make money online

funny ad mistake

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:59:00 -0800

when i clicked ad on redtube if found fucking joke.. shaadi.com is india's famous matrimonial site..

Blackhat forum

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sat, 6 Nov 2010 10:42:00 -0700

Hi,
today i am posting new post about blackhat forums, there are many blackhat forums but there are only few good blackhat forums where you can find good resource of blackhat methods and blackhat tools, today when i am searching in google i found a blackhat forum where i read i all methods and tools needed for blackhat seo

here is the link of blackhat forum and it is also webmaster forum, where you can sell your stuff and provide services too..

Thank you.

Christmas Games and other Fun Activities

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:42:00 -0700

Maybe no other single activity really embraces camaraderie, playfulness
and fierce but friendly competition as heartily participating in playing indoor
games with friends and family. Christmas games does all those things but also
serves the purpose of bringing friends and family together to interact directly
with each other in a competitive and happy way.
Participating in Christmas games is another way of sharing, but it is also doing
something tangible to get into the festive, jolly and relaxed mode for the
holidays. Otherwise, its easy to get caught up in all the preparation and
shopping and become ridden with anxiety. Here are some holiday and Christmas
games that will cause fierce but friendly competition and leave everyone in a
jolly mood.
For the 'Gift Wrap' game, items needed will be small gifts, wrapping paper,
scotch tape and music that can be turned on and off at will. Each gift item is
wrapped in several layers of paper. The number of layers used will depend on the
duration you want the game to last. A gift is given to the group which should
start passing around the gift when the music starts. Whenever the music stops,
whoever has the gift should remove one layer of gift wrap. This continues until
the last layer of paper is removed. Whoever has the gift unwrapped gets to keep
it.
The items needed for the 'Sock Guessing' Christmas game are two or three thick
new thermal socks, items used or seen during Christmas, pens, pencils and paper.
Each sock is stuffed with 20-25 items that are used or seen during the
Christmas season. These can be useful items such as scotch tape, ornaments,
decorations etc. Each sock should have the same items and the opening should be
tied with a ribbon so the contents inside aren't visible. The socks are then
passed around for each person to try to feel and guess the items then write down
what they think is in the sock. The person with the most correct guesses of
objects is the winner and can be awarded a separate special gift or token.
The 'Gift Grab Card Game' needs two deck of cards and a few small Christmas
gifts that are wrapped to look very interesting and enticing. One deck of cards
is passed out one at a time to guests. Each should have an equal number of cards
from the deck. The gifts are then placed in the center of the group. Someone
then calls out cards from the second deck. Whoever has an identical card gets to
choose a gift. When all the gifts are taken, everyone can steal gifts from each
other until the deck is finished and those with gifts get to open and keep them
as prizes. The fun increases when the stealing begins because everyone will have
different ideas about which gift looks interesting and try to hang onto it by
stealing it over and over if it is stolen. Some people will also try to disguise
the fact they have a gift, although they should be kept in sight.
A children's Christmas game is 'Pin the Nose on the Reindeer,' which is the
Christmas game version of 'Pin the tail on the Donkey.' The items needed are a
drawing of a reindeer's head with an incomplete drawing of the nose and several
noses with the names on one side and tape on the other. The picture should be
placed against a wall so that children can reach the nose. Each child then gets
a nose. They take turns being blindfolded spun around a couple times to
disorient them a little then told to walk to the reindeer and place the nose on
the picture. The child who places the nose closes to the reindeer's nose wins.
A delightful Christmas game for work is the 'Match the Desk to the Item' game. A
day or so before the Christmas party at work, someone needs to secretly take one
item from each person's desk and assign a number to each item. At the party, all
the items are displayed for everyone to guess whose desk the item belongs to.

Christmas songs

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:40:00 -0700

Christmas music in the form of carols, songs stringed or instrumental
renditions, is constantly heard during the Christmas season. Music forms the
background against which everything else takes place to make the Christmas
season different from all others. Christmas music plays such a significant role
that during the entire season, other popular music temporarily disappears from
radio. That may be the reason for all the different types of Christmas music -
sacred, secular, popular and traditional - that have emerged throughout the
years.
Popular and secular renditions of Christmas music has been developed by
musical artists and performers who 'make over' classic styles of Christmas music
with their own personal touch. One reason for popular make overs of Christmas
music may be because regular popular music is not heard during the holiday
season so pop musicians and artists do Christmas music to keep their voices
always in earshot of their fans and the general audience. It could also be that
they want to capitalize on the popularity of Christmas music.
Whatever the reason, it has become a trend for popular musical artists to
release new Christmas or holiday music albums during the season. Since variety
is the spice of life, it means there are more variations of secular, sacred,
classical or traditional and popular renditions of Christmas music that can be
heard.
Music at Christmas time is important to create the right mood. The
prevalence of Christmas music is what helps to create the special holiday type
of feeling or spirit that is present everywhere and among everyone. Everyone has
particular Christmas songs and carols that are favorites, maybe for the melody,
the lyrics or because they are reminders of special memories.
The most popular Christmas song is said to be 'White Christmas,' which is
popular even in warm and tropical climates where people sing of 'dreaming of a
White Christmas,' which in reality they would not want. Other popular Christmas
songs and carols are: Away in a Manger, which tells the Nativity story in song;
O Holy Night, Silent Night, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels and Angels
we have Heard on High.
All of those songs are sacred and are all about the story of Jesus' birth. Of
note also is Handel's majestic 'Hallelujah Chorus,' which is a favorite that
choirs like to sing because of the splendor embodied in the music.
Nat King Cole's 'Chestnut Roasting On an Open Fire' is a classical favorite. It
defies categorization as it isn't sacred but is also not considered secular like
a song such as 'Sleigh Ride.' Among secular Christmas songs, there are also
funny ones such as 'I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus Underneath the Mistletoe
Last Night' and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The availability of a wide
Christmas music selection makes it possible to choose ones for different
occasions, such as for general use at home, for a fun or informal party or for a
formal dinner. As an example, selections can be made to create the right mood at
the start of a party, followed by more lively music when the party is in full
swing, and then selections to slow down the pace when the party is nearing its
end.
It's also important to note that professional groups such as choirs, symphonies
and orchestras will also record performances of Christmas music on albums. For
the very serious and critical music aficionados, these albums will provide
wonderful listening pleasure and also make good Christmas presents. Listening to
music from those groups is also a way of enjoying their performances if doesn't
get the opportunity to attend a live concert by the professional group.
Whatever selections of Christmas music are made however, it's likely that it
will create a festive mood and spirit among all who hear or are listening to the
music.

Christmas Plays

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:40:00 -0700

It's always a good thing when families can enjoy outings together.
Attending Christmas plays, performances and concerts offer wonderful holiday
entertainment for all members of the family. Attending Christmas performances
and concerts offers wonderful entertainment for the entire family and provides
another way to enjoy the festivities of the Christmas season.
Families usually don't have to venture too far from their home to enjoy a
Christmas play or concert. That's because amateur actors, singers and budding
musicians in their neighborhood will usually take part in several Christmas
performances for local residents. These amateur but entertaining events can be
found at local schools, churches or at a community theater or performance
center.
It's very popular for those groups to stage performances of the Nativity
story, or other Christmas related works such as 'A Christmas Carol.' churches
and school groups may even have a complete concert series that includes a full-
length production of a play along with choirs, soloists and the band singing
Christmas carols and other Christmas songs.
What makes local Christmas performances special is that members of the
community and maybe even of your own household can be among the entertainers.
It is therefore special to see familiar faces doing something interesting and
different. For those who are budget-conscious, the performances are usually
priced to be very affordable, therefore offering an economic incentive to go out
and have an enjoyable afternoon or evening.
Those people who are lovers of the arts and who are more interested in
seeing a professional performance will likely also have a professional
theatrical company within reasonable proximity of their residence. Professional
groups may also perform Christmas classics such as 'A Christmas Carol' or they
may do another dramatic production from the works of other playwrights.
Music lovers also have a variety of performances to enjoy at Christmas
time. While one can always catch various groups singing carols in downtown areas
or at malls, there are other places to hear rich, melodious performances of
Christmas music. These include concerts by acclaimed or recognized
conservatories, orchestras, symphonies and renowned choir groups.
The beauty of hearing Christmas music by these groups is in the accompaniment of
instruments and the harmonious blending of voices, which all happens in a venue
that has acoustic features to optimize the auditory pleasure of the
performances. The different components that together make the whole performance
offers a richer quality to Christmas songs and carols that may be described as
'sounding heavenly.'
Another popular artistic performance that is popular during the Christmas season
is classical dance in the form of ballet, and particularly the performance of
the 'Nutcracker' ballet. With music written by Tchaikovsky, the story is about
a young girl who has a dream on Christmas Eve of a Nutcracker Prince and a
fierce battle with a Mouse King that has seven heads. After a fierce battle
between the Nutcracker, who leads an army of toy soldiers, and the Mouse King
who leads an army of mice, the Nutcracker is captured. But the little girl
throws her slipper at the Mouse King, hits him in the head and kills him. In the
end, the Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes the little girl to the magical
and enchanting Land of Snow with dancing snowflakes and the Land of Sweets with
the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Attending Christmas plays, concerts or musical performances serves the basic
purpose of providing enjoyment, but it can also help young people, and even
adults, to develop an appreciation for the arts. Seeing different variations and
the creativity in performances of Christmas plays, as well as hearing different
renditions of Christmas songs, can be the first exposure that leads to a
lifelong love of the arts and maybe a dream to pursue a career in the arts.

Christmas Movies

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:39:00 -0700

Movies related to Christmas help to create a fun atmosphere and can also
teach moral lessons related to Christmas. While everyone will have different
Christmas movies that are most enjoyable, there are some that remain favorites.
'A Christmas Story' is told from the point of view of a little boy in the
days before Christmas and on Christmas Day. It shows him doing routine things
each day but against the backdrop of the Christmas season with the decorated
store windows, Santa Claus, the snow and frostiness, and of course his wish for
a Christmas toy. But his parents disapprove of the toy that he desired. The
movie is good in showing the innocence of the Christmas season.
'A Christmas Carol,' written by noted author Charles Dickens, tells the
story of old Scrooge whose only purpose in life is to make money. Scrooge puts
making money above his family, friends and everyone who cares about him. His
response to Christmas is a grumpy, 'Bah Humbug.' He gets a different experience
however, when ghosts appear to him and try to point out the error of his ways.
The movie's lesson is about the importance of appreciating people in your life.
'It's A Wonderful Life' is a story about hope and the worthiness of
everyone. It tells the story of a man experiencing despair and self-destruction
because he thinks he is of no worth to those around him, and they would be
better off if he didn't exist. An angel grants him his desire and he gets to see
what he contributes and what life would be like without him.
Every Christmas, 'A Miracle on 34th Street' can be seen on television. It
asks and answers the question 'Is there really a Santa Claus?' The movie is
about a man who claims to be Kris Kringle, or Santa Claus, but is not believed
and so he has to prove his identity claim.
'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' is about the Griswold family with
Mr. Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, who gets into silly accidents that provide
a lot of humor. The movie shows the lives of the family as they celebrate
Christmas and the difficulties that arise when their entire family comes to
visit for Christmas.
'Home Alone' is about a large and chaotic family with lots of kids who are
going on Christmas vacation. Amid the chaos of leaving on the morning of the
trip, one child is left behind and must stay and fend for himself in a very
large house during the Christmas season. At first he was happy to be alone but
then two thieves break in and he has to fight them off. The movie shows the
importance of family and loved ones. A sequel, 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'
tells of the boy who was left alone going to an aunt and uncle's home and again
encountering the two thieves who are seeking revenge.
'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' was first made as an animation for
television but other versions have since been done as motion pictures. The
Grinch is a grouchy, green man who lives in the mountains above the small town
of Whoville where residents, called The Whos, celebrate Christmas
enthusiastically every year. The Grinch who doesn't like Christmas wants to
spoil it for Whoville and so he tries to steal all the toys, food and gifts that
The Whos have accumulated for Christmas. The movie provides a lesson on the true
meaning of Christmas.
'A Charlie Brown Christmas is an animated television movie about the
popular Peanuts comic strip. The movie is about the comic strip's main
character, Charlie Brown, and tells of the experience with his friends for
Christmas. It also has Biblical references that relates to the true meaning of
Christmas.
'Frosty The Snowman' is an animated story about a snowman, named Frosty,
that comes to life and who must avoid a greedy musician who is trying to get the
magic that brought Frosty to life. The movie is very funny and has lots of
wonderful songs.
'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' is also an animation about the reindeer
with a shiny nose that kisses a pretty girl and also helps out his friends.

Where To Do Christmas Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:37:00 -0700

Christmas shopping can be seen as an absolute thrill and to some extent,
as a necessary evil. It's a thrill to be out and about amid the sights and
sounds of the season and the jovial crowds. But for the same reasons, others
dread shopping at Christmas time. These days, you don't have to leave your home
much or at all to get your Christmas and holiday shopping done. That's because
the Internet puts shopping at your fingertips. And rather than competing with
traditional retail stores, the Internet has actually expanded the ability of
traditional stores to sell more merchandise to a larger number of people in
various locations.
Both large and small retailers can be found at their specialized Web sites
on the Internet. Most will also offer selections that can be found in the store.
Many times online retail sites will have additional items available, or access
to additional items, that aren't found in the store.
Another advantage of shopping by the Internet is that it offers access to
stores that are located anywhere. It's therefore becomes easier to order a
unique gift from niche or specialty boutique stores in locations that you
otherwise wouldn't be able to reach. It is also easy to do comparison shopping
using 'shop bots' or simply comparing prices yourself.
If Christmas shopping is done through the Internet, you have to pay
careful attention to the order times and any cutoff dates to get an item
delivered in time for Christmas. Based on anticipated volume, most sites will
give a date or the number of hours within which orders have to be confirmed for
guaranteed delivery of the items before Christmas.
The mall is a popular place for traditional Christmas and holiday shopping
to be done. Malls offer one-stop shopping and have a large variety and wide
selection of merchandise, which can minimize endless searching of several stores
for some items. They will also be beautifully decorated for Christmas, have
splendid displays and a Santa Claus to interact with children. These and other
activities that are usually at the mall during Christmas and the holidays also
make them an interesting place to take children to enjoy some of the season's
delights.
To maximize shopping at the mall, you'll need to know the differences
between the mall department stores. You'll need to find out which stores have
certain exclusive brands, which stores are moderately priced and which are more
upscale.
There are also the specialty standalone stores and spinoff store branches
for children and teenagers that seek to fill a particular niche. As an example,
stores have emerged that carry only styles related to hip-hop culture or styles
that have an 'urban' look. So it may be worth consideration to start your
shopping at a specialty store, because they are more focused, and then continue
at a department store that has a wider selection.
Another interesting place to shop at malls are the standalone kiosks that are
usually located at intervals in the open areas of a mall where there is a lot of
foot traffic. These kiosks are more likely to carry one-of-a kind and unique
items, which can even provide or inspire ideas for Christmas presents.
Also at malls will be specialized that offer home/household items, books,
music and movies, electronics, sports gear and shoes.
All of the types of mall stores previously mentioned can also be found at
Outlet or Factory Malls or Warehouses, which offer lower prices. These stores
often carry clearance items from their related mall store, merchandise with
minor flaws and merchandise that is made for the outlet. Those merchandise
usually have slight style variations from what is found in mall stores and may
also be made from different materials.
A final place to consider for Christmas shopping is downtown businesses.
They are usually small and intimate, have unique offerings and offer more
personalized assistance. Although downtown businesses are also likely to be
crowded at Christmas time, there likely will be less of a crush of people like
that found at malls.

Christmas is Really All About Children

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:36:00 -0700

It could be said that since it was the birth of a baby as a gift to
mankind that gave rise to Christmas, then children should also and always be the
primary focus of the season. Individual families will say they have always put
children first and parents will sacrifice seeking their desires at Christmas to
make sure their children are satisfied. And although adults also look forward
with much anticipation to the Christmas season, the frenzy that accounts for all
the shopping and preparation during the Christmas season is really for the
benefit of children.
From a financial perspective, the extensive shopping done at Christmas is
really of benefit to businesses. But what really drives the maddening shopping
activity is a desire by parents, relatives, friends and acquaintances to play
Santa Claus, mainly for children. Within families, children are usually the ones
who individually receive the most gifts. And it's deservedly so because their
wide-eyed anticipation, excitement and pure joy when they open their Christmas
presents gives everyone an indescribably happy feeling.
Along with playing Santa Claus and secretly getting gifts for children,
adults also use the Santa story for all it's worth as an effective means of
discipline. As soon as the Fall season approaches, children will begin to hear
warnings about their behavior and the consequence of Santa Claus not leaving any
toys or presents like the wonderful ones they received in the prior year. And
when the Santa Claus story is not being used to help to get the best behavior
from children, it is simply pure fun to delight them by telling them stories
about Santa Claus, his elves and reindeers to simply enliven their imagination.
The story of Santa Claus is even useful for older children who may just be
starting to unravel the mystery of Santa Claus. The stories that tell of
different places where Santa Claus actually lives can be a starting point to go
on an imaginative journey around the globe and become a geography lesson to
learn about those places.
Children are also central to Christmas because the many grand displays of
Christmas scenery, colorful lights and sparkling ornaments really target the
attention of children. So, if children were not so important at Christmas time,
then it is quite possible that many of the traditions that make Christmas what
it is would not exist. As an example, Valentine's Day and holidays related to
Easter have a much different mood and atmosphere. Children aren't the focus in
celebrations for those special periods.
Christmas is also an important period for the toy industry whose clients
are naturally children. Although the industry is part of the big retail picture
and therefore seeks to boost sales during the Christmas season, there is also a
deeper meaning for children. Toys are important to entertain, to educate, to
help children develop their imagination and to develop coordination and other
skills in children. Toys can also help children to play together and learn to
share.
The toy industry is therefore important at Christmas time in introducing new
products that are integral to the development of children. When children become
totally captivated by a new toy at Christmas time, it may help them to learn a
new skill or provide new knowledge all in a fun and captivating way that will
make it more likely that whatever is learned will be remembered.
Children are also the focus of Christmas celebrations because it is
important to create fond childhood memories of the season. These memories are
created not by children necessarily receiving a lot, but by enjoying everything
about the season. The story of Jesus with the moral of sharing, giving and doing
kind deeds for others can also help to build a good character and set a moral
foundation that teaches children to have empathy and compassion during the
Christmas season and all throughout the year.

Christmas Greetings and Good Cheer

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:35:00 -0700

Greetings at Christmas extend beyond a mere wish of 'Merry Christmas' or
'Happy Holidays.' Christmas greetings embody a wish that all will go well in
whatever preparations need to be made, and a genuine sentiment that much joy,
happiness and well being will be experienced by the individual and loved ones
during the season.
The season of good cheer and wishes also reflect the jolly ho, ho, ho
nature of Santa Claus. To the delight of children, it is very easy for them to
run into many jolly fellows dressed as Santa Claus during the Christmas season
who will quiz them about whether they have been good or naughty. Many times when
friends, relatives and loved ones call each other during the Christmas season,
they will speak to the children and wish them Merry Christmas, but not without a
warning that they had better be good or else there will be no presents from
Santa Claus.
For children therefore, a greeting of Merry Christmas has the purpose of
increasing their anticipation for the arrival of Christmas Eve and Santa's visit
to leave toys and Christmas presents under the tree.
Because children also take part in many traditions associated with Christmas,
holiday greetings for them is also a reminder of the fun they will have in doing
such activities as decorating the tree, helping to bake cookies and wrapping
presents. When children have these things to look forward to at Christmas, it
creates a lasting memory for them and helps to make their childhood one on which
they will later reflect on with much fondness.
The more prevalent greeting of 'Happy Holidays' that is used today reflects in
part the also prevalent nature to be politically correct in speech and
communication. The greeting of 'Happy Holidays' can be given to anyone whether
or not they celebrate Christmas. It avoids any offense being taken if someone is
wished Merry Christmas when it's a celebration in which they don't participate
or observe.
Happy Holidays is also used to extend a greeting of goodwill beyond Christmas to
the coming New Year holiday period. For procrastinators and the chronically late
greeting card senders, they can still drop a 'Happy Holiday' greeting card in
the mail to friends and loved ones close to Christmas Day or even after and it
will still be relevant.
Christmas greeting cards play a big role in communicating Christmas greetings
and good cheer for the holiday season. It's a tradition that started in Britain
in 1840 with the start of the first public postal deliveries. The production of
large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started about twenty years later in
1860 with the improvement of printing methods.
Today, Christmas greetings and greeting cards have further evolved with massive
changes and development in technology. The computer, which has become a
necessary electronic equipment in just about every home, is commonly used to
send Christmas greetings through emailing an online greeting or postcard. Online
greeting cards also have brought other changes such as being interactive or
animated and they can also be easily personalized with pictures of individuals
or families. Online greeting cards can be sent from websites that are accessible
to everyone or they can be easily created on a home computer.
Another way in which Christmas greetings are sent is by mailing gifts and
presents to relatives and friends who live elsewhere. Except for the dreaded tax
season, there is no other time when post offices become more crowded than during
the Christmas season. Post Offices therefore play an important role in relaying
Christmas greetings by handling thousands of greeting card mailings and gift
packages for Christmas.
With just about everyone having a cheerful spirit for the Christmas season, it
becomes very easy to pause for even a brief conversation and extend a greeting
of goodwill to friends, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors and others.

Ancient and other Customs of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:34:00 -0700

Christmas as a holiday period was instituted and celebrated at about the same
time as other winter solstice festivities because church leaders at the time
believed that would make more people participate in the new holiday period. That
objective was achieved, but people also carried over some pagan celebrations and
traditions into the religious Christmas celebrations.
As an example, people would attend church and then take part in a raucous,
drunken and carnival-like celebration, that has some similarities to Mardi Gras.
During this celebration every year, there would be a crowning of a beggar or
student as the 'lord of misrule.' Those taking part in the activities would
pretend to be loyal subjects to the 'lord of misrule,' During this time some of
the poor would also visit the rich in their houses and ask for some of their
best food and drink. Those among the rich who didn't cooperate would be subject
to rowdy behavior and mischief by the poor. For their part, the rich used
Christmas as the time when they would reach out to the poorer members of society
by tolerating them in such visits or by leaving out food and clothing for them.
For many centuries before the birth of Christ and the recognition of Christmas,
there had always been celebrations in many countries during the middle of
winter. During the darkest days of winter for example, the early Europeans were
said to celebrate light and birth. The winter solstice was a period of rejoicing
for many people because it meant that the worst part of winter was over and they
could therefore look forward to having days that were longer with more hours of
sunlight.
In that tradition, the Norse peoples in Scandinavia would celebrate a period of
Yule from Dec. 21, which was the winter solstice or start of winter, through
January. To recognize the re-emergence of the sun, fathers and their sons would
take large logs home and set them on fire. There would then be a big feast until
the log was completely burned out. That could take as much as 12 days to happen.
The custom also was one of hope for the Norse because there was the belief among
them that every spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be
born in the New Year.
Many parts of Europe also thought that the end of December was a perfect time to
celebrate because during that time, a lot of cattle would be killed to avoid
having to feed them during winter. For many people, the end of December was the
only time during the year when they had a significant amount of fresh meat. By
that time of year also, wine and beer that was made earlier in the year would
have fermented and be finally ready for drinking.
The tradition of Santa Claus has also been an ancient legend with slight
differences or variations in olden days from the 1700s in some countries. In
German and Switzerland, children who were well behaved would receive a Christmas
present from Christkind or Kris Kringle. Christkind, which means Christ child,
was believed to be an angel-like figure that went along with St. Nicholas on his
holiday journeys to deliver gifts.
A jolly elf by the name of Jultomten was believed to deliver presents in
Scandinavia in a sleigh that was pulled by goats. And in France, Pere Noel is
the one who fills the shoes of French children with Christmas gifts, sweets or
treats at Christmas time.
In Russia, there's a legend that Babouschka was an elderly woman who gave
incorrect directions to Bethlehem to the three Wise Men so that they wouldn't
find Jesus. She later felt sorry for doing so but couldn't find the Wise Men to
tell them about the error. Today in Russia, it is believed that on Jan. 5, the
day before the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, Babouschka visits Russian children
and leaves presents by their bedsides in the hope that one of the children will
be Baby Jesus and will forgive her.

Christmas Day

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:33:00 -0700

The Christmas season and all its activities are geared to the big day,
Dec. 25, which is Christmas Day. The word Christmas is derived from Middle
English 'Christemasse' and Old English 'Cristes maesse,' both of which means
'Christ's Mass.' The day is celebrated by Christians as the day that Jesus
Christ was born, although the true date of Jesus' birth isn't really known.
Given the religious significance of Christmas Day, it therefore follows
that attending church is a big tradition on that day. It is seen as mandatory
for devout Christians and for others who are concerned about retaining the
sacred meaning of the day. Many people fear that the sacred aspects of Christmas
are being lost and overshadowed amid the bustle of commercial activity now
associated with the entire season.
Church services therefore take place early on Christmas morning. Attending
those services is the first official activity that many people do on Christmas
Day. Unlike the Midnight Mass and other earlier church services on Christmas
Eve, Christmas Day services do not usually include the dramatization of the
birth of Jesus. They may be more subdued with a sermon that recounts the birth
of Jesus and his purpose to save mankind. The congregation is then exalted to be
as giving as Jesus and to help out those who are in need.
Consequently, many people will take some time on Christmas Day to
volunteer in a charitable activity such as serving dinner to the poor and hungry
at a church, charitable organization or other social services center. Others
will also work with charitable organizations to distribute toys to needy
children at shelters, hospitals and other places.
As part of the religious aspect of Christmas Day, groups that sing Christmas
carols will also be out very early on Christmas morning.
Although Christmas Dinner is the most significant meal of the day, a large
breakfast will also be served in most households that will be shared by all
family members. The occasion of all family members having a meal together is a
disappearing tradition in many American households and so Christmas is seen as a
perfect time to return to the tradition. Christmas Day after all, is all about
family, sharing and togetherness.
Throughout the day, greetings of 'Merry Christmas' will be exchanged by
telephone calls with family, friends, acquaintances, and loved ones who are
located elsewhere in the country and overseas. It is a common occurrence for so
many people to be trying to make international calls to loved ones and friends
on Christmas Day that telephone communication systems to some countries often
are overwhelmed. The availability of technology and the Internet eases that
somewhat nowadays however, as emails and instant messaging can also be used as
other communication channels to exchange greetings on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day Dinner is undoubtedly the central activity of the day. Family and
friends gathered for dinner take pleasure in enjoying and sharing a delicious
meal and also are mindful and thankful for the opportunity to be able to share
the meal, to have each other and for the material things that make their lives
comfortable and give them happiness.
Some of those material things are then shared in absolute delight as everyone
will gather around or near to the Christmas tree after dinner to exchange and
open Christmas presents. It's an activity that is relished and which is filled
with much laughter, happy chatter and merriment, especially by children who are
usually much delighted to get a toy that they had wished for.
After dinner and the exchange of presents, adults may have light conversations,
play games or even watch a movie. Children are often taken up with experimenting
or playing with their new toys. It has also become a tradition on Christmas Day
for members of some families, such as teenagers and young adults, to end
Christmas Day by attending the movie theater on Christmas evening or Christmas
night to see a recently released film.

Christmas Eve

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:32:00 -0700

The day before Christmas is one that is filled with a mixture of anxiety
and anticipation. There's anxiety at putting all the final plans and finishing
decoration touches in place and getting all the necessary shopping done. There's
also much anticipation about all the merriment and excitement of Christmas day.
Children are usually hardly able to control themselves as they think about the
Christmas gifts they hope to get the next day. They may try to stay up through
the night to catch Santa Claus, or they may just be too excited to sleep.
Christmas Eve is also important for the simple reason that in ancient
custom, and among some cultures today, a holiday or other celebrated day really
starts from sundown of the day before the actual day that is celebrated.
Therefore, festivities and observances for Christmas Day would really begin on
Christmas Eve.
One of the most significant aspects of Christmas Eve however, is related
to religion. Attending Midnight Mass or earlier church services is mandatory for
many people whose religion is Christianity. This is so even for people who
aren't regular churchgoers during the year. Evidence of the importance of these
church services can be seen in the overflow of congregations at the churches.
Many churches will also have an added service earlier in the evening to
accommodate the above normal attendance, and also for individuals like the
elderly who would prefer a service that is earlier than Midnight Mass.
Another important aspect of Christmas Eve celebrations is related to
retail operations. On the day before Christmas, stores make a last ditch effort
to push sales of Christmas and other merchandise. There often are special
promotions last-minute advertised to capitalize on late, desperate Christmas
shoppers and other impulse buyers. This last effort is also aimed at increasing
sales for the Christmas period.
Some stores will remain open late, even up to midnight or just before
midnight. Macy's department store in New York City, which bills that particular
store branch as the world's largest, stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve
of 1867 for the first time. Christmas Eve culminates the single biggest shopping
season, which started the day after Thanksgiving, for retailers.
Christmas Eve is also important for the traditions associated with it. It
is the night when parents have to play the role of Santa Claus and sneak toys
and other Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree to the absolute delight and
surprise of children who awake on Christmas morning to find the presents.
The idea of Santa Claus coming descending chimneys on Christmas Eve to leave
gifts for good boys and girls was made popular by a poem, attributed to Clement
Clarke Moore. In that poem titled 'An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, '
which Moore wrote in 1822 and which is now popularly known as 'Twas the Night
Before Christmas,' Moore described Santa Claus as 'a right jolly old elf' who
went from house to house with his sleigh pulled by reindeers flying through the
air to deliver Christmas presents to all the girls and boys who had been well
behaved.
Food plays a big role in making Christmas Day special and much of its
preparation often begins on Christmas Eve. Poultry and other meats are often
prepared by letting them stand in a mixture of various herbs and spices,
puddings and pies are baked on Christmas Eve, as well as a fresh batch of
gingerbread and other cookies and treats.
The scents and flurry of activity related to all these preparations also help to
make Christmas Eve a memorable day on its own.

Christmas Story

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:31:00 -0700

The idea of celebrating Jesus' birth was done to counteract pagan holidays
celebrated in Rome during the Winter Solstice. Church leaders thought Christmas
celebrations were more likely to be popular if they coincided with the
traditional festivals and merrymaking during the Winter Solstice.
Although some Christmas celebrations are secular, the religious aspect of
Christmas remains central to celebrations. This is evident in church services
such as Midnight Mass and primarily in the many forms of the Nativity, or
Christmas Story, presented wherever people celebrate Christmas.
That story started in Nazareth in Galilee about two thousand years ago.
Mary, a young woman, was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. An angel appeared
to her one day and told her she was with child. She couldn't understand how that
could happen because due to her circumspect nature, she had not laid in bed with
Joseph. The angel explained however, that the child would be special as he would
be the Son of God and his name was to be Jesus. Mary and Joseph then got married
soon after the angel's appearance.. But about the time when Mary was to have the
baby, the couple had to travel far away to Bethlehem, Joseph's birthplace, to
pay a special tax.
It was difficult for them to find a place to stay because many other
people were in Bethlehem to pay their taxes. After many rejections, one
innkeeper offered a room in his stable where they could spend the night. That's
where Jesus, the Holy Child and Son of God was born and then wrapped in bundles
of cloth and placed in a manger for a cradle.
In the same hours that Mary was giving birth, shepherds who were in a
field that overlooked Bethlehem saw an extremely bright star over the sky in
Bethlehem. They had never seen anything like it and had feelings of curiosity
and scariness. An angel appeared and told them the 'good news' that the Son of
God had been born in Bethlehem.
The shepherds left their flocks to go to Bethlehem to find the baby. When
they reached the stable, they were filled with immense joy at seeing Jesus. They
fell to their knees and worshipped Him. They also told Mary and Joseph about the
bright star and the angel appearing to say Jesus would be the Savior of the
world.
The bright star was also seen by Wise Men in the east. The Wise Men, who
studied the stars, learned that a new and great ruler would appear whenever an
extraordinarily bright star appeared in the sky. Three of them therefore set out
to find the new ruler. They first visited King Herod in Jerusalem because they
thought the child would be born in the palace. But when they asked to see the
child who would be the new ruler, King Herod was very worried as he thought he
would be removed from the throne. King Herod told the Wise Men that when they
found the baby, they should return and tell him so that he could also worship
the baby.
The Wise Men used the star as a guide to go to Bethlehem where they found Mary,
Joseph and Baby Jesus who they worshipped and offered gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh. The Wise Men are celebrated in some Christmas
celebrations on Jan. 6, known as the Epiphany to mark the date when they found
Jesus. Later in the night the three Wise Men had a dream in which an angel told
them that King Herod wanted to kill Baby Jesus. They left Bethlehem to return to
the East but didn't return to Jerusalem to tell King Herod where they had found
the child. Joseph also had a dream soon after the Wise Men left in which an
angel appeared and told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt because Herod had
ordered that Jesus be killed. In an effort to kill Jesus after the Wise Men did
not return to inform him of the baby's whereabouts, Herod later ordered that all
baby boys in Bethlehem should be killed. But by then Mary and Joseph had left
with Baby Jesus.

Christmas in Central and South America

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:30:00 -0700

In Central and South American nations, which have a fairly large Christian
population, the Nativity or Manger Scene is the main decoration in homes at
Christmas time. In Mexico, a Christmas tree may also be set up in some homes
along with the Nativity scene or Nacimiento. The Christmas tree is usually a
small artificial tree, called arbolito. It can also be as simple as a branch cut
from a special type of tree or a type of shrub that is then minimally decorated.
The primary Christmas celebration in Mexico is called La Posada. It is a
religious procession that dramatizes how Joseph and Mary tried to find a place
where Jesus could be born. During the procession, the participants carry images
of Mary and Joseph and go from house to house seeking a place to stay. During
Midnight Mass, which is called la misa del gallo or 'rooster's mass,' those in
attendance sing lullabies to Jesus. On Christmas Day children receive gifts as
well as candies that are stuffed into a piñata. This may be one or more
sculptures made of papier mache that are hung from the ceiling. Children are
blindfolded and take turns hitting the piñata until it breaks and scatters the
candies on the floor. All the children then scamper around as they try to get as
much candy as they can. Children also receive a gift on Jan. 6 from the Three
Wise Men, if they were good.
People in Venezuela usually put out pesebres, which show the Nativity
scene, on Dec. 16. Early morning church services, called Misa de Aguinaldo, are
also common from Dec. 16 to Christmas Eve. After Mass on Christmas Eve, a grand
dinner is traditionally enjoyed.
In Argentina, red and white garlands are used to decorate houses. After
attending Midnight Mass, Argentinians have a meal, toast each other, dance and
go out to see fireworks. The meal may be roasted pork or turkey, stuffed
tomatoes, mince pies, Christmas bread and puddings. Drinks such as cider and
juice made from different fruits are used for the toast. Christmas gifts are
opened on Christmas Eve just before the family retires to bed.
In Chile, Santa Claus is Father Christmas and is known as 'Viejito
Pascuero.' He arrives in a similar but slightly different manner than Santa
Claus because his reindeer is pulled by a taxicab. Chileans use small figures
made from clay to place near the Christmas tree in a display called pesebre to
show the Nativity story. The traditional Christmas dinner includes chicken soup
with stuffed potatoes, onions and corn on the cob. Another favorite item is a
Christmas bread that is called pan de pasqua and which is made with candies and
fruits.
Christmas customs in Brazil originate from the many different ethnic groups who
make up the country. The Nativity scene is called the Presepio and can commonly
be found displayed in homes, churches and stores. Papai Noel, or Father Noel,
resides in Greenland and brings gifts at Christmas. He is said to wear silk
clothing because Christmas occurs during summer when it is very hot in Brazil.
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is called Missa do Gallo, because the coming day
is announced by the rooster and the Mass finishes at 1 am on the following day.
A traditional Christmas dinner, called Ceia de Natal, includes ham, turkey,
colored rice, a variety of vegetables and fruit dishes. Christmas Day Mass at
Catholic churches are mainly held in the late afternoon because people enjoy
sleeping late or going to the beach after having Christmas dinner. Christmas
festivities, which include folk dancing and singing, continue until January 6th,
which is called Three Kings Day.

Christmas In Other European Countries

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:29:00 -0700

In Finland, Christmas Eve is the traditional time to set up the Christmas tree
and it's also traditional to visit the sauna and for families to listen to a
broadcast of the national 'Peace of Christmas' on the radio. Christmas Dinner
generally consists of a main dish of boiled codfish that is snowy and fluffy in
appearance, served with cream sauce and boiled potatoes. Christmas dinner is
rounded out with roast suckling pig or roasted fresh ham and vegetables. Among
peasants, there is a tradition to tie a sheaf of grain, with nuts and seeds, to
a pole that is put in a garden for birds. Many peasants will wait until after
the birds have eaten before having their Christmas Dinner. And Santa Claus is
expected to visit homes in person with his Christmas elves to give out Christmas
gifts.
Christmas in France is called Noel, from the phrase 'les bonnes nouvelles,' or
'the good news,' which refers to the gospel. On Christmas Eve, cathedrals and
churches are beautifully lit and filled with the sounds of Christmas carols,
ringing church bells and carillons. The tradition among children is to put their
shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel or le petit Jesus to fill them with gifts.
In the north of France however, children receive gifts on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas
Day, instead of Christmas. Most French homes will have a Nativity scene or
crèche on display during the season. In Southern France, some people will burn a
log in their home from Christmas Eve until New Years Day, which comes out of a
farming tradition of using the log for good luck in the coming harvest. The
French also make a traditional cake called the buche de Noel, or Christmas Log,
which is shaped like a Yule log and is part of a late supper called le reveillon
held after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The main dish for this meal generally
consists of poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine but varies according to
region. The main course in Burgundy is turkey with chestnuts and in Paris it's
oysters, foie gras and the buche de Noel cake. The wines generally served are
Champagne, Muscadet, Sauterne and Anjou. An annual tradition of puppet shows,
particularly in Paris and Lyons, is popular during Christmas time. In Paris,
it's also popular for big department stores to have grand, animated window
displays.
Christmas in Italy is called 'Il Natale,' or 'the birthday.' Christmas season
starts eight days before Christmas, a period called the Novena, and runs for
three weeks. During the Novena, children dress as shepherds and go from house to
house saying Christmas poems, singing and playing pipes. They often receive
money to buy gifts during this activity. The Nativity scene, called the
Presepio, has miniature figures, carved in great detail out of clay or plaster,
of the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas for families.
Families say prayers and children recite poems around the Presepio. Christmas
Eve dinner, called cenone, is a traditional dish of roasted, baked or fried eel.
In some regions, various types of fish is prepared for this dinner, as well as
pork, sausage in a pig's leg or turkey stuffed with chestnuts. Christmas sweets
are called panettone and traditionally have nuts and almonds. On Christmas Eve,
children set out their shoes for a kind, old woman or ugly witch called La
Befana, who rides on a broomstick down chimneys, to fill them with gifts of toys
or candies. If they were bad, their shoes will be filled with coal. Some
children wait until Jan. 6, the Epiphany, to receive gifts.
Norway is where the tradition of the Yule log started and which gave rise to
log-shaped cakes, cheese and other desserts during the holidays. Norwegians
today often go into the forest to cut their own Christmas trees, which is
secretly decorated on Christmas Eve to surprise children. After the Christmas
tree is revealed, Norwegians engage in 'circling the Christmas tree,' a
tradition in which everyone joins hands forming a ring around the tree. They
then walk around the Christmas tree singing carols. Gifts are distributed after
this ritual is finished.

Christmas Around the World

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:28:00 -0700

Christmas in the Birthplaces of Traditions -- Bethlehem, Germany and England
Christmas as celebrated today is a culmination of centuries of
traditions that are religious and secular and which came from different
countries around the world. It is interesting therefore to look at some of the
general ways in which Christmas is celebrated in these countries. The traditions
examined for each country will be examples of some of the things that are unique
to that country and which are done today, or which were once done by people in
those countries.
To begin, it is symbolic to look at the town of Bethlehem, which is
believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity is located in
Bethlehem and at Christmas it is decorated with a lot of flags and other
Christmas decorations. A very large crowd usually gathers at The Church of the
Nativity on Christmas Eve to see a dramatic parade procession of horsemen, led
by police who are mounted on Arabian horses. Following the police in the
procession is a lone horseman who carries a cross, followed by churchmen and
government officials. Members of the procession solemnly enter the doors of The
Church of the Nativity and place an ancient effigy of Jesus in the church. A
silver star located deep in an underground cave-like section of the church marks
the site where Jesus was born. A star is also set atop a pole in the town's
square. In Bethlehem, homes of Christians usually have a cross over the door and
a manger scene is usually set up inside the house.
In Germany, home of the Christmas tree tradition, the Christmas tree
is not seen until Christmas Eve. The tree is usually kept in a special room, or
elsewhere, and decorated in secret with lights, ornaments, tinsels, angels,
candies, nuts and cookies. It is then lighted, the presents placed underneath
and then shown to the delight of Children on Christmas Eve. In Germany, Dec. 6
is known as St. Nicholas Day when Santa visits the homes of boys and girls. On
the day before, Dec. 5, children leave a shoe or boot outside or by the
fireplace for Santa Claus. If they were good, he places gifts and candies inside
the shoe. But if they were naughty, children will find twigs or a rod in their
shoe. Dinner on Christmas Day includes roast goose, long loaves of bread filled
with raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Other sweet delicacies are also enjoyed.
Many traditions in England are similar to those in the United States because
such traditions originated in England and were brought to the United States by
immigrants. The tradition of sending Christmas greeting cards started in England
and is still popular at Christmas, as well as the tradition of neighborhood
caroling on Christmas Eve. Children also hang stockings on Christmas Eve in
anticipation of Santa Claus filling them with Christmas gifts or treats. The
holly, ivy and mistletoe are also used a lot in Christmas decorations. In
England, the traditional Christmas Dinner is roast turkey, goose or chicken with
stuffing, vegetables and roast potatoes. Dessert consists of the British or
Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. A rich, fruit-filled Christmas cake may
also be enjoyed later in the day. A tradition of pulling Christmas crackers
also goes with the serving of food on Christmas Day. A cracker is a paper tube
that contains a party hat, riddle, toy or trinket, and is brightly colored and
twisted at both ends. It gives out a crack as the contents pop out when it is
pulled at each end. Also on Christmas afternoon, the Queen broadcasts a
Christmas message to the nation, which is heard on radio and television. The day
after Christmas is also a holiday that is known as Boxing Day.

Interesting Facts/ Notes About Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:25:00 -0700

It is an accepted fact that the Christmas tree tradition is one that was
brought to the shores of America by German immigrants who continued a practice
that was popular in their former homeland. Today, a Christmas tree, even a
miniature one, is present in just about every home at Christmas. It is therefore
interesting to note some little-know facts about the Christmas Tree and other
traditions related to Christmas.
The first interesting fact is the source of real Christmas Trees for some
Americans. These can be bought at a Christmas Tree Farm or at many local stores
and other places of business in just about every town and city across the
country around Christmas time. But according to the National Christmas Tree
Association, Americans buy about 330,000 Christmas trees that are real through
e-commerce or from a catalogue and have them shipped by mail-order.
The scent of real Christmas trees is the reason they are so popular. But as they
stand silently in their decorative wonder, they also are providing another
benefit. The Christmas Tree Association says the amount of oxygen produced on a
daily basis by one acre of Christmas tree is enough to provide enough oxygen for
18 people. And during the first wee{, a Christmas Tree at home will use up to
one quart of water each day to help retain its longevity for the many days of
Christmas.
Since Christmas celebrations gained popularity in America, the Christmas Tree
has always been a big tradition. During the 1950s however, artificial Christmas
trees were not always green. It was very popular during those times to have
artificial trees with other colors such as silver, pink and aqua. The appeal in
having these colored Christmas trees may have been due to the fact that they
looked shiny and bright and appeared like tinsel instead of green foliage.
An important ceremony related to the Christmas tree that gains national
attention during the Christmas season is the lighting of the National Christmas
Tree at the White House. This tradition can be credited to President Calvin
Coolidge who lit the first decorated Christmas tree outside at the White House
in 1923.
The lighting of the National Christmas Tree has also been used to convey some
symbolic meaning not related to Christmas. It was not lighted until Dec. 22 in
1963 because of a national mourning period of 30 days for the assassination of
President Kennedy. And while Teddy Roosevelt was President he gave an order that
banned the Christmas tree from the White House, not for the assassination of
President McKinley in 1901, which caused him to become president, but for
reasons related to the environment.
Also of note is that when the National Christmas Tree was lighted on Dec. 13 in
1984, temperatures were in the 70s during an unusually warm December.
Christmas has been celebrated in the United States since the 1600s although it
wasn't always very popular. It took more than two centuries into the mid-late
1860s for Christmas to become a popular holiday season all across America. So
maybe the rest of the country owes the holiday of Christmas Day to the state of
Alabama, which in 1836 became the first state to declare Dec. 25 a legal
holiday.
It is interesting to note that on Christmas Day of 1789 Congress was in session.
And to show how far ahead of the game Alabama was, it wasn't until June 26, 1870
that the federal government declared Christmas as a federal holiday.
Although Christmas is based on the Christian religion, not all Christian groups
celebrate the season. Among the Christian groups who do not celebrate Christmas
and related traditions such as sending greeting cards are Jehovah Witnesses.
Jehovah Witnesses and other non-participating Christian groups say Christmas
isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible as a time or reason to celebrate and
since they strictly adhere to the word of the Bible, they refuse to celebrate Christmas.

Tales Related to Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:21:00 -0700

A lot of what is widely regarded as true about Christmas or held as a
tradition cannot or has not been verified, or, has changed through the years.
Even Christmas Day itself, Dec. 25, has been questioned about whether that is
the exact day on which Jesus was born. Skeptics have asked why would shepherds
be out in the cold watching their flocks by night during the winter. Those
skeptics have put forward the thought that Jesus may really have been born in
the spring instead. It is therefore little wonder that there are many fancy
stories and tales that are told about Christmas and the Christmas season.
The most common fancy tale that everyone tells, particularly to children,
is about Santa Claus, also called St. Nicholas. But even if it were accepted
that Santa Claus existed, where does he live and how is he able to get to all
the houses of good boys and girls on Christmas Eve?
In the United States, Santa Claus is said to have two homes. There is a
home in Torrington, Connecticut, which is used as a distribution point for Santa
and his many helpers, who are elves, to hand out gifts. And then, a second home
is said to be located in Wilmington, New York, and that is where Santa Claus and
his delivery reindeer crew are located.
But Santa can be visited in Cyberspace at anytime and what about the
widely held belief that Santa Claus really lives in a village at the North Pole?
The people of Finland also claim that their country is the official residence of Santa Claus. That's because in Finland, you can actually visit a village any time during the year and see Santa's workshop and observe Santa and his elves hard at work as they prepare for their very important Christmas gift delivery job on Christmas Eve. The only day when Santa's workshop is closed to visitors is of course, on Christmas Eve.
Maybe a very smart visitor could visit Santa's workshop on the day before Christmas Eve to see if there are any clues to how Santa and his reindeers plan to make their trip the next day. That's because as the tale goes, in Finland Santa Claus and his reindeers do not reach their destinations around the globe by flying.
Finland welcomes visitors to Santa's workshop but there is nothing said about whether visitors actually have any chance of having a word with the man himself. While the chances of doing so are believed to be non-existent, among the questions that inquiring minds could ask Santa is whether Rudolph is the son of Donner (and to confirm the spelling - Donner or Donder) or whether Santa spotted him in a different reindeer village one foggy Christmas Eve when he had already started on his Christmas toy-delivery mission.If mere mortals got a chance to question Santa, then he also would likely have some questions for us humans. He may want to know whose idea was it to have Christmas trees and for the gifts to be placed under them.
The tradition of Christmas tree as it exists today comes from Germany by
way of immigrants. But it isn't clear how the tradition really gained a foothold
in Germany. One story is that Christians in Germany during the 16th century
started to bring trees that were decorated into their homes. Some of those
Christians would build pyramids for Christmas. The pyramids were made of wood
and would be decorated with evergreens and candles if wood was in short supply.
It is however Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, who is said to have
been the first to add lighted candles as decoration to a tree based on his
inspiration from the brilliant light of twinkling stars that shone through
evergreen trees as he walked home one winter evening.
As the legend goes, Martin Luther placed a tree in a primary room of his
house and placed wires with small, lighted candles around the branches of the
tree. And that is how, as the tale goes, the Christmas tree as known today, was
started.

All About Rudolph and Santa's Other Reindeers

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:12:00 -0700

Maybe it's the undeniable alliterative appeal of Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer
that makes him the most known or popular of all Santa's nine flying reindeers.
It certainly doesn't seem as easy to come up with a similar catchy description
for the others - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and
Blitzen - as named in the song.
The story of Rudolph whose glowing red nose made him a standout, first appeared
in 1939 when Montgomery Ward department stores distributed about 2.4 million
booklets with the poem in the form of a story about "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer." It was written by Robert L. May, who worked in the store's
advertisement or marketing department, to be used to attract more people into
the store. When the booklet was reissued in 1939, sales soared to more than 3.5
million copies. But it wasn't until a decade later, in 1949, that the story
really gained immense popularity when Gene Autry sang a musical version of the
fable. As a Christmas song, it is second only in popularity to 'White
Christmas.'
Rudolph, the ninth reindeer whose lighted nose guides Santa's sleigh through the
night, is now known worldwide as the song has been translated into more than 20
different languages and an animated television movie has also been based on the
story. Rudolph and his noticeable nose have also become the subject of jokes and
sparked more interest in reindeers which has led to much research into Santa and
the flying reindeers who pull his sleigh through the sky.
Along with the catchy rhythm of the lyrics, Rudolph's story is also appealing
because of the moral lessons it contains. As the story goes, Rudolph was
ostracized by the other reindeers, which laughed and teased him about his shiny
red nose. But on a foggy night, when Santa must have been concerned that he may
not be able to deliver his Christmas gifts around the world, Santa spotted him
and kindly asked if he would step to the front as the leader to 'guide my sleigh
tonight.' His shiny red nose would after all be very useful in lighting the way,
Santa thought. From then on 'all of the other reindeers loved him," and rightly
predicted that he 'would go down in history.'
Among the moral lessons the story can impart is that an attribute that is
perceived as negative or as a liability can be used for a positive purpose, or,
become an asset. It also makes the point that an individual should not let the
negative behavior of others define him or her and limit expectations of what can
be achieved. And it also illustrates how quickly opinions and attitudes about a
person can change.
The question still lingers however of where Rudolph came from. He is commonly
regarded as the son of Donner (or Donder), one of the original eight reindeers.
But the Snopes.com site rejects this however, saying that he dwelled in a
reindeer village elsewhere and it was there that he was seen by Santa who had
already started on his Christmas Eve journey to deliver gifts. And in a more
modern evolution of the story according to Wikipedia.com, an animation by the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) introduced a son, named Robbie, of
Rudolph. That son has now become the tenth reindeer.
It's also interesting to note that the idea of Santa's sleigh being pulled by reindeers was originated in the poem, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.' That
poem tells the story of St. Nicholas, who is Santa, calling his eight tiny
reindeers by their names, as previously mentioned, just before he came down the chimney of a house to start filling the stockings from a sack full of toys he carried on his back.

Some Christmas Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 11:56:00 -0700

Christians celebrate Christmas to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, which is an event and not a tradition. But many other activities related to celebrating the Christmas season evolved from certain traditions, many of which are from other countries, particularly from peoples in Europe.Among common items used in Christmas decorations are the holly and the mistletoe. Both are used primarily in wreaths and garlands. The Druids started the tradition of using the mistletoe as decorative items up to two hundred years before Christ. To celebrate the winter season, the Druids would gather the plants and use them to decorate their homes. The Druids believed the mistletoe would bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. They also believed that the mistletoe had a healing quality and could be used for everything from healing wounds to increase fertility. In Scandinavia, the mistletoe was seen as a plant of peace and harmony and was associated with Frigga, the goddess of love. This association is probably what led to the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. In the Victorian period, the English also would hang mistletoe from ceilings and in doorways during holidays. The habit developed that if someone was standing under the mistletoe, someone else in the room would kiss that person. Such outright behavior was not generally seen in Victorian society. The use of the mistletoe in Christmas celebrations was once banned by the church however because of its associations with pagan traditions, and the use of holly was suggested as a substitute.
Poinsettias are another traditional decorative flower used at Christmas. It is native to Mexico and is named after Joel Poinsett, who was the first U.S ambassador to Mexico and who brought the plants to America in 1828. Mexicans believe the plants were a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem and that's one reason they are associated with Christmas. There's also the story that a young boy was going to see the Nativity Play at a church but realized he didn't have a gift for Baby Jesus. The boy gathered some green branches, which others scoffed at. But as he placed them near the manger, a bright red poinsettia flower started to bloom on each branch, which gave rise to their traditional use at Christmas. Candy canes became a Christmas tradition not because their red and white stripes matched the colors of the season, but for the most unusual reason of discipline. that's because they were first used as treats that were give to German children to keep them well-behaved for the duration of church sermons. Over time, the legend of candy canes at Christmas came to be associated with some of the strongest symbols and beliefs of Christianity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost known as the Trinity, the Blood of the Son of God, Jesus as the embodiment of holiness, purity and without sin and the Son of God as the shepherd of man. The candy cane represents these symbols respectively with its three stripes, its red and white color and its shape. Sending greeting cards during Christmas and the holidays is as prevalent today as the custom of giving gifts. The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in 1840 in Britain with the start of public postal delivery service of the 'Penny Post.' Then from about 1860, large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started to be produced. The popularity of the cards increased in Britain when they could be sent by the postal service for one half-penny, which was half the price to post a standard letter at the time, if they were in an unsealed envelope. Religious pictures of Mary, Joseph , Baby Jesus, the angels, shepherds and Wise Men were traditionally placed on Christmas cards. Some cards today include scenes from the Nativity, but pictures of Santa Claus, winter scenery, Christmas trees, gift packages and others are also depicted on contemporary Christmas greeting cards.

Shopping Days of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 11:43:00 -0700

Nov. 24 – Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving, you have time off from work and it's the official start of the Christmas season and of Christmas shopping. Stores are open 3-4 hours earlier and they close later. Holiday sales begin, it's the first time that some items will be available…. but definitely won't be among the crazies up at 4am to get to the top of the line to make some wild dash for the $99 flat-screen television or the Crazy Elmo toy. (Black Friday is the second single biggest shopping day for retailers and got its
name because in the days of old so much shopping was done on this day that it would turn the tide for many stores and put them in the black, or, make them profitable.)
Dec. 2 – First Saturday in December – weekends are important because it means free time to shop. The early holiday and Christmas shopper should be more than halfway through shopping list. Average shoppers are just starting to browse.
Dec. 3 – First Sunday – weekend Christmas shopping can be done but stores close the usual earlier time on Sundays.
Dec. 7 – Pearl Harbor Day – it isn't recognized by most but is very important to war veterans. The President usually gives a speech to a Veterans group and lays a wreath in honor of those who died on Pearl Harbor Day and in World War II.
Dec. 9 – Second Saturday – only two full weeks to go before Christmas. Where did the time go and where did the year go? To your disguised annoyance, you are starting to hear the ubiquitous phrase, 'Finished all your Christmas shopping yet?' Christmas shopping has to pick up speed or panic will set in. You are running out of time to enjoy some quality Christmas entertainment with your family.
Dec. 10 – Second Sunday – go to church if you haven't been attending so that you won't look like a 'Christmas only attendee.' Need to squeeze in some shopping and must start sending out Christmas greeting cards this week.
Dec. 16 – Third Saturday, First Day of Hanukkah – it's unbelievable that there's only one full week to go before Christmas. Make supermarket shopping list for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner preparations.
Dec. 17 – Third Sunday – exactly one week before Christmas. Make sure Christmas toys and presents in hiding are still undiscovered. Make final plans for family dinner on Christmas Day.
Dec. 21 – oh dear me!!! Only three days to go before Christmas. Do last minute planning, get as many chores as possible out of the way, finish all Christmas and supermarket shopping. Assign final preparatory tasks to family members as necessary. Go over plans for Christmas Dinner.
Dec. 22 – First Day of Winter – My goodness!! you still have shopping to do!!? You dread going to the mall this weekend. Pray for a miracle to find one of those needle in a haystack salesperson who will hold hand and get you 95% through your Christmas shopping list.
Dec. 23 – Last Saturday before Christmas – Now The Single Biggest Shopping Day of the Year!!!! The mall is absolutely crazy and there are no sales people anywhere. It's a zoo everywhere – on the roads, in the supermarket, even at the gas station people are honking, hollering at the gas attendant to pump faster! But you know what … stopped at my favorite pastry store and was in and out in a nanosecond… there was no line!!
Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve – downtown is glorious, everything is so splendid and magical…. will go to Midnight Mass…. Christmas is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!!

Christmas in African Nations

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 11:42:00 -0700

Christmas celebrations in African nations is characterized by
much outdoor activity because the season often occurs during a time
when the weather is pleasant. Using palm trees and participating in
processions are also characteristic features of activities related to
Christmas in many parts of Africa.
In South Africa, activities that occur outside during Christmas
include the usual caroling, but also the unusual ones of swimming and
camping. The beach and mountains play an important role during
Christmas in South Africa because the season occurs during the hottest
time of the year - summer.
Given the pleasant nature of the weather during Christmas,
families also take advantage of it by often going sightseeing in the
countryside on a relaxing drive in the late evening of Christmas Day. A
rich and sumptuous menu that includes a suckling pig or roast beef,
turkey, mince pies, yellow rice, vegetables and puddings usually makes
up the traditional South African Christmas dinner.
To create a festive environment, decorated pine branches and fir,
sparkling cotton wool and tinsel are used in homes and businesses as
decorations.
A similar decorative pattern of using evergreen, palm trees and
lighted candles are also seen in countries such as Ghana and Liberia.
While these are used in homes and businesses, they are also often
carried in processions and during caroling activities.
While South Africans gather at the beach during Christmas time to
enjoy the warm summer waters, people in other African nations often
gather outside at in town squares and in the streets to march, sing and
enjoy an overall feeling of merriment.
Despite the seemingly general similarity in activities, however,
countries have their own individual style that makes Christmas
celebrations unique.
Of all the celebrations in African nations, Christmas activities
in Ethiopia stand out for their difference in when they are celebrated
and how it is done. One of the features that make Ethiopian Christmas
different is that the main celebratory event occurs on Jan. 7, around
the time known as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day in North and South
America.
Given the general modest economic financial situations of a
significant number of the population in many African countries,
Christmas celebrations also tend to occur over a shorter period of
time, compared to activities in more wealthier countries.
Another difference in celebrations of Christmas in Ethiopia is
the participation of various people who take part in a pilgrimage and
converge on the capital city during Christmas Eve. These wanderers fill
the night air with a din of praying and chanting and create a
multicolor spectacle when they gather on Christmas morning to have a
religious service.
But retaining a similarity with other African nations, Ethiopians
enjoy a Christmas dinner that includes a meat stew. Stews, rice, root
vegetables such as yams, breads and soups often are part of the menu of
traditional Christmas day dinners in African nations.
Christmas dinners are likely enjoyed by families outside, where
everyone shares the meal while sitting in a circular pattern outside
under the shade of a sprawling tree, instead of sitting in a formal
setting at a table.
As is the practice in every household during Christmas, Africans
also exchange gifts. Popular items that are exchanged as Christmas
gifts include cotton cloth, soaps, sweets, pencils and books, all very
practical items that can be readily used. Again, this may be related to
the modest financial resources of up to half the population in many
African countries, as well as to cultural norms. Individuals aren't
able to afford extravagant gifts but they still want to surprise
children, family and friends at Christmas with an unexpected gift. The
generally pervasive cultural norm of humility and modesty that exists
among traditional African peoples, also plays an important role in not
having overreaching extravagance at Christmas.

After Your Boat Purchase

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 11:41:00 -0700

Once you've made the purchase on a brand new boat
you'll be very excited - as you should be! The
first thing to do is celebrate with your family and
friends, you deserve it. You shouldn't rush out
on the water immediately after the purchase, as
you have some things to take care of first.

If you are new to boating, you should take a
safety course first. There is a lot to know about
boats. Being out on the water is a lot of fun,
although there are things you should know and
things you should always be aware of.

After buying your boat, you should register it and
re-title the boat and trailer if you need to. Pay
your sales tax and apply any up to date registration
stickers if you need to. Also, make sure you buy
the proper insurance for your boat, as it will
protect you while you are on the water.

When you make your first trip on the water, you
should do so with an experienced boater. You can
have them show you turning in tight spaces, even
trailering and docking. Practice docking in
different currents and take the helm with the
boater there to help you. Get comfortable at the
helm enough to where you'll feel comfortable taking
others out for a ride.

The world of boating can be very fun, offering you
many things to do and a lot to see. Boating offers
plenty of freedom as well, especially for those who
are completely new to boating. Your first boat
purchase is very important, as it opens up new doors
in life. Your family will enjoy boating, all you
have to do is give it a chance!

Low Cost Pay per Click Advertising Services

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:04:00 -0700

As Pay per click’s name suggests, you only pay for actual click through to your web site. Inexpensive Pay per click internet advertising lists your web site according to your bid for a certain search keyword. Of course, Web sites which pay more are ranked higher.

Pay-per-click internet advertising can be a very reasonable cost compared to other manner of promotion on the Internet. You don't pay any amount until a visitor actually clicks on your listing and go to see your web site. The low cost pay per click internet advertising counts how many visitors click on your listing and takes the money out of an account you have set up with them.

You host the images to be used in your low cost pay per click internet advertising, so you can monitor and change the banner at anytime. Targeted advertising in pay for clicks will help increase the amount of customers you obtain at a controlled cost.

There are many low cost pay per click internet advertising solutions available in the internet. All you have to make sure is that the advertising solution guarantees your satisfaction and your web site’s traffic.

In determining good quality and affordable pay per click internet advertising service, make sure to run very carefully planned and structured promotions in order to boost the targeted traffic to your web site and increase guest conversion rate.

Make sure that the pay per click internet services you applied for studies your business as well as your competitors. Plus, don’t forget to give specific details regarding your target audience for your web site.

After the cheap pay per click internet advertising solution has finished studying and analyzing your business, research to produce the most appropriate keywords for your business. The pay per click internet advertising solution would then prepare an exclusive copy of the advertisement to be able to catch the attention of the would-be web site visitors.

For successful pay per click internet advertising, you and the solutions should identify appropriate landing pages. If needed, a number of changes are suggested to construct the perfect landing page which would work for an entry point to your website.

It is one great way to increase the visibility of your new web site. It is the fastest growing marketing tool there is today. Because of a wide range of companies servicing inexpensive pay per click internet advertising solutions, you must be careful to choose which company to trust. You should be able to research the service quality they are willing to offer.

Free internet advertising

noreply@blogger.com (irfanali) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:02:00 -0700

Free internet advertising is one very important method for promoting your products and services to thousands of free classified ads.

Most of these free classified ads web sites give you the power to facilitate marketing with features such as classified ads submitter forms. Features like this give free Internet advertising an extremely fast way of getting your products or services on line. It is accessible 24/7 allowing you access anytime, it's very effective and efficient and most of it comes free. No downloads. No sign-up fees. No hidden charges. No annual or monthly fees. No sales fees. It is absolutely free.

Free internet advertising makes it easy for you to put free ads on several of the premier quality web sites whenever you want, for free. This kind of benefit you get from free internet advertising can only do, to say the least, miracles for your business. Most of these free internet advertising companies give you 3 slots to advertise any product or service for free.

Free internet advertising is the perfect way and best way to make your products or services known to the millions of prospective consumers in the Internet and make your web site start producing money. There is an enormous audience for free internet advertising that is present in the Internet, that the probability of anyone needing your services or wanting to buy your products is very high. There are free services out there that may suit your services, products and web site. Browse the internet for the best free internet advertising for assessment on their amenities and features how to advertise or join your web site for free internet advertising.

Most web sites promoting free internet advertising have features like classified ads submitter – where you can get a enormous exposure with instant results and expand your sales by large volumes over night, opt-in email lists – non spam bulk emailing program, guaranteed 100% legal. Opt-in email lists are created by people who have volunteered or ‘opted-in’ their email addresses to these lists. These lists are very effective for creating personalized email to prospective clients.

Free internet advertising provides a great technique for building traffic. People constantly search on online free internet advertising ads for specific services or products. Free internet advertising target clients inclined to buying a particular kind of product or service in mind.

And the best reason to advertise in free internet advertising is because it is absolutely free.