Christmas 2017

After a week of baking and cooking, Christmas has finally arrived!

The sights and sounds of Christmas are capable of lifting the lowest of spirits up, up, and away.

Nature takes part in the festivities too.

A little snow came (and went) over Christmas Eve.

Here are the Christmas decorations around the altar at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where we were on Christmas Day.

The Lower Church was in the dark except for the lights from the Christmas trees and the replica of the Black Madonna Icon.  The original is at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland.

The grounds were also beautifully decorated with Christmas lights.  This photo captures only part of the scene.

This Shrine is located in beautiful Bucks County where there are so many historically significant sites to see, even in the wintertime.  For example, Washington’s Crossing Historic Park is just a short drive away.  This year marks the 65th reenactment of General George Washington and his troops crossing the icy Delaware River on Christmas Day, 1776 in order to surprise Hessian soldiers who were fighting for the British and camped out in Trenton, NJ.  The Crossing marked a turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

Turning back to our family Christmas celebration–For Christmas dinner, it’s the dessert table that I’m focused on!!  Shown below:  Polish Layered Gingerbread, Polish Honey Cake, Early American Christmas Cookies, Old World Raspberry Squares, Magic Squares, Mint Brownies, and Cocoa Cookies.

From this view are:  Raisin-Coconut Christmas Cookies, Polish Poppyseed Roll (“Makowiec”), Polish Layered Gingerbread, Sugar Cookies, and Polish Gingerbread Cookies.

A closer look at the Raisin-Coconut Christmas Cookies:

And, finally, Spanish Marquesas Cakes and Italian Chocolate-Orange Amaretti Cookies.

Wishing you peace and joy this Christmas.