Magic School BHS Snow Winter Celebration Dear Students and Staff, We are excited to announce the upcoming Winter Celebration at Magic School BHS Snow! As the winter season approaches, we believe it is important to come together as a community and embrace the magic that this season brings. The Winter Celebration will take place on December 20th, in the grand hall of our school. We invite all students and staff to participate in this enchanting event. The hall will be beautifully decorated with twinkling lights, sparkling snowflakes, and festive decorations, creating a magical atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. During the Winter Celebration, we have planned a variety of fun activities and entertainment for everyone to take part in. There will be a snowball throwing contest in the courtyard, where students can showcase their magical abilities and accuracy.

Dar Williams on How “The Christians and the Pagans” Became a Holiday Classic

When Dar Williams first wrote the song “The Christians and the Pagans,” about a solstice-celebrating lesbian couple who visit devout Christian relatives during Yuletide, she intended the folk-pop tune to be a humorous respite from tortured holiday gatherings. “The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch/ Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, ‘Is it true that you’re a witch?’ ” Filled with similarly wry lines, the song, an audience favorite since Williams recorded it on her 1996 album Mortal City, nevertheless evokes rumination on fractured families and societal ills in listeners, some of whom drill deeply into the psychology of the lyrics. The acoustic-based singer, who will perform the song at her annual concert, “Christians, Pagans and Other Hipsters,” Dec. 26 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, remembers one such devotee, a high-school boy, who came backstage after a concert. He had just attended a rally in response to a gay bashing and said he was deeply moved by the reference to a lesbian couple in the song. “To hear this song today, I just can’t stop crying,” Williams recalled him saying.

Nowadays, with queer anthems topping the pop charts, it may be difficult to understand the deep emotion behind that response. Williams, 48, has lived through that evolution, having been a pioneer of sorts at writing lyrics that countered entrenched notions of gender and sexuality. “A lot of my career success came because I was in communities where people were ahead of the curve with gender exploration,” said Williams, who toured tiny coffeehouses while attending Wesleyan University in the mid-’80s. She later lived in Northampton, Massachusetts, a liberal enclave, which, like many such neighborhoods of the time, did its share of questioning societal roles. “Northampton, where the women are strong and the men are defensive,” she used to joke.

Williams, who released Emerald, her ninth CD, in May 2015, “came out as straight” more than a decade into her career, having been assumed by many fans—perhaps with some wish fulfillment involved—to be a lesbian. Her relationship songs have typically avoided gender pronouns, and she has regularly performed with the likes of Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls.

Her song “When I Was a Boy” has evolved into a trans anthem of sorts, with lines such as, “I was a kid that you would like/ Just a small boy on her bike/ Riding topless, yeah/ I never cared who saw.” Williams concedes that those lyrics were originally inspired by self-proclaimed misunderstood straight men she met in college. “I found myself in many conversations with guys, often in a bar, when they would say, ‘I’m not like other men.’ I just saw a loneliness there that I wanted to write about.” Of the trans women and men who see themselves in the song, Williams says, “There was a lot of permission in that song that people took and that I hadn’t even intended, which is fabulous.”

“Hang on.” Williams suddenly interrupts our phone conversation to answer her 6-year-old daughter, Taya, burbling in the background. “That’s a mango, honey. You don’t want a mango? OK, you can have yogurt.”

For those of us in Williams’ generation who grew up eating condensed soup and macaroni and cheese, this bit of conversation only reinforces her famous championing of all things healthy and green. A longtime environmentalist who co-authored a book called The Tofu Tollbooth, Williams also works with kids in summer camps to plant bee-friendly gardens. The cover of End of the Summer, her 1997 CD, features a photo of Williams literally in the woods, her arms caked in mud. It doesn’t get much more earthy.

Williams is currently at work on a book about the many communities she’s visited while touring across the country. She cites conservative tycoon Roger Ailes, a fellow resident of Garrison, New York, as something of an unlikely inspiration. “He coined the political phrase ‘red state/blue state’—the idea of division and a constant unproductive clashing,” said Williams, whose travels made her take note of the productivity of small-town politics. “There’s the narrative that people in American towns don’t get along—that local politics are so messy and horrible. Well, they are kind of messy and horrible,” she said, “But they’re incredibly successful, too.” It makes perfect sense that Williams, who has dedicated much of her career to rumination on identity politics, would now turn to a book focusing more outwardly on community. “We’re in a post-Aquarian world. We’re skeptical about love and harmony as the guiding principles of community building,” she said of the Gen X generation. Members of that generation will be at her concert on Saturday, likely hoping for a break from the holiday glare. “We usually have the show a couple days after Christmas, when you’ve either survived Christmas or the fact that you don’t celebrate Christmas. It’s a huge exhale,” she said.

Dar williams christian and the pagans

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday.
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three
He told his niece, "It's Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style."
She said "Christmas is like Solstice and we miss you and it's been a while."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch
'till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true your cousin's not a Christian,
But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share
And you find magic from your God and we find magic everywhere."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
Where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning
'cause now when Christians sit with Pagans, only pumpkin pies are burning

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother"
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here"
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve
Saying "Can I be a pagan?" Dad said "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday. Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay." And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three He told his niece, "It's Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style." She said "Christmas is like Solstice and we miss you and it's been a while." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able And just before the meal was served hands were held and prayers were said Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch 'till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?" His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true your cousin's not a Christian, But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share And you find magic from your God and we find magic everywhere." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able Where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning 'cause now when Christians sit with Pagans, only pumpkin pies are burning When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother" Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here" He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve Saying "Can I be a pagan?" Dad said "We'll discuss it when they leave." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old and Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold

The Meaning Behind The Song: Christians and Pagans by Dar Williams

There will be a snowball throwing contest in the courtyard, where students can showcase their magical abilities and accuracy. Additionally, we will have a snowman building competition, where students can come together in teams to create the most imaginative and magical snowman. For those who love music and dancing, we have organized a Winter Ball in the evening.

The Meaning Behind The Song: Christians and Pagans by Dar Williams

The song “Christians and Pagans” by Dar Williams is a thought-provoking and impactful piece that delves into the themes of religious diversity, tolerance, and the celebration of differences. With its catchy melody and powerful lyrics, the song offers a profound exploration of the complexities and commonalities within various belief systems.

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In this song, Dar Williams tells a story of a family gathering during the holiday season, where people from different religious backgrounds come together. The lyrics shed light on the challenges and tensions that can arise when individuals with different beliefs navigate their way through conversations and interactions. However, the song also emphasizes the potential for these differences to be bridges to understanding and acceptance.

The ballroom will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with an ice sculpture and a floating dance floor. Everyone is encouraged to dress in their finest winter attire and dance the night away to the spellbinding tunes played by our talented magical musicians. As part of the Winter Celebration, we will also be hosting a winter carnival, filled with various stalls offering magical treats and delicious hot beverages. Students can indulge in warm butterbeer, enchanted candy apples, and other seasonal delights. The carnival will be a great opportunity to socialize and enjoy the company of fellow students and staff. We encourage everyone to get involved and make the most of this magical winter season at Magic School BHS Snow. It's a time to celebrate, create lasting memories, and experience the true wonder of magic and friendship. Warmest regards, Magic School BHS Snow Administration.

Reviews for "Embark on a magical journey at BHS Snow's celebrated magic school"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Magic School BHS Snow" based on the description and the cover art, but I found myself disappointed. The writing was quite weak, with shallow characters and a predictable plot. The magic elements felt forced and inconsistent, making it hard for me to connect with the story. Overall, I felt like the book lacked depth and originality.

2. Emily - 1 star - I didn't enjoy "Magic School BHS Snow" at all. The writing style was choppy and the dialogue felt awkward and unnatural. The world-building was underdeveloped, leaving me confused about the rules and mechanics of the magic in the story. The characters were one-dimensional and unrelatable, making it difficult for me to care about their fates. I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing the series.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Magic School BHS Snow" had a lot of potential, but it fell short for me. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed action scenes. The plot seemed disjointed and lacking in coherence. The main character was annoyingly naive and made questionable decisions that were hard to believe. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre and struggled to stay engaged with the story.

4. David - 3 stars - While "Magic School BHS Snow" had its flaws, it was still a decent read. The writing was average, although it could have been more polished. The world-building was interesting, but there were moments when it felt inconsistent and illogical. The characters had potential, but they lacked depth and their interactions sometimes felt forced. Overall, it was an okay book, but it didn't stand out in the genre for me.

5. Rachel - 2 stars - I was really disappointed by "Magic School BHS Snow". The premise sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The writing was uninspiring, and I found myself struggling to maintain interest. The characters were forgettable, and the dialogue often felt forced. The plot lacked originality and the resolution was underwhelming. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating magical fantasy read.

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