CELEBRATING THE ARTS G ART
PAULA HORNER HCCARTS
Most families have holiday traditions, regardless of which holidays you choose to celebrate. Even after growing up and having our own families, it seems natural to blend new traditions with old.
These traditions, old and n
ew, find a special place in our hearts. They define the ways in which we celebrate -- and the reason we keep them as part of our holiday traditions for so long. They help bond us to those we love and add meaning to our lives through happy memories.
Traditional holiday celebrations have been around since recorded history and are ritualistic behaviors in many ways, that nurture our family relationships. They can provide a sense of belonging and a way to identify what is truly important to us.
Through these traditions we are connected to our histories and celebrate generations of family, sharing with the youngest generations to keep these memories alive. Research tells us that children experience comfort and security when provided holiday traditions, through predictability.
Some of the most popular Christmas holiday traditions involve decorating a tree, baking cookies, setting up a Nativity scene, Christmas Eve church services, hand-made Christmas gifts and donations to favorite charities, and at least one Hallmark movie while enjoying a cup of hot cocoa.
Remember, it’s never too late to create your very own holiday traditions. From our home to yours, we recommend any of the above favorites along with our favorites -- pink coconut pralines, attending a performance of The Nutcracker, reading of the poem, T’was the Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore; playing ( and singing along) with the most glorious music of the season; and watching at least one Christmas classic movie.
Our movie recommendations are: It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946; A Christmas Carol, 1938; A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965; Love Actually, 2003; and Elf, 2013.
For your listening/singing out loud pleasure, our Spotify short list contains: Please Come Home for Christmas, Charles Brown; Christmas is All Around, Billy Mack; All I Want for Christmas is You, Mariah Carey; Its Beginning to look a Lot Like Christmas, Perry Como; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Burl Ives; Frosty the Snowman, instrumental; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Frank Sinatra; Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Symphony; Hard Candy Christmas, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, original Broadway cast; Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone; Good King Wenceslas, Bing Crosby; and Good King Wenceslas, Oxford Trinity Choir.
Majek ‘Artist of the Month’ for December Julie Majek’s artistic journey began in elementary school when she decided she was going to be an artist. Over the years she studied and explored many art styles and mediums including oil painting, watercolor, portraits, photography, stained glass and fiber arts.
By the time Majek received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Trinity University, her work had evolved into large expressionistic works with ethereal fluid qualities. After graduating, she collaborated with interior designers in the San Antonio area and was commissioned to create works of art for specific spaces and clients.
Another of Majek’s favorite projects is painting whimsical children’s murals in churches, schools and private homes. She has for the last 40 years nurtured the creative talents of elementary school students as an art educator, and currently teaches private lessons.
Majek has been selected as the Boerne Arts League “Artist of the Month” for December.
We encourage you to visit this “other walls” exhibition of Majek’s works during the month of December at the following Boerne locations: the Kronkosky Center, Security Bank and Trust, Jefferson State Bank, Bank of America, Frost Bank, and Texas Heritage Bank.
Contact the artist for commission requests, or to pursue your artistic journey: julie7majek@gmail. com.
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