All gathered on my morning walk in El Cerrito or found in my yard.
Bay Area Christmas
The Christmas colors are traditionally green and red. I suppose because in the Northern countries from which we get many of our traditions, the green of conifers and the red of berries were the only colors that stood out against the white snow. I wonder what the traditional colors are in Christian Ethiopian culture? Or in the Southern hemisphere, where I hear people go to to the beach on Christmas Day. Here in the Bay Area, we have a different climate, as well as a diversity of cultures. So along with the green and red, one may see blue and white lights, purple, pink... as people celebrate Chanukah, Solstice, upcoming New Years, or none at all. And Nature provides us with an abundance of color. I especially like the citrus which flourishes this time of year: yellow Meyer lemons, orange mandarins, brown fuzzy kiwis, as well as orange persimmons and lingering yellow apples. And green hills if we are lucky! So enjoy the profusion of colors this season and the diversity of cultures as our dominant culture celebrates Christmas with its red bows and green holly, its Santas and well-known tunes. Below I offer my Bay Area rendition of two well known Christmas carols, just for fun. And have a Happy Green Christmas!
My favorite hills in Wildcat Canyon Park
| I'm dreaming of a green Christmas Just like the ones I used to know, Where the lemon bush glistened And we all listened To hear raindrops fall below. I'm dreaming of a green Christmas With every Christmas card I write, May your days be merry and bright, And may we have rain every night! | Let It Rain Oh, it’s raining oodles and oodles, But we’re eating our Udon noodles, As we lick a candy cane, Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain. We are listening to TV’s chatter Charlie Brown’s tree is looking sadder As we watch the show once again. Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain. And as long as we are together, We won’t worry about the weather, We can stay off the roads insane, Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain. |