Kitchen Decorating Tips For Christmas

Most people spend a lot of time decorating their home for the holidays, but when it comes to the kitchen many are at a loss as to how to spruce it up for Christmas. Here are some easy and inexpensive ways that you can get your kitchen into the holiday spirit.

One thing that adds a lot to the kitchen at any time of year is to decorate above the cabinets. If you have a space between the tops of your cabinets and the ceiling, then you have a great place decorate! For the holidays, you can put up some garland or greenery. Maybe add some red bows or ornaments and little white lights for the season. If you already have decorations up there, you can work around those or go all out by replacing what you currently have up there with Santa's, trees and other holiday decorations.

You might already give your kitchen table a festive look by putting a holiday centerpiece in the middle, but why stop there? If your table is big enough, you can put a small tree on it! Maybe one of those quaint Victorian bottle brush trees would look neat? Just something about 2 or 3 feet tall and not so wide that it takes up the whole table.

Of course, you'll want to complete the look by leaving your table set with a Christmas theme dishes, placemats, glasses and silverware. Just leave it setup all during the holidays and it will add a great festive look to your table. If you are on a budget, shop at your local consignment store, thrift store, or flea market for holiday themed tableware.

Another way to dress up your table is to give it a great holiday tablecloth. If you are really ambitious, you can even make or buy matching slipcovers for the chairs. Even non-upholstered chairs can be made to look cozier with fabric slip covers that slip over the backs. Some cover the seat and whole chair while others are made to only cover and decorate the back.

Another place you can add some holiday décor is around the windows. You can drape garland or greenery over your valances or tops of your curtains and put Christmas candles in the window. You can even buy fake snow for the panes. One little touch that looks great is to take a nice piece of ribbon and hang an ornament in each of the windows.

Our final Christmas decorating tip really rounds out the look and pulls the room together is holiday accents! Buy pot holders, kitchen towels and throw rugs with a holiday theme and splash them around the room to complete the look. If you are really ambitious, you can get cookie jars, canisters and other counter top items in the Christmas theme. Again, try yards sales, consignment stores and even antique stores for inexpensive items to use in your decorating.

Make Christmas Glow with Tasteful Outdoor Lighting

Christmas lights give life to our Christmas decorations and they come in a huge selection of styles and prices. If you're not careful, your hard-earned pennies will go fast in just spending money on decorating. Using these views, simple steps on outdoor lighting will save you time and money. To begin with, you need to compute the area where the Christmas lights will be used. Start with measuring the exact length of the area you will place the lights and then add a few inches to allow for power outlets. Measuring the length that you need as well as the distance to the power outlet is a good place to start. If you're putting Christmas lights on your tree, take a tape measure and measure the circumference. Determine how many lights exist in a string and from this you can compute how many strings you will need. Let's assume that you need 70 feet of Christmas lights around your tree and each string is 10 feet in length. Seventy divided by ten equals seven strings of lights.

Try to find a shorter strand of lights so one can be easily replaced if damage occurs. Decide what type of Christmas lights you need by knowing the purpose of the light. Are they going to be used outdoors or indoors? Shop online if you're unsure of what you want. You want to look for plug styles, strand types and bulb designs. Each bulb comes in different shapes and sizes and colors, and they will need to be coordinated with your decorations. Selecting Christmas outdoor lighting is fun and enjoyable, and you should take a day or so to just do this. Remember that Christmas bulbs vary in number depending on the bulbs per strand. The package usually indicates the number of bulbs on a strand. Because the illumination of your decoration will depend on wattage and the number of bulbs you will use, you need to check the wattage of your bulbs. Bulbs can give you different lighting effects, where some have a steady glow while others blink in different ways, so selecting the right one is important. Strings of lights can come with parallel or series wiring. If you bust the bulb on the parallel string, all the other lights will continue to stay lit, whereas with the parallel wiring, if one light goes out all the others do as well. To get the best deal when it comes to Christmas outdoor lighting, it's best to comparison-shop.

Here's some safety tips when it comes to putting up your Christmas outdoor lighting. Make sure your outlets are GFCI approved and installed by a certified electrician. Confirm with the manufacturer that the lights you've chosen are for outdoor and not indoor use. Try to not use indoor extension cords when outdoor extension cords are required. Keep any electrical connections out of snow/puddles, and insert bulbs into sockets so that the sockets point down. Before you replace any bulbs, make sure that you unplugged the string first. Never decorate an outdoor tree if it's close to power lines or if there's a chance of touching them. Remember to inspect the wires on your outdoor Christmas lights for any wear spots, especially if they are older. Using just a bit of common sense when it comes to installing your Christmas decorations will go along way for your safety and peace of mind. Most of all, comparison-shop and use the Internet to your advantage.

Decorating With Glass Christmas Ornaments

In days past the Christmas tree was hung with every type of decoration someone thought would look good. There were crocheted pieces, paper chains, icicles, and glass bulbs. They came in so many different colors the tree would look like a rainbow. Then people started getting more select in their choices. Styles were changing. The traditional Christmas tree became a work of art. New glass ornaments became available. This started taking on a new look. People could choose from hand painted designs, specialized ornaments, and personalized ones. The range of colors grew as well. Now the tree could be color coordinated with the decor of the house. The evolution of the glass bulb has grown even further today.

Glass Christmas ornaments grouped into themes. There are stained glass ones, etched ones, and so many more. You can walk into any store and find Currier and Ives or Thomas McCain on the more traditional globes. There are fantasy creatures like fairies and dragons for the younger crowd. Specialty ornaments are available which represent lines of work like teachers, firefighters, and police men. Hobby enthusiasts can find ornaments which reflect their favorite pastime from fishing to photography. Some of the most exquisite ones are from overseas. These unique bulbs are usually hand blown glass. They come in all different shapes and sizes. There are animals, snowflakes, and teardrops. Some are more traditional with hand painted detailing. They are spectacular to behold.

Tradition is strong when it comes to decorating the tree. Some people choose an ornament each year to commemorate the year. There are glass Christmas ornaments designed for this group. The ornaments can be custom ordered with names and dates. Some craftsmen will hand paint the ornament with specific instructions. Wedding and anniversary ornaments are gaining popularity as well. The etched glass ornaments are popular for this tradition.

Fun and whimsical ones are a pleasure to look at. These can range from a pretzel twist to cartoon characters. There are so many to choose from it is sometimes hard to decide. Many people can not and just choose what ever strikes their fancy. These are the people who's trees can tell a story. Everywhere on the tree will be something that tells about the family who decorated it.

Glass Christmas ornaments are extremely fragile. Special care must be given each year to preserve the collection of color and tradition. There are specially designed storage boxes for keeping the keepsakes safe during storage or transport. It would be wise to invest in some of these storage boxes if the collection is large.

As each year passes, the collection of them grows. There are new ones available all the time. There are times when someone will stumble upon a forgotten box in the attic. The contents can be amazing. The old time craftsmanship used to create some of the traditional globes has been forgotten. The care and precision of the painting is a true work of art. These are the globes which should be given a place of honor on the tree. These are the glass Christmas decorations which delighted the eyes of children in the family from generations ago. The beauty should never be forgotten.

Princess Pink Christmas Trees

Pink Christmas trees are a wonderful choice for that little princess in your life. Any little girl or big girl will most certainly want one of these for her own bedroom, playroom, or family room so that she can decorate it with more 'girly' choices. You will find that pink Christmas trees seem to spark an interest in most girls because they like the idea of decorating their own Christmas tree and a pink Christmas tree is just a bonus. You can find a pink Christmas tree pretty easily and, in most cases, they can be found at your local store.

Pink Christmas trees can be found in most stores in all different sizes and shapes. They are priced much like the other kinds of trees and you are sure to find one in almost any price range. You can also find some kits that include a pink Christmas tree, but that also come with matching ornaments. This is a great idea if you want everything to match or if you would like to have everything in a handy package. The prices on these kits are usually pretty inexpensive, too. Most of the time these kits come with a tabletop tree, so if you are looking for a larger pink Christmas tree, then you will probably have to purchase the tree and ornaments separately.

Evaluate the size of the room where you want to place the pink Christmas tree. In most bedrooms, a large tree would overpower the room so a tabletop tree would work better. However, if you have a playroom or family room, then a pink Christmas tree may fit and look great in this room. Determine where you are going to put the tree and then you can determine what size would work best for you and your family.

It is important that you allow the children to choose the ornaments and decorate the tree themselves. This will help them to garner a great deal of pride in the decorating of their very own tree. They may not decorate it as you would like, but if it is their tree and they think it looks great, then that is what is most important. Allow them the opportunity to use their imaginations to help make their Christmas tree into their own masterpiece. Pink Christmas trees may be a different idea, but they can make your little princess's dream to come true!

Decorating Christmasmas Trees With Cookies and Candy

Decorating xmas trees with cookies and candy is a great way to give your tree that personal touch. It is creative and the results can be astounding in terms of their creative impact. Decorating an
artificial tree with baked goods is one way to make it look more homey and real. A slim christmas tree really looks great with decorations made out of slim wrapped candies. The snowy color of
shortbread confections also plays off nicely against any color of tree including the artificial white christmas tree.

Decorating xmas trees with food goes back to the times before Christ was born. Offerings of food were often placed along sills and windows to feed the good spirits and protect from the evil ones. The first
christmas trees were in fact imitations of the pyramid shape of real conifers. The custom of placing pickles and other foods on the steps of cedar pyramids of wood that were hand constructed was very common in Germany before the 16th century. It wasn't until Martin Luther came along and presented the upright tree that was brought indoors and lit with candles that we became familiar with the Christmas tree that we know today.

Using food as adornments on evergreen boughs is a time-honored tradition. Perhaps the strangest one is the German custom of hanging pickles on the tree. Today you can buy German ornaments made of glass that feature pickle cartoon characters wearing tiny Santa hats.

Decorating xmas trees with shortbread and ginger bread men is also a tradition that came out of Germanic and Slavic cultures. Of course today you can buy all kinds of different cookie cutters that
certainly pique one's creativity when it comes to making edible xmas decorations. Popular cookie cutter shapes are Christmas stockings, Santa, reindeer, presents and stars. However you could also decorate your tree with shortbread or gingerbread cut into any shape you like.

There are some really interesting novelty cookie cutters on the market including ones shaped like nativity scenes. One nice idea might be to decorate your tree with heart shaped cookies. You could
also make one very large angel, decorate it with edible gold and glitter and use it as a tree topper.

Decorating xmas trees with candies can be even more fun. You can hang single candies from a tree - such as lollipops and foil wrapped chocolates. Toffees wrapped in foil look especially nice on a tall
slim christmas tree. Candies can also be glued together in sunburst shapes to make interesting decorations or even strung together to make a long, shiny and delicious garland.

It is also very easy to make xmas tree decorations using pins and Styrofoam balls or backing. Simply spray the Styrofoam balls with green gold or silver and pin the candies so that they cover the
surface of the ball. A similar idea comes from Martha Stewart who does the same with gumdrops and miniature marshmallows. You could also use candied fruit. In fact one age old xmas decoration is the
oranges that is stuck with cloves and hung from the tree. In theory you could also use oranges as the base for any type of home made candy ornament.

One idea is to create a tree topper for your xmas tree using peppermint candy canes. This involves gluing them onto a round Styrofoam ball so that they radiate from the center in the circle. The same thing can be done with gumdrops on toothpicks and lollipops.

By the way, the candy cane is one of the most potent of Christmas symbols and it is actually a symbol of Jesus. A candy maker invented them in Indiana in the late 1800's. He came up with the idea of
bending a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. The three small stripes to symbolize the pain Christ on the cross. The reason there are three is
because they represent the Holy Trinity. The one bold stripe represents the blood of Jesus. Right side up it looks like a shepherd's staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. Upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus' name. So candy canes are more than just pretty confections. They have quite a serious meaning.

When it comes to decorating xmas trees, one cannot say enough about popcorn. Popcorn is one of the most versatile of xmas tree decorations. Most traditional is the xmas tree garland that is strung
with the popped kernels. Popcorn balls that are dyed with food coloring also make very attractive christmas tree decorations. Left white, however, these popcorn balls look like snowballs hanging on
your tree.

Christmas tree garlands can also be made out of any kind of berries. Cranberries and holly berries (not edible!) make especially nice garlands because of their festive red color.

Some years, cereal companies also put out cereal in Christmas colors such as red and green. These types of cereals can also be made into shapes using a Rice Krispy Square recipe and hung by a thread.

Another unique idea is to decorate your christmas tree with homemade candy apples. These bright glossy red treats look absolutely fantastic, especially on a white or green tree. A nice compliment to
the color of the candy apples would be gold chocolate coins or foil covered chocolates in the shape of Santa also strung on the tree. A starburst of candy apples would make a stunning tree topper for a
slim christmas tree.

When decorating xmas trees with candy and baked goods remember that your success is only as limited as your imagination. If you are stuck for ideas, Martha Stewart's cookbooks are an excellent source of inspiration. You can also get great ideas on the Internet and by searching traditional xmas tree sites to get ideas about how these decorations are supposed to look.

7 Easy Ways to 7 Easy Ways to Decorate Your Bedroom For Christmas WOWness! WOWness!

Christmas interior decorating comes only once a year so go ahead and decorate every room with style. So deck the halls, bathrooms, and bedrooms with holiday style and fun! Elegantly "wrap" (aka: decorate) all your rooms for the holidays and every time you and your guests enter the room, they will feel like they just unwrapped a present (receiving an unexpected design within your room).

It is beautiful and relaxing to be able to fall sleep and wake up in a room full of holiday cheer and elegance. So, how do you decorate your bedrooms with style and fun?

Below are 7 ideas that are simple and yet have a dramatic "holiday cheer" effect:

1. Place 3 medium evergreen wreaths on the wall where your bed rests and you get an instinct Christmas headboard! Bonus: the aromatherapy scent of the wreath may be soothing enough to help you sleep better zzzzzzz!

2. Decorate the wreaths with the colors of your room. Try decorating them with the color of your pillowcases, or duvet, or window curtains.

3. Hang above nightstands a cluster of Christmas ornaments from your ceiling at different lengths (visualize - chandeliers made of ornaments!).

4. Tie your pillow with decorative ribbons (just like you would tie a ribbon on a present), then unwrap your pillows every night before you go to sleep. This decorative look also works wonderful on throw pillows in the living room and family room. As always, make sure that the colors chosen are complementary to the room.

5. Align your window frames with swags of garland.

6. Use bows to tie window curtains.

7. Float white candles in a vase filled with water and cranberries for a romantic Christmas bedroom décor.

It is great to decorate for others (your guests), but remember YOU are the most valuable treasure in your home - decorate for your comfort and wake up every day to holiday cheer! Have a FUNtastic holiday!

More Tips For Christmas : Decorating With Colored Lights

One thing to do when decorating with colored Christmas lights is to limit where you put those colored lights. For outdoors, you should use only some colored lights and some white lights. This can keep the colors from seeming too overwhelming to passersby. For example, you can hang white icicle lights all around the eve of your home, and use a strand of colored lights for the trees in your yard. Any combination of white and colored lights is often a good idea outside, as long as there isn’t too much color.

On a Christmas tree, if you want to use multi-colored lights, you may not want to have too many ornaments on the tree. With fake icicles, colored lights, and many ornaments, a tree can appear less than gorgeous. Instead, you should limit the amount of ornaments on the tree when using colored lights.

Another way to keep colored lights from seeming too overwhelming is to use at least some solid-colored lights. Christmas trees often look very pretty when color coordinated or color-limited. By picking one of the two main Christmas colors as a theme for your tree (red or green), you can keep the tree looking mellow while adding color. Or, you can pick one of these colors for the lights and have the rest of the tree not be limited. Many people prefer to go with red and white/silver for their tree. In this situation you could use a traditional green tree or you could choose a fake white tree. With red lights, silver and red decorations, and a beautiful tree topper, these trees offer color while looking very classy.

Solid-colored lights don’t have to be limited to indoors, either. You can use a solid strand of green, red, or even blue to decorate outdoors as well. Putting one color on your whole house with a strand of multi-colored lights in the bushes or trees in front can often make your house stand out from the rest of those in the neighborhood (in a good way).

Whatever way you decide to decorate with colored lights, and wherever you decide to place them, the trick to making it look as good as possible is simply moderation. Too many colors in too many places can hurt the eyes and make the decorations appear gaudy. Apply moderation to your colored-lights decorating, and yours will be beautiful.

How to Decorate the Christmas Presents

Here comes Santa Claus! It's time for you to gladden the people you love by offering them the most special gifts. And we think that is not important the present's value or size, but the attention and the way you offer it. Create a special and warm moment from offering an original present. Enjoy of a beautiful Christmas morning, opening the nice decorated presents.
There are some tips and tricks for an appropriate present's decoration:

1. For choose the right decoration style, you have to be aware of the occasion, the present's proportion, color, character and especially of the favorite colors, flowers of the person you offer. These elements have to harmonize each other and with the giving occasion.

2. The ornament has to be no more than 1/3 from the present box and to follow its lines. Try to make the decoration so that the gift could be guessed.

3. The wrapping paper or cellophane is good to have one single color, but if it has some inscriptions, put the arrangement so that these can be seen. For a nice present box, we recommend you to use a pastel or discreet color for the wrapping paper to mark out the arrangement. The decoration has to be a patch of color and point of attraction.

4. It's important to stretch the paper using a stick gel or an adhesive tape, to look clean and not crumpled. If it's case, overlap the paper on the below surface. What it's seen has to look perfect.

5. If you use ribbon for your decoration, it has to contour the box's lines. For a quadratic present box, make a little bow in the centre of it. If the box or simply the present has a rectangular shape, the arrangement or the bow is good to be placed in the left or right side, but not in centre, for a better present's outline. Assort the ribbon's color, material, dimension to the entire present.

6. There is a new trend: the flower arrangements for the present's decoration. These are made from a single flower or one type of mini flowers surrounded by leaves or verdure. Don't exaggerate with the floral arrangement's proportion. But you can also make a present from this arrangement, if you'll create it separately, just sticking it in the end.

7. Being Christmas, decorate the present under the Christmas tree in the Christmas spirit. For a little boy, wrap the toy in a cute and with car inscriptions paper. He'll not appreciate a flower arrangement attached on the box, but a little toy car will be the perfect arrangement. For your little daughter, buy the favorite colored wrapping paper and put on the box a pink floral arrangement.

8. Make sure that unpacking will not deteriorate the decoration. It will be possible, in case you'll decorate with a flower arrangement, if you use a floral foam of which base is an adhesive bandage. In Christmas spirit, use, in stead of the usual verdure, the pine branches, cones, mistletoes etc.

Appalachia - Rich Man/Poor Child - 2 Christmas Tales

Christmas Story 1

Tuesday evening, December 19, 2006 - midnight

Summersville, West Virginia

Dear Diary,

This evening after work, after coming home and doing some chores outside I ran out to the Family Dollar Store to pick up extra cleaning and laundry supplies for the holidays. You can get good buys at these chain stores. It was about dark. I went to the right hand side of the store after I walked in. It was the natural thing to do, veer to the right which was their Christmas section. I thought I would look around and see what they had.

Two women and a little boy were walking close by where I was browsing around all the little knick knacks. I allowed myself to look but had made an earlier commitment to myself not to buy anything that could be categorized as junk in a few days that I would have to get rid of, so I was just looking.

It was apparent the two women and little boy were doing their major Christmas shopping. It was hard, if not impossible not to know. The younger woman would walk ahead of her mom and screech, “Mommy, Mommy come over here and look what I have found.” The older woman slowly pushed the buggy in the direction of the screech and say, “We can’t get that. We can’t get that.” One time the younger woman said, “I know I’m just looking but I love camouflage.” They were looking at some warm-ups with a price tag of $10.00 for both pieces.

The little boy who looked to be about 7 or 8 with red hair was so excited with everything he saw. His mother, the younger woman walked with a heavy limp and both women had speech impediments. She told her son to pick the gifts he would be giving from the $1.00 and $2.00 shelf, nothing more. He found all kinds of little glass or plastic objects for his gift buying. He would pick up a little glass figurine and yell for his Mommy to come and see what he had found for Brenda or Debbie’s bathroom – a tiny blue dolphin or a carved piece of soap. He only wanted to buy for one but his Mother told him he could not leave the other one out, so he would have to get a gift for both.

One time he picked up a larger prize he wanted for someone but his Mom told him to put it back. It was not in their price range. I didn’t see one thing on the shelf over $5.00. Then, she found a stack of glass women’s hi heel shoes which were pink, black, blue and purple with feathers glued on them – knick knacks. She yelled for her mom to come and see what she had found. She told her mom, “I’ve always loved these shoes.” She ran her hand over the shoe and held it up for her mom to get a closer look. After her mother looked, she slowly placed the glass slipper back in its place on the shelf. Her mother told her, “We can’t get that. We can’t get that.”

The little boy jumped up down like a wound up top each time he picked up an item. One time he let out an especially loud yell in a high-pitched tone. He held the item behind his back with both hands and yelled, “Mommy, Mommy don’t look behind my back as he twirled around in excitement. Don’t look Mommy, I’m hiding it from you. It is your Christmas present.” It was the glass shoe she had looked at longingly earlier. The cost $2.99.

The little boy’s mother told her to help find Daddy’s present. It could not be more than $5.00. I met them a few times in the aisles. They were looking at everything. Somehow we both ended up in the toy aisle at the same time. The boy’s mother told him to pick out his Christmas present. It could not be more than $5.00. He had to make a choice between a little box with 2 Power Ranger figures or a box with a Nascar. He looked at both for a long time. He turned each box over and over. You could tell it was a hard decision. He chose the little Power Rangers.

I can’t help but think about the hard times these people must be going through. It was so evident. I don’t think the little boy will have many surprises waiting for him on Christmas morning.

I wish things were more equal for all families, especially kids.

Dec. 28, 2006

Dear Diary,

Our Assistant Superintendent told me this story today at work.

One of our teacher’s aides at Dixie Elementary was performing her regular duties prior to the Christmas break which consisted of assisting students who needed additional help with their work. Because of the smallness of the school with a total enrollment of around 100 students and her assigned duties, Brenda spends a great deal of time, one-on-one, with a small number of students. On this particular day near our Christmas break she asked one little girl what she wanted for Christmas. It was what all the students were talking about at school. Dixie Elementary is in a poverty stricken area in Nicholas County bordering on the county lines of Clay and Fayette Counties. Dixie Elementary is off the beaten path making it difficult to get and keep teachers, aides, a principal, custodian and cook at the school because of the long drive over hairpin curves behind or in front of coal trucks which seems to extend over the narrow marked traffic lanes. The trucks travel at break neck speeds.

Dixie is a school with the majority of the students getting free lunch. All the way from Poe down Route 39 through Enon, Zela, Swiss and Belva is terrible poverty. Two Nicholas County Elementary Schools are on or just off this route. Lots of coal mining goes on in this area.

The teacher's aide asked this 9 year old girl she was working with what she wanted for Christmas. Her reply was, “I want a blanket for Christmas.” It turns out the little girl sleeps on the couch every night with her coat over her for cover. Her sister sleeps at the other end of the couch with the same arrangement, her coat over her for cover.

Instead of toys, video games or a skateboard to play with, this 9 year old just wanted a blanket for Christmas to keep her warm at night while she slept on her end of the couch.

The aide took this request to her church. The church members donated enough money to buy a blanket for every student at Dixie Elementary, approximately 100 students.

The aide then took the donation and went to Big Lots to see about getting the best deal on 100 or so blankets. I’m not straight on this if it was when she was loading the blankets or just purchasing the unusually large number of blankets, the manager, a very nice man, asked, “Why all the blankets?” When she told him a little girl just wanted a blanket for Christmas, he said, “In that case you can have all those blankets for half price.”

The Christmas shopper was then able to buy blankets for all the students at Zela Elementary as well. Zela Elementary School lies on the same economic plane as Dixie, the plane of poverty. So, students at two elementary schools got blankets for Christmas.

About the Author:

My family is from Buchanan County, Virginia. Their parents came to Virginia as early settlers from North Carolina and Tennessee. We moved to Summersville, West Virginia when I was small so I attended public schools in West Virginia.

I graduated from Nicholas County High School in Summersville, West Virginia and attended Berea College, Berea, Kentucky. I graduated from Glenville State Teachers College and am employed by the Nicholas County Board of Education.

Living so high in the mountains where you can nearly touch the stars by night and the clouds rest on the treetops by day, gives life a new meaning daily. I spend my free time as an Appalachian Artisan, specializing in textile arts; designing and making quilts, wall hangings and flags with an Appalachian theme.

Christmas Decorations With Cozy Baking Aromas

This is a pleasant atmosphere for everyone. With those cookies baking and everyone decorating with the expectations of company for the holidays. This will get you in the mood for Christmas.

The computer makes it easy to find the decorations you need without venturing out in the cold. The convenience of shopping 24-7 and having your items come to your door gives you a break from all the stomping through the stores. This is not to appealing with the crowds, but when you can do it in the comfort of your home this is great. When you have all the decorations bought and assembled with a team effort its easy to convert your home into a showplace.

Getting started on Thanksgiving is not hard when you use an artificial tree it is accessible when you are ready for it. There are plenty of sizes, so if you want more than one its just a matter of where to put them. They come with tall skinny ones and some with just a front so they can be backed into small places. The large ones in the mall are very awe inspiring for the small child. Everything seemed large to us when we were pint sized.

Family values come from learning first hand with experience of our folks. Mom taught us how to cook our baked goods, candies and this is a real treat for others as a gift. Dads showed us how to use the saw to make projects. After they are cut you put the time in to sand them and make them your own.

When Mom is creating the cookies and pies in the kitchen, Dad can be helping trim the tree. It is so fun for the children to see the tree come alive after all the ornaments are put on. Lights on the tree make it spectacular for the people seeing it driving down the road. When you flip the switch and see the final magical vision it was well worth the time invested. We need to remember when we were little and keep the magic of Christmas alive for our children.

Candy Tree Table Decorations

Candy tree table decorations are a wonderful addition to any kind of party table, not only are the contents completely edible, but Candy Tree table decorations can be a real talking point that can actually steal the show.

For many years I have made a Candy Tree table decoration for the Christmas table, our family and friends have always said that it makes a wonderful and unusual centre piece. In the early days on many occasions I was asked where I had bought ours from, they were absolutely astounded when I told them that I had made it myself, of course these days our Christmas table wouldn't be complete without a Candy Tree table decoration, and the more you experiment, the more unusual they get.

The basics of making a Candy Tree table decoration is really very simple, and will cost you a lot less money than if you went out and bought a traditional table decoration.

To make a Candy Tree table decoration you need:-

A pyramid or cone shaped piece of florists Styrofoam for your base.
Florist wires.
Florist tape.
Foil paper in the colour of your choice.
Basket or container to anchor the Candy Tree table decoration.
Large box of sweets.
( I used a large box of Quality Street to make my Christmas Candy Tree, these were ideal, as the sweets are all wrapped and the wrappings have twisted ends).

How to wire the sweets for your Candy Tree table decoration

Cut each florist wire into 3 even sized pieces.

Hold a piece of wire onto a twisted end of your sweet wrapper between your fore finger and thumb.

Attach the florist tape by holding the end firmly against your wire and sweet wrapper. Twist the tape from top to bottom of your wire while gently stretching the tape (this makes the tape tacky). Repeat this step until all your sweets are attached to wires.

Now for the fun part.

Making your Candy Tree table decoration.

Bend a few small pieces of wire in half to form hairpin shapes.
Completely cover and disguise the Styrofoam by wrapping
a piece of coloured foil around it diagonally from bottom to top, making sure that each time around the shape the foil always overlaps.

Hold the foil in place by sticking the hairpin shaped wires through the foil and the Styrofoam in several places.

Place the undecorated Candy Tree table decoration in a basket or container.

Now take your wired sweets and stick the wires through the covered Styrofoam, clustering the sweets to decorate your Candy Tree table decoration.

You now have an edible and unusual table centre piece.

For small children's party tables, instead of using wire which is dangerous for tiny tots, use candy lollipops and soft sweets (jelly babies or marshmallows) attached to the Candy Tree table decoration with cocktail sticks.

Decorating Christmas Trees With Style

Does your christmas tree look too old fashioned? When it comes to decorating christmas trees there are some style tips to follow so that they look more up-to-date and stylish.

STYLE TIP : 1

The big fat round artificial christmas tree is out and the slim artificial tree is in. This is because when it comes to decorating christmas tree the trends lately lean more towards tall and conical shapes rather than fat and round shapes.

This style is more reminiscent of the modernist trends from the seventies and strangely, the tall conical trees that were in favor during the Victorian era. It was Queen Victoria who insisted on the tallest tree possible for her living room and the narrow tree girth was also necessary in order to fit these tall slender trees into Victorian homes. The same could be said of modern day "cozy" condo lofts and apartments which often have tall ceiling heights but less floor space and suit a slim artificial christmas tree much better than a chubbier version.

Natural trees that tend to be tall and slim are the spruces and firs. They just have a slimmer girth than pines and cedars. When it comes to fake xmas trees, more and more manufacturers are releasing slim artificial trees that can fit more easily into our cramped urban lifestyle.

STYLE TIP :2

Artificial is in and natural trees are out. Okay, so maybe real christmas trees will never go out of fashion but if you are a bit of style snob then the trend is towards an artificial tree in the wildest color you can find. Basically the idea is to find a tree that looks like it would go well in Lieutenant O'Hura's bedroom on Star Trek.

Every year, artificial trees are looking more and more cartoonish. You can buy them in a spectrum of colors and in many different materials including PVC, vinyl and tinsel. The slim artificial trees in wild colors are very popular with younger people. Some sites sell xmas trees that are nothing more than a coiled spiral of yellow pink and blue lights that are free standing and merely emulate the shape of a christmas tree.

Probably the two most trendy colors for trees are the red and white. The red trees have an offbeat look to them that is reminiscent of a bad Kodachrome photograph from the seventies. However that is part of their appeal. The white artificial trees are just simply gorgeous, especially the prelit artificial trees with branches that have glowing fiber optic tips.

STYLE TIP :3

One of the secrets to decorating christmas trees in a stylish way is to be minimalist. To be truly fashionable, stick to decorating the tree in just one or two colors. For instance you could decorate a natural evergreen with only gold bows and natural crystals. A white christmas tree looks great with uniformly sized christmas balls from top to bottom. A sky blue artificial tree could be decorated in monochrome with glass balls that are a deeper shade of blue.

The minimalist approach also goes for the style of decorations that you choose. Stick to one or two shapes to keep the look of the tree uncluttered and sleek. For instance, forget the round glass balls and choose conical glass balls and flat spheres only to decorate an entire tree. By the way the craze for slim artificial xmas trees is similar to the current craze for slim conical christmas decorations. Conical decorations are very much identified with retro seventies styles.

STYLE TIP : 4

One of the first rules of fashion and also interior decorating is to break all the rules and the same applies to Christmas trees. This means deliberately ignoring christmas traditions with the idea of putting a new spin on them. For instance instead of using the classic angel or star as a tree topper you could try topping it with a spray of fibrous waving multicolored diodes or a design that you have constructed using christmas rope lights. One interesting idea is to make a star out of red velvet and decorate it with peacock feathers, faux gems and gold bows.

Another way to break a traditional rule is to decorate your tree with just one color. To be different you could also forget about putting largest decorations at the bottom and the tiny ones at the top, put the large ones on the top and the tiny ones on the bottom. Another idea is to make all of your christmas tree decorations the same size.

One big trend that has dominated Christmas style and design for the last few years is to hang your Christmas tree anyway you can think of, as long as it is not standing up. This includes hanging it upside down from the ceiling, suspending it sideways from the ceiling and buttressing it against a wall.

STYLE TIP : 5

One of the secrets to decorating christmas trees is that the more personal it is the better. A good example is the chef who decorates his tree using only plastic forks and knives or the new mom who decorates her tree with baby bottles and baby toys. If you celebrate the Chinese New Year you might want to decorate your tree with Buddha figures and fortune cookies.

Another great way to personalize your christmas tree is to use baked goods. Tree ornaments made of pink and yellow gumdrops and toothpicks look nice on an artificial white christmas tree for example. Home made gingerbread men and short bread snowmen would go well with a red artificial prelit christmas tree.

One place to get inspiration is the candy store. Choose your favorite candies that you loved as a kid. A smaller tree looks fantastic decorated in candies wrapped in foil. However once again the key is to be minimalist. Don't decorate the tree with seven or eight kinds of candy. Decorate it with two to three kinds to give it a kind of uniformity.

If you haven't figured it out by now one of the keys to decorating christmas trees is repetition on a single theme. If you like teddy bears than decorate the entire tree in teddy bears and one other design element, such as red glass balls. Keeping it simple yet elegant is the key to decorating christmas trees.

Cupcake Decorations - Christmas Cupcake Ideas

If you love Christmas time like I do, you'll probably agree that decorations are a big part of the season. And what would Christmas be without all the goodies? For my family and me, this includes cupcake decorations. If we're honest, the tendency to over-indulge in such sweets is more prevalent around the holidays - and I wouldn't have it any other way! So, I hope you enjoy these imaginative and whimsical Christmas cupcake ideas - creating as well as eating them.

• Here's a real time saver - it's simple yet fun, and your family, friends and party guests will love them. Start with your favorite cupcake recipe, from scratch or otherwise - a dozen or more, depending on quantity needed/desired. Generously top them with white frosting, add shredded coconut, dust with powdered sugar and voila! Instant, mini-winter-wonderland in a delicious cup.

• These are great for parties year-round, and especially at Christmas time. The idea is to create a miniature Christmas present atop each cupcake. Use a variety of icing colors; red licorice works well for your ribbons and/or bows. Toss on a small amount of sprinkles, if desired. (As with all these ideas, creativity is key.) For place setting name cards, use gift tags. Your guests will love these personalized, wonderfully edible place markers!

• Santa's face was never so yummy: Top your favorite cupcakes, each one with red frosting on one side, white on the other. Mini marshmallows separate the two colors, forming Santa's hat brim. Carefully use brown chocolate or green frosting to craft his face upon the white-iced side. Use little, round candies for Santa's facial features (eyes, nose, etc.) Thin strips of various edible goodies (fruit roll-up cutouts, thin licorice whips) work great for the jolly old elf's smile.

• These snowman cupcakes are sure to be a hit. White icing forms the base (or, snow on the "ground.") Top that with a big marshmallow, add a little one above that (getting the picture?) A toothpick inserted vertically, through both marshmallows helps hold Frosty together. Use small candies (your choice) for eyes, nose, etc. - held in place with a small bit of frosting. Try a small piece of Tootsie Roll for his hat. These snowmen won't likely melt ... but they won't last long, either!

• For this one, you'll need about one and a half dozen cupcakes, and a suitably big, festive platter to hold them all. (We're "building" a Christmas tree here, made of cupcakes.) Top all but four of your cupcakes with green icing - the remainder you'll frost in brown chocolate. Simply arrange the four brown-topped cakes at one end of the plate, in the shape of your tree trunk. Arrange your green cupcakes above the brown, in a triangle, forming the rest of your tree. As for decorations, have fun, and don't be shy - small chocolates (kisses, bells, and other shapes) are a must. Any and all colors of M&M's are good; little candy canes, peppermints ... you get the idea. As always, you can't go wrong using grated coconut as snow, and red licorice makes great garland. Try tubes of gel icing, in a variety of colors, which can be found at most supermarkets (or party supply stores.) You might want to take a few photos before they devour your "tree!"

Have fun making (and of course, eating) your Christmas cupcakes - hopefully, these will inspire you to come up with some of your own yummy, artistic creations!

Top Ten Reasons to Spend Christmas in Tenerife

Having splashed and sloshed our way through the wettest summer in living memory, many of us Brits are severely in need of a bit of light relief. Recent statistics reveal a desperate rush to leave the country over Christmas and head to the gloriously sunny climes of Tenerife. The statistics, from a survey by TravelRepublic, show a massive increase in winter sun holidays in general and Christmas breaks in Tenerife are the most popular of all.

There has been a drop in Tenerife travel prices this season with many one-week packages to Tenerife coming in at under £300. Cheap trips to Tenerife are clearly a big draw to those of us keen to escape the grim British weather, but could there be more to it than this? Christmas is getting bigger every year and the pressure to get it right is immense. A Tenerife Christmas can remove such hassles, and more. That's why I've compiled a list of ten aspects of Christmas hell and how jetting off on a sunny holiday to Tenerife will turn them all around!

1) In the UK: Presents and shopping

Us Brits spend an average of £384 on 18 Christmas presents. Significantly more than you might be spending on your whole Tenerife holiday!

On holiday: Spanish souvenirs

It's impossible to list all the Spanish souvenirs you could find for your loved ones, but here are five of the most popular items you could pick up whilst in Tenerife:

Abanico - hand held fans elaborately decorated or carved from wood make a great Tenerife Christmas present.

Football Souvenirs - items brandishing the Real Madrid crest or a miniature replica of the stadium are ideal gifts for footie fans!

Bullfighting Souvenirs - you can buy a representation of the three matadors or even a replica matador's jacket.

Toro - these miniature Spanish bulls vary in quality from moulded plastic to elaborate pieces hand made in leather.

Art & Paintings - from the country that gave birth to Salvador Dali and Picasso there is a large selection of cheap scenes of everyday Spain.

2) In the UK: Enforced jollity

At Christmas there is no greater sin then appearing to be grumpy. Never mind if it's raining again when it ought to be snowing. Never mind the awkward family tensions. If your mood isn't up you're in trouble - you're 'ruining Christmas'.

On holiday: Real jollity

Waking up to the bliss of no responsibilities and a day of sunbathing will put you in a naturally good mood, so there's no need to fake it!

3) In the UK: Inappropriate outfits

Christmas seems to inspire the oddest outfits: fluorescent antlers, hair tinsel, 'fun' paper crowns, ridiculous knitted festively themed woolly jumpers - the list is endless and another example of that enforced jollity.

On holiday: A good tan

Developing a healthy glow in Tenerife will make you the envy of all your friends when the glitter of Christmas has died down to a dull fizzle and everyone's feeling pale and miserable. Ha-ha!

4) In the UK: Guzzling excessive cheap alcohol

To get through the emotional rollercoaster of another family Christmas, many of us, despite our best intentions, will turn to the bottle to ease the pain. The following day's hangover only makes it that much worse.

On holiday: Sipping cocktails by the pool

There are so many fabulous bars in Tenerife that you'll be spoilt for choice, and there's no need to overdo it when you're already having so much fun!

5) In the UK: Office parties

You can already picture the scene: watching what you drink in case you say exactly what you think about your unbearable boss or colleague, whilst pretending not to be disgusted by the cringeworthy advances of the office letch. Finally, you end up dancing wildly with said letch in a mad drunken stupor. The Facebook photos won't make it any easier to forget.

On holiday: Beach parties!

A beach party in Tenerife will really blow away the winter cobwebs. For daytime fun, the main beach of Playa de las Americas is where the party people go to recharge their batteries before the next clubland assault and when the sun goes down you can head to Enramada Beach near La Caleta, where Chiringuito Beach Club hosts parties at the weekend. Many revellers choose to camp on the beach at Las Galletas, bringing their own food and drinks and listening to music into the small hours. Christmas in Tenerife is such fun!

6) In the UK: Christmas lunch

First of all, whoever's cooking is incredibly stressed, and claims you have no idea how much work there is to do (if you try and help then you're inevitably doing it all wrong). This leads to petty arguments and numerous kitchen disasters. Meanwhile one member of the family has suddenly decided to become a vegan without telling anyone and refuses to eat a thing, glaring grumpily while everyone else tucks into their turkey.

On holiday: Tapas & fresh tropical fruit

Food in Tenerife is very tasty and a lot less stressful than Christmas dinner. Tapas are Spain's appetizers, scrummy little dishes which are often flavoured with garlic, chillies or paprika, cumin, salt, pepper or saffron. It often comes with seafood such as anchovies, sardines or mackerel in olive oil with tomatoes and sometimes peppers or olives. On your Tenerife holiday you can also sample many delicious tropical fruits like mangoes, paw paw and 'platanos fritos' - fried bananas.

7) In the UK: Christmas television

Saccharine Coca Cola adverts, endless repeats of 'Only Fools and Horses', soap extravaganzas and 'Celebrity' Christmas specials.

On holiday: singles - Find a winter romance

For goodness sake, forget TV and get out there onto the lively Tenerife singles scene. If anything's going to boost your sprits at Christmas it's a sizzling holiday romance!

8) In the UK: Christmas number ones

Slade's 'So here it is Merry Christmas', Band Aid's 'Do they know it's Christmas' and Aled Jones' 'Walking in the air'. Haven't you heard them all enough?

On holiday: iPod

Forget the naffness - when you set off for your holiday in Tenerife you make sure you've got all your favourite tunes at your fingertips so you can sunbathe in peace.

9) In the UK: Carol singers

Expecting you to give them money for one chorus of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' when half of them don't know the words and the other half are miming.

On holiday: iPod

See above.

10) In the UK: Unrelentingly grim weather

Grrr. Grrr. Grrr.

On holiday: Sunshine

Mmm - what a relief!

The Poor at Christmas - The Philippines Experience

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.

History of Christmas Carols

Each of us has memories coming from Christmas songs that we treasure since our childhood. As children, we never question these things, we just listen to them and grow to love them. Legend tells that the first Christmas hymn would have been sang when Jesus is born. Can you imagine that it is well over 2,000 years ago? However, it is only during the 1200's that Saint Francis of Assisi made Christmas songs published in a language understandable and spoken by everyone rather than Latin.

As time has passed, there have been a lot of Christian leaders and parishioners who have make it common place to put on a show about Christmas and singing the carols have been a large part of the elaborate show. Christmas carols have been added to the American culture from every English speaking country, from England to Australia.

Back in 1447 when Johannes Gutenberg conceived the mechanical printing press, this allowed for things to be copied in a fairly short amount of time which meant that the words and lyrics to the Christmas carols could be copied again and again and distributed, which is what made Christmas carols become so popular.

Naturally, around this same time Christmas and Christianity were a very big part of everyone's life. Unfortunately, the year 1649, Cromwell abolished all Catholic customs in England, including Christmas. When in 1661 Charles II restored these traditions, singing carols became one of the most popular traditions.

The largest part of well known Christmas carols have been written from the mid-1700s to the early 1800s and are still popular today. For instance, Frederich Handel performed the well known "Messiah" for the first time at a charity event in 1742.

As for "Silent Night", it has been written in 1818 by the Austrian Joseph Mohr and its original title was "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht". The organ of his church had broken and he needed to write a song that could be accompanied by a guitar rather than this instrument and then, he wrote this marvellous Christmas carol.

Today, it is easy to create a carol: when the holiday season arrives, artists as well as Hollywood produce their Christmas hymn. But we still have a preference for the flavours and the sounds of the old Christmas songs. Every one of us tends to stick to traditions and while we might like new carols none of them could ever take the place of oldies like We Wish You a Merry Christmas or Jingle Bells. While the number of Christmas carols we listen to is very large, almost none of them is a new one.

So, this year, gather your family and friends around the tree and sing these beautiful carols; it is one of the greatest ways to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

Do You Really Know the Christmas History?

The Christmas history in America really lacks a clear pathway and seems to hodge podge many different cultural narratives and traditions all together. Since the American people are really a diaspora of different nationalities, it's not surprising then that our holiday season is packed with so many rich traditions. From the German Christmas trees and English pudding, to Scandinavian yule logs and New England turkeys, Christmas Day rituals have become a larger celebration of Christmases past.

Some religious scholars point out that the Christmas celebration is oddly placed, speculating that a more accurate birth might have been in September or sometime in the fall, when it was easier to travel from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. In fact, December 25th, Christmas Day, had been celebrated as "Winter Solstice" for three centuries before Christ's birth. This time marked a day where the worst of winter was behind them and they could look forward to more sunlight and better days.

In Scandinavia, fathers and sons would bring home large logs that they would burn for 24 hours to bring good luck for the coming year. In Germany, people stayed inside to avoid the pagan god Oden's nocturnal flights across the sky, where he would look down and judge those who would perish and who would survive.

In Rome, the licentious feast of Saturnalia would boast plentiful food and drink, honor children and allow slaves or peasants to become masters for a month. It's commonly believed that the church chose this date purposely to replace the pagan celebrations of the season and encourage people to embrace Christianity instead.

Even though Christmas got off to a rocky start, the Christmas spirit had become so strong that it brought one of the world's mightiest wars to a screeching halt for just one day. On Christmas Day in 1914, an eerie calm spread over the battle field as the sounds of rifles firing quieted and shells ceased exploding. Across the Western Front, a sound rose up out of the trenches as both German and British troops began singing a Christmas carol across enemy lines.

At daybreak, a few German soldiers crept out of hiding, unarmed, calling out a tentative "Merry Xmas" in their enemy's native language. When the Allies saw this was no trick, they barreled out of the trenches to shake hands, exchange cigarettes and plum pudding. A few of the soldiers played a game of soccer, while others sadly removed some of the bodies during this brief ceasefire. Just five months into this brutal war, this rare anomaly revealed how basic decent humanity shines through, even during the most disheartening times.

In many ways, Americans have become alienated from the Christmas customs we celebrate today. For instance, Christmas trees are a German tradition that has been practiced since the 17th Century; yet the Puritans were hesitant to celebrate in such pagan ways, so stately pines didn't gain widespread popularity in America until a sketch of Queen Victoria, her children and a tree filled with Christmas ornaments circulated in 1846.

Christmas cards had been prevalent in Britain, but America didn't catch on fully until 1850, when German card-maker Louis Prang immigrated and set up shop. Mistletoe, which dates back to the Victorian era, is a Celtic and Teutonic tradition that was believed to heal wounds, increase fertility and ward off evil spirits. Plum pudding harkens all the way back to Middle Ages England. Caroling is another English practice, where roving minstrels would come through town and play for the rich in exchange for a warm meal, a warm bed and a pittance. The tradition of hanging stockings is said to stem from the legends of St. Nicholas, as well as the Scandinavian tradition of leaving shoes on the hearth in anticipation of gold coins and candies.

O Christmas Tree - A History

"O Christmas tree,oh Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches.."

But did you ever wonder about the history of the Christmas tree? Like so many Christmas traditions, the Christmas tree begins in Pagan times.

Pagans did not cut down trees to decorate their homes, as they had too much respect for the living trees for that, but they did decorate live trees with bits of metal and candles at winter Solstice. Romans used the trees, decorated with images of Bacchus, for Saturnalia celebrations.

In Northern Europe, Germanic peoples decorated their trees with candles, apples and other fruit in honor of Woden.

For all these people, the tree represented eternal life.

Although Christian usage of the tree began in Germany in the 16th Century, and German immigrants brought the tradition with them to America in the 17th Century, it did not become popular outside Germanic culture until the 1800's.

In Britain, Queen Victoria had seen Christmas trees as a child, since King George III's German queen had brought the tradition with her. Later, after Queen Victoria married her German cousin, Prince Albert, they celebrated Christmas with trees, and their were many pictures in popular magazines of the royal Christmas trees. The custom spread from there, both in England and in America. By the 1850's, there was a Christmas tree in the White House, and the custom was established for good.

Today, in homes that celebrate Christmas, the tree may take many forms, from the huge live tree to the tiny artificial desktop tree, from realistic to fanciful trees of pink, silver, or white. They may be decorated in paper chains and homemade decorations or symphonies of spun glass and crystal. But for everyone, the trees represent the very spirit of the season and hope for returning and renewing life at the end of each year and beginning of the next.

So, as you load on the ornaments this year, give a toast to the tree and the traditions it stands for.

Rhetta Akamatsu is the author of Ghost to Coast, a handbook of ghost tours, paranormal investigation groups, and haunted hotels from coast to coast, and the newly published Ghost To Coast Tours and Haunted Places. She is also the owner of Ghost to Coast.us and a freelance writer. She is also the author of T'ain't Nobody's Business if I Do, Female Blues Singers Old and New. While she has written about many subjects and is represented prolifically on the Internet, ghosts, history and music are her favorite subjects at the moment. She is a member of Ghost Hounds, one of the country's largest paranormal investigation groups, located in metro Atlanta, GA, and ParaNexus, an international paranormal enthusiast group. Visit Ghost to Coast at http://www.ghosttocoast.us

Great Ideas For Your Christmas Office Party

The holiday season is the perfect time to take sometime out to thank your employees for their hard work. A great way to do that is to throw a party where your employees can kick back and celebrate together. They will have the opportunity to get to know each other and you better, and that will help you create the teamwork that you need to have in a great work force. However, it can be tough to come up with a party that will please everyone. When planning your party you will want to keep in mind Christmas party ideas that would involve the whole office and that would entertain the whole office equally.

A traditional office Christmas party idea is to have a sit down dinner at your home. Sometimes it is great to invite your employees into your home where you can drop the boss act, and simply enjoy some time with your coworkers. You will want to make sure that you chat with everyone and have fun!

Another great Christmas party idea is to rent out a room at a restaurant to host your employees. Having a private room will give you an intimate and cozy feel while not having to invite everyone into your home. Perhaps your home is not large enough, or you simply do not have the time to get everything cleaned the way that you need to. Whatever the reason, hosting a night out at a great restaurant can be an easy solution to your holiday party dilemma.

If you are looking to create a great experience for your staff to enjoy then you might want to look at taking your office staff and their spouses to a local dinner theater to take in an evening of culture. Most theaters have some sort of holiday themed show running during the Christmas season. It can be a great night out that will encourage conversation and entertainment.

Another great office Christmas party idea is to take your staff to an amusement park, or mini golf course. Getting your workers out there having fun doing something together can be great. They will have the opportunity to blow off steam and simply laugh together. In fact, what is better than laughter during the holidays?

A traditional part of any office Christmas party is a gift exchange. What you can do to make it really fun is to first set a price limit. You do not want your employees to feel like they need to break the bank on a gift. Secondly, it would be great to set a theme for the gift exchange. It can be as simple as a gag gift theme, or you could do something more difficult like "the one thing you need if you are stranded on a desert island." That will encourage a sense of fun for all of your employees.

Planning an office Christmas party is work, but it is worth it. With some great Christmas party ideas, you can be sure that your employees will have a fantastic time at your next gathering!

Christmas Gifts That Wow!

The holiday season is definitely one of the most awaited time of the year where people everywhere gather together, held reunions, spend time merry-making, forgive each ones trespasses and of course, gift giving. And speaking of Christmas gifts, these are one of the most well anticipated thing that anyone could ever have especially during this holiday season. So, how can we make the most of our gifts to make it more appealing and memorable for the person who receives it? Does it have to be expensive and flashy? Latest or trendy? or Simple yet meaningful? With the advent of economic crises across the globe, it is a challenge to each one of us to make this season remain extra special without jeopardizing our budget and resources thus making the most of what we have.

This time is all about giving our hearts wholly and spending wisely but how can we do it?

First, count the number of persons you will be giving gifts with. It is important for budgeting. If you might seem to be short, take a little time to make it less costly yet more personalized. Say, you have a talent in baking, cooking or making stitches, so why not bake them some cookies or prepare some salad or give them a well embroidered pillow with their name on, for sure, they would certainly love it and the effort you put in would never be discounted.

Secondly, invite your long lost friends or relatives to come over, call them if you can. Email them ahead of time so they can prepare. or send them a post card if you will. Having done those would certainly make them extra special because despite the busy schedule you have, you were able to take time to recall them. What makes it more appealing to anyone than remembering a person on this kind of day? That simply shows how you value your acquaintances.

Lastly, try to experiment or may be take the extra mile to make someone happy this Christmas. Why not try to do something that you don't normally do like giving alms to beggars on streets, not with money but something to eat, greeting a neighbor that is annoying, smiling at your boss without stabbing him with sharp words behind his back just for one day, spend some quality time with your loved ones just for a day if you can without thinking of your job, definitely this would be a memorable time of your life and to add up, take a time off to be alone and rethink of the things that you've missed and had been missing all your life and try to access yourself on what you have accomplished so far to be a better person. Having these thoughts would definitely make you realize the most important part of celebrating Christmas, not by giving material things but in giving yourself wholly as it was the real spirit of Christmas is about.

This won't be the last Christmas to celebrate but with a little effort on our part, we can make the most of it in this time of crisis and for sure, anyone could remember that it was the best Christmas they have ever had.

Buying the Best Toys at Christmas

As it goes, when it approaches that time of year again, every child will start to tell their parents what they would love to have for Christmas.

But, although you would all love to get your children exactly what they want - with no expense spared - it's a fact that many won't be able to do that. It is important to create a balance between delighting your children and making sure they aren't spoiled. As such, it can be tricky to know which toys to buy. So, where do you start?

Firstly, it's worth bearing in mind that children are probably more susceptible to trends than adults are. Indeed, it is perhaps not too uncommon to have felt guilty for wanting the latest, greatest gadget or toy, but children are growing up fast, and what they want now might be completely out.

Also, don't rely too heavily on toys which are connected to a well known television programme or film, for example. It's fine to buy one or two but once the fad has passed, those toys won't be sought after as much, therefore think about toys which will have more of an impact in your child's life for longer, instead.

For example, what about educational toys or games? These can balance out a child's Christmas stocking very well, and provide a nice contrast to those famous brands that all the kids want.

Traditional and classic favourites are also well received by most children, and they have the additional benefit that you may remember them as well. Furthermore, this gives you a wonderful excuse to play with your kids on Christmas Day!

When you have some ideas for some presents, make sure you shop around, if you are on a tight budget. Many shops will promote special offers and discounts in the weeks before Christmas, so you can often pick up the items you want at less than the recommended price.

In addition, it can be good to try and get a nice balance of expensive and cheaper items as well. While all kids love opening their large, extravagant Christmas presents, there is nothing quite like seeing a collection of smaller gifts as well. Some stores have a special section of pocket money toys that can easily fill up a small Christmas stocking, without breaking the bank.

In the end, whatever Christmas toys you decide to purchase; don't leave it too late to start buying them. If you have got your eye on something you like and you want to buy it, do it right there and then before they start to sell out. And, if you decide to wait, you may not get another chance to buy it, particularly if stocks are limited.

So, enjoy your toy shopping and remember that if you can't stand the crowds, a lot of shops will accept online orders now, as well to make it easier on your feet!

Christmas Music Radio

Although many Nintendo Wii's, Xbox 360's, and many other toys are not always easy to come by in the holiday season, one thing we never fall short of is Christmas music. Needless to say it is not always so easy to find quality Christmas music.

Many lucky consumers who were able to afford the IPod touch, IPhone, or a decent set of computer speaker will have no trouble finding exactly what they are looking for. Pandora is one website which allows users to pick an artist of their choosing, for the site to mold stations around. Another useful internet site great for these devices is Wunder Radio which links to many great stations. Sites such as AOL Christmas 365, Classic Holliday Radio, 181.FM, and Christmas 24/7 should all do the trick.

Subscribers to Serius and XM will be delighted to know that they have revamped their regularly scheduled programming to introduce twenty-four hours of holiday music, seven days a week, with no commercial interruption, all the way through the holiday season.

Of course we can always return to "old reliable and turn on the local AM/FM stations. Not for you? Around the country many local radio stations are converting their programming for the holidays in hopes of gaining listeners such as yourself. Simply scanning the airwaves is an easy way to find the holiday music of your choosing.

In need of an upgrade from the same old holiday music? With plenty of vacation time, I sure must of you will need to break away from the family, so this is a perfect time to take a look at the selection of new Christmas music available on ITunes. I pieced together a mixed CD and I am sure it will be a big hit. ITunes makes it as fun and easy as can be to locate, and test new music.Not only are songs easy to locate on ITunes, but the site also gives users the chance to preview songs before they actually make a purchase. Not only is ITunes easy but it is full of great new music, I even accidently came across a great song "Everything I Need For Christmas" by emerging artist JD Webb. It will not be easy to top this song.

So if you're like me and you're being forced to watch the kid from A Christmas Story shoot his eye out for the nine-hundredth time, take a break, and check out the labyrinth of available holiday music. Good luck and happy holidays.

Christmas Trees Around the World

Understanding how cultures are really different, have a look at how different countries decorate their Christmas Trees. A seemingly small thing, everyone more or less assumes that all Christmas Trees are decorated just like theirs. Once you understand that something so common as the Christmas tree is decorated differently, you can begin to understand how different it is selling to different markets.

German Christmas Trees (Weihnachtsbaum)

Many of today's Christmas traditions started in Germany. There are at least 2 stories about how the Weihnachtsbaum began.

The first, Martin Luther is supposed to have gone for a walk in the woods near his home. He saw how beautifully the stars shone through the forest. He wanted to share the beauty with his wife so he cut down a fir and took it home. He used small candles on the branches and said that it would be a symbol of the beautiful Christmas sky.

Another legend says that in the early 16th century, people in Germany combined two customs that had been practiced in different countries around the world. The Paradise tree, a fir decorated with apples, representing the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The second, a small, pyramid-like frame called The Christmas Light decorated with glass balls, tinsel, and a candle on top. The Christmas Light was a symbol of the birth of Christ as the Light of the World. Changing the tree's apples to tinsel balls and cookies and combining this new tree with the Light placed on top, the German's created the tree that many of us know now.

Today, the Weihnachtsbaum is traditionally decorated by the parents in secret with lights, tinsel, and ornaments by the mother and is lit and revealed on Christmas Eve with cookies, nuts, and gifts under its branches.

Canadian Christmas Trees

German settlers migrated to Canada from both Germany and the United States before 1800. These immigrants brought many of the things that we associated with Christmas today. Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, Christmas cookies and the Christmas trees.

English Christmas Trees

Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1848. Almost immediately, the Christmas tree became a tradition in England, the United States, and Canada. Today, the Norway spruce is the traditional tree used in British homes. The Norway spruce used to be a native species in the UK (until the last Ice Age) and it has been reintroduced before the 1500s.

Swedish Christmas Trees (Julgran)

Most Swedes buy their Julgran well before Christmas Eve. It is common to take the Julgran inside and decorate it just a few days before Christmas. Julgran are decorated with stars, sunbursts, and snowflakes made from straw. Other decorations include colorful wooden animals and straw centerpieces.

Norwegian Christmas Trees (Juletre)

Norwegians will often make a trip to the woods to select a Juletre themselves. The Juletre was only introduced into Norway in the latter half of the 19th century. On Christmas Eve the Juletre is usually done by the parents while the children wait out of site. Juletre are decorated with white lights, tinsel, Norwegian flags and other ornaments. Children often use shiny, colored paper to make paper baskets that are filled with candy or nuts. Chains made of colored paper are also very popular. Colored lighting is becoming popular, but the white lights are more like the candles they are supposed to represent.

Japanese Christmas Trees

Only about 1% of the Japanese are Christian, so Christmas is not a national holiday there and the year end celebration is more important than Christmas. Trees are decorated with small toys, gold paper fans and lanterns, wind chimes and small candles. A popular ornament is origami creations, with the origami swan being the most popular.

Greenlandic Christmas Trees

Because of the arctic climate, Christmas trees don't grow in Greenland so theirs are shipped in from Denmark. Greenlanders decorate theirs with candles and bright ornaments.

Italian Christmas Trees (Albero di Natale )

The presepio (nativity scene) is very common in Italy. The scene is often set out in the shape of a triangle which is the base of a pyramid-like structure called the ceppo. This is a wooden frame arranged to make a pyramid several feet high. It is decorated with colored paper, gilt pine cones, and miniature colored pennants. Small candles are fastened to the tapering sides. A star or small doll is hung at top. The shelves above the manger scene have small gifts of fruit, candy, and presents. The ceppo is in the old Tree of Light tradition which became the
Albero di Natale in other countries. Some houses even have a small ceppo for each child in the house.

Brazilian Christmas Trees (Árvore de Natal )

Christmas falls during the summer in Brazil. Some people decorate pines with pieces of cotton that represent falling snow.

Philippine Christmas Trees

Since fresh pine trees are too expensive for many Filipinos, handmade trees are often used. Filipinos often make Star lanterns from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane, and usually feature a tassel on each point. One will be placed in each window, representing the Star of Bethlehem.

Chinese Christmas Trees

Only 3 to 4% of Chinese are Christian and few people celebrate Christmas. Of the small percentage of Chinese who do celebrate Christmas, most erect artificial trees decorated with paper chains, paper flowers and lanterns. Christmas trees are called "trees of light."

Saudi Arabian Christmas Trees

Christians living in conservative Muslim Saudi Arabia have to celebrate Christmas privately in their homes. Christmas lights are generally not tolerated. Most families place their Christmas trees somewhere out of site and decorate as they do in their home country

Decorating the Christmas Tree with Feng Shui

When decorating the Christmas tree, think about colors. Green is a calming color and red a fiery and energetic color. These colors balance each other out, and they happen to be traditional Christmas colors. The Christmas tree should be in the center of the main room, or slightly to the left of the main room.

A Feng Shui tree should have something that family and friends put on of their own, something special as part of the decorations. Decorating the Christmas Tree should be a shared experience that will help create a special moment and increase the good energies of this festive ritual.

Decorating the Christmas Tree For Geeks

No, not Greeks, Geeks. A Geek Christmas tree is something to behold. It is usually a 'regular' Christmas tree, but a Geek will occasionally use an old PC as the base and make branches with old IT material. Decorations include CD's, a broken mouse or two, old USB keys, the CPU from old mother boards and other similar shiny material. The star on top is built out of any appropriate material that is sitting around. Often the star sill be based on the 'flavor' of the Geek. A Star Wars Geek may use a Death Star model as the star of their tree.

Since there are many breeds of Geek, ornaments may be figurines from Star Wars, Harry Potter, World of Wars, and Star Trek. Fake snow at the base of the tree is usually the Styrofoam left over from packing material.

Now that you have seen the differences in Christmas Tree decoration, you can begin to work on how you will sell to different markets.

Fancy Dress Costumes For a Christmas Party

It's getting close to that time of year again!

I think you can guess what I am referring to - Christmas, and all its headaches. What present should I buy for my loved one, or will my Dad like his jumper. Or even will the Turkey defrost in time.

No, I am talking about your Christmas Party. Whether it's at the office or at a friends/relatives (or even if you're hosting), you need to make sure that you are wear the kind of outfit that people will remember until the following year.

You need to make sure that you look good, smart and sophisticated. Easily done if it's the usual Christmas party. Turn up in a suit, or a cocktail dress and you're pretty much sorted.

No, I'm talking about the dreaded FANCY DRESS CHRISTMAS PARTY!

You need to make an effort if you want to make an impact at a fancy dress party, and here are a few simple tips to help you on your way:

1. Santa Claus / Father Christmas - the most famous fancy dress costume at Christmas. But how do you stand out in the crowd when you can pretty much guarantee that there'll be a couple of Santa's in attendance? Well, I would suggest you buy a Santa suit, rather than rent one. Most rental places have the same Santa suit in stock, so by buying yours you can reduce the odds of there being two of the same suits at the party. Next, you could add a little twist to the costume. Why not glam up Santa. Maybe a pair of shades, or an open collar suit showing off a hairy chest and medallion!

2. Go for something a bit more unusual. How about turning up as a character from a Christmas film. Choose the movie, then pick a recognisable character from that film. Some examples are "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "A Christmas Carol". Turn up as Scrooge, or the ghost of Jacob Marley and you can be certain no one else would! And you become the centre of attention, with everyone asking you who you are etc.

3. If you are attending the party as a couple, why not dress up as a couple. The most famous couple at Christmas is Santa and Mrs Claus. Or a couple of Elves!

4. If you're intending to go dressed as Jesus, or another religious figure, make sure the host(s) will not be offended. There's nothing worse than turning up at a party then being blanked because of what you are wearing.

5. If you really want people to remember the costume you wore at a party, then you need to push the boundaries. Ladies, why not look for one that has a short skirt, stockings and knee high boots. That'll guarantee an invite to all future Christmas Parties!

Remember, the costume you wear will stay in the minds of those at the party - or not, depending on whether its any good! Spend time thinking about the party, who will be attending and what costume can be individualised best. Why be one of several when you can stand out above the rest.

And don't forget, sometimes its cheaper & easier to buy a costume rather than hire one. It only takes a spilled drink or rogue cigarette to ruin a hired costume, and can see you lose your hefty deposit.

Top 10 Christmas Films of All Time

Watching Christmas movies is a major part of the holiday tradition. Christmas movies are a very profitable business in the US and UK, as many people go to the cinemas or hire movies on video and DVD during the holiday season. Sometimes Christmas is the sole focus of a movie while at other times Christmas can be used just as a reference.

Watching all the decorations, gifts and family gatherings in Christmas movies enhances the holiday atmosphere and raises the Christmas spirit. Over the years, Hollywood has produced countless films which one can watch over and over again without ever getting tired of them.

It's a Wonderful Life is the best Christmas classic of all time, and what makes it charming is the optimism and hope portrayed in the movie. This film is a must see if you ever find your Christmas spirit lacking and want to regain it. This is one of the best Christmas movies ever made, and is worth watching over and over again. And that is why it is also played on the TV again and again.

Next amongst the Top 10 Christmas Films of All Time is A Christmas Story. This movie is a great reflection of Christmas magic and is a sentimental story of a young boy who is anxious if he would be getting a BB gun as a Christmas present. This movie is entirely from the point of view of a young child and brings back childhood memories, making one nostalgic.

A Christmas Carol is a movie adapted from the Charles Dickens's story with the same title. This movie has been made many times in different years but the charm of the actual story still remains the same way Dickens has depicted it. This film is all about being there for people at Christmas.

The next movie on the list has to be Miracle on 34th Street, which has two versions produced in different years. The movie conveys the message of faith and belief in Christmas and strengthens one's belief in Santa and Christmas. The Santa Clause is a Disney film which is charming and amusing in terms of the storyline and, somewhat like Miracle on 34th Street, emphasises values and beliefs. This movie is very entertaining with its festiveness and beautiful scenery.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is an animated film which has been amongst the top Christmas movies for many years. What makes the movie so well-liked and widely popular is the use of children's voices. The movie uses biblical references to convey Christmas's real meaning.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a light hearted film based on the adventures of a large family that is planning a Christmas vacation. This movie is funny and a must-watch for Christmas and will entertain you every time you watch it.

The other movies which make it to the Top 10 Christmas Films of all time are Love Actually, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and White Christmas. There are many more classic, Disney, and animated movies which are amongst the best ones ever made. Some of these are Mickey's Christmas Carol, Rudolph The Red Nosed Raindeer, Frosty The Snowman, Elf, Nightmare Before Christmas and A Walt Disney Christmas.