Calendar 2010: December

I've started 2010 off by showing 12 photos from 2009 that I chose for a monthly wall calendar.
This is the last one; and if it seems familiar - yes, just like the "January" picture, this one too was on show here at the beginning of December; just after I had put the first decorations up for the season... Now it will be time to take them down soon. (I usually keep the window lights until mid or end of January, depending a bit on the weather outside.) 

Winter Town

From Christmas-December

December Twilight

Tuesday Blue: Winter Sky

The Yule Buck

Before Father Christmas, there was the Yule Buck to deliver Christmas presents in Scandinavia. Bucks made of straw are still a common Christmas decoration. This one made of evergreen branches I saw at the Christmas market in town.




And here is another one I found last week in a garden I was passing!

4th Advent Sunday - The Light

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
Gospel of St John 1:9

Christmas Market

Santaland Window Display

Ice Sculpture

The finished ice sculpture of a polar bear and cub - compare this week's Monday Mosaic.

Salvation Army Singing Carols

Tuesday Blue: December Reflections

St Lucia Day

On 13 December, we celebrate Lucia*, or St Lucy's Day.
(First link goes to a post at my Island of the Voices blog; the second one to a Wikipedia article.)

Each town has their own official Lucia with maids appointed, and during the weeks before Christmas, they go round singing traditional carols and Lucia songs in different places, outdoors and indoors, according to a schedule; collecting money for charity. This picture was taken at an outdoors concert after dark.

*If you follow this link , you can also listen to one of the traditional Lucia songs.

The Light Within

Passing a graveyard chapel on a dark grey afternoon, I was intrigued by the glow coming from within. The doors were closed and there was nothing else to show there was anything special going on.



I did not investigate. Sometimes it's more fun just to let mysteries remain mysteries...

Thin Ice

One of the first frosty December mornings, my eye was caught by the intricate pattern of the thin ice on a puddle of rainwater from the previous days of heavy rain.

High Water

The water is high in the river after all the autumn rain.

Low Sun and Frosty Bridges

Tuesday Blue: Early Morning Moon

This picture of the full moon was taken on a frosty December morning last week.

Monday Mosaic: Advent Collage

Visit More Monday Mosaics at Little Red House

The Advent Star

... they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. (Matthew 2:9-10)

A Frosty December Morning

Thursday morning this week we had frost, and also a beautiful sunrise.