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5 tips to avoid a 10lb Christmas weight gain
The average person puts on between five and ten pounds between
November and January and it's pretty easy to put on more if you
let yourself feast on all the delights of the season. But who
wants to be miserable and diet through Christmas? Follow...
Christmas Quiz
1. Which Christmas tree fact is NOT true?
A. Artificial Christmas trees have outsold real ones every year
since 1991.
B. Nova Scotia leads the world in exporting Christmas trees.
c. Franklin Pierce was the first president to decorate...
Gift Ideas for Christmas
Finding the perfect gift has to be one of the most anxiety-filled, frustrating,time consuming things we do. How about taking a look at some ideas for Christmas gifts that I have compiled. If you are like me, you probably have to buy for all age...
How To Give Great Christmas Gifts Without Spending Much Money.
Christmas is just around the corner and you are flat broke.
There are so many gifts to give. People you really want to
pamper, but you don't have the money to buy decent gifts for
everyone. So what do you do?
Well, you can make your own...
How To Save Money On Christmas Gifts
How many times have you spent more that you could afford on Christmas gifts for your family and friends?
How many times have you bought gifts that weren't what you were looking for and on top of that, paid top dollars for them?
It has...
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A European Christmas
A European Christmas
by C. Bailey-Lloyd
With the holidays right around the corner, it's hard not to reminisce our childhood memories and holidays of yesteryear. In each culture, there are differing values and traditions which are celebrated in different ways.
During the 70's, growing up 'German' in Europe was one of the most fascinating and magical decades. Having strong German roots, our family participated in many German Christmas traditions. One of those traditions was Advent. The Advent, or Christmas calendar, is picture-box calendar decorated with wintry & Christmas scenes, biblical characters and 'St. Nicolas.' On the face of the calendar, are 24 small doors, each containing a small chocolate - one opened each day for the holiday season. The December 24th door, which is the 'Heiligabend' (Christmas Eve) is usually the largest door on the calendar and most often contains a chocolate Nativity. As children, we relished in this fun, and tasty feature of the holiday season.
But Advent wasn't simply comprised of the Holiday Calendar, we also partook in the Advent Wreath, or 'Adventskranz' which was beautifully displayed on tables throughout the house. Wreathes held 4 candles; the first candle being lit the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and another one each Sunday thereafter. Around the evergreen wreath of candles, our family would gather as each candle was meticulously lit. My mom would recite a simple, German passage each time she would light a candle:
"Advent, Advent
Ein Kerzlein brent.
Erst Eins,
den Zwei,
den Drei,
den Vier -
den steht der Christkind vor der tur."
Which translates into, 'Advent, Advent, a candle burns. First one, then two, then three, then four - then stands the Christ Child before the door.'
For you see, in Germany, it is the 'Christkind' (Christ Child) who brings gifts on Christmas Eve.
Another childhood pastime was St. Nikolaustag Nikolaustag (St. Nicholas Day) was a fun and lighthearted tradition whereby children everywhere anxiously awaited the arrival of December 6th when the Nikolaus, or Weinachtsmann (Santa Claus) came. Leading up to Nikolaustag, we children would have to behave very well, because St. Nikolaus could 'see everything' we did. And the night before December 6th, we would have to clean our winter boots meticulously to put outside our
doors. Why the heck would we clean our boots and place them outside our doors? Well, I'll tell you why - if we were good, and our boots were really clean, St. Nikolaus would stuff our boots with candies, little toys and chocolates. If we were bad, we would receive a bundle of switches or lumps of coal.
Unknown to popular American custom, the 'Weinachtsmann' was conceived by German-American Illustrator, Thomas Nast, who created the Christmas image of Santa in America - which, ultimately set a precedent for the permanent, symbolic establishment of Santa Claus.
Traditionally, German Christmas is observed through 'Heilige Drei Konige Tag,' or Three Kings Day (also known as the Magi or the Wise Men). In some parts of Europe, such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland, the Letters C + M + B (Caspar, Melchor, and Balthazar - and, 'Christus mansionem benedicat,' meaning 'Christ bless this house.') are etched with chalk above doorways and home entrances on January 6th. Of course, this is the epitome of the 12 Days of Christmas
Finally, on the 'Cristkind Abend (Christ Child Eve or Christmas Eve), aside from the Weinachts Baum (Christmas Tree custom started by Martin Luther), families receive 'Bunte Teller,' or colored plates filled with oranges, candies, Marzipan (comprised of almonds and suger), Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Stollen (fruit bread) and an assortment of chocolates and other goods. Before any gifts are exchanged, Christmas Carols like Stille Nacht (Silent Night from Austrian composer Franz Gruber) are sung by the tree.
To this day, I am still amazed at the profound effects of Christmas' past have had on me. As a child, the holiday was mystical and magical, as an adult, its beautiful memories are forever etched in my heart and soul.
Wishing all a happy, memory-filled, holiday season, I am sincerely,
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director
Staff Writer
www.holisticjunction.com
www.mediapositiveradio.com
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[All work by author is copyright protected. If you would like to use this article, please contact the author for permission.]
About the Author
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director
Staff Writer
www.holisticjunction.com
www.mediapositiveradio.com
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