Christmas

pelatihan

2009-12-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

ANGKUR GTUMMO INTI API HIDUP

GTummo Inti Api Hidup merupakan energi mikrokosmos dalam diri yang kerap digunakan oleh sebagian orang untuk meningkatkan pencapaian spiritual seseorang. Inti Api Hidup berfungsi juga untuk penyembuhan berbagai macam penyakit baik fisik maupun psikis. Penerapan Inti Api Hidup dalam penyembuhan tidak disertai dengan konsentrasi, tata atur napas, dan obat-obatan. Dapat dikatakan Inti Api Hidup mengalir pada saat kita berpikir hal-hal lain di luar usaha penyembuhan. Penerapan Inti Api Hidup bagi praktisi Inti Api Hidup tingkat pertama dilakukan dengan sentuhan telapak tangan, sedangkan bagi praktisi Inti Api Hidup tingkat kedua, tingkat ahli dan tingkat ahli khusus dilakukan dengan sentuhan telapak tangan dan dapat pula dengan menggunakan pola-pola energi yang memungkinkan penyembuhan jarak jauh terhadap satu atau beberapa pasien secara bersamaan. Inti Api Hidup dapat diterapkan oleh siapa saja setelah memperoleh penyelarasan/angkur Inti Api Hidup. lebih lanjut

erotic empowerment

Erotic empowerment adalah sebuah sistem energi yang bentuk energi medan magnet sehingga memberikan daya tarik bagi orang lain terhadap diri kita. Salah satu fungsi penting dan fungsi dasar dari medan magnet ini untuk meningkatkan rasa percaya diri, karena rasa percaya diri adalah kunci dari semua harapan dan keberhasilan manusia. Kurang memiliki rasa percaya diri, hal ini salah satunya disebabkan karena medan magnet lemah dalam diri, sehingga merasa bahwa orang di sekitarnya mengerutkan ke. Ide-ide semacam itu akan memberikan efek negatif terhadap diri.

lebih lanjut

ILMU GHOIB NUR SEJATI

ilmu ghoib nur sejati membuka semua potensi dalam diri dengan membangkitkan kekuatan tenaga dalam yang merupakan dasar atau modal awal dalam pembangkitan kekuatan supranatural. Pembangkitan ghoib nur sejati, mengunakan transfer energi dari Guru kepada Murid. Seketika Tenaga Dalam yang terpendam segera terbuka dan memunculkan kekuatan batin yang luar biasa. Aura berubah seketika menebal dan membentuk tameng pelindung metafisika, memunculkan daya tarik, karisma dan wibawa yang memancarkan dari dalam diri. Pengaktifan pendamping ghoib yang berfungsi memberikan perlindungan baik fisik maupun metafisik. Berbagai kemampuan ghaib pun terus berkembang sejalan dengan pelatihan anda. SELANJUTNYA

Success Flush adalah sebuah bentuk energi alam aktivasi yang benar-benar luar biasa dalam diri manusia. dengan mendapatkan aktivasi The Success Flush , kita dapat menggunakan energi dalam tubuh kita, dan juga dengan pontencies luar biasa di tubuh kita. . Success Flush mengakses dan mengaktifkan dua kekuatan terbesar manusia: MIND POWER dan POWER SOUL SELANJUTNYA

KUNDALINI REIKI

KUNDALINI REIKI ADALAH TEKNIK TERAPI BERBASIS ENERGI YANG MEMANFAATKAN/MENGAKSES ENERGI KUNDALINI UNTUK BERBAGAI KEPERLUAN SESUAI NIAT TERUTAMA UNTUK TERAPI DIRI SENDIRI DAN LINGKUNGAN KITA

1. Kundalini Reiki 1 : Attunement pertama ini membuka jalur-jalur penyembuhan untuk menyalurkan energy reiki. Di tahap ini, anda dipersiapkan untuk terbangkitkannya kundalini di kundalini reiki 2. Chakra mahkota, chakra jantung dan chakra telapak tangan dibuka atau diperkuat. Anda mempelajari untuk melakukan penyembuhan secara menyeluruh dan sempurna, serta melakukan penyembuhan jarak jauh. Kundalini reiki 1 sepadan dengan attunement usui reiki 1-2-3.

SELANJUTNYA

gemblengan ilmu khodam

2009-05-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

Menyajikan Keniscayaan
GEMBLENGAN ILMU 1000 KHODAM
UNTUK KESUKSESAN
L u a r b i a s a !!!
Siapapun Anda Pasti Bisa Sukses !!!
Apapun Masalah Anda Pasti Tuntas !!!
Ilmu 1000 Khodam untuk kesuksesan, merupakan ilmu hasil olah spiritual R. Rudi Notoningrat. Dengan menguasai ilmu 1000 Khodam untuk kesuksesan anda akan mamupu mengatasi segala problem anda serumit apapun. masalah ekonomi,cinta, rumah tangga pasti bisa diselesaikan dengan tuntas.
Ilmu 1000Khodam untuk kesuksesan adalah ilmu yang membangkitkan Khodam dalam diri anda secara maksimal sehingga anda mampu menarik menarik 1000 khodam. Dan karenanya pintu rejeki akan terbuka dari segala penjuru , karir meningkat , bisnis pasti maju pesat, kehidupan rumah tangga penuh kedamaian.
Dengan ilmu 1000 Khodam anda bisa membuat uang bibit, memiliki ilmu raja pengasihan,bisa melakukan penyembuhan dengan media air. Ilmu 1000 Khodam tidak hanya bermanfaat bagi anda tetapi juga bisa untuk menolong sesama.
Sebaik-baiknya manusia adalah yang bermanfaat bagi orang lain, dan Ilmu 1000 Khodam menjadikan anda berguna bagi orang lain.
Manfaatkan segera Ilmu 1000 Khodam
J A D I L A H MA N U S I A L U A R B I A S A !!!
Mahar/biaya Rp. 555.000
dlm negeri gratis ongkos kirim ,luar negeri ongkos kirim Rp. 200.000
datang langsung atau jarak jauh hasilnya sama
rekening BRI Malang Kawi no : 0051-01-034067-50-8 atas nama Rushadi Prasetyono
Kontak Hp. 081333287771
email: rudinotoningrat@gmail.com
alamat praktek
R. Rudi Notoningrat
Jl. Kapi Mantasta Raya 17H/1A
Sawojajar II
Malang

http://ilmukhodam.blogspot.com/

Christmas in the United States and Canada

2007-11-11T22:30:00.002-08:00

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
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.

Similarities between Kwanzaa and Hanukkah Celebrations at Christmas

2007-11-11T22:30:00.001-08:00

Similarities between Kwanzaa and Hanukkah Celebrations at Christmas
Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, celebrated by African-Americans and Jewish
people respectively, are observed during the Christmas season. The
celebrations are separate from activities related to Christmas however.
The observances of Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are also one reason that people
also give wishes of Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas during
the season.
Although both activities are very different and were originated
for different reasons, some similarities can be found between the two
practices. Both celebrations have commitment as a central and important
theme. They also both include symbolic forms of light and are both
commemorated over almost the same number of days – seven (7) days from
Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 for Kwanzaa, and eight (8) days and night for
Hanukkah – usually starting about one week before Christmas Day.
Starting with its origination, Hanukkah celebrations dates to an
event in 165 B.C. when the Jews were victorious over the Syrians.
Hanukkah started as a way to restore and rededicate the Temple in
Jerusalem that had been desecrated, including its golden menorah, by
the Syrians. The festival also served the purpose of once more
observing and re-instituting rituals that the Syrians had forbidden
during their rule.
Kwanzaa was started 40 years ago by a university professor as a
way for African-Americans and others in the African diaspora to engage
in celebrations that included elements of African culture.
While Kwanzaa is not as popular as Christmas, it keeps
growing and its goal has been achieved to some extent as it is now
practiced in many nations such as those in the Caribbean, which have a
large population of people of African ancestry. The wide availability
of Kwanzaa greeting cards and even postage stamps at Christmas time,
also attests to the extent to which the celebration has entered the
mainstream.
The primary symbol of Hanukkah, the menorah, which consists of
eight (8) individual lights, is very much a part of the mainstream.
Menorahs are available today in various shapes and sizes. A single
standard requirement that must be observed in making a menorah is that
there should be enough separation between the flame of each of the
eight (8) lights so that they don't give the total effect of a single
large flame when all are lit.
A flame is lit each night over the days in remembrance of how a
small quantity of oil from the desecrated Temple kept a menorah burning
for eight (8) days, when the amount should have only lasted for a
single day. It was that miraculous occurrence that gave rise to the
Hanukkah celebration to light a menorah over eight (8) days.
Kwanzaa symbols include a candleholder and seven (7) candles that
represent the roots of African ancestors and seven (7) core principles
of Kwanzaa respectively. Other symbols are, The Crops for African
harvest, Mat for African tradition, Corn for the future represented by
children, the Unity Cup and the Gifts. The Flag and Poster of Seven (7)
Principles are two (2) supplemental symbols.
These items can be found at specialty African and African-
American shops in some malls and in town with a heavy concentration of
African and African-American population.
Among the most important features of Kwanzaa are the seven (7)
core principles and values they embody: self-determination, unity,
collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose,
creativity and faith. These seven (7) principles are meant to be a
foundation and guide upon which the African diaspora can build a
strong, successful and fulfilling life while maintaining a connection
to their roots.
While not religious, the principles of Kwanzaa are meant to
instill a strong sense of spirituality in individuals. Kwanzaa seeks to
instill spirituality upon which individuals can build self-confidence
and secure self-identity through a link to their roots.
This sense of spirituality and connection to one's history, roots
or ancestry is also an element of similarity between Kwanzaa and
Hanukkah.

Different Types of Christmas Trees

2007-11-11T22:29:00.002-08:00

Different Types of Christmas Trees
The tradition of Christmas trees in America came from German
immigrants who had settled in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the
tradition of Christmas trees started in Germany from as early as 700
A.D and was practiced by many Germans in the 1800s. It's also since
that period that Christmas trees have also been available for sale in
the United States. While artificial Christmas trees are popular, many
people like to have a fresh Christmas tree in their homes, or outside
on their lawns. And similar to all other trees, Christmas trees also
have different shapes and qualities that make some types more popular
than others.
Along with other decorative Christmas items such as wreaths and
garlands, having a Christmas tree in your home is very essential in
creating a special atmosphere for the season. It is believed that
Christmas trees have been available for sale in America since the
1800s, which is about the same time that the former Woolworth's
department store started selling ready-made ornaments for Christmas
trees.
Choosing the right type of Christmas tree is important because
Christmas trees are often a focal point for many family activities and
traditions. Given the many types of Christmas trees that are available,
it is important to think about how the tree will be used. While a tall
tree may look very elegant, it may not be suitable if there aren't many
adults around who can reach the tree's heights. And a very short tree
may be dwarfed by other furniture in the room. It's therefore very
important to carefully consider and get a tree that has a suitable
height and also one that has sturdy branches to hold heavy ornaments.
Artificial and real Christmas trees can often be bought from the
same retail stores these days as local businesses and retail chain
stores often sell both types of trees. The best place to get a real and
fresh Christmas tree, and also to see a wide variety, is likely a
Christmas tree farm however. Using modern technology, both types of
trees can also be obtained through online transactions, via telephone
as well as by mail-order through catalogs.
Among Christmas trees there are certain types that are
always favorites and which are bestsellers. These include: Douglas,
Fraser, Noble and Balsam firs, and Scotch, Virginia and white pine
trees.
These evergreen trees all have all have one or more excellent
features related to shape, color or sheen and fragrance, which makes
them favorites for Christmas trees.
The most favorite Christmas trees basically have a pyramid or
cone shape. A pyramid-shaped tree is likely taller and has somewhat of
an elegant look. Douglas Fir, which ranks first among Christmas tree
favorites, is an example of a pyramid-shaped tree. Other examples are
Fraser, Balsam and Noble firs.
A cone shape tree tends to be short with dense branches, which makes
them excellent for holding many ornaments and other decorations.
Families that have a strong tradition of making their own ornaments, or
putting mememtos on Christmas trees may consider a cone-shaped tree.
Virginia and Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce and the Eastern White Pine all
have cone shapes.
Another feature that makes Christmas trees appealing is their
color. While all trees have a green appearance, a closer look at their
needles will reveal differences such as a bright or dark-green, blue-
green or yellowish-green hue. The needles may also emit a silvery sheen
with the right lighting. Fraser and Noble firs both have needles with a
silvery sheen, and the branches of both trees are also used for
garlands and wreaths.
Most people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its fragrance,
which can be fairly strong or just subtle, giving off just enough of a
whiff of scent. Douglas Fir, which is the most popular Christmas tree
in homes and public places, is a very fragrant tree. The Balsam fir is
also fairly fragrant. The Eastern White Pine is however, a tree that
doesn't have much fragrance.
Whether you have a favorite type of Christmas tree or will choose
one from its appearance, there are many choices to satisfy the desire
to have a fragrant and well-decorated tree for Christmas.

Christmas In Other European Countries

2007-11-11T22:29:00.001-08:00

Christmas In Other European Countries
In Finland, Christmas Eve is the traditional time to set up the Christmas tree
and it's also traditional to visit the sauna and for families to listen to a
broadcast of the national 'Peace of Christmas' on the radio. Christmas Dinner
generally consists of a main dish of boiled codfish that is snowy and fluffy in
appearance, served with cream sauce and boiled potatoes. Christmas dinner is
rounded out with roast suckling pig or roasted fresh ham and vegetables. Among
peasants, there is a tradition to tie a sheaf of grain, with nuts and seeds, to
a pole that is put in a garden for birds. Many peasants will wait until after
the birds have eaten before having their Christmas Dinner. And Santa Claus is
expected to visit homes in person with his Christmas elves to give out Christmas
gifts.
Christmas in France is called Noel, from the phrase 'les bonnes nouvelles,' or
'the good news,' which refers to the gospel. On Christmas Eve, cathedrals and
churches are beautifully lit and filled with the sounds of Christmas carols,
ringing church bells and carillons. The tradition among children is to put their
shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel or le petit Jesus to fill them with gifts.
In the north of France however, children receive gifts on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas
Day, instead of Christmas. Most French homes will have a Nativity scene or
crèche on display during the season. In Southern France, some people will burn a
log in their home from Christmas Eve until New Years Day, which comes out of a
farming tradition of using the log for good luck in the coming harvest. The
French also make a traditional cake called the buche de Noel, or Christmas Log,
which is shaped like a Yule log and is part of a late supper called le reveillon
held after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The main dish for this meal generally
consists of poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine but varies according to
region. The main course in Burgundy is turkey with chestnuts and in Paris it's
oysters, foie gras and the buche de Noel cake. The wines generally served are
Champagne, Muscadet, Sauterne and Anjou. An annual tradition of puppet shows,
particularly in Paris and Lyons, is popular during Christmas time. In Paris,
it's also popular for big department stores to have grand, animated window
displays.
Christmas in Italy is called 'Il Natale,' or 'the birthday.' Christmas season
starts eight days before Christmas, a period called the Novena, and runs for
three weeks. During the Novena, children dress as shepherds and go from house to
house saying Christmas poems, singing and playing pipes. They often receive
money to buy gifts during this activity. The Nativity scene, called the
Presepio, has miniature figures, carved in great detail out of clay or plaster,
of the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas for families.
Families say prayers and children recite poems around the Presepio. Christmas
Eve dinner, called cenone, is a traditional dish of roasted, baked or fried eel.
In some regions, various types of fish is prepared for this dinner, as well as
pork, sausage in a pig's leg or turkey stuffed with chestnuts. Christmas sweets
are called panettone and traditionally have nuts and almonds. On Christmas Eve,
children set out their shoes for a kind, old woman or ugly witch called La
Befana, who rides on a broomstick down chimneys, to fill them with gifts of toys
or candies. If they were bad, their shoes will be filled with coal. Some
children wait until Jan. 6, the Epiphany, to receive gifts.
Norway is where the tradition of the Yule log started and which gave rise to
log-shaped cakes, cheese and other desserts during the holidays. Norwegians
today often go into the forest to cut their own Christmas trees, which is
secretly decorated on Christmas Eve to surprise children. After the Christmas
tree is revealed, Norwegians engage in 'circling the Christmas tree,' a
tradition in which everyone joins hands forming a ring around the tree. They
then walk around the Christmas tree singing carols. Gifts are distributed after
this ritual is finished.

Christmas Around the World

2007-11-11T22:28:00.000-08:00

Christmas Around the World
Christmas in the Birthplaces of Traditions -- Bethlehem, Germany and England
Christmas as celebrated today is a culmination of centuries of
traditions that are religious and secular and which came from different
countries around the world. It is interesting therefore to look at some of the
general ways in which Christmas is celebrated in these countries. The traditions
examined for each country will be examples of some of the things that are unique
to that country and which are done today, or which were once done by people in
those countries.
To begin, it is symbolic to look at the town of Bethlehem, which is
believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity is located in
Bethlehem and at Christmas it is decorated with a lot of flags and other
Christmas decorations. A very large crowd usually gathers at The Church of the
Nativity on Christmas Eve to see a dramatic parade procession of horsemen, led
by police who are mounted on Arabian horses. Following the police in the
procession is a lone horseman who carries a cross, followed by churchmen and
government officials. Members of the procession solemnly enter the doors of The
Church of the Nativity and place an ancient effigy of Jesus in the church. A
silver star located deep in an underground cave-like section of the church marks
the site where Jesus was born. A star is also set atop a pole in the town's
square. In Bethlehem, homes of Christians usually have a cross over the door and
a manger scene is usually set up inside the house.
In Germany, home of the Christmas tree tradition, the Christmas tree
is not seen until Christmas Eve. The tree is usually kept in a special room, or
elsewhere, and decorated in secret with lights, ornaments, tinsels, angels,
candies, nuts and cookies. It is then lighted, the presents placed underneath
and then shown to the delight of Children on Christmas Eve. In Germany, Dec. 6
is known as St. Nicholas Day when Santa visits the homes of boys and girls. On
the day before, Dec. 5, children leave a shoe or boot outside or by the
fireplace for Santa Claus. If they were good, he places gifts and candies inside
the shoe. But if they were naughty, children will find twigs or a rod in their
shoe. Dinner on Christmas Day includes roast goose, long loaves of bread filled
with raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Other sweet delicacies are also enjoyed.
Many traditions in England are similar to those in the United States because
such traditions originated in England and were brought to the United States by
immigrants. The tradition of sending Christmas greeting cards started in England
and is still popular at Christmas, as well as the tradition of neighborhood
caroling on Christmas Eve. Children also hang stockings on Christmas Eve in
anticipation of Santa Claus filling them with Christmas gifts or treats. The
holly, ivy and mistletoe are also used a lot in Christmas decorations. In
England, the traditional Christmas Dinner is roast turkey, goose or chicken with
stuffing, vegetables and roast potatoes. Dessert consists of the British or
Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. A rich, fruit-filled Christmas cake may
also be enjoyed later in the day. A tradition of pulling Christmas crackers
also goes with the serving of food on Christmas Day. A cracker is a paper tube
that contains a party hat, riddle, toy or trinket, and is brightly colored and
twisted at both ends. It gives out a crack as the contents pop out when it is
pulled at each end. Also on Christmas afternoon, the Queen broadcasts a
Christmas message to the nation, which is heard on radio and television. The day
after Christmas is also a holiday that is known as Boxing Day.

Spreading Goodwill at Christmas

2007-11-11T22:27:00.000-08:00

Spreading Goodwill at Christmas
The real meaning of Christmas, the season of good cheer, is about giving
especially to provide some assistance to those who need help for their daily
survival and who therefore don't have the material resources to enjoy the
Christmas season. The importance of giving to those in need during Christmas is
embodied in the story of Jesus' birth, which is the reason Christmas is
celebrated.
For Christians, Jesus was born to save mankind from sin by giving
everlasting Salvation to all who believe in the Word of God and chose to follow
the principles for living in the Bible. Jesus therefore gave in the ultimate way
- he offered himself as a sacrifice for every living person. Christians
therefore believe that Christmas should be about following the example of Jesus
by giving of oneself to others, especially to those who are in need.
The Christmas season should therefore be about spreading goodwill and good
cheer. This purpose of Christmas is very significant because research by social
service organizations has shown that Christmas happens to be a high time for
depression among the have-nots, among people with problems and others who just
don't have the means and resources to enjoy the merriment of the holidays.
The hundreds of Santa letters written by children are often a sad
testament to the many unmet needs of families and individuals during the festive
Christmas and holiday times. Just about every child is told the story of Santa
Claus, or hears about him because his presence is everywhere at Christmas. And
up to the age of 7 to 8 years, most children believe the story about Santa Claus
bringing toys and other gifts. That's the reason why so many young children
often write letters to Santa at Christmas time in which the innocently plead for
toys and other gifts because they their parents or other relatives will not be
able to give them those Christmas toys or Christmas gifts that they want.
Thankfully there are many volunteer and charitable efforts carried out by
groups and corporations that seek to fulfill the needs of children and also of
adults during the Christmas season. One of the most notable organizations that
do such charitable work is the Salvation Army, which has a history of giving
service to those in need.
According to The Salvation Army's website, the organization as known today was
started in 1865 by a Methodist minister, William Booth and his wife Catherine.
They formed a group that preached, provided food and shelter to the homeless,
the hungry and to alcoholics in need of recovery services. The services were
provided in London's East End. Booth and his followers, first known as 'The
Christian Mission,' started to use The Salvation Army name in 1878.
The Salvation Army is now uniquely associated with the Christmas season through
its many representatives who dress up as Santa Claus and stand outside retail
establishments ringing their bells while they kindly seek donations from
shoppers to help the poor at Christmas.
Individuals also play Santa Claus at Christmas time and help out those in need
by donating toys and gifts through their companies, other business enterprises
such as banks or through their local municipality. These groups usually all have
a box or an area where new toys or clothing can be dropped off and the items are
then donated to families in need or to social service providers for distribution
to the needy during the Christmas season.
Along with much charitable giving at Christmas time, other public interest
groups also work hard to inform and educate consumers about avoiding the after
Christmas blues. This is often experienced in January when the bills and debts
are due as a result of all the spending, much of it on credit, that is done for
the holidays.
These groups try to spread goodwill and cheer in a different way. They try to
provide educational information on spending responsibly during the Christmas
season with the hope that the happiness and good feeling enjoyed during the
season can also carry over after Christmas and not be spoiled by the burden of
having huge bills to pay.

History of Christmas

2007-11-11T22:26:00.004-08:00

History of Christmas
Commercial activities during Christmas today are often decried as making
the season too materialistic. This has caused comments that the religious aspect
of Christmas is so overlooked and overshadowed that its celebration seems to be
purely pagan. But today's comparisons aren't the first there has been some link
between Christmas and pagan celebrations. As a religious, church leaders
instituted Christmas during winter because that time of year was a popular for
the celebrations of many pagan festivals. The hope was that Christmas would also
become a holiday that would gain much popularity.
Long before the birth of Jesus Christ, people in various parts of Europe would
celebrate light and birth in the darkest days of winter. The winter solstice,
when the harshest part of winter was over, was a time of celebration for many
peoples because they would look forward to more hours of sunlight during the
longer days ahead.
The Norse in Scandinavia celebrated Yule from the winter solstice on
December 21 through to January. Men brought home logs that were lighted and a
feast would take place until the log was completely burned. Each spark from the
fire was believed to represent a new pig or calf to be born in the coming new
year.
The pagan god Oden was honored by Germans during the mid-winter holiday. Oden
inspired great fear in the Germans who believed that Oden traveled at nights
through the sky to observe people and make a decision about who would perish or
prosper in life. This belief caused most people to stay inside during the
period.
In Rome it was the god of agriculture, Saturn, who was honored in a
holiday called Saturnalia. It was a holiday that started during the week that
led up to the winter solstice and continued for a month with hedonistic
celebrations. There was plenty of food and drink and the normal social class
rules of who had privilege and power in Roman society were totally disregarded
as everyone participated in the festivities. Some Romans also had a feast called
Juvenalia to honor children and the birthday of the sun god Mithra was sometimes
celebrated by the upper classes.
In the early years of the start of Christianity the main holiday was
Easter. It was in the 4th Century that church officials made a decision to have
the birth of Jesus celebrated as a holiday and Pope Julius I chose December 25
as the day of Jesus' birth. The holiday, which was first called the Feast of the
Nativity, spread to England by the end of the 6th Century and to Scandinavia by
the end of the 8th Century.
Church leaders achieved the goal of having Christmas celebrations, including
attendance at church, become popular during the winter solstice, but they were
unable to control other pagan-like celebrations during Christmas. Believers
would attend church on Christmas and then participate later in raucous and
drunken celebrations. But by the Middle Ages, from around the 5th to the 16th
Century, Christianity had outgrown paganism as a religion.
The celebration of Christmas in Europe changed in the early 17th Century
when Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans gained power in England in 1645. To remove
decadent behavior from the society, Cromwell cancelled Christmas as the Puritans
noted that the Bible doesn't mention any date for Jesus' birth. The lack of this
information and specific Biblical references to Christmas is also cited by
religious groups like Jehovah Witnesses as the reason they don't observe or
participate in Christmas. Christmas celebrations returned in England around 1649
when Charles II was restored to the throne.
Christmas wasn't a holiday in early America because the Pilgrims who came
to America had even stricter beliefs than Cromwell and the Puritans. Christmas
celebrations were even forbidden in Boston from 1659 to 1681. During the same
time however, settlers in Jamestown in Virginia were reported to have enjoyed
Christmas.
After the American Revolution Christmas again lost popularity and it wasn't
until June 26, 1870 that Christmas was declared a federal holiday. Christmas in
the United States gained popularity as a holiday period during the 19th Century.
Christmas celebrations also changed at that time to be more family-centered
rather than being carnival-like.

The Joy of Toys at Christmas

2007-11-11T22:26:00.003-08:00

The Joy of Toys at Christmas
Although adults like to receive gifts, many will readily forego the
pleasure by sacrificing, if it means a small member of the family will be
totally pleased and delighted with their Christmas gift. Seeing the sparkle of
joy in children's eyes when they receive a toy or other Christmas present
certainly confirms that Christmas is for children. And after all, Santa brings
gifts for all the good little boys and girls, not for moms and dads or other
adults.
It was very humorous, as parents once related how on Christmas Day when
their child opened a Christmas gift and was pleased, they pretended to be a bit
saddened that Santa Claus didn't bring them any Christmas present. The child
responded, 'Because you bad mummy and daddy. You make me stand in corner.'
Toys are therefore a significant part of Christmas. Parents go all out for
children, they make the extra effort to give children something really special
such as what the child wishes, desires or longs for. It may be a toy such as a
particular type of doll, a dream dollhouse or an item like a bike or train set,
or motorized vehicle. The fun of getting a toy at Christmas begins earlier for
children as they start to make their wish list and anticipate getting one or
more of what they desire.
For teenagers, the most desired toy may not be a toy in the real sense of
the word. A toy, in today's casual speech, can mean a favorite gadget such as an
ultra-stylish cell phone, an iPod, MP3 player, electronic organizer or even a
computer.
Toy sales at Christmas play a major role in the economics of retailers in the
toy industry. Toy makers use the Christmas season to release new and updated
products with the hope of capturing a significant slice of the billions of
dollars that consumers spend during the holidays.
The strategy among toy makers has been to release a new product that hope will
be the 'must-have' toy for the season. Consequently, they try to create buzz
about the product and have a specific release date, all with the hope that
parents and other consumers will clamor for the item and even make it sold-out
or hard to obtain as the season progresses. Such driving demand can easily
justify a spike in the price of the item.
Toys have also evolved beyond dolls, trains and cars to be very
interactive and educational. The popularity of educational toys and the presence
of increased technology have combined to produce many toys that are highly
computerized.
Receiving a toy as a gift at Christmas can play an important role in
creating a lasting memory. When a child gets the right toy - one that is highly
desired or is surprised by a wonderful toy - he or she will remember the feeling
it brought for a lifetime and recall it whenever there's talk of which Christmas
was a favorite. It also helps to create a tradition as the child becomes an
adult nd wants to recapture a similar feeling by seeking to do the same for his
or her own child.
Then, there are the children with a wish list that's basically a hope to get
something, any toy at Christmas. Many companies, businesses, churches and social
organizations arrange to have members donate new and age appropriate toys that
are distributed to children in need. Putting a smile on the faces of those
children will create warm memories about Christmas and Santa Claus for them. And
by participating in a charitable effort, the donors are themselves Santa Claus
and spreaders of goodwill and cheer that embody the meaning of Christmas.

Travel At Christmas

2007-11-11T22:26:00.001-08:00

Because Christmas is a time to be with family, loved ones and friends, it
is one of the busiest times of the year to travel. People locally, to different
regions and to international destinations to share Christmas dinners, exchange
gifts and recall fond memories they have of the season. There's also travel for
entertainment reasons that's done by tourists within the country or from abroad.
And even on Christmas Day, the highways are busy with vehicles as relatives and
friends travel between towns and states to spend the day together.
The massive and rapid shift away from an agrarian society to one of
commerce with the development of cities and suburbs caused family members to
move farther and farther away from each other, therefore making it necessary to
travel by land, air or rail to be together for holidays such as Christmas and
other special occasions. And with some countries being economic powerhouses in
the world, movement of peoples got even farther as they migrated to other
countries to take advantage of better opportunities to improve their lives.
Consequently, air travel has expanded in modern times to take people to
international destinations.
But travel during Christmas and the holidays is not limited to visiting
relatives and friends. Many people travel for entertainment, including families
who are interested in seeing interesting sights at Christmas and enjoying world-
renowned entertainment that are in faraway places from where they live. Travel
to a destination that is far away, within or outside a country, may only be done
once by a family and that in itself creates a special memory.
Within the United States, it is popular for families and groups of friends
to visit New York City to see the general sights of the city and to shop at
Christmas. Some of these sights are known throughout the country and are
celebrated each Christmas. The annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center
Christmas Tree is an example.
The lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, which is located
west of Fifth Avenue from 47th Street to 51st Street in New York City, has been
an tradition since the time of the Depression. The first tree was placed at the
site in 1931 but it wasn't decorated with any Christmas ornaments. In recent
years, more than 25,000 Christmas lights and other ornaments have been placed on
the tree.
Also in New York City, it is very popular for tourists to travel at
Christmas to see the spectacular Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall with
the signature high-kicking Rockettes. The show is a favorite of both adults and
children as it is very festive, lively and filled with the spirit of Christmas.
Tourists also travel during Christmas to international destinations for
entertainment. Because the Nutcracker Ballet originated in Russia and that
country has worldwide acclaim for some of the most technical and artistic ballet
performers, it is a popular destination at Christmas. The legendary Tchaikovsky
composed the music for the Nutcracker Ballet, which was first performed in
Russia's Mariinsky Theatre that is home to the acclaimed Kirov Ballet. The
story is about a little girl's dream on Christmas Eve about a beloved Nutcracker
toy she received as a present.
Travel to international destinations is also popular at Christmas time to
escape the cold of a 'White Christmas.' For those who do not like the cold but
like to be out and about at Christmas, the alternative is to go somewhere with a
more tropical climate. Travel to destinations in the Caribbean, where Christmas
is robustly celebrated, is popular during the Christmas season.
One of the intriguing places to travel during the Christmas season is to a
place where Santa can be observed. There is such a place in Finland at a village
where Santa Claus has his workshop. Travel to see and possibly talk to Santa
Claus is a delightful adventure for children. But such a trip has to be made
before Christmas Eve when Santa, his elves and reindeers embark on a trip
themselves to every home in the world.

Favorite Foods of Christmas

2007-11-11T22:25:00.001-08:00

Favorite foods enjoyed by Americans for any given holiday, season or special occasion will likely include some ethnic
dish, given the many ethnic groups that reside in the country. Despite this variety of melting pot cuisine, there are some similarities in
dishes that will be a part of most meals during celebrations such as Christmas.
Christmas in the United States comes almost one month after another big holiday, Thanksgiving, in which the traditional
meal must consist of a turkey as the main dish. This dish also carries over into Christmas as roast turkey is one of the main dishes that
may be served for Christmas dinner. But unlike Thanksgiving, which is solely devoted to turkey meat, Christmas dinners may also
include other birds or poultry. These include roast goose or duck. Roasted ham may also be served. Cranberry sauce, vegetables,
pumpkin pie and a plum pudding or fruity Christmas pudding for dessert tops off traditional Christmas dinners. Mince pies and pastry
that is filled with a mixture of chopped, dried fruit may also be added to the menu.
For drinks at Christmas dinner, a bottle of champagne is very popular, as well as wines. But the everyday beverage of beer
is a must for many people to make a meal truly enjoyable.
Before Christmas Day and the big dinner arrives, there's also another type of food that Americans enjoy in large quantities
during the Christmas season. The consumption and sales of candies, gingerbread and other cookies and holiday treats increases rapidly
during the holidays. Similar to how department stores seek to attract shoppers to buy items for Christmas gifts, candy manufacturers
also put out special boxes and types of candies for Christmas and the holiday season.
A survey done in 2004 by the National Confectioners Association found that many adults derived much pleasure at
Christmas from giving and receiving candies and other treats. In their responses the survey participants said that giving decadent
boxes of chocolate to friends and family, placing candy canes on the Christmas tree and hiding candy treats in Christmas stockings
were favorite ways to give and receive candies, cookies and treats during the holidays.
Sweet treats remain popular at Christmas despite a constant message about dieting that is present in everyday life in the
media, in billboards and from some food manufacturers. At Christmas time, people feel free to enjoy the festive season without
constraints. But they also know that they can enjoy candies and cookies that are health conscious by eating ones that are targeted to the
low-carb dieter by having ingredients that are sugar-free and fat-free or both.
Cookies that are enjoyed at Christmas are often home-baked ones and usually include gingerbread items. The tradition of
gingerbread cookies at Christmas is also believed to have originated in Germany and brought to America by German immigrants.
German bakeries began baking very fancy gingerbread houses with icing as edible snow and other decorations after the Grimm
Brothers published their children's story, Hansel and Gretel. That story had a description of a house that was made of bread, a roof of
cake and windows of barley. The popularity of the creations by German bakeries gave rise to cookie cutters that were made in a
variety of shapes, enabling small gingerbread cookies of various shapes to be baked at home. Some of these cookies that had the
shapes of little people and animals were used to decorate Christmas trees.
More than one hundred years ago from today, German homes in Lancaster County in Pennsylvania would have cookies
that were up to one foot high in the front of windows of their houses as decorative items during winter. The cookies were often giant
gingerbread men and women that had colorful rows of buttons and big smiles. Passersby were often cheered and intrigued by the sight
and brought the idea to their homes on a smaller scale.
Being able to enjoy special dishes, candies, cookies and other goodies during Christmas and the holidays adds a sweet
flavor to the season and also helps to create warm and cherished memories.

All About Santa Claus

2007-11-11T22:24:00.002-08:00

All About Santa Claus
It's only fitting that since Santa Claus has the magnificent capability to
visit homes around the world in a single night that more than one place would
claim to be his home. It's common belief that Santa hails from the wintry North
Pole, but folks in Finland will also tell you that Santa calls that country his
home. To prove it, the Finns will even invite you to visit Santa in his workshop
before Christmas or during the year and talk with Santa Claus as he and his
elves busy themselves for their end-of-year Christmas expedition around the
globe.
The popularity in America today of the images and legend of Santa Claus
can be traced to the poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' that was written
by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822. In that poem, Moore described St. Nicholas as a
jolly fellow who flew from house to house in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and
waited for children to go to bed on Christmas Eve before he came down the
chimney to deliver Christmas presents for them.
Following the distribution of that poem, the popular magazine Harper's Weekly
published cartoons by Thomas Nast between 1863 and 1886 that depicted Santa as a
cheerful fellow with a large round belly and long white beard who wore a bright
red suit that was trimmed with white fur. In those cartoons, Santa also held a
sack, which was filled with toys for boys and girls, over his shoulder. The
cartoons also showed Santa reading letters from good boys and girls, working in
his workshop with his elves, checking his list to make sure he had all the
required toys and even showed his wife, Mrs. Claus.
The tradition of Santa Claus was brought to America however by Dutch colonists
who settled in New York City, which was called New Amsterdam at the time.
The real St. Nicholas is said to be a minor saint from the 4th Century with a
reputation for generosity and kindness that gave rise to legends of many
miracles that he performed for the poor and unhappy. One of the stories about
the legend of St. Nicholas is that he saved three poor girls who were sisters
from being sold into a life of slavery or prostitution by their father.
According to the legend, Santa Claus provided the girls with a dowry so that
they could get married.
The legend of St. Nicholas led to hundreds of people being devoted to him and
consequently thousands of European churches became dedicated to him. After the
Reformation period however, widespread practice and worship of St. Nicholas
disappeared in European countries that were Protestant, except in Holland where
the legend of St. Nicholas continued. St. Nicholas was known as Sint Nikolaas
but that was later corrupted to Sinter Klaas.
Dutch colonists took this tradition of Sinter Klaas to New York City where it
was adopted using the Englist name of Santa Claus. Over time, the Dutch legend
of the kindly saint was combined with old Nordic folktales about a magician who
punished naughty children and rewarded good ones with presents to give rise to
the stories that now exist about Santa Claus.
The red and white-trimmed suit of Santa Claus is believed to be the colors that
the original St. Nicholas worebecause red and white were the colors of the robes
worn by traditional bishops. It is also believed that the Coca Cola Co. played a
role in what is regarded as the popular look of Santa Claus today through
paintings by artist Haddon Sundblom that were placed in some of the company's
advertisement between 1931 and 1964.

Care and Disposal of Christmas Trees

2007-11-11T22:24:00.001-08:00

Since so much time and effort is put into selecting the perfect Christmas
tree, it follows that similar consideration should also be given to giving the
tree the best possible care. Otherwise, there will be disappointment if needles
start to brown or turn yellow, or branches begin to break with days or weeks to
go before the season is over. Safety is also an important reason to take proper
care of your Christmas tree because a drying Christmas tree also presents a
grave danger as a fire hazard. The average Christmas tree should last for about
five to six weeks if the proper care is given to it.
After selecting a Christmas tree and getting it home, the first thing that
should be done is to make a fresh cut and place it into a stand with water. A
Christmas tree shouldn't be mounted dry and the water in its stand should be
replenished regularly. A fresh cut is made by cutting about an inch off the
bottom in a slight diagonal shape to help the absorption of water. If a fresh
cut isn't going to be made immediately after getting the tree home, it should be
placed in a container with water and left to stand in a shaded area that is away
from the wind.
If a fresh cut isn't made and the Christmas tree is left exposed to air, the
vessels for transporting water can become blocked. If this happens, another
fresh cut can correct the problem and the tree would need to be immediately put
in a container with water.
Your Christmas tree should be secure in its stand and it should be placed
away from open flames or sources of heat such as furnaces, fireplaces and air
vents, all of which may dry it out. Decoration of the tree should also begin
after it has been mounted in its stand. Several decoration precautions should be
taken to lessen or avoid the Christmas tree being a fire hazard.
Ornaments that have an open flame or candles should never be used for
decoration. Christmas tree lights should be checked to make sure the bulbs are
working properly, the connections are intact and that no part of the cord is
damaged. If there appears to be any exposed wiring or bulbs that are not working
or which are working intermittently, that string of Christmas tree lights
shouldn't be used.
A good Christmas tree stand should be selected since water is the most
important item to getting the longest life out of your Christmas tree. In
selecting a stand, find out the amount of water it can hold when a tree is
placed in it. Some water will be displaced from the space taken up by the base
of the tree so it is important that a selection is not made based on the total
volume of water the stand can hold.
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the average Christmas tree
may absorb up to one gallon of water each day. It is therefore important to
check the water everyday and replenish it accordingly. To make sure your
Christmas tree gets enough water, the Association recommends that one quart of
water is required for each inch of the diameter of the tree's trunk.
After Christmas is over and your wonderfully decorated Christmas tree has
provided much joy, it is important to remove it before it dries out. Options to
discard your Christmas will likely depend on the services offered by your
municipality. Some municipalities will pick up Christmas trees on particular
days, with a cut-off date. Some towns may require that residents take their
trees to specific locations, while in others Christmas trees will be picked up
with the garbage, again up to a certain date. But Christmas trees should never
be burned in the fireplace as it can cause the build up of creosote, a
colorless, oily substance.
There's also the choice that you can continue to get a differen

Effortless Christmas Tree Decoration

2007-11-11T22:23:00.002-08:00

Effortless Christmas Tree Decoration
The decoration of Christmas trees has evolved and undergone many changes,
much like many of the early traditions of the Christmas season. Christmas tree
lighting that started out with real candles underwent probably the biggest
change when electric light became commercially available and special Christmas
tree lights were manufactured. It is therefore not surprising that today you can
set up Christmas trees that are expertly decorated with little or no effort.
While many people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its scent, many others
simply want a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and will choose an artificial
or man-made tree. Artificial trees have been available in America since the
start of the 20th century. Many artificial trees are made to have a similar
appearance like real Christmas trees, but changes have been made to them to make
them decorative and different from regular Christmas trees.
As an example, in the 1950s some artificial Christmas trees had branches
made of aluminum-coated paper to give them a shiny metallic look. For those who
like to have a Christmas tree with a unique look, trees with a similar shiny,
metallic appearance are available today. They are however made with a different
material because the older trees were a fire hazard.
For the those people who are very busy and don't have the time to spend
carefully placing Christmas lights on trees, there are several pre-lit models of
Christmas trees on the market today. A standard type of these Christmas trees
look like their real counterparts except multi-colored fiber-optic lights can be
found scattered throughout the limbs and branches of these trees. This
arrangement saves time and effort of having to undo or untangle strings of
Christmas tree lights.
Another type of pre-lit artificial Christmas tree are those that are made
completely of fiber optics so that the tree appears to be shaped out of strands
of light that are wispy. Some of these brightly-lit fiber-optic trees also come
equipped with pre-recorded Christmas songs and carols and speakers to give the
added pleasure of music.
Many pre-lit Christmas trees have electric Christmas tree lights however
which need to be plugged into a real electrical outlet. The advantage of these
trees is that the lights are already strung on them from the factory and you
need only to follow the instructions about how to assemble the tree and plug in
the different parts for it to appear lighted. Once this is done correctly, the
tree will look as if it was decorated with lights manually or professionally.
Another ready-made decorative feature of artificial Christmas trees is to have
the appearance of snow-covered branches. That trend is an evolution of faux snow
that is often sprinkled in garlands and wreaths to add a Christmas quality to
those decorations. Icicle ornaments are also used to decorate real and
artificial trees and icicle lights are commonly used along rooflines and outdoor
areas for additional lighting decoration. These decorations, along with the
ready-made snow-covered branches of artificial trees, all convey the frosty, icy
and cold feel of the winter season when Christmas occurs.
Christmas trees that arrive from the factory with lights also have
decorations such as apples and minute red berries to provide additional color,
and real pinecones that may or may not be frosted or sprinkled with faux snow.
They may also be pre-decorated with red or gold bows, round ornaments, flower-
like patterns, dried bow and twigs and gold frosted branch tips. to give an
appealing, sparkling appearance. The trees also have varying hues of green
similar to real Christmas trees.
Pre-lit and pre-decorated Christmas trees are therefore an excellent way
to brighten the holiday in your home and enable you to gain more time to enjoy
the festivities of the season.

Selection of Christmas Trees

2007-11-11T22:23:00.001-08:00

Given the many types of Christmas trees available and the various ways in
which they can be bought, it's important to know certain qualities that a
Christmas tree should have so that it will be suitable for decorating and will
also last through the season.
One of the most important qualities a Christmas tree should have is
freshness. This makes buying a tree from a Christmas Tree Farm the best option
because you will observe the tree being cut at the time it is purchased. If a
tree is bought elsewhere, such as from a retail lot, it is important to find out
where the tree came from and when it was cut.
To determine the freshness of a tree, observe whether it looks green and
healthy, has a fragrant scent and has needles that are moist and flexible. If
the needles appear dry or show browning, then that is a sign the tree isn't very
fresh. If a large amount of green needles fall when a few branches of the tree
are shaken, that's also a sign that the tree isn't the best one to buy to last
for the entire season. The needles of fir trees should break crisply when they
are bent. If a fir tree needle is bent and doesn't break readily with pressure,
it might mean that the tree isn't absorbing water and that will affect its
longevity.
Another reason a Christmas tree farm can be a better option for purchasing a
Christmas tree is that it will be more likely to offer more species of trees and
therefore a wider variety of shapes and sizes.
For those Christmas trees that are located on retail or other commercial lots,
freshness can be determined by looking at the conditions in which the trees are
kept. Observe whether the trees are kept in stands that hold water, if baled
trees are protected from the wind and sun, if a fresh cut is put on trees and if
the trees are tied down correctly.
Another quality to consider in selecting the right Christmas tree is its size.
Before buying a tree, its important to decide where it will be placed so that
the space can be measured. You will need to do a floor to ceiling measurement
and then subtract at least 10-12 inches to get the maximum height for the
Christmas tree. It is recommended that at least 10-12 inches of space should be
between the top of the Christmas tree and the ceiling.
The bottom of the Christmas tree also needs to be checked to make sure there is
adequate space between the end of it and the lowest branches. A small diagonal
fresh cut, such as an inch, is made in that area to enhance absorption of water,
which will make the tree last longer. This cut should be made just before the
tree is placed in water. If a fresh cut is done and the tree is exposed to the
air too long, the vessels can become blocked.
Along with freshness and size, a tree should be selected based on the shape that
you like, the smell of the needles and bark and on how dense and sturdy the
branches are. For the density and sturdiness of the tree, you need to have an
idea how the tree will be decorated - how many heavy ornaments, Christmas lights
or bows will be used. As an example, a fir tree that has sturdy branches will be
better for holding heavy ornaments and a pine tree is good for Christmas trees
that have light decorations such as bows and a string of Christmas lights.
The texture of the branches and how durable or long-lasting the tree will
be are also worth considering in choosing a perfect Christmas tree.

Asides - Interesting Facts/ Notes About Christmas

2007-11-11T22:22:00.002-08:00

It is an accepted fact that the Christmas tree tradition is one that was
brought to the shores of America by German immigrants who continued a practice
that was popular in their former homeland. Today, a Christmas tree, even a
miniature one, is present in just about every home at Christmas. It is therefore
interesting to note some little-know facts about the Christmas Tree and other
traditions related to Christmas.
The first interesting fact is the source of real Christmas Trees for some
Americans. These can be bought at a Christmas Tree Farm or at many local stores
and other places of business in just about every town and city across the
country around Christmas time. But according to the National Christmas Tree
Association, Americans buy about 330,000 Christmas trees that are real through
e-commerce or from a catalogue and have them shipped by mail-order.
The scent of real Christmas trees is the reason they are so popular. But as they
stand silently in their decorative wonder, they also are providing another
benefit. The Christmas Tree Association says the amount of oxygen produced on a
daily basis by one acre of Christmas tree is enough to provide enough oxygen for
18 people. And during the first week, a Christmas Tree at home will use up to
one quart of water each day to help retain its longevity for the many days of
Christmas.
Since Christmas celebrations gained popularity in America, the Christmas Tree
has always been a big tradition. During the 1950s however, artificial Christmas
trees were not always green. It was very popular during those times to have
artificial trees with other colors such as silver, pink and aqua. The appeal in
having these colored Christmas trees may have been due to the fact that they
looked shiny and bright and appeared like tinsel instead of green foliage.
An important ceremony related to the Christmas tree that gains national
attention during the Christmas season is the lighting of the National Christmas
Tree at the White House. This tradition can be credited to President Calvin
Coolidge who lit the first decorated Christmas tree outside at the White House
in 1923.
The lighting of the National Christmas Tree has also been used to convey some
symbolic meaning not related to Christmas. It was not lighted until Dec. 22 in
1963 because of a national mourning period of 30 days for the assassination of
President Kennedy. And while Teddy Roosevelt was President he gave an order that
banned the Christmas tree from the White House, not for the assassination of
President McKinley in 1901, which caused him to become president, but for
reasons related to the environment.
Also of note is that when the National Christmas Tree was lighted on Dec. 13 in
1984, temperatures were in the 70s during an unusually warm December.
Christmas has been celebrated in the United States since the 1600s although it
wasn't always very popular. It took more than two centuries into the mid-late
1860s for Christmas to become a popular holiday season all across America. So
maybe the rest of the country owes the holiday of Christmas Day to the state of
Alabama, which in 1836 became the first state to declare Dec. 25 a legal
holiday.
It is interesting to note that on Christmas Day of 1789 Congress was in session.
And to show how far ahead of the game Alabama was, it wasn't until June 26, 1870
that the federal government declared Christmas as a federal holiday.
Although Christmas is based on the Christian religion, not all Christian groups
celebrate the season. Among the Christian groups who do not celebrate Christmas
and related traditions such as sending greeting cards are Jehovah Witnesses.
Jehovah Witnesses and other non-participating Christian groups say Christmas
isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible as a time or reason to celebrate and
since they strictly adhere to the word of the Bible, they refuse to celebrate
Christmas.

Gift-giving At Christmas

2007-11-11T22:22:00.001-08:00

Gift-giving At Christmas
The real meaning of Christmas is often expressed as being about giving to
others during the season. Giving can take many forms, but during the Christmas
season the most obvious way in which giving is done is by preparing beautifully
wrapped Christmas presents for family, friends, acquaintances, work colleagues,
teachers and others such as business clients.
The tradition of giving gifts at Christmas is believed to have started
with the Three Wise Men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But
the practice of giving gifts as is common today, evolved from a retail strategy
that involved Santa Claus and attracting children into stores. For that reason,
giving gifts at Christmas and during the holidays has been centered on children.
Giving gifts during Christmas started in the early 19th century when the
celebration of Christmas was restored after a period when the Protestants in
England banned Christmas celebrations. In 1820 to 1840 when Christmas
celebrations regained popularity, stores started to advertise special Christmas
shopping promotions. At the same time, newspapers also created advertising
sections solely for holiday shopping advertisements. These special advertising
sections had prominent displays of Santa Claus.
In 1841 when a store in Philadelphia had a life-size model of Santa Claus,
hundreds of children turned up to get a look at Santa Claus, which had become a
new and popular element of revitalized Christmas celebrations. The interest in
seeing Santa Claus provided a marketing idea to retailers that they could
attract children and parents to stores through offers to have a look at a 'real'
or 'live' Santa Claus. Because of that marketing strategy to attract children
during Christmas, the focus was therefore to give Christmas presents to
children.
Today, gift-giving is still focused on children, but adults are as much popular
recipients as children. Within families, the focus on children is evident in the
fact that an individual child will get more gifts than any other individual
adult member of the family. For young children, who are particularly delighted
and enchanted by the holidays and Christmas festivities, toys are usually the
gift given. Among older children, clothes and electronic gadgets are popular
items to give as Christmas gifts.
Adults are the ones however, for whom there is the widest range of items that
can be given as Christmas presents. An item that will make a good Christmas or
holiday present to just about any adult is a decadent box of chocolate or
holiday cookies. This is enjoyed even by those who are diet-conscious because,
they can be sugar- and, or, fat-free or also low in carbohydrates. At Christmas
time also, many people tend to temporarily disregard any strict diet rules that
they are following and so they welcome and enjoy any type of Christmas treats
heartily.
According to a survey done in 2004 by the National Confectioners Association, 90
percent of 1,000 adults who were surveyed responded that giving or receiving a
box of chocolates and creating or receiving a stocking filled with goodies were
among the top three ways they enjoyed candy during the winter holidays. A third
way was having candy that was placed in a dish, which indicates that having
sweet treats at Christmas time is generally enjoyed by a broad cross-section of
people.
Aside from family members and friends, it may also be a nice gesture to give a
holiday or Christmas present to colleagues at work, teachers of your children
and based on your profession, to business clients. The primary reason to give
any of those categories of people holiday or Christmas gifts is likely to
express appreciation. For that reason, a holiday present of goodies or treats
would indeed be a sweet gift to give.

Christmas Carols

2007-11-11T22:20:00.001-08:00

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.
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.

Decorating Strategies At Christmas

2007-11-11T22:19:00.003-08:00

Decorating Strategies At Christmas
With so much decorative choice at Christmas, a strategy is needed to
ensure that whatever is done looks organized, well arranged and beautiful, and
not haphazard and disorganized. By doing some basic or traditional decoration,
along with trying creative and different ideas, a beautiful and pleasing
decorative environment can be created in all homes.
Traditional decorating ideas include using wreaths for doors or
entranceways and on a wall with unobstructed view. Garlands can be placed along
surface where they can be hung vertically or horizontally. And Christmas lights
can be used by itself or with garlands, in shrubs and of course on Christmas
trees.
Using Christmas lights outdoors along the frame of houses and icicle
shaped ones to decorate the roof lines of homes have become very popular. Icicle
lights are just as easy as regular lights to put in place and they create a very
pleasing display for the holiday season. Adding color to these outdoor light
displays can also make houses and the lighting display look more spectacular.
For indoor lighting, candles have become an attractive Christmas
decorative item as they can light up the night in a subdued but beautiful
manner. Candles create a pleasing look when displayed at windows if there are at
least two sets of two or three windows directly above each other, which is in a
vertical pattern. New technologies with candles have also made them safer to
use. There are electrical candles but also battery-operated ones that can be
used safely instead of electrical ones or in places where there aren't any
electrical outlets.
There are also creative ways to use and incorporate various items around
the home to make Christmas decorations. Christmas or holiday ribbons can be used
to make bows that are pinned onto curtains to provide a festive look and a
creative Christmas decoration. Like curtains, houseplants can also be dressed up
for the holidays. Small Christmas ornaments can be gently placed on houseplants
to give porches, patios and front lawns a surprising Christmas decorative look.
Although many people don't use Christmas stockings anymore to stuff
Christmas gifts, they can still be used to create perfect Christmas decorations.
A collection of Christmas stockings can be hung on the mantle, shelf or a wall
with or without anything inside them. They will look just as beautiful as those
that are often seen in stores.
Christmas lights can also be wrapped along with garlands on a banister or
stair railing to add a twinkling Christmas look. Mistletoe can also be hung just
about anywhere with or without Christmas lights. If the tale about mistletoe is
believed however, then it should be hung somewhere with room underneath where
two people can have a friendly holiday kiss or even a hug. Fake snow can also be
sprinkled on garlands, mistletoes and wreaths to further enhance their
appearance with something from the Christmas season.
And to borrow a decorative feature from department stores, several differently
sized boxes can be wrapped, piled in a haphazard manner and placed in a corner
from floor to ceiling to make a gift pillar decoration.
Old Christmas cards can also be used for decoration by cutting pictures from
them to make a collage. The pictures are then glued onto a poster board that can
be framed or hung as is on a wall as Christmas decoration. Even Christmas cookie
cutters can be put to an easy, simple and creative use as a decorative item at
Christmas time. A ribbon can be used to string two or three or even single
cookie cutters that can be placed on the Christmas tree or at a window as
decorative ornaments.
Any home can therefore be decorated to be appealing for Christmas and the
holidays, given the many ideas and ways that Christmas decoration can be done.

Christmas Decorations

2007-11-11T22:19:00.001-08:00

The various types of decoration used at Christmas are what gives a pretty
and sparkling look, and what puts some splendor into the season. The Christmas
tree with its myriad decorations is a standard and central decorative element of
Christmas. But the presence of the Christmas tree is also enhanced by
decorations such as wreaths, garlands, lights and figurines.
Wreaths have a round or circular shape and are often used as the
decorative piece on the front of a door. Variations of wreaths include berry,
grapevine, poinsettia and snow. The berry wreath will have individual and small
clusters of red berries, holly leaves with features like a gold tint, pine cones
and needle styles. A grapevine wreath has a vine-like look and may have pine
sprigs and clusters of red berry.
Poinsettia wreaths showcase leaves that are red or different shades of red, and
may have glittered fruits such as pear, apple and grape clusters throughout its
structure. Based on the size of a poinsettia wreath, it may also have large or
small pine cones, pine sprigs and holly leaves. And then there are snow wreaths
that have an icy look from pine cones that are sprinkled or covered with snow
and which are scattered throughout the wreath.
Garlands are primarily used to decorate stairways, banisters and mantels.
Garlands also have variations such as those that have a lighted Christmas tree
look with twinkling lights and tiny ornaments or tinsel to sparkle. Others such
as a mixed needle lighted garland would have branches of wide and thin pine
needle and Christmas lights.
Christmas lights come in various forms and are also used in numerous ways
to make homes and business places shine and sparkle during the holidays.
Christmas lights may be colored or plain, may or may not twinkle, and may be
single-stringed or have multiple strings to be hung to create a look like
icicles, which makes them very flexible in how they can be used.
To beautify houses during the Christmas season, Christmas lights may be
strung around the roof line, in shrubs, placed at windows to form different
patterns and placed on patios or porches to hang as icicles. Lighted candles are
also used in windows to make them visually appealing.
Another type of lighted decoration seen during Christmas is in the form of
figures that are placed on lawns. It's a matter of personal taste that decides
how many figures to place on lawns, whether a lot or a few pieces or sometimes
just a single one may be attractive enough.
Christmas trees are the standard decorative elements that are mandatory during
the season. They may be real or artificial and can be placed inside or outside.
If placed outside, they should be lighted and also in a sufficiently lit but
subdued lighted area to maximize their visual beauty. Christmas trees are
wonderful to decorate because the entire family can participate in the
decorative process by placing the ornaments, baubles, lights and tinsel on the
tree. Some ornaments may even be personal, such as hand-made items or treasured
keepsake mementos. When these are placed on the tree every year, it can become a
tradition that is kept in the family and which creates a special memory as each
Christmas comes around.
Poinsettia flowers, with their flaming red leaves, are also a staple
decoration at Christmas time. They can be placed wherever it's suitable to place
plants. Poinsettias are commonly used around offices in general and personal
work spaces during the Christmas season.
If there's snow and a lucky 'White Christmas,' especially on
Christmas Day, then it's worth it to bundle up and with the children jump into
the snow to make a 'Frosty Snowman.' While a smiling snowman on a lawn is a
temporary decorative feature during Christmas, it's always a surprise and
delight because it means that children were out playing in the snow and having
fun.
Given the many types, variations and ways in which Christmas decorations
can be used, everyone can have some pleasure and be creative in arranging some
form of Christmas decoration to add their own sparkle and twinkle to the
holidays.

Christmas Games and other Fun Activities

2007-11-11T22:14:00.000-08:00

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

Holiday Parties at Work

2007-11-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

Holiday Parties at Work
During Christmas and the holiday season, the festive spirit and relaxed
mood even extends into the workplace where the pace is likely to slow
considerably as the volume of work is lessened. By having parties at work,
everyone can unwind a bit, have some fun and enjoy the satisfaction from the
results of a year of hard work. Colleagues at work can celebrate goals that have
been accomplished and look forward to an even more rewarding year.
Parties at work during Christmas and the holidays may include a voluntary
gift exchange and individuals have to make a decision whether or not they will
participate in it. In a situation where an individual may not know other
colleagues very well and is unsure what Christmas present to give, it may be
better to opt out of exchanging gifts. If the party and gift exchange is among a
fairly large group, such as company-wide or of several departments, it may not
be noticed if someone doesn't participate in the gift exchange. If it's a small
group however, it is likely to be noticed. To eliminate the possibility of any
negative talk regarding non-participation, it would likely be better to be among
those agreeing to exchange gifts.
A basic thing to remember in selecting gifts for Christmas gift exchanges
at work, which are usually called Secret Santa, is to not choose anything that
could be considered inappropriate or offensive. Although the sender won't be
revealed, it won't leave a good feeling and it will become the topic of
conversation among everyone.
Separate from the 'Secret Santa' Christmas gift exchange at work, it may
also be a good gesture to give Christmas presents, which can be small tokens or
even just candies or treats, to colleagues in a division or department if you
are the respective leader or manager. Such a gesture shows thoughtfulness and
that the work of individuals has been appreciated. It will be a good note on
which to end the year and to start a new one.
Another important thing to observe during Christmas parties at work is
good behavior that is considered casual but still business-like. Although there
will be much fun and laughter, it will still be occurring within a work
environment or within the parameters of work. So, individuals will still be
observed by their colleagues. It is of utmost importance to be careful about how
much drinking is done, or how much alcohol is consumed, because drunken or any
offensive behavior will not be tolerated and could have negative repercussions
on one's career.
The consideration of good etiquette is also something to be remembered and
observed at holiday parties at work. As examples, talking and laughing with food
in one's mouth, emptying a platter of delicious hors d'ouevres or bagging
candies, cookies or treats to take home are all considered poor etiquette.
A Christmas party at work can also provide an opportunity to have a brief
conversation with supervisors, managers and other company officials whom one may
not come in contact with frequently. It can be the ideal time to leave a good
impression on a key decision maker. By introducing yourself and striking up a
conversation, it is also putting a face to a name or making yourself known and
standing out among fellow colleagues. For those who are strivers and who want to
advance such interactions at work holiday and Christmas parties can be
beneficial and advantageous.
It's therefore important to keep in mind that while Christmas parties at
work are fun, there are still ways to inconspicuously seek some benefit while
you laugh and enjoy a break from the stress, competitiveness and daily routine
of work.

Christmas Music

2007-11-11T22:12:00.001-08:00

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.
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 Plays/Performances

2007-11-11T22:11:00.003-08:00

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.
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.