On the 4th Day of Christmas Past, a prize-winning Christmas Story! Question: What can we learn from this Prize-winning Christmas Story written Dec. 1947? (To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts on Facebook or our blog of story below.) In the Christmas News of December 20, 1947, this story written by Betty Wall Madsen was the prize winning Christmas story for that year & acknowledged in the Ogden Standard Examiner Dec. 21, 1947. The Miracle at the Inn by Betty Wall Madsen Haun was a little ten-year-old crippled boy. He was the son of Japhet, the innkeeper at Bethlehem. Because of his twisted back and his awkward hump, he was unable to run and play and do the things that other boys did. But Haun was a fine boy, and he was made responsible by his father for the care of the inn stable where the animals were kept. Haun obtained permission from his parents to sleep in the stable where the animals were kept. Haun loved the animals and he did his work in the stable with great pride and joy. Day after day he faithfully worked at his job to keep the stable clean and make it a pleasant place. He would put fresh hay in one part of the manger and make himself a comfortable bed. He took such pride in his work in the stable and he loved the animals so that it was a great delight to him when he could sleep in his bed in the manger. When tax time came, many people came crowding into Bethlehem. With all the activity on this particular day Haun worked very hard as there was much to be done. But Haun also liked to watch the people who came to stay at the inn owned by his father. Long after the inn had been filled, Joseph and Mary came seeking a place to spend the night. While Joseph was talking with Japhet, Haun held the gray donkey on which Mary sat. He loved all animals, but he particularly loved this little donkey. But more than all, he loved the beautiful young woman who was so kind to him as she waited. She asked Haun about himself and Haun told her about his work and the animals he cared for. Haun heard his father tell Joseph that they had no room in the inn. He saw the disappointment on Mary’s face as she wondered what they would do, where they would go. All of Bethlehem was crowded. Every bed and corner had already been taken. Haun felt a queer feeling of regret settle in his stomach as he tried to think of some way to help them. As Joseph turned the donkey around and started to leave, little crippled Haun had an idea. What about his bed in the manger?...
Read More3rd Day Christmas Past Question & Story
On the 3rd Day of Christmas Past, a Carol of Three. Question: In “We Three Kings” what symbolism do the gifts given represent? (To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts on Facebook or our blog of story below.) “We Three Kings” The song: “We three kings of Orient are bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign. Frankincense to offer have I. Incense owns a Deity nigh. Prayer and praising all men raising, Worship Him, God on high. Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom. Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice. Alleluia, alleluia! O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect Light.” “We Three Kings” tells the entire Gospel of Jesus in one little song. The context of the carol centres around the Biblical Magi, who visited Jesus during his Nativity and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh while paying homage to him. This song was written by Rev. John Henry Hopkins Jr. He was born on Oct. 28, 1820 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His heart was set on going to law school, but after receiving his degree from the University of Vermont, (AB-1839 and MA-1845), He felt led of the Holy Spirit to enter the ministry. He entered the General Theological Seminary and graduated in 1850. After he graduated, he took a job as the Seminary’s first music teacher from 1855 till 1857. He was also the editor of the “Church Journal” from 1853-1868. He served as a deacon in 1850 and was priest in 1872. Then he became rector of Trinity Church in Plattsburg, New York, and later served as rector of Christ Church in Williamsport, Pa. Hopkins did something extremely uncommon among carol composers when he wrote this song, he authored the lyrics and composed the music. Most carols usually had original lyrics or music but not both. While teaching music at the Seminary in 1857, Rev. Hopkins wrote the hymn, “We Three Kings” for a Christmas pageant that was presented at the Seminary that Christmas. He probably wrote the hymn with his nieces and nephews in mind. Since, he traveled from New York to Vermont every Christmas,where his father, John H. Hopkins. Sr., was the long time Episcopal Bishop for the State of Vermont. He always had a surprise for the youngsters at Christmas, and this year was no different. As usual, bachelor Uncle Henry did not disappoint the children. The family always had a dramatization of Matthew Chapter 2, and the entire Christmas Story. The hymn was sung by the family for the next...
Read More2nd Day Answer and Winner
Answer 2nd Day Christmas Past: Dancing was a very popular Pioneer Christmas activity and an outlet for Pres. Brigham Young to relieve his burdens by “kicking them off my toes.” Congrats to 2nd Day drawing winner, Jeffrey Abraham, who won an olive wood hand carving of the Holy Family from Israel! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Thank you everyone for your insights on both FB and our blog. The Story still available on yesterday’s Question website blog...
Read More2nd Day Christmas Past Question and Story
On the 2nd Day of Christmas Past, Kicking off troubles with TWO feet. Question: What popular pioneer Christmas activity also helped Brigham Young get rid of his troubles? Kicking His Troubles Off His Toes After pioneers reached the Salt Lake Valley, there was time to celebrate Christmas in more festive ways. Brigham Young’s favorite way was to have a dance. Raised in a strict home, he was taught to believe that even listening “to the sound of a violin was an unforgivable sin,” let alone dancing to it. But he came to believe this was wrong. He thought that dancing was wonderful recreation and that “all good music belongs to heaven.” If done in an appropriate way, Pres. Young declared, dancing would improve people’s spirits, give them beneficial exercise, and keep them warm in the wintertime. It was an ideal way to celebrate life and praise the Lord through good, wholesome recreation and social interaction. That Pres. Young loved to dance was well known. But he loved to dance for more than just the recreation. “Besides my own [problems],” he said, “I have the whole people’s burdens, and I get rid of them by kicking them off my toes.” And so, with Pres. Young leading the way, dancing became a favorite entertainment in the pioneer settlements. It was also an important part of almost all Christmas celebrations. The Saints danced in circles or squares, but only dances that required the gentleman to take the hands or one arm of his partner were allowed. They danced the quadrille and the cotillion, the minuet and the schottische. Some of the dance steps were quite complicated, and a dancing master, or caller, was appointed to give necessary instruction or call out the steps. Soon after the pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Pres. Young asked George Wardle to start a dancing school so everyone could learn more dance steps. Brigham Young was among the first students, and it was reported that he was among the best, too. One woman described Pres. Young as “a famous dancer, and certainly one of the most graceful pictures of all those popular men of the olden time.” Everywhere he traveled around the pioneer settlements, dances were held. All the girls, young and old, hoped that they might have the honor of being asked to dance by him. In 1849 Pres. Young held a large Christmas party and sent out invitations. Everyone expected there would be dancing. This Christmas dance became on of the most popular dances of the whole year and started a winter social season for the pioneers that lasted several months until spring planting called a halt to the gaiety. After the hard work getting in the harvest, and with the winter weather keeping everyone inside, what better way to celebrate Christ’s birth than to praise the Lord with joyful heart, music, and dance? If...
Read More1st Day Winner and Answer
Answer 1st Day Christmas Past: A pioneer tradition was to be the first to greet “Christmas Gift!” on Christmas morning. Some pioneers got pretty competitive and creative in earning the rank of first and a piece of candy. Congrats to 1st Day drawing winner, Sheron Morrell, who won a Bethlehem Nativity decoration, Nauvoo Temple ornament & Nauvoo Star ornament! Thank you everyone for your insights on both FB and our blog. The Story still available on yesterday’s 1st Question website blog...
Read More1st Day Christmas Past Question & Story
On the 1st Day of Christmas Past, another first to try. Question: What pioneer Christmas tradition did the Pioneers often go to great lengths on Christmas morning to be the FIRST at? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story below; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “Christmas Gift!” A pioneer Christmas tradition was the festive holiday greeting “Christmas Gift!” On Christmas morning, children and adults rushed to see who could be the first to wish another a “Christmas Gift.” Sometimes going to great lengths to hide in strange places, climb secretly into windows, or jump off of rooftops. The one with the fastest mouth received a piece of candy for his or her speed of tongue. Here are two pioneer journal accounts recounting this: Sarah Jane B. Hill fondly remembers …..”When I was a little girl two years old my mother passed away. I went to live with my grandmother, Jane Ann Bown. “Ma,” as I called her lived next door to her sister, Eliza, and her husband John Bartholomew. They were affectionately called “Uncle John and Aunt Lizzie.” It was coming Christmas and Uncle John was determined to get the greeting of “Christmas Gift” off first on Ma. In the earlier days this was the greeting that was always used. He had boasted to Ma that he was really going to put it over for sure this time. Christmas morning came around. Ma kept peeking out of the window to see if she could see Uncle John coming. She said to me, “You, Sarah Jane, sit by the window and keep a good watch.” We didn’t see a sign of Uncle John anywhere. Ma started to prepare breakfast. The cook stove was near the bedroom door. All of a sudden she heard a noise in the bedroom. She opened the door quietly and looked in. There stood Uncle John. She called, “Christmas Gift,” before he had time to open his mouth. To gain entrance to the bedroom he had stood on a broken chair on the outside, but, when he crawled through the window he landed on an old, squeaking bed that made an awful racket. Ma was really laughing when Uncle John finally came into the kitchen. He was out of patience when he said, “Aunt Jane Ann, why don’t you throw that old rattle-trap bed out?” She told him she would, but she wanted it back by next Christmas so she could hear him when he came to pay her his Christmas greeting.” From Alma D. Chambers journal, who came to Ogden, Utah in 1869 it states: “Christmas in the early days was very different from what it is today. There were no gifts – only candy and that was usually home made molasses candy or hard tack or stick candy. The children enjoyed calling “Christmas Gifts”...
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