Deep into Christmas

With ghost stories and Thanksgiving behind me, I am now buried in Christmas. Not decorations or baking though--right now it's stories and songs that occupy my mind.

I have 6 performances scheduled this year, each one slightly different from the other. The first three I am doing with fellow storyteller Stas Ziolkowski of Sharpsburg, MD. First is a library program in Hancock, MD. For that I am preparing a wide range of stories for audience members of all ages--because at library programs you never know for sure who will turn up. So my storybag will have stories for little ones as well as stories that the whole family can enjoy. These will be secular stories and songs, lots of folklore and Santa! (Click on the posters to see them full-screen to read the details)

Following that program on Saturday, I'll be doing a private house concert with Stas. I have been doing this house concert for 5 years or maybe more, so each year I bring something different to the performance.

This year, with the 100th anniversary end of WWI in 1918, my mind has been on wartime and how holidays might have been celebrated in those times. So I will be telling the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914 with a personal twist--two of my great-uncles were in the region of France where the truce was observed. I will also tell the story of the tiny truce of WWII, a surprising tale I happened on last year. It's a heartwarming tale of bravery and humanity. Then there was the Civil War. What must that have been like for the troops, and for those at home? So a few wartime stories, along with Stas' stories, favorite carols and sing-along...it will be a good time.

The following day Stas and I will be at Victory Garden Ranch in Sharpsburg, a veteran-centered store, bringing our stories and songs.

So the war stories will have another airing, mixed with some of the stories from the library program if there are children and families present.

My great-uncle James Barnes Wilson, my mother-s uncle--at Neuve Chappelle, France, after the battle there. All that remains of the church is a few stones, one timber and the crucifix. James is standing by a roll of telephone wire--that was his job, stringing the line from the rear to the front for communication between the planners and the battle line. He died at the battle of Festubert on May 22, 1915, a battle in which over 16,000 British troops lost their lives.

Next, after this weekend in Maryland, I will be home in my own county, telling Christmas stories to the local CEOs group (formerly the Extension Homemakers). Then a break for a couple weeks before another day of stories on December 19th. On that day I'll be in Salem, WV to tell Appalachian stories to the local garden club, then more Christmas stories and songs in the evening at the Philippi, WV library, accompanied by musician David O'Dell. David and I performed together at the lbirary last year, and it was the perfect mix of dulcimer, guitar, singing and stories.

So it's back to work for this old lady. But it's a labor of love, so can I really call it work?

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Blackwater Falls and Caroling in the Snow

It was a perfect morning for Christmas carols. Snow was whirling outside the windows, good food on the breakfast buffet scented the air, and Santa was there, along with his wife, an elf and the Snow Queen. And Jeff Seager and I were there to add to the festivities with music and singing.

 

We had a great time. It was a bit different from our usual performances, where the audience is mostly stationary. This group was fluid, people coming in and out, visiting with Santa, getting their breakfasts, and so on, but it was so much fun. We kept the songs coming, encouraging people to sing along, and occasionally chatting with Santa.

The crankie wasa big hit too. Most had never seen one before. I turned the crank and the pictures I'd drawn scrolled along with the words to the song. Several people took photos, planning to make their own crankies. How's that for spreading a folk tradition! I have Elizabeth LaPrelle and Ellen Gozion to thank for inspiring me, and Penny Anderson of Pittsburgh to thank for encouraging me to give it a try. The song I used was very short (for this first try), and is called All Children Are On Christmas Eve.

Another activity that everyone enjoyed was the song/play Christmas Day in the Morning. All the willing participants got masks to wear for their parts, and acted out the planting activities (plowing, sowing, raking, etc) as the song went along. We laughed so hard!

Singing, laughing, and singing more--what can be more fun?

We even got to talk to Santa!

The whole crew responsible for the morning's merriment. It was truly a gift of the season for everyone who attended, and for us as well.

We didn't record it, but here is the unforgettable Jean Ritchie. singing There Was a Pig Went out to Dig (aka Christmas Day in the Morning) on YouTube.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Singing My Little Head Off

Well, maybe not quite that much! But I am have been enjoying the Christmas programs with Jeff Seager as we present stories and carols once again this year. Practicing a lot too, as we have several new songs to share, and that means I have been researching the backgrounds for the stories we will tell.

Last weekend we were in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, a beautiful little town at the juncture of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, at the confluence of the mighty Potomac and the peaceful Shenandoah rivers. It had a significant role in the Civil War and was the site of the capture of the abolitionist John Brown.

Our performance was in the beautiful St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, one of the town's most popular sites/ Built in 1833, it was surprisingly undamaged during the several battles fought in the town in the Civil War.

We have performed here before and were so happy to come back. The acoustics in the building are incredible, perfect for our program.

Next on our agenda is two performances this weekend, one at the Philippi Public Library on Saturday at 2:00pm, and one at Blackwater Falls State Park for the annual Sunday Brunch with Santa at 10:30am. My crankie will have its debut at Philippi, so I am practicing to be sure I have the timing right, as the cranks must be turned to match the verses of the song. Not complicated, but still needs some planning ahead.

Blackwater Falls has us on their Special Events caendar:

December 18, 2016
Sunday Brunch with Santa!
Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa stops at Blackwater Falls State Park before returning to the North Pole with his naughty and nice list. A visit with Santa is free from  10:30am until noon at Blackwater Falls Lodge.  Don't forget your camera.  The buffet has a fee.  There's caroling involved!  Jeff Seager and Susanna Holstein will be leading a sing along and telling stories about our favorite carols- from ancient ballads to popular songs of today.
Love critters?  Consider donation of pet food, new bedding or new leashes/collars for the local shelter.  Wild birdseed, turtle food or rabbit food for Blackwater Falls nature center occupants, all welcomed at the drop off area at Blackwater Falls lodge.
Contact: 304-259-5216 

Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I just hope the weather cooperates, as both places are several hours' drive away. 

I hope to see some familiar faces this weekend!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

There We Went A-Caroling!

Fun? I'd say so! Friday night at the New Earth Granary and Saturday night at the lovely home of storyteller Susan Gordon Jeff Seager and I enjoyed the best of audiences--people of all ages willing to sing, play, listen and just enjoy being together to share the joy of this season's music.

Here we are at New Earth Granary, courtesy of the Morgan County Public Library and staffer Pam Mann who invited us to come and share our songs and stories in her community. The Granary is a non-profit performance space for the community and it really is a welcoming place. 

What Christmas song might require masks, you are wondering? How about one called There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig? Really! It is also called Christmas Day in the Morning, and is an old song from Lancashire, England. Once a harvest song that had the farm people acting out the various gardening activities listed in the song, it became a Christmas song when somewhere along the way someone put in the lines "on Chrissamas day in the morning." For our performance, I brought masks for the animals in the song, making some myself because did you know, a mask for a minnow or a sparrow are just not easy to find?

In the photo above we are leading the audience in singing The Christmas Grouch, an alternate Jingle Bells. This was written by William Studwell, a man well known for his deep research and efforts to spread the stories of the carols we sing. He loved Christmas, so his lyrics are definitely not a reflection of how Mr. Studwell felt about the holiday.

Below, I am singing my favorite carol of all, Down in Yon Forest, a haunting, strange Appalachian version of the English carol of the same title,

 and Jeff takes us all into history with his rendition of Christmas in the Trenches, a song about the unusual Christmas Truce of 1914.

Saturday night found us at Susan's house with another fine audience. I am caught sipping on some lemon juice and honey in this photo--unfortunately my cold did not magically disappear so I nursed my voice and throat along duribng both performances. It's a performer's nightmare to have voice issues when an event is scheduled, but the show must go on!

We had fun with There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig with this group too. Such laughter and silliness! Don't we all need that sometimes? And for us adults it's even more imperative to remember how to find that child within and just play.

 And play they did! 

As for how the weekend went...well, I think my face says it all. Good fun, great friends, fine music, and the spirit of the season all around us. Who could ask for more?

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Here We Come A-Caroling!

The Christmas carols program I do with my friend Jeff Seager are fast approaching! 

Thanksgiving was wonderful, rich with family, food and laughter. Now I am turning my attention to the next holiday and the storytelling/music program that I have been presenting with Jeff for the past four years. Each year we change it up with new carols and the stories of who created the songs, and why. It's fun, entertaining and educational. I really enjoy the research that goes into each piece, but even better is sharing and singing with audiences! This year our performances have a wide variety of audiences, from a house concert to a museum to a state park. 

Jeff  and I will be in Berkeley Springs at the New Earth Granary at 7pm on Friday, December 4th, and have a house concert in Frederick, MD on Saturday. Next weekend we will be at the Ripley (WV) Library at 10 am for their Open House, and at Campus Martius Museum in Marietta (OH) at 1:00pm ; on December 20th we'll be at Blackwater Falls Lodge in Davis, WV at 1:00pm. 

I hope you will be able to catch one of these shows. If you come, please be sure to say hello. It's always a pleasure to meet blog friends in person!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Storytelling Road Trip: Maryland and West Virginia

In St. Peter's Catholic Church on Sunday

The reason for my trip last weekend was storytelling, with a healthy side of friend and family visits mixed in.

We started Thursday, traveling to Ellouise Schoettler's house where we would spend the night. I was so happy to see her again, and her hospitality was really appreciated. We talked and talked and talked! Then we were off to Takoma Park for The Grapevine Storytelling Series. This night I was featured, along with Renee Brachfeld and Mark Novak.  I thoroughly enjoyed Renee and Mark's skillful blending of stories, music, song, and even juggling. They are truly masters of their craft, and they invited the audience into their stories that came from their Jewish heritage. Wise tales, tales of fools, surprising tales all woven with voice, a few costume props and guitar.

Now imagine following that performance with my mountain ballads and stories--talk about a cultural contrast! And it was one that worked well, giving the audience a textured fabric of stories from two diverse but equally rich traditions. I began with he haunting ballad Railroad Boy, then followed with a tale I collected from a lady in an assisted living center, and then transitioned to the recent story of  Larry's reunion with his friend Reyn, then on to a coal mining ballad and a story from Larry's childhood, and wrapping up with a humorous ballad with audience singalong. Kudos to Noa Baum, Tim Livengood and Jane Dorfman who plan and shepherd this series, and to the Takoma Park Community Center for hosting it. No photos, unfortunately--my camera was out of Larry's reach and Tim's batteries died just before I got onstage.

 On Saturday I was joined by Jeff Seager at storyteller Susan Gordon's home to present our program of carols and the stories behind the songs. We'd been to Susan's last year and knew we'd have some repeat attendees so we wanted to change up the program a bit. The joy of carols is that there are so many, and that there are intriguing stories, history and folklore attached to quite a few. Jeff brought his new addition, In The Bleak Mid-Winter, an evocative poem written by Christina Rossetti and set to music by Gustav Holst.

I shared the story of Saint Nicholas since we were performing on St. Nicolas Day, and Jeff led us in Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, a jaunty tune written, most likely, by Benjamin Russell Hanby, who was the author of Up on the Housetop and a staunch abolitionist in his day. I brought along two new songs, The Holly and the Ivy and Down in Yon Forest, an eerie song with strong imagery. The version I sang was collected by John Jacob Niles in the Appalachian region of southwest North Carolina around 1933. I ended the program with memories of my childhood during this season, when my English mother followed many traditions she brought with her to America when she came here as a World War II bride in 1946. And of course we had to wrap it all up with We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We repeated our program on Sunday in Harper's Ferry, at the beautiful Saint Peter's Church, which sits high on a hill overlooking the town. I did not get photos of the outside--it was cold and windy and I just wanted to get in to the warmth!

But inside, oh my.

Harper's Ferry, site of John Brown's infamous raid in Civil War times, is a steep little village perched above the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers--picturesque does not begin to describe it. Stone houses line the steep, narrow streets, and many craft and artisan shops offer goods of all kinds.

We did not have much time for exploring, unfortunately, but I did get an opportunity to shop for some Christmas gifts--and to sit on Santa's knee (at his invitation!).

With my friend Lisa Kovatch, a fine potter whose work can be found at Westwood Potters in Harper's Ferry.

One day I will return to Harper's Ferry when we have more time to really explore the area and visit the many museums and historic sites.



Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

The Holly and the Ivy

This weekend was travel time--to Maryland, northern Virginia and eastern West Virginia, presenting the Here We Come A-Caroling! program with my friend Jeff Seager. I had two new songs ready and was really looking forward to being able to share them. Jeff had also been working on a new song or two, and with these additions we had a fresh program to offer our audiences.

 I do love to sing! The first of these is one I've had on my mind for several years to add to my repertoire, The Holly and the Ivy. I've been singing The Holly Bears a Berry, but the other kept calling to me and I finally got down to it and learned not just the song but a little of its history and more of the folklore about these two evergreens. For example, did you know that holly was once a forage shrub for livestock? It's hard to imagine cattle being happy about munching thorns, but there are actually about 400 varieties of holly, some less thorny than others. And new growth is less prickly so perhaps it was more palatable than we think.

Holly, in early Britain, was considered a male plant (today we know that there are actually male and female holly plants, and that it takes both to produce any red berries) and ivy female, probably because of its clinging nature (humph!). Holly was for good luck, ivy was believed to be bad luck. Ivy was never brought into a home where someone was ill, and any holly or vining plants would be removed if someone fell ill.

Young ladies would use a pin to etch the name of the one they loved onto a holly leaf and sew the leaf into their nightgown. Supposedly it would help them dream of their love, and perhaps telepathically convince him to fall in love too. That just sounds painful to me--but then, perhaps this was one way to teach girls that love could be a prickly affair!

Here's one I plan to try this year: pick a fresh holly leaf and place it on a glass of water on New Year's Eve. Check it 24 hours later; if the leaf is still fresh and green it portends a good year. But if it's spotted and/or turning brown, gird your loins my friends because bad luck is coming your way.

Greenery was never brought into the house in the old days until Christmas Eve. This is because people believed the veil between the spirit world and the living world was thinnest and even torn at this dark time of year; if evil spirits saw merriment being planned, they might show up and wreck the fun. This was the time for ghost stories, and there are several old tales that were often told at this time of year.

All holiday greens needed to be disposed of by burning, because doing anything else might bring bad things to you. Now, I'm not telling you what to do, I'm just sayin'.

But back to the song. Here are the lyrics, and here's a link to a beautiful rendition of it on youtube.

The Holly and the Ivy

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Refrain:

Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet saviour

Refrain

The holly bears a berry as red as any blood,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.

Refrain

The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn.

Refrain

The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all.

Refrain

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Refrain

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

A-Caroling We Went

The past week flew by, filled with baking, booth work and getting ready for our weekend trip. Now I am home again and settling back into something like normal. Like most of you, I still have some shopping to do, packages to mail and so on to be ready for Christmas.

But the weekend was glorious! We left Friday morning to begin the round of three presentations of our program, Here We Come A-Caroling! Songs and Stories of the Season.  The weather predictions for the weekend in the region around Washington, DC didn't sound promising, but that's where our bookings were and no snow was going to stop us. Jeff met us in Ripley; we loaded his gear into our van and we were off.

Our first presentation was in beautiful Berkeley Springs, WV, in a historic Presbyterian church. Stained glass windows, white walls and rich wood surroundings, accented with the red of poinsettias and lights on a tree, provided the perfect backdrop. We even had an opening act: four young men who play old-time music came to perform a medley of carols and fiddle tunes.

They were led by fiddler Robbie Mann, who is a bluegrass music major at Glenville State University and son of the lady who coordinated the event. I loved the rendition of Grumbling Old Man and Growling Old Woman the guys played! If you're curious, you can hear Robbie playing the tune on YouTube four years ago. He was great then, even better now.

We spent that evening at the home of the library director, whose art-filled rooms were a delight to see. Conversation flowed well into the night; we slept soundly and woke to 2 inches of new snow (on top of the remains of the previous week's snow). I was worried about my van; we've not driven it in bad weather yet and we were on a road with a very steep hill. It's all-wheel-drive, but still I worried. So after excellent coffee and banana bread we said our goodbyes and ventured forth.

I needn't have worried; the van did great, never slipped, slid, or spun. But our day was a bit of a puzzle; we had been scheduled for our next event that evening in Frederick, Maryland but our host decided to reschedule for Sunday evening. It was a wise call as the snow continued to fall heavily and rain and ice were predicted to follow it. The day soon fell into place: we went to Jeff's daughters' home and he put a tune-up kit in the car of his oldest girl, then we went to lunch at a delightful English pub in Shepherdstown. Fish and chips and a pot of Earl Grey tea! What a fine meal.

Next stop was Leesburg, VA. My granddaughter Cassidy Ford, who is a songwriter in Nashville now, was in Leesburg for the annual Jingle Jam, a fundraiser for Juvenile Diabetes. We met my daughter-in-law just in time for the show at the newly refurbished Tally Ho theater in old-town Leesburg. It was one of the best concerts I've ever attended, and I was so happy to get to hear Cassidy sing again. Her songs continue to be played on various TV shows but seeing her in person was really great.

Jeff had managed to contact on old school friend who lived in Leesburg; his friend came to the show and afterwards he and Jeff caught up over tea at his friend's home while Larry and I went to visit Jon's grave in Union Cemetery.

It is never easy, and yet so necessary; tears and sadness inevitably surround these visits, but I wish I could do them more often even so. He would have been so proud of his girl that day.

I had no flowers or wreath to leave; I had not expected to be in Leesburg so I wasn't prepared. Just stopping for a few minutes is enough to reconnect once again with this beloved son.

Our final stop of the day was at my sister Theresa's house. There is nothing that restores the spirit or soothes the heart like an excited welcome from four little great nieces and nephews! They were all at the door to greet us, and we had a fine evening of singing, stories and talking. After the little ones were in bed, I joined my sister and her daughter-in-law in the kitchen to help make goodies for the following day, when Jeff and I would be presenting our second concert of our trip.

I love house concerts! The homey surroundings, casual setting and ability to talk with the guests while enjoying good food, and being able to share our songs and stories in that intimate setting is truly a joy. Theresa and her daughter-in-law Susan fed us a veritable feast for breakfast and we all pitched in to set up the family room for storytelling and singing. We had a good crowd and a wonderful time, then packed up and headed off for our last stop: the rescheduled show in Frederick, MD.

This performance was also a house concert, at the home of storyteller Susan Gordon, in the gently rolling hills just outside Frederick. We arrived with just enough time to set up, drink a bit of hot mulled cider before beginning our show. Again, warm, art-filled space, two loving dogs, good food, and a great audience combined to make the best possible environment for performing. Afterwards we enjoyed conversation with Susan and her guests. Storyteller Adam Booth had made the trip to hear us, as had Jeff's two daughters. It was a perfect evening, with snow on the ground, an almost-full moon gliding in and out of the clouds, and a warm wood stove and much laughter inside.

Monday morning saw us on our way home after another great breakfast, prepared by Susan--bacon, eggs, cranberry bread, excellent coffee, thin-thin anise-laced pizzelles...yum. We did of course make a few stops at junk shops on the way home (photos in the next blog!) and to visit my nephew Eamon. Then lunch at beautiful Casselman Inn Restaurant in Grantsville, MD, and finally, finally home.

Good times, good memories, good people, good audiences, and good food. What more could a storyteller ask?

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.