by Jeremiah Jenne, Executive Director
Our Winter Fayre is this Saturday. We are proud to be supporting the charity Bethel China as well as partnering with The Beijinger to put on the last (and best!) holiday fair in Beijing this season. It also inspired me (or maybe it was the mulled wine…) to adapt/desecrate a beloved holiday verse.
’Twas two weeks before Christmas, in an old hutong….
Not a creature was stirring, not even a huangshulang
The wine was being mulled; Great Leap’s bringing the beer
In hopes next Saturday you all will be here
Josh, Ian, and Nitai are snuggled up on our roof
To make sure the drinks flow, at holiday proof
And the pies in the kitchen, and the beer on tap
Will mean good times abound, (on Sunday you can nap)
When out in the alley, there arose such a clatter
From the sound of more food arriving on platters
Away to our gate we ran very kuai
To bring in more gifts, tapas and pie
Beijing Postcards has pictures of Peking of old
Which I must hurry to buy, before they’re all sold
And much to my expanding waistline’s dismay
It’s Sweet Tooth Bakery with more cakes on the way
As we scurried back inside, eager to unveil The treasures and surprises that would never fail My eyes caught sight of a colorful display A blanket with pictures, capturing memories in a fray
Each woven thread told stories of laughter and cheer A mosaic of moments, etched crystal clear With every pattern and image that adorned the cloth A heartfelt gift to warm both body and heart
Wrapped in its embrace, nostalgia took flight Transporting me to days bathed in golden light The blanket with pictures, a treasure to behold A gift that whispered tales yet to be told.
And Reshma and her chutney, and Paddington Pies
I knew I would need pants of a much larger size
More rapid than eagles, our guests on they came
And whistled, and shouted, and called out by name:
“Now, TAPAS! now, CHUTNEY! now, COOKIES and SPIRITS!
On, CRACKERS! on PANCAKES! on BEER getting BLITZEN!
To the top of our terrace! to the top of our wall!
Now eat away! drink away! shop away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane roam
There is no earthly reason why you should stay home
So to The Hutong you traveled, taking Line 5
To Beixinqiao Exit C with a downloaded map and our guide
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the street
The stamping and stomping of hundreds of feet
I opened the gate and then turned around
And into the courtyard they all came with a bound
They were dressed in Gortex, down, and in fleece
Trying to get out of the cold to somewhere with heat
Some brought bags, some wore packs that were snug on their backs
And when they left they rode on with many gifts in their sacks
Their eyes — how they twinkled, (our mulled wine is that strong)
It will keep your cheeks rosy, as we pour it all day long
It’ll warm your cockles, it’ll warm up your heart
And the first glass is free, how’s that for a start?
There’s gifts to be bought, of all shapes and sizes
Jewelry and fashion, cool products and hot spices
For everyone on your list there is something to buy
Whether a present for girls or a gift for the guys
If that’s not enough, a part of the proceeds
Are not going to us but to a charity in need
Bethel China gives children the gift of sight
A chance to learn and grow, and opportunities for life
So this Saturday, hungover or sober
Get out of bed and head on right over
To our little courtyard in an old Hutong
For Holiday cheer, you can’t go wrong
And then when you’re gifted, fed, and perhaps a bit tipsy
And you pass by a red-arm-banded Beijing old biddy
We’d love to hear you exclaim, as you stumble out of sight…
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all an awesome night!”