Pursuing Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
By George launches its season of Christmas memes with a warning that the endless deluge of Christmas posters and gifs are seldom funny and often in bad taste. Still, our hope is to unearth a few striking memes that you will want to share. We begin with this set of 5 which we entitle “Beware…
Here is By George‘s humble opinion of the top ten movies – “the must sees” – at this special time of year (listed in order from the best – but this should not dissuade you from watching all of them!). 1. It’s a Wonderful Life 2. White Christmas 3. A Christmas Carol (1938 or 1951)…
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in their National Film Registry. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal in 1984, Director Frank Capra expressed amazement on the film’s elevated status: “It’s the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen. The…
It’s time to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” (at least a few times over the next two weeks). Recently we saw an article about George Baily’s hometown, Bedford Falls, and the actual village that this community was modeled after. Here are a few facts about “The Real” town…. Bedford falls was modeled after Seneca Falls,…
Here are ten of my favourite sayings from this Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life: George Bailey: Well, you look about the kind of angel I’d get. Sort of a fallen angel, aren’t you? What happened to your wings? Clarence (the angel): Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he…
1. The story is actually from a Christmas card – “The Greatest Gift” was a short story written and self-published as a 21 page Christmas card gift by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1943. It concerned a man named George Pratt who wished he had never been born. A stranger meets George on a bridge…
The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect! – Charles N. Barnard Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. – Larry Wilde The best Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature. – Andy Rooney Gee, do they still make wooden…
The best selling Christmas trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Balsam fir and white pine. For every real Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place. Cultured Christmas trees must be shaped as they grow to produce fuller foliage. To slow the upward growth and to…
Ingredients Beat on medium speed until lightened in color and creamy: 3/4 pound unsalted butter, softened & 1/4 teaspoon salt Beat until very fluffy and well blended: 2/3 cup powdered sugar & 1 large egg yolk 2 tablespoons brandy & 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract And then gradually add and stir until well blended…
One Norwegian Christmas custom begins in late autumn at harvest time. The finest wheat is gathered and saved until Christmas. This wheat is then attached to poles made from tree branches, making perches for the birds. A large circle of snow is cleared away beneath each perch. According to the Norwegians, this provides a place…
In Britain, the Holy Days and Fasting Days Act of 1551, which has not yet been repealed, states that every citizen must attend a Christian church service on Christmas Day, and must not use any kind of vehicle to get to the service. Also in Britain, eating mince pies at Christmas dates back to the…
Here is an interesting list of some pretty amazing Christmas records. Biggest selling Christmas song is Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The song was written by Sir Bob Geldof, and sold fifty million copies and continues to be a holiday favorite today! The world’s largest gift was the Statue of Liberty. The people…
A few years back, the Philips Corporation in the US released a list of facts surrounding the holiday season. Here’s what the average person has to look forward to when shopping for Christmas: Five miles of walking around stores, parking lots and malls Spending at least 90 minutes waiting in line to pay The average…
1. Christmas was once a moveable feast celebrated at many different times during the year. The choice of December 25 was made by Pope Julius I, in the 4th century A.D., because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with…
As we enter Christmas and New Year’s festivities, inevitably, we will find ourselves at cocktail parties or dinner settings where we will be reaching for a topic of discussion. To help us through this season, By George Journal provides observations and questions that will serve as perfect conversation starters. Here are a dozen questions to start…
This is the season of Christmas socials, year-end parties, and gatherings of colleagues, friends and family. Like no other time of year, we enjoy cocktails, plenty of delicious foods, and endless conversations. So, By George Journal asks, ‘What makes a good conversationalist?’ Here are three pointers to be that ‘gracious host’ or that ‘guest you must remember to…
The Christmas season is normally a very social time. But perhaps not in 2020. So, through this season the By George elves provided merry sayings and seasonal facts and information to add a little extra cheer in our followers’ days. Here are the daily BGJ posts through December 2020. Now, take up a glass and…
Christmas: that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance–a day in which we think of everything we have ever…
It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. – W.T. Ellis Our elf-wordsmiths at By George enjoy contemplating words that best frame the spirit of a moment or an event. We have our favourite words for just about every occasion… including Christmas. So today, we are offering our favourite inscriptions, verse…
Be sure to follow our By George Journal for countless posts celebrating Christmas through the month of December. The Christmas season is normally a very social time. But perhaps not in 2020. So, this season, let the By George elves provide you with merry sayings and seasonal facts and information to add a little extra cheer…