Christmas Parties

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Christmas parties are something that most people look forward to all year long because they are a joyful gathering of friends, family, great food, and shared memories. There are lots of things that probably go into your Christmas parties such as preparing food, having a good music selection, sending out beautiful invitations, creating or buying Christmas table arrangements, or preparing your home for overnight guests. The great thing is that you can make your home look very festive without spending a lot of time or money on it, so that you can spend more time visiting with your guests and catching up with many people that you may not have spent much time with since your party last year.
Christmas crackers.Christmas crackers, cookies, and some simple foods will make feeding your guests quite simple. If you want to have more filling foods, you might want to consider having the party catered or purchasing pre-cooked foods so that you do not have to worry about cooking great food for you and all of your guests to eat at your party. If you really want to have homemade food at your Christmas parties, you may want to have some friends or family members come over and help you prepare the food and make a tradition out of that as well

. Or, you can always make your Christmas parties potlucks so that you have a different selection of foods to offer your guests every year and simply say that you’ll provide the Christmas crackers, cookies, and one prepared dish every year but you want help feeding the masses! Most people love potlucks, so you’ll find that most of your guests will be quite receptive to this idea.If you are busy preparing food and Christmas table arrangements and other decorations and you just can’t seem to get your home cleaned, think about employing your kids or a neighbor to help you get things tidied up quickly. Just one extra pair of hands can help you get the job done in a lot less time. Or, create a checklist for yourself that will help you get a few things done each day before your Christmas parties so that you do not have stress about cleaning the day of your party.If you want Christmas table decorations as well as other decorations to make for your party, the Internet and craft stores offer many great ideas for Christmas crafts that will make your home look even more festive. Just hanging strands of garland on your door frames is a simple and inexpensive way to make your home look great for your Christmas parties, so don’t think you have to spend a ton of money to make your home look great. A great Christmas party table decoration is to simply buy a pre-decorated wreath to place on the table and then find a great scented candle to put in the middle of it. If you have a large table you might think about placing more than one on the table.Christmas parties should be a lot of fun, so don’t let yourself get stressed out as you plan for the party in your home. Some of the best Christmas parties are that way because of great planning and because the hostess isn’t afraid to be thrifty and even ask for help. Christmas is about bringing family and friends together to have fun, not to stress you out! So focus on enjoying friends, family, and fun at your next Christmas party!

Christmas On A Budget Activities

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Many families are facing financial crunches this year, with job layoffs, skyrocketing costs of gasoline, and the general all around increase in the cost of living. It is important to continue to give children the wonder and enjoyment of the holidays even when budgets scream to skimp. There are plenty of ways to bring holiday cheer to your home and not spend a lot of the green stuff. Here are some simple holiday pleasures to get your creative juices flowing.Make use of holiday craft ideas to decorate your home, make homemade gift-wrap and also to make homemade presents. Learn a new skill like sewing, crocheting or knitting so that you can make homemade gifts. Bead making is another popular craft that is ideal for presents.Sometimes you can discover a gift idea that your child really wants, that is within your budget such as an item that they are collecting, or a kit that they can make. Elementary school aged kids are especially into collecting and kit making.Take advantage of free holiday programs your community may be sponsoring this season. Parks, zoos and nature centers will often times have special holiday programs that are free to attend or participate in.

Make sure you pick up community flyers and notices.Kids love to do family activities together, especially during the holidays. Do activities like having a "cookie factory" day. A cookie factory day is when you purchase cooking fixins ahead of time, have you recipes ready and then designate a Saturday for all family members to gather around the kitchen table to make several batches of holiday cookies. Its fun to bake cookies together and afterwards you can set aside a plateful of cookies to munch with hot cocoa in front of a holiday TV program.A great holiday tradition around here is to go Christmas caroling around the neighborhood. You can also go to a community nursing or residential home and sing carols there. The elderly are often lonely during the holidays and would love to have visitors sing Christmas songs to them.Take some time during the holidays to help out those less fortunate then you by volunteering at a community soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or other needy project. You may consider asking your local hospital for individuals that may need to have some cheering up and visit those in the hospitals who may be away from home or whom are without relatives.Remember your furry friends during the holidays and visit animal shelters bringing with you extra blankets or little chew toys. Sometimes you can volunteer to walk the dogs there or play with the animals in cages that need exercising.

Christmas Games and other Fun Activities

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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.
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.
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.

Christmas Activities for Children

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While adults indulge in the festivities and revel in enjoying the spirit of
Christmas, undoubtedly it is more fun for children because they are able to lose
themselves in the wide-eyed wonders and glorious splendor of the season.
Activities at Christmas that children can enjoy include all of the sights,
sounds and scents that put the magic and a festive spirit into Christmas.
At major shopping centers like malls, children can enjoy various window displays
and arrangements inside stores that show Christmas sceneries.  The displays,
which can be moving, stationary or interactive, can be so numerous and
mesmerizing that parents often arrange a trip to such malls just for children to
view the many displays. Shopping malls are also a popular place where Santa Claus is sure to be found.For a small fee, children can get to sit or stand with Santa Claus, talk with
him and most importantly, get a picture taken with Santa.

Those children, like
pre-teens and teenagers, who may be too old for Santa Claus can also be
entertained by the various grand Christmas displays as well as one of their
favorite activity - shopping.Various colorful and twinkling lights is certain to be a part of the displays at malls and shopping centers, but other arrangements of Christmas lighting can
also be a delightful activity for children to enjoy. Because Christmas displays
have become so common, everyone has some form of lighting arrangement at their
houses. This has led to neighborhoods where it is common to see an increase in
traffic during the Christmas season because of the fanciful, landscaped displays
of outdoor Christmas light decorations. These usually include figures of
reindeers, Santa, sleighs, angels, shepherds and animals that are a part of the
story of Jesus' birth. It can therefore become an activity to take a tour of
these neighborhoods with children for them to feast their eyes.In a similar manner to the grand Christmas lighting that can be found in some neighborhoods and the occasional home, there are also themed-lighting at quaint villages and special large, Christmas light displays at venues like some public parks. The displays can be similar to those seen in neighborhoods except that
they are usually on a larger and grander scale. As an example, a typical home
lawn display will have a Christmas display that includes Santa, a sleigh and a
reindeer or two all as separate pieces. A Christmas display at a themed-village
or park would have a large and possibly moving display of Santa Claus with elf-
like figures in a sleigh that is being pulled by reindeers as one big structure.
These Christmas sights are what often bring out the wide-eyed wonder in children
as their faces express awe and amazement.While children will have a beautifully decorated Christmas tree at home to enjoy, it will also be fun for them to go to other lightings of Christmas tree
because again, those trees are usually bigger and decorated on a grander scale
than the ones in their living rooms at home. Just about every town, city or
municipality will have a Christmas tree lighting in a central location.
Sometimes local firehouses will also have a special Christmas tree lighting. At
these events, children can see a local official or personality flip a switch to
symbolically turn on the Christmas tree, in a similar like they would have seen
the President do on television. Those local events are likely to include Christmas treats and goodies, a Santa Claus to present Christmas gifts to children and the singing of Christmas
carols. Taking time out to engage in activities just for the enjoyment of children will
make them feel special, experience the magic of Christmas and create memories
that will last a lifetime.

Significance of Christmas Eve

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The day before Christmas is one that is filled with a mixture of anxiety
and anticipation. There's anxiety at putting all the final plans and finishing
decoration touches in place and getting all the necessary shopping done. There's
also much anticipation about all the merriment and excitement of Christmas day.
Children are usually hardly able to control themselves as they think about the
Christmas gifts they hope to get the next day. They may try to stay up through
the night to catch Santa Claus, or they may just be too excited to sleep.Christmas Eve is also important for the simple reason that in ancient custom, and among some cultures today, a holiday or other celebrated day really starts from sundown of the day before the actual day that is celebrated.
Therefore, festivities  and observances for Christmas Day would really begin on
Christmas Eve.One of the most significant aspects of Christmas Eve however, is related
to religion. Attending Midnight Mass or earlier church services is mandatory for
many people whose religion is Christianity.

This is so even for people who
aren't regular churchgoers during the year. Evidence of the importance of these
church services can be seen in the overflow of congregations at the churches.
Many churches will also have an added service earlier in the evening to
accommodate the above normal attendance, and also for individuals like the
elderly who would prefer a service that is earlier than Midnight Mass.Another important aspect of Christmas Eve celebrations is related to retail operations. On the day before Christmas, stores make a last ditch effort to push sales of Christmas and other merchandise. There often are special
promotions last-minute advertised to capitalize on late, desperate Christmas
shoppers and other impulse buyers. This last effort is also aimed at increasing
sales for the Christmas period.Some stores will remain open late, even up to midnight or just before
midnight. Macy's department store in New York City, which bills that particular
store branch as the world's largest, stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve
of 1867 for the first time. Christmas Eve culminates the single biggest shopping
season, which started the day after Thanksgiving, for retailers.Christmas Eve is also important for the traditions associated with it. It is the night when parents have to play the role of Santa Claus and sneak toys and other Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree to the absolute delight and
surprise of children who awake on Christmas morning to find the presents.
The idea of Santa Claus coming descending chimneys on Christmas Eve to leave
gifts for good boys and girls was made popular by a poem, attributed to Clement
Clarke Moore. In that poem titled 'An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, '
which Moore wrote in 1822 and which is now popularly known as 'Twas the Night
Before Christmas,' Moore described Santa Claus as 'a right jolly old elf' who
went from house to house with his sleigh pulled by reindeers flying through the
air to deliver Christmas presents to all the girls and boys who had been well
behaved.Food plays a big role in making Christmas Day special and much of its
preparation often begins on Christmas Eve. Poultry and other meats are often
prepared by letting them stand in a mixture of various herbs and spices,
puddings and pies are baked on Christmas Eve, as well as a fresh batch of
gingerbread and other cookies and treats. The scents and flurry of activity related to all these preparations also help to make Christmas Eve a memorable day on its own.

Yuletide Days of Old - Ancient and other Customs of Christmas

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Christmas as a holiday period was instituted and celebrated at about the same
time as other winter solstice festivities because church leaders at the time
believed that would make more people participate in the new holiday period. That
objective was achieved, but people also carried over some pagan celebrations and
traditions into the religious Christmas celebrations.As an example, people would attend church and then take part in a raucous, drunken and carnival-like celebration, that has some similarities to Mardi Gras.During this celebration every year, there would be a crowning of a beggar or student as the 'lord of misrule.' Those taking part in the activities would
pretend to be loyal subjects to the 'lord of misrule,' During this time some of
the poor would also visit the rich in their houses and ask for some of their
best food and drink. Those among the rich who didn't cooperate would be subject
to rowdy behavior and mischief by the poor. For their part, the rich used
Christmas as the time when they would reach out to the poorer members of society
by tolerating them in such visits or by leaving out food and clothing for them.
For many centuries before the birth of Christ and the recognition of Christmas,
there had always been celebrations in many countries during the middle of
winter. During the darkest days of winter for example, the early Europeans were
said to celebrate light and birth. The winter solstice was a period of rejoicing
for many people because it meant that the worst part of winter was over and they
could therefore look forward to having days that were longer with more hours of
sunlight.In that tradition, the Norse peoples in Scandinavia would celebrate a period of
Yule from Dec. 21, which was the winter solstice or start of winter, through
January. To recognize the re-emergence of the sun, fathers and their sons would
take large logs home and set them on fire. There would then be a big feast until
the log was completely burned out. That could take as much as 12 days to happen.
The custom also was one of hope for the Norse because there was the belief among
them that every spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be
born in the New Year.

Many parts of Europe also thought that the end of December was a perfect time to
celebrate because during that time, a lot of cattle would be killed to avoid
having to feed them during winter. For many people, the end of December was the
only time during the year when they had a significant amount of fresh meat. By
that time of year also, wine and beer that was made earlier in the year would
have fermented and be finally ready for drinking. The tradition of Santa Claus has also been an ancient legend with slight differences or variations in olden days from the 1700s in some countries.  In German and Switzerland, children who were well behaved would receive a Christmas
present from Christkind or Kris Kringle. Christkind, which means Christ child,
was believed to be an angel-like figure that went along with St. Nicholas on his
holiday journeys to deliver gifts.A jolly elf by the name of Jultomten was believed to deliver presents in Scandinavia in a sleigh that was pulled by goats. And in France, Pere Noel is
the one who fills the shoes of French children with Christmas gifts, sweets or
treats at Christmas time.In Russia, there's a legend that Babouschka was an elderly woman who gave
incorrect directions to Bethlehem to the three Wise Men so that they wouldn't
find Jesus. She later felt sorry for doing so but couldn't find the Wise Men to
tell them about the error. Today in Russia, it is believed that on Jan. 5, the
day before the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, Babouschka visits Russian children
and leaves presents by their bedsides in the hope that one of the children will
be Baby Jesus and will forgive her.

Your Holiday Money Could Cost You Dear

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Lisa Taylor from moneyfacts.co.uk comments on the options available to travellers when spending overseas and the costs that consumers should be but are sometimes not aware of.“Whether planning a summer holiday or jetting off for Easter, consumers are keen to check the costs when it comes to choosing the hotel, flights, insurance, and airport parking, but tend not to use the same level of consideration when choosing the cheapest option when it comes to their spending money.“With each provider charging varying fees which are not immediately visible and often not fully appreciated by the consumer, it is a potential minefield to find the ‘best’ deal, and this becomes much worse as we consider the outside influence of exchange rates.“Consumers have three main options, the traditional travellers cheques and currency, debit cards or credit cards. Amex has also launched into the prepay card arena, with a card designed for overseas travel, but the rest of the industry is yet to catch on.“Traditional cheques and currency are still popular with many travellers and offer a competitive market place for providers.  Commission free deals are becoming easier to find particularly for currency and currency travellers cheques, where there is still scope for profit by means of discounted exchange rates.“Unfortunately without plenty of leg work by the consumer, it proves a difficult market in which to compare deals. Providers offer varying commission deals, but without taking into consideration the exchange rate it is impossible to decipher the ‘best’ overall deal.Moneyfacts complies a full list of providers detailing charges, offers and delivery details, which can be found at www.moneyfacts.co.uk“The competitive nature of the market reinforces the message that there is profit to be made, even when offering 0% commission. Large institutions such as NatWest and HSBC are offering free prize draws as an means to entice customers to buy their holiday from them.

“After finding their chosen provider, in many cases the consumer has a much more flexible choice, than was previously available, with the ability to order online, on the telephone and the option of home or branch delivery. But do beware; these do sometimes come at a cost.“Credit cards are becoming an increasingly popular method of payments and withdrawing cash abroad. Many of us do not realise that, when using a credit card abroad, the card issuer adds on a foreign usage loading; this can be as high as 2.75%. That means a consumer spending £1,000 abroad would be charged £27.50.“There are however a few exceptions to this rule within the market, including Nationwide and Saga who do not charge for usage anywhere in the world.“ In addition, if withdrawing cash overseas, consumers will also be charged a cash withdrawal fee, which can be as high as 2.5%. So withdrawing £1,000 cash could cost you as much as £52.50.“Debit cards also come attached with foreign loadings up to 2.75%, cash withdrawal fees and in some cases an additional per item charge for purchases, tucked away in the small print, giving customers a nasty surprise when the statement hits their door mat. Any consumer looking to rely solely on a debit card would be well advised to consider Nationwide, the only provider not to impose cash or purchase fees.”

Yes Virginia, Even in the 21st Century There Is Still a Santa Claus

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He is a figure known the world over, an endorsement for gift giving, the winter holiday season and cookie eating. At times he is called Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas or Kris Kringle and is arguably the most famous heavyset celebrity - well at least to precede Elvis Presley. Yes, he is the loveable, enduring and jolly old chap we call Santa Claus. In 1897 one little girl from Manhattan, at the urging of her father, took it upon herself to ask the New York Sun Newspaper once and for all if the man in the red suit was the real deal.Countless numbers of letters are written to newspapers all around the world each year, and few if any, will ever see a moment of fame beyond the readership of their respective dailies. However, over a hundred years ago a simple letter comprised of only the words, “I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it's so”. Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?” would go on to become one of the most enduring symbols of North America’s take on Christmas.One day in September 1897 (historians speculate that the question arose not in December as one might expect, but in September, because this would have been shortly after the new school year had commenced and children would have already been turning their attention to Christmas) young Virginia O'Hanlon approached her father, Dr. Philip O'Hanlon (who worked for a coroner’s office), with the sort of innocence only the very young are able to possess. She likely asked in a small but inquisitive voice if the rumours of her school chums were correct, was Santa Claus fake? Now not knowing for sure how tense the air got in the room at that moment when Mr O’Hanlon’s only child asked him to debunk or concur with the tale of St. Nick, we can only assume that he did not have the heart to break the truth to her himself.

And so the letter (and its reply) that would go to become almost as much a symbol of the Christmas season as Santa himself was born.Off Virginia went to write a letter at her father’s suggestion, which she mailed herself, to the New York Sun newspaper where its answer was assigned to an ex-civil war correspondent turned newspaper editorial writer by the name of Francis Pharcellus Church. Story has it that Mr Church was not exactly jumping for joy at the assignment, but he took the child’s letter back to his desk and proceeded to write one of the most stirring tributes to Christmas that has ever graced the pages of any newspaper.Perhaps it was the atrocities of war he had witnessed firsthand, perhaps it was his own desire to believe in Father Christmas, or perhaps it was exactly what he would have said had anyone asked him if Santa was real, but that day Francis Church wrote an earnest, dramatic and nearly poetic response to Miss O’Hanlon’s query. In no short terms he assured her that indeed Santa Claus, or at the very least the unshakable spirit and message of Saint Nicholas’s image were as real as anything else on earth.Though at the time it ran in the New York Sun it was but the seventh editorial on its page, this candid, lively and touching response would go on to find its way into the hearts and Christmases of millions of people, spanning many generations since the 1890’s.
In fact both the letter and its answer are reprinted in oodles of newspapers around the globe every year, a modern tribute and testimony to Virginia’s, Francis Church’s and Santa Claus’s contribution to the timeless beauty, wonder and magic of Christmas.

Work At Home Moms - Save Money This Holiday Season

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As the holidays approach, many work at home moms begin feeling a sense of dread --
* How will we afford gifts? 
* Will I start the new year even further in debt? 
Saving money is the same as making money, in my opinion. Either way, you'll have more money in your bank account. Here are a few ideas to help you save money this holiday season as well as earn a little extra cash. I hope these help give you some hope heading into the holidays.
Save on Advertising Expenses
Reduce your Advertising Budget. I hear so often from moms who are using paid advertising as their sole method of promoting their online businesses. Advertising is great, but it is just one of the many ways to promote your business. Enhance your exposure with some of the free ways to promote your business, from press releases and articles to more effective networking. Make an effort to stretch beyond your comfort zone to try new ways to draw more traffic to your website.
eBay - List it Now 
People are spending money like crazy this time of year. List all your extras on eBay to earn a little extra cash for the holidays. Outgrown clothing, toys that your kids don't play with, movies, books -- all the items currently taking up space in your home could put cash in the bank. Plus, by cleaning out the house, you'll have more room for the new
goodies that Santa brings.
Bartering 

Have you tried bartering? You can trade products or services with other work at home moms that you meet. If you have a talent with writing or website design, trade with a mom in Direct Sales for products. It benefits both of you. The mom receives much needed help with aspects of her business that she may not enjoy or care to learn - and gets rid of extra inventory. She may also receive an ongoing customer from the barter, once you fall in love with her products. And, you receive products that you can give to loved ones for the holidays.You do not need to start the new year further in debt. Plan your business promotions, barter for gifts, and sell your excess stuff. The holidays will be much more enjoyable, knowing that you took efforts to make them affordable.

Why Can't Everyday Be Like Christmas

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You have all probably heard the song made famous by Elvis Presley called “Why Can’t Everyday be Like Christmas” (words & music by Red West). For many of us the Christmas season is a special time to share the warmth of love and laughter with those we love. The sad thing is that many people find Christmas a very lonely time of year.  They have no family left or friends are few and busy with their lives and families of their own. There are many different circumstances that people find themselves in that make Christmas not the happy time that the rest of us enjoy.Have you ever stopped to wonder what it is that makes Christmas time so special?  Is it the gifts?  Is it parties? Is it the hustle and bustle of trying to find that perfect something for the one you love?To be very honest with you, there have been years when I have had plenty of money (not rolling in the dough mind you ) and there were other years that we were just not as fortunate.  Those were the hard years when I didn’t have the money to go and buy the special gifts for my children. I remember how badly I felt knowing that their friends were getting the latest toys and I luckily had some gifts given to me from the society for the poor.  My point in telling you this is so that you will understand where I am coming from.I would not like to relive the poor years again, BUT, I did learn a big lesson.  Christmas is not in the packages.

CHRISTMAS IS IN THE LOVE THAT IS SHARED.
Love is not something that needs a special day to express itself. Giving love to others is not dependant on your bank account either, nor does it take weeks of your time to prepare for. Love is such a simple gift and yet so easy to give. A simple smile given to a stranger, or a friendly hello…these are little gifts of love that can be given on a daily basis. The funny thing about giving freely of love is that it is not like money that diminishes as you use it. No, love actually replenishes itself and grows as you give it unto others.  What a wonderful thing love is !Let us remember to keep the spirit of Christmas with us all through the year and then we can make every day like Christmas for those around us, the rich and poor, the healthy the sick…Little acts of love committed to daily can change your world and those around you.Yes, everyday can be just like Christmas if we keep the spirit of love and giving of ourselves to others.

Who Stole The Spirit Of Christmas

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Once again it is the time of year where it is impossible to forget that Christmas is just around the corner, we see advertising on our TV’s, in the shops, on the radio and we read about it in magazines and newspapers, but what is Christmas all about? How have things changed since the time that Christmas began?Originally Christmas was all about Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus, now it has become a time where the kids are looking forward to seeing what Santa has left for them in their Christmas stockings and under the Christmas tree.Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) was a wealthy man who gave gifts to poor who were struggling financially, however, he didn’t want them to know where the gifts had come from, so he gave in such a way so the folk would find his gifts but not know who gave them, hence the myth about Father Christmas. However, for many people nowadays, Christmas has become a time where families worry about the cost of Christmas rather than looking forward to the occasion.  The temptation to take out loans and credit cards can prove to be irresistible with the thought of Christmas costs looming and how they are going to afford it.Having said that, people do like to celebrate Christmas, it is a time for families, parties and celebrations, however, the costs involved are still a major factor of the celebrations. The purchasing of decorations, food, drink and spending on travel all adds to the cost proving that Christmas is the most expensive time of year for families in the UK. The Association of Payment Clearing Services (Apacs) said they expect the total UK spending in December to be a staggering £48.7bn, a rise of 11% on last years spend in that one month!  Free debt advice agencies such as Payplan ( www.payplan.com ) say that the amount of enquiries they usually experience in December is significantly less in comparison to other months throughout the year, however February is the time they receive the highest amount of enquiries, due to debtors denying the true cost of Christmas until they realise their finances have been crippled.The figures reflect what happens in the credit industry in the months surrounding December.

People take out loans or spend on credit cards in order to keep up with the costs of Christmas and then look for ways to deal with their finances in the New Year. A survey conducted by Payplan in 2003 showed that over 45% of people were still paying for presents bought in 2002.Already people who use debt forums are talking about how they are feeling the pressure of Christmas and looking for ways to ease the stress and find ways to cope with Christmas costs without adding to their existing debt problems.  “It’s just a bit of a depressing time for people trapped in debt!!” said one poster, “The true sprit of Christmas has been hijacked by marketing and advertising people and whipped into a three months spending frenzy “ said another.Marketing and advertising make their job of easing the costs very difficult, but they are determined not to get into more financial difficulty because of the price tag on Christmas, “I have been buying stocking fillers for the children in sales when I see them and I have told all family my limit is £5 each as they are token gifts and its the thought that counts. All my family have more disposable income than I do. So with such a small budget I have been doing alot of shopping around. “Christmas needs to be a time to put smiles on peoples faces, not to cause stress and difficulty in trying to keep up with all the costs put before them in order to enjoy, what should be a happy occasion. “Christmas is about family and I hope my family understand that it is better to have a token gift rather than get me in debt again.”

What You Can Do To Make Your Holidays More Meaningful

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This Holiday Season should be the most meaningful and fulfilling time of year. We should feel warm, loved, and above all, be happy.But studies show year after year that isn't always the case. While millions of people enjoy the holidays, many more start feeling down in the dumps. Why? There are several good reasons.The Christmas season in the United States became commercialized about 150 years ago when large stores realized they could pull customers in with big Christmas specials. Buying and giving gifts became a huge part of Christmas.All the gift buying could be your favorite part of the season, but a growing number of us report we spend too much, go into more debt, and don't feel all that great about it afterward.By January 1, you may feel like lots of good things were SUPPOSED to happen to you, but never did. The result can be an unpleasant case of the winter blues.Through all the hubub, you can forget the season is REALLY supposed to be about loving and helping others. A clergy person and charities will probably remind you loving others is what the holidays are about, but somehow that all gets lost in the rush to give gifts and party.

My message to you this Holiday Season is to take a little time out of your very busy schedule to help someone in need. You do more good than you'll know, and YOU will feel great about it.This could be as simple as giving a few cans of food to your local food bank so a hungry family can eat, or leaving still wearable cloths at a drop box, or inviting an elderly or single acquaintance to share dinner with your family.The impact on these individuals in need can be vast. Not only will people be getting the nutrition, clothing, and shelter they so often desperately need, they'll feel like someone cares.And knowing someone cares about you could well be the most important thing we can posses. Going through life knowing you're down and out and, even worse, no one cares, is a devastating thing that pushes people even lower.The holidays can worsen the situation by making people who are living alone feel even more alone. When you wake up on Christmas morning remembering when you had a family happily gathering around the tree, but now you have no one -- well, that's one of the hardest things in the world.I, along with helpful volunteers, run a coffeehouse ministry on Long Island, NY. Each Thanksgiving everyone comes down to help prepare dinner for those who would be ALONE on this important day. People stream in to be part of the event. You can't imagine how many people struggle and would have been by themselves..They leave here like "family."As Christmas and New Years approach, do what you can to help someone. I guarantee your holidays will be more meaningful.

What You Can Do To Make Your Holidays More Meaningful

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This Holiday Season should be the most meaningful and fulfilling time of year. We should feel warm, loved, and above all, be happy.But studies show year after year that isn't always the case. While millions of people enjoy the holidays, many more start feeling down in the dumps. Why? There are several good reasons.The Christmas season in the United States became commercialized about 150 years ago when large stores realized they could pull customers in with big Christmas specials. Buying and giving gifts became a huge part of Christmas.All the gift buying could be your favorite part of the season, but a growing number of us report we spend too much, go into more debt, and don't feel all that great about it afterward.By January 1, you may feel like lots of good things were SUPPOSED to happen to you, but never did. The result can be an unpleasant case of the winter blues.Through all the hubub, you can forget the season is REALLY supposed to be about loving and helping others. A clergy person and charities will probably remind you loving others is what the holidays are about, but somehow that all gets lost in the rush to give gifts and party.My message to you this Holiday Season is to take a little time out of your very busy schedule to help someone in need. You do more good than you'll know, and YOU will feel great about it.This could be as simple as giving a few cans of food to your local food bank so a hungry family can eat, or leaving still wearable cloths at a drop box, or inviting an elderly or single acquaintance to share dinner with your family.The impact on these individuals in need can be vast.

Not only will people be getting the nutrition, clothing, and shelter they so often desperately need, they'll feel like someone cares.And knowing someone cares about you could well be the most important thing we can posses. Going through life knowing you're down and out and, even worse, no one cares, is a devastating thing that pushes people even lower.The holidays can worsen the situation by making people who are living alone feel even more alone. When you wake up on Christmas morning remembering when you had a family happily gathering around the tree, but now you have no one -- well, that's one of the hardest things in the world.I, along with helpful volunteers, run a coffeehouse ministry on Long Island, NY. Each Thanksgiving everyone comes down to help prepare dinner for those who would be ALONE on this important day. People stream in to be part of the event. You can't imagine how many people struggle and would have been by themselves..They leave here like "family."As Christmas and New Years approach, do what you can to help someone. I guarantee your holidays will be more meaningful.

What to Do When You Are Alone for the Holidays

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Being alone for the holidays is a major challenge for many people. Holidays often conjure images of family, of warmth and the sharing of special time. Loneliness can be overwhelming when you have no one with whom to share holiday time.Many people, however, miss the point of what holidays are really about and what makes them special. Holidays are not about what you GET – they are about what you GIVE. Many people are under the misconception that the joy of holidays is about what you receive rather than about what you share. Our hearts get filled with love when we give and share love, rather than from getting love.This may seem like a paradox. Many people spend their time with others attempting to get love, attention and approval, thinking that this is what makes them feel happy and worthy. But getting attention from others to fill ourselves is like eating chocolate when you are lonely – it works for the moment but then you need more and more of it. Eventually it becomes an addiction.What really fills the emptiness is the giving of love. If you are alone over the holidays, the question becomes, “How can I give love in ways that will bring me joy?”Below are some suggestions for sharing your love and caring over the holidays:

 * Gather toys from friends and store donations and bring them to children who would not otherwise have toys. You can find these children through schools, churches and various other organizations.
* Find a battered women’s shelter in your area and help to create the holiday there – preparing food, decorating the tree, and just spending time with them. Last year a friend of mine organized a number of her local markets to donate food over Christmas to the local shelter that housed mothers and their children who had left abusive husbands. She got to know the mothers and children and received great fulfillment in providing them with an abundant Christmas.
* Spend time with old people in nursing homes, especially those who have no family. Spending time caring about another lonely person will go a long way toward taking away your loneliness!
 * Volunteer to help with serving food to the needy over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many churches and other charitable organizations welcome volunteers to help in food lines over the holidays.
* Locate a retreat center near you that has a special event over the holidays and share your time with other people who are also alone for the holidays. Last year a friend of mine, who had just left her husband and was alone for the first time with no family around her, went to a beautiful retreat center on the East Coast. Twenty people gathered there to share Thanksgiving together. There was a wonderful ceremony of gratitude that she said filled her heart, and she enjoyed sharing time with new people.
 * Find a church, temple or 12-step group in your area that has special events for singles over the holidays. Go to these events with the intention of sharing your caring with others, which you can do just by being interested in listening to another person. We all love being listened to and understood, and all of us have the capacity to give this to another.One of my all-time favorite movies is “A Christmas Carol,” – the one starring Alistair Sim. I just love the scene on Christmas morning when Scrooge realizes that no time has passed and he has the opportunity to give. He feels such joy at the prospect of giving, that he can hardly stand it! He dances around and stands on his head and laughs and laughs with the joy of giving! In one night he went from being a miserable old man concerned only with getting, to a man now focused only on giving, and he became a joyful person.While you might not have money to give, we all have caring to give. You have no idea how much you might enrich your own life as well as another person’s life just by giving your time, your attention, your interest, your smile, your understanding. Whatever your life circumstances, you always have the opportunity to give your caring. You will discover that giving your caring to others, especially over the holidays, is a profound way of caring about yourself.

What Makes Christmas Magical

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Christmas is a special time of the year for the joy and intangible magic
that fills the season. It comes through in the delightful decorations, glorious
get-togethers with family and friends and the sheer feeling of joy one gets from
giving and receiving gifts. Although the commercialization of Christmas is often decried, shopping is an important and central activity to some of the intangible magic of Christmas.
It is at the malls or downtown stores that some of the favorite sights, sounds
and scents of Christmas can be experienced. The decorations at Malls and retail establishments are usually very fanciful and eye-catching, especially to children, with the many colorful and
twinkling lights. It's also a wonder for both adults and children alike to look
at the numerous tinsels, baubles and figurines such as fairies, angels and
little babies that adorn the main Christmas tree in the center of shopping malls
and others in department stores.

These trees are usually extremely well
embellished with decorations that are arranged in a very professional way that
most shoppers can't replicate in their own homes. It's therefore a delight for
them to stare at such trees in wonder and amazement.Along with the wide variety of decorations in retail establishments, there also is the sound of music playing, bells ringing, the laughter and wishes of Merry Christmas from shoppers that also create a special atmosphere and add to
the magic of Christmas. Even the sound of cash registers in the background adds
something to the special feeling shoppers have at Christmas time.And of course there's always a Santa Claus that children can meet and tell
what they want for Christmas, and also have their picture taken. Sometimes Santa
Claus may distribute Christmas gifts to children, telling them that because they
have been very, very good they are getting an extra special early Christmas
present.The ability to delight children by telling them stories about Santa Claus,
as well as making them see and talk to the jolly old fellow, puts a lot of magic
and excitement into Christmas. Once the tradition is started, or from the first
time that children have been told the story, it becomes something that they look
forward to every year during the Christmas season.There's also the sound of music from choirs or school groups who often give open performances singing Christmas carols and songs in malls and downtown areas of towns. Families and others who are out and about will pause to listen
or to sing along with these groups. Shopping is undoubtedly an enjoyable activity for most people during Christmas, but merrier and more memorable times are enjoyed when time is spent with family, friends and colleagues during the season. Before Christmas Day arrives, there
usually are parties at home and at work, an evening out with friends and other
occasions to get together and share the spirit of Christmas. The presence of
special Christmas music and people dressed in holiday attire provide a different
atmosphere and contribute to the magical feeling of the season.Another thing that is different at Christmas is the scent from a fresh Christmas tree, of gingerbread and other cookies baking and other food preparations that are specially done at Christmas time. Most people who select a
real Christmas tree instead of an artificial one for their homes do so because
of the wonderful scent it provides. For many people, that scent from a Christmas
tree is what puts Christmas into everything else.Another popular scent at Christmas comes from the popular Christmas song 'Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire.' The actual roasting of chestnuts by
families during the Christmas season may be a rare occurrence these days but it
is occasionally done in some downtown areas and in bakeries and confectioneries
that make fresh products everyday.All these events, activities, happenings, sights, sounds and scents of Christmas and the holidays create special and unforgettable memories. And who can deny
that a pleasant memory is always something that is truly magical.

What Makes Christmas Magical

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Christmas is a special time of the year for the joy and intangible magic
that fills the season. It comes through in the delightful decorations, glorious
get-togethers with family and friends and the sheer feeling of joy one gets from
giving and receiving gifts. Although the commercialization of Christmas is often decried, shopping is an important and central activity to some of the intangible magic of Christmas.
It is at the malls or downtown stores that some of the favorite sights, sounds
and scents of Christmas can be experienced. The decorations at Malls and retail establishments are usually very fanciful and eye-catching, especially to children, with the many colorful and

twinkling lights. It's also a wonder for both adults and children alike to look
at the numerous tinsels, baubles and figurines such as fairies, angels and
little babies that adorn the main Christmas tree in the center of shopping malls
and others in department stores. These trees are usually extremely well
embellished with decorations that are arranged in a very professional way that
most shoppers can't replicate in their own homes. It's therefore a delight for
them to stare at such trees in wonder and amazement.Along with the wide variety of decorations in retail establishments, there also is the sound of music playing, bells ringing, the laughter and wishes of Merry Christmas from shoppers that also create a special atmosphere and add to
the magic of Christmas. Even the sound of cash registers in the background adds
something to the special feeling shoppers have at Christmas time.And of course there's always a Santa Claus that children can meet and tell what they want for Christmas, and also have their picture taken. Sometimes Santa Claus may distribute Christmas gifts to children, telling them that because they have been very, very good they are getting an extra special early Christmas
present.The ability to delight children by telling them stories about Santa Claus,
as well as making them see and talk to the jolly old fellow, puts a lot of magic
and excitement into Christmas. Once the tradition is started, or from the first
time that children have been told the story, it becomes something that they look
forward to every year during the Christmas season.There's also the sound of music from choirs or school groups who often give open performances singing Christmas carols and songs in malls and downtown areas of towns. Families and others who are out and about will pause to listen
or to sing along with these groups. Shopping is undoubtedly an enjoyable activity for most people during Christmas, but merrier and more memorable times are enjoyed when time is spent with family, riends and colleagues during the season. Before Christmas Day arrives, there
usually are parties at home and at work, an evening out with friends and other
occasions to get together and share the spirit of Christmas. The presence of
special Christmas music and people dressed in holiday attire provide a different
atmosphere and contribute to the magical feeling of the season.Another thing that is different at Christmas is the scent from a fresh Christmas tree, of gingerbread and other cookies baking and other food preparations that are specially done at Christmas time. Most people who select a
real Christmas tree instead of an artificial one for their homes do so because
of the wonderful scent it provides. For many people, that scent from a Christmas
tree is what puts Christmas into everything else.Another popular scent at Christmas comes from the popular Christmas song 'Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire.' The actual roasting of chestnuts by
families during the Christmas season may be a rare occurrence these days but it
is occasionally done in some downtown areas and in bakeries and confectioneries
that make fresh products everyday.All these events, activities, happenings, sights, sounds and scents of Christmas and the holidays create special and unforgettable memories. And who can deny
that a pleasant memory is always something that is truly magical.

Wallpapers For Holidays - How To Chose Free Desktop Wallpapers?

Desktop wallpapers for holidays are a great treat for the eyes during the holidays. These wallpapers add color and festive spirit to the computer screen. Whenever you look at your desktop, you get to see a lovely wallpaper with lovely colors, designs and text. That feeling cannot be easily described.
Desktop wallpapers and holidays - The holidays bring their own fun and festivity. Imagine your mood during Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving and other such holidays. Your mood is totally different. Your heart is full of joy and your thinking is very positive. you avoid thinking about all stresses and negatives in life during holidays. That mood is reinforced with Desktop wallpapers.

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How To chose wallpapers - Avoid exe Files. All the static wallpapers are in JPG format. Whichever site offers direct images to set as wallpaper, use that and avoid exe files. Such files with wallpapers may carry ad-ware or spyware. If that is not present, then download and use it.Design - Please remember that you will be using the wallpaper on your screen. The design should not trouble you in locating your icons. Therefore select designs where the images are more prominent on the right side of the screen. This will give you enough free space on left for icons.
File weight - Desktop wallpapers do not consume much CPU usage. So you need not worry about your system getting overloaded.Bring holiday spirit on your desktops with holiday wallpapers. They are a joy to watch. You can also send your selection to your friends and family. Enjoy with these free downloads.

Christmas in the United States and Canada

Many of the celebrations in the United States that are associated
with Christmas were traditions brought by German and English
immigrants. Along with the well-known and practiced tradition of a
brightly decorated Christmas tree, other traditions brought by these
immigrants include Advent calendars, Christmas greeting cards,
gingerbread houses and gingerbread cookies.
Christmas in the United States today can be seen as focused              

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around family, travel, shopping and decorations.Family and travel go together during Christmas in the United States because family members often have to travel fairly long
distances to be with each other at one location. The growth of cities
that have primarily economic activity, suburbs for residences, as well
as the fact of different industries being found in certain geographic
locations, are among the reasons that family members often live great
distances from each other in separate states.Christmas and its festivities therefore present a wonderful opportunity for many members of the family to gather in celebration and
see each other in an intimate setting. The traveling involved makes the

Christmas season a busy time of the year for rail and air travel. The occasion of seeing many family members at Christmas is also linked to the activity of shopping that is an important feature of
Christmas in the United States. The Christmas season officially begins
on the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday and which now
ranks second in shopping for a single day to the Saturday before
Christmas.Much of the shopping that is done is to purchase gifts for
friends and family. Gifts for family members are usually exchanged
after dinner on Christmas day, when everyone gathers in the room with
the Christmas tree. Gifts are usually left at the base of the Christmas
tree in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Gifts may also exchanged before Christmas at parties held by friends and parties held at workplaces.Second to gifts, shopping is also done at Christmas for
decorations. While the Christmas tree may be the centerpiece of
attraction, garlands, wreaths, candles and decorative lighting placed
outside on lawns or along rooflines are also used to create a beautiful
holiday appearance for homes.Canadians enjoy Christmas activities that are similar to those
celebrated in the United States. That is so because in the 1700s when
some German immigrants in the United States migrated to Canada, they
continued to practice many of the activities associated with Christmas.
The geographical proximity of the two countries also means they share
many things, so similarities in Christmas traditions wouldn't be an
exception. One thing that accounts for the difference between the two
countries however, is the Eskimo population in Canada. Eskimos in
Canada celebrate a festival during winter and have other traditions
that are absent from American Christmas celebrations.A practice also exists in Nova Scotia in which small groups of masked individuals march around about two weeks before Christmas. These
masked groups attract attention by creating stir with much bell ringing
and engaging in a noisy caper in an aim to get candy, sweets and
goodies from onlookers.This tradition bears some similarity to Jonkonoo celebrations in
the neighboring islands of the Caribbean. Those celebrations also
involve masked individuals, including some that appear on stilts that
make them as tall as trees. The parade of Jonkonoo regale onlookers
with various antics and present a minor scare to some children, who are
then calmed with candies and other treats.In Nova Scotia, onlookers can try to calm the noise and rowdiness just a little if they can correctly guess the identity of the masked
person. A correct guess puts an end to the noise as the mask is
removed, exposing the individual. For their part, maskers also play
nice by friendly nudging answers from children about whether they have
been naughty or nice and handing out candies and treats accordingly.

Twelve Things You Never Knew About Christmas

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The former Woolworth department store first sold manufactured Christmas tree ornaments in 1880.

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5. 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.
6. 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.

7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.

10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

Turn Holiday Hassles into Holiday Happiness

All too often we look forward to the Holidays only to become overwhelmed, stressed out and ultimately lose our joy. Here are a few things you can do to stay in the spirit of the season and enjoy it to its fullest.First, ask yourself and your immediate family, how would you most enjoy celebrating the holidays? This question will help you figure out what is most important to you about celebrating the holidays. It will also help you determine if you may be stressing yourself with false guilt, "should do's" and fears of disappointing others. Take some time to talk with your family about what is really important to you and to them. Often times when we stop to ask the "how question" we discover what we thought was important to others really is not.Next, begin looking at your schedule. Do you realistically have the time to do all the things you would like to and still maintain your sanity! Start by penciling in events on your calendar to help yourself manage your time effectively. Include things like decorating, cooking, shopping and wrapping gifts.Be willing to compromise. For example if you have your heart set on decorating your house like Clark Griswald in "Christmas Vacation," but time is of the essence, consider something simpler or eliminate something else.

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Avoid perfectionist tendencies.For example: you want 12 ounce disposable cups for your party. But, when you get to Wal-Mart you can only find 8 ounce cups. Consider the time, energy and frustration you will expend traveling to other stores, in the holiday traffic, to find those 12 ouncers!

Finally, to turn holiday hassles into happiness you can do some very practical things like: set a budget and stick to it, pay in cash and avoid the New Years credit card blues and choose recipes you can prepare ahead of time. However, if you really want to make holiday memories this year focus on relationships rather than activities. Consider giving the gifts of kindness and service. And keep your mind on the Reason for the Season...celebrate Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all!

Tips to Keep Your Pet Calm During Holiday Celebrations

There's one family member that many people forget about during holiday family gatherings: the pet.

With the hustle and bustle of the season, many dogs and cats get overly excited when friends and family gather. This not only can annoy your visitors, it also can be harmful to your pet.But you don't have to keep your animal crated or locked in a room in order to avoid problems. The following tips

will help your pet stay calm enough to not miss out on the holiday fun:

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* Give your pet an extra workout. According to the American Humane Association, taking your pet for an extra long walk or having a longer playtime can help tire your pet out before the party starts.* Encourage guests to greet with care. As the partygoers trickle in, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals suggests asking your guests to calmly greet your pet. Giving an excited greeting can encourage your pet to do the same.* Relax your pet with a supplement. Many experts say that calming products, such as Pluto Pet's Pet Calming Spray, can help your pet relieve hyperactivity. After two to four squirts in your pet's mouth, Pet Calming Spray acts quickly to relieve restlessness, fear, nervousness and aggression and helps antsy pets sleep throughout the night. 

* Amuse your pet with a toy. To distract your pet from jumping up on guests or getting into things, the Humane Society of the United States recommends using toys as a distraction. For dogs, toys with hiding places for treats are suggested. Catnip toys will keep cats busy.* Reward good behavior a few times during the event. The American Humane Association suggests keeping treats handy. Encourage your guests to refrain from feeding your pet "people food." Using it as a treat can lead to your pet begging for more at your guests' feet.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas is expanding.  It is rapidly becoming a world holiday broadening itself beyond the “christian” belief.  It is becoming a holiday that celebrates the virtues of peace, and charity and good will.  It is a world holiday celebrating HOPE.

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There is so much said on the subject of world peace.  And yet the real solution is so simple.  It begins with acceptance that we are all different, and that different isn’t really bad.
It is an acceptance that, in spite of our own differences, we are all one family of the earth.  It begins with the acceptance of each other as we are, one person at a time.

Christmas is coming soon.  This world celebration of the concept of Peace and Hope.  There is something we can do, something as individuals to promote this celebration and spread the joy of the fruits of Peace all around us.
It is the individual celebration of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”.
In a nutshell, the celebration involves us choosing an individual or family we would like to share this joy with.  Then, beginning on December 13th (the first day of Christmas), we package up a simple gift with a simple verse of greeting.  We take this gift and leave it on the doorstep of our chosen family or individual, ring the bell and RUN!!
The key to the magic of this exchange is that the recipient of the gift is never to know the identity of the giver of the gift.  That is what ultimately makes the exercise so fun and successful!
Continue to deliver a gift to this chosen family or individual for each succeeding night until December 24th (the twelfth day of Christmas), when you encourage this family or individual to share this same experience with someone next year as you have done with them.

This is a tradition my little family has carried on for almost twenty years!  We have enjoyed the mystery and excitement of watching from a distance the happy expressions of those we treat!

Here are a couple of responses left on the porch for us in years past:

“You came for 12 nights
Filled our hearts with delight
We felt Christmas Love
That smiled from above
Loved the joy that you brought
The Christmas Spirit you’ve got
Christmas will never be the same
Because of special gifts that came!

Bless you and yours on this special night, and always and forever know: We love you!”

And another response:

“Thanks so much for making our Christmas so much fun and special.  We have loved your nightly visits and gifts!  We have been touched that someone is thinking of us.  We have felt a little blue every now and then about not being with our family so far away.  But as soon as the doorbell rings and we find another surprise, we forget our blues and excitedly run to see what awaits us!  Thanks so very much!”

For information and suggestions on getting started yourself, e-mail us at nexushelps@gmail.com.

It is amazing what an anonymous gift of joy from the heart can do for the hope and peace of a longing soul!