Christmas Day

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me .... " Did you mentally finish that line with "a partridge in a pear tree?" It's hard not to, isn't it? We get these Christmas song lyrics in our heads, and they just seem to come back to us year after year. The endearing nature of this season's music is hard to shake, even for the staunchest humbugs among us. Knowing the stories behind the songs make them even more compelling. For example, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is typically viewed as a nonsense song.

Hancock Senior Site 126-128 High St., Hancock 301-678-7163 Bingo - every Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursdays, Dec. 21 and 28, noon to 1 p.m. Pokeno - every Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. "The History of Sending Holiday Cards" and exercise with Helen House - Today, 10:15 a.m. Hymns on piano with Shirley Divelbliss - Fridays, Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m. Lap quilting - Mondays, Dec. 18, 9:30 a.m. Needlework - Tuesdays, Dec. 19 and...

The holidays are upon us again and it's time to begin planning the coverage of your special religious activities. Because Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year, a listing of Christmas Eve services will be published in The Morning Herald and The Daily Mail on Thursday, Dec. 21. The deadline for those items will be Monday, Dec. 18, at noon. The Religion page on Saturday, Dec. 23, will include only services that will be held on Saturday, Dec. 23; Sunday morning, Dec. 24; and Christmas Day. The deadline for those items will be Thursday, Dec. 21, at noon.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - A Chambersburg man found lying on a sidewalk bleeding from a stab wound Christmas night was in York (Pa.) Hospital Monday and his alleged assailant was being held without bond on a charge of attempted homicide, according to borough police. Jacob Blanco, 31, of 354 E. Washington St., was in serious condition Monday, according to a hospital spokeswoman. He was taken to York following initial treatment at Chambersburg Hospital, police said.

St. John's Episcopal Church, Hagerstown, the Rev. Scott Bellows will speak at the 10 a.m. communion service this Sunday which will include congregational Christmas carols. Christian education will resume on Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. Asbury United Methodist Church, Shepherdstown, W.Va., the Christmas Day service gets under way at 10 a.m. The theme is Come Crash the Party. State Line (Pa.) United Methodist Church, 287 East Ave., on Christmas Day, there will be a 9 a.m. birthday party for Jesus.

"My grandson Jeffrey is a student at UMBC, and has a 4.0 grade-point average. We're so proud of him. " - Hagerstown "I'm calling about the president's spying in America. I'll bet that the people who died on 9/11 would vote for spying in America. " - Hagerstown "I'd just like to know when our country went from majority rule to minority rule. I hope somebody can answer that question. " "I'd just want to thank the Potomac River Bassmasters for their generosity.

kristinw@herald-mail.com When Mercersburg Academy carillonneur James Smith sits down to play the bells on Christmas Eve, he will be bringing centuries of history to life. The academy's 49-bell Henry Bucher Swoope Carillon dates to 1926, but the history of the complex system of heavy, tolling bells is traced back to the "low countries of Europe" many centuries ago, Smith says. Public concerts are held at the academy throughout the school year to introduce audiences to the music made by the tons of bells.

FREDERICK, Md. - The Frederick Rescue Mission will serve a traditional Christmas Day dinner on Christmas Day. Dinner will be served at the Beacon House at 419 W. South St. The dinner is free and open to the community. The meal will be served from noon to 4 p.m. The mission also will serve a New Year's Day dinner at the Beacon House on Jan. 1, 2006. The meal will be served from noon to 4 p.m. The community is welcome at both dinners. For more information, call 301-695-6633, ext. 104.

With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, there will have to be some adjustments in the publication of activities at area houses of worship. On Tuesday, Dec. 20, The Morning Herald and The Daily Mail will publish Christmas Eve/Hanukkah and briefs for events occurring before the traditional Christmas Day. The deadline for these notices will be Monday, Dec. 19 at noon. Holiday items already e-mailed, sent by fax or mailed have been kept and need not be resubmitted. On Saturday, Dec. 24, the regular church page and classified advertising Directory of Houses of Worship will be run on schedule.

wandaw@herald-mail.com andrews@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - The world doesn't stop on Christmas Day, which is why Harry Showe was up and out of bed while most people were still sleeping. "I got up at 5:30 a.m. to come in at 6 a.m. to relieve the midnight to 8 a.m. dispatcher, so he could go home and spend the morning with his kids," said Showe, a taxi driver for Miller Transportation. Showe, 32, said he's no stranger to working on the Christmas holiday - it's a family tradition.