Part of welcoming Baby into the family is the addition of a baby Christmas stocking. Placing it with the others on the mantle somehow solidifies the little one’s place in the household. Picking the baby Christmas stocking used to be limited to choosing pink or blue, with the words “Baby’s First Christmas” embroidered on...
Poinsettias, with their bright red leaves, are popular holiday decorations. Also known as the Christmas Star, the poinsettia is a subtropical plant best known for its striking red color. It’s often used as a floral Christmas decoration because of its bright colors. The plants are native to southern Mexico and Central America and in...
Christmas stockings are as as much a part of the holidays as reindeer, Santa and gifts under the tree. But why do we hang stockings? There are no written records to document the origins of Christmas stockings, but there are some legends associated with the tradition. Many people have heard the story of how...
The Fir-Tree is a short Christmas story by Hans Christian Andersen. It is reprinted here with permission of the Houghton-Mifflin Company. The Fir-Tree Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir-tree. The place he had was a very good one; the sun shone on him; as to fresh air, there was enough of...
Are you looking for ways to make your life a little greener? Then consider recycled Christmas cards this holiday season. Americans send 2.1 billion greeting cards – most made from virgin paper – during the holidays. But by choosing cards made from recycled paper, you’ll be helping to save our trees. Here’s a list...
The Santa Claus we know today has a white beard, wears a red suit and matching hat, flies around in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, and runs a toy factory run by elves at the North Pole. He is a fantasy loved by children all around the world. But how did this tradition...
The history of the candy cane can be traced back to Germany. In 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral was said to have bent straight white candy sticks into the now-familiar “J” shape to represent a shepherd’s staff. He then gave them to children in the choir to keep them happy during long...
Turn on the radio during the holidays, and you’re sure to hear plenty of Christmas songs about snow, sleigh-pulling reindeer, and Jack Frost nipping at your nose. But some people neither want a white Christmas or will be having one. Think of all those folks Down Under who celebrate Christmas in the middle of...
Selecting the perfect holiday gift for friends and acquaintances can be difficult, particularly if the person is someone you don’t know very well. And if your budget is already tight during the holidays, the problem becomes even more difficult. Christmas gift cookies or other baked goods are an inexpensive yet personal solution to many...
If you’re a parent, you know just how much most kids love the Christmas holidays. So how about letting them help with the decorations this year? They’ll have fun helping to hang decorations around the house, and with a little help they can also make their own decorations. These decorations don’t need to be...
