How to Enjoy the Holidays With Your Relatives

Here are five simple things that will make the next holiday party enjoyable for everyone.

1) Leave Home Without It

Unless you visit like-minded people, leave your private cause at home. Cover the tattoo, remove the nose ring, take out the tongue stud. Similarly, avoid editorials, lectures, and sermons. Remember: it's a holiday party. No one comes to be offended.

2) Make Them Special

Let others talk. Be impressed (or at least interested) with what they say. Ask questions to encourage telling more. Find something to praise. Give your complete attention while listening. Appreciation is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

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3) Detach

Let others be themselves. Accept what people say, regardless how outrageous. Avoid correcting, criticizing, or complaining. Ignore bait that lures you into arguments. Avoid taking things personally. Just say, "Ah, how interesting," and move on.

4) Talk Friendly

Offer compliments. Be positive. Be gracious. Be mature. Find diplomatic ways to express your ideas. Avoid negative words, especially "not," because negative ideas trigger a defensive response. Be a source of solutions instead of complications.

5) Behave

Avoid trick questions ("What kind of idiot would do this?"). Avoid punitive stories that contain hidden insults. Avoid baiting people into arguments. Spend time with people who enjoy your ideas. Realize it is always a bad idea to start an argument.

How to Create the Most Memorable Photo Christmas Cards Received by ALL

Generic, store-bought, holiday greeting cards have served their purpose of sending a festive greeting to those we think about during this special time of year.  Please note that the key word here is ‘served’- past tense is used, for such cards will probably be seen quite soon on a shelf in the Smithsonian under the title, “Antique Holiday Greeting Cards”, as photo holiday greeting cards are taking over.

Amazing advances in computers and photography have made it easier that ever to snap the ideal photo to represent your family to those on your holiday card mailing list.  Digital cameras allow you to take the picture, view it, erase it and retake it within minutes, all before downloading it to your computer or printing it immediately through your printer.

Recent trends have changed from the traditional family photo with everyone dressed in their Sunday Best and set into a proper sort of pose into a more casual themed attire. A shot of everyone, including the dog, all wearing red, Santa-style hats and collarless red shirts create a more playful, everyday sort of look, showing the family as they typically are.

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Each year, thousands upon thousands of would-be photo greeting card senders don’t get the chance, for they were completely unhappy with the finished product.  Maybe they tried to create it themselves on their PC and realized that they weren’t as computer savvy as they had thought (or at least hoped).  When it comes to this once a year symbol, an annual image of your family that will be sent across town and across the globe, there should be no messing around: leave it to the experts.

Of course, there are traits for you to look for in such a company, as you shouldn’t leave this important task to just anyone.  First, find a company that creates unique card templates each year- not one that just changes the year and leaves the same background.  Unless, of course, you choose to have the same template each year and simply change the year and photo for all to see exactly how your family is changing.

Make sure that you have options for the size of your finished card, as well as the finish (matte or gloss) involved.  A better company will have options for the paper other than the finishes, such as an option to have your cards be actual photographs using real photo paper that can be framed and/or scrap-booked by the recipient.

You’ve spent an entire year with your family, but not everyone else has had the privilege.  Creating memorable holiday photo greeting cards is one way to ensure a special place in the hearts of all who receive them.

Holiday Blues Are Just Around The Bend

Holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, are usually the most awaited events of the year. It is a time when families gather for a reunion with relatives and friends. While it is a time for gift-giving and merry-making, it can also be a source of stress and depression. During these times, when the whole world is in a spirit of celebration, there are some people who can only wish there were loved ones nearby to share the season with. Think about the senior citizens in welfare homes, those convicts in jail houses, the doctors and nurses who are on duty and cannot come home to be with their loved ones. There are those whose loved ones are long gone or have recently departed and coping with their loss can be unbearable during this season. Even the loss of job during this time can cause depression. Being hard-pressed to buy presents for loved ones can lead to stress and anxiety.
Keeping humor up and having realistic expectations help a great deal in being in tune with the holiday spirit. The National Mental Health Association recommends that you take care of yourself first and foremost. Setting realistic goals for the holidays and keeping your expectations simple for yourself and everyone else is the key to avoid stress and anxiety brought about by the occasion. Do not make the mistake of spending more than you can afford to avoid facing a huge credit card debt after the holidays that can certainly lead you to more troubles and worries. Since the holidays last for more than one day, pace yourself and spread your activities throughout the season.

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Don't spend the holidays confronting relatives about past conflicts, but instead, extend grace and show kindness to forgive and forget. Holidays are not a good time to tell your parents your hurts for their neglect. If you want to resolve issues, wait till after the holidays to bring them up again. That doesn't mean you should bottle up all your feelings. Seeking out a sympathetic family member or friend can go a long way in keeping your sanity.
 While overindulging on sweets and carbohydrates may feel comforting at the time, the after effects can make you moody later. Same with drinking alcohol to excess. Try to continue your fitness regimen to burn off the calories from the holiday dinner.  If you don't have time to go to the gym, take a long walk with a friend to alleviate some stress.

 For those who don't have close friends or relatives nearby with whom to share the holidays, reaching out to others may make you feel more in tune with the holiday spirit. Try to volunteer help to someone who can't get out to shop, serving food in a soup kitchen, or inviting over other friends who are far away from family may make you feel less lonely.
Be wary of family members who are using more than normal amounts of alcohol, pain medications, or sleeping pills. Be vigilant when someone is acting confused, can't concentrate, seems lost in the midst of family affairs, or can't seem to stop crying.

 Feelings of despair or apathy that don't go away for two weeks or longer may lead to depression and needs professional help. The typical symptoms of depression include a sense of hopelessness, boredom with or lack of enjoyment in activities that were previously pleasurable, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, thoughts about suicide, and difficulty concentrating.
The National Mental Health Association reminds us about life being full of changes. “Consider what is important in your life and the good about these times.” Experience will tell you that those who've had the holiday blues in the past that they usually subside once you jump back into a regular routine.

Give One, Get One: Christmas Cards

Christmas is one of the best times of the year. It is anticipated greatly and loved by all. Some people begin planning for the next year's Christmas at the beginning of January. They think about the parties they will host, the people they will see, and the relatives and friends they will reconnect with. Those who love shopping hunt for the perfect gifts all throughout the year. There are many special traditions that people celebrate around Christmastime. One of the best traditions for many people is the exchange of Christmas cards.

Exchanging Christmas cards is an important part of many peoples' holiday. Because gifts can be really expensive, most people choose to send many people in their life the simple gift of a card. And what a gift a Christmas card can be. A thoughtfully chosen card with a personalized note inside makes anyone feel special around the holidays. If there are way too many people on your gift list this year considering giving unique Christmas cards instead.

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If you are looking for something different or a way to put even more personal touch into your cards, try making your own Christmas cards this year. This way you can choose the papers you like, the colors your friends and family enjoy most, and you can design a card uniquely for each family on your list. Another great benefit of making your own Christmas cards is including your children in the process. Allow them to roll up their sleeves and get creative. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, and family friends will love whatever creation they come up with. Making cards yourself will allow you to save money that we all know is valuable around the expensive holiday season.

Exchanging Christmas cards can be a great way to keep in touch with friends all over the country and the world. As you have opportunities to travel and meet new friends, committing to exchange Christmas cards can be a great way to stay connected even after your travels end. It is a special thing to stay in relationship with people who all come together to celebrate Christmas each year. Rather than sending packages all around the world, you can save money, time and still be thoughtful by sending a card.

And perhaps the best thing about exchanging Christmas cards is just that: you exchange them. Not only to do you take the time and energy to prepare cards for family and friends, but you also can anticipate receiving cards from people near and far. Getting the mail each afternoon can quickly become the highlight of a families' day during the holiday season. You feel loved and valued each time you open an envelope and get to discover the unique and beautiful card that is inside. You can experience the joy and care that your friends and family experienced as they created the perfect Christmas cards for you and yours.

As Christmastime rolls around this year, take time to cherish each important person in your life by creating unique Christmas cards for each of them.

Fancy Tales Related to Christmas

A lot of what is widely regarded as true about Christmas or held as a
tradition cannot or has not been verified, or, has changed through the years.
Even Christmas Day itself, Dec. 25, has been questioned about whether that is
the exact day on which Jesus was born. Skeptics have asked why would shepherds
be out in the cold watching their flocks by night during the winter. Those
skeptics have put forward the thought that Jesus may really have been born in
the spring instead. It is therefore little wonder that there are many fancy
stories and tales that are told about Christmas and the Christmas season.
The most common fancy tale that everyone tells, particularly to children,
is about Santa Claus, also called St. Nicholas. But even if it were accepted
that Santa Claus existed, where does he live and how is he able to get to all
the houses of good boys and girls on Christmas Eve?
In the United States, Santa Claus is said to have two homes. There is a
home in Torrington, Connecticut, which is used as a distribution point for Santa
and his many helpers, who are elves, to hand out gifts. And then, a second home
is said to be located in Wilmington, New York, and that is where Santa Claus and
his delivery reindeer crew are located.
But Santa can be visited in Cyberspace at anytime and what about the
widely held belief that Santa Claus really lives in a village at the North Pole?
The people of Finland also claim that their country is the official
residence of Santa Claus. That's because in Finland, you can actually visit a
village any time during the year and see Santa's workshop and observe Santa and
his elves hard at work as they prepare for their very important Christmas gift
delivery job on Christmas Eve. The only day when Santa's workshop is closed to
visitors is of course, on Christmas Eve.
Maybe a very smart visitor could visit Santa's workshop on the day before
Christmas Eve to see if there are any clues to how Santa and his reindeers plan
to make their trip the next day. That's because as the tale goes, in Finland
Santa Claus and his reindeers do not reach their destinations around the globe
by flying.

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Finland welcomes visitors to Santa's workshop but there is nothing said
about whether visitors actually have any chance of having a word with the man
himself. While the chances of doing so are believed to be non-existent, among
the questions that inquiring minds could ask Santa is whether Rudolph is the son
of Donner (and to confirm the spelling - Donner or Donder) or whether Santa
spotted him in a different reindeer village one foggy Christmas Eve when he had
already started on his Christmas toy-delivery mission.
If mere mortals got a chance to question Santa, then he also would likely have
some questions for us humans. He may want to know whose idea was it to have
Christmas trees and for the gifts to be placed under them.
The tradition of Christmas tree as it exists today comes from Germany by
way of immigrants. But it isn't clear how the tradition really gained a foothold
in Germany. One story is that Christians in Germany during the 16th century
started to bring trees that were decorated into their homes. Some of those
Christians would build pyramids for Christmas. The pyramids were made of wood
and would be decorated with evergreens and candles if wood was in short supply.
It is however Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, who is said to have
been the first to add lighted candles as decoration to a tree based on his
inspiration from the brilliant light of twinkling stars that shone through
evergreen trees as he walked home one winter evening.
As the legend goes, Martin Luther placed a tree in a primary room of his
house and placed wires with small, lighted candles around the branches of the
tree. And that is how, as the tale goes, the Christmas tree as known today, was
started.

Don't Have a Cow This Holiday Season -- Give One

Want to give a meaningful gift that won't be forgotten or stashed away after the holidays?

Heifer International, an organization working to fight hunger worldwide, has a solution: livestock.

By donating a sheep, cow or any other farm animal in honor of a loved one through Heifer International, you can help impoverished families get the resources they need to get out of poverty and become self-reliant.

The farm animals provided by Heifer International give families wool, milk, eggs, transportation and other necessities. Families can sell their surplus products and use the money for school supplies, medicine, farming supplies and housing improvements.

A goat, for example, can supply a family with several quarts of milk each day. Extra milk can be sold by the family or made into cheese, butter or yogurt.

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Heifer International also provides llamas, water buffaloes, heifers, chicks, ducks, geese and hives of honeybees - to name a few.

Here is how to set your gift in motion:

1. Contact Heifer International to receive a free gift catalog.

2. Request a unique gift card that you can personalize and send to your honorees, describing the generous contributions you've made in their name.

3. Revel in the joy of knowing that, thanks to your gift, a struggling family is on the road to self-reliance.

4. Watch your gift multiply. Every receiving family promises to "pass on the gift" of its animal's first offspring to another family in need. Thanks to this act, entire communities can lift themselves out of poverty.

Christmas Trivia Quiz

Christmas Quiz

1. Which Christmas tree fact is NOT true?
A. Artificial Christmas trees have outsold real ones every year since 1991.
B. Nova Scotia leads the world in exporting Christmas trees.
c. Franklin Pierce was the first president to decorate an official White House Christmas tree.
D. The Christmas tree was chosen to represent this holy holiday because it's shape points the way to heaven.

1. Which Christmas tree fact is NOT true?
D. The Christmas tree was chosen to represent this holy holiday because it's shape points the way to heaven.
QQ: OK, so maybe it's true, but the QuizQueen can't prove that fact, as reasonable as it sounds, because it wasn't in any of the literature she dug up for this quiz.

2. Can you name the popular Christmas song that was actually written for Thanksgiving?
A. Jingle Bells
B. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
C. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
D. Away in the Manger

2. Can you name the popular Christmas song that was actually written for Thanksgiving?
A. Jingle Bells
QQ: The song was composed in 1857 by James Pierpont, and was originally called One Horse Open Sleigh.  When you think about the words make a lot more sense that way…

3. Electric Christmas tree lights were first used in what year?
A. 1865
B. 1895
C. 1905
D. 1932

B. 1895
QQ: American Ralph E. Morris had the bright idea that electric Christmas lights would be safer than using candles.

4. Good King Wenceslas was king of what country?
A. Bohemia
B. England
C. Germany
D. Morocco

4. A. Bohemia.
QQ: Who knows why those Bohemians always get such a bad rep? Although, history has it that Wenceslas, who lived in the 10th century, was only a Duke, not a King at all.

5. In 8971, the New York Sun newspaper wrote a famous response to a little girl's question: "Yes, _______, there is a Santa Claus."  Can you name that girl?
A. Mary
B. Charlotte
C. Vidalia
D. Virginia

5. In 8971, the New York Sun newspaper wrote a famous response to a little girl's question: "Yes, _______, there is a Santa Claus."  Can you name that girl?
D. Virginia
QQ: Virginia O'Hanlon to be exact! Shame on you, if you missed it.

6. Can you name Scrooge's dead business partner from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol?"
A. Jacob Marley
B. Tiny Tim
C. Bob Cratchett
D. Old William

6. Can you name Scrooge's dead business partner from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol?"
A. Jacob Marley
QQ: The first of four spirits to appear to Scrooge that fateful Christmas Eve was that of Jacob Marley, his old business partner.

7. One of the pagan traditions that Christians have incorporated into their Christmas celebration includes hanging mistletoe.  Which of these is NOT a former pagan belief?
A. Ancient Europeans believed that the mistletoe plant held magical powers to bestow life and fertility as well as protect against disease.
B. French girls used to slip branches of mistletoe beneath their pillows to dream of their future husbands.
C. The Celts believed mistetoe brought about peace and goodwill.
D. Northern Europeans associated mistletoe with the Norse goddess of love, Freya and developed the custom of kissing underneath mistletoe branches.

7. One of the pagan traditions that Christians have incorporated into their Christmas celebration includes hanging mistletoe.  Which of these is NOT a former pagan belief?
B. French girls used to slip branches of mistletoe beneath their pillows to dream of their future husbands.
QQ: That was a tough one, wasn't it?  The QuizQueen is soooo clever…

8. While today the Christmas tree is an enduring symbol of the season, it wasn't always a holiday tradition.  Which historical fact is NOT true?
A. According to legend, Martin Luther, the founder of German protestantism, while walking through the forest on Christmas Eve was so moved by the starlit fir trees he brought one indoors and decorated it with candles to remind his children of God's creation.
B. In 1841, Prince Albert of Germany gave his wife, Queen Victoria of England, a gift of a Christmas tree. This was reputedly the first Christmas tree in England, but the custom quickly spread.
C. German immigrants brought the Christmas tree to Europe, the United States and Canada, where it soon became a popular tradition.
D. On a bet, 11-year-old P.T. Barnum started hawking trees in Connecticut in 1821, telling his marks they were all the rage.  Soon the fashion spread throughout the country and it became tradition, thus establishing his maxim "There is a sucker born every minute."

8. While today the Christmas tree is an enduring symbol of the season, it wasn't always a holiday tradition.  Which historical fact is NOT true?
D. On a bet, 11-year-old P.T. Barnum started hawking trees in Connecticut in 1821, telling his marks they were all the rage.  Soon the fashion spread throughout the country and it became tradition, thus establishing his maxim "There is a sucker born every minute."
QQ: Good 'ole P.T. Barnum did try to sell just about everything, and may in fact have sold Christmas trees, but I doubt he sold them at that age!

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9. Many people are familiar with the term "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but not everyone knows where it originated. Can you pick out the right explanation?
A. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the number of days Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem.
B. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the length of time that the three wise men from the East traveled to reach Baby Jesus after his birth.
C. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the number of reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh.
D. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the length of time required to celebrate Good King Wenceslas' birthday.

9. Many people are familiar with the term "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but not everyone knows where it originated. Can you pick out the right explanation?
B. The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the length of time that the three wise men from the East traveled to reach Baby Jesus after his birth.
QQ: And you thought you didn't learn anything practical in Sunday school?

10. Who hasn't wondered what "wassail" is and why people would request it at Christmas. Let's see if you can guess…
A. Wassail comes from the Old Norse "Ves Heill" and means "to be of good health," so when neighbors would visit on Christmas Eve they would drink to each other's health.
B. Wassail comes from the Old German "Ves Heill" and means "to avoid Hell," so loved ones would share this sentiment with each other on Christmas Eve in preparation for the birth of Christ.
C. Wassail comes from the Old Celtic "Ves Heill" and means "drink up" so is naturally associated with all party occasions.
D. Wassail comes from the Old English "Ves Heill" and means drink of the angels and eventually became associated with Christmas.

10. Who hasn't wondered what "wassail" is and why people would request it at Christmas. Let's see if you can guess…
A. Wassail comes from the Old Norse "Ves Heill" and means "to be of good health," so when neighbors would visit on Christmas Eve they would drink to each other's health.
QQ: Sometimes The QuizQueen can be very, very silly.

11. Everyone loves to receive them, but dreads performing the annual holiday ritual of sending Christmas cards. So who do we NOT have to thank/blame?
A. Medieval Europeans who exchanged wood prints of religious themes for Christmas.
B. English illustrator John Calcott Horsley who created the first modern Christmas card in 1843 that depicted a family celebration with the caption "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You."
C. German-American printer Louis Prang who made advances in color lithography allowing him to mass produce colorful Christmas cards in 1875.
D. Desmond Hallmark who had a surplus of cards left over from Arbor Day depicting a fir tree and decided to unload them by the box by simply printing Merry Christmas across the trees in red ink.

11. Everyone loves to receive them, but dreads performing the annual holiday ritual of sending Christmas cards. So who do we NOT have to thank/blame?
D. Desmond Hallmark who had a surplus of cards left over from Arbor Day depicting a fir tree and decided to unload them by the box by simply printing Merry Christmas across the trees in red ink.
QQ: While all except poor Desmond can be held responsible, The QuizQueen truly blames Louis!

12. Remember that fuscia sweater Aunt Edna knitted for your Christmas present last year? Don't blame Aunt Edna, she's not the one who started the Christmas gift giving tradition, so who is?
A. Those three wise men who visited the stable where Jesus was born.
B. The ancient Romans who exchanged gifts to bring good fortune for the new year.
C. Mark Antony who was always looking for new ways to please Cleopatra.
D. The ancient Greeks who sought to placate the gods on Mount Olympus.

12. Remember that fuscia sweater Aunt Edna knitted for your Christmas present last year? Don't blame Aunt Edna, she's not the one who started the Christmas gift giving tradition, so who is?
B. The ancient Romans who exchanged gifts to bring good fortune for the new year.
QQ: Of course, Aunt Edna is to blame for choosing that color. You can't blame the Romans for that.

Christmas Trivia Questions - Who Are You Mr. Claus?

Just about everyone in the world knows that jolly toy-bearing Christmas figure from the North Pole, but how much do we really know about him?
Here are a few quick trivia questions about our beloved Santa brought to you by  www.247trivia.com.

Q: Where does the name Santa Claus come from?

A: The name Santa Claus was derived from Sinterklaas, the Dutch term for the ancient Christian figure of Saint Nicholas who was famous for his generosity to the poor (more about him later). The Dutch immigrants to America imported their gift-giving saint to New Amsterdam where he merged with his British counterpart, Father Christmas, to become America's own Santa Claus.

Q: everyone knows that Santa lives in the North Pole, but where is the real St. Nicholas from?

A: St. Nicholas who many consider to be the inspiration for modern Santa Claus was born in Patara around 275AD. Patara is located in present day Turkey, on the Southern Mediterranean coast in what is today an international tourist resort area where visitors spend hours basking in the warm Mediterranean sun. Certainly not a place you would want to be wearing fur coats in.

Q: If you really wanted to find St. Nicholas today, where would you go looking?

A: You may enjoy a trip to the North Pole, but if you really want to honor St. Nicholas, you would do better by heading towards Italy, where the remains of St. Nicholas are stored in the basilica of St. Nicola in the city of Bari. They have been there since the 11 century when they were, uh… borrowed… from their previous resting place in Myra in present day Turkey.

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Q: Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and his companions take Santa on his rounds completely airborne. How is it that reindeer can fly?

A: Many people believe that the tale of flying reindeers (as well as other parts of the Santa story), originates from Lapland in modern day Finland. Some say that in Lapland reindeer had a habit of seeking out the hallucinogenic amanita mushrooms which they ate and then would prance around while under their influence. As these mushrooms are quite toxic, it was regular practice for local shamans to drink the urine of tripping reindeer for a "safe high" and then "fly" together with them. This could also explain the general cheerful disposition (with the "ho ho ho" and all), and the flushed red cheeks of today's Santa.

Q: Where did Santa get his unique outfit?

A: While it's no secret that the marketing people of Coca Cola have a lot to do with the modern image of Santa, some say the roots go way back. The same North European Shamans that liked to consume those red and white mushrooms with their reindeers used to wear quite a similar outfit when they went out to collect their pickings – red and white fur trimmed coats with long black boots. As implied above, it's quite certain that St. Nicholas was no inspiration for this outfit, as he lived in sunny south Turkey.

Q: Who was the first to create Santa's modern image?

A: Coca Cola still uses the iconic images of Santa which were hugely successful in the 30s, and created for it by the gifted artist Haddon Sundblom, an American of Swedish origin (does Northern Europe ring any bells here?). However the modern image of Santa was only finally standardized in his works, but had actually been developing for years before. Coca Cola wasn't even the first beverage company to make commercial use of every child's jolly toy bearing hero – a company called White Rock beverages used him to sell ginger ale and mineral water as early as 1915. However earlier versions wore a wide variety of colors. Coca Cola's Santa is the one the finally set the record straight, and since then Santa has been wearing nothing but Red and White.

Christmas Time

As we ready ourselves to celebrate yet another Christmas to honor the birth of our Lord Jesus let us remember that this is a time to focus on the many blessings in our lives. Each day should be a day to focus on these things we hold dear that the Lord has brought to us but Christmas time is especially good for bringing these things that we should always notice to the forefront of our minds and our thoughts.

Christmas time is about giving and not only in the way of handing out material presents to one another that we purchase from the many stores we have to choose from but it's mainly a time of giving the most important things like an ear to someone who needs to be listened to or a coat for a small child who is need of one. Handing out and giving can be done best by giving someone a smile when they are feeling down or encouragement to get past the gloom they might feel in order to stand tall and move onward with joy.

Christmas time giving can mean giving a home to a small animal that otherwise would be alone and cold and miserable out in the elements with nobody to care for them. All these things make a difference in the world and they might not individually heal all that needs to be healed but each offering of kindness furthers the cause of bringing true love and peace to a world badly in need of these things.

A few material gifts are fine and are especially welcome from the children who wait for old Saint Nick to come and spread his joy to the children but among the joy of the material should also be a lesson that the best and most important gifts come from inside and are given from the heart and soul from one human being to another.

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I feel that even as we watch the nightly news that tells us of the many sad and evil things of this world that goodness overcomes and goodness makes up the majority of the people of this world.

As the three wisemen were guided by the star of Bethlehem to the manger to witness the miracle of the birth of Jesus let's also use that same light that shines in us from Jesus to guide our hearts to do good deeds and make another human being feel special and cared for in the most important ways by the power of love and mercy.

Let the lesson of Jesus being turned away from the Inn inspire us not to turn away from someone or something that may be in need of our help and our light to shine on them. The power of the human spirit and the human heart can work wonders and the pureness of a kind act can turn wrong into right.

This holiday season let that same pureness flow from within your heart and into anothers and let's make Jesus proud to be our Father and our Lord by our actions that are inspired by his love for us.

May you and your family have a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year and may the light of the lord always shine upon you and carry you in your time of need.

Christmas and the Mistletoe Tradition

Have you ever wondered where some of our modern traditions came from?  As the Christmas season approaches, I have been doing some research regarding certain holiday-related topics.  My findings may surprise even the biggest scrooge!

Mistletoe has been revered by certain cultures for many, many years.  The ancient Celts of Britain felt that Mistletoe held sacred powers of healing, and that it contained the soul of the tree from which it was cut.  In the Celtic language, Mistletoe means "All Heal".

The Druids also had an interesting ceremony that included Mistletoe.  The pagan priests of the time would carefully cut boughs of Mistletoe from the sacred Oak tree with a golden sickle.  They were ever careful not to let the boughs touch the ground, for fear of contaminating them.  The priests then divided these boughs into sprigs, and gave them to the people to protect them from storms and other forms of evil.

Mistletoe has also been included in many famous myths from earlier times.  The Norse myth that comes to mind is that of the resurrection of Balder, the god of the summer sun.  The myth states that Balder had a dream in which he dies.  His mother Frigga, the goddess of beauty and love, was rather alarmed by this.  Frigga went to all of the elements (air, fire, water, and earth) and asked that they spare her son.  When she was satisfied that she had secured their cooperation in this matter, she informed Balder that he would live forever.

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Balder had one enemy, though.  Loki, the god of evil, discovered one plant that Frigga had overlooked.  That plant was Mistletoe.  Loki fashioned an arrow made from the branch of the Mistletoe, and dipped it in poison.  He then tricked Balder’s blind brother, Hoder, into firing it and killing Balder.  Each of the elements tried to bring Balder back to life, but none were successful save for his mother, Frigga.  It is said that her tears turned into the berries from the Mistletoe, and when they rained upon Balder they brought him back to life.

In her joy at Balder’s resurrection, she reversed the poisonous reputation of the Mistletoe and kissed everyone who walked beneath the tree on which it grew.  She also issued a decree that anyone passing under the Mistletoe must kiss, and therefore no harm would come to them.

I love that story, and I think of it each year as I hang the Mistletoe in my home.  The tradition of kissing under the Mistletoe seems to have faded somewhat in modern times.  So I’m going to hang it in every doorway I pass under during this Christmas season!

Christmas: The Season Of Compassion And Giving – Another Perspective

As the weather turns cold and daylight becomes shorter our feelings of compassion for our fellow man begins to glow as the Christmas season approaches. Many of us donate toys and money to organizations that provide gifts and holiday meals to the sick, poor and elderly and some of us volunteer precious time to these charitable institutions.

Our expression of compassion and giving during the holiday season can also be shown in other ways. Rather than purchasing mass produced decorations and gifts why not patronize a local artist or crafter or searching online for handcrafted items? While large companies generally turn a comfortable profit, many hard working moms and dads struggle to make a decent living as crafters and artists. Do a search on line for handmade tree ornaments, gifts or décor or go to a local craft fair, gallery or craft shop where you will find many beautiful and unique pieces of art and functional crafts.

Additionally, express your compassion for the environment by making or purchasing recycled and/or eco friendly Christmas tree ornaments. Eco-friendly hand carved tagua nut tree ornaments are a perfect example! These nuts are also known as vegetable ivory and are collected from the floor of the rainforest in South America. You can also create your own recycled ornaments! Here are a few ideas:

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• Take a large sheet of clean, previously used aluminum foil and color it with permanent markers in various colors. You can now crush the foil into bright colorful balls or roll them into spirals, stars or other shapes!

• Using metal or plastic jar lids as a base, cut out pictures from old Christmas cards or magazines and glue them onto the top of the lid. Decorate the edges around the lid with leftover thick yarn, fabric or lace.

• Glue gemstones and/or glitter onto used CDs. Tape or glue a ribbon or string hook on the back.

This Christmas experience the true warmth of the holiday spirit in the knowledge that you brought joy to your fellow man and harmony to the environment.

Christmas - The Broken Tradition That Left Families Smiling

The jolly festive season is upon us once again, Christmas a time for happiness/ turkey/mulled wine and crackers. These are just some of the traditions that are upheld at this time of year by people who on Christmas day celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Following this big day we then have the task of putting into force our new year's resolutions just so we can break them, just another tradition where vows and promises are made.
Traditions are there for the benefit of remembrance, you have the person that abides by the
rules and then you have others that intend to do things a little different.
Whoever or whatever sort of person you are tradition is tradition.

By replacing turkey with a plate of pig's trotters on the Christmas menu is another Christmas tradition broken. Remember to be extra careful who you invite on the day for dinner if porky's feet are dish of the day.

A Christmas idea

A fantastic way to keep family togetherness for ever for generations to come when bearing gifts to loved ones is to give each member an identical piece of jewellery symbolizing unity. It is a fabulous way of bonding and proving to the world that blood is thicker than water

Let us go back in time where Scottish tartan denoted the clan you belonged too. Cherokee indians/apaches etc expressed their tribal identities by headwear or other colourful symbols. So why not bring your tribe/clan together with there own identities in the form of a piece of gold or silver.

Make your new year's resolution today and go in search of the symbol that will be recognized and passed down to future generations, by doing this another tradition is broken, but if it brings happiness, what the heck.

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Unison prevails in the form of your own jewellery trade mark where your chosen symbol ring/chain sends a message to the world that this family would proudly like to say, united we stand.

Jewellery gifts can be made extra special by designing your own. Jewellers can take your ideas and work miracles with them as in putting you and your family on the map with your own trademark. Be sure to check out this amazing site www.blingblingjewelrystore.com.

Ho ho ho
Merry Christmas

Christmas - Giving Is A Blessing

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Christmas brings a new life to the believers. Much before Christmas comes, the mood around the world changes. It is the anticipation of lovely days ahead of giving joy, meeting friends and family and feeling the spirit in the air that changes the most negative person to positive moods. Chistmas makes a person different. The same man, who you never see smiling, laughs during Christmas. That is the festive spirit of Christmas and that is why it is a lovely festival.  The most important part of Christmas is of course celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Another ritual of Christmas that makes it so special is giving. We send so many cards to friends and family that we lose the count. Similarly giving gifts is very important. Selecting the right gift for everyone, wrapping it lovingly and sending it across, all this is joyful. This joy cannot be described in words.  As I said earlier, it is the giving that is the major reason of happiness. If we look at our moods and behavior, we find that we always derive greater joy in giving compared to receiving. Can we not celebrate this spirit of giving everyday? Can we not get this joy everyday? Can we not make someone happy everyday? We can. With conscious effort, we can do one act a day that makes somebody genuinely happy. Why not carry the spirit of Christmas all the year and enjoy the happiness of giving. One is blessed when one gives. Let us get these blessings round the year.

Christmas Plays/Performances

It's always a good thing when families can enjoy outings together.
Attending Christmas plays, performances and concerts offer wonderful holiday
entertainment for all members of the family. Attending Christmas performances
and concerts offers wonderful entertainment for the entire family and provides
another way to enjoy the festivities of the Christmas season.

     Families usually don't have to venture too far from their home to enjoy a
Christmas play or concert. That's because amateur actors, singers and budding
musicians in their neighborhood will usually take part in several Christmas
performances for local residents. These amateur but entertaining events can be
found at local schools, churches or at a community theater or performance
center.

    It's very popular for those groups to stage performances of the Nativity
story, or other Christmas related works such as 'A Christmas Carol.' churches
and school groups may even have a complete concert series that includes a full-
length production of a play along with choirs, soloists and the band singing
Christmas carols and other Christmas songs.
    What makes local Christmas performances special is that members of the
community and maybe even of your own household    can be among the entertainers.
It is therefore special to see familiar faces doing something interesting and
different. For those who are budget-conscious, the performances are usually
priced to be very affordable, therefore offering an economic incentive to go out
and have an enjoyable afternoon or evening.

    Those people who are lovers of the arts and who are more interested in
seeing a professional performance will likely also have a professional
theatrical company within reasonable proximity of their residence. Professional
groups may also perform Christmas classics such as 'A Christmas Carol' or they
may do another dramatic production from the works of other playwrights.

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    Music lovers also have a variety of performances to enjoy at Christmas
time. While one can always catch various groups singing carols in downtown areas
or at malls, there are other places to hear rich, melodious performances of
Christmas music. These include concerts by acclaimed or recognized
conservatories, orchestras, symphonies and renowned choir groups.
The beauty of hearing Christmas music by these groups is in the accompaniment of
instruments and the harmonious blending of voices, which all happens in a venue
that has acoustic features to optimize the auditory pleasure of the
performances. The different components that together make the whole performance
offers a richer quality to Christmas songs and carols that may be described as
'sounding heavenly.'

     Another popular artistic performance that is popular during the Christmas season
is classical dance in the form of ballet, and particularly the performance of
the 'Nutcracker' ballet. With music written by Tchaikovsky,  the story is about
a young girl who has a dream on Christmas Eve of a Nutcracker Prince and a
fierce battle with a Mouse King that has seven heads. After a fierce battle
between the Nutcracker, who leads an army of toy soldiers, and the Mouse King
who leads an army of mice, the Nutcracker is captured. But the little girl
throws her slipper at the Mouse King, hits him in the head and kills him. In the
end, the Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes the little girl to the magical
and enchanting Land of Snow with dancing snowflakes and the Land of Sweets with
the Sugar Plum Fairy.

     Attending Christmas plays, concerts or musical performances serves the basic
purpose of providing enjoyment, but it can also help young people, and even
adults, to develop an appreciation for the arts. Seeing different variations and
the creativity in performances of Christmas plays, as well as hearing different
renditions of Christmas songs, can be the first exposure that leads to a
lifelong love of the arts and maybe a dream to pursue a career in the arts.

Christmas Music

    Christmas music in the form of carols, songs stringed or instrumental
renditions, is constantly heard during the Christmas season. Music forms the
background against which everything else takes place to make the Christmas
season different from all others. Christmas music plays such a significant role
that during the entire season, other popular music temporarily disappears from
radio. That may be the reason for all the different types of Christmas music -
sacred, secular, popular and traditional - that have emerged throughout the
years.

     Popular and secular renditions of Christmas music has been developed by
musical artists and performers who 'make over' classic styles of Christmas music
with their own personal touch. One reason for popular make overs of Christmas
music may be because regular popular music is not heard during the holiday
season so pop musicians and artists do Christmas music to keep their voices
always in earshot of their fans and the general audience. It could also be that
they want to capitalize on the popularity of Christmas music.

    Whatever the reason, it has become a trend for popular musical artists to
release new Christmas or holiday music albums during the season. Since variety
is the spice of life, it means there are more variations of secular, sacred,
classical or traditional and popular renditions of Christmas music that can be
heard.

    Music at Christmas time is important to create the right mood. The
prevalence of Christmas music is what helps to create the special holiday type
of feeling or spirit that is present everywhere and among everyone. Everyone has
particular Christmas songs and carols that are favorites, maybe for the melody,
the lyrics or because they are reminders of special memories.

    The most popular Christmas song is said to be 'White Christmas,' which is
popular even in warm and tropical climates where people sing of 'dreaming of a
White Christmas,' which in reality they would not want. Other popular Christmas
songs and carols are: Away in a Manger, which tells the Nativity story in song;
O Holy Night, Silent Night, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels and Angels
we have Heard on High.

     All of those songs are sacred and are all about the story of Jesus' birth. Of
note also is Handel's  majestic 'Hallelujah Chorus,'  which is a favorite that
choirs like to sing because of the splendor embodied in the music.
Nat King Cole's 'Chestnut Roasting On an Open Fire' is a classical favorite. It
defies categorization as it isn't sacred but is also not considered secular like
a song such as 'Sleigh Ride.' Among secular Christmas songs, there are also
funny ones such as 'I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus Underneath the Mistletoe
Last Night' and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The availability of a wide
Christmas music selection makes it possible to choose ones for different
occasions, such as for general use at home, for a fun or informal party or for a
formal dinner. As an example, selections can be made to create the right mood at
the start of a party, followed by more lively music when the party is in full
swing, and then selections to slow down the pace when the party is nearing its
end.

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     It's also important to note that professional groups such as choirs, symphonies
and orchestras will also record performances of Christmas music on albums. For
the very serious and critical music aficionados, these albums will provide
wonderful listening pleasure and also make good Christmas presents. Listening to
music from those groups is also a way of enjoying their performances if doesn't
get the opportunity to attend a live concert by the professional group.
Whatever selections of Christmas music are made however, it's likely that it
will create a festive mood and spirit among all who hear or are listening to the
music.   

Christmas Movies

Movies related to Christmas help to create a fun atmosphere and can also
teach moral lessons related to Christmas. While everyone will have different
Christmas movies that are most enjoyable, there are some that remain favorites.

    'A Christmas Story' is told from the point of view of a little boy in the
days before Christmas and on Christmas Day. It shows him doing routine things
each day but against the backdrop of the Christmas season with the decorated
store windows, Santa Claus, the snow and frostiness, and of course his wish for
a Christmas toy. But his parents disapprove of the toy that he desired. The
movie is good in showing the innocence of the Christmas season.

    'A Christmas Carol,' written by noted author Charles Dickens, tells the
story of old Scrooge whose only purpose in life is to make money. Scrooge puts
making money above his family, friends and everyone who cares about him. His
response to Christmas is a grumpy, 'Bah Humbug.' He gets a different experience
however, when ghosts appear to him and try to point out the error of his ways.
The movie's lesson is about the importance of appreciating people in your life.

    'It's A Wonderful Life' is a story about hope and the worthiness of
everyone. It tells the story of a man experiencing despair and self-destruction
because he thinks he is of no worth to those around him, and they would be
better off if he didn't exist. An angel grants him his desire and he gets to see
what he contributes and what life would be like without him.
    Every Christmas, 'A Miracle on 34th Street' can be seen on television. It
asks and answers the question 'Is there really a Santa Claus?' The movie is
about a man who claims to be Kris Kringle, or Santa Claus, but is not believed
and so he has to prove his identity claim.

    'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' is about the Griswold family with
Mr. Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, who gets into silly accidents that provide
a lot of humor. The movie shows the lives of the family as they celebrate
Christmas and the difficulties that arise when their entire family comes to
visit for Christmas.

    'Home Alone' is about a large and chaotic family with lots of kids who are
going on Christmas vacation. Amid the chaos of leaving on the morning of the
trip, one child is left behind and must stay and fend for himself in a very
large house during the Christmas season. At first he was happy to be alone but
then two thieves break in and he has to fight them off. The movie shows the
importance of family and loved ones. A sequel, 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'
tells of the boy who was left alone going to an aunt and uncle's home and again
encountering the two thieves who are seeking revenge.

    'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' was first made as an animation for
television but other versions have since been done as motion pictures. The
Grinch is a grouchy, green man who lives in the mountains above the small town
of Whoville where residents, called The Whos, celebrate Christmas
enthusiastically every year. The Grinch who doesn't like Christmas wants to
spoil it for Whoville and so he tries to steal all the toys, food and gifts that
The Whos have accumulated for Christmas. The movie provides a lesson on the true
meaning of Christmas.

    'A Charlie Brown Christmas is an animated television movie about the
popular Peanuts comic strip. The movie is about the comic strip's main
character, Charlie Brown, and tells of the experience with his friends for
Christmas. It also has Biblical references that relates to the true meaning of
Christmas.

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    'Frosty The Snowman' is an animated story about a snowman, named Frosty,
that comes to life and who must avoid a greedy musician who is trying to get the
magic that brought Frosty to life. The movie is very funny and has lots of
wonderful songs.

    'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' is also an animation about the reindeer
with a shiny nose that kisses a pretty girl and also helps out his friends.

Christmas in Central and South American Nations

      In Central and South American nations, which have a fairly large Christian
population, the Nativity or Manger Scene is the main decoration in homes at
Christmas time. In Mexico, a Christmas tree may also be set up in some homes
along with the  Nativity scene or Nacimiento. The Christmas tree is usually a
small artificial tree, called arbolito. It can also be as simple as a branch cut
from a special type of tree or a type of shrub that is then minimally decorated.
The primary Christmas celebration in Mexico is called La Posada. It is a
religious procession that dramatizes how Joseph and Mary tried to find a place
where Jesus could be born. During the procession, the participants carry images
of Mary and Joseph and go from house to house seeking a place to stay. During
Midnight Mass, which is called la misa del gallo or 'rooster's mass,' those in
attendance sing lullabies to Jesus. On Christmas Day children receive gifts as
well as candies that are stuffed into a piñata. This may be one or more
sculptures made of papier mache that are hung from the ceiling. Children are
blindfolded and take turns hitting the piñata until it breaks and scatters the
candies on the floor. All the children then scamper around as they try to get as
much candy as they can. Children also receive a gift on Jan. 6 from the Three
Wise Men, if they were good.

     People in Venezuela usually put out pesebres, which show the Nativity
scene, on Dec. 16. Early morning church services, called Misa de Aguinaldo, are
also common from Dec. 16 to Christmas Eve. After Mass on Christmas Eve, a grand
dinner is traditionally enjoyed.

      In Argentina, red and white garlands are used to decorate houses. After
attending Midnight Mass, Argentinians have a meal, toast each other, dance and
go out to see fireworks. The meal may be roasted pork or turkey, stuffed
tomatoes, mince pies, Christmas bread and puddings. Drinks such as cider and
juice made from different fruits are used for the toast. Christmas gifts are
opened on Christmas Eve just before the family retires to bed.

    In Chile, Santa Claus is Father Christmas and is known as 'Viejito
Pascuero.' He arrives in a similar but slightly different manner than Santa
Claus because his reindeer is pulled by a taxicab. Chileans use small figures
made from clay to place near the Christmas tree in a display called pesebre to
show the Nativity story. The traditional Christmas dinner includes chicken soup
with stuffed potatoes, onions and corn on the cob. Another favorite item is a
Christmas bread that is called pan de pasqua and which is made with candies and
fruits.

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       Christmas customs in Brazil originate from the many different ethnic groups who
make up the country. The Nativity scene is called the Presepio and can commonly
be found displayed in homes, churches and stores. Papai Noel, or Father Noel,
resides in Greenland and brings gifts at Christmas. He is said to wear silk
clothing because Christmas occurs during summer when it is very hot in Brazil.
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is called Missa do Gallo, because the coming day
is announced by the rooster and the Mass finishes at 1 am on the following day.
A traditional Christmas dinner, called Ceia de Natal, includes ham, turkey,
colored rice, a variety of vegetables and fruit dishes. Christmas Day Mass at
Catholic churches are mainly held in the late afternoon because people enjoy
sleeping late or going to the beach after having Christmas dinner. Christmas
festivities, which include folk dancing and singing, continue until January 6th,
which is called Three Kings Day.

Christmas Greetings and Good Cheer

Greetings at Christmas extend beyond a mere wish of 'Merry Christmas' or
'Happy Holidays.' Christmas greetings embody a wish that all will go well in
whatever preparations need to be made, and a genuine sentiment that much joy,
happiness and well being will be experienced by the individual and loved ones
during the season.

   The season of good cheer and wishes also reflect the jolly ho, ho, ho
nature of Santa Claus. To the delight of children, it is very easy for them to
run into many jolly fellows dressed as Santa Claus during the Christmas season
who will quiz them about whether they have been good or naughty. Many times when
friends, relatives and loved ones call each other during the Christmas season,
they will speak to the children and wish them Merry Christmas, but not without a
warning that they had better be good or else there will be no presents from
Santa Claus.
For children therefore, a greeting of Merry Christmas has the purpose of
increasing their anticipation for the arrival of Christmas Eve and Santa's visit
to leave toys and Christmas presents under the tree.

      Because children also take part in many traditions associated with Christmas,
holiday greetings for them is also a reminder of the fun they will have in doing
such activities as decorating the tree, helping to bake cookies and wrapping
presents. When children have these things to look forward to at Christmas, it
creates a lasting memory for them and helps to make their childhood one on which
they will later reflect on with much fondness.

The more prevalent greeting of 'Happy Holidays' that is used today reflects in
part the also prevalent nature to be politically correct in speech and
communication. The greeting of 'Happy Holidays' can be given to anyone whether
or not they celebrate Christmas. It avoids any offense being taken if someone is
wished Merry Christmas when it's a celebration in which they don't participate
or observe.

     Happy Holidays is also used to extend a greeting of goodwill beyond Christmas to
the coming New Year holiday period. For procrastinators and the chronically late
greeting card senders, they can still drop a 'Happy Holiday' greeting card in
the mail to friends and loved ones close to Christmas Day or even after and it
will still be relevant.

     Christmas greeting cards play a big role in communicating Christmas greetings
and good cheer for the holiday season. It's a tradition that started in Britain
in 1840 with the start of the first public postal deliveries. The production of
large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started about twenty years later in
1860 with the improvement of printing methods.

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     Today, Christmas greetings and greeting cards have further evolved with massive
changes and development in technology. The computer, which has become a
necessary electronic equipment in just about every home, is commonly used to
send Christmas greetings through emailing an online greeting or postcard. Online
greeting cards also have brought other changes such as being interactive or
animated and they can also be easily personalized with pictures of individuals
or families. Online greeting cards can be sent from websites that are accessible
to everyone or they can be easily created on a home computer.

     Another way in which Christmas greetings are sent is by mailing gifts and
presents to relatives and friends who live elsewhere. Except for the dreaded tax
season, there is no other time when post offices become more crowded than during
the Christmas season. Post Offices therefore play an important role in relaying
Christmas greetings by handling thousands of greeting card mailings and gift
packages for Christmas.

     With just about everyone having a cheerful spirit for the Christmas season, it
becomes very easy to pause for even a brief conversation and extend a greeting
of goodwill to friends, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors and others.

Christmas Day

The Christmas season and all its activities are geared to the big day,  Dec. 25, which is Christmas Day. The word Christmas is derived from Middle  English 'Christemasse' and Old English 'Cristes maesse,' both of which means  'Christ's Mass.' The day is celebrated by Christians as the day that Jesus  Christ was born, although the true date of Jesus' birth isn't really known.

    Given the religious significance of Christmas Day, it therefore follows
that attending church is a big tradition on that day. It is seen as mandatory
for devout Christians and for others who are concerned about retaining the
sacred meaning of the day. Many people fear that the sacred aspects of Christmas
are being lost and overshadowed amid the bustle of commercial activity now
associated with the entire season.
   
      Church services therefore take place early on Christmas morning. Attending
those services is the first official activity that many people do on Christmas
Day. Unlike the Midnight Mass and other earlier church services on Christmas
Eve, Christmas Day services do not usually include the dramatization of the
birth of Jesus. They may be more subdued with a sermon that recounts the birth
of Jesus and his purpose to save mankind. The congregation is then exalted to be
as giving as Jesus and to help out those who are in need.

    Consequently, many people will take some time on Christmas Day to
volunteer in a charitable activity such as serving dinner to the poor and hungry
at a church, charitable organization or other social services center. Others
will also work with charitable organizations to distribute toys to needy
children at shelters, hospitals and other places.

As part of the religious aspect of Christmas Day, groups that sing Christmas
carols will also be out very early on Christmas morning.
Although Christmas Dinner is the most significant meal of the day, a large
breakfast will also be served in most households that will be shared by all
family members. The occasion of all family members having a meal together is a
disappearing tradition in many American households and so Christmas is seen as a
perfect time to return to the tradition. Christmas Day after all, is all about
family, sharing and togetherness.

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Throughout the day, greetings of 'Merry Christmas' will be exchanged by
telephone calls with family, friends, acquaintances, and loved ones who are
located elsewhere in the country and overseas. It is a common occurrence for so
many people to be trying to make international calls to loved ones and friends
on Christmas Day that telephone communication systems to some countries often
are overwhelmed. The availability of technology and the Internet eases that
somewhat nowadays however, as emails and instant messaging can also be used as
other communication channels to exchange greetings on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day Dinner is undoubtedly the central activity of the day. Family and
friends gathered for dinner take pleasure in enjoying and sharing a delicious
meal and also are mindful and thankful for the opportunity to be able to share
the meal, to have each other and for the material things that make their lives
comfortable and give them happiness.

Some of those material things are then shared in absolute delight as everyone
will gather around or near to the Christmas tree after dinner to exchange and
open Christmas presents. It's an activity that is relished and which is filled
with much laughter, happy chatter and merriment, especially by children who are
usually much delighted to get a toy that they had wished for.
After dinner and the exchange of presents, adults may have light conversations,
play games or even watch a movie. Children are often taken up with experimenting
or playing with their new toys. It has also become a tradition on Christmas Day
for members of some families, such as teenagers and young adults, to end
Christmas Day by attending the movie theater on Christmas evening or Christmas
night to see a recently released film.

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.

 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.

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       Making changes to Christmas carols continues in a different way today with pop
artistes 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.
       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.