorations

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Elaborate Christmas Bows

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Decorated Ornaments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=niarVgEP-Ws

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Origami Wreaths

Handmade Christmas ~ Christmas Spiders

Christmas spiders created from beads

Tradition has it that the spider invented the tinsel we associate with Christmas.

This Christmas you can own your very own Christmas spider along with two versions of

"The Christmas Spider story"

Each spider (made for you in any colour of your choice) is accompanied by a handmade card featuring the stories.  The spider can then take pride of place on your tree.

The price is £6.00 incl P&P

To order simply email your request along with your name and address and I'll send you an invoice

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Beaded Candy Canes

Christmas Trivia ~ Silent Night

This famous and well loved Christmas Carol was first played on the guitar.  
The legend (which is believed to actually be slightly ficticious although based around the truth) tells the story of the carol.  



It was Christmas eve, the snow lay deeply on the ground as the priest entered the church.  He rubbed his hands together and hurried over the the organ, he really must practice before the mass that night.  The candle light flickered as he sat on the organ stool.  Carefully he opened the casing and stretched his fingers in anticipation of playing. Slowly he placed his fingers on to the keys and began to move them.  No sound came from the organ.  The priest pulled out more stops and tried again, but again no sound came forth.
He climbed down from the stool, took up a candle and opened the small door at the organ side.
Inside amongst the dust, he could make out the form of the bellows and as he reached into the dark cavern, his fingers discovered the reason for the silence.  Small holes had been nibbled into the leather.  The ragged little holes bore the teeth marks of the mice who took refuge in the organ.
The nearest organ repairer lived miles away, and there would not be time to call him out.  
The priest's heart was heavy.  What could he do?
Back at the rectory, he took a sip from the cup of hot broth.  It was as though the warm soup had woarmed his heart.  Putting the cup down, he hurried to his study and began riffeling through the piles of papers and then he grabbed a hat and went running down the street to his neighbours house.
Franz Gruber was sitting reading in his parlour when the frantic knocking came at his door.  He senced urgency and hurried to the door.
A breathless and snow covered priest began to talk in an excited manner.
The rest is history.
That night in the small church at Oberndauf in Austria A poem entitled "Stille Nacht" written by the priest Joseph Mohr was sung to a beautiful melody played on the guitar by Gruber.