I could have worn this to the Santo Stefano carnival, but I think it’s far away.
Well, today is Santo Stefano, St. Stephen’s day and this short history will tell you all in a few short paragraphs. But what mama loves most is the lovely song about Good King Wenceslas who, with his page, went out on a snowy evening and found a poor man gathering wood.
Mama sings this song at Christmas (always getting teary), and here in Rome, there are so very many poor on the streets and in alleys and living under the bridges that it is hard to imagine their lives when winter really arrives. But what can one do to make a difference? Perhaps just find one or two and hope that a little money will help. In our neighbourhood, one can leave care package on church steps or at strategic places and they are always found by the street dwellers and, I hope, are useful.
So, in many ways, the holiday season affects us with the sadness of so many who have nothing, especially no family and few friends.
But Santo Stefano day is a day of joy, as this article mentions, and a day of giving to others who have little. It is also a day of giving our friendship and love to those we cherish. Like you, dear readers.
Wish papa could snuggle all of you; he’s tops.
Merci Lou Lou, you look like contentment personified! <3
I am a Contented Kitty and that’s that. But tomorrow I have to go on a BOAT–the giant woo woo monster and believe you me, I will NOT look contented. Still, mama’s getting some homeopathic drops to calm me. Ho ho ho, in my dreams.
Loulou, you look very glamorous in the golden kitty-mask! And aren’t WE lucky we have a nice comfy apartment and plenty to eat and there are so many humans and animals who have it so rough. Papa and I went out yesterday, armed with cash and spread it among the 3 homeless guys in our neighborhood he always gives to. Mama chipped in an extra five for the man in the wheelchair who never asks for money, just sometimes help to get his wheelchair on the curb. It doesn’t do much in the big picture of their lives, but hey, it can buy them a hot meal – or a bottle of wine. A bit of pleasure is better than nothing.
Oh, you all are so kind to those men. And our lady, Emilia, was sitting out in the rain last night covered head to foot with blankets and an umbrella but she has a bad cold. Oh, lordy.
You look gawjus LouLou. Dat is so very sweet. We’ve never heard of dat day. We had delicious tasty turkey tom lurkey and enjoyed every bite. We can’t wait fur left overs. And, by the way, mommy recorded some carols and posted on our bloggy. You had asked last year and fur reasoms beyond our control it didn’t happen, so we just thought we’d let ya’ know in case ya’ wanted to hear her. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
We are going right now to hear that angel voice!!! Thank you so, so much.
I always loved the song Good King Wenceslas…always have! The holidays are bitter sweet for so many. Financial struggles have been plaguing us for the past few years…now my oldest stepdaughter (who has spina bifida) has been in the hospital since the 19th…….she went to rehab today then back to the hospital in two weeks for surgery on kidney stones and to check a mass on her ovaries………trying to remain positive. It is often hard to know that others are going through things which are quite hard because many of us don’t blog about struggles we are enduring. Whenever I can donate to others I always do, the past few years have been frustrating because I haven’t been able to give as much as I would like to but I give whenever I am able to. (((hugs)))
Oh, Caren, you give so much more than you even know, and thank you. I hope so much that your stepdaughter will be all right. Good docs in the USA. Have trust.
Well, when I was a kid I might have sometimes sung that version too.
Hey, you can sing it NOW!!!
I love the song of Good King Wenceslas too (and We Three Kings, which has a lot of symbolism in the story it tells too. )
OH, mama loved We Three Kings of Orient Are, but they sang, those bad kid, smoking on a rubber cigar.. it was loaded, it exploded, that’s how they travelled so far. TERRIBLE, kids!