CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN BLOG Sunday 20th December 2020
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN ADVENT BLOG Sunday 20th December 2020
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12 RAMBLINGS OF CHRISTMAS
ONLY 5 SLEEPS TO CHRISTMAS
- A CHRISTMAS QUOTE
“The principal advantage of the non-parental lifestyle is that on Christmas Eve you need not be struck dumb by the three most terrifying words that the government allows to be printed on any product: ‘Some assembly required.’” – John Leo
- CHRISTMAS FEATURE – The Christmas Singles Chart
I am so sad as an important part of my Christmas is the Christmas No.1. I just love the charts all year. I love the music and the statistics, saddo. But the Christmas No.1 is something else. And if you happen to be the artist acheiving the Christmas No.1 you find it is a track that keeps giving and giving (royalties). Wouldn’t you just love that . I would
It’s like Dicken’s A Christmas Carol but in recorded music instead of books.
The problem is I have found the last ten years or so it has been spoiled by X-factor automatically getting it rather than an open race and it took some of the enjoyment out of it. But I now think fortunately X-factor has lost popularity and it’s power. i’m hoping this year it will be Liam Gallagher or Mariah Carey. But we’ll see.
Here is a most joyfulChristmas List All the Christmas No.1s since the Charts began. My favourite Christmas List, ever!
There have alreay been 68 Christmas No.1s . When this year’s is announced on Christmas Day that will be 69.
Here is the first half , 1952 – 1986, of the ALL TIME CHRISTMAS No.1 LIST. See tomorrow’s Blog post for the 2nd Half 1987 -2019.
I can feel your excitement!!!
ALL THE CHRISTMAS WEEK No.1s EVER…
Year Artist Song Weeks at No.1
1952 Al Martino “Here in My Heart” 9
1953 Frankie Laine “Answer Me” 8
1954 Winifred Atwell “Let’s Have Another Party” 5
1955 Dickie Valentine “Christmas Alphabet” 3
1956 Johnnie Ray “Just Walkin’ in the Rain” 7
1957 Harry Belafonte “Mary’s Boy Child” 7
1958 Conway Twitty “It’s Only Make Believe” 5
1959 Emile Ford and the Checkmates “What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?” 6
1960 Cliff Richard and The Shadows “I Love You” 2
1961 Danny Williams “Moon River” 2
1962 Elvis Presley “Return to Sender” 3
1963 The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” 5
1964 The Beatles “I Feel Fine” 5
1965 The Beatles “Day Tripper” / “We Can Work It Out” 5
1966 Tom Jones “Green, Green Grass of Home” 7
1967 The Beatles “Hello, Goodbye” 7
1968 The Scaffold “Lily the Pink” 4
1969 Rolf Harris “Two Little Boys” 6
1970 Dave Edmunds “I Hear You Knocking” 6
1971 Benny Hill “Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)” 4
1972 Jimmy Osmond “Long Haired Lover from Liverpool” 5
1973 Slade “Merry Xmas Everybody” 5
1974 Mud “Lonely This Christmas” 4
1975 Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” 9
1976 Johnny Mathis “When a Child Is Born (Soleado)” 3
1977 Wings “Mull of Kintyre” / “Girls’ School” 9
1978 Boney M. “Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord” 4
1979 Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” 5
1980 St Winifred’s School Choir “There’s No One Quite Like Grandma” 2
1981 The Human League “Don’t You Want Me” 5
1982 Renée and Renato “Save Your Love” 4
1983 The Flying Pickets “Only You” 5
1984 Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” 5
1985 Shakin’ Stevens “Merry Christmas Everyone” 2
1986 Jackie Wilson “Reet Petite”
4
3. CHRISTMAS MOVIE
4. CHRISTMAS SONG
- 133 Pointer Sisters - Santa Clause Is Coming To Town
5. CHRISTMAS CHILDREN’S BOOK
A Donkey Called Mistletoe (The Jasmine Green Series) by Helen Peters (Author), Ellie Snowdon (Illustrator)
Paperback : 144 pages
Publisher : Nosy Crow Ltd (1 Oct. 2020)
Reading level : 7 – 9 years
Jasmine’s dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. Unfortunately, this often means she gets into hot water herself…
A perfect animal story for younger readers by Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted author Helen Peters, with beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Ellie Snowdon.
When Jasmine learns that Mr Hobson has grown too old to take care of his pet donkey, Mistletoe, she is determined that they won’t be parted. Of course, this means Mistletoe will have to come and live with her. With Christmas coming, how can she convince her parents to give her this most unusual present?
Brilliant storytelling that will make you laugh and cry, this is Dick King-Smith for a new generation.
Look out for Jasmine’s other adventures!
A Piglet Called Truffle
A Duckling Called Button
A Sheepdog Called Sky
A Kitten Called Holly
A Lamb Called Lucky
A Goat Called Willow
An Otter Called Pebble
An Owl Called Star
A Deer Called Dotty
An Owl Called Star (The Jasmine Green Series) by Helen Peters (Author)
Paperback : 144 pages
Publisher : Nosy Crow Ltd
Reading level : 7 – 9 years
The eighth in a fantastic series of animal stories for younger readers by Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted author Helen Peters, with beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Ellie Snowdon.
Jasmine’s dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. Unfortunately, this often means she gets into hot water herself…
When Jasmine and Tom discover an injured barn owl in the woods, they race to save his life. But as Star recovers, Jasmine realises that this beautiful bird is also a deadly hunter. Has Jasmine taken on more than she can handle?
Brilliant storytelling that will make you laugh and cry, this is Dick King-Smith for a new generation. Perfect for readers aged seven and up.
6. CHRISTMAS CAROL
7. IT’S A CRACKER (CHRISTMAS CRACKER JOKE)
How did the ornament get addicted to Christmas? He was hooked on trees his whole life
8. EVERY CHRISTMAS TV TIMES COVER
9. A FAMOUS SCROOGE
10. SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT – A TOP TV CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FROM THE PAST
Frasier – Miracle On 3rd Or 4th Street
USA/Season 1/1993Aired on NBC
” Miracle on Third or Fourth Street ” is the first Christmas episode of the NBC sitcom Frasier, originally aired as the twelfth episode of the show’s first season.
Frasier is looking forward to his first visit from Frederick in time for Christmas, but when the visit is cancelled, Frasier takes out his disappointment on his family. He and Martin end up having a vicious argument, and Frasier chooses to spend Christmas Day at the station rather than at work. After spending a day listening to Seattle’s loneliest and most depressed people, Frasier trudges to a seedy diner for his Christmas dinner, but gets an unexpected boost of Christmas spirit from the regulars. No. of seasons 11 No. of episodes 264.
11.NICE LITTLE CHRISTMAS NUMBER
191 35 – How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss is No.35 in Publisher’s Weekly All-Time Bestselling Children’s Books issued in 2001
192 1224 – The first-ever nativity scene was set up in a cave by Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy around 1224. He had to gain permission directly from the Pope before he could proceed.
193 1534 -People have been sending Christmas greetings to each other for hundreds of years. The first recorded use of ‘Merry Christmas’ was in a Christmas letter sent in 1534.
194 25,2722 – The largest group of carol singers, according to the Guiness Book of Records, gathered in Nigeria in 2014. 25,272 from Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir sang Joy to the world, Oh come all ye faithfull, Oh Christmas tree, Hark the herald sing, Once in Royal David’s City and The first noel.
195 £2billion – The sale of single Christmas cards account for 12 per cent of the total retail value of the UK market. In addition 900 million boxed cards, worth £2billion are sent each year.
196 £50 million – Charities in the UK receive an estimated £50 million from Christmas card sales.
197 1.2 million – The world’s largest Christmas lights display was in a shopping centre in Australia for 2014 Christmas season. The display featured 1.2 million LED lights and was been created to raise funds for a children’s charity, the electricity the lights used was donated by the power company.
198 1880 – Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees, which are made of dyed goose feathers in the 1880s
199 194,672 – The most lights lit on simultaneously on a Christmas tree is 194,672 and was achieved by Kiwanis Malmedy and Haute Fagnes Belgium in Belgium last year.
200 278 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has the largest floating Christmas tree in the world; it is 278 feet tall.
12. CHRISTMAS TV ADVERT