Christmas is not about the presents under the tree, the decorations and the lights, the concerts or the fancy meals. It’s not about shopping, snow, caroling, or Santa Clause. True Christmas is found in the first syllable of the very word itself, who is all too often forgotten. Christmas is about Christ! And while all of the festivities, traditions, and activities that accompany this holiday are certainly appropriate and extremely fun, we must ensure that we never forget the significance of why we celebrate in the first place. And perhaps true Christmas is discovered, enjoyed, and made evident only when our actions reflect the actions and character of Him whose birth we commemorate. He loved His lambs, He fed His lambs, and He continues to feed His lambs; our great opportunity is to allow Him to feed His lambs through the service and giving of you and me.

Below is listed not only giving and service opportunities that help us participate in the true meaning of Christmas, but also fun Christmas activities and traditions that can be enjoyed by families and people everywhere:

1) Purpose of the Holiday: First and most importantly, ensure that in the midst of all the fun festivities, parties, gift exchanges, traditions, delicious meals and chocolate, and especially the anticipation of Santa Clause – that you make time to remember Him, and the real Reason why we celebrate this season!

2) ‘Adopt a Family’: Find a local family that may be struggling or has very little, and anonymously give them Christmas. For 12 days, drop off food one night, clothes the next, books, toys, kind notes, treats, etc. (or just drop it all off at once).

3) ‘Draw Names’: On Dec. 1st, each child will draw the name of another sibling or parent – and that is who they have to get a present for Christmas that year. One year, have it be a funny gift; the next year have it be a ‘no-cost’ present where everyone can not spend money; another year each person has to actually make/create their gift; or just buy the gift for the individual; etc.

4) Yearly Ornaments: Each year, every child will get to make/create a new ornament to hang on the tree.

5) Hang Mistletoe: Enough said right!

6) Family Sleepover: On Christmas Eve, the whole family will campout together in the same room. Obviously this can’t be in the room with the tree, but upstairs/downstairs or in a bedroom – all the kids (and Dad/Mom) will sleep out together.

7) Yearly Christmas Tree Outing: All the men and boys each year will go out on Dec. 1st and find the Christmas tree. While gone, the women will make a warm meal for everyone to eat when the guys get home. That evening, everyone will decorate the tree, listen to Christmas music, make the house festive for the season, and just play games and spend the evening together.

Nightly Christmas Stories: For each night in December, read a Christmas story or book, a holiday poem, the symbols of Christmas, or the words to a Christmas carol.

9) Christmas Eve Present: Allow each child to open one present on Christmas Eve.

10) Nativity Sets & Ginger-Bread Houses: Each year as a family, make a new Nativity set (or have each child make their own). Use paper, play dough, cardboard, cardstock, etc. Also, set aside one night to make Ginger Bread Houses together.

11) Secret Santa Care Packages: Identify a child who is sick at the hospital, some children from the orphanage, various people at the homeless shelter, family in need, or even a child in a developing country (work with your local non-profit) – and each member in the family (even the kids) will donate money, items, and time in putting together these care packages for people in need. Deliver it anonymously, or in person so children can feel and see the joy of giving.

12) Christmas Lights Drive: As a family, hop in the car and make it a yearly tradition to just drive around neighborhoods and downtown looking at Christmas lights. Take candy, of course!

13) Read the Christmas Story: Perhaps make Christmas Eve the night to talk about the ‘true’ meaning of and significance of Christmas. Read the account of Christ’s birth from the Bible, talk about it, or perhaps even for fun – have the kids act it out. Then, the 25th can be the day of fun and presents.

14) Mini Tree: With little kids, allow each of them to have their own little Christmas tree that they can decorate however they want – and they can keep it in their rooms.

15) Giving Tree: Set up a tree at the local schools, Churches, and community centers. Have paper ornaments on each tree with a random items that people will donate. Items could be: food, clothes, toys, books, money, toiletries, etc. Then, have a large box where people can come back and drop off their donated items. Then, give these items to local families/individuals in need. Give them to the local Salvation Army, Orphanage, Homeless Shelter, or Non-Profit.

16) Dec 1st Kickoff: Make the first day in December the official day the family starts Christmas celebrations and decorations. Make some hot cocoa, popcorn, turn on the Christmas music, and get the family together. Decorate the house, put up the tree, and just spend the night playing games and having fun together.

17) Gift to Christ: Each year as a family, and especially personally, determine something you will do as an expression of gratitude for what Christ did for you. Break a habit, develop a talent, mend a relationship, or become a better person/family in some way.

18) Christmas Giving: As a family, do one or many of the following each year: visit a nursing home or homeless shelter and take small gifts for people, make a meal or treat for a new neighbor or someone in need, invite a widowed woman or someone who is alone to share a meal, shovel snow for Elderly neighbors, etc.

19) Christmas Culture Night: Learn about how other cultures, countries, and religions celebrate Christmas.

20) Yearly Christmas Fun: Yet, in the midst of it all – have FUN! Every year, make it a tradition to do one or many of the following fun activities: go sledding, make snowmen, go to the beach, go skiing, ice skating, a performance, to a cabin, have a Christmas movie and popcorn night, have an extended family or neighborhood Christmas party gift exchange, etc. Perhaps one night you can specifically set aside as ‘Christmas Family Night’ and just be together. Get Pizza, rent a movie, play games, have a campout in the family room, etc.

Perhaps it was the great Dr. Seuss who summed it up best when he so perfectly penned: “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Thus, Christmas and giving is not determined by price, but in how we give and act – the season’s about Christ!

Christmas is not about the presents under the tree, the decorations and the lights, the concerts or the fancy meals. It’s not about shopping, snow, caroling, or Santa Clause. True Christmas is found in the first syllable of the very word itself, who is all too often forgotten. Christmas is about Christ! And while all of the festivities, traditions, and activities that accompany this holiday are certainly appropriate and extremely fun, we must ensure that we never forget the significance of why we celebrate in the first place. And perhaps true Christmas is discovered, enjoyed, and made evident only when our actions reflect the actions and character of Him whose birth we commemorate. He loved His lambs, He fed His lambs, and He continues to feed His lambs; our great opportunity is to allow Him to feed His lambs through the service and giving of you and me.

Below is listed not only giving and service opportunities that help us participate in the true meaning of Christmas, but also fun Christmas activities and traditions that can be enjoyed by families and people everywhere:

1) Purpose of the Holiday: First and most importantly, ensure that in the midst of all the fun festivities, parties, gift exchanges, traditions, delicious meals and chocolate, and especially the anticipation of Santa Clause – that you make time to remember Him, and the real Reason why we celebrate this season!

2) ‘Adopt a Family’: Find a local family that may be struggling or has very little, and anonymously give them Christmas. For 12 days, drop off food one night, clothes the next, books, toys, kind notes, treats, etc. (or just drop it all off at once).

3) ‘Draw Names’: On Dec. 1st, each child will draw the name of another sibling or parent – and that is who they have to get a present for Christmas that year. One year, have it be a funny gift; the next year have it be a ‘no-cost’ present where everyone can not spend money; another year each person has to actually make/create their gift; or just buy the gift for the individual; etc.

4) Yearly Ornaments: Each year, every child will get to make/create a new ornament to hang on the tree.

5) Hang Mistletoe: Enough said right!

6) Family Sleepover: On Christmas Eve, the whole family will campout together in the same room. Obviously this can’t be in the room with the tree, but upstairs/downstairs or in a bedroom – all the kids (and Dad/Mom) will sleep out together.

7) Yearly Christmas Tree Outing: All the men and boys each year will go out on Dec. 1st and find the Christmas tree. While gone, the women will make a warm meal for everyone to eat when the guys get home. That evening, everyone will decorate the tree, listen to Christmas music, make the house festive for the season, and just play games and spend the evening together.

Nightly Christmas Stories: For each night in December, read a Christmas story or book, a holiday poem, the symbols of Christmas, or the words to a Christmas carol.

9) Christmas Eve Present: Allow each child to open one present on Christmas Eve.

10) Nativity Sets & Ginger-Bread Houses: Each year as a family, make a new Nativity set (or have each child make their own). Use paper, play dough, cardboard, cardstock, etc. Also, set aside one night to make Ginger Bread Houses together.

11) Secret Santa Care Packages: Identify a child who is sick at the hospital, some children from the orphanage, various people at the homeless shelter, family in need, or even a child in a developing country (work with your local non-profit) – and each member in the family (even the kids) will donate money, items, and time in putting together these care packages for people in need. Deliver it anonymously, or in person so children can feel and see the joy of giving.

12) Christmas Lights Drive: As a family, hop in the car and make it a yearly tradition to just drive around neighborhoods and downtown looking at Christmas lights. Take candy, of course!

13) Read the Christmas Story: Perhaps make Christmas Eve the night to talk about the ‘true’ meaning of and significance of Christmas. Read the account of Christ’s birth from the Bible, talk about it, or perhaps even for fun – have the kids act it out. Then, the 25th can be the day of fun and presents.

14) Mini Tree: With little kids, allow each of them to have their own little Christmas tree that they can decorate however they want – and they can keep it in their rooms.

15) Giving Tree: Set up a tree at the local schools, Churches, and community centers. Have paper ornaments on each tree with a random items that people will donate. Items could be: food, clothes, toys, books, money, toiletries, etc. Then, have a large box where people can come back and drop off their donated items. Then, give these items to local families/individuals in need. Give them to the local Salvation Army, Orphanage, Homeless Shelter, or Non-Profit.

16) Dec 1st Kickoff: Make the first day in December the official day the family starts Christmas celebrations and decorations. Make some hot cocoa, popcorn, turn on the Christmas music, and get the family together. Decorate the house, put up the tree, and just spend the night playing games and having fun together.

17) Gift to Christ: Each year as a family, and especially personally, determine something you will do as an expression of gratitude for what Christ did for you. Break a habit, develop a talent, mend a relationship, or become a better person/family in some way.

18) Christmas Giving: As a family, do one or many of the following each year: visit a nursing home or homeless shelter and take small gifts for people, make a meal or treat for a new neighbor or someone in need, invite a widowed woman or someone who is alone to share a meal, shovel snow for Elderly neighbors, etc.

19) Christmas Culture Night: Learn about how other cultures, countries, and religions celebrate Christmas.

20) Yearly Christmas Fun: Yet, in the midst of it all – have FUN! Every year, make it a tradition to do one or many of the following fun activities: go sledding, make snowmen, go to the beach, go skiing, ice skating, a performance, to a cabin, have a Christmas movie and popcorn night, have an extended family or neighborhood Christmas party gift exchange, etc. Perhaps one night you can specifically set aside as ‘Christmas Family Night’ and just be together. Get Pizza, rent a movie, play games, have a campout in the family room, etc.

Perhaps it was the great Dr. Seuss who summed it up best when he so perfectly penned: “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Thus, Christmas and giving is not determined by price, but in how we give and act – the season’s about Christ!

Christmas traditions make the holiday season special. We all have certain rituals or customs we do every year to celebrate the season. Did you ever wonder how these customs got their start? Some traditions are well known to all some are celebrated by the few but all are a wonderful way to share the meaning of Christmas with those we love. Read on to learn more about how some traditions came to be.

Advent Calendar

Counting down the days until Christmas with an advent calendar is a popular holiday activity that started in 19th century German homes. The days were counted by making a chalk mark on the floor or hanging a different picture each day. This lead to homemade advent calendars with little doors that were opened each day revealing a Christmas image or bible verse.

Animal Crackers and Christmas?

The National Biscuit Company introduced “Barnum’s Animal Crackers” as a holiday seasonal promotion in 1902. The boxes carrying string was designed for hanging on the Christmas tree at a time when candy and treats were typical tree decorations.

Bells

Bells and Christmas are inseparable. A simple silhouette of bells depicts a Christmas meaning. Bells became part of Christian worship around the year 400 and their sound summoning the faithful to worship was their first link to Christmas. This became the notion of “ringing-in” Christmas. In England Christmas is rung in starting December 21st. In Scandinavia, bells ring to announce the end of work and the beginning of the festive season. In some stories, St Nick carries around a hand bell on his visits. The gift-giver in Italy, Befana, rings a bell as she descends the chimney and in Hungary, angel bells are rung to announce that the children’s presents have been delivered. Numerous carols use bells as a metaphor for joy and hope as in “Silver Bells,” “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” and “Jingle Bells.”

Boxing Day

In Britain and many Commonwealth countries, December 26th is a legal holiday known as Boxing Day. Since the middle ages it was the custom during the Christmas season for English employees to solicit tips from people with whom their employer did business. These tips were collected in earthenware boxes which is where the day got its name.

Candy Canes

The red and white striped stick of hard candy known as the candy cane has its origins around 1670. The candy was invented as a means of quieting children during the Christmas service by a choirmaster of Cologne Cathedral. The candies were made in the shape of a shepherds hook. The shape of the hook soon led to hanging them on the tree as it was the custom to decorate the tree with sweets.

Christmas Carols

Carols were started as songs celebrating events of the Nativity. The word carol is said to be derived from a Greek word for circle dancing. Throughout the years religious organizations have both participated in and prohibited singing carols depending on the religious teachings of the day. During the 17th century carols were sung by carolers on “begging visits” during the Christmas season. After 1878, the Church of England renewed its use of Christmas carols which led to their popularity. The 20th century saw a continued interest in carols and a number of new religious and secular Christmas songs were written and became popular holiday favorites.

Childremas

December 28th is that date of the Feast of the Holy Innocents which commemorates the murder of the male babies of Bethlehem by King Herod. In many countries the day was considered a day of ill omen. In England no business was conducted on that day. In Ireland, no new venture was to begin on that day . Many sailors would not sail on December 28th. On the Aran Islands, no one was to be buried that day. In Cornwall washing that day would bring death to one of your relatives.

Christmas Crackers

A Christmas novelty made popular in Britain. The Christmas cracker is a small cardboard tube covered in decorative wrap. When pulled apart the tube makes a small explosive sound and the inside reveals toys and papers with humorous sayings. It was invented by a London confectioner who wanted a novelty that would sell for the Christmas season. Originally filled with sweet treats it was later filled with humorous or romantic sayings and prizes from inexpensive toys to expensive jewelry. It is now a popular part of Christmas celebrations in homes around the world.

Department Store Santa

The first department store to feature a visit with Santa was the J. W. Parkinson’s store in Philadelphia in 1841. Astonishingly, no other department stores copied this event until 1890 when a store in Boston repeated it. Before long lines of children formed at stores across America to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him their Christmas wish list. The department store Santa has been immortalized in films such as Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas Story.

Eggnog

This popular holiday drink takes its name from an old term for ale, “nog.” It is copied from the French drink lait de poule, made of eggs, milk and spices. Americans added rum to it and topped it with nutmeg.

Elves

Small creatures who are associated with Christmas as Santa’s helpers in the North Pole. They were not always so friendly. They originated in Scandinavia as house-elves who could be helpful if bribed but malicious if slighted, especially at Christmas. In Denmark, its customary to leave a bowl of milk out for them. Elves begin to take on a more positive and Christmas oriented persona in the 19th century as part of a drive to make Christmas more child-centered.

No matter how well prepared you think you are, there is always something at the last minute.

Christmas cards to be written, Christmas gifts to be wrapped, Christmas decorations to be put up and if you are fortunate a Christmas vacation to be organized.

Christmas gifts are wonderful to give but these days so many people seem to have all they want or need, that deciding on a gift idea can be quite difficult.

For Christmas gift ideas, gift baskets can be a great solution. When you know a persons interest or hobbies filling a gift basket can very easy and will always be acceptable. With most hobbies and interests there is usually items need to be replaced often, like a golfer always loves to get golf balls and golf tees, shirts, caps, hand towels. Gardeners love garden gloves, small garden tools, gardening books. Someone who enjoys a glass of wine, would love a Christmas gift basket filled with wine and or wine accessories or a for the person who loves to cook, a Christmas basket of gourmet foods and new recipes.

Even children love to get a Christmas basket of goodies. There are lots of fun Christmas baskets that can be made up for children, browse the book stores, toy stores and you will kind a treasure trove of items that will delight a child.

If you are not into making up a Christmas gift basket there are speciality gift basket stores. Try the florists, they will make up a gift basket for you with whatever you wish put in it, florists are very creative people and could come up with gift ideas you may not have thought of. If you have the items you wish to go into the basket, then ask if the Christmas gift basket can be made up for you.

There are other containers that can be used too, not just baskets. Take a look around the specialist storage shops, you will find things like wonderful stainless steel or galvanized buckets in various sizes, compartment type trays and tool carry-all, timber boxes and pot plant pots in terracotta and ceramic. Don’t forget a wonderful clear glass large vase, these can be filled with all sorts of lovely pretty bath soaps, candles, even golf balls etc.

Let your imagination go, If you decide on Christmas gift baskets then your Christmas gift ideas list will fill up very nicely, your Christmas gift shopping solved and the recipients will just love their gifts.

Christmas decorations are so very personal to the family. In some families the Christmas decorations are priceless, not in a dollar value, mainly because of the memories each decoration gives to the family. Some decorations are hand made by family members when they were small children at school, some are bought and hold significance to various happenings to the family at particular Christmas times.

Christmas decorations are usually stored in the attic or a storage area in the home. Many families have built up their own traditions over the years as to when the decorations will be brought out and the Christmas tree decorated. This is a happy family occasion, if you don’t have a special time to decorate your Christmas tree, make one, get the family together and enjoy this special time.

After you get through all the Christmas shopping, planning, cooking and entertaining, you may think you need a Christmas vacation. A Christmas vacation is a great time to relax, unwind and get over the Christmas festive time and get ready for the New Year. A vacation to the beach, how about a cruise or go to the snow for a skiing Christmas vacation. Whatever you choose, get away relax and enjoy. The Christmas Season only comes once a year and many of us say, Thank Goodness! in the nicest possible way.

Are you going to celebrate Christmas in Budapest with Hungarian friends? I tell you some essential information about opening hours, public transport and some interesting Hungarian Christmas traditions.

In mid-November Budapest starts to prepare for Christmas. Streets are decorated with colourful lights, shop-windows are adorned to lure in customers hunting for gifts. More and more people set out to look for the ideal Christmas presents in shops or in the markets. If you’re looking for a unique Hungarian gift and want to get away from the all alike shops visit the Budapest Christmas Fair at Vörösmarty Square.

Opening Hours at Christmas in Budapest

Shops are open for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Sundays on the three weekends before Christmas. Shops close around early afternoon on 24th December and open only on 27th December. Some larger shopping malls might stay open until early evening on 24th December. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day all shops, supermarkets are closed in Budapest. Many shops do not open between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Life gets back to normal after 1st January.

Restaurants are also closed on Christmas Eve (24th Decemeber), but most of them open on 25th-26th December. Budapest is a popular tourist destination even in winter and restaurant owners are well aware of that. Don’t worry you’ll definitely find several good restaurants open during Christmas in Budapest

Public Transport at Christmas in Budapest

Public transport vehicles run until around 15.00-16.00. After 16.00 night services carry passangers. On 25th-26th December vehicles run according to holiday schedule. Between 27th and 1st January, vehicles run less frequently than they do on usual weekdays. It’s also holiday at schools, all public transport vehicles run according to schedules valid during school holidays.

Some Hungarian Christmas Traditions

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Hungary. The main celebration is on Christmas Eve (it’s Szenteste in Hungarian, meaning Holy Night) Familiy members get together in the afternoon on 24th December and decorate the Christmas tree. Grandparents or elder brothers and sisiters look after the little ones, so they won’t see their presents placed under the tree. The fragrant fir is adorned with colourful paper decorations and a special Hungarian Christmas candy (szaloncukor) wrapped in shinny coloured papers. Housewives cook traditional Hungarian Chrismas dishes in the kitchen. We usually have fish soup, stuffed cabbage, pastry rolls stuffed with poppy seed, walnut or chestnut stuffings (it’s called bejgli in Hungarian). Family members exchange gifts in the evening on 24th December while listening to tradtitional Christmas songs. In Hungary baby Jesus brings the presents, not Santa. We celebrate the arrival of Santa on 6th December, St. Nicholas Day. At midnight people go to the midnight mass. Organ music and pine scent fill the air in churches where people sing together classical Christmas songs. Even non-religious people attend this mass beacuse of its festive and uplifting atmosphere. On the following two days relatives and friends visit it each other at their homes, have traditional Christmas dishes and desserts.

Weather Around Christmas in Budapest

When I was a little kid there was always thick snow around Christmas. The first snowflakes fell usually at the end of November. The temperatures were around zero or below. Today it is hard to tell what will be the weather like around Christmas. Due to global warming we have not see any snow in the past couple of years. The weather around Christmas is sometimes rather mild and dull, with some rain, and it’s crispy and sunny with crystal blue sky at times. I prefer the latter, though I long for white Christmas every year.

Programs at Christmas in Budapest

The world famous 100-member Gypsy Orchestra performs a concert on 30th December, at 6 pm in teh Budapest Congress Centre. They’ll play both clasical and traditional folk music.

The whole city calms down for a couple of days. You can only hear the sound of Christmas concerts and Advent songs in Budapest’s churches. After the hectic shopping it’s a real realxation to listen to the organ works and contemplate about the meaning of Advent and Christmas. I recommend the Lights of Christmas Festival in Matthias Church on Castle Hill.

Merry Christmas in Budapest!

Erzsebet Dobos

Traditionally Christmas ornaments were bulbs of all the same color which were placed randomly throughout your Christmas tree. Over the past few decades, Christmas ornaments have developed into elaborate pieces of art which are delicately planned out and placed throughout the Christmas tree. Currently there are many types of Christmas ornaments to choose from and the creativity and uniqueness of your Christmas tree will highly depend on the types of ornaments you choose.

Below you will find the 5 most popular styles of ornaments for your Christmas tree:

1. Illuminated – Christmas ornaments which light up are becoming extremely popular. Christmas lights have been popular for a long time, so there’s no reason to wonder why illuminated Christmas tree ornaments are becoming so desired. Illuminated Christmas decorations are generally quite high in price. They can range anywhere from $5 to $20 a piece.

2. Mobile – Mobile Christmas tree ornaments are unique and add a whole new element to any Christmas tree. This type of ornament adds an element of movement to your tree, something all Christmas trees lacked before now. Ornaments have the ability to move up and down, side to side and all around. Mobile Christmas tree decorations are said to bring Christmas trees to life. They are also quite expensive and are usually found in the same price range of illuminated Christmas ornaments.

3. Musical – Musical ornaments, along with illuminated and mobile ornaments, are the newest form of Christmas ornament on the market right now. Many ornaments play Christmas songs and carols for everyone to enjoy. Fortunately most also come equipped with on/off buttons which can regulate the sound when you don’t want the music playing. These usually cost in the same vicinity of mobile and illuminated ornaments.

4. Homemade – Homemade Christmas tree ornaments are a sure way to ensure your Christmas tree is one of a kind. This form of ornament is personal, thoughtful and an ornament which is likely to be cherished forever. Homemade ornaments are often made by children for their moms and dads, but there are also a number of moms and dads who make ornaments at home and sell them for low prices. Regardless, homemade Christmas ornaments are one-of-a-kind are cost considerably lower than the other types.

5. Bulbs – Christmas tree bulbs will forever remain in style because they give your tree the traditional look which all trees should have. Christmas bulbs usually come in packs of about 10 and the bulbs tend to be the same colors and shapes. They are distributed as evenly as possible throughout your tree. These ornaments cost slightly higher than homemade ornaments, however they cost considerably less than any other form of Christmas tree ornament. Plus, you can always decorate them yourself.

There is an unlimited selection of Christmas tree ornaments available on the market and the choices you make will highly affect the overall appearance of your Christmas tree. Each individual family will have their own preference and no two Christmas trees will ever look the same. That’s a good thing because, like people, if they all looked the same they would not be as fascinating to look at.

When it comes to christmas tree decorating the latest fad is the upside-down christmas tree. Is there any good reason besides the fact that it is a really hot xmas trend that you should actually buy one of these? First of all it may help a bit to look a bit at the history of the upside down xmas tree. That might help you decide if this type of christmas tree is for you.

The upside-down christmas tree comes from the pagan tradition of spreading evergreen boughs across the floors, windows and hearth in order to keep evil spirits from invading the home. This tradition was celebrated by cultures as diverse as the Celts, the Romans and the Vikings long before the time of Christ.

You have to remember that Christianity did not really take off in central Europe until twelve centuries past the birth of Christ. As it was noted that the evergreen contained the three points of the Holy Trinity, it was brought indoors and hung upside down. This was a way of playing it safe for most central Europeans who liked to mix their pagan rituals with their Christian rituals. Not only did the upside down xmas tree offer protection from evil spirits, but it also acknowledged the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. All of this was put to an end when religious zealots in the 16th century Germany proclaimed that the upside down xmas tree was sacrilegious. Religious officials ordered that the tips of christmas trees stop pointing to hell and instead be turned right side up so they pointed to heaven.

Since the 16th century we hadn’t heard a heck of a lot about upside-down christmas tree decorating until they were marketed as store display units to retailers a couple of years ago. The reason for their revival had to do with common sense. The upside-down christmas tree that is bolted to the ceiling simply left more space for retail displays and more room to display christmas tree decorations. It also offered less of a chance of a liability lawsuit should a stumbling shopper trip over it. It wasn’t long before the general public started demanding the upside-down christmas tree as a novelty item.

This past christmas the prestigious Hammacher Schlemmer holiday supply company (which has been in business over 150 years) could not keep their seven-foot tall pre-lit upside-down christmas tree in stock. It costs $600 U.S. with a lifetime guarantee. This should give you an idea of how popular this latest trend in christmas tree decorating has become.

This might be because there are definitely some benefits to using and upside down tree when it comes to christmas tree decorating. For one thing it keeps your precious glass ornaments away from the prying fingers of children. It also keeps pets and toddlers from accidentally tipping the tree over. Another benefit is that it also allows you to pile more presents under the tree (of course keeping in mind that “under the tree” is now “under” the top of the tip of the tree and its decorative topper.)

Another benefit is that the upside-down christmas tree is quite practical. They are bolted to the ceiling, which means they take up no floor space, so it’s great for smaller apartments and smaller rooms. It can be positioned in tight corners and other places that do not accommodate a tree with traditional Christmas decorations.

The upside-down christmas tree can also be hung in places where you could not consider having a tree before. In fact many people simply hang the tree over their dining room table the same way you would a chandelier. Also it is much easier to see the christmas tree decorations and ornaments on an upside-down Christmas tree because they dangle down from the branches and do not visually disappear into the tree foliage. Many of them come prelit, which gets rid of the necessity of wrapping the tree in lights.

So just how are these upside-down christmas trees attached to the ceiling? They are bolted to a base that is screwed into the ceiling. If you are just into this for the novelty of it and the idea of a whole christmas tree and dangling christmas tree decorations dangling over your head makes you nervous then you can also buy models that have a base on the floor that supports an upside down artificial tree.

As upside down christmas trees are a very new thing, there is some debate as to which types of christmas tree decorations look best on it. For instance some people like the look of clumps of tinsel hanging like clumps of hair downwards from the ceiling whereas others find the effect to be too cluttered or messy looking. In you are of the latter opinion then you might want to stick with trailing cotton batten which is more like spider webs and does not fall as easily off the tree.

As you don’t want any ornaments falling down and smashing on the floor or God forbid, on somebody’s head you need to take extra care about fastening your christmas tree decorations securely to the tree. This is also true of christmas garlands, lights and the christmas tree topper. Remember to also fasten everything securely to the tree with some kind of wire as well as the usual fishline!

A drawback to buying an upside-down christmas tree is that after you remove it, you might have a bit of a plastering job to attend to thanks to the nuts and bolts that hold the base secure. This is why many people opt to hang it where a light fixture is usually hung. Then after the holiday season is over, they simply replace the light fixture to hide any marks left from the bolting of the tree to the ceiling.

Another consideration is that it is difficult to predecorate these upside-down christmas trees. Many of them need to be hung quite high to avoid them from scraping the tops of people’s heads. This means getting up on a ladder or a table to attach christmas tree decorations to the tree so this is definitely not the kind of tree that is best for an elderly individual or someone who is afraid of heights.

However the upside-down christmas tree is ideal for the individual who already has everything (think Paris Hiliton!) or who enjoys being different and the center of attention.

Christmas time is here again and we want to grab your attention to this article on Christmas.
It not only is interesting, but also has tons about the true meaning of Christmas.
The true meaning of Christmas is sometimes crowded out by the frenzy of buying and gift giving.

Our top 10 facts about Christmas are sure to help you get a better understanding of Christmas.
We mean to let everyone know more about Christmas after reading this!

1. Jesus Christ

First and foremost, the birth of Jesus Christ is true meaning of Christmas
Christmas was first celebrated as a proper day, on the 25th December, in the 5th century,
in the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine.

2. Christmas Carols

The custom of carolling through the streets originated in England when rich businessmen hired
singers to accompany their strolls. The tradition quickly extended to all types of choruses.
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” was definitely on everyone’s list.

3. Christmas Cards

In 1843, the first Christmas card was printed in England for Sir Henry Cole.
He was busy man who wanted to save time in his own Christmas letters,

4. Christmas Tree

In the 16th century Martin Luther, a German preacher, was the first to bring a Christmas tree into a house.
A story is told that, one night before Christmas, he was walking through the forest and looked up
to see the stars shining through the tree branches. It was so beautiful, that he went home and told his children
that it reminded him of Jesus, who left the stars of heaven to come to earth at Christmas.

5. Christmas Gifts

One of the main reasons we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas,
is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the three Wise Men: Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh.
Frankincense was a perfume used in Jewish worship and, as a gift, it showed that people would worship Jesus.
Gold was associated with Kings and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings.
Myrrh was a perfume that was put on dead bodies to make them smell nice and, as a gift,
it showed that Jesus would suffer and die.

6. Santa Claus

Does Santa exist?
In the 16th Century in Europe, the stories and traditions about St. Nicholas became very unpopular.
But someone had to deliver presents to children at Christmas, so in the U.K., he became ‘Father Christmas’,
a character from old childrens stories; in France, he was then known as ‘Pre Nel’; in Germany,
the Christ Child or ‘Christ Kind. In the early U.S.A. his name was ‘Kris Kringle’.
Later, Dutch settlers in the USA took the old stories of St. Nicholas with them and Kris Kringle became
‘Sinter Klass’ or as we now say ‘Santa Claus’!

7. Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a plant that grows on willow and apple trees (and in garden centres!).
The practice of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids.
It is supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and ward off evil spirits.
It was also used as a sign of friendship and that’s where the custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from!

8. Xmas

Xmas can also mean Christmas!
The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus).
A Mass service is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life.
The ‘Christ-Mass’ service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset,
So we get the name Christ-Mass, shortened to Christmas.
Christmas is also sometimes called Xmas. Some people don’t think it’s correct to call Christmas ‘Xmas’
as that takes the ‘Christ’ (Jesus) out of Christmas. But that is not quite right! In the Greek language
and alphabet, the letter that looks like an X is pronounced ‘Christos’ and means ‘Christ’!

9. Christmas Stamps

In 1937, the first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria.

10. ‘The Lamb of God’

Two thousand years ago the King of Kings was born.
‘The Lamb of God’ later made to feel the thorn,
If his words are accepted and not scorned,
They will make us all reborn.

We hope that what we have stated here on Christmas is indeed inspiring to you, the reader.

Have a very Merry Christmas

Children simply tread on air when it’s their most favorite Christmas holidays around the corner ! Now Christmas crafts are some of those special things which make the holiday even more fun for them. They enjoy making wonderfully warm crafts for their big bros, little sis, dear parents or cool buddies. Christmas is surely the merriest time of the year for the little kiddos, especially because Santa Claus comes to visit them with lots of Christmas gifts and toys. And they just can’t afford to miss out on all the fun. Some schools arrange for a breakfast with Santa and these tiny tots simply love playing and singing about this jolly ol’ man in unabashed glee. It’s quite fetching ideas for the teachers to make the students deck up their schools for the holidays and get on with some Christmas crafts. It is sheer fun and they would surely enjoy these Christmas crafts.

During the Christmas holidays, students are often kept engaged in interesting Christmas crafts or gifted a day-out with Mr. Santa and Mrs. Claus. It’s also quite common to arrange for a Christmas shopping for the kids, where they can buy little tokens or inexpensive Christmas gifts for their mom, dad, gramps, bro, sis or friends. That gives them a real grown-up feeling and you’d love to see those little creatures rejoice in the Christmas shopping spree. Magic shows and talent hunts are also held during Christmas to keep the kids on the high end of thrill. Children even go out caroling in groups from door to door on Christmas. So much for the activities of children during Christmas; now if you want some Christmas craft ideas for the children, here are some:

The easiest Christmas craft by all odds is the Christmas card. No one will ever get bored with making their own hand-made cards. Ideas can be many and easy-to-craft too. So why not ask them start off with some Christmas cards ? May be just a collage of red, green and white papers would look mind-blowing or a Christmas tree studded with glitters at the corners more fascinating than a real one !

Another groovy Christmas craft idea is the Santa hat. You’ll just need red cloth, some fluffy cotton and glue to get this Christmas craft real ! Fold the red cloth into a conical shape and stick the edges. Then have a ball of cotton glued at the top and some to border the circular base.

Christmas wreaths are always great ideas for Christmas crafts. Best visual for this would be a wreath made of the special Poinsettias of the season. Red and white poinsettias would just swell at the doorway, won’t they ? You can even have the wreath punctuated with green leaves.

Christmas ornaments are good craft ideas too. You can ask the kids to make small gingerbread men from hard brown-colored paper or give them plastic candy canes to be spiraled in red and blue satin ribbons. Or they can also make glittering Christmas stars by cutting out papers in star shapes and sticking silver and golden glitters on them.

Christmas craft ideas are many. Why not let your kids craft out a cute angel this year ? Let them draw an angel on construction paper, help them stick light pink or light blue fabric for the dress, color the hands and eyes and then cut it out finally to fix it at the doorway to welcome your guests on Christmas. They would surely appreciate this cherubic welcome !

Now with a little older kids, crafting out a big snowman or a roly-poly Santa are peachy Christmas craft ideas for sure. To start, you can ask them stuff two big sacks for the snowman body and cover them with loads of cotton. A carrot for the nose and cranberries for the eyes and your snowman for Christmas would be all done and dusted to amuse your folks.

Another idea for Christmas crafts is the Christmas sign board. You may ask the children to either draw or color whacky messages for Christmas, that are to be put up on the door or on the walls of your Christmas party hall. So let their ideas soar this Christmas and inspire the little ones to create fascinating Christmas crafts!

What’s a better time to sing, dance and party if not on Christmas ? So be it. Celebrate this Christmas as best as you can, in whatever ways you want to, with as much fun and friends and make it a celebration to remember forever ! Now, there aren’t any clear-cut ways for Christmas celebration. Everything’s appreciated as long as it’s in the spirit of the season. Christmas parties are, therefore, quite common.

But not everyone likes a blowout Christmas party or a boisterous Christmas celebration. Some even like to engage in a low-key Christmas celebrations. If you’re in this group, you can spend the day religiously-praying for your near and dears, spending a warm time in close quarters, flipping through family albums and cherishing fond memories of bygone years. You can also have a Christmas celebration with some noble acts of charity, giving donations or buying Christmas gifts to the unprivileged. This is sure to bring you closer to the true essence of Christmas-giving and sharing of what you have ! So enrich your holidays and that of others with warm smiles, hugs, gifts and wishes.

Just in case you want to go a little wild on Christmas and have a peach of Christmas celebrations, the idea of a Christmas party is always a winning idea ! Be it an open-house party or a corporate one or if it’s just a casual sit-down dinner-plan days ahead of Christmas. For, there are many things to keep in mind while planning your Christmas party. To start off, you can set the tone for your Christmas party with the invitations itself. Whatever your Christmas celebrations, the invitations got to be fetching enough to have your folks dropping in for a blast ! Make them as innovative as possible to get your guests in the Christmas groove. Then you got to choose a place for the Christmas blowout or the holiday party before deciding on your menu. Party areas are usually hired for company Christmas parties. And if it’s a more informal joint, you can fix up the Christmas party even at your own place. Now, you can either have your party catered and or you can plan it yourself with the help of close pals or family members. You can arrange for a DJ to sweep your guests off their feet at your Christmas party celebrations. Note this, your Christmas party mustn’t always include elaborate meals and extravagant affairs; you can even host a Christmas party with just drinks and hors o’deurves with soft Christmas music playing in the air. And this is no less entertaining and definitely not a absurd Christmas celebration ! So get set to bake your cookies, brownies, prepare the Jingle Bell Fudge and keep the wassail handy for your guests to pamper their taste buds on Christmas.

Now for the decorations of your Christmas party-make it as chic as possible. Give the party room a total face-lift with colorful candles brightly lit everywhere, adorn the Christmas tree with bells and candy canes, fringe the walls with tinsel and little stockings, and scatter balloons around to make it look even more festive. Another stunning Christmas party idea is to crown your guests with Christmas party Santa hats as soon as they arrive. This can sure pep up the Christmas celebrations a tad bit and bring your guests into the holiday spirits right away. And, of course, you must choose a theme for your Christmas party and decide the activities accordingly. You can perk up the party ambience with fun games, dance and sometimes people even give away Christmas awards during a Christmas party. So just get started and have an out-of-the-world Christmas celebration this year !

It’s almost a custom these days to wish Merry Christmas’ with Christmas gifts. The current tradition of giving gifts on Christmas came into popular practice following the Three Wise Men’s (Magi) gifts to baby Jesus. Gift-giving during Christmas is primal to the age-old tradition of Christmas, and this took larger proportions slowly through the years with the rise of consumerism. Now if you come to think of it, today’s Christmas is really impaired without those big boxes in colorful wrappers tied up with glistening ribbons and piled up at the foot of the Christmas evergreen, those red stockings chock-a-block with Santa’s givings, those warm cards displayed on the mantle and many more sweet Christmas surprises. Evidently Christmas gifts have become integral to our Christmas holidays ! Every Christian bears the spirit of giving and sharing on Christmas. So what are you planning to gift your dear ones this Christmas ? Here are some Christmas gift ideas for you to check out:

Christmas gifts can be anything from some pretty flowers to a chic jewelry. So then, you can never fall short of ideas when it comes to Christmas gifts. Flowers are wonderful gifts for all occasions. And they can brighten up days on Christmas too !

Christmas gift baskets are wonderful ideas for Christmas presents as well. You can make one yourself or buy one for your friends, siblings or sweetheart anytime. A gift basket stuffed with cookies, chocolates and other little surprises would surely make the difference to your loved ones’ days !

Gift certificates for Christmas won’t be bad ideas either. So send all your wishes and good cheer in a piece of envelope and fly them to your dear ones on Christmas.

Christmas decorations can be good Christmas gifts too. A box of Christmas ornaments would instantly set the sparkles in the hearts of the receivers on the holidays.

How about some stunning necklace, pendant or earrings for the women folk this Christmas ? For all their proverbial craving for “all that shines”, they would simply slobber over these well-chosen Christmas gifts of yours !

Wines and cigars as Christmas gifts are bound to strike the right chord for the men folk. These would sweep them off their feet and you can’t help spot that glint in their eyes once they get the sleek wine bottle or the splendid cigar-case as Christmas presents.

Candle-stands, photo-frames, doormats, wall hangings, nice paintings, flower vases, garden accents, personalized plaques-all these could just be your choice for this Christmas season. What’s unique with these is that these are good gift ideas for your boss, colleagues, teacher, Reverend, neighbors and other acquaintances too. Home decors always make cool Christmas gifts.

DVDs, music CDs, music accessories, audio books and musical instruments would be perfect Christmas gifts for your music lover buddies. So why not drop them these surprise gifts this holiday ?

Sports goods for sports nuts, electronic gadgets for the gizmo buffs, or may be some fitness equipment for the health freaks-choose your Christmas gifts wisely and well in advance to avoid the rush of the Christmas shopping season.

Cool Christmas toys-mini Santa, reindeer sledges, little elves, musical trees, Christmas story books, puzzles, Christmas games, pretty dolls, macho trains and cars-are all peachy Christmas gift ideas for the kiddos that are waiting to be picked !

Christmas lights and lamps are yet some more glowing ideas for Christmas gifts. And these are all the rage during this season too.

Christmas is a conundrum for most people. Its like a rich, octogenarian uncle. You love him, hes insanely funny and provocative, he gives you really nice presents and just might leave you an Italian villa in his will. But he needs to be taken to the bathroom regularly, requires a lot of attention, is opinionated and makes you absolutely crazy when you have to take him to a fancy cocktail party because you never know when hell pass gas or say something really outrageous, both of which he does loudly.

On the one hand, we all have some gleeful anticipation of the season – the silly and heart-warming movies and TV specials, the decorations, kids singing carols at the mall and all those paid days off. And on the other hand, many of us dread the pressure and pace of Christmas cards, shopping, the crowds, and ultimately (gulp) the obligatory family gatherings.

This social psychosis complicates the season enough, but when you add in the rhetoric from the religious community The War on Christmas, Jesus is the Reason for the Season, etc. you introduce even deeper layers of self-condemnation and anxiety. What to do, what to do?

A good starting point is to unravel the multi-layered hairball of traditions and religious implications that have come to define Christmas. Like most of our modern heritage, theres more to this kaleidoscopic than meets the eye. Once we can see what all is going on, then maybe we can bring some sanity and fun to the celebration of it.

The History of Christmas. Actually, were talking about the History of the Winter Solstice celebrations, which date back over 4000 years. Most of our Christmas traditions were originally rituals celebrated centuries before Christ was born. The giving of gifts, carnivals, parades, carolers going from house to house, holiday feasts, and church performances can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians (1500 BC).

Persians, Babylonians, Scandinavians, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians all had elaborate rituals that were celebrated at the Winter Solstice intended to pay tribute to the mythological importance of the sun and to the perennial cycles of nature. But, dont be too quick to dismiss the ancient traditions as being simply pagan rituals. In fact, they were VERY spiritually oriented.

It is true that the peoples that populated what is now the Middle East 3000 years before Christ were polytheistic they had numerous gods. But they were also VERY religious. A large part of their culture was focused on seeking to learn the will of the gods, and the early Winter Solstice traditions reflected that focus. The Romans decked the halls with holly and candles as a tribute to one of their most powerful gods, Apollo. The Scandinavians built huge bonfires and held feasts that lasted for days as a way to help their sun-god defeat the power of darkness. These bonfires and feasts are the beginnings of our famous Yule log – the 12 days of Yuletide was a lengthy ceremony which heralded the power of their gods over the domain of evil.

These beautiful ceremonies and ancient traditions all sought to do what our modern Christian traditions now do celebrate the dominion of the supernatural forces of the cosmos over the earthly world of man. They sought to honor their gods, and sometimes even assist them, in the ongoing battle over darkness.

So, Who Put The Christ In Christmas In the First Place? Well, now, thats an interesting, and not fully complete, historical detective story. The most popular conclusion by archeologists, biblical scholars and anthropologists, is that the pagan traditions were co-opted by the early Christian Church. In the first three hundred years after the death of Christ, there was no prescribed feast for the occasion of Christs birth. This was partly because no one actually knew when or where Christ was born and partly because the major Christian celebration was the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Some local monasteries and churches had their own birthday celebrations at different times of the year, but it wasnt until the mid-4th Century AD that Christs birth became an official celebration, complete with a specific date.

Why did it happen then? Getting the diverse peoples of the Roman empire to reject their historical religions and raucous merriment in favor of the official religion of Christianity (so decreed in 350 AD) was no easy matter. Grudgingly, but inevitably, the church accepted the perennial revelry of its diverse citizenry (pagan though it was) and wisely decided to include those celebrations for their own agenda. In what many historians consider to be a stroke of public relations genius, in 320 AD, Pope Julius I proclaimed that the pagan celebration of the December 25th Festival of the Sun (Natalis Invicti, i.e. The Nativity ) would henceforth also celebrate the Birth of Christ – ta da! Enter the Official Birth Day of Christ.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia The Advent, by 402 AD the Feast of the Birth of Christ (the new interpretation of The Nativity) was practiced through out the Holy Roman Empire. The Nativity scene itself (you know, the livestock, the stable, etc.) didnt emerge for another 800 years. In 1223, St Francis of Assisi originated the manger scene based on his interpretation of some little-known ecclesiastical customs. Somewhere around this time, the donkey that Mary rode to Bethlehem emerged as a character in the Nativity.

But, from its inception, there was dissension within the Church about Christmas celebrations. For centuries, many conservative church leaders condemned the revelry and aggressively criticized the endorsement of the sun-worshippers traditions. When the Orthodox pilgrims migrated to the Americas in 1620, Christmas revelry and symbolism were outlawed. Back in England in 1645, Oliver Cromwell and his Puritans succeeded in outlawing the heathen traditions of Christmas celebrations throughout England. When Charles II returned to the English throne in 1660, he restored the popular holiday, but the custom had only scattered endorsement throughout the American colonies. After the Revolutionary War, many English customs, including the celebration of Christmas, fell out of favor entirely and didnt begin to re-emerge in the United State until the 1800s.

When Americans did finally begin to embrace Christmas as a family holiday, old customs were unearthed. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards, gift-giving and the early Christian traditions and stories. In 1836, Alabama became the first state in the US to declare Christmas a legal holiday, but it wasnt until 1907 that Oklahoma finally joined the club and became the last state to do so. Christmas was declared an official US holiday in 1870. The first official use of Christmas decorations to lure in shoppers was at a NYC department store in 1900.

So what does that mean today? Basically, it means that there is no historical truth to any of the familiar observations weve come to embrace, whether were talking about the pagan celebrations or the religious ones. They are all made up. Not much sense in fighting, or fretting, over any of them if you ask me.

No One Has Taken The Christ Out Of Christmas. Hes still there if you want Him to be, but it never has been His private domain. Whats the problem? The Church snaked on the pagans to begin with, and it was a pretty successful strategy. Today, more people around the world practice the Christian traditions than ever before. Isnt that enough? Remember, the Romans tried for about 1,000 years to make Christmas a purely Christian holiday and all they did was divide and antagonize the millions of people for whom it means something different. Dont make the mistake that old Cromwell made. Go ahead and have it your way, its a beautiful tradition. But, let everyone else enjoy it their way.

Yes, Christmas Is Also About the Money. And for those who shake their heads with disgust about the commercialization of it, you guys need a quick reality check. Christmas shopping is the single most significant economic cycle in America. Hundreds of thousands of businesses rely on if for their very existence. From a commercial health point of view, if it didnt already exist, someone would need to invent it. The money that gets spent around Christmas, for everything from twinkley little lights to airline tickets and pretty new cars is the fuel that keeps our economy plugging along all year. Forget the new homes, its the HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of dollars spent at Christmas that keep America economically strong.

Christmas has a huge positive impact on other aspects of our culture. People are nicer and more tolerant. There have been truces and cease fires called during times of war for the sake of Christmas. More than half the charitable donations collected for ALL organizations in the US roll in during the Christmas season. Yes, I know, some of that has to do with end of year tax breaks, but it also has to do with Salvation Army red kettles, angle trees, and Goodwill donations. Its a time of year when people feel a greater sense of social conscience and charitable organizations benefit from that feeling of good will. Too bad we dont pony up all year through the way we do at Christmas.

Whats wrong with people paying more attention to each other, or with being delighted by the decorations and the music? Lets cover our yards with blow up Santas and mechanical reindeer. Lets turn our living rooms into little magical wonderlands of jolly old elves and candles and angels. Maybe if we spent more time getting in touch with the kid in ourselves we wouldnt have so much interest in polluting the planet and killing people who have different political or religious views than we do. Who cares why we have this expanded consciousness of good will? Whether it comes from a belief in a particular God (or gods) or whether it is simply a willingness to open ourselves up to the most benevolent parts of our nature, what difference does it make? ITS ALL MADE UP! Anything that elevates mans humanity to man is a GOOD thing, no matter where it comes from!

Now, about that family stuff. I know it can be a pain in the ass. But, you know what? At some core level, we all long for a connection to our roots and our past. Is it so much to ask of ourselves to set aside our electro-media-stimulus-fast paced-gotta-pay-the-rent-on-the-beach-condo-somebody-please-entertain-me addiction to the very things that destroy the peace and harmony in our lives? Cmon, youve got 364 other days that you can obsess over getting ahead and being good enough and worrying about every little ounce you put on this year. You can afford to spend a fraction of your oh-so-important agenda getting in touch with your bloodline. Even if theyre all intolerable ass-holes, so what? Practice forgiveness and acceptance.

If you dont want to send Christmas cards, dont. The mailman will love you. The way I see it, anyone who keeps a check-list of who sent Christmas cards and then makes some kind of judgment about it needs to get a real life. And as for all that pressure to buy gifts GET OVER IT! It isnt going to kill you to get off your butt and think about other peoples delight. And speaking of butts, it isnt going to kill you to stop kissing those of people you dont really want to buy gifts for but do. Buy gifts for people you want to buy them for and be as generous as you want to be. If you dont want to buy a gift, dont. Sometimes it may be appropriate to make some type of gesture, but there are LOTS of things you can do other than buy the latest electronic gadget or such. Flowers, plants, candy or fruit work great. And you can always make a donation to YOUR favorite charity in the other persons name. The No. 1 Rule is to have fun with your gift buying and put some personal thought into it. The No. 2 Rule is NO SUFFERING ALLOWED! (By the way, if you happen to think that books make a nice Christmas gift, then Ive got a great one for you. Check out my book at “Your MEGAgiNormous Rules .)

The Time Complaint. Not enough time, too much to do, blah, blah, blah. Look here, if you dont have enough time to have fun at Christmas youre just confused about whats important. Im pretty sure that when youre lying on your deathbed one of the things you WONT be saying is Gee, I wish Id spent more time at the office and less time enjoying Christmas. There are 525,600 minutes in a year, only about 1500 of which get devoted to really enjoying Christmas. What, are you crazy? Surely you can fit your hectic life into the other 524,000 minutes.

Christmas is too big to be confined to any single ideology. It belongs to all people and to all of history. It has endured for thousands of years because it brings people together and celebrates hope and renewal. Its an excellent time of year that gives us permission to transcend our normal petty natures. We get to be kind and gentle, and care about others and do little things that let those others know we care. We get to have fun, darn it! What, your life is so full of fun you cant stand anymore?

Stop fretting over what you perceive is wrong with it. Its just stupid to turn it into a conflict or some type of litmus test that only serves to divide us. Take what you like from it and leave the rest. And let others enjoy it in their own way. Theres something for everyone in Christmas. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, it we just allow it to be. Have a holly jolly one!

For most of us brought up in Western societies, Christmas long ago became a commercial extravaganza. Over recent decades the commercial impetus has intensified, with Christmas coming to the shops earlier and earlier, until now it arrives in full frontal mode, as soon as the kids go back to school after the summer holidays.

Each decade that has passed since the 1950′s has seen bigger, brighter and more extravagant Christmas decorations, both indoors and outdoors. For those who love Christmas lights and other decor, that’s great, but there’s another side to the story. Decorating the home has become an obligation, which for the very poor can be something of a problem, as neighbours and friends try to outdo each other.

Perhaps the greater problem, though, can be with Christmas gifts. Children have developed greater and greater expectations over the years, and this brings with it pressures on adults, and parents in particular, to pile as many gifts as possible under the Christmas tree, whether they can afford it or not. Often, poorer families cannot afford it, and the financial pressures, fed by the social pressures, mount as Christmas Day nears. All these pressures are fueled, of course, by intense advertising from September through to December 25. It is little wonder that the days after Christmas are a peak time for family break ups.

Due to the fact that most Western children expect some wonderful Christmas gifts, it is no surprise to many when they get them. Sadly, many will never learn to fully appreciate the acts of giving and receiving gifts. Once a gift becomes a routine obligation, it is no longer a gift, but a token. True generosity cannot be found in such tokens.

Hopefully, many poor and rich families will have a meaningful and enjoyable Christmas in the UK, where I come from, and in the US. Poor families in particular will find the financial pressures strongest, but it may well be that the poorer children will be the more appreciative.

Maybe some rich families will experience the fate of a birthday gift to a teenage friend of my son in England. On receiving a top of the range hi-fi system, probably worth about $3000, as a gift, he trashed it a week later, simply because he was bored. I suspect it is less likely that a teenager from a poor family would do the same.

Christmas in the Philippines

Since 2000, all my Christmases have been spent here in the Philippines. After moving here, I soon found what true poverty was, and that, despite all the moans, there is no real poverty in the UK. The “poor” of the UK and US would pass as rich in the Philippines.

My life has been enriched in many ways through spending 6 years here, and getting to understand Filipinos and their way of life. I have been touched by the generosity of the very poor, having visited many ordinary, spartan homes of the desperately poor. For example, one morning I paid a visit to the mother of a friend. She had no food in the home, and I knew the family were often short of food and went hungry. Unbeknown to me, though, a neighbour was preparing what little food her family had to ensure that I had lunch, despite the fact that they knew I could go and buy what I wanted to eat any time, and from anywhere. I knew, too, that the family whose food I ate for lunch, was even poorer than that of my friend. That family would be going hungry that evening, which made me appreciate the hospitality so much I can never forget it.

When it comes to the approach to Christmas, Filipinos lap it all up. They have a festive fun loving spirit anyway, so Christmas is just another excuse. As in the UK, the start of September starts the countdown to Christmas Day, in the stores and on TV. On September 1 here I was woken at 5am by some distant, but rather loud, music. Once I had come to my senses, I realised it was Christmas music. I assumed then it was an individual with a new CD, and that it would be a one off. However, I was wrong. It is now mid November as I write this, and that music (yes, exactly the same) is played every day. Now, I realise it is not an individual at all, but coming from a nearby military base. Each morning, a bugle blasts out the First Post, and then the Christmas music is switched on.

Despite the proliferation of Christmas advertising, and music, Filipinos do not seem to succumb to any pressure to spend too much money over Christmas. There is no expectation of any gift, and I am sure many children never get an Xmas gift in there lives. Yet, people make the most of Christmas in their own way, and it is an important family time. The Christianity of the Philippines is probably far stronger than any Western country, so the religious significance of Christmas is still paramount.

The combination of Filipino generosity, and lack of expectation of a Christmas gift, led me to write a Christmas story last year. I have learnt much about generosity and kindliness since I came here, and for that I have the Filipino nature to thank. In a way, the story was a way of encapsulating what I had learnt, and to admit that Western adults can learn an awful lot, even from a Filipino child. The story, aimed at adults and older children, tells of a 7 year old girl, living in a nipa hut on the edge of the Palawan rain forest, who has never had a Christmas gift before; never expected one, and never complained. When she finally does receive a gift, one that she knows with certainty came from Santa Claus, she is faced with what most Western children would find as a terrible dilemma. The action she took expresses the true spirit of Christmas and true generosity, in typical Filipino fashion.

One thing Filipinos do splash out their sparse cash on is Christmas decorations, especially Christmas lights. It seems even the poorest of homes will try to spread a bit of Christmas cheer with lights from November onwards, and very nice they look too. Puerto Princesa, where we live, is already preparing for its Christmas display and events this year. We cannot wait to see what will be added to the wonderful displays of last December. Poor or not, gifts or not, Christmas has its own tropical magic in the Philippines.

Christmas is a time for strong sentiments, gatherings of family and friends, good food and nice traditions. Learn to make the best out of this memorable time in pictures for old and young.

Rather simple point-and-shoot cameras have a great potential for family pictures during Christmas and they can also produce most other kinds of pictures during this important annual event. Small digital cameras aren’t that intrusive as big professional cameras.

Here, I offer some basic photo tips and some more advanced photo tricks. If you follow just a few of them you will probably make much more memorable Christmas pictures during the Christmas days – and may be even before Christmas day.

Be prepared for photography

Keep your digital camera in reach during all Christmas. Make sure your battery is fully recharged and your memory card has plenty of space for new pictures. Have your battery re-charger available, too, as you will take many photos with flash.

Share the responsibility for taking pictures

For some Christmas events you might be quite busy serving the guest or helping older family members or being the one who should talk with everybody. Then just give your camera to another person and ask for him or her to take a lot of pictures during the event. Young people will often be very good at picture taking, not least because the availability of camera phones has facilitated that habit to even very young people.

Go close when taking pictures

Go as close as you can what ever you are shooting family members or Christmas things and symbols. Most digital cameras include more in the photo than what is displayed when you frame it, unless you only use the digital display screen. You can always quickly check the result and take a new picture if needed.

Don’t be afraid of arranged picture taking

Many situations around the Christmas tree are quite messy. Don’t worry of arranging a fine scene like grandfather in the big chair with the youngest family member on the lab with a big Christmas present in the small hands.

Arrange an all family members group photo

To have a picture taken if all family members get together for Christmas is an opportunity you shouldn’t miss. If possible think beforehand of a functional locality – indoor or outdoor with enough room for all, including the space for the photographer. Use a tripod to have your self included. Take at least three frames.

Take several shots of the most memorable situations

When you have a very nice situation don’t spare your shots but take at least 3 alternatives. One picture might turn out much better than the others, and the first shot isn’t the best shot very often.

Take pictures without the flash turned on

As Christmas in the northern hemisphere is happening in the dark wintertime many pictures will be taken with the flash on. That is fine for many occasions but the strong flashlight will often remove the nice special Christmas atmosphere. Learn how to manually turn the flash on and off before any important Christmas gathering. Increase the sensitivity to say 400 ASA for natural light photography during Christmas events.

Take candlelight pictures

Candlelight pictures are a rewarding approach to Christmas photography as they generate a special atmosphere of old time and traditions. Include one or two faces in the frame together with the candle. You have to switch off the flash of the camera and improve the sensitivity. If possible support your elbows on a table or the like to avoid camera shake. Still remember to take some alternative shots. Many Christmas symbols are also fine in candlelight.

Take series of Christmas pictures

A number of Christmas pictures showing a process or an event from the phase of preparation, through the main activities until the final stage of saying goodbye or cleaning up can be very interesting later. This can be a fine task for a younger family member to take care of and it is so nice with digital cameras that we don’t have to worry of the cost of pictures that become failures. Such a series of Christmas pictures is excellent for a digital slide show later.

Take special interest in the oldest family members

As time goes by it often turns up that the last pictures of an old family member that passed away was taken at Christmas time. Without exaggerating keep that in mind and make sure you get really nice portraits of the oldest family members in good mood – every Christmas.

Make the best of the newborn and babies

Normally there will be taken a lot of photos of babies and the smallest children and that is a good tradition. Just pay a little attention to how to link the pictures of the children to symbols of Christmas and activities of other family members or friends during the Christmas event.

Preparing for Christmas – also a photo option For children the waiting time to Christmas might be felt like infinity. For us grownups the time might slip away because of all the preparation for Christmas combined with our other duties. Shopping in the decorated streets, preparing presents and cooking food etc. are all fine options for your Christmas photography.

Throw away the bad pictures quickly

During Christmas or just after go through the Christmas pictures and weed all the bad ones out. When you have taken three alternative frames of the same situation, only keep the best one for the future. Be tuff, when editing your Christmas collection of pictures – that will reward you in the long run. Google’s Picasa picture organizer is a fine help and it is free at picasa.google.com

Share your Christmas pictures

It is easy to share your Christmas pictures with family members and friends. At OnlinePhotoSharing.net you will find many options.