Asia Go Holidays

Some exciting changes for all of you who like to follow along on the holiday homes europe . For 2012 I have put it in Google calendar format! So if you have a google account you can click the little +1 button on the lower corner of the calendar to follow along. And(or) you can click ::The Challenge:: tab at the top of this page anytime to view the calendar.

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Ring in the New Year - The meaning behind the saying

Ever wonder why we 'ring out the old' and 'ring in the new'?

It was a custom in England, and many places around the world, to ring Church bells at midnight on New Years as a way of "ring out" the old year. Celebrating its passing, in the same way as they would ring the bells for a person that had died. And to "ring in" the new year joyfully.

In 1850 Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote the poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" about this tradition. A poem with such depth, hope, renewal and challenge it is no wonder it has made a mark on history.  It is from the bells and this poem that we derive the saying "Ringing in the new year".

"Ring Out, Wild Bells"

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

It is believed the bells of Waltham Abbey, (pictured above) are the bells in this poem. 

Happy New Year!

You can print this poem by clicking the printer friendly button below.

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New Years Mantel Decor

Simple Quick New Years Decor! On a little low bookshelf in my home I gathered together some of our clocks to create a New Years vignette with old world charm.

 I set the clocks on their sides, and then placed some heavy books in front of them to keep the clocks from toppling over.

 Added a little bell from our Christmas tree to the mix.

If we were going to be home for New Years Eve I would leave the clocks set to their real time as it would be fun to watch them all tick tock down to midnight.

 But, this year we will be with celebrating with my husbands parents so I set and left them all at midnight.

This little clock is one of my newest finds, I love it's vintage-ness.

 Collecting pretty clocks is a habit I picked up from my father who's house if full of them.

Happy New Year!!

Free Printable New Years Stationary

Four New Years stationary free printables. Made in a couple of styles, these free printables are wonderful for sending 'news letters' to family and friends by mail or even e-mail.

To print (do not use the printer friendly button) Click on the printable you would like to use. Click again to make sure it is fully expanded and then click file and print from your browsers menu. (If using google chrome, click on the wrench and then select print from there). You can also right click save these to your desktop and print as you would any photo or document. (If using a mac, drag the photos to your desktop to save).  Personal use. And sharing these on blogs with a link back to aholidayhaven.com is always ok.

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