Disk Music Boxes

Photo courtesy The Musical Box Society International

Photo courtesy AntiqueMusicBoxes.co.uk

I like antique disk music boxes.  I used to visit Rita Ford's Music Boxes shop when she was located in New York City, and enjoyed listening to the bell-like quality of the beautiful sound coming from these huge boxes, which can be as big as grandfather clocks.  Two of my favorite albums are recordings of Christmas music and opera music played on Rita Ford's disk boxes.  Not only do they produce beautiful music, but the wood boxes are quite beautiful too, with beautiful carving or beautiful inlay.

Disk boxes were popular at the turn of the 20th century, and quite affordable so many people had them in their homes.  The popularity didn't last long, however, due to the invention and subsequent popularity of the nickelodeon and the player piano, then the gramophone.

I knew that the huge disks were still being made in the mid-20th century, but had thought that they were no longer being made.  What I didn't know is that there has been a resurgence in the popularity of antique disk boxes, so much so that the disks are still being made and new boxes are now being made.

For more information about disk players and music boxes click here and click here and click here.

What is your favorite music box tune that you have heard?

Christmas Giving

Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Boxing Day began about 800 years ago in the U.K., when churches would open their alms box on December 26 and distribute the contents to the poor.  Some churches still do this today.  Boxing Day has become an official holiday in some of the British Commonwealth countries, but many people don't know that the origin of the day was to help the poor.

We don't observe Boxing Day here in the U.S., but many families do take time to give to the less fortunate during the Christmas season.  When I was growing up, our family would go to the Social Services Office and get the name of a deserving family who would not be able to afford to celebrate Christmas.  We were given the names and ages of everyone in the family.  We shopped for groceries, toys, clothes, a tree, and decorations, then went home and wrapped the presents.  The family was told by Social Services that we would arrive on Christmas Eve morning.  When we arrived we helped put away the groceries, then set out Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, eggnog, and paper plates and cups.  We set up the tree, then helped the family decorate the tree.  We put the presents under the tree, then sat and chatted, and usually sang two or three carols with them before leaving. 

I assure you that as young children our Christmas Day meant so much more to us after having spent Christmas Eve mornings with such families.  As we opened our own gifts, we would imagine and talk about that other family's opening their gifts. 

I know many families who have similar Christmas traditions.  What do you and your family do for others during the Christmas season?

History of Christmas Carols

Photo courtesy FreeImagesLive.co.uk

Carol or carole is a medieval word that meant "a celebratory religious dance with song".  Originally pagans in Europe celebrated with carols on the winter solstice, and gradually the singing of carols merged with the Christmas celebration.  Some believe that the earliest Christmas carols were written in the 14th century.  The general consensus is that at least the singing of Christmas carols became popular in the 14th century.  For more information click here and click here.

What is your favorite Christmas carole, and why?

Saint Nicholas Day

Photo courtesy FreeImagesLive

Today, December 6, is Saint Nicholas Day in Eastern Europe.  In the morning of this day East European children receive gifts.  Last night, December 5, they dressed in angel and devil costumes and went caroling.  Most families have the traditional Tannenbaum, or German-style Christmas Tree, and light one of the four candles in the advent wreath each Sunday in December.  For more information, click here and click here.

If you celebrated Saint Nicholas Day, what did you receive and give today?