Blue Moon

A "Blue Moon" is the name given to the second full moon in a calendar month. Because there are roughly 29.5 days between full moons, it is unusual for two full moons to "fit" into a 30 or 31 day month (and impossible to fit into a 28 or 29 day month, so February can never have a Blue Moon).

The saying "Once in a Blue Moon" means a rare occurrence, and predates the current astronomical use of the term, which is quite recent. In fact, Blue Moons are not all that rare, on average there will be one Blue Moon every 2.5 years.

The term Blue Moon is believed to have originated in 1883 after the eruption of Krakatoa. The volcano put so much dust in the atmosphere that the Moon actually looked blue in color. This was so unusual that the term "once in a Blue Moon" was coined. However, Blue Moon was also used in much the same way we use the term "Harvest Moon".

There were twelve names for full moons, one for each month, and the name Blue Moon was used in years which had 13 full moons. It referred to the third full moon of the four occuring between an equinox and solstice in that year. A misinterpretation of this led to a Sky and Telescope Magazine "Star Quiz" in July 1943 followed by an article in March 1946 which stated that the second full moon in any calendar month was called a Blue Moon (attributed to the 1937 Maine Farmers' Almanac), and this definition has now become part of the language.

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Jews praying on Williamsburg Bridge, New York City, on New Year's Day

Digital ID: cph 3b45966 Source: b&w film copy neg. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-99960 (b&w film copy neg.) Retrieve uncompressed archival TIFF version (1,703 kilobytes). Unedited JPG Version 47.08 KB TITLE: [Jews praying on Williamsburg Bridge, New York City, on New Year's Day], CALL NUMBER: LOT 10892 [P&P] REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZ62-99960 (b&w film copy neg.) RIGHTS INFORMATION: No known restrictions on publication.

MEDIUM: 1 photographic print. CREATED, PUBLISHED: [1909]. NOTES: Title devised by Library staff. Bridge identified as Williamsburg by I. Wolfman, 2003. George Grantham Bain Collection. LC-B2-2283-16 (bad negative)

FORMAT: Photographic prints 1900-1910. DIGITAL ID: (b&w film copy neg.) cph 3b45966 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b45966. CONTROL #: 90709368

MARC Record Line 540. No known restrictions on publication.

New Year's Eve

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Digital ID: pga 02472 Source: digital file from original print, Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-pga-02472 (digital file from original print) , LC-USZ62-7109 (b&w film copy neg.) , LC-USZC2-1494 (color film copy slide) Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieve Un-edited JPEG version (155 kilobytes)

Additional versions and related images, Digital ID: cph 3a09763 Source: b&w film copy neg. Medium resolution JPEG version (63 kilobytes) Retrieve uncompressed archival TIFF version (1,733 kilobytes). Digital ID: cph 3b49394, Source: color film copy slide. Medium resolution JPEG version (60 kilobytes) Retrieve uncompressed archival TIFF version (5 megabytes)

TITLE: New Year's Eve, CALL NUMBER: PGA - Restein--New Year's Eve (D size) [P&P] REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-DIG-pga-02472 (digital file from original print) LC-USZ62-7109 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZC2-1494 (color film copy slide)

RIGHTS INFORMATION: No known restrictions on publication. MEDIUM: 1 print. CREATED, PUBLISHED: c1876.

NOTES: G14179 U.S. Copyright Office. This record contains unverified data from PGA shelflist card. Associated name on shelflist card: Restein.

REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

DIGITAL ID: (digital file from original print) pga 02472 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pga.02472 (b&w film copy neg.) cph 3a09763 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a09763
(color film copy slide) cph 3b49394 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b49394, CONTROL #: 2003677747

MARC Record Line 540. No known restrictions on publication.

January The book of Days

Title: The book of days: a miscellany of popular antiquities in connection with the calendar, including anecdote, biography, - history, curiosities of literature and oddities of human life and character, Volume 1. The Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities in Connection with the Calendar, Including Anecdote, Biography, - History, Curiosities of Literature and Oddities of Human Life and Character, Robert Chambers.

Author: Robert Chambers. Publisher: W. & R. Chambers, 1878, Original from: the University of California. Digitized: Sep 1, 2009

This image is in the public domain in the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

and also in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Robert Chambers (10 July 1802 – 17 March 1871) and that most commonly run for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.

"Came old January wrapped well

In many weeds to keep the cold away

Yet did he quake and quiver like to quell,

And blowe his nayles to warm them if he may ;

For they were numbed with holding all the day

An hatchet keene, with which he felled wood,

And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray ;

Upon an huge great Earth-pot Steane he stood,

From whose wide mouth there flowed forth the Romane flood."

Spenser

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays. Wishing all the happiest of holidays, members of the Cassini-Huygens team offer their views of Saturn and its moons as gifts to the universe. Cassini-Huygens, a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency, is a mission that is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,

a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA. The Cassini orbiter (pictured at the bottom of this image) and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL, NASA Copyright Notification: Photographs are not protected by copyright unless noted. If not copyrighted, photographs may be reproduced and distributed without further permission from NASA.NASA makes every attempt to use media on our web pages (e.g., graphics, artwork, sounds), that is free for use or in the public domain.

Generally speaking, works created by U.S. Government employees are not eligible for copyright protection in the United States. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office.

William Tecumseh Sherman

Sherman as a major general in May 1865. The black ribbon of mourning on his left arm is for President Lincoln. Portrait by Mathew B. Brady. (1822 – January 15, 1896) Download High Resolution PDF Access Restriction(s): Unrestricted, Use Restriction(s): Unrestricted

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

This This image (or other media file) is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case Mathew B. Brady. (1822 – January 15, 1896), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.

Creator(s): War Department. Office of the Chief Signal Officer. (08/01/1866 - 09/18/1947) Type(s) of Archival Materials: Photographs and other Graphic Materials
Contact(s):

Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001. PHONE: 301-837-3530; FAX: 301-837-3621; EMAIL: stillpixorder@nara.gov.

Coverage Dates: ca. 1860 - ca. 1865, Part Of: Series: Mathew Brady Photographs of Civil War-Era Personalities and Scenes, compiled 1921 - 1940, documenting the period 1860 - 1865


General Note(s): Use War and Conflict Number 125 when ordering a reproduction or requesting information about this image. Variant Control Number(s): NAIL Control Number: NWDNS-111-B-1769

Index Terms:

* Subjects Represented in the Archival Material:
o American Civil War, 1861-1865

* Contributors to Authorship and/or Production of the Archival Materials:
o Brady National Photographic Art Gallery (Washington, D.C.) (1858 - ?), Photographer.

Adoration of the Magi

Title: The Nativity play, or, Christmas cantata, Author: Gabriel A. Healy, Publisher: D. & J. Sadlier & Company, 1885, Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Nov 5, 2008. Length 84 pages

REV. GABRIEL A. HEALY, Rector of St. Bernard's Church, ISIew YorK. NEW YORK: D. & J. SADLIER & COMPANY. 31 And 33 Barclay Street. 1885.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

THE MAGI ARRIVE AT THE CRIB.

FIRST KING.

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we travel afar,
Moor and mountain, field and fountain,
Following yonder star.

SECOND KING.

Oh ! star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

FIRST KING.

Gold I bring to crown Thee king,
King forever, ceasing never, o'er us all to reign.

SECOND KING.

Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a deity nigh,
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.

THIRD KING.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

The Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem, watercolour and bodycolour, 101 1/8 x 152 inches, signed and dated E. B. J. 1890, Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet (28 August 1833 – 17 June 1898) Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Scanned from Stephen Wildman,Edward Burne-Jones: Victorian Artist-Dreamer, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1998, ISBN 0870998595

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

This inage is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet 28 August 1833 – 17 June 1898), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.

Menorah (Hanukkah)

The Hanukkah menorah (Hebrew: מנורה menorah) (also Hebrew: חַנֻכִּיָּה‎ hanukiah, or chanukkiyah, pl. hanukiyot/chanukkiyot, or Yiddish: חנוכּה לאמפּ khanike lomp, lit.: Hanukkah lamp) is, strictly speaking, a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah, as opposed to the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple or as a symbol. The ninth holder, called the shamash ("helper or servant"), is for a candle used to light all other candles. Image License: I, (sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.

Text: Menorah (Hanukkah) is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.

The World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah

Lighting of the World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah. 32-foot-tall, two tons. The nightly lighting ceremonies is accompanied by folk dancing and sufganiyot (holiday jelly doughnuts). Grand Lighting Ceremony is Friday, December 11, 2009 at about 4PM. The celebration continues at the same time each night of Hanukkah. Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue at 59th Street. Image License: I, (sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.

Jesus bearing his cross

Digital ID: cph 3b50566 Source: color film copy slide Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-2692 (color film copy slide) Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA . Retrieve uncompressed archival TIFF version (4 megabytes). Unedited JPG Version 68.87 KB (70520 bytes) TITLE: Jesus bearing his cross / Jesus carregado da cruz. CALL NUMBER: PGA - Currier & Ives--Jesus bearing his cross /... (A size) [P&P]. REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZC2-2692 (color film copy slide)

RIGHTS INFORMATION: No known restrictions on publication. MEDIUM: 1 print : lithograph, hand-colored. CREATED, PUBLISHED: New York : Published by N. Currier, c1848.

CREATOR: N. Currier (Firm). NOTES: Currier & Ives : a catalogue raisonné / compiled by Gale Research. Detroit, MI : Gale Research, c1983, no. 3472

REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. DIGITAL ID: (color film copy slide) cph 3b50566 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b50566. CONTROL #: 2002707660

The spirit of Christmas Angel

Title: The spirit of Christmas. Author: Arthur Gleason. Edition: 3. Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Co., 1912. Original: from Princeton University. Digitized: Sep 22, 2009 Length: 81 pages. Illustrated by Spencer Baird Nichols (1875-1950)

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

This inage may however not be in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Spencer Baird Nichols 1875-1950), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve. Title{ Holly and mistletoe. Author: Rosalie Koch. Translated by: Trauermantel (pseud.) Publisher: Croeby and Nichols, 1859. Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Jan 29, 2009. Length: 249 pages. This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

The Christmas Fair was drawing to a close. While tho large stores of the city were crowded with persons still having purchases to make, tho keepers of the small booths on the marketplace had already begun to pack away the cakes, candies, wax-figures, tapers, and endless hosts of dolls yet remaining unsold.

The sun had set, and the buyers were hastening home to arrange tho Christmas-tree for their little ones ; here and there a poor mother would be bargaining for a wooden doll or some candy figures for her child, and obtain them at half price merely because tho ground, in spite of the freezing cold, burned beneath tho feet of the seller, who was also longing to return to her humble dwelling, whore so many little preparations and tender cares awaited her.

A Christmas Carol Gob Cratchit and Tiny Tim

A Christmas Carol Gob Cratchit and Tiny Tim. 'And how did little Tim behave?' asked Mrs. Cratchit when she had rallied Bob on his credulity, and Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart's content. ' As good as gold,' said Bob, ' and better. Somehow, he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.'

Bob's voice was tremulous when he told them this, and trembled more when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty.

His active little crutch was heard upon the floor, and back came Tiny Tim before another word was spoken, escorted by his brother and sister to his stool beside the fire; and while Bob, turning up his cuffs—as if, poor fellow, they were capable .of being made more shabby — compounded some hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons, and stirred it round and round, and put it on the hob to simmer, Master Peter and the two ubiquitous young Cratchits went to fetch the goose, with which they soon returned in high procession.

Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds; a feather phenomenon, to which a black swan was a matter of course and, in truth, it was something very like it in that house. Mrs. Cratchit made the gravy (ready beforehand in a little saucepan) hissing hot; Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour; Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table, the two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody, not forgetting themselves, and, mounting guard upon their posts, crammed spoons into their mouths, lest they should shriek for goose before their turn came to be helped.

At last the dishes were set on, and grace was said. It was succeeded by a breathless pause, as Mrs. Cratchit, looking slowly all along the carving-knife, prepared to plunge it in the breast; but when she did, and when the long-expected gush of stuffing issued forth, one murmur of delight arose all round the board, and even Tiny Tim, excited by the two young Cratchits, beat on the table with the handle of his knife and feebly cried Hurrah!

Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator and Frederick Barnard (1846 London - September 1896).

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case John Leech 29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864) and Frederick Barnard 1846 London - September 1896, and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Looking West from 5th avenue the promenade, the tree and "30 Rock". December 7, 2009 The Tree at Rockefeller Center, the annual Christmas tree lighting takes place in New York City's Rockefeller Center. The tree is erected and lit in early December or late-November. Recently, the lighting has been broadcast live nationwide on NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center show. The tree is usually a Norway spruce 75 to 90 feet tall, has been put up every year since 1931. In 2009, the tree was lit on December 2. It will remain illuminated until the first week of January, 2010

Image License: I, (sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.

Christmas Lights New York City

Christmas Lights brighten the street on Manhattan's Upper Westside, Cafe Lalo, 201 West 83rd St. (btw. Amsterdam and Broadway) New York, NY 10024. November 2009.

Image License: I, (sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.

A Christmas Carol 'Old Fezziwig'

There were more dances, and there were forfeits, and more dances, and there was cake, and there was negus, and there was a great piece of Cold Roast, and there was a great piece of Cold Boiled, and there were mince-pies, and plenty of beer. But the great effect of the evening came after the Roast and Boiled, when the fiddler (an artful dog, mind!

The sort of man who knew his business better than you or I could have told it him!) struck up ' Sir Roger de Coverley.' Then old Fezziwig stood out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig. Top couple, too ; with a good stiff piece of work cut out for them ; three or four and twenty pair of partners; people who were not to be trifled with; people who would dance, and had no notion of walking.

But if they had been twice as many—ah ! four times—old Fezziwig would have been a match for them, and so would Mrs. Fezziwig. As to her, she was worthy to be his partner in every sense of the term. If that's not high praise, tell me higher, and I '11 use it. A positive light appeared to issue from Fezziwig's calves. They shone in every part of the dance like moons. You couldn't have predicted, at any given time, what would become of them next. And when old Fezziwig and Mrs. Fezziwig had gone all through the dance; advance and retire, both hands to your partner, bow and curtsy, cork-screw, thread-the-needle, and back again to your place ; Fezziwig ' cut'—cut so deftly, that he appeared to wink with his legs, and came upon his feet again without a stagger.

When the clock struck eleven, this domestic ball broke up. Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig took their stations, one on either side the door, and, shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas. When everybody had retired but the two 'prentices, they did the same to them ; and thus the cheerful voices died away, and the lads were left to their beds; which were under a counter in the backshop.

Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case John Leech 29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.

A Christmas Carol Marley's Ghost

A Christmas Carol Marley's Ghost. " Man of the worldly mind !" replied the Ghost, " do you believe in me or not ?" " I do," said Scrooge. " I must. But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me ?" " It is required of every man," the Ghost returned, "that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death.

It is doomed to wander through the world—oh, woe is me !—and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!"

Again the spectre raised a cry, and shook its chain, and wrung its shadowy hands.

" You are fettered," said Scrooge, trembling. " Tell me why V

'' I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. " I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you f"

Scrooge trembled more and more.

" Or would you know," pursued the Ghost, " the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself ? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain !"

Scrooge glanced about him on the floor, in the expectation of finding himself surrounded by some fifty or sixty fathoms of iron cable : but he could see nothing.

" Jacob," he said, imploringly. " Old Jacob Marley, tell me more. Speak comfort to me, Jacob."

" I have none to give," -the Ghost replied. " It comes from other regions, Ebenczer Scrooge, and is conveyed by other ministers, to other kinds of men. Nor can I tell you what I would. A very little more, is all permitted to mc. I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere. My spirit never walked beyond our counting-house—mark me!—in life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole and weary journeys lie before me!"

Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

A Christmas Carol the Ghost of Christmas Present

Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator. This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case John Leech 29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. " Look upon me!"

Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple deep green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free: free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.

" You have never seen the like of me before!" exclaimed the Spirit.

" Never," Scrooge made answer to it.

" Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am vt^y young) my elder brothers born in these later years ?" pursued the Phantom.

" I don't think I have," said Scrooge. " X am afraid I have not. Have you had many brothers, Spirit?"

'' More than eighteen hundred," said the Ghost.

" A tremendous family to provide for!" muttered Scrooge.

The Grand Canyon

PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE GRAND CANYON FROM PIMA POINT ON THE WEST RIM DRIVE, GRAND CANYON N.P. NPS PHOTO.

All photographs and images are "public domain" images. You are free to download and use these images without a release from the National Park Service. However, the photographs and images must not be used to imply National Park Service endorsement of a product, service, organization or individual.

Generally speaking, works created by U.S. Government employees are not eligible for copyright protection in the United States. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons being inflated with the Museum of Natural History in the background. West 77th street and Central Park West. New York City, New York.

See them all here, more added all the time :) Labels: Macys Parade Balloons

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, In 1924, the inaugural parade (originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade and later the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Christmas Parade was staged by the store.

Employees and professional entertainers marched from 145th Street in Harlem to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street dressed in costumes.There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed.

Large animal-shaped balloons, produced by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, replaced the live animals in 1927 when the Felix the Cat balloon made its debut. Felix was filled with air, but by the next year, helium was used to fill the expanding cast of balloons.

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At the finale of the 1928 parade, the balloons were released into the sky where they unexpectedly burst. The following year they were redesigned with safety valves to allow them to float for a few days. Address labels were sewn into them, so that whomever found and mailed back the discarded balloon received a gift from Macy's

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Kermit the Frog Balloon Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Kermit the Frog Balloon Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kermit sitting on west 77th street with the Museum of Natural History in the background. New York City, New York, November 24, 2009.

Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creations, first introduced in 1955. Kermit was performed by Henson until 1990. Since then he has been performed by Steve Whitmire. Kermit's iconic look and voice are recognizable worldwide.

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Spider-Man Balloon Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Spider-Man Balloon Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Spiderman slings his web in front of the Museum of Natural History. 77th street and Central Park West, November 24, 2009

Peter Parker is introduced as an orphaned science whiz teenager living with his aunt and uncle in the Forest Hills section of New York City.

One day, he is bitten by a radioactive spider during a science demonstration. As a result, he gains spider-like powers such as super-strength, the ability to climb walls, and a phenomenal jumping skill.

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Shrek Balloon Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Shrek Balloon Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Shrek contemplates tiny humans as he readies for flight on west 77th street, beside the Museum of Natural History just off Central Park West, New York City, New York. November 25, 2008.

Shrek, the green ogre has always enjoyed living in peaceful solitude in his swamp, finds his life disrupted when fairytale beings, including Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, and Donkey, are forced into the swamp by order of Lord Farquaad, who is obsessed by many things, including having a perfectly clean and normal realm and his short size.

Shrek decides to travel the country to see Farquaad to try to regain his privacy, with Donkey tagging along.

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Camels Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show

Camels Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show. Part of the Living Nativity, with its wise men and camels. Three stars arriving at the stage door entrance on west 51st street between 5th and 6th avenue, New York City, November 12, 2009. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an annual musical holiday stage show presented at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The show features over 140 performers, lavish sets and costumes and an original musical score. Since the first version was presented in 1933, the show has become a New York Christmas tradition seen by more than a million visitors a year. In 2009, it will run from November 13 through December 30. Image License: I, (sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.

A Thanksgiving Tour Turkeymobile

A Thanksgiving Tour Turkeymobile, Description:"A Thanksgiving Tour". 1907 editorial cartoon for Thanksgiving holiday from the Daily Picayune newspaper of New Orleans. A turkey is depicted driving an automobile through a fence labeled "Financial Flurry"; a road sign says "To Prosperity". Reference is to the Panic of 1907, with hopes that prosperity is ahead.

Date: November 1907(1907-11). Source: Originally published in The Daily Picayune newspaper, late November, 1907. Author: Winterhalder.

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Santa Claus Reading Letters in Macy's Window

Santa Claus Reading Letters in Macy's Window. According to American public opinion, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. According to legend the Santa Claus at Macy's in New York City is often said to be the real Santa Claus. :)

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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Star

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Star. Newly Designed Swarovski Crystal Star Unveiled for the 2009 Rockefeller Center(R) Christmas Tree. State-of-the-Art Technology and 720 New LED Bulbs Create Dynamic Light Show. NEW YORK, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Swarovski, the leading producer of crystal stones and crystal fashion jewelry, today unveiled the newly refurbished crystal star that will crown the 2009 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Nadja Swarovski, Vice President of International Communications, and Thomas Madden, Managing Director of Tishman Speyer, co-owners of Rockefeller Center, were on hand to reveal the enhancements to the star, which include a cutting-edge computerized new lighting system with energy-efficient LED bulbs.

The star's 12 rays are outfitted with 720 LED bulbs on 3,000 feet of wire to create a dazzling, twinkling effect through customized light sequencing programmed by a complex computer system. This is the first year that the Swarovski star, which debuted at the top of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2004, will feature dynamic light movement.

A team of nine artisans and engineers spent three months employing a unique combination of art, science and technology to complete the new design. The team spent 1,200 hours installing, programming and testing the star to ensure the effects would withstand the challenging winter weather conditions 76-feet above Rockefeller Center.

The Swarovski star is comprised of 25,000 crystals, with 1,000,000 facets, measures 9 1/2 feet in diameter and is 1 1/2 feet deep. Weighing 550 pounds -- including 300 pounds of crystal panels -- it is composed of six outer rays and six smaller inner rays. The main surfaces of the rays are made of point-mounted safety glass, the same shatter-proof glass that adorns the facades of New York City buildings. The crystals are affixed to the inner sides of the glass in a tight, scale-like pattern to ensure maximum brilliance.

The 77th Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 2nd, from 7 P.M.-9 P.M. The two-hour ceremony will be televised live, locally on WNBC-TV from 7 PM-8 PM and nationally on NBC from 8 P.M.-9 P.M.

Rockefeller Center officially began the Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1933, when a Christmas tree was erected in front of the then-RCA Building and covered with 700 lights. Christmas trees in Rockefeller Center have ranged from 50-foot Pines to 100-foot Norway Spruces and are viewed by millions of spectators during the holiday season.

Spectators can view the lighted tree each day from 5:30 A.M. - 11:30 P.M.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas; and from 5:30 A.M. - 9 P.M. on New Year's Eve. The last day to view the tree is January 9, 2009.

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Giuseppe Verdi

Title: New Outlook, Volume 67. Author: Alfred Emanuel Smith. Editor: Alfred Emanuel Smith. Publisher: Outlook Publishing Company, Inc., 1901. This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

VERDI had both genius and a noble character. To this happy union he owes his fame.

Giuseppe Verdi, the humble son of a poor peasant farmer, was born in 1813, in one of a cluster of little houses called " Le Roncole," situated a few miles from the town of Bussetto, near Parma, in North Italy. When he was seven years old, his father sent him to the Bussetto public school, where, though he applied himself with a will to study, he soon showed an irresistible inclination for music.

After a while, the father, yielding to the plea of his son, consented to give him the advantage of lessons in music from the organist of the church of Bussetto, who was also something of an authority in counterpoint. The elder Verdi also bought for his son an old spinet. Thus the boy began his beloved occupation. He was then eight years old. All the time to be had outside of his school hours was employed in music and in reading. It may be added that, after music, reading was the passion of his life.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons Spongebob Squarepants, Energizer Bunny and Pikachu

The 2006 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Spongebob Squarepants, the Energizer Bunny and Pikachu with Poké Ball is shown tied down before the parade.

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Moby Dick The white whale

This Day in History: 11/14/1851 - Moby Dick is Published, A classic of the sea, telling of the pursuit of Moby Dick, the white whale who defied capture.

Title: Moby Dick; or, The white whale, Famous sea stories by Herman Melville, Herman Melville. Author: Herman Melville. Illustrator: Augustus Burnham Shute d. 1906. Publisher: St. Botolph Society, 1892, Original from Harvard University, Digitized: Mar 20, 2008. Length: 545 pages.

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This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case Augustus Burnham Shute d. 1906, and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving oft the spleen, and regulating the circulation.

Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.

This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

Veterans Day Parade New York City 2009

The 90th New York City Veterans Day Parade November 11, 2009.Organizers say more than 20,000 people are participating in the Fifth Avenue parade.

The New York City Parade began at 11 AM ET in Madison Square Park, and ended at 56th Street and Fifth Avenue.

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