Christmas Countdown Characters #25

Merry Christmas... and here is the last for this Advent blog.

Z is for Zurline

Zurline is the ruler of the Wood Nymphs. She and her subjects live in the Forest of Burzee . Queen Zurline first appeared in the children's story classic, " The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" , first published in 1902 by L. Frank Baum and then later in the graphic novels and an animated version. In this story, Queen Zurline was a member of the Council of the Immortals which bestowed immortality on Santa Claus. . So, it is appropriate that Zurline completes the A-Z of Christmas celebrities as she and her colleagues were responsible for Santa Claus continuing to visit children on Christmas eve in the 21st century.... or at least, I think I have interpreted that correctly.

The story begins with baby Santa Claus being found in the Forest of Burzee. As he gets older, he learns about the world inhabited by humans, and when he becomes an adult, he can no longer stay in Burzee, but moves to Laughing Valley where he becomes known for making toys and being kind to children. It may come as no surprise there are gift exchanges, assistance from reindeer, stockings by fireplaces, gifts left under near trees, journeys by night and chimney descents in this story. It was when Santa Claus was 60 years old that the Council of Immortals met to decide the future of Santa Claus - and as they say the rest is history .... Santa Claus is immortal. Thanks Zurline!

Queen Zurline in "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus"

And now this series is finally over, thank you for following this blog during Advent, and I hope you return to the blog each week for an update on various topics even when we are not in Christmas mode. It is now time to turn off your computers and devices and enjoy some precious time with your family and friends, or even quietly by yourself, celebrating the blessed peace and joy of Christmas.
My very best wishes to one and all! - Wilma

Comments

Countdown to Christmas 20 - Fruitcake song!

There are many songs about fruit cakes - not all of them referring to the Christmas cake we know and love.It is really surprising to learn via Google that there are 89 listed songs with references to Christmas cake or fruit cake - not all of them complimentary. Probably one of the most famous folk songs about Christmas cake is Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake (a favourite sung by The Irish Rovers). This first recorded comical Christmas song was written by C Frank Horn in 1883 in Pennsylania, as a variation of an Irish folk song, 'Miss Mulligan's Christmas Cake' . The chorus might give you the hint that Miss Fogarty's cake was not for the faint hearted or those who suffered from a weak stomach. Chorus : There were plums and prunes and cherries, There were citrons and raisins and cinnamon, too There was nutmeg, cloves and berries And a crust that was nailed on with glue There were caraway seeds in abundance Such that work up

Christmas Countdown 15 : Christmas Tree #11 - Disposable

Plastic cups https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/christmas-stem-ideas-kids/ Advent Blog : Day 11 - Disposable We are all so much more conscious about ridding our landfills and oceans of plastic waste. For Christmas, here is a way to use up some of those disposable items which seem to multiply at holiday parties and celebrations, or perhaps you have just been saving them up for a creative use.... Who would have thought coffee pods would make such stylish Christmas trees ? ... Add caption If you don't have one of those machines, then perhaps you have coffee on the run - Starbucks or Nescafe ? from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/369858188126737920/ Nescafe cups https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/72761350208620530/ The disposable cups don' t have to be brand names to work well as materials for Christmas trees. Taking an engineering approach to plastic cup trees seems to be the answer for a more ornate result. from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks .... The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or my husband or from off cuts gifted to us from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks. Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as wrapping str

Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

Search This Blog