Viata nu este intotdeauna cum ne-o dorim, dar o traim cum putem mai bine. Nu exista viata perfecta, dar exista momente perfecte. Buna dimineata!

Cadoul de Crăciun

Într-un cartier de la marginea oraşului trăia o familie pe nume Pombici. Mama, tata şi cele două fetiţe,Teodora şi Sabina, locuiau într-o casă luminoasă şi curată. Prima născută era Teodora, care împlinea de Crăciun 8 ani, iar Sabina era un bebeluş de 5 luni.

Era o iarnă geroasă. Teodora se uita la florile de gheaţă de pe geam, şi cu unghia desena peste ele un căţeluş: cadoul pe care şi-l dorea de Crăciun.

Tatăl se uita la meciul de fotbal, mama făcea cozonac, iar Teodora se învîrtea pe lîngă ea, furînd din cînd în cînd puţină cocă de cozonac. Sabina s-a trezit, a început să plîngă, iar mama s-a dus să vadă de ce plînge.

Era Ajunul Crăciunului, dar liniştea familiei Pombici era tulburată de un eveniment trist: tatăl pierduse casa la jocuri de cărţi. După Anul Nou erau obligaţi să se mute dacă nu răscumpărau casa.

La uşă, se auzi un ciocănit, şi Teodora s-a repezit sa deschidă. Tuşi se afla în prag, cu o mulţime de pachete în braţe. O cutie imen-să cu găurele era cadoul pentru Teodora.

– Pot să-l desfac? Pot? Pot?

– Sigur că da, spuse Tuşi.

Teodora începu să rupă cartonul, împrăştiind bucăţile peste tot. În cutie, găsi un căţelus dolofan, cafeniu, cu o pată albă pe urechea stîngă. Acesta deschise ochii în braţele Teodorei, care striga:

– Multumesc, Tuşi. Mulţumesc. O să-i pun numele Cacao cu lapte.

Pentru că era Ajunul Crăciunului, toată familia a împodobit bradul şi a cîntat colinde, a primit colindători. În casă mirosea a brad şi a cozonac.

În dimineaţa de Crăciun, fetele au mers cu mama la biserică şi s-au împărtăşit. Apoi, au venit acasă şi toată familia s-a strîns în jurul bradului, despachetînd cadourile. Ţipetele de bucurie ale Teodorei umpleau toată casa. Apoi s-au aşezat la masă, mulţumind lui Dumnezeu pentru toate bunătăţile. Teodora mîncă pe nemestecate şi fugi să se joace.

Cacao cu lapte o aştepta nerăbdător dînd din codiţă. Au ieşit afară, fulgi de nea cădeau pe nasul căţeluşului, care se agita să-i prindă cu lăbuţa. Au intrat în grădina cu flori, şi căţelul se băgă prin tufişuri, scuturînd zăpada care-i căzu pe cap. Cacao cu lapte o luă la fugă pe stradă, unde a dat peste un om călcat de o maşină vitezomană. Teodora a anunţat părinţii, şi aceştia l-au dus la spital. Astfel, bărbatul a fost salvat. Drept mulţumire, peste o săptămînă, Teodora şi familia ei au primit cel mai frumos cadou: o sumă mare de bani, exact cît trebuia pentru răscumpărarea casei.

Teodora a exclamat:

Crăciunul este magic! Mulţumesc, Doamne-Doamne.

Traditii de Craciun in jurul lumii

Craciunul este una dintre cela mai importante sarbatori ale crestinatatii si este celebrat in majoritatea tarilor din lume. Colindele, cadourile si petrecerile de Craciun sunt intalnite in toate colturile lumii in aceasta zi magica. Chiar daca modul de celebrare, datele si traditiile variaza, spiritul Craciunului este peste tot la fel.

Craciunul in Australia

Australienii locuiesc pe cea mai mare insula din lume care este in acelasi timp si cel mai mic continent. Majoritatea emigrantilor din Australia au venit aici din Anglia si Irlanda si au adus cu ei obiceiurile si traditiile respective. In Australia vremea este opusa fata de ce se intampla la noi si ei sarbatoresc Craciunul in timpul vacantei de vara. Cel mai popular eveniment al sarbatorilor de iarna din Australia este denumit “Colinde la lumina lumanarii”. Oamenii se intalnesc noaptea, aprind lumanari si canta colinde. Australienii sunt mari iubitori de activitati in aer liber. Le place sa inoate, sa faca surf si sa se plimbe cu bicicleta.

In sezonul sarbatorilor de Craciun, australienii isi decoreaza casele cu feriga, frunze de palmier si cu mici flori colorate care apar in aceasta perioada. Unele familii impodobesc si brazi. Pentru australieni, sarbatoarea Craciunului incepe la sfarsitul lui noiembrie, cand in scoli si in biserici se monteaza piese de teatru cu nasterea lui Isus. In toata luna decembrie, australienii canta colinde. In ajunul Craciunului , toata comunitatea merge la biserica, iar copiii il asteapta pe Mos Craciun s avian cu daruri.

Dupa deschiderea cadourilor in dimineata de Craciun, familia ia micul dejun, compus din oua si sunca si apoi merg din nou la biserica. Dupa intoarcerea de la biserica, intreaga familie si prietenii se strang la masa de Craciun. In unele familii se mananca curcan si budinca cu stafide si coniac. Alte familii fac gratar in curte. Unii australieni merg la plaja sau la picnic in ziua de Craciun. A doua zi de Craciun, pe 26 decembrie, australienii strang bani pentru postas, macelar si pentru cel care aduce ziarul pentru a le multumi pentru ajutorul oferit in anul ce tocmai se termina.

Anul Nou este inca un moment special pentru toata lumea, cu muzica, dans si petreceri. Pe 6 ianurie, australienii organizeza inca o petrecere, pentru a celebra sfarsitul sarbatorilor de Craciun.

Craciunul in Betleem

In micul oras in care se spune ca Isus s-a nascut este impodobit in fiecare an. Biserica Nativitatii din centrul orasului straluceste in preajma sarbatorilor de Craciun. Steaguri si decoratii stralucitoare impodobesc biserica. In Ajunul Craciunului, localnicii si vizitatorii se aduna in biserica pentru a urmari sluja si procesiunea de Craciun. Fiecare casa din Betleem are pictata o cruce la intrarea, iar in curte ieslea pruncului Isus. In centrul orasul este instalata o stea uriasa.

Craciunul in China

Crestinii din China decoreaza casa si bradul de Craciun cu lumini, lanterne si lanturi din hartie colorata. Copiii isi agata sosetele si asteapta vizita lui Mos Craciun (Dun Che Lao Ren). In China, unde marea majoritate a locuitorilor nu sunt crestini, principalul festival de iarna este cel de Anul Nou. Copiii primesc haine noi si jucarii noi, se mananca preparate rafinate si se organizeaza si focuri de artificii. O alta traditie importanta in serbarea de Anul Nou o reprezinta cultul stramosilor. Portretele stramosilor sunt aduse in camera principala a casei.

Craciunul in Brazilia

Brazilienii sunt un mix de popoare din multe parti ale lumii, iar traditiile lor legate de sarbatoarea Craciunului deriva din cele ale coloniilor portugheze. Una dintre cele mai indragite traditii este crearea scenei nasterii lui Isus si a ieslei: Presepio. Aceste scene sunt amplasate in biserici, magazine si in casele oamenilor.

Locuitorii din nordul Braziliei au o alta traditie: scena pastorilor. In versiunea braziliana pastorii sunt de fapt femeie, iar un tigan incearca sa il rapeasca pe Isus. Papai Noel este “Mos CRaciunul” care aduce cadouri celor mici. Potrivit traditei, Papai Noel locuieste in Groenlanda, iar atunci cand vine in Brazilia poarta haine subtiri, din bumbac, din cauza vremii caniculare.

Masa de Craciun este una speciala si neobisnuita pentru anotimpul de vara. Este formata din curcan, jambon, orez, legume si fructe. In ajunul Craciunului, oamenii merg la biserica la Missa do Galo. Galo inseamna cocos, iar denumirea acestei festivitati vien de la faptul ca la ora 1 noaptea un cocos anunta venirea Craciunului. In seara de 25 decembrie se merge din nou la biserica.

Decoratiunile de Craciun sunt compuse din flori proaspete si colorate. In centrul fiecarui oras sunt impobodobiti brazi, iar noaptea de Craciun este marcata prin focuri de artificii.

Craciunul in Danemarca

In Danemarca, sarbatoarea de craciun incepe in noaptea de 24 decembrie. La miezul nopstii intreaga familie mananca o budinca speciala de Craciun. Budinca contine o singura migdala, iar cel care o va gasi va avea un an nou norocos.  Cel care aduce cadourile se numeste Julemanden si soseste cu sania sa trasa de reni. Mosul vine insotit si de corul de spiridusi, Juul Nisse, care se spune ca ar trai in podurile caselor. In ajunul Craciunului, copiii lasa afara lapte si budinca de orez pentru mos si insotitorii sai.

Craciunul in India

Crestinii din India impodobesc de Craciun mango sau bananieri. De asemenea ei decoreaza si casele cu Frunze de mango. In unele regiuni din India se folosesc lampi cu ulei colorat pentru decoratiunile de Craciun. Aceste lampisunt asezate pe perete sau pe acoperisuri. In noapte de Craciun, bisericile sunt decorate cu flori traditionale si lumanari colorate.

Craciunul in Iran

In Iran se crede ca locuiau cei trei Magi atunci cand pruncul Isus s-a nascut. Crestinii iranieni incep postul pe 1 decembrie. Acesta este “Postul Mic”, iar “Postul cel Mare” incepe cu sase saptamani inainte de Paste. Pe 25 decembrie, iranienii merg la biserica si apoi iua masa in familie. Mancare traditional in aceasta zi este friptura de pui , numita harasa. Iranienii nu isi ofera cadouri, insa copiii primesc haine noi pe care le poarta in ziua de Craciun.

Craciunul in Irak

In Ajunul Craciunului, crestinii irakieni sarbatoresc cu intreaga familie. Unul dintre copii citeste despre nasterea lui Isus, iar intreaga familie aprinde lumanari. Dupa ce copilul termina de citit povestea, in curte se aprinde un foc si toata lumea canta colinde. Daca focul arde toate vreascurile, anul ce vine va fi norocos. Daca focul se stinge, fiecare membru al familiei trebuie sa sara de trei ori peste scrum si sa isi puna o dorinta.

In ziua de Craciun un alt foc este aprins in curtea Bisericii. Preotul, care tine in mana o figurina ce il reprezinta pe pruncul Isus, incepe slujba. Apoi binecuvanteaza o singura persoana pe care o atinge. Persoana atinsa atinge mai departe pe vecinul sau. Toata lumea prezenta la slijba trebuie sa simta “atingerea pacii”.

Craciunul in Suedia

Acum o mie de ani, Craciunul era sarbatorit in Suedia timp de o luna. Regele Canute a decretat ca sarbatoarea Craciunului sa tina de pe data de 13 decembrie pan ape 13 ianuarie. Pe 13 decembrie, suedezii o celebreaza pe Sfanta Lucia. Povestea Sfintei Lucia i-a fermecat pe suedezi. Se spune ca in vremea persecutiei, Sfanta Lucia ducea mancare celor prigoniti. Ca sa isi lumineze drumul, Sfanta Lucia purta pe cap o coroana de lumanari. In cele din urma, Sfanta Lucia a fost arestata si torturata.

In ziua de 13 decembrie, cea mai mare fiica din familie se imbraca cu o rochie alba si o esarfa rosie. Pe capr poarta o coroana din sapte lumanari. Ea ii serveste pe toti membrii familiei cu cafea si prajiturele. In Ajunul Craciunului, un spiridus isi face aparitia din podul casei unde locuieste si imparte cadouri tuturor.

Craciunul in Spania

In Spania, Craciunul este o sarbatoare cu adevarat religioasa. Patronul spiritual al acestei tari este Fecioara Maria, iar sezonul sarbatorilor de Craciun incepe official pe data de 8 decembrie. Ajunul Craciunului este cunoscut ca Nochebuena (Noaptea cea Buna). Intreaga familie se aduna in jurul scenei ieslei pruncului Isus. Aceasta scena e prezenta in majoritatea caselor din Spania.

In aceasta noapte se mananca si o prajitura traditionala facuta din migdale. Copiii din Spania priemsc cadouri in noaptea de Epifanie. In aceasta seara, copiii lasa la usa ghetutele pe care le umplu cu morcovi, paie si orz pentru caii celor Trei Magi. Cel mai iubit mag este Baltazar care vine pe un magar si lasa copiilor dulciuri si jucarii.

Craciunul in Anglia

In Anglia este frig si ceata de Craciun. Oamenii se bucura de caldura pe care semineele si sobele incinse o dau. Englezii decoreaza casa cu iedera si vasc. In timpul sarbatorilor colindatorii merg din casa in casa. Acestia priemsc dulciuri si prajiturele cu fructe uscate. 

Ajunul Craciunului este o zi foarte incarcata pentru eglezi. Impacheteaza cadoruile, pregatesc mancarurile si prajiturile traditionale ai agata sosetele in fata semineului. Dup ace toate aceste lucruri au foste terminate, intreaga familie se aduna in jurul bradului impodobit si citesc povesti de Craciun. La sfarsitul zilei, copiii ii scriu lui mos Craciun scrosiri in care spun ce cadouri isi doresc. Apoi arunca scrisorile in soba, astfel incat dorintele lor sa iasa pe cos. Dupa ce copii merg la culcare, Mos Craciun ii viziteaza. Poarta o haina lung si rosie si duce in spinare un sac cu jucarii si dulciuri.

La masa de Craciun, familia mananca curcan umplut cu castanet, gasca cu stafide sau friptura de vita . Cea mai asteptata este insa budinca cu stafide si martipan. Dupa masa de Craciun, familia se aduna in fata televizorului pentru a auzi mesajul de Craciun al reginei. La ceaiul de dupa-amiaza se serveste si un tort special de Craciun.

Citeste mai mult pe: http://timp-liber.acasa.ro/evenimente-14/traditii-de-craciun-in-jurul-lumii-4472.html#ixzz29Igt8csl

Magic!

ღ♥•Magia sarbatorilor de iarna se apropie! Daruieste, iubeste , traieste din plin momentele din viata ta! Fiecare este unic!ღ♥•º

Colindul Vechi Obicei la Români

Adevaratul colindat se desfasoara in seara si noaptea de Craciun. Colindatorii se aduna in cete bine rânduite. Fiecare grup işi alege un conducător numit de obicei "vătaf" sau "jude". Colindătorilor propriu-zişi li se alatură caţiva flacăi cu sarcina să poarte, in saci si traiste, darurile primite.Pe vremuri, fiecare ceată putea să ia la colindat numai o anumită parte a satului, avand grija să nu patrundă in zona ce se cuvenea alteia.
Odata intraţ iîn curtea casei, colindatorii işi deapănă repertoriul înaintea membrilor casei, adunaţi în prag.Cântecele sunt întotdeauna insoţite de dansuri.Dupa ce cântecele şi dansurile din faţa casei s-au terminat, gazda işi invită colindătorii în casa. Aici, inainte de aşezarea la masă pentru ospăţul comun, vătaful cetei porunceşte să se cânte alte câteva colinde.Numărul colindelor depinde în mare masură de rangul gazdei şi de belşugul de daruri pe care ea urmează să le ofere colindatorilor.
Unei singure melodii îi pot corespunde mai multe texte (versiuni locale, varianta laică sau creştină).

The Magic Snowman and the Magic Christmas Party

Generally in Christmas land, the weekend before Christmas is always laundry day.

Just the same as most years, Mrs Christmas was busy hanging out all the family's clothes in time for Christmas Eve -- the white fur on Santa's red suit was covered in reindeer fluff from last year and there were old holly and mistletoe leaves everywhere. Of course, every gnome needed a clean pair of socks and the Pantomime Dame had to have her wig combed and brushed in time for her grand performance. The fairy on the Christmas tree also wanted her ballerina ball gown to sparkle like new.

Whilst Father Christmas was busy collecting all the toys in sacks and piling them up on his sleigh, Mrs Christmas pegged out gloves, hats and mittens one by one on the washing line. A pair of trousers here, an old coat there. It was only when she was collecting them in again that she realized that Santa's boots weren't polished yet.

"They're probably thick with mud," she tutted to one of the elves, as she sent him off to find them. But the elf couldn't see them anywhere. He searched in the cupboard underneath the stairs and up in the attic -- no boots. He even glanced around the hat stand, but there was only an umbrella and an old trilby with a hole in it. In the wardrobe upstairs there were hundreds of shoes all in size twos to fit the hundreds of gnomes. There was a pair of Mrs. Christmas's slippers that were a present from Santa last year and now a bit threadbare, and a pair of ballerina dancing shoes belonging to the Christmas fairy.

Still, the elf couldn't find Santa's boots. It was only when one of the elves tripped down the garden path to get a spanner from the garden shed that Santa's boots were finally located.

The elf wasn't quite sure at first, and returned to the kitchen in Santa's Christmas grotto to fetch his spectacles. He polished them hard, getting rid of the odd snowflake and placed them back on the end of his elfish nose. Guess who was wearing the missing boots... Frosty the Snowman!

He stood outside in the frost and ice. Of course, boots worn by Father Christmas are magical, indeed. As soon as the elf sneezed, the boots came alive, making Frosty the Snowman dance. It didn't matter now that the weather was cold and the wind chilly because Frosty the Snowman's feet hardly touched the ground wearing Santa's boots. His eyes twinkled just like stars in the sky as he waltzed with a Christmas fairy.

As Frosty the Snowman span in a pirouette, the whole garden bounced in time to the music, played by robin redbreasts, who had been practicing the melody all Autumn. First a quick step, then a foxtrot with some of the other garden gnomes. Although the weekend before Christmas is always laundry day, this year was special -- a real Christmas party that lasted all the way until Father Christmas called the elves to finish polishing his boots and the gnomes had to help Santa pack up his sleigh with Christmas presents.

Secretul lui Mos Craciun

Dintotdeauna, Danut, vecinul meu, a visat sa ajunga detectiv

Dintotdeauna, Danut, vecinul meu, a visat sa ajunga detectiv. Asa cum stia el si cum a vazut prin filme: cu palarie cu boruri largi, usor trasa peste fata, ochelari de soare negri, pardesiu lung si la fel de negru, obligatoriu cu gulerul ridicat. Si sa nu mai vorbim despre geanta diplomat, binoclu si aparat de fotografiat! Pe toate si le dorea Danut, dar stia ca inca este prea mic sa-si implineasca acest vis. Abia ce implinise cinci ani in urma cu o saptamana.

- Ei si, ce daca am doar cinci ani? Cine a zis ca nu pot fi detectiv la 5 ani, a uitat ca in meseria aceasta totul e sa ai un mister de dezlegat.

Si misterul lui Danut se afla cat se poate de aproape de el, la distanta de nici doua zile. Ce se va intampla peste doua zile? o sa ma intrebati voi. Ceva frumos, am sa va raspund eu, va fi Craciunul. Asa ca Danut va incerca sa descopere misterul lui Mos Craciun.

- Stiti, mie mama imi spune mereu ca Mos Craciun este un mos venit de departe, dintr-o tara numita Laponia. Ca are acolo o casa plina de spiridusi care, cat e anul de lung, nu fac altceva decat sa confectioneze daruri pentru copiii din toata lumea: papusi si ursuleti din plus, jocuri mecanice, masini teleghidate si cate si mai cate. Ba, mai mult, Mosul stie ca noi, copiii, ne pricepem acum si la calculatoare si la jocurile video, asa ca bietul de el incearca sa tina pasul cu noi. Cand jucariile sunt gata pregatite, e deja Craciunul. Mosul le incarca pe toate in sania lui trasa de reni si cand ajunge la casa fiecarui copil coboara pe horn si-i lasa darurile in cizmulite sau sub brad!

Pe toate mi le-a povestit Danut, cu sufletul la gura.

- Dragul meu Danut, am incercat eu sa-mi incurc vecinul, vad ca stii totul despre Mos Craciun. Nu vad atunci unde e misterul, ce mister vrei tu sa dezlegi?

- Ei, vezi, lucrurile nu sunt chiar asa de simple pe cum par, se intrista brusc Danut. Sunt chiar foarte complicate. De exemplu, cum se face ca in ziua de Craciun toate gradinitele din cartierul meu sunt pline de Mosi? In fiecare se afla cate unul. Si cum se face ca toti mosii seamana atat de bine intre ei? Ca sa nu mai vorbim de faptul ca adesea Mosul uita ca mi-a adus darul la gradinita si vine si acasa la mine, desi stau la bloc si nu are horn pe unde sa coboare. Si cum de pana acum n-am intalnit pe strada nici un Mos care sa-si fi murdarit barba alba si mustatile cu funingine? Eu unul nu mai inteleg nimic. Tare mi-e mie teama ca Mos Craciun nu exista decat in povesti si in mintea celor mari. Sau exista cu adevarat? Acesta e misterul pe care am de gand sa-l dezleg.

Zis si facut. In cea mai mare graba, pentru ca nu avea prea mult timp la dispozitie, Danut si-a ales si colaboratorii: Mihaita, Alexandru si Ionut. Si toti patru, intr-o seara, au pus la punct planul de bataie. Momentul actiunii: noaptea de Craciun, locul actiunii: dormitorul lui Danut, obiectivul: dezlegarea misterului Mosului cu barba alba. La un singur capitol au cam avut probleme: de unde sa faca ei rost de palarii, ochelari negri si pardesie lungi? Unde mai pui si ca actiunea urma sa se desfasoare la ore tarzii, cand ei ar trebui sa fie in mod normal in pat in tinuta obligatorie: pijama. Pina la urma, baietii s-au multumit sa-si imbrace pijamalutele cu liniute si floricele. Mai mult, la insistentele mamei lui Danut au acceptat si sa se vare sub plapuma si sa astepte acolo, cu lumina stinsa, sosirea lui Mos Craciun.

- Eu nu cred ca va veni! sopti incet si cu teama parca, Mihaita.

- Glumesti? Cum sa nu vina? Ne-am pregatit atat de mult pentru intalnirea cu el, chiar si mama lui Danut ne-a asigurat ca Mosul va veni.

- Poate!, mai spuse ganditor Mihaita, poate vine la cei care au fost peste an cuminti, pe cand eu, daca stau sa fac socoteala tuturor traznailor pe care le-am facut in 365 de zile!

Tragandu-si bine plapuma pana sub nas, Ionut indrazni sa puna intrebarea care-l framanta de multa vreme:

- Daca Mosul nu e unul bun, ci unul rau si imbracat in negru?

- Taci! se ingrozi Alexandru, vorbesti prostii, o sa vezi ca Mosul nici macar nu va veni, pentru ca nu exista cu adevarat.

In tot acest timp, Danut n-a suflat nici cel mai mic cuvintel. Problema lui era alta: cum sa faca sa ramana treaz atatea ore? Daca Mosul vine abia catre dimineata si rateaza intalnirea cu el?

- Gata, nu va mai certati, incerca Danut sa calmeze spiritele. Daca stati si voi treji ca mine in noaptea aceasta, o sa aveti sansa sa-l vedeti pe Mos Craciun in carne si oase.

In liniste, copiii s-au pus la panda: daca vor reusi sa-si tina ochii deschisi si atentia incordata la maxim, va fi imposibil sa rateze marea intalnire.

Si orele treceau. Incet, foarte incet. Se tarau parca una cate una... Baietii, insa, rezistau eroic. Sau, mai bine zis, au rezistat pana la sosirea mosului... Ene. Danut a fost singurul care a ramas de veghe. Doar vroia sa se faca detectiv, nu? Asta inseamna sa stea ore in sir la panda, sa fie atent la cea mai mica miscare si sa stie sa ignore furnicile care incercau sa-i inchida ochii. Ce mai, munca de detectiv e tare grea!

Asa gandea Danut in clipa in care, langa patul lui a rasarit ca din senin un Mos cu barba si mustatile ninse de ani multi, imbracat in rosu, cu cizme negre si cu un sac doldora de jucarii.

- E Mos Craciun! a mai apucat Danut sa sopteasca. Si exact in clipa in care somnul l-a luat in brate, a simtit un sarut cald, pe frunte.

Dimineata, cand s-a trezit, Danut i-a gasit pe prietenii lui stransi in jurul bradutului impodobit, gata sa-si deschida darurile. El insa, nu avea nici timp nici chef sa vada ce i-a adus Mosul.

- Ce-i cu tine Danut? il intreba Alexandru. Nu te bucuri de darurile Mosului sau esti trist ca ai adormit azi-noapte si n-ai mai dat ochii cu el?

- Nu, nici vorba de asa ceva. Dimpotriva, azi noapte am stat treaz pina tarziu si l-am vazut pe Mos Craciun in carne si oase. Tin minte ca, atunci cand a intrat in camera, m-a sarutat pe frunte.

Auzindu-l, copiii incepura sa-si dea coate si sa rada pe infundate.

- Aha, deci l-ai vazut. Si cum arata? Era asa cum il stim noi, batrin si cu barba alba?

- Da, da se infierbinta Danut. Era exact asa.

- Dovedeste-ne! nu se lasara batuti baietii. Doar te crezi detectiv, nu-i asa? Daca Mosul a fost aici, in camera, trebuie sa fi lasat o urma, ceva...

Danut se afla in mare incurcatura. Cum sa dovedeasca el existenta Mosului? Cat de rau ii parea ca a adormit si n-a apucat sa-si trezeasca prietenii, sa stea impreuna de vorba cu Mos Craciun... Descurajat, incepu sa caute prin camera ceva, orice care sa demonstreze ca Mosul a fost acolo... O urma de cizma pe covor, o jucarie miscata de la locul ei, un glob spart... Nimic! Toate erau la locul lor si nici o urma...

- Ei, vezi, acum te-ai convins? Stiam doar cu totii ca nu e decat o poveste pe care cei mari au inventat-o pentru noi, copiii!

Danut simti cum in ochi incep sa i se adune lacrimi. Cine stie, poate totul n-a fost decat un vis... Un vis frumos... Trist si abatut, se gandi ca ar fi timpul sa se pregateasca pentru iesirea la sanie. Incepu sa-si descheie nasturii de la pijama incet, unul cate unul. Si tocmai cand ajunse la nasturele de la guler, Danut scoase un chiot de bucurie.

- Uraaaaaa!

Uimiti, copiii s-au apropiat sa vada ce se intampla. Danut chiuia de bucurie: in mana stanga tinea, abia desprinse de la nasturele gulerului de la pijama, trei fire albe din barba lui Mos Craciun. Pesemne le uitase acolo cand il sarutase pe frunte. Copiii au facut ochii mari si au ramas muti de uimire. Numai Danut dansa, sarea si striga cat il tineau puterile:

- Am dezlegat misterul! Mos Craciun exista cu adevarat!

De-atunci, in fiecare an, in noaptea cea sfanta, Danut incearca sa nu adoarma. Nu vrea cu nici un pret sa piarda intalnirea cu Mosul. Si daca se intampla, totusi, sa dea mana cu Mos Ene inainte de vreme, atunci nu uita sa-si verifice dimineata nasturii de la pijama. E imposibil sa nu gaseasca infasurate acolo macar trei fire din barba alba a mosului, pentru ca de-acum e clar: Mos Craciun exista cu adevarat! Misterul a fost dezlegat

c

The Little Match Girl

Once upon a time . . . a little glrl tried to make a living by selling matches in the street.It was New Year's Eve and the snowclad streets were deserted. From brightly lit windows came the tinkle of laughter and the sound of singing. People were getting ready to bring in the New Year.

But the poor little matchseller sat sadly beside the fountain. Her ragged dress and worn shawl did not keep out the cold and she tried to keep her bare feet from touching the frozen ground. She hadn't sold one box of matches all day and she was frightened to go home, for her father would certainly be angry. It wouldn't be much warmer anyway, in the draughty attic that was her home. The little girl's fingers were stiff with cold. If only she could light a match! But what would her father say at such a waste! Falteringly she took out a match and lit it. What a nice warm flame! The little matchseller cupped her hand over it, and as she did so, she magically saw in its light a big brightly burning stove.
She held out her hands to the heat, but just then the match went out and the vision faded. The night seemed blacker than before and it was getting colder. A shiver ran through the little girl's thin body.

After hesitating for a long time, she struck another match on the wall, and this time, the glimmer turned the wall into a great sheet of crystal. Beyond that stood a fine table laden with food and lit by a candlestick. Holding out her arms towards the plates, the little matchseller seemed to pass through the glass, but then the match went out and the magic faded. Poor thing: in just a few seconds she had caught a glimpse of everything that life had denied her: warmth and good things to eat. Her eyes filled with tears and she lifted her gaze to the lit windows, praying that she too might know a little of such happiness.

She lit the third match and an even more wonderful thing happened. There stood a Christmas tree hung with hundreds of candles, glittering with tinsel and coloured balls. "Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed the little matchseller, holding up the match. Then, the match burned her finger and flickered out. The light from the Christmas candles rose higher and higher, then one of the lights fell, leaving a trail behind it. "Someone is dying," murmured the little girl, as she remembered her beloved Granny who used to say: "When a star falls, a heart stops beating!"

Scarcely aware of what she was doing, the little matchseller lit another match. This time, she saw her grandmother.

"Granny, stay with me!" she pleaded, as she lit one match after the other, so that her grandmother could not disappear like all the other visions. However, Granny did not vanish, but gazed smilingly at her. Then she opened her arms and the little girl hugged her crying: "Granny, take me away with you!"

A cold day dawned and a pale sun shone on the fountain and the icy road. Close by lay the lifeless body of a little girl surrounded by spent matches. "Poor little thing!" exclaimed the passersby. "She was trying to keep warm!"

But by that time, the little matchseller was far away where there is neither cold, hunger nor pain.

The Cradle, a Christmas Story

They left their home, the new cradle still swinging from the rafters. Night after night the aroma of fresh-cut wood had filled the room as Joseph had patiently fashioned the tiny cradle, using the same chisel and saw he usually put down at dusk.Now Joseph wiped the tears from Mary's cheeks and shut the door behind them. "It'll be okay," he told her, as he cinched up their belongings on the donkey."Joseph, can't we wait a few days? The baby could come any time." She didn't want to leave home. Not now.

"We've waited for the baby as long as we dare." He was ready to get on the road. "We have to leave today or I'll be arrested for not appearing in Bethlehem for the census."

"At least bring the cradle, Joseph," she pleaded. "I want the baby to have something nice."

"No, it'll have to stay behind. The baby will be rocking in it soon enough."

Joseph tugged hard at the donkey's halter. No luck. "Come on, animal," he shouted, whacking it on the rear end to get it moving. Grudgingly the donkey responded. With one hand Joseph led the donkey, with the other he steadied Mary on the steep incline, slowly enough to accommodate her ungainly progress down the winding road which led from Nazareth's height. In the house above, the cradle hung still.

Five days and ninety bone-weary miles later, Joseph searched the small stable where they were staying on the outskirts of crowded Bethlehem. Mary's time would be soon now. He was careful to keep his lamp from igniting the old straw. He finally settled on an ancient stone manger for the baby's bed, cut from the wall of the limestone cave which housed the animals. He reached in to scoop the last gritty bits of straw from the manger's dank bottom. "That'll have to do," he muttered. He filled the trough with an armful of fresh fodder, which he covered with a folded blanket to keep the animals away.

It was well past midnight by the time Mary finished washing and wrapping her new baby. Now she lifted him gently into his new bed. Joseph put his arm around her shoulders as they gazed at the sleeping infant.

Mary touched the tiny fingers. "That cradle you spent so much time on would be real nice right now, Joseph." She looked up at the cave's low ceiling. "You could hang it somewhere. No baby I know has a cradle like that. It's fit for a king."

Joseph grinned. "Not every boy has a carpenter for a dad," he said. But he wondered. Why couldn't little Jesus be home in that cradle? Why does this special child the angel told Mary and him about have to be born in this smelly stable? A hill-country carpenter's home is bad enough. Why here? Why Bethlehem?

The answer wasn't long in coming. An older boy poked his head in the door, startling the couple from their quiet moment. "Is there a baby in here?" he mumbled apologetically. Then he saw the tiny child. Mary picked her baby up to shield the infant from his eyes. The face disappeared.

Mary's eyes mirrored Joseph's concern. He strode to the cave's opening. He could hear a distant call, "Over here, Jake found him!" In the darkness, Joseph could make out a handful of forms coming toward him. He gripped his stout wooden staff and stood resolutely at the door.

As they approached the stable he could see they were shepherds. Joseph's grip on the staff tightened. The oldest one spoke hesitantly. "Can we come in? We have ... ah ... come to see the Christ-child."

Joseph glanced at Mary. He could feel a tingle move down his spine. This was more than an accident. The whole fantastic course of events was far more than an accident. He nodded and stepped back into the stable. "Yes, come in. You are welcome."

The shepherds shuffled into the cramped cave. The youngest pushed in alongside the donkey to get a better view. They knelt. "God be praised!" The old shepherd spoke with deepest reverence.

"It's just like the angel told us," another whispered in awe. "'Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,' the angel said."

"Imagine! An angel . . . talking to us!" the old man interjected with rising excitement. "None of the uppity-ups in this town would lower themselves to talk to us shepherds," he added. "But an angel did . . . And the child is right here in a stable so we can come and see him." Rivulets of tears were inching down the shepherd's weathered face.

Joseph stared at the old man. "How did you find us?" he finally asked.

The boy who had first peeked in answered. "The angel said, 'Unto you is born ....'"

"Yes, to us!" The beaming old man couldn't contain himself.

The boy spoke deliberately, as if to remember the exact words: "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior ..."

"That's here--Bethlehem--David's birthplace," the littlest boy interrupted. He thrust out his chest proudly. "King David was a shepherd, too, you know."

The older boy continued. " . . . a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

"The Christ, the Messiah . . . He's the one!" The old man pointed to the baby.

"The angel was very specific," the young man went on. "'And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'" He grinned. "How could we miss? We just ran into town and checked every stable until we found you . . . found him." The boy paused. "How many newborns in Bethlehem do you know with a cattle manger for a cradle?"

Joseph chuckled. So that was it. The heavenly Father Himself had provided a bed for His child. A special cradle. A sign to these crude shepherds that God cared for them too.

Joseph squeezed Mary's hand very tightly.

Santa's secret wish

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes, Looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise, And said as he nestled on Santa's broad knee, "I want your secret, tell it to me." He leaned up & whispered in Santa's good ear, "How do you do it, year after year?" "I want to know how, as you travel about, Giving gifts here & there, you never run out. How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys, You have plenty for all of the world's girls & boys? Stays so full, never empties as you make your way From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large & small, From nation to nation, reaching them all? And Santa smiled kindly & said to the boy, "Don't ask me hard questions. Don't you want a toy?" But the child shook his head, and Santa could see That he needed the answer. "Now listen to me," He told the small boy with the light in his eyes, "My secret will make you sadder & wise. "The truth is that my sack is magic. Inside It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride. But although I do visit each girl & each boy I don't always leave them a gaily wrapped toy. Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad. Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad. Some homes are broken, & children there grieve. Those homes I visit, but what should I leave? "My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff, But for homes where despair lives, toys aren't enough. So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl & boy, And pray with them that they'll be given the joy Of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives. If only God hears me & answers my prayer, When I visit next year, what I will find there Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love And boys and girls gifted with light from above. It's a very had task, my smart little brother, To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others. But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed, For God has a way of meeting each need. "That's part of the answer. The rest, my dear youth, Is that my sack is magic, And that is the truth. In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day More love than a Santa could e'er give away. The sack never empties of love, or of joys 'Cause inside it are prayers, and hopes. Not just toys. The more that I give, the fuller it seems, Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams. "And do you know something? You've got a sack, too. It's as magic as mine, and it's inside of you. It never gets empty, it's full from the start. It's the centre of lights, and of love. It's your heart. And if on this Christmas you want to help me, Don't be so concerned with your gifts 'neath your tree. Open that sack, call your heart, & share Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care." The light in the small boy's eyes was glowing. "Thanks for the secret. I've got to be going." "Wait, little boy," said Santa "don't go. Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you know?" And just for a moment the small boy stood still, Touched his heart with his small hand & whispered, "I will."

Santa's Bots

Santa's Bots


It was a clear and crisp Christmas Eve at the North Pole. All the elves were busy with last minute preparations. Emily Elf wrote replies to Christmas letters; Erin and Cindy Elf were finishing off games to load onto Santa's sleigh; Sharon and some smaller elves made crafts and wooden toys; Carol, Anise and Sara Elf were wrapping away; and Alecia entertained the small elves, while the littlest baby elf slept in his cradle beside her.
They all nodded their heads in time to Christmas melodies. Santa and Mrs. Claus had their feet up by the fire, taking a brief rest while they worried about how to deliver the gifts this year. Those silly reindeer had gulped down several batches of Mrs. C's delicious cookies and mincemeat tarts, and they were all lying in the straw, groaning with tummy aches. None of Mrs. C's medicines helped! Mrs. Claus had just finished baking another huge batch of treats, to keep Santa going through the night, and the air in Santa's Workshop was perfumed with seasonal aromas of cinnamon and ginger!
Suddenly an eerie green light filled the room and a screeching siren drowned out the Christmas carols. The elves, Santa and Mrs. C all dropped what they were doing and rushed to the windows. Even the reindeer looked up and forgot their misery for the moment. "That ... that ... that looks like a flying saucer" spluttered Emily Elf, watching in awe as it buzzed the Village. All the lights flickered and the reindeer started jumping, leaping and bounding around in a panic.


Tig, who was visiting Rudolph from the 1000 Acres Wood, gave her highest bounce yet and banged her noggin on something hard. "Ouch!!" she exclaimed, sprawling in the snow! Well, her bounce had knocked the saucer off course, and it zig-zagged wildly before crash landing in a clearing right on top of the Snowman the elves had built that afternoon. The Elves, the Reindeer, Santa, Mrs. C and Tig all watched in amazement.

The saucer (it really was shaped like a saucer and was about 20 feet in diameter) settled on the ground, and a ramp came down from a dark opening on the side. It filled with an ugly fluorescent green light, and out marched a line of little metallic men. They were 2 feet tall and looked like miniature R2D2's except for the first one. The green light seemed to come out of the front of its head, which had eyeplates on either side. It kept swivelling around to see better, making the ugly light dance as it did! It marched right up to Cindy Elf, with the line of little bots following behind.

" Robot Menace is your end, Human. Take me to leader."

"Well, technically we're not human, you know" replied Cindy "but I guess Santa Claus is our leader - you'd better talk to him.".

The line of robots swivelled in place and marched over to Santa. "Robot Menace is your end, Entity.".

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" said Santa.

"Ho - does not compute. Ho - does not compute. Ho - does not compute." replied the bot whirling its head and its gears at the same time. "Robot Menace take over planet. Instruments sense this Headquarters and you Head Honcho."

"Hey that's a great name ..." laughed Anise Elf, "usually we just call him Big Red around here!".

"What should we call it?" mused Cindy Elf.

"How about BEB for Bug-Eyed Bot?" returned Tig.

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughed Santa.

""Ho! Ho! Ho not compute!!" replied BEB loudly, frustration in its machine voice "Take over planet, first Christmas, then World. Nothing stop Robot Menace.".

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" roared Santa.
Mrs. C stepped in, all smiles "Poor BEB, you look like you've had a jolly, long journey to get here. Come and sit by the fire, and enjoy my egg nog and mincemeat tarts before you start invading us."

"Egg nog ... mincemeat" echoed BEB, gears whirring noisily "compute - compute - ah - fuel. Yes. Bots need fuel. Di-xenium batteries run down. Bots take fuel now."

And Mrs. Claus, wreathed in smiles, led the line of bots in to the Workshop kitchen.

Anise, Carol and Erin Elf had their heads together. "Those bots look a lot like the droids we were playing with on the computer yesterday. You know that game where you had to organize the droids with arrows and numbers in the right spots? Wonder if we could control them the same way ... hmmm ... let's make some signs ...".

Sharon and Sara's pointy ears wriggled "We'll go and help Mrs. Claus ply them with mincemeat - you never know!".

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" agreed Santa with an enigmatic grin.

Back in Mrs. C's kitchen, BEB and the little bots had finished off all the tarts and cookies and were behaving strangely. They staggered all around the workshop, knocking over piles of gifts and crashing into each other. It was a mess! Sharon and Sara Elf ran around retrieving Xmas presents and Alecia Elf was trying to get the small elves out of the bots' way. But the little ones thought this was a great game and kept dashing through the chaos. Finally BEB staggered out the door and crashed head first in the snow beside Santa's sleigh.

The other Elves had been consulting with Santa and were busy painting arrows and symbols on cardboard squares. Now they laid them out carefully in the workroom. Lo and behold, all the little bots followed the arrows and ended up organized in 2 long lines in front of the sleigh. Elves quickly loaded on the gifts. The Craft Elves' busy fingers adjusted the reindeer harness to fit the smaller bots. Santa sat down in the sleigh.


"Ho! Ho! Ho!" he called loudly and the sleigh took off! Anise and Erin Elf looked at each other "That was fun, but don't we need to play - 'em - research that game some more? We'll need ideas for when they return!" "Go ahead" sighed Mrs. C, sitting by the fire, too tired even to make cookies.

In the meantime, Santa's bots were busy delivering gifts. In one home, little Johnny rubbed his eyes as he peered down the staircase, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa. And ... finally ... yes ... there was a black boot and a red leg emerging from the chimney. Johnny rubbed his eyes again in disbelief, as 2 bots flew down with a load of gifts and deposited them under the tree. Santa added a Pikachu with a Christmas hat to the top of the pile and winked at Johnny's beam of joy. "Pika - pika - pika" it called as Johnny ran down the stairs and curled up under the tree to fall asleep with his favorite Pokemon.

Finally, all the gifts were delivered and Santa flew his robot sleigh back to his Village at the North Pole. As it settled down in the snow, all the elves cheered, and BEB staggered upright, shaking off snow as it swivelled its head and the green light shone weakly.

"Must be secret weapon" he muttered "Does not compute - not compute - not compute -".

"Here, have some more cookies, I mean, fuel." said Carol Elf, reaching into the sleigh and passing around a pile of cookies left for Santa by kids all around the world.
BEB stuffed down a hundred or so cookies and staggered off to its saucer, head still swivelling. They could hear BEB's machine voice in the distance "secret weapon - not compute ...", and the saucer took off erratically. The Elves' ears perked up as they looked at the little bots and then at Santa. "Do you think we could play with them?" asked Cindy Elf.

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" called Santa cheerfully, "Merry Christmas!!!".

And that was how Santa got his bots and his Elves had their best Christmas present ever! But Mrs. C and Tig had the last words as usual ...

"I always knew that 1999 would be a very special Christmas, but I didn't expect it to be quite so droid-full."

"Bot it turned out just fine" grinned Tig.

How The Grinch stole Christmas

Grinch Every Who Down in Who-ville Liked Christmas a lot... But the Grinch, Who lived just North of Who-ville, Did NOT! The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were to tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart was two sizes too small. But, Whatever the reason, His heart or his shoes, He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the Whos, Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown At the warm lighted windows below in their town. For he knew every Who down in Who-ville beneath Was busy now, hanging a mistleoe wreath. "And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer. "Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!" Then he growled, with his grinch fingers nervously drumming, "I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!" For, tomorrow, he knew... ...All the Who girls and boys Would wake up bright and early. They'd rush for their toys! And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the noise! Noise! Noise! Noise! That's one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! Then the Whos, young and old, would sit down to a feast. And they'd feast! And they'd feast! And they'd FEAST! FEAST! FEAST! FEAST! They would start on Who-pudding, and rare Who-roast-beast Which was something the Grinch couldn't stand in the least! And THEN They'd do something he liked least of all! Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Would stand close together, with Christmas bells ringing. They'd stand hand-in-hand. And the Whos would start singing! They'd sing! And they'd sing! AND they'd SING! SING! SING! SING! And the more the Grinch thought of the Who-Christmas-Sing The more the Grinch thought, "I must stop this whole thing! "Why for fifty-three years I've put up with it now! I MUST stop Christmas from coming! ...But HOW?" Then he got an idea! An awful idea! THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA! "I know just what to do!" The Grinch Laughed in his throat. And he made a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat. And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great Grinchy trick! "With this coat and this hat, I'll look just like Saint Nick!" "All I need is a reindeer..." The Grinch looked around. But since reindeer are scarce, there was none to be found. Did that stop the old Grinch...? No! The Grinch simply said, "If I can't find a reindeer, I'll make one instead!" So he called his dog Max. Then he took some red thread And he tied a big horn on top of his head. Max THEN He loaded some bags And some old empty sacks On a ramshakle sleigh And he hitched up old Max. Then the Grinch said, "Giddyap!" And the sleigh started down Toward the homes where the Whos Lay a-snooze in their town. All their windows were dark. Quiet snow filled the air. All the Whos were all dreaming sweet dreams without care When he came to the first house in the square. "This is stop number one," The old Grinchy Claus hissed And he climbed to the roof, empty bags in his fist. Then he slid down the chimney. A rather tight pinch. But if Santa could do it, then so could the Grinch. He got stuck only once, for a moment or two. Then he stuck his head out of the fireplace flue Where the little Who stockings all hung in a row. "These stockings," he grinned, "are the first things to go!" Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant, Around the whole room, and he took every present! Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums! Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums! And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, very nimbly, Stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimney! Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Whos' feast! He took the Who-pudding! He took the roast beast! He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash. Why, that Grinch even took their last can of Who-hash! Then he stuffed all the food up the chimney with glee. "And NOW!" grinned the Grinch, "I will stuff up the tree!" And the Grinch grabbed the tree, and he started to shove When he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove. He turned around fast, and he saw a small Who! Little Cindy-Lou Who, who was not more than two. The Grinch had been caught by this little Who daughter Who'd got out of bed for a cup of cold water. She stared at the Grinch and said, "Santy Claus, why, "Why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?" But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick! "Why, my sweet little tot," the fake Santy Claus lied, "There's a light on this tree that won't light on one side. "So I'm taking it home to my workshop, my dear. "I'll fix it up there. Then I'll bring it back here." And his fib fooled the child. Then he patted her head And he got her a drink and he sent he to bed. And when Cindy-Lou Who went to bed with her cup, HE went to the chimney and stuffed the tree up! Then the last thing he took Was the log for their fire. Then he went up the chimney himself, the old liar. On their walls he left nothing but hooks, and some wire. And the one speck of food The he left in the house Was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse. Then He did the same thing To the other Whos' houses Leaving crumbs Much too small For the other Whos' mouses! It was quarter past dawn... All the Whos, still a-bed All the Whos, still a-snooze When he packed up his sled, Packed it up with their presents! The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings! Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mount Crumpit, He rode to the tiptop to dump it! "Pooh-pooh to the Whos!" he was grinch-ish-ly humming. "They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming! "They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do! "Their mouths will hang open a minute or two "The all the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry BOO-HOO!" "That's a noise," grinned the Grinch, "That I simply must hear!" So he paused. And the Grinch put a hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow... But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY! He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise! Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same! And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! "It came without packages, boxes or bags!" And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" And what happened then...? Well...in Who-ville they say That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day! And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight, He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast! And he... ...HE HIMSELF...! The Grinch carved the roast beast!