WELCOME

WELCOME to the Take Joy Society. We are a group of ladies who first met because of our love of Tasha Tudor's art and lifestyle. We are broadening our focus to include other artists/writers/people of interest who embody Tasha's philosophy to Take Joy in all the good that life has to offer. Here you will find a record of our get-togethers and resources to help you see that the gloom of the world is but a shadow so that you, too, can Take Joy by Creating Joy in your life!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

December Celebrations



In Mary Mason Campbell's "The New England Butt'ry Shelf Almanac," illustratated by Tasha Tudor, she writes, "The original meaning of the word 'Wassail' remains rather obscure, but it may have meant 'Be Thou Well,' or a kind of 'Here's-to-you' toast of good will not necessarily confined to Christmas festivities.  The early custom was for a servant or the host to bring in a bowl filled with appropriate liquor made from cider, ale, wine or rum and spices, usually heated and with roasted apples bobbing on top.  As he did so, he would call 'Wassail! wassail! wassail!' ...The ceremony has carried over in our custom of sharing the Christmas season with friends and neighbors with a bowl of spiced punch or eggnog or syllabub..."


(To print, drag to desk top)

Christmas is a WONDERFUL time of the year not only because we celebrate Jesus' birth, but because it can bring out the child-like qualities in us all---even the year-long scrooges!

Tasha Tudor is well known for how she celebrated Christmas.  In "A Time to Keep" she tells us, "Christmas was the best of all times to keep."  She'd begin the celebration by putting up the Christmas pyramid and Advent calendar on St. Nicholas Day.  She'd light the Advent wreath and serve St. Nicholas cake. . . .

One of my favorite of her traditions was the creche in the woods which I did one year when my children were still at home. . . .                                                
Then Christmas eve the family would go into the woods to cut down a tree.  We started the tradition of cutting down our tree from a tree farm the first year we were married.  Tasha's tree would not be decorated until Christmas night and the children would be kept out of the room until it was all done.  In "Take Joy" (her 1966 Christmas book) she writes, "By the time the evening chores are finished, everyone is in the proper state of excitement.  At last the tree is completely decorated and lighted and the presents are piled beneath and around it.  Now Seth winds up the antique music box and sets it at Hark! the Herald Angles Sing.  This is the signal the children have been waiting for.  The doors burst open--and there stands the tree in all its shimmering glory.  The rest of the evening is spent in that happy enjoyment only Christmas brings". . . .

Tasha celebrated Christmas through other books, too, such as "Snow Before Christmas". . . .

.....and "The Doll's Christmas". . . .


A few years ago the Historic Odessa Foundation in Odessa, Delaware had a very inspiring exhibit called A Joyful Tasha Tudor Christmas.  I did a post about it last year which can be found HERE.

If Christmas is your special holiday, too, then "Forever Christmas" is a must-have book.  In it you get to see up-close and personal photographs by Jay Paul as Tasha prepares for her celebration. . . .such as these gingerbread ornaments she made every year with the children. . . .

Other Christmas-themed books by Tasha include:  "The Night Before Christmas," "Corgiville Christmas," a 3-dimensional book "A Book of Christmas," "Tasha Tudor's Favorite Christmas Carols," "Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendar," and "Around the Year". . . .


Note:  All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Book links take you to Amazon where you can take a look inside.

I hope you have been inspired to slow down and really celebrate the season--not just go through the motions.  If it means down-sizing what you usually do, then so be it.  It is better to enjoy just a few activities than to wear yourself out with worry or work.

Do you do celebrate Christmas with any of the same traditions as Tasha?


.•*¨`*•. .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!


12 comments:

  1. Cathy, this post reminds me of Christmas' in my childhood home. We went into the woods with my Daddy to cut down a cedar tree on Christmas Eve. We would have it all in place in the living room corner. All four of us children would go excitedly to bed and in the morning the tree would be all aglow with all the gifts under it. This was pure magic for me! We were so blessed to have parents that provided us with JOY! ♥

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    1. That is such a lovely memory you have. There are many things I'd do differently to celebrate Christmas if I was starting over. So now that I have grandchildren, I really must think about how I want them to remember Christmas. A cedar Christmas tree must have been wonderful! We've found a place that grows Hemlocks and I'm forever hooked on them--so light and feathery.

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  2. My second principal gave everyone on the faculty a copy of 'Take Joy' for Christmas the first year she was with us - and I still enjoy roaming through it every year. Even though I've been doing it for over 30 years now. Yikes, 30 years! I love re-reading all the stories, and have tried more than a few of the recipes too. Keeping it simple is the biggest lesson this book teaches, I think, and people seem to be realizing this more and more. This year our family is reviving an activity we did when the grandchildren were younger. We all went out to eat at a neighborhood pub - and then piled into 4-5 cars for an after-dark Christmas Lights Tour, in a few areas of our region that are famous for theie decorations. Lots of fun, and it was the now 20-something grandchiildren that requested this - at Thanksgiving. So we'll go sometimes between Christmas and New Years - can't wait.

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    1. Hi Janet! That's a wonderful tradition to drive through the neighborhood to look at the lights. I like to go downtown to see the bare trees lit up with lights. We're going on the house tour in Frederick Saturday night and will get to enjoy the lighted trees, too!

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    2. Those houses in the historic parts of Maryland must be gorgeous at night during the holidays! Hope you have good weather for it. Chilly is one thing, but a downpour of rain would totally take ALL the fun out of it! Here's to a crisp, clear and DRY night! Bring some jingle bells along with you as you walk - people will love hearing that sound!

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    3. Hi Janet. The good thing is if the weather is bad we can go Sunday afternoon. Jingle bells are a great idea!

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  3. What a LOVELY post Cathy!! I enjoyed it so very much!
    Thinking of you fondly this Christmas season!!
    Blessings and warmth, xxoo Linnie

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    1. Blessings and warmth to you, too, Linnie! ❤️

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  4. Cathy, you have a wonderful collection of books! I collected Christmas books for years and then began giving them away so I have only a few now. Take Joy and the Doll's Christmas are two of Tasha's that I still have.
    Long years ago, I volunteered at our local school library. At the end of a year, we would cull all the forgotten books. We were "paid" by being able to help ourselves! One year I took Tasha's Becky's Birthday and Becky's Christmas. They now reside with "Becky".

    We did so many wonderful things over the years: cutting our own trees from a local farm and then from our own back yard; Gingerbread houses and cookies - lots of cookies, driving to see Christmas light displays, train gardens, holiday craft shows...visiting around, lots of crafting homemade gifts...
    In these downsizing years, the tree is smaller and the decoration simpler. So, in a way, I think we are going back to our first and more natural years and enjoying it more although there are still too many cookies being baked!
    Olivia June will be so blessed by all that interests you, just as your children have been. A nativity in the woods again?
    Merry Christmastide to you!

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    1. I need to start giving books and things away. I hope with my once-again decluttering plan for the coming year I'll achieve a little more of my goal. I CAN say, though, I did not bake as many cookies this year!

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