Happy Holidays 2023

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas & Happy 2024

Clopin during the Feast of Fools Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Clopin during the Feast of Fools, Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney)

Every year the Reveals perform at the historical Sanders Theater at Harvard University. Their shows are to celebrate the winter season with traditional songs and dance. For the 2023 season, the show is the based on The Feast of Fools. Their write-up even calls it “Topsy-Tursy.” Because you know why.

The Reveals’ music has long been a part of my holiday season for a very long time so I’m overjoyed to know they are taking inspiration from The Feast of Fool for their new show.

And if you can’t make the Journey to to olde Harvard, they offer virtual performances.

It’s the culmination of the Spooky Season, Halloween.

The characters of the Magical Adventures of Quasimodo wear a lot of disguises. Heck, in episode eight they have a Halloween-like festival. What are they all wearing this year for “Witches Eve???”

Whose Costume would Win Best Costume?

Quasimodo as Aladdin…maybe?

Quasimodo in costume with Azarof, The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo Episode 1
Quasimodo in costume with Azarof

Not really sure what Quasimodo is dressed up here. The fez makes it look like an Aladdin costume. It’s defiantly a look though.

Esmeralda as a Frightful Old Lady

Esmeralda as an Old Lady,The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo, Episode 24
Esmeralda as an Old Lady

This is the first time that a Quasimodo calls an Esmeralda “ugly.” However that means it’s a convincing costume.

Frollo as The Reaper

Frollo looking Scary, The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo Episode 1
Frollo looking Scary

Classic Frollo! If wasn’t for the scythe this could have been a Phantom of the opera costume.

François as a Spooky Ghost

Spooky Ghost François, The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo, Episode 22 The Oracle
Spooky Ghost François

François even has a lighting effect.

Dennis as a Delightful Bird

Dennis as a Bird,The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo Episode 1
Dennis as a Bird

A cockatiel maybe?

The King as a Strutting Peacock

The King as a Peacock, The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo Episode 1
The King as a Peacock

Seems correct for a King to be a Peacock.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

So you want to fit in with all the Barbie costumes this Halloween but still want to have a costume related to Hunchback?

That is a very unique and super niche problem. To be a fair a pink Esmeralda look COULD work very well. There is also the fact that Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quasimodo were all given the doll treatment.

But which character from a version of Hunchback of Notre Dame has that stereotypical Barbie look? Who is blonde and wears pink? The Answer is….

Julie Zenatti as Fleur de Lys Notre Dame de Paris
Julie Zenatti as Fleur de Lys Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame de Paris’ Fleur de Lys . Fleur de Lys’ costume in this version is relatively simple, especially the design from 1998-2015. It’s consists of a pink sleeveless dress with darker pink dye marks and some sparse crystal details. The length is a dealer’s choice as you can make it mid-calf to floor length. Also low-high (or high-low) hemlines are fine as they are used in some productions. Though if you want, you can go shorter. If you already have a sleeveless pink dress, or gown, in your closet go for that one but if you don’t have a pink dress on-hand here are some options.

Dress Options

This one has some crystal details already. Though the crystals are optional but they are still fun.

For a slightly sexy look go for something like this:

Try to avoid dresses with boho styles as that doesn’t fit Fleur de Lys. Think classic or even glam looks.

On to Shoes

For shoes any type of heel can work so long as it’s pink. This is a “Think Pink” costume. To be honest as long as the shoe is pink go for it. Maybe not a sneakers though.

The Hair

In Notre Dame de Paris, Fleur de Lys is typically blonde. Her as a blonde is a foil to Esmeralda. Some productions however opted to have Fleur de Lys use their natural hair colors. However in those productions the Fleur de Lys had straighten and Esmeralda has wavy hair. So if you don’t not want to wear a wig or dye your hair at least straighten it. You can also add flowers or crystal into your hairstyle.

Details

If you’re feeling bold you can add abstract dark pink paint detail with fabric paint and add crystals. Also in the original production Fleur de Lys wore a crystal bracelet. It’s very delicate looking and not made from beads.

If you would rather just go more book-accurate Fleur de Lys costume you can, just make it 15th century style princess and try to get a hennin headpiece.

It’s been a while since I have offered new Merch for my Zazzle store.

The idea behind these designs was inspired by “movie monsters” and Quasimodo dressing up like them for Halloween. It is meant to be cute and silly. There is are Zombie, a Mummy and Dracula/Vampire designs.

Quasimodo as a Zombie

Quasimodo as a Mummy

(the hieroglyphs phonetically spell “Quasimodo” (at least I hope they do) and the irony of latin being depicted in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs is not totally lost on me)

Quasimodo as Dracula or a Vampire

Bonus Vampire Socks

Lastly not for Halloween but a new Keychain using Esmeralda’s color scheme.

Valentine’s Day! It’s either one of the most romantic days of the year, a stressful day that you forgot about till JUST now, or the bane of your existence.

Whatever the day means you go treat yourself with chocolate or any other treat you prefer.

Side note (slightly personal)- I love Galavant, wish it had a third season, it should have gotten a third season. I have seen it twice and I tried to rewatch it back in May 2022 BUT due to circumstances I couldn’t get back into it at that point. Maybe in future but I still love the songs and the vibe.

Here is a throwback from 2013.

A Christmas Cookie I decorated a very long time ago that was a cross-section of that bell from the sequel. I have never been know for my cookie decor game but I had fun.

La Fidel Cookie hunchback sequal
La Fidel Cookie

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Here are Ten Titles for Hallmark Christmas movies that would be either inspired by Hunchback or Hallmark Hunchback of Notre Dame versions with Christmas.

If you have no idea what a Hallmark Christmas Movie is, Congrats. Basically Christmas is magic and great, big city bad, rural countryside good, careers bad, family good, and conventionally attractive white people in front of Christmas trees.

So here are just titles they are meant to be not good or at most amusing. To my knowledge these titles don’t exist yet….*

A Christmas Hunch

A Christmas Bell

A Hunchback for Christmas

The Christmas Goat

Our Lady of Christmas

The Feast of the Fool(ish) Christmas

A Broken Christmas Jug

Jingle Cathedral Bells

Deck the Belfry

Christmas at Notre Dame

* Christmas Belle and A Belle for Christmas are real movies. Christmas Goats are a subject of some movies since the Yule Goat is traditional in Scandinavian and Northern European countries. The Broken Jug is a real movie and Christmas at Notre Dame is the name of an album.

Like most people on the internet I make a lot ranked list content. Not here so much but else yes. A few years ago I did a list of Non-Christmas Movies which is not a new concept and how I’m doing again so this a part 2 of the this list except this one is not ranked and there are only four.

Why four? Because. That is a good enough reason. (I had five but one was already on my OG list and I just wanted this out prior to the Holiday so four)

I had a few parameters for these movies. First they had to some kind of winter aesthetic, had to have something to with family and gifts. However none of these film are about Christmas or have scenes Christmas.

Some Spoilers

Anastasia (1997)

Anya journey to the past Anastasia picture image
Anya, “Anastasia

I don’t know about you but when I think about Christmas the music from The Nutcracker comes up as peak Christmas music. And that makes me think of the setting of Anastasia. Add in some snowscape, “The Once upon as December” song, the necklace motif and reconnecting with family and you could add this to your holiday watch list.

The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2005)

James Cosmo as Father Christmas and Georgie Henley as Lucy, “Narnia

Dumb side story, I love Bob’s Burgers and one of my favorite bits is in the second episode where one of the kids says that Narnia was written by Salman Rushdie. I don’t know why I find that so funny but I do.

So back to Narnia. Giving that Narnia is under a constant winter due to Jadis, The White Witch, I think it very much got that winter aesthetic down. The internal drama is about family and Santa a.k.a Father Christmas gives them presents which are very useful.

The Little Princess (1995)

Liesel Mattews as Sarah, The Little Princess
Liesel Matthews as Sarah, “The Little Princess

Again we have snow imagery with Sarah spinning as snow blows around her. She gets a locket from her father before he goes off to war. The locket is taken after her father is presumed dead leaving Sarah at the mercy of her boarding School’s Head Mistress. Her friends get the locket back for her. And at the end of the movie she reunites with her father and gains an adopted sister.

La Belle et la Bête (2014) or any version you want

Lea Seydoux as Belle La Belle et la Bete 2014 picture image
Lea Seydoux as Belle, “La Belle et la Bête” (2014)

Surrounding the Beast’s domain is snow, much like the Disney version. The Beast gifts her items, like in the Disney version and the 1946 version. In this version it’s dresses. There is also a family dynamic at play since she offers herself to the Beast to save her father. Why did I pick this? Seemed logical however any version of Beauty and the Beast will work for happy Christmas movie watching. Even the 2017 (or the Christmas mid-quel movie) if you want, it’s not the one I would go for but whatever makes you happy.

Shout out to Three Wishes for Cinderella, I forgot you were on the OG list.

Happy Holidays

SO I’m rather sick…. so Throwback image.

Have a Spooky Autumnal Holiday or Halloween to you all.

Gargoyle celebrating Halloween picture image Hunchback of Notre dame
Gargoyle celebrating Halloween

I photoshopped this back in 2012…..