During the twelve days until Christmas break, the King Street Chronicle will present staff favorites from the holiday season. This eighth edition will not include eight maids-a-milking, but beloved Christmas songs, movies, recipes, quotes, and festivities.
Song of the day: “Winter Wonderland” – written by Felix Bernard and performed by Dean Martin
Movie of the day: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is an animated Christmas classic, based on the book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. The movie tells the story of the Grinch, a creature who attempts to steal Christmas from the nearby town of Whoville.
Recipe of the day: Candy Cane Hearts
Ingredients:
A box of mini candy canes
One bar of white chocolate
One bar of milk or dark chocolate
Sprinkles
Steps:
- Lay two mini candy canes next to each other in the shape of a heart onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Continue filling the baking sheet with heart shapes.
- Melt the white and milk or dark chocolates (in separate bowls), using short intervals in the microwave or in a double boiler.
- When the chocolates are melted, spoon or pour the chocolate into a piping bag or Ziplock bag. Cut off a tiny corner from the bag, and begin filling in the heart shapes with chocolate.
- After adding both layers of chocolate, top with sprinkles.
- Set the baking sheet in a cool place or the refrigerator while the chocolate cools. Once cool, remove hearts from baking sheet and store in an airtight container.
DIY of the day: Pinecone Elves
Supplies:
Three pinecones
One piece each of red, green, and blue felt
Three wooden balls
Black and red sharpies
A hot glue gun
Steps:
- Out of each color of felt, cut two heart shapes for the shoes, a long rectangle for the scarves, two small mitten shapes for the gloves, and one triangle for the hat.
- Glue two sides of the triangles together to finish the hats. Then glue the hats onto the wooden balls.
- Glue the two hearts of each color together to create the shoes. Then glue the pine cone to the point of the hearts to put the bodies onto the shoes.
- Glue the heads to the bodies. Wrap the scarves around the necks, and secure with glue.
- Using red and black sharpies, draw eyes and a mouth onto each elf.
Quote of the day: “Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.” – Steve Maraboli
Festivities around the world: Vienna, Austria
Citizens and visitors of Vienna, Austria celebrate Christmas extravagantly with various festivities. Every year, the Wiener Kammer Orchestra performs Christmas concerts throughout the Advent season at the Stephansdom Cathedral in Vienna, according to theculturetrip.com. The Museumsquartier, one of the largest art and culture complexes in the world, hosts annual holiday events for residents and tourists. This year the festivities include ice pavilions, light shows, DJs, music, and an ice rink with a curling court.
Another holiday event that is popular in Vienna is Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, which is held at the Theater Der Wien. At this concert, dancers from the Hamburg Ballet Company perform two compositions by Bach and Beethoven. Additionally, the city hosts three Christmas markets, such as the Karlsplatz Christmas market. There is another Christmas market in Belvedere Square. This market is unique because it has a smaller and more intimate feel. The third and final market is located in Freyung. This market, dating back to 1772, is the oldest and most historic in Vienna.
-Daisy Steinthal, Staff Writer, and Nina Rosenblum, Staff Writer