New Year Advice from Abraham Lincoln

     As someone who believes so strongly in the importance of learning from history, I decided to share the advice from the man who held the Union together during such divisive times during the Civil War as my New Year's post.  Perhaps his words have value to our current turbulent times.  

    "I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle."  July 10, 1858.  "Most governments have been based, practically, on the denial of equal right of men...ours began, by affirming those right.  They said, some men are too ignorant, and vicious, to share in government.  Possibly so, said we; and by your system, you would always keep them ignorant, and vicious.  We proposed to give all a chance; and we expected the weak to grow stronger, the ignorant wiser; and all better, and happier together."  July 1, 1854    

    "Passion has helped us; but it can do so no more.  It will in future be our enemy.  Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defense."  January 27, 1838  "If a man will stand up and assert, and repeat and re-assert, that two and two do not make four, I know nothing in the power of argument that can stop him."  February 22, 1854   "The people  -- the people  --  are the rightful masters of both congress and courts  --  not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it."  Speech in Kansas, December 1859 

    "It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives."  August 22, 1864  "May our children and our children's children to a thousand generations, continue to enjoy the benefits conferred upon us by a united country, and have cause yet to rejoice under those glorious institutions bequeathed us by Washington and his compeers."  October 4, 1862

    Thank you Mr. President.  May your words echo through the centuries, and may 2024 be a happy new year.

The Holiday Season

Winter Memories from the 1940s

Did you know that there are at least 17 holidays during this season?  In fact, historians have found winter celebrations as far back as 3000 BCE.  Some of the early celebrations have disappeared while new ones have appeared since ancient times.  Some are related to religious beliefs, while others honor various  traditions.  Faiths and traditions vary from country to country, and while some may be celebrated primarily in a particular location, others are celebrated around the world.

Since ancient time the Winter Solstice has been recognized by many cultures, and traditions from those ancient times have influenced later cultures.  The astronomical occurrence was celebrated as a return of the sun.  The Romans wintertime celebration was called the Saturnalia, a 7-day celebration at the midpoint of the winter season.  In early Europe there was a holiday known as the Yule festival.  Iranians celebrate Yalda, one of the most ancient Persian festivals. 

Today, there are many celebrations in December and early January.  On December 5, Muslims celebrate Ashura.  On that same day in Germany and Eastern Europe, Krampus Nacht is celebrated, with a devil-like character that scares bad children and rewards good children the next day.  St. Nicholas Day on December 6 recognizes a Christian bishop who sold all of his possessions to give to the needy, and people in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg remember him by giving gifts on that day.  On December 8 Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day by performing kind acts.

 In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand there was Boxing day, when gifts were placed in boxes and given to the poor the day after Christmas, although today it is more of a holiday for sports and shopping.  To honor African American culture, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January first, a relatively new holiday celebration that originated at California State University and has spread.  Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6, believed to be the day when the three kings first saw baby Jesus.  It is also the end of the 12 Days of Christmas.

Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which is Christmas Day on the Julian calendar, and on January 11, Hindus in Northern India celebrate the passing of the winter solstice.

American Jews use the Soli-lunar calendar, which means that the months begin on the new moon, to calculate their traditional days of celebration.  This year Hanukkah falls on December 7 through December 15.

There are other holiday seasons celebrated around the world that I have not included in this summary of winter holidays.  As I am sure you have noticed, many of our Christmas traditions are adapted from other nations, and in America today, there are many winter holidays, both religious and secular.  It is increasingly common to hear Happy Holidays ringing out to respect the multicultural nation that America is today.

Around the world surely most people wish for peace.  Can we not find ways to suppress cruelty and greed without war.  And, in the greatest nation in the world, can we not remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, who said, "The people - the people are the rightful masters of both congress and courts - not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it."

Children's Books at Christmas

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I love decorating the house for Christmas, and the only disappointment I have is the inability to accommodate more of our decorations because we lack the  room for them. Our cat, Emerson, can be trusted with the decoration sitting on every possible shelf, since frankly, he prefers the Christmas trees.  Low hanging Christmas balls better not be breakable, although it is actually sliding and rearranging the tree skirts that he most enjoys.  This year I have given him an entirely new level of Christmas fun with the Singing Santa tree.  Rearranging the artificial forest floor around the trees is his best holiday activity yet! 

However, this is not about Emerson, although he naturally assumes everything is, and his disappointment is apparent, because nothing on the dining room table is small enough to bat onto the floor, or at least knock over...all of the Santas being too heavy.  Since he cannot read, he doesn't see the point in covering the table with books, although he has found one that might be interesting.  I, on the other hand, love the excuse to get out all of the children's Christmas books in my collection out, just for the sheer pleasure of reading and seeing the beautiful illustrations.

I confess, the arrangement was prettier years ago when I had fewer Christmas books, but how could I hurt the feelings of any book by making it think it wasn't loved enough to be included.  There are 44 books, illustrated by 42 different artists.  Seven of the books are "The Night Before Christmas" and 4 are "A Christmas Carol."  There is a "Happy New Year" book, and a "Hanukkah book.  There is a "Nutcracker" book, and  "Jingle Bells," and "The Polar Express.  Obviously, Emerson's favorite is the book titled "The Christmas Cats," although he would have preferred a gray and white cat on the cover.

Many of my favorite illustrators are included.  Larry discovered one he had not seen, a Christmas book about "Franklin and Winston, A Christmas that Saved the World during W.W. II."
  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!  I hope at least a few books are under your Christmas tree, and I suspect the "The Night Before Christmas" just might be read in many homes.  

What are you reading?

Some of my classic children's books
 and my bookend collection

I confess.  We have book cases in every room in our house (including a small rack in one bathroom) and we still have books stacked on the floor.  I love books!  We are fortunate in our community to have wonderful libraries nearby, with enthusiastic librarians that cultivate readers, especially children.   However, the sad truth is that people aren't reading as they once did.  

In 2022, the revenue from book sales was  78.80% from printed books, 10.77% from e-books, and 10.43% came from Audio books.  While the majority of readers still enjoy a book in their hands, many like the ability to read from their phone or laptop.  Audio books are often popular with readers who listen while driving to and from work.   

You might be curious to know that internationally the top three book purchasers were, at least in 2016, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.  The global book publishing market in 2022 is predicted to reach $143.65 billion, with the expectation of 163.89 billion by 2023.  Another interesting set of statistics involves the busiest time of year for book sales.  November and December account for over 21% of the annual sales for bookstores, which you may know have been struggling to survive against internet sales, and as for overall book sales, almost 12% of all books are sold during the last week of November to the years end.  Apparently, books make nice Christmas gifts.  Over 82% of all books sold during November and December were print books, higher that the annual print book average sales.  (Just a hint for your Christmas giving!)  It will probably not surprise you that in the United States Amazon accounts for over 40% of book sales, and 30% globally.  As for e-books, Amazon dominates 80%.  

Those of you who follow my blog know how important it is to encourage children to read books.  Many of you may still be doing your Christmas shopping, and even if you thought you were finished, surely you can add a few books to your Christmas giving.  Authors will appreciate it--publishers will appreciate it--and most importantly, those for whom you have chosen to give a book will have it to enjoy!