Linus lets us all know the meaning of Christmas.

References

1. Youtube

Christmas Spectacular

The Radio City Spectacular Show, is a show worthy to be seen.  If you were debating about taking your family to see the spectacular show you really should.  You can be a part of the lucky few who took advantage of this awesome experience.

The world-famous Radio City Rockettes tour cities across North America.  Experience the show this season as the dazzling celebration of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular creates family memories that will last a lifetime! National Tour.

References

1. Radio City Christmas.com

Engraveable Christmas Ornament

Are you searching for the perfect gift but are unable to decide on something? I feel this way every time I go shopping for friends and family, I always want to make sure I find the gift that has staying power!  You know the one that people get and absolutely love enough to keep forever.  While researching many, many Christmas topics to find something to write about this morning I came across a great idea, personalized ornaments! This is something that definitely has that staying power I mentioned earlier because everyone needs ornaments for the tree and who doesn’t like personalized items!  Most families have traditions to give and receive new ornaments each year, so to me this is the perfect gift!  There are several options when looking for a personalized gift or in this case an ornament.  If you prefer shopping online there are tons of places to find these gifts, but if you are like me and prefer to have an actual salesperson to talk to go to your favorite local jewelry store.  Many jewelry stores offer engraving at very affordable rates.  Although I personally prefer to go into the store I have found a great online store for all of you. This is by far my favorite ornament I have found and would be perfect for friends, family, or your significant other! Personalized Christmas Ornaments

Christmas in Bethlehem is very big and ceremonial.  Bethlehem is also full of different denominations so there is a careful calendar of events as to which will celebrate when.  This little town where Jesus was born does not forget it’s history, and Christmas time is a big time of praise, worship and all kinds of fun and happiness.  There are great nativity displays that captures the hearts of everyone who sees in remembrance of our King, and there are parades that are like no other.  This is a happy time for Bethlehem, as it is for many people around the world.

Christmas is almost here folks and it is time to go out and buy your Christmas trees. Now most people seem to think that buying a christmas tree is an act against Mother Nature somehow, and that it is greener to buy a plastic fake one. This makes no sense to me whatsoever. For one plastic trees will end up in a landfill someday, they will not be reused forever. The average plastic tree makes it 6 years before getting chucked. Real trees have to be bought every year this is true, but the wood is biodegradable and by next christmas will either be home for some critters, or will be turned into mulch.

The other thing that people freak out about is that trees are being cut down. Well almost all trees are farmed and that means that the tree would not have been growing either way. Tree farming provides trees which suck up the CO2 that everybody is worried about. Young trees absorb more CO2 than older trees do, because they have to create wood and leaves whereas older trees only have to fabricate the leaves. Buying a farmed tree is no different then buying farmed corn or other produce.

Christmas is the time of year spent with family and loved ones. And what better way to spend your time together than putting your own personal touches on classic holiday traditions. The Christmas wreath is a famous decoration, and now you can crochet your own! The following video portrays the step by step process necessary in doing so. 

References

1. Youtube

What makes this man qualified to be called Scrooge of the Year?  He:

• steals money from the poor.
• pushes people down.
• loves to put people down.
• above all else, HATES CHRISTMAS!!!

You have heard right folks, and if Christmas is not your cup o’ tea, you will probably agree that some of those other things are not the right thing to do.  Here is what actually happened.  Police in Maumee, Ohio are currently looking for this man who caused such a disrespectful AND illegal scene.  Some man ran up at one of the Season’s Salvation Army volunteers who was ringing her bell for the needy.  He grabbed the kettle full of money, and when the volunteer grabbed the chain in an attempt to take it back, the man pushed her down and exclaimed, “I can’t stand you and your bell-ringing. I hate Christmas.”  He was reported to have driven away in a pick-up, with the kettle and tripod still connected and swaying.  The kettle was recovered Sunday, leaving this sadly misled man still anonymous.  Let’s hope something this happy holiday season will change something in his heart.

References

1. huffingtonpost.com

Historically, there has been much controversy to the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree because of its pagan origins. For more years than history can record people have given the fir tree special treatment during what we now consider the “Holiday Season”. The reason that fir trees have been decorated during these cold months is simple: the fir was one of the few trees to survive the harsh cold of winter. More than one civilization has the tradition of decorating evergreens. The first record I have found is of the heathen Greeks and their worship of their god Adonia. Pagan Romans would honor their god of fertility Bacchus by decorating evergreens with metal and sculptures of their god. They would also place 12 candles on the tree to honor their sun god. Some people say that it was a candle for each month of the year. Germanic people tied fruit and attached candles to evergreen tree branches, in honor of what I like to call the Wednesday god.  Their god Woden is where Wednesday gets its name from. All of these peoples have one thing in common, and that is that they considered the evergreen a symbol of eternal life.

Missionaries wishing to convert the pagan population had problems with getting them to abandon their traditions so they cleverly adopted some and adapted them to Christianity. Rumor has it that the first Christmas trees were hung upside down from rafters and decorated. There were a couple of explanations for this, for one the Christmas tree being upside down made it recognizably different than other traditions, and also ensured it would not be mistaken for a simple floral decoration. Another reason is that it represented the trinity. Early missionaries used the evergreen to explain a basic religious tenet of the Trinity – God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Eventually the hanging of a Christmas tree went by the wayside, and since a triangle is still a triangle no matter which way it is pointing most missionaries did not object to the change. Certain missionaries however, strongly disagreed with adopting these pagan practices in any form, and in the late 1900s, Henry Schwan was condemned by parishioners for decorating one of the first Christmas trees in an American Christian church.

Recently  retailers have adopted the idea of an upside down Christmas tree for another reason, floor space. Hanging and decorating the trees leaves all the space underneath to be filled with products for eager consumers to buy. Since the tree is usually the focal point in a room it makes sense for them to try to push products into the line of vision of Christmas shoppers.  People were interested in hanging trees in their own home to simplify the whole experience. While hanging a tree seems difficult, think about how much furniture gets rearranged in order to perfectly place the family tree.

Merry Christmas to all of you out there regardless of your tree traditions, whether it is pointing towards God, or upside down to better show the trinity I hope you have a happy holiday season.

Radio City Rockettes

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular features the Rockettes. These lovely ladies are the stars of the show. Their high kicks, great choreography and small outfits make a spectacular show. The  Christmas Spectacular is a real treat for everyone. Bring the entire family. Men, women, boys, and girls will enjoy this beautiful Christmas Spectacular Show.

The Rockettes performance at the Christmas Spectacular is one that you do not want to miss. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular travels all over the country, so everyone has an opportunity to experience the show and see the Rockettes.

To learn more about the Radio City Christmas Spectacular or to see when they will be in your area go to www.Radio City Christmas.com

Last year around Christmas time it seemed like I missed all of the classic Christmas shows, so the only things I watched were the movies I had. The recently made Christmas stories Elf, The Stanta Clause, things like that. I really missed seeing the classics like Rudolph and Frosty. This year don’t let the Christmas spirit pass you by make sure you catch all of your favorite Christmas shows with this handy show guide.