yankeecountess:

Ho! Ho! Ho! December 6 is “St.
Nicholas Day”, and what better day to announce my own little “Tom
Branson-inspired HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY”!

If you recall, back in October when
I had my “Lady Sybil-inspired Fall Giveaway”, I mentioned that during the holiday
season, there would be one featuring everyone’s favorite Irish chauffeur…and
here it is!

And it includes:

  • an Irish lambswool scarf (made in Ireland)
  • a tin of The Republic of Tea limited-edition Downton Abbey tea (”Holiday Cheer Tea”)
  • a festive, blue-green snowflake mug
  • a “Mountain Lodge” tumbler candle (aka “the boyfriend candle”)
  • a Downton Abbey “miniature Renault & chauffeur” Christmas tree ornament

To participate, you must FOLLOW my blog, and REBLOG this post (likes are nice, but don’t count for the giveaway).  ALSO,
as this is a “Tom Branson” inspired giveaway, please give a positive
statement about the character of Tom Branson in your reblog.  
And only one reblog is necessary.

The giveaway runs until 12:01am CST, Monday, Dec. 12.  Winner will be selected at random, and announced by 4:00pm CST that same day!

italianartsociety:

6 December is the Feast of St. Nicholas, patron saint of numerous groups, including sailors, merchants, and children. Though Greek, Nicholas is widely revered in Italy because of the translation of his relics from his original tomb in Myra, where he was bishop in the 4th century, to Bari in the late 11th century.

Numerous Italian artists have portrayed events from the saint’s legend, including his provision of a dowry for three poor girls, throwing money through their window as they slept, Another story relates how he saved three innocent youths from beheading by a corrupt Roman consul.  

Nicholas is typically shown wearing his bishop’s mitre and ecclesiastical robes and often holds gold balls as a symbol of the dowry he provided to the poor girls (the Golden Legend says he left a “mass of gold” but artists typically show spheres). His reputation for secret gift-giving, Nicholas serves as the model for Santa Claus, and many mark the beginning of the Christmas season with his feast day.

Palmerino di Guido, St Nicholas Saving Three Innocents from Decapitation, 1300-01. Fresco. Chapel of St Nicholas, Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi

Cecco di Pietro, St Nicholas, c. 1386. Poplar panel, gold ground, Musée du Petit Palais, Avignon

Fra Angelico, St Nicholas of Bari, 1423-24. Tempera on wood. Private collection (originally part of the San Domenico di Fiesole Altarpiece).

Gentile da Fabriano, Quaratesi Polyptych: Pilgrims at the Tomb of St Nicholas of Bari, 1425. Panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington

Fra Angelico, Stories of St Nicholas, altarpiece predella, 1447-48. Tempera and gold on panel, Pinacoteca, Vatican

Bartolomeo Vivarini, St Nicholas of Bari, bef. 1499. Panel, Santo Stefano, Venice

Tintoretto, St Nicholas, before 1594. Oil on canvas, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Leonardo Corona, St Nicholas Aiding Shipwrecked Sailors in a Storm, bef. 1605. Oil on canvas. San Nicolò dei Mendicoli, Venice

thelylacdagger:

Hey guys, instead of fighting and aruging over stupid Holiday greetings, how about we just greet each other with our greeting of choice?

Like, for example I celebrate Christmas and someone else celebrates Hanukkah. 

I say “Merry Christmas!”
And then they respond with “Happy Hanukkah.” 

How about it, huh? I for one, would be happy you included me (even the smallest bit) in your celebrations. Heck, you can still wish me “Happy Holidays” or “Merry X-mas” if you prefer those. Whatever you want.

It’s the season of giving, let’s give each other a little bit of our celebration! 

THIS. The so-called “war on Christmas” was created by small-minded people who want everyone to “think like them”, and you can find that on both sides of the argument, be they religious or secular.

I would be very honored if someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas wishes me a happy ______, even if I don’t share in that celebration, it’s an honor to be included! Because it shows that we are human beings, deserving of good will and wishes, no matter what faith we follow or culture we share. And if someone wants to “play it safe” by simply saying “Happy Holidays” because that encompasses more than one, then so be it! Christmas is included in that message, so I don’t feel left out.

The only “war on Christmas” that is worth fighting is the war against greed and  commercialism. That’s the fight we should be focused on, not “how we greet one another” in December.

Ho! Ho! Ho! December 6 is “St.
Nicholas Day”, and what better day to announce my own little “Tom
Branson-inspired HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY”!

If you recall, back in October when
I had my “Lady Sybil-inspired Fall Giveaway”, I mentioned that during the holiday
season, there would be one featuring everyone’s favorite Irish chauffeur…and
here it is!

And it includes:

  • an Irish lambswool scarf (made in Ireland)
  • a tin of The Republic of Tea limited-edition Downton Abbey tea (”Holiday Cheer Tea”)
  • a festive, blue-green snowflake mug
  • a “Mountain Lodge” tumbler candle (aka “the boyfriend candle”)
  • a Downton Abbey “miniature Renault & chauffeur” Christmas tree ornament

To participate, you must FOLLOW my blog, and REBLOG this post (likes are nice, but don’t count for the giveaway).  ALSO,
as this is a “Tom Branson” inspired giveaway, please give a positive
statement about the character of Tom Branson in your reblog.  
And only one reblog is necessary.

The giveaway runs until 12:01am CST, Tuesday, Dec. 12.  Winner will be selected at random, and announced by 4:00pm CST that same day!