A lot of what is widely regarded as true about Christmas or held as a

the spring instead. It is therefore little wonder that there are many fancy

stories and tales that are told about Christmas and the Christmas season.

The most common fancy tale that everyone tells, particularly to children,

is about Santa Claus, also called St. Nicholas. But even if it were accepted

that Santa Claus existed, where does he live and how is he able to get to all

the houses of good boys and girls on Christmas Eve?

In the United States, Santa Claus is said to have two homes. There is a

home in Torrington, Connecticut, which is used as a distribution point for Santa

and his many helpers, who are elves, to hand out gifts. And then, a second home

is said to be located in Wilmington, New York, and that is where Santa Claus and

his delivery reindeer crew are located.

But Santa can be visited in Cyberspace at anytime and what about the

widely held belief that Santa Claus really lives in a village at the North Pole?

The people of Finland also claim that their country is the official

residence of Santa Claus. That's because in Finland, you can actually visit a

village any time during the year and see Santa's workshop and observe Santa and

his elves hard at work as they prepare for their very important Christmas gift

delivery job on Christmas Eve. The only day when Santa's workshop is closed to

visitors is of course, on Christmas Eve.

Maybe a very smart visitor could visit Santa's workshop on the day before

Christmas Eve to see if there are any clues to how Santa and his reindeers plan

to make their trip the next day. That's because as the tale goes, in Finland

Santa Claus and his reindeers do not reach their destinations around the globe

by flying.

Finland welcomes visitors to Santa's workshop but there is nothing said

about whether visitors actually have any chance of having a word with the man

himself. While the chances of doing so are believed to be non-existent, among

the questions that inquiring minds could ask Santa is whether Rudolph is the son

of Donner (and to confirm the spelling - Donner or Donder) or whether Santa

spotted him in a different reindeer village one foggy Christmas Eve when he had

already started on his Christmas toy-delivery mission.

If mere mortals got a chance to question Santa, then he also would likely have

some questions for us humans. He may want to know whose idea was it to have

Christmas trees and for the gifts to be placed under them.

The tradition of Christmas tree as it exists today comes from Germany by

way of immigrants. But it isn't clear how the tradition really gained a foothold

in Germany. One story is that Christians in Germany during the 16th century

started to bring trees that were decorated into their homes. Some of those

Christians would build pyramids for Christmas. The pyramids were made of wood

and would be decorated with evergreens and candles if wood was in short supply.

It is however Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, who is said to have

been the first to add lighted candles as decoration to a tree based on his

inspiration from the brilliant light of twinkling stars that shone through

evergreen trees as he walked home one winter evening.

As the legend goes, Martin Luther placed a tree in a primary room of his

house and placed wires with small, lighted candles around the branches of the

tree. And that is how, as the tale goes, the Christmas tree as known today, was

With so much decorative choice at Christmas, a strategy is needed to

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.

Commercial activities during Christmas today are often decried as making

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 real meaning of Christmas, the season of good cheer, is about giving

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.

The tradition of Christmas trees in America came from German

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.

Finding the Right Online Source for Christmas Cards and Holiday Cards

Whether you send personal greeting cards, business holiday cards, or both, buying them online has several distinct advantages.

Keywords:

christmas cards, business christmas cards, holiday cards, business holiday cards, greeting cards

Article Body:

As the mornings turn crisp and the days get shorter, it's time to begin thinking about the upcoming holiday season. While you may not be ready to start your gift shopping, it's not too early to consider how you are going to express holiday greetings to friends and family, business associates, and customers and clients.

Why Buy Greeting Cards Online?

Christmas cards and holiday cards serve purposes ranging from giving you the opportunity to update family members and friends about life events to marketing your business to customers and potential customers. But whether you send personal greeting cards, business holiday cards, or both, buying them online has several distinct advantages.

The first such advantage is selection. Whether you're looking for business Christmas cards, Thanksgiving cards, or other holiday cards, you'll find many more choices online than you will at a local card store. The second advantage is the ability to save money. Because online greeting card stores don't have the overhead expenses of brick-and-mortar stores, they're able to pass along the savings to their customers. Third, online stores typically offer personalization, both in the form of printing your family's name or the name of your business on the cards, and in printing your return address on the envelope. Fourth, you can usually get steep discounts if you order your Christmas cards early (by mid-October), before the holiday season is in full swing.

What to Look For When Buying Greeting Cards Online

While there are many online businesses that sell holiday cards, you need to choose the right one. You don't want to take the risk that your business Christmas cards will arrive at the end of December, or that the personalization is incorrect. Here are some services to look for when selecting an online source for holiday cards:

1. Longevity and Satisfied Customers. Look for a company that has been in business for at least three years and that can point to a loyal following of individuals and businesses that are happy with their products and services.

2. Quality and Pricing. If you're ordering in quantity, the company should offer bulk discounts. They should also offer an "early bird" discount if you place your order early. The company should be willing to send you sample cards so you can verify the quality of the card. They should also offer high-quality, coordinating envelopes, such as foil-lined envelopes.

3. Personalization. Look for a company that offers several forms of personalization. You should, for example, be able to select from among several different verses for the inside of your cards. They should also include up to four lines of imprinted text on your holiday cards at no extra cost, and allow you to choose from among at least four colors of ink.

4. Customer Service. The company you choose should make it easy for you to order. This means giving you the ability to order online, as well as the option of printing out an order form. They should also have live customer service representatives who can help you place your order and answer any questions you may have.

It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas cards and holiday greeting cards. Once you find the right online source for your needs, you'll never look back!

Given the many types of Christmas trees available and the various ways in

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.

The Christmas season and all its activities are geared to the big day,

that attending church is a big tradition on that day. It is seen as mandatory

for devout Christians and for others who are concerned about retaining the

sacred meaning of the day. Many people fear that the sacred aspects of Christmas

are being lost and overshadowed amid the bustle of commercial activity now

associated with the entire season.

Church services therefore take place early on Christmas morning. Attending

those services is the first official activity that many people do on Christmas

Day. Unlike the Midnight Mass and other earlier church services on Christmas

Eve, Christmas Day services do not usually include the dramatization of the

birth of Jesus. They may be more subdued with a sermon that recounts the birth

of Jesus and his purpose to save mankind. The congregation is then exalted to be

as giving as Jesus and to help out those who are in need.

Consequently, many people will take some time on Christmas Day to

volunteer in a charitable activity such as serving dinner to the poor and hungry

at a church, charitable organization or other social services center. Others

will also work with charitable organizations to distribute toys to needy

children at shelters, hospitals and other places.

As part of the religious aspect of Christmas Day, groups that sing Christmas

carols will also be out very early on Christmas morning.

Although Christmas Dinner is the most significant meal of the day, a large

breakfast will also be served in most households that will be shared by all

family members. The occasion of all family members having a meal together is a

disappearing tradition in many American households and so Christmas is seen as a

perfect time to return to the tradition. Christmas Day after all, is all about

family, sharing and togetherness.

Throughout the day, greetings of 'Merry Christmas' will be exchanged by

telephone calls with family, friends, acquaintances, and loved ones who are

located elsewhere in the country and overseas. It is a common occurrence for so

many people to be trying to make international calls to loved ones and friends

on Christmas Day that telephone communication systems to some countries often

are overwhelmed. The availability of technology and the Internet eases that

somewhat nowadays however, as emails and instant messaging can also be used as

other communication channels to exchange greetings on Christmas Day.

Christmas Day Dinner is undoubtedly the central activity of the day. Family and

friends gathered for dinner take pleasure in enjoying and sharing a delicious

meal and also are mindful and thankful for the opportunity to be able to share

the meal, to have each other and for the material things that make their lives

comfortable and give them happiness.

Some of those material things are then shared in absolute delight as everyone

will gather around or near to the Christmas tree after dinner to exchange and

open Christmas presents. It's an activity that is relished and which is filled

with much laughter, happy chatter and merriment, especially by children who are

usually much delighted to get a toy that they had wished for.

After dinner and the exchange of presents, adults may have light conversations,

play games or even watch a movie. Children are often taken up with experimenting

or playing with their new toys. It has also become a tradition on Christmas Day

for members of some families, such as teenagers and young adults, to end

Christmas Day by attending the movie theater on Christmas evening or Christmas

night to see a recently released film.

The decoration of Christmas trees has evolved and undergone many changes,

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.

It is an accepted fact that the Christmas tree tradition is one that was

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

The tradition of caroling and Christmas carols is believed to have

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.

The real meaning of Christmas is often expressed as being about giving to

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.

Movies related to Christmas help to create a fun atmosphere and can also

store windows, Santa Claus, the snow and frostiness, and of course his wish for

a Christmas toy. But his parents disapprove of the toy that he desired. The

movie is good in showing the innocence of the Christmas season.

'A Christmas Carol,' written by noted author Charles Dickens, tells the

story of old Scrooge whose only purpose in life is to make money. Scrooge puts

making money above his family, friends and everyone who cares about him. His

response to Christmas is a grumpy, 'Bah Humbug.' He gets a different experience

however, when ghosts appear to him and try to point out the error of his ways.

The movie's lesson is about the importance of appreciating people in your life.

'It's A Wonderful Life' is a story about hope and the worthiness of

everyone. It tells the story of a man experiencing despair and self-destruction

because he thinks he is of no worth to those around him, and they would be

better off if he didn't exist. An angel grants him his desire and he gets to see

what he contributes and what life would be like without him.

Every Christmas, 'A Miracle on 34th Street' can be seen on television. It

asks and answers the question 'Is there really a Santa Claus?' The movie is

about a man who claims to be Kris Kringle, or Santa Claus, but is not believed

and so he has to prove his identity claim.

'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' is about the Griswold family with

Mr. Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, who gets into silly accidents that provide

a lot of humor. The movie shows the lives of the family as they celebrate

Christmas and the difficulties that arise when their entire family comes to

visit for Christmas.

'Home Alone' is about a large and chaotic family with lots of kids who are

going on Christmas vacation. Amid the chaos of leaving on the morning of the

trip, one child is left behind and must stay and fend for himself in a very

large house during the Christmas season. At first he was happy to be alone but

then two thieves break in and he has to fight them off. The movie shows the

importance of family and loved ones. A sequel, 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'

tells of the boy who was left alone going to an aunt and uncle's home and again

encountering the two thieves who are seeking revenge.

'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' was first made as an animation for

television but other versions have since been done as motion pictures. The

Grinch is a grouchy, green man who lives in the mountains above the small town

of Whoville where residents, called The Whos, celebrate Christmas

enthusiastically every year. The Grinch who doesn't like Christmas wants to

spoil it for Whoville and so he tries to steal all the toys, food and gifts that

The Whos have accumulated for Christmas. The movie provides a lesson on the true

meaning of Christmas.

'A Charlie Brown Christmas is an animated television movie about the

popular Peanuts comic strip. The movie is about the comic strip's main

character, Charlie Brown, and tells of the experience with his friends for

Christmas. It also has Biblical references that relates to the true meaning of

Christmas.

'Frosty The Snowman' is an animated story about a snowman, named Frosty,

that comes to life and who must avoid a greedy musician who is trying to get the

magic that brought Frosty to life. The movie is very funny and has lots of

wonderful songs.

'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' is also an animation about the reindeer

with a shiny nose that kisses a pretty girl and also helps out his friends.

Since so much time and effort is put into selecting the perfect Christmas

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 different use from your

Christmas tree by cutting it to pieces yourself and be environmentally sensitive

by using it for mulch.

Christmas music in the form of carols, songs stringed or instrumental

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

Christmas in the Birthplaces of Traditions -- Bethlehem, Germany and England

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.

Christmas as a holiday period was instituted and celebrated at about the same

drunken and carnival-like celebration, that has some similarities to Mardi Gras.

During this celebration every year, there would be a crowning of a beggar or

student as the 'lord of misrule.' Those taking part in the activities would

pretend to be loyal subjects to the 'lord of misrule,' During this time some of

the poor would also visit the rich in their houses and ask for some of their

best food and drink. Those among the rich who didn't cooperate would be subject

to rowdy behavior and mischief by the poor. For their part, the rich used

Christmas as the time when they would reach out to the poorer members of society

by tolerating them in such visits or by leaving out food and clothing for them.

For many centuries before the birth of Christ and the recognition of Christmas,

there had always been celebrations in many countries during the middle of

winter. During the darkest days of winter for example, the early Europeans were

said to celebrate light and birth. The winter solstice was a period of rejoicing

for many people because it meant that the worst part of winter was over and they

could therefore look forward to having days that were longer with more hours of

sunlight.

In that tradition, the Norse peoples in Scandinavia would celebrate a period of

Yule from Dec. 21, which was the winter solstice or start of winter, through

January. To recognize the re-emergence of the sun, fathers and their sons would

take large logs home and set them on fire. There would then be a big feast until

the log was completely burned out. That could take as much as 12 days to happen.

The custom also was one of hope for the Norse because there was the belief among

them that every spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be

born in the New Year.

Many parts of Europe also thought that the end of December was a perfect time to

celebrate because during that time, a lot of cattle would be killed to avoid

having to feed them during winter. For many people, the end of December was the

only time during the year when they had a significant amount of fresh meat. By

that time of year also, wine and beer that was made earlier in the year would

have fermented and be finally ready for drinking.

The tradition of Santa Claus has also been an ancient legend with slight

differences or variations in olden days from the 1700s in some countries. In

German and Switzerland, children who were well behaved would receive a Christmas

present from Christkind or Kris Kringle. Christkind, which means Christ child,

was believed to be an angel-like figure that went along with St. Nicholas on his

holiday journeys to deliver gifts.

A jolly elf by the name of Jultomten was believed to deliver presents in

Scandinavia in a sleigh that was pulled by goats. And in France, Pere Noel is

the one who fills the shoes of French children with Christmas gifts, sweets or

treats at Christmas time.

In Russia, there's a legend that Babouschka was an elderly woman who gave

incorrect directions to Bethlehem to the three Wise Men so that they wouldn't

find Jesus. She later felt sorry for doing so but couldn't find the Wise Men to

tell them about the error. Today in Russia, it is believed that on Jan. 5, the

day before the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, Babouschka visits Russian children

and leaves presents by their bedsides in the hope that one of the children will

be Baby Jesus and will forgive her.

A favorite Christmas song has a line that describes Christmas as 'the most

most homes. Unlike in other countries, most American homes do not have a

representation of the Nativity scene, which is more likely to be located at

churches.

As soon as the Christmas season begins on the day after Thanksgiving,

families will begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree. This in itself

can become a memorable activity as children may accompany family members to

places like a Christmas tree farm to select a tree.

Once a real or artificial tree is selected, then it's an exciting activity

for the entire family to play a part in decorating the tree. Manufactured

decorations come in many shapes and forms. But a special memory is created when

family members make a special ornament for the Christmas tree, or contribute one

or more keepsake items to decorate the Christmas tree. It then becomes a ritual

each year for those particular items to be placed on the Christmas tree although

other decorations may change in coming years.

Another activity that can help to create special memories at Christmas is

baking cookies. Along with popular gingerbread cookies, using cookie cutters to

make special holiday-shaped cookies is also practiced a lot in households. Based

on the ages of children, they can help in the actual baking activity by

measuring and mixing some ingredients, or, younger children can sprinkle sugar

on the cookies or decorate them with icing when they are finished. Helping in

this activity can also be educational as parents can use the activity of

measuring and figuring out equivalent measures to teach fractions and other

mathematical elements.

An activity that is related to food which also helps to create memories

during the Christmas season is making fruit and goody baskets, which are filled

with candies, baked items and other treats for loved ones, their special

friends, neighbors, teachers or for charity. Items such as goody baskets make

especially wonderful Christmas gifts because they are home-made. That quality

often makes them more treasured than a Christmas present that is bought at the

store.

Because Christmas is the season of goodwill and good cheer, it is very

important to reach out to family, loved ones and friends during the season. The

busy lives that many people lead today often leaves them little or no time

during the year to be in frequent contact with family and friends who are

located far away, or even others who live within a reasonable distance in the

same or a neighboring state, for example.

It is therefore very common during Christmas to send a Christmas or holiday

greeting card to those individuals. Along with the pleasant memory of receiving

the card, there may be a short letter included that gives a brief account of any

significant event in the individual's life or with members of the family. That

makes sending and receiving Christmas greeting cards more memorable.

Then there's probably the most anticipated activity of Christmas - finding

out what Christmas gift Santa brought on Christmas Eve. While adults also look

forward with much anticipation to see what Christmas gifts they will get, it's

really the children who get the most delight from receiving presents at

Christmas. The carefully planned actions to hide Christmas presents from

children and then to magically place them under the Christmas tree to be found

on Christmas morning is one of the most wonderful ways to create unforgettable

memories for children at Christmas.

The day before Christmas is one that is filled with a mixture of anxiety

the night to catch Santa Claus, or they may just be too excited to sleep.

Christmas Eve is also important for the simple reason that in ancient

custom, and among some cultures today, a holiday or other celebrated day really

starts from sundown of the day before the actual day that is celebrated.

Therefore, festivities and observances for Christmas Day would really begin on

Christmas Eve.

One of the most significant aspects of Christmas Eve however, is related

to religion. Attending Midnight Mass or earlier church services is mandatory for

many people whose religion is Christianity. This is so even for people who

aren't regular churchgoers during the year. Evidence of the importance of these

church services can be seen in the overflow of congregations at the churches.

Many churches will also have an added service earlier in the evening to

accommodate the above normal attendance, and also for individuals like the

elderly who would prefer a service that is earlier than Midnight Mass.

Another important aspect of Christmas Eve celebrations is related to

retail operations. On the day before Christmas, stores make a last ditch effort

to push sales of Christmas and other merchandise. There often are special

promotions last-minute advertised to capitalize on late, desperate Christmas

shoppers and other impulse buyers. This last effort is also aimed at increasing

sales for the Christmas period.

Some stores will remain open late, even up to midnight or just before

midnight. Macy's department store in New York City, which bills that particular

store branch as the world's largest, stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve

of 1867 for the first time. Christmas Eve culminates the single biggest shopping

season, which started the day after Thanksgiving, for retailers.

Christmas Eve is also important for the traditions associated with it. It

is the night when parents have to play the role of Santa Claus and sneak toys

and other Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree to the absolute delight and

surprise of children who awake on Christmas morning to find the presents.

The idea of Santa Claus coming descending chimneys on Christmas Eve to leave

gifts for good boys and girls was made popular by a poem, attributed to Clement

Clarke Moore. In that poem titled 'An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, '

which Moore wrote in 1822 and which is now popularly known as 'Twas the Night

Before Christmas,' Moore described Santa Claus as 'a right jolly old elf' who

went from house to house with his sleigh pulled by reindeers flying through the

air to deliver Christmas presents to all the girls and boys who had been well

behaved.

Food plays a big role in making Christmas Day special and much of its

preparation often begins on Christmas Eve. Poultry and other meats are often

prepared by letting them stand in a mixture of various herbs and spices,

puddings and pies are baked on Christmas Eve, as well as a fresh batch of

gingerbread and other cookies and treats.

The scents and flurry of activity related to all these preparations also help to

make Christmas Eve a memorable day on its own.

CHRISTMAS GREETING CARDS

Christmas Greetings are a variety of greetings that are said to friends, family, coworkers and others around Christmas time. Christmas Greetings are said with the best of intentions. The most popular Christmas Greeting is “Merry Christmas,” referring directly to the joyous spirit felt by so many around the Christmas holiday.

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Article Body:

Christmas Greetings are a variety of greetings that are said to friends, family, coworkers and others around Christmas time. Christmas Greetings are said with the best of intentions. The most popular Christmas Greeting is “Merry Christmas,” referring directly to the joyous spirit felt by so many around the Christmas holiday.

Christmas Greetings can also be written in a Christmas card or email. Many popular Christmas Greetings are displayed on wrapping paper, ornaments and Christmas decorations. The winter months are a popular time to shop – people have presents to buy and stockings to fill. Many retailers decorate their stores with Christmas-themed decorations and employees often wish shoppers Christmas Greetings throughout the holiday season.

Christmas Greetings can vary depending on cultural and religious differences. If you are unclear about what ethnic background or culture someone is, it is best to just send a card with a secular sentiment, such as “Happy Holidays,” “Seasons Greetings,” or “Peace on Earth.” If you are certain that someone does not celebrate Christmas, but would still like to let them know you are thinking of them during this holiday season, send a Thanksgiving, New Year’s, Hanukkah or Kwanza card instead.

The holiday season is fast approaching and now is the time to start thinking about your Christmas Greeting Cards. Most people would agree that sending Christmas Greeting Cards is as fun as receiving them. Christmas Greeting Cards are typically sent to friends and family to show them how much you care. People enjoy receiving Christmas Greeting Cards, just as much as you like to send them.

Most Christmas Greeting Cards are available in stores or online beginning in October. Planning ahead allows you to finalize who you are sending your Christmas Greeting Cards to and figure out what you are going to write for each. The more personalized your Christmas greeting card is, the better. Update your friends and family on your personal life, your spouse, your children and what you are doing at work.

Sending Christmas Greeting Cards can be a fun activity for the entire family. Children can help put stamps and return address labels on and parents can write the greetings inside the Christmas Greeting Card. It can be difficult to find just the right greeting card that combines meaningful words with inspiring images, so plan in advance and make it a fun activity for the entire family.