History of Some Christmas Traditions

Christians celebrate Christmas to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, which is an event and not a tradition. But many other activities related to celebrating the Christmas season evolved from certain traditions, many of which are from other countries, particularly from peoples in Europe.

Among common items used in Christmas decorations are the holly and the mistletoe. Both are used primarily in wreaths and garlands. The Druids started the tradition of using the mistletoe as decorative items up to two hundred years before Christ. To celebrate the winter season, the Druids would gather the plants and use them to decorate their homes. The Druids believed the
mistletoe would bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. They also believed that the mistletoe had a healing quality and could be used for everything from healing wounds to increase fertility.

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In Scandinavia, the mistletoe was seen as a plant of peace and harmony and was associated with Frigga, the goddess of love. This association is probably what led to the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. In the Victorian period, the English also would hang mistletoe from ceilings and in doorways during holidays. The habit developed that if someone was standing under the mistletoe, someone else in the room would kiss that person. Such outright behavior was not generally seen in Victorian society.

The use of the mistletoe in Christmas celebrations was once banned by the church however because of its associations with pagan traditions, and the use of holly was suggested as a substitute.

Poinsettias are another traditional decorative flower used at Christmas. It is native to Mexico and is named after Joel Poinsett, who was the first U.S ambassador to Mexico and who brought the plants to America in 1828. Mexicans believe the plants were a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem and that's one reason they are associated with Christmas.




There's also the story that a young boy was going to see the Nativity Play at a church but realized he didn't have a gift for Baby Jesus. The boy gathered some green branches, which others scoffed at. But as he placed them near the manger, a bright red poinsettia flower started to bloom on each branch, which gave rise to their traditional use at Christmas.

Candy canes became a Christmas tradition not because their red and white stripes matched the colors of the season, but for the most unusual reason of discipline. that's because they were first used as treats that were give to German children to keep them well-behaved for the duration of church sermons. Over time, the legend of candy canes at Christmas came to be associated with some
of the strongest symbols and beliefs of Christianity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost known as the Trinity, the Blood of the Son of God, Jesus as the embodiment of holiness, purity and without sin and the Son of God as the shepherd of man. The candy cane represents these symbols respectively with its three stripes, its red and white color and its shape.

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Sending greeting cards during Christmas and the holidays is as prevalent today as the custom of giving gifts. The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in 1840 in Britain with the start of public postal delivery service of the 'Penny Post.' Then from about 1860, large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started to be produced. The popularity of the cards increased in Britain when they could be sent by the postal service for one half-penny, which was half the price to post a standard letter at the time, if they were in an unsealed envelope. Religious pictures of Mary, Joseph , Baby Jesus, the angels, shepherds and Wise Men were traditionally placed on Christmas cards. Some cards today include scenes from the Nativity, but pictures of Santa Claus, winter scenery, Christmas trees, gift packages and others are also depicted on contemporary Christmas greeting cards.

Decorating Your Lawn for Christmas without Going Overboard

When many of us think of outdoor Christmas decorations, yard signs and inflatable Christmas characters often come to mind. While many homeowners do choose to decorate their homes with inflatable Christmas characters and yard signs, there are others who feel that those types of outdoor Christmas decorations are too extreme.  If you would like to decorate your lawn for Christmas, without shoving your Christmas spirit down your neighbor's throat, you can. There are a number of outdoor Christmas decorations designed for individuals just like you.

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One of the best ways to go about decorating your lawn for Christmas, without going overboard, is to replace the items that you already have in your yard.  You will want to make those replacements be ones that have a Christmas theme. For instance, if you have a number of potted plants or flowers out in your yard, there is a good chance that they are in a traditional flower pot. Did you know that you can purchase Christmas planters?  Christmas planters are just like the planters that you may be using now, but they often have a Christmas or a holiday theme to them.  You should be able to find Christmas planters that come in Christmas colors or ones that have Christmas designs, such as Santa or snowflakes.  Christmas planters are an easy way to decorate the outside of your home for the holidays.

If you are a homeowner who has trees in your yard, there is a good chance that you have a birdhouse in at least one of those trees.  Did you know that you can buy Christmas themed birdhouses?  For the holiday season, you could easily replace your traditional birdhouse with one that has a Christmas theme. Christmas birdhouses come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Popular birdhouse shapes includes those that are shaped as churches, but it is also possible to find birdhouses that are shaped like snow sleds or something else similar in nature.  Christmas birdhouses are another easy way that you can bring a little bit of Christmas spirit to your front or backyard.

Another way that you can quietly, but effectively decorate your front yard for Christmas is by purchasing Christmas stepping stones. Christmas stepping stones look great in any yard or along any walkway. As with most other outdoor Christmas decorations, Christmas stepping stones also come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles.  Regardless of the size and shape of each stepping stone, you will find that most come with a Christmas or holiday design.  It is not uncommon to find Christmas stepping stones that are decorated with snowflakes or Christmas trees. Depending on where you are shopping, additional designs may also be available.

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As beautiful as Christmas birdhouses, planters, and stepping stones are, they are items that often go unnoticed or un-purchased.  For that reason, it may be a little bit difficult for you to find the above mentioned Christmas decorations in one of your local retail stores.  It may be possible to purchase these amazing, but unique outdoor Christmas decorations from a specialty Christmas shop, but for the largest selection of outdoor Christmas decorations, you are advised to shop online.  You can easily find a number of retailers that specialize in selling the above mentioned outdoor Christmas decorations by performing a standard internet search.

Decorating Your Kitchen for Christmas

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, there are many individuals who automatically think about their Christmas tree. While decorating your Christmas tree is a big part of the Christmas holiday, it is not the only thing in your home that you could or should be decorating. What many individuals do not realize is that, if you wanted, you could easily go about decorating your whole home for Christmas, including your kitchen.

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As previously mentioned, a number of individuals do not realize that they can effective decorate their whole home for Christmas, especially the kitchen.  If you would like to showcase your Christmas spirit in a room other than the one that your Christmas tree is in, you should start with your kitchen. One of the reasons for this is because there are, literally, an unlimited number of Christmas decorations that are designed for the kitchen.

One of the most popular ways to decorate your kitchen for Christmas is by purchasing and using Christmas themed potholders.  You don't even necessarily have to use them. Just having a potholder with a picture of Santa, snowflakes, or reindeers should be enough to bring the Christmas spirit into your kitchen. In addition to potholders, you can easily find oven mitts, as well as kitchen towels that come with a Christmas theme. Hang these items in your kitchen and they can easily be considered Christmas decorations.

In addition to potholders and kitchen towels, you can also bring a touch of Christmas spirit into your kitchen with some kitchen magnets.  A large number of retail stores, both on and offline, carry a fairly large selection of Christmas magnets.  What is nice about these Christmas magnets is that they come in a number of different forms.  You could easily purchase some cheap plastic magnets, the ones that look like they were made for kids, or you also purchase more elegant magnets, often handcrafted ones.  In fact, it is even possible to purchase Christmas magnets that double as Christmas frames.  What better way to bring the Christmas spirit into your kitchen than combining your Christmas decorations with pictures of your family?

You can also decorate your kitchen for Christmas by using Christmas kitchenware. Christmas kitchenware tends to encompass a number of different things.  For the most part, Christmas kitchenware includes the items that you use in your kitchen, often on a regular basis.  It is possible to find kitchen eating utensils that have a touch of Christmas in them.  It is also possible to find plates, bowls, and cups that come pre-designed with Christmas pictures or symbols.  If you have a number of these items showcased, out in the open, they could easily be considered Christmas decorations.

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The above mentioned Christmas decorations and items are just a few of the many that you can use to decorate your home for Christmas.  If you are looking for additional ideas, you are advised to perform a standard internet search. Online, you should be able to find a number of tips on decorating for Christmas, including your kitchen.  It may also be a good idea to start shopping for Christmas decorations, whether you shop online or at one of your local retail stores.

Once you are able to see all of the Christmas decorations that are available, you may be able to determine which decorations would look great in your kitchen.

Decorating Your Home with Elegant Christmas Decorations

Each year, millions of Americans decorate their homes for the upcoming holiday season, namely Christmas.  Are you one of those individuals?  If so, which type of Christmas decorations do you plan on using?  While you might not necessarily think that there is a difference in Christmas decorations, there is. This difference is often the overall quality, as well as the design.  If you have yet to start decorating for Christmas, you may want to think about decorating your home with elegant Christmas decorations, you will find that there are a number of benefits to doing so.

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As just mentioned, there are a number of benefits to decorating your home with elegant Christmas decorations.  Before you focus on those benefits, it may be a good idea to further examine elegant Christmas decorations, namely what they are and where they can be purchased from.  When it comes to elegant Christmas decorations, you will find that different individuals have different views.  Despite these different views, you will most commonly find that elegant Christmas decorations look better than most other decorations.  For instance, instead of using cardboard to create a table centerpiece, an elegant Christmas decoration would likely include a ceramic or glass centerpiece and so on.

In addition to the appearance of elegant Christmas decorations, you will also find that their cost is quite different.  In most cases, you will find that elegant Christmas decorations cost more than most traditional decorations.  Aside from the better quality, you will find that this has to do with where the decorations can be purchased from. Most elegant Christmas decorations can be purchased online, from specialty retailers, or from specialty Christmas stores.

These retailers are almost always priced higher than most others. One of the reasons for that is because most elegant Christmas decorations are handcrafted.  A large amount of time, skill, and money go into creating handcrafted Christmas decorations; thus the increase in costs.

Now that you know what elegant Christmas decorations are and where they can be purchased from, you can begin to start focusing on the benefits of using them to decorate your home. Perhaps, the greatest benefit of using elegant Christmas decorations to decorate your home is the feel that will be created. As you likely assumed, elegant Christmas decorations tend to create an elegant feel or environment. If you take great pride in your home, especially the design and cleanliness of it, you may also be proud with the results created by elegant Christmas decorations, as your guests will likely be as well.

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Despite the fact that we often associate Christmas decorations with personal home use, that is not their only purpose. If you are planning having a Christmas party or dinner in your home, you and all of your guests can greatly benefit from having elegant Christmas decorations, especially if your party or dinner will be elegant or formal in nature. It is no secret that decorations are the key to any party.


The decorations that you use will likely have an impact on the mood of your party; therefore, if elegant and formal is what you were going for, elegant Christmas decorations may do just the trick.

Although there are a number of benefits to decorating for Christmas with elegant Christmas decorations, you do not have to.  Since your home is your home, your own personal space, you are advised to decorate with what makes you feel the most comfortable. If elegant Christmas decorations are that then great, but if they are not, you have an unlimited number of other Christmas decorations to choose form.

Shopping for Christmas Tree Decorations

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, there are a large number of individuals and families who put a lot of time and focus into decorating, especially their Christmas tree.  If you are looking to decorate your Christmas tree this year, either by yourself or with your family, you will need to have Christmas tree decorations. While there is a good chance that you already have some Christmas tree decorations saved, you may need or want to purchase more. If that is the case, you will have a number of different buying options.

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Perhaps, one of the easiest ways to purchase decorations for your Christmas tree is by visiting one of your local department stores. Department stores are nice because they sometimes double as discount stores; meaning you should be able to purchase your Christmas tree decorations, whether they be lights or ornaments, for a relatively affordable price.  Also, depending on the size of your local department store, you should be able to find a fairly large selection of Christmas tree decorations.

In addition to your local department store, you can also find and buy Christmas tree decorations from specialty Christmas shops.  Depending on where you live, you should have at least one specialty Christmas shop in or around your home.  What is nice about specialty Christmas shops is that they specifically focus on Christmas.  Essentially, that means that if you are looking for the largest selection of Christmas tree decorations, you may want to think about doing your shopping at a specialty Christmas shop. The only problem with specialty Christmas shops is that their items tend to be higher priced; however, the quality is often better than what you would find in most department stores.

If you are looking for high quality, elegant Christmas tree decorations or ornaments, but you do not have access to a local specialty Christmas store, you may want to think about doing your shopping online.


Online, there are a number of retailers who specialize in selling Christmas tree decorations. In addition to the Christmas tree decorations that you may find in your local department store, you may also be able to find individuals or companies who specialize in creating unique, handcrafted Christmas ornaments.  As you might expect, handcrafted Christmas ornaments, especially those that are customized, cost a fairly decent amount of money, but it would be more than worth the extra cost to get exactly what you wanted.

As previously mentioned, there is a good chance that you already have a collection of Christmas tree decorations saved from previous years.  If you are looking to save money, when decorating your Christmas tree, it may be best to use all of your old decorations.  You could easily change things around a little bit so that your tree doesn't look exactly the same as it did in previous years.  If you did not save your Christmas tree decorations from last year, you will need to purchase new ones. After you have purchased new decorations for your tree and the Christmas holiday has come and gone, you may want to save your new decorations for the following year.  Doing so may make it easier for you to decorate next year's Christmas tree.

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Whether you are shopping for Christmas tree decorations on a budget or not, you should easily be able to find the decorations that you wanted or at least the ones that you need.  While it is fun to shop for Christmas tree decorations, the fun part starts when the tree decorating process actually begins.  For the best memories, decorate your Christmas tree with someone that you know and love.

Why You Should Decorate Your Home for Christmas

Are you one of those individuals who cannot wait until the holiday season arrives?  If so, there is also a good chance that you may be interested in decorating your home for Christmas.  If you have not yet decided, as to whether or not you would like to decorate your home for Christmas, you are advised to give it some thought. After a close examination, you will likely see that there are a number of benefits to decorating your home for Christmas.

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Perhaps, the most obvious benefit of decorating your home for the Christmas season is that you will be supporting the holiday and expressing your appreciation for it.  If you celebrate Christmas, whether you are religious or not, you likely know the importance, as well as the meaning of Christmas.  Christmas is not a holiday that you should be ashamed of celebrating, it is one that you should openly celebrate and you can easily do that by decorating your home for Christmas.  Although you should be able to express your own views and beliefs, it may be a good idea to take your neighbors into consideration when decorating the outside of your home for Christmas, especially if you plan on going overboard.

If you are a parent, you may also want to make sure that you decorate your home for Christmas.  Individuals of all ages love the holidays, but it is a known fact that children tend to enjoy the holidays more, particularly Christmas.  Decorating your home for Christmas will likely get your children excited about the holiday.  You may also want to have them help you out with the decorating process.



Your children could easily help you hang Christmas decorations around your house. They could also make you their own, unique handmade Christmas decorations.

Another one of the many reasons why you should decorate your home for Christmas is because decorations make for great pictures.  Whether you are a parent or not, there is a good chance that you will be taking photographs or even videos of your Christmas festivities. What better way to make your pictures or your videos memorable than having Christmas decorations in the background? You may want to decorate your whole home, but if the sole purpose of decorating your home for Christmas is for pictures, you could easily designate an area of your home for pictures.  This may help to eliminate the amount of decorating that you will have to do.

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Although there is a good chance that you would decorate your home for Christmas anyways, you may definitely want to if you are hosting a Christmas party.  One thing is for sure, a party isn't really a party without party decorations. That is why, if you are planning on hosting a holiday party, you should make sure that your home is decorated for Christmas.


You will likely find your Christmas party decorations to be inviting and entertaining.  In fact, depending on the type of Christmas decorations you choose, your decorations may easily lighten up the mood of your Christmas party.

As you can easily see, there are a number of reasons why you should or at least want to decorate your home for Christmas.  The decision, as to whether or not you want to decorate your home is yours to make; however, there are a number of benefits to decorating your home for the holidays.

Why You Should Get Your Christmas Decorations Early

Are you planning on decorating your home for Christmas this year? If so, there is a good chance that you may be in need of Christmas decorations.  When it comes to Christmas decorations, did you know that when you shop for them is just as important as where you shop for them? In most cases, you will find that it is easier and recommended that you purchase your Christmas decorations early.

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Perhaps, the most important reason why you should get your Christmas decorations early is because of the selection. Most retail stores begin displaying their Christmas decorations in July and September.  While some individuals purchase their Christmas decorations then, there are others who want until the month or weeks before Christmas.  Since a large number of retail stores are limited on the selection of Christmas decorations that they carry, you will want to try and get your Christmas decorations before your local retail stores sell out of them.

In addition to getting Christmas decorations, by doing you shopping early, you will find that you have a better chance of getting what you want.  This is, in a way, related to the above mentioned selection. The earlier you start shopping for Christmas decorations, the larger the selection you will have to choose from.


The larger the selection you have, the more likely you will be able to find exactly what you were looking for.  If you are looking to purchase a Christmas decoration that is considered a hot seller, such as most tabletop fiber optic Christmas displays, it may be a good idea to make your purchase as soon as you see what you want available for sale. This will help to make sure that you get to decorate your home for Christmas the exact way that you wanted to.  

Although it is advised that you shop for your Christmas decorations early if you plan on buying them from a storefront retail location, it is also advised that you buy your decorations online early as well.  With online shopping, you will find that many retailers have a larger selection of products, but that does not mean that they will not end up selling out.  In addition to the selection of products available, it is also important to examine the shipping time.  When shopping online, it typically takes about one week, at least, for your purchases to arrive at your door. You need to keep when you plan on decorating for Christmas in mind.  Keeping your intended date of decoration in mind is the best way to ensure that you are able to order and get your Christmas decorations on time.

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As previously mentioned, a large number of retail stores, both on and offline, begin selling their Christmas decorations around July or September.  Despite the fact that Christmas decorations are available that early, not everyone terms September or July as being early, when it comes to shopping for Christmas decorations.  You will have to decide for yourself what you term as being early and what you do not.


Although you may prefer to shop for your Christmas decorations in July, you may prefer to wait.  If you want to do so that is fine, but it is advised that you shop for your Christmas decorations no later than the end of October.  Doing so will help to ensure that you get the Christmas decorations that you want and for a somewhat affordable price.

Why You Should Let Your Kids Decorate Your Home for Christmas

Are you a parent?  If so, are you children looking forward to Christmas this year?  Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, there is a good chance that they are excited with what Christmas may bring.  In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas, you will find that their excitement just keeps on building.  To hang on to that excitement, you may want to think about decorating your home for Christmas.  Decorating your home for Christmas is a great way to keep your children's excitement going strong until Christmas does finally arrive.

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When it comes to decorating for Christmas, you will find that you have a number of different options.  Your first impulse may be to decorate your home on your own, but you may want to think about letting your children help you.  You will find that there are, literally, an unlimited number of benefits to letting your children help you decorate for Christmas, no matter how young or old they are.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of benefits to letting your children help you decorate your home for Christmas, no matter what their age.  Despite the fact that children of all ages could benefit from helping you decorate for Christmas, there are some children who could benefit more than others.  For instance, young children, especially toddlers, are in the learning stages of their life.

This stage is where children can benefit the most from a small amount of responsibility and encouragement.  Encouraging your children to help you decorate for Christmas, by hanging up pictures or by completing another small task, you could be encouraging them to use their mind, their imagination, and their decorating skills!

Perhaps, the best way to go about decorating your home for Christmas is together.  Unfortunately, in today's world families don't get to spend as much time with each other as they should. That is one of the reasons why Christmas is so important; it is one of the times when all families get to come together.  Instead of decorating for Christmas by yourself or letting your children do it all, you all should decorate for Christmas.  In addition to helping build up the Christmas spirit, decorating for Christmas as a family is one of the best ways to spending well needed bonding time together.

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The best part of decorating, for your kids, maybe the actual decorating process, but there is something else that your kids may also enjoy.  They may also enjoy helping you pick out Christmas decorations. By taking your kids with you to the store, they could easily help you pick out Christmas decorations. If you are shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, you are advised to visit your local dollar store or department store.


These stores usually have low-cost Christmas decorations, many of which will appeal to children. If, by some chance, you can't find the decorations that you or your children were looking for, you could easily make their own Christmas decorations.  In fact, making homemade Christmas decorations is another fun experience, all on its own.

Regardless of whether or not you ask your children for assistance, when decorating your home for Christmas, you are urged to decorate.  For children, Christmas decorations help to keep them excited about the upcoming holiday.  That is why Christmas decorations are an important part of the holiday season.

Twelve Things You Never Knew About Christmas

• Christmas trees were first lighted with actual candles, which presented a fire hazard. As a result containers filled with water had to be kept near the Christmas tree. 
• Workers in the construction industry are responsible for the tradition of having a Christmas tree on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. They are credited with placing an undecorated tree at the site in the early 1930s.

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• Since the mid-1960s, The National Christmas Tree Association has maintained a presence in the White House at Christmas by donating a Christmas tree to the First Family. 
• The former Woolworth department store first sold manufactured Christmas tree ornaments in 1880.
• Plastic became the primary material used to make tinsel after their use for decorative purposes was at one time prohibited because lead was used in the manufacturing process.
• The idea of Christmas greeting cards started in Britain in the late 1830s when John Calcott Horsley started to produce small cards that had festive scenes and a holiday greeting written inside. Similar cards were also being made in the United States at about the same time by R.H. Pease, in Albany, New York, and Louis Prang, who was a German immigrant. The idea of sending the greeting cards during Christmas gained popularity in both countries about 10 years later when new postal delivery services started.  
• The shortened form Xmas for Christmas has been popular in Europe since the 1500s. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word 'Xristos' which means Christ.
• According to the National Confectioners Association, for 200 years candy canes were only made in the color of white and it wasn't until in the 1950s that a machine was invented that could automate the production of candy canes. 
• The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in England and it is a national holiday. Several stories exist for the origination of the name. It is believed to have originated from the practice of boys who would be about collecting money in clay boxes. Another thought is that the term is derived from a custom in the Middle Ages, about 800 years ago, when churches would open their 'alms boxes' and distribute the contents to poor people on the day after Christmas. Alms boxes are boxes in which donations of gifts and money would be placed. Yet another belief is that it comes from a custom of masters giving their servants Christmas presents in boxes on the day after Christmas.
• Evergreen trees had special meaning in winter to people, particularly in Europe, before Christianity started. Ancient peoples would hang evergreen branches over their doors and windows because evergreens were believed to ward off witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. For worshipers of the sun god, evergreen plants were a reminder of all the green plants that would grow with the return of summer and the sun god being strong again.

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• In ancient times, many people worshiped the sun as a god in December because they thought winter occurred yearly because the sun god had fallen into ill health. They therefore celebrated the winter solstice because it was a sign that the son god would begin to regain strength and return to good health. 
• Legislators in Congress did business on Christmas Day in 1789, which was the first one to be observed under the country's new constitution. The reason for the Congressional session was because it had become unpopular then to observe and take part in English customs following the American Revolution. And when Christmas celebrations were barred in Boston earlier in 1659 to 1681, it became a costly thing to be seen participating in any event or activity related to Christmas. Anyone caught doing so had to pay five shillings.

Christmas Carols

The tradition of caroling and Christmas carols is believed to have originated in England when wandering musicians would go from town to town and visit castles and other homes of the rich to give impromptu performances. But there also is the belief that singing carols at Christmas likely came from the group of angels, shepherds and Wise Men who visited Jesus at his birth, because they worshiped the holy child, sang and proclaim praises unto Him. And after their visit, they continued their proclamations in the street.

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The origin of the word carol however, is thought to come from the word 'caroller,' which is a French word that describes a circle dance with singers. And from the twelfth through the fourteenth centuries, the carol was highly popular as a dance song. The use of carols then evolved to festivals where they were sung as processional songs and others were used as part of religious mystery plays in Europe. Some traditional qualities of a carol was that the words expressed should celebrate a topic that was seasonal, have verses and a chorus arranged alternately and have music that was suitable for dancing.

Although many of the carols that are now popular at Christmas time are very old, there are others from earlier times that didn't survive. During the 17th century when the Protestants, led by Oliver Cromwell were in power in England, many Christmas caros were banned and consequently some were never heard again. The Christmas carols that survived the Protestant Reformation period didn't become very popular again until the mid-19th century to the start of the 20th century.

Many of the Christmas carols that were banned, and early Christmas carols in general, had lyrics that expressed joyous and merry themes instead of the serious somber words found in church hymns. During the time when carols were banned, some composers and musicians wrote non-religious songs that had highly varied choral music, which they called carols, for Christmas. After Christmas carols again became popular, many of those songs were re-arranged with new Christian lyrics and used by the church.

Making changes to Christmas carols continues in a different way today with pop artists singing the carols to different tunes and melodies to give them a style that characterizes the particular artiste. Having Christmas carols with tunes of contemporary or popular music of today means that they are also more likely to survive because younger listeners will be interested in hearing any music that is done by their favorite or other popular singers.

The popularity of Christmas carols in the United States increased in the 19th century, as it did in England, because many of the traditions related to Christmas came to the United States from England. The United States and England also have closely linked religious observances, which also accounts for the popularity and similarity of Christmas carols that are enjoyed in both countries.

Today, radio stations are the first to play Christmas carols, usually starting toward mid-November, to signal the coming season.  At the start of December when the Christmas season official begins, mall stores and other retail establishments will begin to pipe Christmas carols and songs through their places of business.

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The singing of carols at churches, schools, and by groups performing at malls usually will be a common sight starting in early to mid-December. Carol singing as a part of Nativity plays and concerts at churches and schools is usually in full swing by mid-December as the Christmas season gets into high gear and the countdown to Christmas Day begins.




Whether it's the traditional tune or popular makeovers of Christmas carols that you enjoy, listening to them is part of an old Christmas tradition. And any version of a Christmas carol that is played will serve the purpose of putting you in a festive mood for Christmas that you may even want to dance, just like the music of original carols was meant to do.

Christmas Lights

It's only fitting, perhaps, that along with the magic of Santa Claus at Christmas, holiday and Christmas lights also came about through the work of a wizard - the Wizard of Menlo Park in New Jersey - as Thomas Edison was called. It was Edison who first developed and demonstrated an incandescent electric light bulb in 1879 that had commercial potential, an event that led the way for the mass use of electricity and lights on Christmas tree as used today.

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Before the discovery and use of electricity, candles were used to light Christmas trees. That practice evolved into having glass covers with candles inside them or metal lanterns that had small wicks. These were hung like ornaments on Christmas trees. But even after Edison invented the incandescent electric light bulb, it took many years before the large-scale manufacture of Christmas tree lights were available commercially.

It is said that the idea of Christmas lights came from one of Edison's assistants, Edward Johnson. In 1882, Johnson had Christmas tree bulbs made especially for him. He displayed these electric bulbs on his Christmas tree at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City and it drew widespread attention. But Christmas tree lights underwent many changes and improvement before General Electric Co. introduced Christmas lights on a commercial scale. As an example, among the earlier lights used on Christmas trees were night-lights that were strung together to make light strings. After the commercial introduction of Christmas lights, sales and wide-scale use of them soared.

Decorative mini-lights to be used for Christmas tree lighting were introduced in the 1970s. Since then, they have continued to be popular and are the dominant types of Christmas tree lights in the marketplace. Before that, icicle lights were introduced as decoration for rooflines.

Those decorative lights are the most popular ones used for outdoor landscape lighting during the holidays.

Outdoor decorative lighting has evolved from Christmas tree lighting to also become a popular way to use colorful lighting during the holidays to create spectacular scenes.

Another development in decorative lighting at Christmas time is the use of candles. Real candles can be used, but electric candles became more popular and safer because they present less threat of a fire hazard. Today that threat has also decreased with the development of flameless battery candles. The battery operation also makes their use more flexible because they can be placed in areas where there aren't electrical outlets. Candles are usually displayed at several windows of a house during the holidays. They produce an appealing look especially if there are at least two sets of three windows each other where they can be placed.

Battery-operated candles can also be used during Christmas and the holidays for other activities such as caroling, church services, school activities and for other holiday arrangements around the home.

As Christmas lights have become a mandatory feature of the holidays, they are continually being used in new ways that differ considerably from their early beginnings. Outdoor lighting is now just as common as indoor lighting and that is an area in which a change in the use of holiday lighting can be seen. Along with icicle lights that illuminate rooflines and frames of houses, there are also lights that are placed in shrubs. Holiday lighting also comes in the shape of trees and other ornaments that can be placed on lawn to enhance the visual appeal during the holidays.

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Many lawns are landscaped by lighting during Christmas and the holiday season with lighted figurines and various other items associated with the season. In some communities, entire blocks of streets will have such elaborate holiday lawn lighting that they attract passersby and even tourists - residents from elsewhere - who are captivated by the spectacular visual displays of the landscaped holiday lighting.

Decorating Strategies At Christmas

With so much decorative choice at Christmas, a strategy is needed to ensure that whatever is done looks organized, well arranged and beautiful, and not haphazard and disorganized. By doing some basic or traditional decoration, along with trying creative and different ideas, a beautiful and pleasing decorative environment can be created in all homes.

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Traditional decorating ideas include using wreaths for doors or entranceways and on a wall with unobstructed view. Garlands can be placed along surface where they can be hung vertically or horizontally. And Christmas lights can be used by itself or with garlands, in shrubs and of course on Christmas trees.

Using Christmas lights outdoors along the frame of houses and icicle shaped ones to decorate the roof lines of homes have become very popular. Icicle lights are just as easy as regular lights to put in place and they create a very pleasing display for the holiday season. Adding color to these outdoor light displays can also make houses and the lighting display look more spectacular.

For indoor lighting, candles have become an attractive Christmas decorative item as they can light up the night in a subdued but beautiful manner. Candles create a pleasing look when displayed at windows if there are at least two sets of two or three windows directly above each other, which is in a vertical pattern. New technologies with candles have also made them safer to use. There are electrical candles but also battery-operated ones that can be used safely instead of electrical ones or in places where there aren't any electrical outlets.

There are also creative ways to use and incorporate various items around the home to make Christmas decorations. Christmas or holiday ribbons can be used to make bows that are pinned onto curtains to provide a festive look and a creative Christmas decoration. Like curtains, houseplants can also be dressed up for the holidays. Small Christmas ornaments can be gently placed on houseplants to give porches, patios and front lawns a surprising Christmas decorative look.

Although many people don't use Christmas stockings anymore to stuff Christmas gifts, they can still be used to create perfect Christmas decorations. A collection of Christmas stockings can be hung on the mantle, shelf or a wall with or without anything inside them. They will look just as beautiful as those that are often seen in stores.

Christmas lights can also be wrapped along with garlands on a banister or stair railing to add a twinkling Christmas look.

Mistletoe can also be hung just about anywhere with or without Christmas lights. If the tale about mistletoe is believed however, then it should be hung somewhere with room underneath where two people can have a friendly holiday kiss or even a hug. Fake snow can also be sprinkled on garlands, mistletoes and wreaths to further enhance their appearance with something from the Christmas season.

And to borrow a decorative feature from department stores, several differently sized boxes can be wrapped, piled in a haphazard manner and placed in a corner from floor to ceiling to make a gift pillar decoration.

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Old Christmas cards can also be used for decoration by cutting pictures from them to make a collage. The pictures are then glued onto a poster board that can be framed or hung as is on a wall as Christmas decoration. Even Christmas cookie cutters can be put to an easy, simple and creative use as a decorative item at Christmas time. A ribbon can be used to string two or three or even single cookie cutters that can be placed on the Christmas tree or at a window as decorative ornaments.

Any home can therefore be decorated to be appealing for Christmas and the holidays, given the many ideas and ways that Christmas decoration can be done.

About Christmas Decorations

The various types of decoration used at Christmas are what gives a pretty and sparkling look, and what puts some splendor into the season. The Christmas tree with its myriad decorations is a standard and central decorative element of Christmas. But the presence of the Christmas tree is also enhanced by decorations such as wreaths, garlands, lights and figurines.

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Wreaths have a round or circular shape and are often used as the decorative piece on the front of a door. Variations of wreaths include berry, grapevine, poinsettia and snow. The berry wreath will have individual and small clusters of red berries, holly leaves with features like a gold tint, pine cones and needle styles. A grapevine wreath has a vine-like look and may have pine sprigs and clusters of red berry.

Poinsettia wreaths showcase leaves that are red or different shades of red, and may have glittered fruits such as pear, apple and grape clusters throughout its structure. Based on the size of a poinsettia wreath, it may also have large or small pine cones, pine sprigs and holly leaves. And then there are snow wreaths that have an icy look from pine cones that are sprinkled or covered with snow and which are scattered throughout the wreath.

Garlands are primarily used to decorate stairways, banisters and mantels. Garlands also have variations such as those that have a lighted Christmas tree look with twinkling lights and tiny ornaments or tinsel to sparkle. Others such as a mixed needle lighted garland would have branches of wide and thin pine needle and Christmas lights.

Christmas lights come in various forms and are also used in numerous ways to make homes and business places shine and sparkle during the holidays. Christmas lights may be colored or plain, may or may not twinkle, and may be single-stringed or have multiple strings to be hung to create a look like icicles, which makes them very flexible in how they can be used.

To beautify houses during the Christmas season, Christmas lights may be strung around the roof line, in shrubs, placed at windows to form different patterns and placed on patios or porches to hang as icicles. Lighted candles are also used in windows to make them visually appealing.

Another type of lighted decoration seen during Christmas is in the form of figures that are placed on lawns. It's a matter of personal taste that decides how many figures to place on lawns, whether a lot or a few pieces or sometimes just a single one may be attractive enough.

Christmas trees are the standard decorative elements that are mandatory during the season. They may be real or artificial and can be placed inside or outside.


If placed outside, they should be lighted and also in a sufficiently lit but subdued lighted area to maximize their visual beauty. Christmas trees are wonderful to decorate because the entire family can participate in the decorative process by placing the ornaments, baubles, lights and tinsel on the tree. Some ornaments may even be personal, such as hand-made items or treasured keepsake mementos. When these are placed on the tree every year, it can become a tradition that is kept in the family and which creates a special memory as each Christmas comes around.

Poinsettia flowers, with their flaming red leaves, are also a staple decoration at Christmas time. They can be placed wherever it's suitable to place plants. Poinsettias are commonly used around offices in general and personal work spaces during the Christmas season.

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If there's snow and a lucky 'White Christmas,' especially on Christmas Day, then it's worth it to bundle up and with the children jump into the snow to make a 'Frosty Snowman.' While a smiling snowman on a lawn is a temporary decorative feature during Christmas, it's always a surprise and delight because it means that children were out playing in the snow and having fun.

Given the many types, variations and ways in which Christmas decorations can be used, everyone can have some pleasure and be creative in arranging some form of Christmas decoration to add their own sparkle and twinkle to the holidays.

Christmas Games and other Fun Activities

Maybe no other single activity really embraces camaraderie, playfulness and fierce but friendly competition as heartily participating in playing indoor games with friends and family. Christmas games does all those things but also serves the purpose of bringing friends and family together to interact directly with each other in a competitive and happy way.

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Participating in Christmas games is another way of sharing, but it is also doing something tangible to get into the festive, jolly and relaxed mode for the holidays. Otherwise, its easy to get caught up in all the preparation and shopping and become ridden with anxiety. Here are some holiday and Christmas games that will cause fierce but friendly competition and leave everyone in a jolly mood.

For the 'Gift Wrap' game, items needed will be small gifts, wrapping paper, scotch tape and music that can be turned on and off at will. Each gift item is wrapped in several layers of paper. The number of layers used will depend on the duration you want the game to last. A gift is given to the group which should start passing around the gift when the music starts. Whenever the music stops, whoever has the gift should remove one layer of gift wrap. This continues until the last layer of paper is removed. Whoever has the gift unwrapped gets to keep it.

The items needed for the 'Sock Guessing' Christmas game are two or three thick new thermal socks, items used or seen during Christmas, pens, pencils and paper. Each sock is stuffed with  20-25 items that are used or seen during the Christmas season. These can be useful items such as scotch tape, ornaments, decorations etc. Each sock should have the same items and the opening should be tied with a ribbon so the contents inside aren't visible.

The socks are then passed around for each person to try to feel and guess the items then write down what they think is in the sock. The person with the most correct guesses of objects is the winner and can be awarded a separate special gift or token.

The 'Gift Grab Card Game' needs two deck of cards and a few small Christmas gifts that are wrapped to look very interesting and enticing. One deck of cards is passed out one at a time to guests. Each should have an equal number of cards from the deck. The gifts are then placed in the center of the group. Someone then calls out cards from the second deck. Whoever has an identical card gets to choose a gift. When all the gifts are taken, everyone can steal gifts from each other until the deck is finished and those with gifts get to open and keep them as prizes. The fun increases when the stealing begins because everyone will have different ideas about which gift looks interesting and try to hang onto it by stealing it over and over if it is stolen. Some people will also try to disguise the fact they have a gift, although they should be kept in sight.

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A children's Christmas game is 'Pin the Nose on the Reindeer,' which is the Christmas game version of 'Pin the tail on the Donkey.' The items needed are a drawing of a reindeer's head with an incomplete drawing of the nose and several noses with the names on one side and tape on the other. The picture should be placed against a wall so that children can reach the nose. Each child then gets a nose.


They take turns being blindfolded spun around a couple times to disorient them a little then told to walk to the reindeer and place the nose on the picture. The child who places the nose closes to the reindeer's nose wins.

A delightful Christmas game for work is the 'Match the Desk to the Item' game. A day or so before the Christmas party at work, someone needs to secretly take one item from each person's desk and assign a number to each item. At the party, all the items are displayed for everyone to guess whose desk the item belongs to.

Holiday Parties at Home

It can be very satisfying to cater to friends, families and loved ones during the Christmas holidays. Taking the time to share food, fun and laughter in a happy, jovial manner truly embraces the spirit of Christmas.

In deciding to have a party at home, one of the first things to consider is whether it will be formal or informal. Among the key things that need to be considered are the number of people to attend, the menu, the preparation of food and arrangement of decoration that is attractive and has themes for the holidays. It's also important to make a note of how much, if any, help will be available from friends or family members.

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A formal Christmas party likely would include a small number of people - not more than 12 and likely fewer - who would be seated at a table for the duration of the meal. It means that place settings and seating have to be done and a decision made on whether the meal will be a three- or four-course dinner.

The advantage of a formal dinner is that it is very organized, it has a known content and everyone around the table usually engages in pleasant conversation. It also usually provides a good opportunity to get to know and hear from everyone present without having to initiate any small talk, which some people are not comfortable doing.




As the host of a formal dinner, you will also have the responsibility of keeping the meal flowing smoothly by having each course brought out at the perfect timing and to also be aware of any special needs that a guest may have.

In contrast, an informal Christmas party at home is organized in a different manner and does not have the predictability of a formal one. The fun and festive spirit of an informal holiday party comes from groups of people who mill around, move about freely to have conversations, laugh and enjoy munching on Christmas treats, goodies and other foods.

Despite the easy, fun-filled atmosphere, it is necessary to plan the use of space and to think about the area that people will use or wander around. Making such a plan will facilitate contact between partygoers so that the party spirit will pervade everywhere and put participants in a livelier mood.





Another consideration to make for an informal Christmas party among friends and family is if children will be present and about their ages, if they are allowed to attend. Children, even older ones, always need careful supervision.

If children are going to attend a holiday party at home, arrangements should be made for adequate supervision of them and special activities should also be provided that can occupy their attention.

An important feature that must be a part of a festive Christmas party at home is the right mix of music. In selecting Christmas music, consideration should be given to what will be played at the start of the party as guests are welcomed and introduced to each other, the songs that can be played later to inject or enhance liveliness and later to create the right mood as the partygoers bid farewell with 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy Holidays.'

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Along with the music, Christmas decorations and even the food can also help to enliven a Christmas party at home. Food that is interesting because it looks 'pretty' due to the color palette of items, infuses a mellow feeling among guests and adds an intangible element to the level of enjoyment and excitement of the partygoers.

Christmas parties at home can also be personalized with special cookies, treats and dishes that are ethnic. The presence of some ethnic food, but not an overwhelming quantity, which isn't frequently enjoyed by guests will be different and will add something that is unique to the host. And that is a part of what a Christmas or holiday party at home is about. It's to entertain family, friends and acquaintances with a personal style while all enjoy some merriment in the season of goodwill and good cheer.

Holiday Parties at Work

During Christmas and the holiday season, the festive spirit and relaxed mood even extends into the workplace where the pace is likely to slow considerably as the volume of work is lessened. By having parties at work, everyone can unwind a bit, have some fun and enjoy the satisfaction from the results of a year of hard work. Colleagues at work can celebrate goals that have been accomplished and look forward to an even more rewarding year.

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Parties at work during Christmas and the holidays may include a voluntary gift exchange and individuals have to make a decision whether or not they will participate in it. In a situation where an individual may not know other colleagues very well and is unsure what Christmas present to give, it may be better to opt out of exchanging gifts. If the party and gift exchange is among a fairly large group, such as company-wide or of several departments, it may not be noticed if someone doesn't participate in the gift exchange. If it's a small group however, it is likely to be noticed. To eliminate the possibility of any negative talk regarding non-participation, it would likely be better to be among those agreeing to exchange gifts.

A basic thing to remember in selecting gifts for Christmas gift exchanges at work, which are usually called Secret Santa, is to not choose anything that could be considered inappropriate or offensive. Although the sender won't be revealed, it won't leave a good feeling and it will become the topic of conversation among everyone.

Separate from the 'Secret Santa' Christmas gift exchange at work, it may also be a good gesture to give Christmas presents, which can be small tokens or even just candies or treats, to colleagues in a division or department if you are the respective leader or manager. Such a gesture shows thoughtfulness and that the work of individuals has been appreciated. It will be a good note on which to end the year and to start a new one.

Another important thing to observe during Christmas parties at work is good behavior that is considered casual but still business-like. Although there will be much fun and laughter, it will still be occurring within a work environment or within the parameters of work. So, individuals will still be observed by their colleagues. It is of utmost importance to be careful about how much drinking is done, or how much alcohol is consumed, because drunken or any offensive behavior will not be tolerated and could have negative repercussions on one's career.

The consideration of good etiquette is also something to be remembered and observed at holiday parties at work. As examples, talking and laughing with food in one's mouth, emptying a platter of delicious hors d'ouevres or bagging candies, cookies or treats to take home are all considered poor etiquette.

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A Christmas party at work can also provide an opportunity to have a brief conversation with supervisors, managers and other company officials whom one may not come in contact with frequently. It can be the ideal time to leave a good impression on a key decision maker. By introducing yourself and striking up a conversation, it is also putting a face to a name or making yourself known and standing out among fellow colleagues.

For those who are strivers and who want to advance such interactions at work holiday and Christmas parties can be beneficial and advantageous.

It's therefore important to keep in mind that while Christmas parties at work are fun, there are still ways to inconspicuously seek some benefit while you laugh and enjoy a break from the stress, competitiveness and daily routine of work.