What On Earth?-Column #6, November 2002

Well, here we are, at the start of what WILL be a BETTER holiday season than that of the last. We all know that the attacks of 9-11 kept many holiday travelers away from doing that and holiday sales hit rock bottom last year. I know you're telling me that I'm too early for Christmas, but hey, this month prepares us for Christmas, and even though many people get a head-start on their holiday shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but I got a head-start on MY holiday shopping over the summer. But this column isn't just going to be about Christmas and Thanksgiving, but also the MEANINGS of Thanksgiving and Christmas, so that the newer generation can learn a little bit about these holidays that comes the LAST Thursday in November, and on the 25th of December.

Now, even though ELECTION DAY is the first Tuesday in November, I'm NOT focusing on that, except for a little while. I voted Democrat, while my parents voted Republican. However YOU vote is up to you. I don't mind what you vote, how you vote, and why you're Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Green. IT'S UP TO YOU.

And, even though VETERANS' DAY is celebrated, I shall go into a little bit of it, too. We honor all the men and women who died in the line of fire, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN ALL THE WARS WE ARE LEARNING OR HAVE LEARNED IN HISTORY. We ALSO pay a GOOD tribute for those who died on September 11, 2001; as well. Now let's go into the HOLIDAY MEANINGS, SHALL WE?

I'll start with the meaning of Thanksgiving. The word tells it all, but WHO do WE give thanks to? Well, we give thanks to the Indians and Pilgrims who came here over 500 years ago, who built this great land, and gave us some of the foods we love, pumpkin pie, corn, turkey, ham, stuffing, squash, etc. Who do we also give thanks to at this time of year?

Well, that leads to the meaning of Christmas. We ALSO give thanks to Jesus Christ for giving us the gift of life. This is what leads us to give gifts each year. Over 400 years ago, a church in Rome decided that His birth should be celebrated on December 25, which is what we do each year. The above foods are eaten at this time of year, too. But we must remember that He is the one who decides whether or not we go to Heaven or Hell. He does NOT care for any wrong-doing you've done. As long as you believe in Him, He will give you eternal life in Heaven. He will FORGIVE your wrong-doings. Remember, even after 9-11, He is the one who guarantees that NO one will be 100% safe. You should trust in Him more than our government, because He is watching you, but not necessarily invading your privacy or other civil rights. Remember, He will forgive EVERYONE, whether GOOD or BAD, AND AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE IN HIM, HE WILL GIVE YOU ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN.

But, something deadly and tragic also occurs during both of these peaceful days: DRUNK DRIVING. People who choose to drink and drive and/or not choose a designated driver are paying the heavy and ultimate price for their actions. There are more deaths than injuries, and 90% of those deaths are from the passengers, NOT the drivers, even though some drivers die in these accidents. So, if you're planning any road travel this holiday season and/or any other holiday season, remember: DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, and NEVER EVER go with a drunk driver. This ultimate decision COULD mean the difference between life and death. Because, as the old saying goes, "WINNERS DON'T USE DRUGS." And alcohol IS a drug, too. It's got harsh chemicals which can impair your brain and sense of judgement. And, as another old proverb goes, "If you drink, don't drive, and if you drive, don't drink."

Also, air travel is pretty tragic as well. We ALL know what happened on 9-11, so all airports and airplanes alike have beefed up security. We even have had plane crashes like AA Flight 587, American Eagle Flight 965, TWA Flight 800, AA Flight 1420, Pan Am Flight 103, and many more to deal with. Also, be on the look out for DRUNK PILOTS. We've seen plenty of action taken to ensure these guys are taken off the planes, as well as the terrorists. So, it's a pretty good idea to beef up security, but should we do it at the cost of losing our civil liberties? I think not. I think the goverment is WAY TOO HARSH. We are US Citizens and visitors, for Heaven's sake! Citizens or not, we should be protected by the US Constitution. I repeat, WE SHOULD. So, we ask the US Government, STOP TAKING AWAY OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, WHEN WE SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION!

Now, I'll go into the traditions that the holidays have in common. Let's start with the "SO-CALLED" PARADES. Everyone LOVES A PARADE, and everyone knows about the Macy's Parade done each year in New York, and aired on NBC, with all the Today show hosts Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, and Al Roker, who does the weather. CBS, each year, does an ALL-AMERICAN THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE, which includes the New York parade, and an Aqua Parade in Nashville Tennesee, Detroit does the ALL-American style parade, but NOT one of the same name. Well, during the Christmas season, Hollywood does a Christmas parade each year, and my home of Dallas, the Neiman Marcus/Adolphus/Children's Christmas Parade is done the FIRST Saturday in December. In San Antonio, they do a parade on the Riverwalk, and I've been there, and I love it! In Hollywood, they do a Hollywood Christmas Parade. In Orlando, Florida; however, well, Walt Disney World plays host to the Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade, which ALMOST is done in the morning every Christmas Day. In 1999, it was done in Primetime for the FIRST time, and in 2000, it was NOT done at all.

The next tradition, and it's one I'M SURE YOU LIKE, is, of course, FOOTBALL. I am a DIE-HARD FOOTBALL FANATIC, but mostly of the College and NFL types. NFL takes center-stage on Turkey Day, and College takes center-stage the day after. The Dallas Cowboys, my home team, my favorite team, AMERICA'S FAVORITE TEAM, no matter how you say it, plays on the big Turkey Day, too. I also route for some of my favorite college teams, like Stanford, where my sister Karen attends. On Christmas, you get the Blue/Gray Classic, which is the ALL-STAR of College Football, and the Aloha Bowl, done in, of course, Hawaii. Also, included in the mix is BASKETBALL. The NBA does play on Christmas Day, but don't expect any College Hoops. I also like basketball, AND I'M SURE YOU DO, TOO.

The third, is, of course, the HECTIC HOLIDAY SHOPPING! The day after Thanksgiving is the day when everyone is out and about, getting a head-start on their shopping, and I HAVE ALREADY STARTED MINE! As I stated before, HOLIDAY SHOPPING CAN BE HECTIC! With all the crowds, and the holiday cheer being spread, you'd expect to get all the gifts in lesser time than the other people. Well, with the heavy security in place since 9-11, DON'T EXPECT THAT! And, of course, let's not forget: IT'S NOT EASY FIGURING OUT WHO WANTS WHAT OR WHAT TO GET FOR THOSE PEOPLE! I CAN'T EVEN FIGURE THAT OUT MYSELF! SO MANY CHOICES, SO LITTLE TIME. So, I just leave it up to my parents. Last year, I gave each of my Christmas party guests each a blue Texas Lottery Scratch-Offs coin, just as a token of my ability to give Christmas gifts. I MAY do that again this year, and I'm thinking about it, too. But see, I didn't have to BUY these coins, I rather, got them for FREE. See, my parents know what Christmas gifts to buy, whereas Karen and I don't, even though we are older than 18. Speaking of gifts, that's why we have Christmas. Each Christmas, we open our presents on December 25, but sometimes we open some on Christmas Eve, then some more on Christmas Day, then the last batch on the day after. Hmm, I'll think about it this year.

Fourth, and one of MANY favorites, GOING OUT TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAYS! I've done this for MANY years. Other than that, I've stopped. Am I saying it's bad? Absolutely not. It's fun. You get to see different brightly colored lights arranged the way the owners would want them to greet the holiday spirit. I don't care if they FLASH or NOT, I like them.

And if you want REAL Christmas lights, head to New York, home of the WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CHRISTMAS TREE, and the WORLD'S MOST FAVORITE: THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES! THEY ARE A BLAST, AND ARE COMING TO TEXAS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR SINCE 1994! If you can't make it to the BIG APPLE, let the BIG APPLE come to YOU! The Rockettes have ALSO performed in the Macy's Parade.

Now, into a little detail about the WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CHRISTMAS TREE. Each year, Rockefeller Center's manager flies out each year looking for the perfect tree. Leafless and Evergreens are, of course, the most common kinds of trees, but we want all of America to be happy with the tree, right? Well, it can't be just ANY tree. It has to be a very GOOD tree, otherwise, NO ONE WILL WANT TO SEE IT! Now, in addition, the tree is typically a Northern Spruce tree, native to Northern Europe. With a life span of 80 to 110 years, they grow ONE FOOT each year. Now, unlike the pine trees of the forest, these trees are NOT forest trees. Instead, these trees are common in people's back yards or front yards. The dimensions are 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide, although last year's was 40 feet wide, so a little up from the minimum is fine with me. But 75 to 90 feet tall and a proportional width is what Rockefeller Center prefers. After lots of sun, water, and soil, it needs to be cut down to a perfect size, right? Yep! This takes 2 minutes, and then: IT'S OFF TO THE BIG APPLE! And it needs to be escorted by police to NOT make as much disruption in traffic. Why? See, the first Wednesday in December is when it's lit, right? So, this means, in order to PREPARE FOR THIS EVENT, THE POLICE MUST CLOSE OFF ALL STREETS TO PREPARE FOR THE TREE'S TRIP TO THE PLAZA! Lots of lights accompany the tree, as well as A GOLD STAR on the TOP. That's it. NO ORNAMENTS! What a shame, isn't it?

Fifth, why not have Christmas Eve masses? Each year on Christmas Eve, when your local news wraps up, they send it directly to some Christmas Eve service, depending on where you live, and what channel you watch. These are to get us to learn about the BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, which is what December 25, His birthday, is all about. I don't watch them very often, because, like sermons, PEOPLE WILL SUDDENLY FALL ASLEEP, AND I MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!!

Sixth, well, HOW ABOUT TV SPECIALS AND MOVIES GALORE! Some of the best Holiday blockbusters have included Toy Story (1 and 2), Home Alone (ditto), and the Santa Clause (DITTO). Many viewers watch a holiday favorite that's done each year on NBC: "It's A Wonderful Life," starring the late Jimmy Stewart, who plays a man who's SO suicidal, that he decides to change his life around during the holiday season. I've seen it time and time again, but I like it. Now, in addition, there are holiday specials done each year. I, like many of you, are a game show freak AND a CBS freak, so in tradition, starting in 1996, I placed CBS Daytime's holiday specials on my Christmas schedule. All 5 shows: "The Price Is Right," "The Young And The Restless," "The Bold And The Beautiful," "As The World Turns," and "Guilding Light" ALL do Christmas shows each year. All the other game shows, such as "Jeopardy!," "Wheel Of Fortune," "Family Feud," and "Hollywood Squares" do the same thing. GSN, meanwhile does the "12 Games Of Christmas," and is hosted by Betty White. This is GSN's Christmas gift to us, and they've taken Christmas specials of 12 of the greatest game shows of all time, and have aired them just for us. Each show contains a trivia question for the home viewers to answer while watching the show. I'll give you the questions and answers below.

Seventh, I'll just say it. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. This classic poem was written by Clement C. Moore in 1892, originally titled "A Visit From St. Nicholas." I'm sure EVERYONE knows how it goes. I have a read-along book and an audio cassette tape that goes along with it, and THAT was the first time I got familiar with the poem. There are VERY MANY VARIATIONS of it, and I've gotten a kick out of them.

These next traditions focus on MUSIC, which moves us during the holidays. I'll start with CONCERTS. Whether it's instrumental or vocal, everyone gets in the happy mood of the holiday season with music. So, many people go out for these concerts, and listen to the wonderful sounds of Christmas carols ringing in their ears, whether sung or played. There are many types of music used, from Mexican to American, it's a beauty to go out to view them OR rather watch them on TV. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra does a concert each year, televised LIVE, and my piano teacher is part of the orchestra chorus. This is like a choir, but that term is usually referring to children, while a chorus is for the grown-ups.

Next on the list, is the all too familiar CHRISTMAS CAROLS. Everyone has their favorite songs, both traditional and angelic. My favorite traditional songs include "Silver Bells," "The 12 Days Of Christmas," "White Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "Sleigh Ride," and "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," just to name a few. As for the angelic songs, "Away In A Manger," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Silent Night, and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," just to name a few. I've got a couple of Christmas CD's, and Karen and I have a trio of Christmas books for Piano.

Last, but not least, for this part of the list, AND the entire list itself, it will take me two words to say it: THE NUTCRACKER! My sister has a coloring book and an audio cassette tape to go along with it, so she's getting familiar with it, too. Many of you are wondering if this is just a ballet. No, it's not just a ballet, it's a STORY and a ballet. The story was written by E.T.A. Hoffman, a German author, in 1892, and when Russian composer Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky heard the story, he decided to compose some music for a ballet about it. I'll go ahead and give you the story right now, and I'll give you the pieces that make up this classic ballet and tale. Remember, THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT!

Act 1: We begin with a nice Overture. (For those who don't know, an overture is a beginning of a particular piece of music.) It's Christmas Eve on a cold winter's night in a small town in Germany. Inside a nice warm house with a crackling fireplace and a magnificent Christmas tree filled with candles, lights, and ornaments, lives the family of a young girl named Clara Stahlbaum, and her brother, Fritz. (Some variations say the girl's name is Marie.) Among the guests at the party is Clara's godfather, Herr Drosselmayer, a clever toy-maker, who made toy soldiers and mechanical dolls. Hearing that his nephew has been turned into a Nutcracker doll by the Evil MOUSE QUEEN, he realizes that the only way that he can save his nephew, is if the MOUSE KING is slain, and a young girl must fall in love with him. You'll learn a little more about her later.

Anyway, back to the story. The party, which includes a dinner of roast goose and chestnuts, begins. There was going to be a MARCH in the living room (accompanied with the appropriate movement), and other than that, the children played games with each other, and often looked at the clock, because once dinner was done, and the clock struck 8 PM, it would be time to open up the presents. These included hobby horses, beautiful dolls, and toy soldiers. All but one were unwrapped, and that final gift from Herr Drosselmayer went to Clara. But this wasn't just ANY gift. It was a SPECIAL gift. And how special was it? VERY SPECIAL. Clara unwrapped that gift, and to her surprise, a Nutcracker doll shaped like a soldier was in her hands. Everyone was surprised by the magnificent beauty of this nice doll, with the ability to crack all sorts of nuts with his wooden jaw, and to do that you would have to flip a handle on the back. Everyone was amazed with it, except her brother Fritz. He was jealous, and THOUGHT the Nutcracker was meant for HIM. So, without warning, he rushes through the other children, takes the Nutcracker away from Clara, and throws it on the floor, OFTEN STOMPING ON IT. Upon seeing this, Clara has tears streaming from her eyes, and down her cheeks, angered at her brother for what he did, but he has no regrets for doing it. Herr Drosselmayer calms her crying, and uses a handkerchief to repair the doll, and in no time at all, the Nutcracker is back to his old self. Soon the guests leave, and the family heads on upstairs to bed, with Clara being the last. About a few hours later, she heads downstairs to check on her beloved gift. She lays on the couch to get even MORE sleep, when she's awakened by Herr Drosselmayer, SITTING ON THE CLOCK. Then when she think she's dreaming, she see a mouse, then another, and another, STRAIGHT ON DOWN THE LINE. Then they grow, and come to life, as do the Nutcracker and the Toy Soldiers, and the Christmas tree grows as well. This was ALL created by the magic of Herr Drosselmayer. Well, what's next, you say? Well, read on.

Act 2: Well, a battle rages between the sides of good and evil, the unexpected (EVIL) consists of the mice and the Mouse King, the expected (GOOD) consists of the toy soldiers and the Nutcracker. The side of the expected uses all weapons of all sorts, from rifles to swords. But the BIGGEST of all weapons is used: A TOY CANNON. They load it up with all sorts of candy from gumdrops to peppermint candies. This appears to work. At first, it appears the toy soldiers are winning. But then, the mice overpower the toy soldiers, and the Mouse King appears. He's angry about being defeated, so he and the Nutcracker go at each other's throats, until finally, he overpowers the Nutcracker. Clara, realizing that if something isn't done and done FAST, her beloved Christmas gift, which JUST came to life in Act 1, would be toast. So, with quick, critical, and precise action AND thinking, she takes off one of her slippers (either the left or the right, I'll let you pick), and throws it at the Mouse King, and down he goes! The mice, seeing this, and mourning their deceased leader, take off with him. And the Nutcracker and toy soldiers win the battle. But THAT'S NOT ALL! WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WILL SURPRISE YOU AND TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY! READ ON, PLEASE!

The Nutcracker, realizing his victory, transforms into a handsome prince. He finds a jewel crown, that of the Mouse King, and places it on Clara's head. This transforms her into, not a Princess, but rather, a guest at his home, the Kingdom of Sweets. He takes her there, via a small sailboat made of walnuts. Upon arrival, they are greeted by the wonderful Sugar-Plum Fairy. The Prince tells her about the battle and how Clara came to his rescue. The two are also greeted with several dazzling dances based on sumptous sweets and International Cultures. What are they? Well, here they are. Chocolate from Spain (insert appropriate music here) starts things off , followed by Coffee from Arabia (insert appropriate music here), and then there's Tea from China (insert appropriate music here). Completing this array of INTERNATIONAL Dances is the Russian Dance, or Trepak (insert appropriate music here). Now, onto the next set of Dances that makes this ballet. Let's start with the Dance Of The Reed Flutes (insert appropriate music here), or Dance Of The Mirlitons. The Reed Flute, or Mirliton, is the main instrument used in this dance, which involves other treats, including candy canes and lollipops. After that, Mother Cigogne and the Clowns pay a visit, and give the two a dance (insert music). The next dance is the Waltz Of The Flowers (insert appropriate music here), one of my favorites, and one that SHOULD COME LAST, but isn't. This dance involves a lot of flowers, and EVERYONE is involved in it. Then, there's a Tarantella Dance (insert appropriate music here). A tarantella is a spider, who works really fast. And this dance is really fast, too. It comes by really fast, and goes by really fast, at a mere 41 seconds. The next dance is the Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy (insert appropriate music here). Not only does this dance involve her, but it also involves her Cavalier, or Knight, as does The Pas De Deux (insert appropriate music here), another dance that involves everyone. This dance is in appreciation to Clara and the Prince for the heroism they've shared since the battle, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier for their welcome, and the new friends that Clara an the Prince have met. The former is the MOST BEAUTIFUL DANCE OF ALL, as said by most books and storytellers. I agree, sort of, although the Waltz Of The Flowers was the MOST BEAUTIFUL. The last dance is the Coda (insert appropriate music), or ending. This, of course, marks the END of the ballet, and the story. But, there's a final waltz, or an APOTHEOSIS (insert music). The term's meaning is actually a revival of the original production, and this is where the revival comes into place. Even though many don't know this music all too well, they WILL when they buy a CD or download an MP3 with A COMPLETE LISTING OF THE MUSIC, AND EVERY PART OF IT. The act ends when a magical sleigh takes Clara and the Prince home. The story ends with Clara waking up on Christmas Day with her family, realizing that it was a dream after all.

Now, you've wanted it, now I'll give it to you! The questions and answers to the GSN's "12 Games Of Christmas":

1."Wheel Of Fortune" (1992)-What is the Christmas gift that Vanna gives to Pat?-A book (P.S. Jack Paar)
2."Tattletales" (1983)-What does Bill Daley's wife consider better than sex?-Food
3."Password Plus" (1979)-Where did Carol Burnett and Bert Convy first meet?-UCLA
4."Body Language" (1984)-What color stripes are on Richard Simmons' shorts?-Red and White
5."To Tell The Truth" (1990)-Which comic strip did guest Hank Ketcham create?-"Dennis The Menace"
6."The Dating Game" (1972)-What kind of kiss is thrown to the audience by H.R.?-"Santa Smooch"
7."Card Sharks" (1978)-Name the two countries from which the contestants hail.-Venezuela and England
8."Super Password" (1984)-How does Bert demonstrate his technical skills?-He turns on a contestant's microphone
9."Match Game" (1973)-What celebrity dresses up like Santa?-Charles Nelson Reilly
10."Family Feud" (1979)-Where does Richard hang one of the set's red bows?-His ear
11."Beat The Clock" (1979)-What Christmas accessory is Monty Hall wearing on his lapel?-Holly
12."I've Got A Secret" (1960)-What is the Christmas Tree made of?-Toothpicks

OK, that's all the Christmas stuff I'll give you for now. I invite you to stay tuned for more Christmas goodies in my December column. Until then, this is John Lee wishing you a very, very, very HAPPY THANKSGIVING, a very, very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS, and I wish you and yours the VERY, VERY, VERY BEST THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! Now, GO HOME!