1200 POSTS BY CHRISTMAS 2009

[CandyKane]

I finally got to watch "Prancer". Watching that movie always puts me in a Christmas mood no matter what time of year it is.

[CandyKane]

We woke up this morning to rain. If it had to do something I wish it could have been snow so we could have a White Christmas instead of this yucky rain. It's suppossed to rain tomorrow and Christmas Day too.

[CandyKane]

Today is hubby's last day of work until after the New Year. He said he was going to quit early today and we're going to take a drive to look at the Christmas lights.

[CandyKane]

DD has a huge stocking that we bought her for her first Christmas. I got it out this morning and filled it. Since she hasn't seen it we'll tell her Santa brought it with him.

[CandyKane]

Tomorrow I'll be reading her 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and the Nativity Story from the bible. We're going to my family's tomorrow and we won't be back until late so hopefully she'll be aspleep and we can put her right to bed.

[CandyKane]

The Legend of the Christmas Stocking


"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there"




There was a kindly nobleman whose wife had died of an illness leaving the nobleman and his three daughters in despair. After losing all his money in useless and bad inventions the family had to move into a peasant's cottage, where the daughters did their own cooking, sewing and cleaning.



When it came time for the daughters to marry, the father became even more depressed as his daughters could not marry without dowries, money and property given to the new husband's family.



One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Saint Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the nobleman's house. Looking in the window Saint Nicholas saw that the family had gone to bed. He also noticed the daughters stockings. Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas and he took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them one by one down the chimney and they landed in the stockings.


The next morning when the daughters awoke they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married. The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry and he lived a long and happy life.



Children all over the world continue the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings. In some countries children have similar customs, in France the children place their shoes by the fireplace, a tradition dating back to when children wore wooden peasant shoes.



In Holland the children fill their shoes with hay and a carrot for the horse of Sintirklass. In Hungary children shine their shoes before putting them near the door or a window sill.



Italian children leave their shoes out the night before Epiphany, January 5, for La Befana the good witch. And in Puerto Rico children put greens and flowers in small boxes and place them under their beds for the camels of the Three Kings.

[CandyKane]

Did you know that Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday in the United States? More than 1.9 billion cards are sent to family and friends every year -- one billion more than the 192 million cards given or sent on Valentine's Day, the nation's second largest card holiday.

[CandyKane]

Did you know that December 19th is the busiest mailing day of the year? The U.S. Postal Service delivers some 20 billion letters, packages and cards between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with December 19th seeing double the number of parcels than any other day of the year.

[CandyKane]

Did you know that as many as 30 million live (real) Christmas trees are sold every year in the United States? In 2004, live Christmas tree sales amounted to more than $506 billion in revenue for America's 22,000 tree farms. The state leader in Christmas tree production is Oregon, with sales of $143 million.

[CandyKane]

Did you know that for every live Christmas tree that is harvested, three seedlings are planted in its place?

[CandyKane]

Did you know that it takes an average of seven years for a Christmas tree to reach six feet tall? Some trees take as long as 15 years to grow to their harvesting height; others reach it in as little as four years.

[CandyKane]

Did you know that China is the leading manufacturer of artificial Christmas trees? According to the U.S. Commerce Department, more than 80 percent of artificial trees are made in China.

[CandyKane]

Did you know that in 2005, Americans spent more money on Chinese-made Christmas ornaments ($561 million) than on Christmas trees grown in the United States?

[CandyKane]

Did you know that the character of Santa Claus is based on two Christmas legends: Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas? Saint Nicholas was the patron saint of children, who generously gave gifts to poor and orphaned young ones. Father Christmas was the spirit of good tidings.

[CandyKane]

Did you know that the tradition of giving gifts for Christmas is rooted in the story of the wise men, who gave costly gifts to baby Jesus without the expectation of receiving anything in return?

[CandyKane]

Did you know that the Monday following Thanksgiving is referred to as Cyber Monday and is a time when many on-line retailers offer deep discounts? In 2008, 36% of consumers said they would spend half of their Christmas shopping budget or more on-line.

[CandyKane]

Christmas in Russia

In Russia, most Christians practice the Orthodox faith, in which Christmas is celebrated on the 6th of January. For 39 days, starting on the 1st of December, Russians will say special prayers and some even fast until Christmas. To celebrate Christmas Eve, the Russian Orthodox partake in a grand 12-course meal honoring each of the twelve Apostles. Traditional foods include fish, beet soup, stuffed cabbage, and stewed dry fruit.



Instead of Santa Claus, Russian children believe that the Babushka brings them presents. Legend has it that Babushka, whose name means grandmother, had planned to travel with the wise men to meet the Baby Jesus; she decided against it, however, because of inclement weather. She regretted it ever since and that's why she visits children until today

[CandyKane]

Christmas in The Netherlands (Holland)

In The Netherlands, Christmas comes a bit earlier than in North America! On December 5th, Dutch children and their families celebrate St. Nicholas Eve, when the legendary Sinterklaas Avond is believed to bring gifts to well-behaved children. After this joyful, present-filled day, the country turns its attention to preparing for the religious festival of Christmas on December 25th and the Three Kings Day on January 6th.

[CandyKane]

Christmas in England

Celebrations in England are quite similar to those in the United States, with preparations for the December 25th holiday consuming most of the month of December. The highlight of Christmas Eve dinner is the traditional Christmas pudding. Legend tells that the pudding must be made by the 25th Sunday after the Trinity, and that it must be prepared with 13 ingredients, representing Jesus and his twelve disciples. Before cooking the pudding, the chef drops a silver coin into the mixture, which is believed to bring wealth and happiness to whomever receives it in his portion.


Decorating the Christmas tree has been a tradition in England since at least 1841, when Prince Albert set up a decorated tree in Windsor Castle.



Stockings are also hung by Christmas Eve so that Father Christmas can stuff them with goodies.



In England, children set out brandy and mince pie for Father Christmas, along with a carrot and bowl of water for the reindeer. At 3pm on Christmas Day, families gather around their telly (television) for the Queen's Christmas address to the nation.

[CandyKane]

Christmas in Germany

In Germany, Christmas celebrations start on December 5th, when St. Nicholas makes his rounds bringing gifts for the children. (Of course, the naughty ones just get coal!) The trees, known as Tannenbaums, were originally decorated with open-flame candles. Today most Germans favor the safer electronic Christmas lights. The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree actually began in Germany. In fact, it was the German-born Prince Albert of England who introduced the custom to the British people. Another tradition that got its start in Germany is that of the Gingerbread House, which was popularized in the famous German folk story of Hansel and Gretel.