PPM

年輕時很喜歡聖誕節及聽聖誕歌曲，每每聖誕臨近，心情往往有一種詳和感覺，市面上熱鬧境況，心情更添愉快。就算沒有朋友相約遊玩，也會獨自去人流較旺的地方，感受節日氣氛。但年紀漸長，每天生活在巨大的壓力下，現時過任何節日，已再沒有感覺，可以的話，一般都留在家中。

過往在收集一些美國六十年代的民謠唱片及CD時，發現有很多民謠歌手及樂隊也有灌錄聖誕音樂唱片，例如Kingston Trio (The Last Month of The Year) 、Joan Baez (Noel)、New Christy Minstrels (Christmas with The New Christy Minstrels)、Modern Folk Quarted (MFQ - Christmas) 、Emmylou Harris (Light of The Stable)、The Brothers Four (1. Merry Christmas 2. Christmas Concert) 、Peter, Paul and Mary (A Holiday Celebrationt) 等等，當中選曲都是一些傳統的聖誕歌曲。但有一首多年來對我感受很深的是Peter, Paul and Mary成員Noel Paul Stookey的作品， 歌名叫 Christmas Dinner，這曲不是收錄在Peter, Paul and Mary的聖誕專集裡，而是收錄在他們1969年一張名為Peter, Paul and Mommy的兒歌專集。

人們大多數都知道聖誕節的來由，但其中意義更包括分享、奉獻…..當各位與朋友、家人在享受假期歡樂的時候，可有想到世上還有其他人沒有機會知道甚是聖誕 ? 仍為三餐溫飽煩惱、身在天災、饑荒、疫病、戰火中爭扎求存的人….各位可會在聖誕晚上為他們送上祝福？

Christmas Dinner (1969年版本)
Guitar : capo 4


2001年Noel Paul Stookey在他個人一張現場聖誕音樂專集（CD名稱：There is Love – A Holiday Music Celebration）中再次演唱此曲，加入了cello、笛子及小量的敲擊樂，音樂更見豐富。

註 : 片中演奏cello的女士曾在此段video的留言版中留言 ^_^

Chrismas Dinner (2001年版本)
Guitar : Capo 3


CD及VHS封面 (按圖放大)










在網上更發現有人拍了 “真人版”


泥公仔動畫 (資料來自Noel Paul Stookey個人網站)，多年前在明珠台看過，記得襯底用的是1969年版，並不是2001年版的。

http://www.noelpaulstookey.com/pr-xmasvideo.html

歌詞：
And it came to pass on a Christmas evening
While all the doors were shuttered tight
Outside standing, a lonely boy-child
Cold and shivering in the night. Noel, Noel.

On the street every window
Save but one was gleaming bright
And to this window walked the boy-child
Peeking in saw candlelight.

Through other windows he had looked at turkeys
And ducks and geese and cherry pies
But through this window saw a gray-haired lady
Table bare and tears in her eyes. Noel, Noel.

Into his coat reached the boy-child
Knowing well there was little there
He took from his pocket his own Christmas dinner
A bit of cheese, some bread to share.

His outstretched hands held the food and they trembled
As the door it opened wide
Said he "Would you share with me Christmas dinner?"
And gently said she "Come inside."

The gray-haired lady brought forth to the table
Some glasses to their last drop of wine
Said she "Here's a toast to everyone's Christmas,
And especially yours and mine!" Noel, Noel

And it came to pass on that Christmas evening
While all the doors were shuttered tight
That in that town the happiest Christmas
Was shared by candlelight. Noel, Noel, Noel

祝各位聖誕及新年快樂！！