Sears is said to have written these words at the request of his friend, W. P. Lunt, a minister in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1850 Richard Storrs Willis, a composer who trained under Felix Mendelssohn, wrote the melody called “Carol”.

In the UK the tune called “Noel”, which was adapted from an English melody in 1874 by Arthur Sullivan, is the usual accompaniment. It is the tune sung here by Julie Andrews.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Lyrics

Arthur Sullivan tune

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

For lo!, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Purchase the sheet music here.

Metropolitan Kirill Celebrates Russian Orthodox Christmas

According to the Julian calendar, Christmas fell today, January 7th 2009 and Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, Georgia, Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, and the Ukraine celebrated with a strict fast, holy supper, Grand Liturgy and by burning dried oak branches (Russia).

In Egypt, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, held a somber mass led by Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria Tuesday at the Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. Pope Shenouda expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza; “Our Mother Mary was Palestinian, and so was Jesus and his disciples. We pray for our brothers and sisters of all faiths in Palestine and particularly in Gaza,” he said in a televised address.

Pope Benedict XVI sent his greetings to the Eastern Churches who, “following the Julian calendar will celebrate Holy Christmas tomorrow. May the memory of the birth of the Saviour rekindle in their hearts more and more the joy of being loved by God.”

Christmas Mobile Phone

Christmas Text Messages

What better way to spread Christmas cheer than with a bulk text? The Christmas text message has only been around as long as mobile phone users started to realise that SMS (does anyone still use “SMS” anymore???) messaging was a quick way to send short messages. Digital drops of happiness.

Round Robin Christmas Letters

Every year, at least one member of our family, or sometimes even a long-lost friend will send out a Round Robin Christmas letter. These letters will generally consist of details of how the nuclear family of the sender has been doing this year. Often, it is the only contact we have had with the person(s) within the letter, but still, every year, its amazing to learn of just how well this persons life has gone, yet again, for the Round Robin Christmas letter is a place to highlight achievement.

Christmas Emails and E-cards

Before the internet was invented, there was no-where for us to Elf Ourselves, and even Christmas cards had to be troublingly and painstakingly placed into actual envelopes and posted. No more! Now we can send out Christmas emails and e-cards, leaving no excuse for not bestowing festive greetings to even the most tenuous of contacts.

This was the first time Television became part of Christmas. Fact.

Christmas TV

Once, there was a time when families would spend all of Christmas doing things like eating, drinking and being merry. Then, in the mid-afternoon, they would all gather round and watch the fire until Grandad fell asleep and everyone else gently drifted off too.

Once a TV was introduced to the living rooms across the western world, Christmas made much more sense. At last, people had something to look at during this period of quiet time when conversation had run dry: that thing is Christmas Television.

Office Christmas Parties

Long ago – in the time of Jesus, Mary and all the characters of the Bible – people didn’t go to work in offices. Nowadays, thankfully, we do, for this means that every year we can gather together for Christmas drinks, and often even a meal too, with the people we spend our working lives with. Office Christmas Parties are great: we get to see the big bosses in their normal clothes, and be ever so slightly offended by those who have over imbibed sufficiently to lose a little too much inhibition. Really great office parties give us enough to talk about while counting down the days until we get to stop working for Christmas proper.

Facebook Christmas

Can you think of a better way to share Christmas cheer than by poking people we used to know at school? The Facebook Christmas is a growing tradition which involves posting links to the most Christmassy things we’ve discovered around the WWW and updating our statuses to display festive cheer. Photos of Christmas antics are a must, and if they involve either yellow snow, drunkenness, or a combination of the two, will also be festooned with hilarious comments too!

Over-the-top Christmas Lights!

Over-The-Top Christmas Decorations

Everyone has a house near them which single-handedly contributes several years worth of Third World carbon credits to the atmosphere by going just a little bit too far with their Christmas decorations, and covering their house with an incredible number of decorative lighting arrangements.

Everyone sneers a little, yet, funnily enough, we’ve all paid a special trip to the house in question “just to see how ridiculous this year’s lights are, of course” but actually, deep down, we all love this Christmas opulence more than a little.

Secret Santa

Secret Santa, or Chris Kringle, is where we put everyone’s names into a hat and only buy one or two presents for the people we pull out, in secret. This is a modern-day tradition designed to get over the huge present buying extravaganza which Christmas might otherwise have become. It often goes hand-in-hand with the office Christmas party or in other circumstances where buying a gift for everyone would just be plain impossible, for example, in a family the size of mine.

Turning on the Christmas Lights

In the long ago forgotten past, before things like electricity, towns and cities would be mean places in November, full of people who didn’t know Christmas was ‘just around the corner’. All of that ended in 1976 when the Lord Mayor of the World, President Gerald Ford, declared that “every town and city worth its salt should light some municipal Christmas lights thus marking the beginning of the joyful journey toward Crimbo (sic)” – since that time, every year, we have had town Christmas lights being switched on around the world by somebody famous.

Christmas Websites

Some people like Christmas so much, that they actually create websites on the internet all about this Christmassy stuff. Just like… Er… This one.

Merry Christmas!

A good present for someone who’s receiving a musical instrument this Christmas is the sheet music for the song. What’s better is, it can be downloaded on Christmas Day for only £0.99 and counts as a thoughtful gift! Click here to get it (there are piano, guitar and vocal arrangements available, as well as full Jeff Buckley songbooks).

If you can’t wait, here are the lyrics and guitar chords for “Hallelujah”:

Jeff Buckley

Hallelujah – Capo 5
by Leonard Cohen, as performed by Jeff Buckley

Intro: / G – - – - – / Em7 – - – - – / x2

G Em7 G Em7

Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord,

C (1½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)

But you don’t really care for music, do you? It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth

Em C D B7 Em7 (2)

The minor fall, the major lift, the baffled king composing Hallelujah!

Chorus:

C (2) Em (2) C (2) G D G Em7 G Em7

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah!

G Em7 G Em7

Your faith was strong but you needed proof. You saw her bathing on the roof;

C (1½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)

Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you. But she tied you to a kitchen chair

Em C D B7 Em7 (2)

She broke your throne, she cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the Hallelujah! (Chorus)

G Em7 G Em7

You say I took the name in vain; But I don’t even know the name.

C (1½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)

But if I did, well, really, what’s it to you? There’s a blaze of light in every word;

Em C D B7 Em7 (2)

It doesn’t matter which you heard; The holy, or the broken Hallelujah! (Chorus)

G Em7 G Em7

Baby, I’ve been here before. I know this room, I’ve walked this floor.

C (1½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)

I used to live alone before I knew you. I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch,

Em C D B7 Em7 (2)

Love is not a victory march. It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah! (Chorus)

G Em7 G Em7

There was a time you let me know What’s really going on below

C (1½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)

But now you never show it to me, do you? I remember when I moved in you,

Em C D B7 Em7 (2)

And the holy dove was moving, too. And every breath we drew was Hallelujah! (Chorus)

G Em7 G Em7

Now maybe there’s a God above But all I ever learn from love

C (1½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)

Is how to shoot at somebody who outdrew you. And it’s not a cry that you hear at night,

Em C D B7 Em7 (2)

It’s not somebody who’s seen the light, it’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah! (Chorus)

Chorus:

C (2) Em (2) C (2) G D

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-

C (2) Em (2) C (2) G D

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-

C (2) Em (2) C (2) G D G (hold)

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah!

Price

• EUR 355 for 3 nights in a 1-person log cabin
• EUR 210 per person for 3 nights in a 2-person log cabin
• EUR 185 per person for 3 nights in a 3-person log cabin
• EUR 160 per person for 3 nights in a 4-person log cabin

Included in the price

• Accommodation in a log cabin
• Lift pass or half-board
• Large breakfast buffet

Log Cabins in Lapland

BBC1

11:30pm Christmas Midnight Eucharist
12:40am Weatherview
12:45am Grumpy Old Men
2:25am Joins BBC News
6:00am Breakfast
9:00am Hotel Trubble
9:30am The Slammer
10:00am Pinky and Perky
10:15am Frankenstein’s Cat
10:25am Christmas in Peterborough: Christmas Day Eucharist
11:25am The Santa Clause 2
1:05pm The Two Ronnies Christmas Show
1:50pm BBC News
2:00pm Top of the Pops Christmas Special
3:00pm The Queen
3:10pm Shark Tale
4:30pm Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
5:45pm BBC News
6:00pm Doctor Who
7:00pm Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2008
8:00pm EastEnders
8:30pm Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death
9:00pm EastEnders
9:30pm The Royle Family
10:30pm Blackadder Rides Again
11:35pm BBC News
11:45pm Bend It like Beckham

BBC2

12:00am The Peter Serafinowicz Christmas Show
12:40am Charley Boorman: Ireland to Sydney by Any Means
1:40am Dragons’ Den: The Dragons’ Stories
2:40am The Big Heat
6:00am Balamory
6:20am Teletubbies
6:45am 64 Zoo Lane
7:00am Boogie Beebies
7:15am LazyTown
7:40am Postman Pat
8:00am ChuckleVision
8:15am The Likeaballs
8:30am The Life of Mammals
9:30am Wainwright’s Walks
10:00am My Fair Lady
12:45pm Oklahoma!
3:00pm Hansel and Gretel
5:00pm The Truth About Carols
6:00pm Maestro – The Inside Story
7:00pm Blackadder’s Christmas Carol
7:50pm The Queen
8:00pm Dad’s Army
8:30pm Dragons’ Den Around the World
9:30pm Top Gear
10:30pm Casanova

ITV1 London

11:45pm The Jerk
1:35am Huckleberry Finn
3:25am ITV Nightscreen
5:00am CITV:Jim Jam and Sunny
5:10am CITV:Jim Jam and Sunny
5:25am CITV:Engie Benjy
5:35am CITV:Captain Mack
5:45am CITV:Paz
5:55am ITV Early Morning News
6:00am Mopatop’s Shop
6:15am Jim Jam and Sunny
6:25am Boblins
6:40am Engie Benjy
6:55am Odd-Jobbers
7:05am Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
7:35am Go Diego Go!
8:10am Tom and Jerry Tales
8:25am Phineas and Ferb
8:50am American Dragon
9:25am Coleen’s Christmas at Alder Hey
10:25am Christmas Cooks Challenge
11:25am National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
1:10pm ITV News and Weather
1:20pm Bean
3:00pm HM The Queen
3:10pm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
5:45pm ITV News and Weather
6:00pm Emmerdale
7:00pm Coronation Street
8:00pm Dancing on Ice at Christmas
9:30pm It’ll Be Alright on the Night
10:30pm Stanley Baxter – Now and Then
11:30pm The Late News and Weather
11:45pm Mermaids

Channel 4

11:10pm The Charlotte Church Nutcracking Christmas Special
12:10am 4 Music:George Michael: Live at Earls Court Exclusive
12:20am Black Christmas
2:00am Journey through the Night
2:25am Pagans
3:25am A Walk in the Clouds
5:00am Scrapheap Challenge
6:00am 3 Minute Wonder: 12 Days of Christmas
6:05am Inuk
6:20am The Hoobs
6:45am The Treacle People Christmas Special
7:00am Little Wolf’s Book of Badness
7:30am Olive, the Other Reindeer
8:25am Max Bear And The Lucky Charm
9:00am T4:Friends
9:30am T4:The Simpsons
10:00am T4:Friends
10:30am T4:George Michael: Live at Earls Court Exclusive
10:35am T4:Westlife Live In Croke Park
11:35am T4:Girls Aloud: Tangled Up Live from the O2
12:40pm T4:George Michael: Live at Earls Court Exclusive
12:45pm The Simpsons
1:15pm Lassie
3:00pm Deal or No Deal: Christmas Star
4:00pm Scrooged
5:50pm The Simpsons
6:15pm A Boy Called Alex
7:15pm The Alternative Christmas Message
7:25pm Channel 4 News
7:30pm The Nativity Decoded
9:30pm Secret Millionaire Changed My Life
10:35pm Alan Carr: Tooth Fairy Live
11:40pm Lee Evans XL Tour 2005 Live

Five

9:30pm Greatest Christmas Comedy Moments
12:30am 30 Rock
1:00am Prison Break
1:50am Point Blank
3:20am Good Guys Wear Black
4:55am Short Story Cinema
5:15am Big Ideas that Changed the World
6:00am Angels of Jarm
6:08am Little Lodgers
6:10am Chiro
6:15am Fireman Sam Christmas Special
6:40am Mio Mao
6:45am Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures
6:50am Milkshake! Music Box
7:00am The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky
7:10am Funky Christmas Special
7:25am Noddy Saves Christmas
7:55am Fifi and the Flowertots
8:05am Play!
8:15am Peppa Pig
8:30am The Milkshake! Show Christmas Special
8:55am The Milky and Shake Show
9:00am Zoo Days
9:30am Michaela’s Zoo Babies
10:30am Penguin Adventure with Nigel Marven
11:20am World’s Strongest Man Super Series
12:20pm The Big Stunt Show
12:50pm Fifth Gear Short Cuts
1:05pm Casper’s Haunted Christmas
2:45pm A Carol Christmas
4:30pm Rory & Paddy’s Great British Adventure
5:30pm Ice Road Truckers
6:30pm Five News
6:45pm Memoirs of a Geisha
9:30pm Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of the 21st Century

BBC3

12:00am Family Guy
12:25am Family Guy
12:50am Family Guy
1:10am Family Guy
1:30am Family Guy
1:50am The Most Annoying Pop Songs We Hate to Love
2:50am The Most Annoying Pop Songs We Hate to Love
3:50am The Most Annoying Pop Songs We Hate to Love
7:00pm Doctor Who Confidential Christmas 2008
8:00pm Doctor Who: Top 5 Christmas Moments
8:10pm Shrek the Halls
8:30pm Cool Runnings
10:05pm Little Britain USA
10:30pm Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special
11:30pm Gavin and Stacey: 12 Days of Christmas

BBC4

11:00pm The Chorus
12:35am Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe: Review of the Year
1:05am Crooked House
1:35am No 13
2:15am Jazz Britannia
3:15am No 13
7:00pm Christmas Oratorio No 5
7:25pm Christmas Oratorio No 6
7:50pm The Messiah at the Barbican
10:30pm The Frost Report Is Back!

E4

11:35pm Alan Carr’s Christmas Ding Dong
12:25am The Friday Night Christmas Project with Girls Aloud
1:25am Shameless
2:25am Cape Wrath
3:25am Russell Brand’s Christmas Ponderland
3:50am Hollyoaks
5:00am Anything Goes
6:00am Anything Goes
7:30am Our Showbiz Mates: Christmas Day Special
10:00am Gilmore Girls
10:55am Joan of Arcadia
11:50am Olive, the Other Reindeer
12:50pm A Christmas Carol
2:35pm Joan of Arcadia
3:30pm Gilmore Girls
4:25pm Friends
4:55pm Friends
5:30pm Friends
6:00pm Friends
6:30pm Friends
7:00pm Hollyoaks
7:30pm My Name Is Earl
8:00pm Friends
8:35pm Friends
9:00pm Friends
9:30pm Friends
10:00pm Friends
10:30pm Fonejacker Christmas Special
11:00pm Russell Brand’s Ponderland
11:35pm Walliams and Lucas: New Heroes of Comedy

Film4

10:55pm American Psycho
1:00am Swimming Pool
1:00pm A Christmas Carol
2:35pm Australia Special
2:45pm Corrina, Corrina
5:00pm Australia Special
5:05pm Jingle All the Way
6:45pm The African Queen
8:50pm Australia Special
9:00pm Rush Hour 2
10:45pm Underworld: Evolution

Fiver

11:00pm Programmes start at 6.00am
6:00am Zoo Days
6:15am Magical Legend of the Leprechauns
9:30am Zoo Days
10:00am Zoo Days
10:30am Zoo Days
11:00am Zoo Days
11:30am Zoo Days
12:00pm Zoo Days
12:30pm Zoo Days
1:00pm Zoo Days
1:30pm Zoo Days
2:00pm Zoo Days
2:30pm Zoo Days
3:00pm Zoo Days
3:30pm Zoo Days
4:00pm Zoo Days
4:30pm Zoo Days
5:00pm Zoo Days
5:30pm Zoo Days
6:00pm Home and Away: Comebacks
6:30pm Home and Away: Comebacks
7:00pm Police Interceptors
8:00pm Police Interceptors: Special Edition
8:30pm Police Interceptors: Special Edition
9:00pm Sex and the City
9:40pm Sex and the City
10:20pm Sex and the City
11:00pm
Programmes start at 6.00am

Five US

12:00am Flatliners
9:00am Teleshopping
12:00pm Whose Line Is It Anyway?
12:30pm Whose Line Is It Anyway?
1:00pm Whose Line Is It Anyway?
1:30pm Whose Line Is It Anyway?
2:00pm The Reading Room
4:00pm A Christmas Carol
6:00pm Numb3rs
7:00pm Numb3rs
8:00pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
9:00pm Flatliners
11:15pm CSI: NY

Gold

11:55pm My Family
12:35am The Royle Family
1:15am The Royle Family
1:55am Men Behaving Badly
2:30am What a Carry On!
3:00am Home Shopping
6:00am Fantasy Island
7:00am What a Carry On!
7:35am TV’s Greatest Christmas Moments
9:30am Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out
10:00am Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers
10:40am Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave
11:20am Ghost Busters
1:25pm Only Fools and Horses
2:05pm Only Fools and Horses
3:45pm Only Fools and Horses
5:35pm Only Fools and Horses
7:05pm Jumanji
9:00pm Only Fools and Horses
10:50pm Jonathan Creek
11:55pm Only Fools and Horses

ITV2

11:05pm Love Actually
1:45am Ghosthunting With… Radio One
3:45am Teleshopping
5:15am The Office: An American Workplace
5:35am The Office: An American Workplace
6:00am Coronation Street
6:30am Emmerdale
7:05am The Montel Williams Show
7:55am Sally Jessy Raphael
8:40am The Ricki Lake Show
9:25am Coronation Street
10:00am Emmerdale
10:30am Creature Comforts
10:45am The Xtra Factor: Best and Worst 2008 (Part One)
11:45am The Xtra Factor: Best and Worst 2008 (Part Two)
12:45pm The Xtra Factor: Best and Worst 2008 (Part Three)
1:45pm The Xtra Factor: Best and Worst 2008 (Part Four)
2:45pm The Xtra Factor: Best and Worst 2008 (Part Five)
3:45pm The Xtra Factor: Winner’s Story
4:45pm I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here Now! Coming Home
5:45pm ET the Extra-Terrestrial
8:05pm Twins
10:15pm Coronation Street
11:15pm Gone in Sixty Seconds

ITV3

11:45pm Life
12:40am The Ice Harvest
2:30am Cane
3:10am Surgical Spirit
3:35am Surgical Spirit
4:00am Teleshopping
6:00am Film File
6:10am And She Was
7:55am On the Buses
8:30am Only When I Laugh
9:00am Rising Damp Christmas Special
9:30am Moby Dick
11:50am Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle
1:40pm The Mirror Crack’d
3:40pm Sherlock Holmes: Hound of the Baskervilles
5:45pm Rising Damp Christmas Special
6:15pm On the Buses
8:00pm Mutiny on the Buses
9:50pm Sabrina

ITV4

11:50pm The Force
12:25am Smith
1:15am Smith
2:00am Space 1999
2:50am ITV4 Nightscreen
3:00am Teleshopping
9:25am Film File
9:30am Europe’s Greatest Stunts
10:00am The Saint
11:00am The Professionals
12:00pm World’s Wildest Police Videos
1:00pm Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
2:00pm Aces High
4:00pm World’s Wildest Police Videos
4:55pm The Force
5:10pm The Professionals
6:10pm Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
7:15pm Avalanche Express
9:00pm Ultimate Force
10:05pm 633 Squadron

More4

11:55pm Father Ted Christmas Special
1:05am Hitler: The Comedy Years
2:10am Deal or No Deal
9:00am Deal or No Deal
9:45am Deal or No Deal
10:30am Deal or No Deal
11:15am Deal or No Deal
12:00pm Deal or No Deal
12:50pm Come Dine with Me at Christmas
1:55pm Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic
3:10pm The Godless Girl
5:30pm Peter and the Wolf
6:10pm The Three Tenors
7:55pm To Be Or Not To Be…In Shakespeare
9:00pm King Lear

Sky1

12:00am Road Wars
1:00am Road Wars
1:50am Las Vegas Uncovered
2:40am Bones
3:30am Naked Angels in Beach Paradise
4:20am Scare Tactics
4:45am America’s Dumbest Criminals
5:10am Guilty!
6:00am Brainiac: Science Abuse
7:00am Gladiators: Semi-Finals
8:00am Don’t Forget The Lyrics
9:00am The Simpsons
9:30am The Simpsons
10:00am Noel’s Christmas Presents
11:30am Gladiators: The Legends Strike Back
1:00pm All Star Don’t Forget the Lyrics
2:00pm All Star Don’t Forget the Lyrics
3:00pm The Simpsons
3:30pm The Simpsons
4:00pm Noel’s Christmas Presents
5:30pm The Simpsons
6:00pm The Simpsons
6:30pm The Simpsons
7:00pm Guinness World Records Smashed!
8:00pm Gladiators: The Legends Strike Back
9:30pm Bones
11:20pm All Star Don’t Forget the Lyrics

Sky3

12:00am Zambezi Shark
1:00am Cold Case
2:00am Cold Case
3:00am Weeds
3:30am Weeds
4:00am Relic Hunter
5:00am Sky Travel
5:30am Sky Travel
6:00am Relic Hunter
7:00am The Dog Whisperer
8:00am The Lion Man
8:30am The Lion Man
9:00am Floyd around the Med
9:30am Sky Travel
10:00am Sky Travel
10:30am Cold Case
11:30am Sky Travel
12:00pm When Sharks Attack
1:00pm Top Ten Places to Swim with Sharks
2:00pm Sky Travel
2:30pm Road Wars
3:30pm The Dog Whisperer
4:30pm Sky Travel
5:00pm The Lion Man
5:30pm The Lion Man
6:00pm Brainiac’s Test Tube Baby Christmas Special
7:00pm Cold Case
8:00pm Cold Case
9:00pm Road Wars Xmas Special
10:00pm So You Think You’re Safe?
11:00pm Brainiac’s Christmas Cracker

Sky Sports 1

11:30pm Gillette Soccer Special
1:30am Barclays Premier League Preview
2:00am Where Are They Now?
3:00am Gillette Soccer Special
5:00am Where Are They Now?
6:00am 50 Greatest Premiership Goals
7:00am Gillette Soccer Special
9:00am 50 Greatest Premiership Goals
10:00am Soccer AM: Christmas Special
12:30pm Barclays Premier League Preview
1:00pm Gillette Soccer Special
3:00pm Where Are They Now?
4:00pm 50 Greatest Premiership Goals
5:00pm Soccer AM: Christmas Special
7:30pm Where Are They Now?
8:30pm Barclays Premier League Preview
9:00pm Soccer AM: Christmas Special
11:30pm Live Test Cricket

Virgin 1

12:00am Roulette Nation
3:00am Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
3:50am A-Z of Bad Boys
4:15am Takeshi’s Castle
4:40am Takeshi’s Castle
5:05am The Outer Limits
6:00am Classic Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
7:00am Takeshi’s Castle
7:30am Takeshi’s Castle
8:00am My Wife and Kids
8:30am Home Improvement
9:00am Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
10:00am Star Trek: Voyager
11:00am The Outer Limits
12:00pm The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
12:30pm The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
1:00pm Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
2:00pm The Unforgiven
4:35pm The X Files
5:35pm My Wife and Kids
6:00pm The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
6:30pm The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
7:00pm Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
8:00pm Star Trek: Voyager
9:00pm Bunny Boiler & Proud
10:00pm Most Shocking Wild Riots 2
11:00pm Sexcetera

Watch

10:35pm xXx
1:00am Weakest Link
2:00am The Bill
2:50am Close Up
3:00am Home Shopping
6:00am Comedy Map of Britain
7:00am Outtake TV
7:30am Outtake TV
8:00am Market Kitchen
9:00am Doctor Who
10:00am Oliver!
1:00pm Comedy Map of Britain
2:00pm Outtake TV
2:30pm Outtake TV
3:00pm Weakest Link
4:00pm Doctor Who
5:00pm Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
6:30pm TOTP 2
7:30pm Outtake TV
8:00pm Outtake TV
8:30pm Outtake TV
9:00pm xXx
11:35pm Hudson Hawk

Aled with Libera Boys' Choir

ITV 1 Wednesday, 24 December 2008, 11:25AM – 12:25PM

Aled Jones goes in search of the people, places and fascinating stories behind Britain’s best loved Christmas Carols. Along the way he reveals his own personal favourite carol and exclusively performs all carols featured in the programme, along with the internationally renowned boys choir, Libera and The Adventist Vocal Ensemble, at Great St Bart’s Priory Church in London.

Aled begins his journey by travelling to the birthplace of Christ – Bethlehem. Meeting with a local priest he also finds out the significance of carols when Father Ibrahim Shomali tells him: “It’s very important because you know the birth of a person in the family is very important. And also it’s hope. And carols here give hope for a people with no hope, especially in this country, in this area.”

Speaking from the Grotto, where Mary is said to have given birth to her baby boy, Aled then reveals his personal favourite, “I’m often ridiculed for saying that my favourite carol is Away in a Manger but I stick by my choice. Yes, it’s a simple, unscriptural carol. But being here at the birthplace of Christ has really brought alive its magical quality. Yes it’s childish, but in the best sense of the word. It makes you focus on the message.”

Aled Jones

In Italy, Aled visits the Umbrian countryside to find out about the role St. Francis of Assisi played in creating carols when he took religious lyrics from his sermons and coupled then with the popular everyday tunes of the 13th century. Father Pasquale Magro, a monk at the Basilica of St. Francis, believes the worldwide popularity of carols would have delighted St Francis. He tells the programme: “Because this would be the completion, the maturing of his wishes, of his ideas. Francis is the promoter of common people, of common people’s ideals.”

On the final leg of his journey, Aled arrives at the First World War battlefields of Ypres, Belgium. He then discovers the touching story of how the haunting melody of Silent Night united the British and German forces, for one night only.

With fantastic music and a refreshing insight into the story behind one of the festive season’s key elements, Aled’s Christmas Carols is a great way to kick start your Christmas Eve viewing.

"O Come All Ye Faithful" Sheet Music

“O Come All Ye Faithful” Lyrics

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;

[Chorus]
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb:
Very God,
Begotten, not created; Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest; Refrain

King's College Choir

[Christmas Morning Only]

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing; Refrain

With over a hundred pre-installed motions and sounds you can get this robot throwing some dance floor shapes or some killer fighting moves straight from the box. The video of its launch has become an internet phenomenon as it performs “The Evolution of Dance” – an act made famous by Judson Laipply – in which dance moves through the decades are melded together.

Like the friendly robot on the Transformers’ film, this bot can play music from its body. Add the soundtracks, sound effects and voices of your choice from your PC’s music files and blast them out through the speaker in MechRC’s chest.

MechRC Black Robot from Paul O'Grady

Features

• A MechRC Robot pre-assembled.
• Designed by the Transformer artist so there is a startling likeness to the Transformer form.
• The ‘bot sports 17 servos capable of 180 degree angles.
• Audio can be played through the speaker in the robot’s chest.
• More than 100 moves are pre-stored on the robot – see him throw some serious shapes fit for the dance floor or reveal his killer fighting moves.
• A software programme is provided so you can customise the MechRC’s moves.
• The robot is manipulated in an animation film strip making customising seriously user-friendly.
• IR remote control.
• Lithium battery pack and charger.
• 

  MechRC Black Transformer Dancing Robot

  MechRC Commander software CD ROM.

• Serial communications cable.
• USB to serial adapter.
• Decal sheet.
• User Guide.
• Requires a PC (not Mac compatible).
• Requires a mains adaptor (UK adaptor included).
• Suitable for ages 14 years+.
• Size: 36 x 32 x 15cm.

• National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road Maritime Quarter Swansea SA1 3RD
• National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road Maritime Quarter Swansea SA1 3RDThe grounds of the National Waterfront Museum are being transformed into a children’s paradise, providing fun for all the family. The Admiral Giant Wheel, one of the biggest touring wheels in the UK AT 44m. In a land not so far away, you shall find:
  • Carousel and rides
  • Real ice skating rink
  • Festive singalongs
  • ‘Snowstorm’ ride – New for 2008
  • Festive food and drink
  • Don’t forget to see Santa in his Grotto!
• For more information please call 01792 635428

BRANGWYN CHRISTMAS PARTY 12/12/2008

• 8.00pm: Brangwyn Hall, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
• Join us here at the Brangwyn Hall for a festive night of fine dining and spectacular entertainment. The evening’s menu has been specially selected by our Head Chef who has a wealth of experience in devising menus for prestigious occasions.
• Tickets: £32.00 per head inclusive of food and entertainment.
• Bookings: (01792) 635253

BBC NOW CONCERT 13/12/2008

• 7.30pm: Brangwyn Hall, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
• Conductor – Grant Llewellyn
• Piano – Boris Giltburg
  Humperdinck – Prelude, Hansel and Gretel
  Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No. 2
  Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 1 (Winter Daydreams)
• A Christmas concert full of Russian warmth and seasonal magic. Come and celebrate the festive season with us!
• Tickets: £11 – £14 Box Office: Grand Theatre (01792) 475715

HEARTS FIRST SANTA JOG SWANSEA 2008 14/12/2008

• The Waterfront, Swansea
• Entry Fee: £10.00 (Adult) £5.00 (Child)
• This Christmas the BHF is getting festively fit with a series of fundraising Santa Jogs including two fabulous events in Wales. Join over 500 Santas and take part in the Swansea Santa Jog on Sunday 14th December, starting at 12.30pm.
• This fun-filled 2km route around the waterfront is ideal for all ages and abilities.
• Adults receive a free Santa suit and under-16s are encouraged to use their imagination and come in fancy dress.
• Contact: Events Team 0800 783 6970 westevents@bhf.org.uk
• Click here for more info.

CINDERELLA 17/12/2008 – 18/01/2009

• Grand Theatre, Singleton Street, Swansea
• Starring Su Pollard, Chris Jarvis, Sarah Thomas, Kevin Johns, Frank Vickery and Nia Jermin. Plus The Sensational Shetland Ponies
• For more information and for tickets please contact Box Office on 01792 475715
• Tickets range from £7.50 – £18.00 with selected concessions available.
• There will be an *Audio described performance on 3rd Jan at 2.00pm
• There will be *sign interpreted performances on 7th Jan at 2.00pm, 8th Jan at 7.00pm, 14th Jan at 7.00pm and 15th Jan at 2.00pm
• Click here for more details.

DUNVANT MALE VOICE CHOIR 19/12/2008

• 7.30pm: Brangwyn Hall, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
• Annual Christmas Concert.
• Compere – David Vaughan
  Guest Artist – Ariosa Singers
  Choir Music Director – Jonathan Rogers
  Music Director Ariosa Singers – Penny Ryan
• Tickets: £10, £8 & £6
• Box Office: Contact Eric Jones on (01792) 873438

MESSIAH 20/12/2008

• Featuring Morriston Tabernacle Choir
• 7pm: Brangwyn Hall, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
• Soprano – Claire Watkins
  Alto – Antonia Sotgiu
  Tenor – Richard Allen
  Bass – Martin Lloyd
• Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions, children half price)
• Box Office: Grand Theatre (01792 475715)

SALVATION ARMY CAROL CONCERT 21/12/2008

• 3pm and 7pm: Brangwyn Hall, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
• Join us for a feast of Christmas music plus traditional carols that everyone loves with The Salvation Army Band Songsters and special guests Morriston Rugby Football Club Male Voice Choir. A collection will be made in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Charities.
• Admission: Free
• Box Office: (01792) 475715

CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT 23/12/2008

• 7.30pm: Brangwyn Hall, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
• Come and join us for this annual popular event featuring Christmas favourites, carols and traditional melodies introduced and conducted by Alwyn Humphries. With minced pies and mulled wine, this is the best possible start for the festive season.
• Tickets: £10 standard, £8 concessions
• Box Office: Grand Theatre (01792) 475715