The History Behind Christmas Decorations

Angels- Dated back to the 1880's and associated mainly with the Christian culture. They are also known in Buddist, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism cultures.

Christmas Balls- Dated back to 300 years ago and invented in Germany, christmas balls were first made out of glass. Today, they can be made out of thin plastic or glass and come in a variety of colours and shapes.

Christmas Candles- Dated back to the 16th century, the Christmas candle was first associated with the Christmas tree. The candle symbolizes joy and life in a dark time.

Tinsel- Dated back to 1610 and invented in Germany, tinsel was first made out of genuine silver. Today, tinsel is made with artificial replacements since it tarnishes over time.

Black Friday.. turned out deadly!

Can you believe that when the US stores opened on Friday morning at 5am.. customers were so impatient to crash through the doors at Walmart and kill an innocent 34 year old man? What has gotten into people these days! The second incident was 2 people shot at a Toys R US in California where two men shot each other after the woman with them got into a bloody fight.

I couldn't believe this when I first read it so I thought I would share and discuss how bad people can be even around the holidays.

Hot Trends for Holiday 08'

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/543587

Four Christmases with Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughan
Be sure to see this movie as it comes out this Wednesday November 26th!
Here is the link to the trailer:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/four_christmases/

Here is a link to the events happening in the Greater Toronto Area this Holiday Season!
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/539818

Retail stores may experience a sales drop in time for Christmas....
http://www.thestar.com/article/535360

Holiday Recipes...

Here is a great recipe for making a traditional gingerbread house this Christmas season!

NABISCO® Holiday House

Prep time: 6 hours

Total time: 6 hours

Makes: 1 house

What You Need:

23 Honey Maid Honey Grahams

2 cans (16 oz. each) ready to spread white frosting

43 Oreo White Fudge Covered Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

46 ring shaped candies (red and green)

13 ring shaped chewy fruit snacks

2 sticks of gum

6 Holiday Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Halved

24 NILLA Wafers

15 Green Gumdrops

Assorted decorating icing

Make it:
CONSTRUCT 10x7-1/2-inch base and frame for house, using stiff cardboard or foam core.
ATTACH 19 of the grahams to front and sides of house frame with frosting, cutting grahams to fit. Attach 40 of the white fudge covered cookies to roof frame with frosting, overlapping cookies slightly. Decorate roof with frosting, using pastry bag fitted with small star tip. Attach roll candies and chewy fruit snacks to roof.
BREAK remaining grahams along scoring into 4 (2-1/2-x1-1/4-inch) rectangles. Attach to house for shutters. Attach gum pieces to house for front door. Halve remaining white fudge covered cookies; attach above windows. Place halved holiday chocolate sandwich cookies, wafers and gumdrops around house, using halved wafers for front steps.
USE decorating icing to make wreaths, bows and pine boughs on house and to decorate house as desired.

This is a fun, family recipe for everyone to assemble and enjoy!

Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time!

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

2. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas

4. A Christmas Carol

5. A Christmas Story

6. It's a Wonderful Life

7. Miracle on 34th Street

8. Home Alone

9. The Santa Clause

10. Frosty the Snowman

Holiday Entertaining

Tips for Holiday Entertaining!

Planning is still required from a small family gathering to a large Christmas party for employees at your workplace..so here is a list of tips that you may want to consider for entertaining during the holidays:

-Call people ahead and ask them to reserve the date and that you will be sending out a formal invitation at a later date

-Consider putting the invitation into a holiday greeting card to save some money

-Go through magazines and look online for some great recipes that you could use

-Make a list of the ideas you would like to include for your party

-Make a list of the items you need to buy at the grocery store

-Pre-order anything you need I.e. a cake, cold cut, fruit or veggie tray

-Consider having a potluck to cut down time and stress (This allows for everyone to bring their favourite recipe)

-Buy holiday themed decorations including candles for the table, garland and holly on the table and some nice napkins and plates

-Consider having a theme for your party

-Consider having a 'Secret Santa' gift exchange and draw names ahead of time so you are able to exchange at the party

-Make little trinkets for your guests to bring home if you are not having a gift exchange i.e. a candle or make homemade peanut brittle or bark and put in cellophane wrapped up

-Allow people to bring things if they ask

-Have fun while planning!!

Outdoor Decorating

Make your house the most attractive on the block this holiday season!

Here is a link to some great tips for outdoor holiday decorating:

http://www.styleathome.com/decorating-and-design/design-lesson/design-lesson-outdoor-holiday-decorating/a/523

Christmas Songs While You Decorate...

Here is a list of good Christmas songs to start listening to for the holidays!

1. Deck the Halls
2. Rockin around the Christmas Tree
3. Frosty the Snowman
4. Christmas Canon- Trans Siberian Orchestra
5. Bells will be Ringing
6. Away in a Manger
7. Do you hear what I hear
8. Feliz Navidad
9. Have yourself a very Merry Christmas
10. I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus
11. It's beginning to look alot like Christmas
12. Jingle Bells
13. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
14. The Twelve Days of Christmas
15. White Christmas
16. All I want for Christmas is you- Mariah Carey
17. Christmas-U2 (Baby Please Come Home)
18. This Gift- 98 Degrees
19. My Grown up Christmas- Kelly Clarkson (cover)
20. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer

A Christmas Story Marks It's 25th Anniversary

This year marks the 25th anniversary of a Christmas Story.
Now you are able to tour the set. Here is the link: http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/530265

Tis the Season... for Gift Ideas!



Since Christmas is only 49 days from now...I thought I would get the ball rolling by enlightening you with some great gift ideas for the important people in your life...especially that mom who has everything or that dad who says he doesn't need anything. One of the most important things to remember is to shop early since everyone seems to wait until the last minute when nothing is left on the shelves. So get out there and check out this list first!



Mother

Some perfect ideas for the mother in your life are:

Candles

Slippers- since your dog has probably chewed the pair she owns right now

Concert tickets- for the mom who loves music

A nice sweater

A pair of earrings

A day at the spa package

A book- to cozy up to in the winter months

A kitchen appliance- for the mom who cooks

Winery tour- lunch and tasting



Father

Some perfect ideas for your father are:

A book

Tickets to a sporting event

A sweater

Subscription to his favourite magazine

Taking him out to dinner for a father-daughter date or father-son night out by grabbing wings and beer

Gardening tools



Sister

Some perfect ideas for your sister are:

Concert tickets

Gift card for a mani-pedi- She would love you forever!

A new shirt

An ipod- for the sister who her music

A dvd set for a television show

Movie tickets

Tickets to a musical

Bathrobe- Great idea!



Brother

Some perfect ideas for your brother are:

Raptor tickets- Make his dream come true!

A dvd set for a television show- treat him with his favourite show!

Sports jersey- buy his favourite team

A book

Ipod

Scarf- for the cold winter months



Girlfriend

Some perfect ideas for the girlfriend who seems to have everything are:

Taking her out to a nice dinner

Treating her to a weekend getaway

A new sweater

Jewelry

Concert tickets

Body Shop products

Horse drawn sleigh ride for two

Yoga classes

Tango/salsa lessons

Spa Manicure/Pedicure



Boyfriend

Some perfect ideas for your boyfriend are:

Leaf/Raptor tickets

Magazine subscription

Helicoptor tour

White Water Rafting Tour

Clothes

A new pair of shoes

Cologne

The Christmas Season

The Christmas Season....
Whether you know it or not... Christmas is only 50 Days from now!! I want to introduce my blog by letting you know the types of posts I will be making in the future. My blog will be based primarily on Christmas and every aspect associated with it including shopping, decorating, traditions, the dinner and parties.
Christmas is a great holiday to get excited for and can take many weeks for families to set up for.
The first topic I will discuss is the origins of Christmas.

Origins of Christmas
In the Western part of the world, the birth of Jesus Christ was on December 25, AD 354. This was replaced by the original date of January 6th. During this time, the Christian religion introduced many festivals and traditions to celebrate this exciting moment in time. This idea was then carried on to the Middle Eastern and European countries. To name a few... Egypt and Babylon celebrated with mid winter festivals and Germany celebrated with fertility festivals.

Not only was Jesus Christ born on December 25, but the Ancient Sun God Attis in Phrygia and the Persian God Mithras was as well.

This time was when people decorated with flowers, gifts, candles and celebrated the start of a new tradition.

After these important figures were born and people were celebrating and establishing traditions, many countries took part by introducing their own cultural holidays.

The carol was introduced in the 14th century and the establishment of Christmas Day was introduced in 1043.

Here are some facts related to Christmas:

• Saint Day, which can be related to Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6 every year



• The burning of the yule log is a popular activity embedded in worshipping vegetation and fire



• It can also be linked to magical and spiritual powers when lit



• Mistletoe and holly can be associated as a symbol of fertility

Today

This is my first blog....would have never thought to get one of these.. but it seems to be a requirement for me to graduate from school haha. I am looking forward to this weekend and experiencing the Halloween Haunt at Wonderland. I have heard good things about it and hope it will be worth while. I was shocked to find that the tickets were only $30.00. I will post again to let you know my experience after this weekend.