V is for Vitality
Greetings! I love the sense of vitality that the various holidays bring into my daily life during this religious seasons. I love it!
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| Advent Candles' Meaning Watercolor Pencils, Calligraphy Marker, & Micron Pen Alexandra's Sunday Sketches Let's December Daily Ramona's Inspire Me Monday - Week 205 Julia's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #340 Kristin & Eva's Paint Party Friday - Week 40 Year 5 Julie's Art Journal Everyday |
First, there is advent, which marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical calendar, as we celebrate the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It begins on the first Sunday in December and ends on Christmas Eve, which is celebrated on December 24th. There are five candles lit during this celebration, which represent hope, love, joy, peace, and Christ, which is represented by the white candle lit on Christmas Eve.
| Saint Nicholas Collection Vintage, Collector's, & International Figures Our Beautiful World - #126 Decorations Sue's Image-in-ing Denise, Roger & Leslie's ABC Wednesday |
During this season, many Christians also celebrate Saint Nicholas Day, which is observed on December 6th. St. Nicholas, who evolved into Santa Claus in the USA, was born in present day Turkey, circa 280, and later served as the Greek Bishop of Myra. He is remembered for caring for the poor and the sick; is associated with gift giving; multiple miracles are attributed to him; and is the patron saint of children and sailors.
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| Gift Card Bag Tim Holtz In the Bag Die, Holiday Greens Thinlits, & Distress Ink Pads; Hole Punch; Micron Pen; Kraft Paper; Tag; Baker's Twine Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Gentlemen Try It On Tuesday - Bags and Boxes Karen's Word Art Wednesday #213 |
The holidays culminate with Christmas, on December 25th. This is the celebration of the incarnation of God. Although it has been commercialized, Christians around the world thrive to preserve its true significance. As the angel said, in Luke 2, "…I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." The Christmas season is 12 days long, ending January 5th.
I hope I was able to help you cultivate that sense of vitality I am enjoying. Thank you for stoping by, following my blog, and for taking time to leave such encouraging comments. Blessings!



Very interesting! I've always wondered about advent which we don't celebrate in our church. I did always wonder (and still do) why the 12 days of Christmas ends in January.
ReplyDeleteLovely decorations Arnoldo! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteVery nice decorations and narrative. I'm doing a daily devotion called the Advent Jesse Tree for each day until Christmas, Blessing for a Merry and Blessed Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLots of beautiful projects again, thanks for joining us with your lovely gift bag at TIOT! Valerie
ReplyDeleteLove your post and your projects. Hope you stay happy and make others happy too
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday
Smiles Chrissie cxx
Looks like you've made a start to your Christmas journal Arnoldo, looking forward to seeing and reading more. Thanks for sharing at LDD.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely post and describes the joy of December and the festivities so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you have displayed your bag with the angel and the string.
Your Christmas is going to start pieceful way which is so wise and pleasant. The card box is beautiful. Thank you very much for sharing it with us at TioT.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon Arnoldo! Your lettering and candle drawing is beautiful! I love that sweet, little angel too! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteKelly
What a lovely advent calendar piece! So elegant and pretty. I enjoyed reading your post!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous collection! I LOVE your font on the page as well...beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI hope your Christmas is full of meaning, full of love, full of joy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/12/smithsonian-art-museum-west.html
Lovely decorations, thanks for sharing with us at Our Beautiful World!
ReplyDeleteI love the water color sketch it is wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your holiday and join us to enjoy another Linkup
http://ohmyheartsiegirl.com/heartsie-girls-wordless-wednesday-44/
Have a wonderful day!
This is such a lovely post. I love reading the history of Christmas and never ever tire of it - it's just a joy from the heart!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful handwriting you have - your journal cover is stunning!So glad you are sharing with 'Let's December Daily'! A lovely Christmas display of decorations for St Nicholas Day! Thanks for sharing that with Our Beautiful World! All your projects here a beautifully crafted! Wishing you also wonderful blessings at this time of year!
I love your photos! Your decorations and reading the stories behind them really made my day!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and filled with Vitality!
ReplyDeleteWishing you the magic and love of the Season ~
artmusedog and carol
Endearing post and wonderful choice for this weeks letter.
ReplyDeleteHaving a not to healthy body and mind ...vitality is a very important thing to me. Like you the religious holidays enlighten them in my, so i welcome it very much ofcourse.
Wishing you all (blessed) vitality you need!
Have a nice abc-day / - week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)
I am excited of the festival season ahead!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics. :)
Happy ABCW!
You seem to love the season, unsurprisingly.
ReplyDeleteROG, ABCW
Although I'm here from WOYWW, your post about the various celebrations surrounding Christmas were beautiful to read about and lovely to view. It looks a lot like Christmas at your place. Happy WOYWW from #1.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely journal. I can't wait to see more of it!
ReplyDeleteGlenda #25
Such beautiful holly berries, Arnoldo. Your art and your posts are always such a blessing and encouragement to me. I'm so grateful to have you participate in our challenges. You've been a faithful friend to me and to WAW for so many years, and it's greatly appreciated. What a wonderful time of year for us to celebrate Who He is and ALL that He has done for us. May you and your family be filled with His goodness and love at Christmas time and always.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Word Art Wednesday
Great projects and spiritual inspiration today in your post! We had our Hanging of the Greens Sunday at our church. Hymns, scripture readings and candle lighting. It really inspired the spiritual thoughts for the season. Thanks for sharing. #44
ReplyDeletewonderful.
ReplyDeleteYes, Advent is a really exciting time in many ways.
ReplyDeleteIn Holland they celebrate St Nicholas (Sinterklaas) on the eve of his birthday (5th Dec). When I was a child, this was the evening we got our presents. (not Christmas)Adults celebrate Sinterklaas by giving each other anonymous presents with funny rhymes.
Thank you for visiting earlier,
Have a good week,
Lisca
I love the idea of the five candles, I'd just assumed advent started on the 1st. I like your choice of subjects to illustrate the theme.
ReplyDeleteHi Arnoldo. It's always at this time of the year that I miss being in school as the children get so excited and there are always lots of things happening which puts you in the right frame of mind for the festive season. Really enjoyed reading your post today. I still think my desk must be more cluttered than yours though! otherwise you would have no room to work at all! I really must have a tidy up soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my dear crafty buddy and have a great woyww, Angela x 24
I have enjoyed reading your post and looking at the photographs. Ialways have an Advent candle and put my Advent Star in the window. This morning I went to watch my granddaughters Nativity Story at her school. Although I have spent a lot of the rest of my day shopping it is not what Christmas is about to me. So sad to see how commercialised it has become. Anne #49
ReplyDeleteI love the explanation you give on the various holiday-festivities Arnoldo. In the Netherlands, people celebrate "Sinterklaas" on the evening of December 5th and I learned the original bishop came from Turkey... but I never checked where Myra is exactly... oh wait, I'll check...it's in Turkey and the town even has a 'St. Nicolas church'... the feast is mostly for children and since my son is now a young man and moved out of the house, we don't celebrate it anymore. Enjoy the holidays and thanks for stopping by my blog, happy woyww and a hug from Holland, Marit #19
ReplyDeleteI love your photos!! Thanks so much for sharing at OBW!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful decorations, Arnoldo. It is definitely the season filled with joyful celebration. Your gift bag is adorable too!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a wonderful time of the year.
ReplyDeleteI love all the Christmas readings particularly
the declaration of the angel about the coming
of Christ.
As ever I love your artwork, full of VITALITY
and VROOM VROOM!
Blessings to you dear Arnoldo.
from Di.
ABCW team.
Fantastic advent and love the little brown bag for gifts it's so perfect for the hoildays hugs Nikki 5
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF and a great weekend, Valerie
ReplyDeleteLovely art.
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF and holiday time xx
Pure joy of December and the festivities! Happy advent to you!
ReplyDeleteNew info...I hadn't known that before. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteAll your works are lovely as always...with variety. :)
Advance Christmas Wishes to you and yours.
Deepa
Truly a wonderful post. Your vitality always show through to me. You have such a love of life and family. Happy Christmas to you.
ReplyDeleteYou conveyed your vitality and it is contagious. Thank you for your wonderful informative posting this week. Best to you and your family.
ReplyDeletea beautiful and meaningful post filled with true Christmas spirit! Love your calligraphy page. Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. I love the script on your initial Christmas page. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteWishing you peace, Arnoldo.
ReplyDeleteLovely post. Your lettering is fabulous. One of my goals for next year is to work on lettering.
ReplyDeleteKate
How lovely this lettering is! I've been captured by the beauty of the written word, for years. :D Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love your journal entry. Your gift card bag is so sweet. And the collection of Santa's is such a great way to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. You've given me some inspiration for next year! Have a wonderful holiday.
ReplyDeleteSuch a significant message! Wonderfully presented for all to understand! Powerful and much needed!! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles