12 months of Christmas? Holiday tips for money savings provide simple ways to celebrate without all of the holiday stress. Typically, Americans spend an excessive amount of money during the holidays. Most do not have the money to spend. Keep reading for 12 money saving ideas.

If you are like many people feeling the effects of the recession, Christmas is not what it should be this year. When you feel hopeless about Christmas; just have a little faith that everything will fall into place. The following Christmas holiday tips for money savings is designed to save anyone money for 12 months. You can have fun with some while others need more time and attention.

There are a few Christmas holiday tips that require time; beginning in January, you will have a year of money saving time.

Become an entrepreneur. Be creative; there are many ways you can begin a fundraiser for yourself. First, enroll in a training program that will teach you the how to find your niche market.

Open a Christmas savings account. If possible, have a few dollars direct deposited into an account each pay period or monthly. Make sure you do not use the money and the account is not apart of your overdraft protection.

Keep current Christmas lists. How many times have you heard your friends and family tell you what they wish they could have for Christmas? Make a note of it and purchase it on sale.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle to make x-mas decorations. Instead of putting the materials in the bins, keep them. Many wonderful crafts can be made by using recycled materials. You can give them away for Christmas presents to the "hard to shop for" people on your list. If you choose, you can use these to fulfill another tip on the list.

During the next four months, there are a four more easy ways to save money. By this time, you should have money from your growing business. You will also find yourself wanting to get out and spend some money. Shopping at second hand shops will save you money and you will find many designer clothes at a fraction of the price. Additionally, you will be helping charities, depending on which shop you chose to frequent. You may find items that can be used for creative homemade Christmas gifts. Although, there are times when specific items cannot be found at secondhand shops; in this case shop discount liquidations, clearance sales, and outlet stores. Do not forget, this is also the best time for the Christmas in July sales.

In the last months of the year, you can work on four more Christmas holiday tips that make everything more special. Start by redefining Christmas or better yet the holiday season. Remind the family of the real reason of the season; it is not about what they receive. With that in mind, adopt a family for the holiday; giving gifts to a family or just a child is always greatly appreciated and feels good too. Be sure to spend time with the family doing quality activities like baking cutout sugar cookies or building a gingerbread house. Lastly, arrange a potluck Christmas dinner party with a Secret Santa gift exchange. Inviting friends and family lessens the cooking responsibilities and food costs for all that attend.

Using money saving ideas is necessary during a recession and anytime there is a lack of money. If you are surprised that becoming an entrepreneur is a way to save money, well, it is a non-traditional way to make money. As an entrepreneur, you will have more money to spend wisely, since saving money is always the forethought during a recession. You will want to find a comprehensive training program so that you have the opportunity to earn money right away. Remember, you need to have faith that everything will fall into place, especially when you follow the 12 months of Christmas holiday tips for money savings.

The Author of this article Matthew Gruenke is a Success Coach & Top Internet Marketing Mentor and Leader in the Home Based Business Industry, who works with other Top Industry Leaders around the world to help others achieve success and wealth through Internet Marketing. I have a passion for helping others achieve their goals, dreams and freedom!

To Learn More About Matt Gruenke & his Team of Top Internet Marketers Matthew Gruenke dot com

If you have found this Article to be helpful & would like to learn more on how to make a multiple six figure residual income part-time from home Then Click Here.

~God Bless you and Your Family~

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Gruenke

Tags: Money, Savings, Christmas, Holiday

There is always a dilemma in our household about whether to dress up or go casual on Christmas day, over the years we've witnessed a variety of styles and fashions, from the hideous xmas jumper trend, through to grunge. My sister-in-laws always go for a glamorous look whereas I've always opted for comfortable but chic. But 2009 is a year of change, with the rise and rise of big and bold necklaces, I've decide to glam it up at the dinner table.

I love the idea of still sneaking in a bit of casual though, so will be doing this with a pair of gorgeous (but stretchy) leggings, paired with a cute little pair of knee length boots (obviously these will be swapped for wellies when we go out for our obligatory forest walk).

I will be teaming all of this with a gorgeous black tunic jumper and then topping it with a big, silver ball cluster necklace, a bit like the one off the 'here come the girls Boots advert' and with an oh-so-on-trend large Murano glass cocktail ring - I think I'll feel glitzy but still in my comfort zone.

So with this in mind, I've also come up with some tips for styling over the Christmas holidays

Christmas eve drinks down the pub - a lovely black polar neck teamed with a silk shift dress with a sexy and modern patent leather belt, thick black tights, ever so high (almost can't walk in them - but good if you are staying put in one place) patent leather shoes. Classic very long silver necklace and a lovely pussy bow hairband.

Boxing day at the relatives - now obviously this will depend on whether you have an annual table tennis competition in your house, or whether general drinks and a catch up is the usual. So for the former (our families choice), a lovely soft long black sweater/tunic with embellished beads around the neckline for added and easy glitz (it also ensures no necklace detachment during a vigorous backhand!), flat and chunky knee high boots. All the rest of the glamour can come in the form of a set of beautiful silver bangles - great for making a distracting noise whilst playing table tennis.

Trip to Panto - a British classic, to take the children and usually a few elderly relatives to shout 'he's behind you' at oddly dressed men-folk in ladies frocks. But style is important wherever you go, so a lovely long military style coat, knee high boots (flat and chunky biker style) deep purple (this seasons hot colour) satin pussy bow shirt and black stretch skirt. A lovely very large amethyst cocktail ring, over-long silver charm necklace to drop at tummy-button level and a cute silver charm bracelet. Don't forget you will need an over-sized handbag to carry everything in so go for Purple patent too.

Pearl and Butler are an online retailer, stocking Murano glass jewellery and other costume jewellery.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_O'Neal

Tags: Christmas, Wear, classic

Christmas is a day of celebration, gifts, lights, feasts and pleasant indulgence. The nativity caroling, sweet carols, scripture, reading rooms, concerts and million other things are the significance of this day. Every city dazzles with colored light and super shiny and snazzy decorations. Shops get packed with massive variety of gifts, chocolates, decorative pieces and much more. And all this provides enough reason for people to love almost everything about the Christmas Day.

In most parts of the world, Christmas Day is celebrated to rejoice the birth of Jesus Christ and his coming to this world. It is believed that Jesus Christ was born on the Christmas day, about two thousand years ago, in Bethlehem. Recognized as the son of God, Jesus Christ is considered as the Savior of the world. Hence, to celebrate his deeds and conducts, Christmas day is celebrated with numerous age-old traditions and customs. It is a day that reminds us the significance of humanity, love, care and emotions.

However, today, along with these conventional customs, new trends and ideas have also developed. Today, Christmas is celebrated in an amazing manner that has something special for everyone in the family. During Christmas, a thing that largely grabs attention is shopping and the heaviest range of discounts and offers. Starting from thanksgiving, the season of discounts and offers often attract a lot of shopping freaks. People especially wait for this season, to buy electronics, discount perfumes and other stuff as real lucrative deals are offered.

Interestingly, the craze for cheap fragrances is seems to top the list for two major reasons. First of all, since it is a festive season the passion for wearing designer perfumes in parties and events touches sky and second is of course, the discount offers available on these designer perfumes. The season is simply perfect to shop for these amazing, delicious fragrances that might cost you a fortune without these lucrative deals.

In addition to these, people also prefer to buy these cheap perfumes for the purpose of gifts and presents. As the season brings with it the special tradition of presenting your loved ones gifts and other precious things, people often choose to buy and gift beautiful, enticing perfumes. Cheap perfumes seems to be an interesting pick for most of people because there hardly be anyone who would not like to receive perfumes as gifts and secondly, as they are discounted perfumes, you, as a presenter, tend to save a lot on your pocket as well. So if you are also wondering to gift your friends and colleagues something special this Christmas, that easily fits your budget, try to shop around for discounted perfumes.

Harry Johnson is a cosmetics specialist that regularly reviews about perfumes just like Gianni Versace Perfume, Hugo Boss Perfume and Coty Perfume. Also get knowledge about Discount Perfume and Cologne.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Jonson

Tags: Christmas, Perfumes, Discounted

You want to have the perfect holiday season. There are many pitfalls that you might have encountered before. Rather than waiting till it happens, here is a list of the common mistakes that people have made in the past.

• Using one cord for all Christmas lights - Lights can either be your friend or enemy. If you only use one strand, you'll run the chance of burning out a fuse. Think ahead and hook many Christmas lights to a power strip.
• Running out of Christmas gift wrap - It might seem silly to purchase a ton of gift wrapping, but when the time comes, you'll be glad you have enough Christmas wrapping paper to cover all your gifts. It helps to plan in advance, even if it means buying leftover gift-wrap after the holiday season is over. You'll be well prepared for next year.
• Broken Christmas ornaments - One of the most costly mistakes is having broken memories in a box. Preserve your holiday trinkets in tissues and newspaper. If you have an extra dollar or have already opened Christmas gifts, grab some padded packaging material.
• Awkward family get-togethers - When the time comes to meet the other half of the family you normally don't see the rest of the year, you might feel awkward speaking with them. Ask them about their experiences during the year or tell them funny stories. Don't solely rely on alcohol to escape the social barrier. Once you get some common ground started, you'll be able to transition stories into other stories, observations, and hopefully fond memories. Be enthusiastic when you receive gifts, no matter what. Also, don't forget to hug when you greet each other so everyone feels welcome. You want to keep the experience joyful. Also remember to turn your cell phone off, or at the very least keep the conversation to a minimum. It's your opportunity to spend time with relatives.

If you want to get more ideas on how to experience the perfect magical holiday season, I highly recommend HolidayGiftBook. There are many Christmas ideas and holiday gifts that you can find to make the perfect holiday season happen in your home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Berk

Tags: Holiday, Christmas, Mistakes

If you are like 90% of the population, you feel the pinch of stress during the holidays. Let's face it we are under a certain amount of pressure (some of us more than others) to accomplish a substantial number of tasks before that 12-25 deadline. Having to make so many people happy is truly the biggest challenge many of us face each year. If this sounds familiar, then this site was designed and dedicated to help you face those challenges with less anxiety and a little more optimism. Hence, the information we provide here will hopefully result in a more positive, less drained energy for when that big day arrives.

You will be happy to know that there are at least 10 steps to success that you may follow in order to lower the "stress barometer". The holidays are exceptionally stressful. Making arrangements with family members, shopping for gifts, struggling through the crowds at local department stores, and planning meals are just a few of the situations that may result in stress. In this guide, you will provide you with 10 easy steps that can be followed that will assist in your overcoming stress that may be encountered this Christmas.

1. Shopping Stress - What do I Buy? One of the most stressful events when it comes to the Christmas holiday season is purchasing gifts for those that you know. Your gift giving list may include your relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and many others. Pushing yourself to discover the "perfect" gift for each person on your list may prove to be exceptionally challenging. In order to take some of the heat off of buying gifts, elect to give gift cards. Not only is this type of gift inexpensive and easy to pick out, it is typically highly appreciated by the person that receives it. However, if you are more inclined to find that unique, Christmas gift idea for that special person you may want to check out the most exciting new products and gifts on our list of Hottest Sellers of 2009.

And, if you are REALLY looking for the ultimate gift maybe that special person is s collector or a fan of vintage movie posters, sports memorabilia or historical figures and events a great site with such incredible treasures is Conway's Vintage Treasures (0r just Google it).

2. MORE Shopping Stress - Yikes the Malls are Pure Insanity! You know what I'm talking about. The traffic into the shopping malls, then no parking, then hostile crowds to deal with, then long lines and out of stock items I came to the mall for in the first place. It's shopping hell! The solution?, Shop Online. No traffic, no parking lot aggression, no hostile Stressed-Out crowds to deal with and NO Out-of-Stock surprises. In the comfort of your own home, in your pajamas, find exactly what you are looking for and have it delivered to your doorstep. And, we have gone a step further to make your online shopping even LESS stressful. We have put together a list of the Hottest Selling Products in a number of categories. These gifts were determined to be the Most Popular products according to Amazon, with the Best Buyer Reviews and Ratings and most have FREE shipping. We've done all the work for you, so you don't have to. AND, the best part is these are not just gift buying ideas for Christmas but ANY holiday or special occasion.

Steps 1 and 2 are some ideas to combat what is probably the pinnacle of the holiday anxiety and stress factor, Shopping. Hopefully, some of these suggestions will, in the least, guide you into a stress-reduction direction

3. Letting go of tradition. Believe it or not, tradition may result in high levels of stress during the Christmas holidays. Many individuals make every attempt to stick to the traditions that they have always known, or traditions that are important to their loved ones. Examples of tradition includes visiting neighborhoods to observe Christmas decorations, ensuring that you visit all of your close loved ones on Christmas, and even hosting a Christmas party. If you find that the traditions that you attempt to uphold are resulting in high levels of anxiety, avoid them and make the holidays simple.

4. Money Worries. A close cousin of "shopping worries" money problems cause varying degrees of anxiety during the Christmas holidays. This can easily be avoided by creating a budget specifically designed to address the expenses associated with the holiday. Go through your basic day to day budget and evaluate your savings. Then, determine an amount of money that can be dedicated to gift buying. Once you have a budget allotted for your Christmas spending, it is important to make a list of the individuals that you elect to purchase gifts for. You should then designate an amount of money for each person on that list. Many who are experiencing financial challenges discover that they can easily allow themselves to spend anywhere from $10.00 to $25.00 per person on their Christmas list. By doing this, you will discover that shopping becomes a bit more enjoyable and a whole lot less stressful!

5. What to do with the Children? If you are planning for Christmas and have children, you may find that succeeding in your preparations is challenging. You should do one of two things. The first thing that you may do to keep children occupied while you prepare for the holidays is to give them their own "jobs" to do to help you. This may include creating homemade ornaments for the Christmas tree, allowing them to create homemade cards and/or gifts, and other activities. If this is not successful, the second option is seeking out a babysitter.

6. Be ready for a large group. If you are planning to have a social gathering or a party for the holidays, it is important to ensure that you do as much as you possibly can in the area of preparation ahead of time. You may choose to cook and bake ahead of time, set up the tables early, and organize the events of the night ahead of time. If you are having a large group maybe a good idea to ask guests to confirm on the morning if they are attending Christmas celebration. Also, make additional creative plans to keep children entertained. By doing this, you are reducing the amount of Christmas stress that you experience.

7. What do I cook worries. If you are planning a Christmas dinner, you will find that it is often difficult and stressful to ensure that you prepare enough food for everyone. In order to reduce your stress, request that everyone that will be attending the event bring a covered dish and other items that may assist in providing enough for everyone that attends. That will also help resolve the worries of "what if they don't like what I cook".

8. Gift wrapping woes. Gift wrapping is a tedious task that takes up a lot of time. The holidays are exceptionally busy and you will need as much of your time free as possible. It is not considered appropriate to just hand over a gift that is not presented in some type of wrapping, though. What do you do then? Instead of wrapping each gift that you give, purchase or make your own gift bags. This makes the gift just as appealing, and in less time!

9. Relax.. When the holidays roll around, it can be challenging to rest appropriately. However, your body needs to be well rested so that you have the energy required to fulfill the obligations that you have around Christmas. Be certain that you get at least eight to ten hours of sound sleep daily. By doing so, your body will not be inclined to succumb to stress. Also, think about the benefits of meditation.

10. Stay Healthy. Lastly, if you want to experience a stress free Christmas, be certain to take care of yourself. Be certain that your diet consists of healthy foods, lots of fluids, and that you exercise on a regular basis. You should also ensure that you avoid items that may be considered unhealthy such as alcohol. Also, I find meditation can have a dramatic positive impact on my daily energy. There are several books and free online resources for successful meditation. You may also be amazed at how this advice can lead to a stronger immune system against illness many experience after the holidays as a result of all the stress.

There are many different ways to reduce Christmas stress. Here, you have been introduced to 10 steps that will assist in your overall success. By following these steps you will experience less stress, free up a large amount of your time, and will be able to allow yourself to enjoy the excitement associated with the Christmas Season.

The author has built several web sites to help consumers have a better, stress free shopping experience. His latest site specializes in Christmas Home Decor and Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Conway

Tags: Stress, Holiday, Christmas

Sparkling lights, jingling bells, crowded markets, busy parents and excited children are the signs of coming Christmas. Parents seem to be the the most busy category on the eve because they have to keep their kids busy in order to make all arrangements for the Christmas. This article will provide you with the tips to keep kids involved in healthy activities.

The simplest way to keep them busy is to get them involved in an activity of their interest. What could be the most interesting activity for the kids? I think kids get excited while playing games. But taking them to some amusement park or play ground can cost you lot of time. What if you make your drawing room a play ground for them? Here is the list of the activities that can change your drawing room to a play ground to make your kids busy. Following are three best ways to keep them busy:

1. Playing word puzzle games can prove to be very constructive and brain storming activity. These games can keep them busy for the hours. Printable worksheets of puzzle games can easily be made available from the market.

2. Writing wish letters to Santa is another desirable and fun activity for the kids. There are many enjoyable ways which can keep kids engaged in writing these letters for the hours. You can provide colorful and fun templates to the kids for sending invitations of Christmas parties, writing stories and food recipes about Christmas.

3. Christmas math worksheets can improve math skills of the kids. This activity during Christmas holidays provide knowledge along with fun.

Above are the few activities if given to kids will solve the problem of keeping them busy. If you want more information on the subject, you can visit the site mentioned below.

There are thousands of activities to keep kids busy. If you want more interesting ideas you can visit Christmas 4 every 1.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zubair_Mughari_Ahmed

Tags: Christmas, Holidays, Games

I love the Christmas holidays and put up the Christmas tree early in the season. My philosophy is this - Christmas only comes once a year, so I want to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells as much as possible. We're usually pretty well decorated for the Christmas holiday by the time Thanksgiving weekend rolls around, then enjoy the holiday decor through year end.

No matter when you decide it's time to do the holiday decorating, the Christmas tree is the centerpiece of traditional Christmas decor. There isn't really a 'right' or 'wrong' way to put up a Christmas tree, but there are some holiday tree decorating ideas that will make the task a little easier and result in a beautiful Christmas tree.

First,decide what kind of tree you will use, real or artificial, and what size will work the best in your space. I'm always an advocate of artificial trees. You can get just about any size, shape, style and price point desired - it just makes sense. Best of all, the needles don't fall off! If you enjoy a Christmas tree in your home for more than a week or so, an artificial tree is your best bet.

As for the size of your Christmas tree, make sure you are taking into consideration:1) the size room it is going into, 2)ceiling height and 3) the space allocated for the tree. These are the three things that will determine the size of the tree.

Try to get the most tree out of the space you have. For example, if you have a 20' x 18' Great Room with 12' wall heights, a 7' slim Christmas tree tucked into the corner might look a little lost in the room.

So now you have the Christmas tree. Our next decorating idea is about the process of putting the tree together (we'll assume you have an artificial tree for this section).

Whether your tree goes together branch-by-branch or in two to three main sections, here is a very important piece of advice: make sure that you fully open and 'fluff' each branch before putting it into the trunk of the Christmas tree.

When I put our tree up, I literally take each branch and pull every piece of greenery out, rotating some greenery above the branch and some below. You want the branch to look as real as possible, so a random number of greenery above, below and extending out is a good way to approach the task. This is a rather tedious process, but take your time and the result will be well worth it!

When you have all of the branches fully opened and on the tree, step back and look at your work from all angles to see if you've left any 'holes', or branches that need adjusting.

Your next tree decorating idea is a fool proof method for putting the lights on the tree. It doesn't matter what style of light or color you select; follow these steps and it will be absolutely beautiful.

First, make sure you test all of your lights before putting any of them on the tree. It's not a 100% guarantee that you won't have any issues down the road, but at least you'll know they work.

You should have a strand of 100 lights for every vertical foot of the tree. So if your Christmas tree is 7 feet in height you should have a minimum of 700 lights. I use more than that on my trees - my 8' tree has about 1,200 lights on it because I put them very close together and enjoy that look.

Here is a Christmas tree decorating idea that I find very helpful: to put the lights on your tree,start with the lowest branches and place the lights on each branch. Have the tree lights turned on while you place them.

Make sure you take the lights all the way to the innermost part of the branch, then work your way back out on the next branch, repeating this process until you have literally circled your way around that layer of the tree. You are using a zig-zag process, if you will.

Now for the next Christmas tree decorating idea - the garlands or roping for the tree. Of course, this is optional depending on the style of tree you are creating.

There are many different types of garland available, and it's a point where your creativity comes into play. You can fashion the garland out of just about anything that suits the style of your tree.

• Traditional Christmas tree roping found in the 'tree trimming' section of your favorite holiday store is always an option.
• There are many types of beautiful, wide ribbon that has wire inserted into it, so you can shape it as you rope it around the tree.
• Beads, fabric, silk floral roping, faux berry/natural element roping, etc.
• Use your imagination!

If you try one method and are not satisfied with the results, try something a little different. Get the result you want before going any further with your Christmas tree decorating.

We are finally to the most fun part of the holiday tree decorating ideas - the ornaments. Gather all your tree ornaments and separate them by size, style, etc. so you know what you have to work with. It takes a few minutes to do this but is well worth the time.

Hang your larger ornaments first, using the lower part of the tree for the majority of those. Save the smallest ornaments for the upper portion of the tree.

If you have both matte finish and shiny finish ornaments, be sure to vary them around the tree.

Hang the ornaments on the inside of the tree as well as the outside, just like the lights (although the majority of ornaments will be near the outside of the tree).

Step back and look at your handiwork as you progress, to keep things evenly distributed.

I always like to use fillers on my trees to cover the inevitable gaps that occur between layers of branches. I use a variety of silk flowers and greenery, birds nests, etc. You can literally use any type of 'filler' that you want, depending on the theme of your Christmas tree.

Use your imagination with these Christmas tree decorating ideas and have fun!

Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant and author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success'. For more great home decorating ideas please visit http://www.great-home-decorating.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candi_Randolph

Tags: Holiday, Home, Decorating, Ideas

Australia comes alive during the Christmas and New Year summer holidays.

It is that time of the year when Australians enjoy the beaches, barbeques by the pool and a wide range of sporting and cultural activities.

Australia is also the most popular destination for those from Great Britain, Europe and North America, escaping the bitter cold of winter. Here are 5 suggestions to help you with your planning for a summer holiday in Australia.

1. Check the best airfare deals.

Both Qantas and V Australia may offer cheap airfares at this time of the year and you may be able to negotiate a deal. Check also the Australian website bestflights.com.au.

2. Travel Light.

Remember it's summer in Australia and you don't need heavy clothing. I recently met a girl at a Youth Hostel in Darwin who was carrying a backpack that would have given an Everest Sherpa Guide back pains.
When I enquired about the size of her load, she replied, "I may need it."

Let's get real here. There's some stuff you just don't need. For starters get rid of your winter pyjamas, towels and heavy jackets. They're bulky and heavy. If you go to the beach you can use your hire towels from your accommodation. Also you don't have to wash them!

3. Enjoy the beaches with caution.

Australia has the best and safest beaches in the world and few holidays can beat the fun of a swim followed by sunbathing on a clean white sandy beach.

But there are traps for the unwary.

If your skin is lily white, limit your sun exposure and build up your suntan slowly by going to the beach before 10am or after 3pm. The middle of the day is when the UV rays are strongest.

You should also use cream to prevent sunburn and drink plenty of water.

Oh, and remember to swim between the flags. They're there for a reason and that is to protect you from rips that can drag you out to sea.

4. Go to cultural and sporting events.

If you arrive in Sydney or Melbourne prior to Christmas, try to attend the Christmas Carols concert at the Domain in Sydney or the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. Both events are free and enjoying an outdoor concert on a balmy summer's evening is an event not to be missed.

Sydney celebrates the new year with an amazing fireworks display on the Harbour bridge.

In January, Melbourne is host to the Australian Open Tennis Championships, the first event in the world grand slam.

The Perth International Arts Festival commences in February and attracts film, dance and music performers from all over the world.

5. Be aware of the weather.

Australia is a large country with a diverse range of climates.

At this time of the year, the southern cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart tend to be more pleasant to visit than Brisbane and Darwin.

Sydney summers are warm to hot and can be quite wet. Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, tend to have dry summers. Perth in particular experiences very little rain in summer.

Darwin and Brisbane receive most of their rain in the summer. Darwin is very wet and humid in the summer and the heat can be oppressive. The best time to visit these northern cities is in the dry season from April to September.

For more valuable tips and suggestions on how to get the best from your Australian holiday, check out Australian travel expert Graeme Lanham's new book at http://www.traveltipsaustralia.com The e-book will be on your screen within minutes and is available for just $19.97. As a special bonus, claim your 3 FREE reports. They provide vital information to help you with planning for your trip to Australia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Graeme_Lanham

Tags: Christmas, Holiday, Australia

Most of us are familiar with the song, The 12 Days of Christmas, even though many folks might have a bit of trouble keeping the lines of the song straight after about the sixth day! This song has been sung for generations, and is a traditional part of the holiday season. There have even been many versions of the song that have come out, since the structure lends itself well to variation and even humor. But did you ever stop to think what this seemingly nonsensical song really is about? While there is some disagreement over the actual purpose for The 12 Days of Christmas among historians, the theories regarding this fun and lively song are quite intriguing.

What exactly are the 12 Days of Christmas?

It may surprise you to know that the song actually takes place after Christmas day itself. Celebrated among many cultures they represent the Epiphany, which begins on December 26th and continues through January 6th. In the western church this is seen as the time it took the magi as they journeyed to see the baby Christ. This is a popular gift giving holiday, and is why January 6th is often referred to as Three Kings Day in many cultures around the globe. The symbolism is significant as it marks the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought by the three kings. Some cultures do not wait until a single day to gift gifts, but instead give a gift every day for 12 days. Going back even further the 12 days are often celebrated as a Pagan holiday meant to symbolize the coming of the new year and the banishing of evil spirits during this period.

There is a popular theory among historians that the gifts represented in The 12 Days of Christmas are actually symbols created by the Catholic Church to help children learn the catechism. Dating back to the 16th century during a time of religious wars in England the gifts are meant to represent a specific fundamental aspect of the Catholic faith. An example of this would be the gift of true love that is presented to me. This is said to represent the baptism every believer receives. More examples of gifts representing different aspects of the catechism are a partridge in a pear tree which is said to be Jesus, two turtle doves which is said to represent the Old and New Testaments, and three French hens which is interpreted to represent the three virtues of hope, faith and love.

Each gift continues to symbolize a different aspect of Catholic faith until we reach twelve drummers drumming which is said to represent the twelve points of the Apostles Creed. I think it's fascinating that such a deeply symbolic message for the Catholic Church is carried on in the children's song The 12 Days of Christmas. It only makes sense, as believers all over the globe celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

To discover more helpful information about the Traditions of Christmas then visit this great resource now! Traditions of Christmas.

You will not regret visiting the site to learn more about the traditions of Christmas

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Griffin

Tags: Christmas, Cherished, Tradition

Christmas time is by far one of the stressful and hectic times of the year. Whether last minute Christmas gifts need to be acquired, or a dinner menu to be planned for the not-so-traditional families, Christmas involves a lot of rushing, planning and most of all spending. For men, this is a waste of time, effort and perhaps even money. Despite Christmas only occurring once a year, trying to find the 'perfect Christmas gift' is not necessarily the most fascinating activity. Most of all, men and women do not necessarily think alike and may find it more difficult to find Christmas gifts for the other.

Because men prefer practical gifts which they can use on a regular basis, they may be unable to decide on what to give to their friends and loved ones. In the end they may pick any old gift that can easily be wrapped and shoved under the Christmas tree at the very last minute. However with the range of different Christmas Gifts available these days, Christmas shopping may turn out to be anything but a boring ordeal, particularly with the convenience of online shopping. With websites that provide a variety of Christmas gifts and ideas in separate titled sections, Christmas shopping is made easier and less stressful. Not only are there no queues at the till, but one can leisurely explore the available options without rushing. This is particularly useful for the more impatient man who feels he is not only wasting his money at that point but also his precious time!

Personalised Christmas gifts such as mugs, calendars and even door mats often prove popular due to their humorous nature! They are also unique and appeal to people who do not want to have what everyone else gets for Christmas. Besides humorous Christmas gifts, one could obtain something of a more unusual nature such as grow-it-yourself gardens and plants for the more craft-minded individual. Considering that some males have a short attention span, an unusual gift reflects the notion that great effort was put into choosing it. Therefore it is less likely that they bought it last minute without putting thought into it. Receiving something different and unique allows the person to feel special.

For example, engraved ornaments with a loving message or the recipients name is both personal and yet practical at the same time. Such a gift can be given to both men and women which makes it very versatile. Cause some fun and games with a flying monkey toy for some laughs on Christmas day to relieve the pressure of giving the 'perfect Christmas gift'.

However for the more serious minded, a romantic Name a Rose Gift Box allows the recipient to grow their own species of Rose named after themselves! Similarly a Name a Star kit gives you the opportunity to actually name a star after a friend or loved one. Giving someone a relaxing day at the Spa is a good way to say thank you for working so hard this Christmas' and pampering them silly.

Perhaps somewhat more extravagant but no less enticing is Wine Tasting at a Vineyard for Two. Spend the day with a special person and benefit from this gift too. This is another example of something that does not necessarily need to be unwrapped and placed on a shelf. It is both useful and enjoyable resulting in an unforgettable day and perfect Christmas gift!

Of course, some men do not only buy Christmas gifts for their loved ones but perhaps their friends too. Some great gifts to give to male friends include DIY kits such as 'Build your own model Porsche or Lamborghini'. For a family member such as a brother or father an experience day of Flying Lessons may be suitable.

These Christmas gifts avoid considering complicated problems such as 'is this his/her size?', 'what if this isn't their taste?' and so on. If you, as a man, still feel pressured and uneasy about acquiring Christmas gifts, consider this. Browse online and gather some ideas. It won't take up much of your time and you never know, you may stumble upon the perfect gift!

Christmas time and gift-giving brings a lot of pressure with it. Fear that a present is not liked permeates each and every Christmas day when it is time to unwrap gifts. Similarly this may worry men when they shop for Christmas Gifts and often feel like giving up when they cannot find anything suitable. The above ideas may have piqued your interest in terms of the myriad of gifts available which are unique, special and interesting. These types of presents may reduce the likelihood of fake appreciative smiles and the likes!

Above all, looking at humorous and unusual gifts makes Christmas shopping fun and entertaining. Dear men, giving gifts should not be a duty or an arduous test. It should be enjoyable, particularly the few moments you will experience when the recipient unwraps it. So! No more excuses allowed when it comes to Christmas gift shopping!

Written by John Smith co-founder of GettingPersonal.co.uk

GettingPersonal.co.uk are one of the UK's leading on-line retailers of Gifts, personalised gifts and Christmas Gifts Their website is packed with over 1,500 gifts for any special occasion.

For more go to [http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_A_Smith

Tags: Christmas, Shopping, Excuse

Even though Thanksgiving was not always a traditional holiday on the island, many Puerto Rican families calling the States home began celebrating it by adding a touch of Sabor Latino. A traditional Puerto Rican Thanksgiving menu will likely consist of Pavochon, Mofongo stuffing, Arroz con Gandules (rice with pigeon peas), Tostones, and Tembleque or dulce de leche. I serve a green bean casserole with my meal and for an appetizer I fry up some Platanos versus the Tostones. I season mine with garlic, black pepper and salt and serve them with Mojo Criollo.

I'm usually cooking enough food to feed at least five Marines so I get a 12-15 lb turkey and call it a day. My mom always taught me to begin prepping my turkey the day before Thanksgiving so my seasonings have time to soak into that bird.

Two Days or One Day Before:
To thaw your bird slow you can stick it in the refrigerator two days before or for fast thawing submerge it in it's wrapping (DO NOT take wrapping off) in your tub or a deep sink in cold water. Make sure the entire bird is submerged. The bigger the bird the longer it'll take to thaw. A big turkey like the ones I cook usually take 2 days to thaw out in the refrigerator.

The Day Before:
Season your bird with Adobo, inside and out. Be generous. Your guests will appreciate it. No one wants a bland turkey. Gather your black pepper, garlic salt, oregano and paprika and rub them all over the bird. Poke holes in your bird with a fork so that the seasonings will soak into its skin. Set the bird back in the fridge.

THANKSGIVING MORNING:
I usually begin cooking my bird around 4 a.m., which only leaves me room to do other things like pull out my tree and decorations and set up other dishes. Begin by preparing your mofongo stuffing.

Mofongo Stuffing.
You'll need:
6 large green plantanos,
1/3 C of chicken broth
4 tsp. chopped garlic
1 lb bacon chopped into small pieces and cooked. Throw away fat.
3 sweet chili peppers, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil

Mix bacon, garlic, peppers, and olive oil. Mash the platanos and olive oil mixture in your pilon. Repeat until all ingredients are gone. Mix mofongo and broth and if mofongo isn't moist enough, add more broth. Stuff the bird with the mofongo and cook. and follow instructions that came with your bird.

NOW FOR THE BIRD:

Heat your oven to 375º.

Rinse your turkey well. Rinse the inside once you remove the bag from the turkey's cavity. Be sure to pull out the bag from your turkey BEFORE you begin cooking it!!! Muy Importante!

Put the bird in a deep and sturdy aluminum or tin foiled roaster. LINE it with aluminum foil first.
Place chunks of butter on top of and all around the turkey. Place an entire stick of butter inside of the turkey's cavity. Be generous. You'll have a juicy turkey in the end.

Now begin stuffing your turkey with the mofongo. If you're a newbie cook, forget the mofongo and just whip out the Stove Top Stuffing and follow directions on the box. It's okay. We're all beginners at one time.

Cover the turkey with aluminum foil and put it in the oven.

TURKEY SIZE & COOKING TIME:

4 to 6 pound turkey = 3 to 3 ¾ hours.

6 to 8 pound turkey = 3 ¾ to 4 ½ hours.

8 to 12 pound turkey = 4 to 5 hours.

12 pound and beyond = 5½ to 6 hours.

Always be sure to read the side of the turkey wrapping for exact cooking time. Better to be safe than undercooked. Yuck! About 45 minutes before your bird is done, remove the foil on top and continue to cook uncovered until the bird is crispy on top.

12 Lb. turkey
Lots of Adobo
Paprika
2 tsp. of Black pepper
4 cloves of garlic (mash in a pilón)
2 tsp. of oregano (Leaf)
4 sticks of Butter

To begin preparing your Arroz con Gandules:

YOU'LL NEED:
2 packs of Sazón
3 cans of Gandules
6 cups of water
4 cups of rice
2 cups chopped bacon, cooked
2 cups of Sofrito
2 Tablespoon of Goya Olive oil

Heat olive oil in a large caldero or pot.
Drain and rinse the cans of Gandules
Sauté the sofrito and chopped ham for about a minute and a half
Add rice, water, gandules and Sazón
Once it begins to boil, let it continue for about 3 minutes
Cover the pot tight and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it cook for 35 to 40 minutes.

***DO NOT use a lid with those vent holes and DO NOT lift the lid to check the rice!
When it's done stir the rice once or twice before serving and serve HOT.

PREPARING YOUR GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE:

2 pound green beans, washed and trimmed
2 cloves garlic, cut in half
3 tablespoon chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoons olive oil
½ packet of Sazón and ham seasoning
1 tablespoon butter
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup boiling water

Slice green beans in halves. Heat oil and butter in a skillet. Add Sazón and ham seasoning then sauté both with onion and garlic until soft. Remove garlic then add green beans, salt, pepper, and boiling water. Cover and cook for 25 minutes over medium heat until tender. You can add a little more water, if needed.

MAKING FRIED PLATANOS (Amarillo's):
I like to wait until my platanos are yellow with a few black spots. To me, they taste better...sweeter. No Puerto Rican dish (to me) is complete without rice, gandules, habichuelas and platanos! To begin preparing the platanos. Use 4 platanos to make enough to serve several people and get a bottle of mojo criolla for sauce.

Cut off about one inch from each end of the platano using a sharp knife.

Slice them down the middle then horizontal to fry them like chips except make them a little bit thicker.

Place the sliced pieces in very hot water and let soak a few minutes.
Take your knife and place it under the skin of the sliced piece and begin removing the skin. Kind of like you're peeling the skin off of a potato. Sometimes I just use a potato peeler.

Drain them on a paper towel then sprinkle the slices with black pepper, a dash of salt or garlic then fry each slice in the mixture of olive & vegetable oil over medium heat until tender and golden brown. Turn them one time only.

And for the coupe de gras: DESSERT
We have Tembleque! This is a traditional Puerto Rican dessert for the holidays.

YOU'LL NEED:
4 cups coconut milk and ground cinnamon
½ cup of cornstarch and ½ tsp. salt
2/3 cup of sugar
A medium sauce pan, serving dish and square pan.

Dissolve cornstarch in a saucepan with 1/4 cup of the coconut milk. Once it's dissolved add the rest of the coconut milk followed by the sugar, and salt. Cook at med-high heat and stir continuously!
As the mixture gets thick, lower heat until it boils. Immediately pour into your pan. Let it cool then cover and place in fridge for at least 2 hours. Carefully separate the tembleque from the mold using a knife. Turn it over unto a serving dish then sprinkle with the cinnamon. I serve this with café con leche or the men usually just want another beer.
VOILA! You have just made your first Puerto Rican Thanksgiving meal! Enjoy!

Now if you dare...go a step further and add Coquito to the menu. This is a Puerto Rican favorite mostly popular during Christmas and New Years. Nobody makes Coquito like my Abuela!

YOU'LL NEED:
40 ounces coconut milk
14 ounces evaporated (condensed) milk
1½ cup water
½ tsp. cinnamon
2 cup Bacardi rum
Salt to taste
Mix all ingredients in a blender. Taste and add more rum if you like it stronger. You need to add the water because it will get thick once you refrigerate it. Pour into a bottle and refrigerate well. Collect pint size bottles to pour Coquito in for guests to take home as a party favor.

Alicia Cruz is a native Nuyorican raised in the South Bronx. She is a published journalist and has worked for several newspapers and Emagazines throughout her career. She is currently a Senior writer for the http://blackurbantimes.com and resides in Eastern North Carolina. She can be reached at info@theblackurbantimes.com or misscruz@earthlink.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alicia_Evarista_Cruz

Tags: Dinner, Thanksgiving, Traditional

Planning a Christmas meal can be just as stressful as the Christmas shopping, but it doesn't have to be. With careful planning, you can enjoy a nice, relaxing Christmas dinner with the whole family. Here is what you need to do.

Plan a location

Figure out how many people will be there. (This will also help you determine how much food you will need.) After you determine how many will be there, you can decide on your location. You don't want to have it at a place that will be crowded. It will make your guests feel claustrophobic and stressed out.

Plan a time.

You will want to decide a time, as well as the location, well in advance. This will give your guests time to plan their day. Let them know where dinner is going to be and what time everyone should be there. Deciding on a time can be tough. A lot of people go to more than one dinner on Christmas day. You can ask some of your guests what time would be best for them, but remember that you are not going to be able to please everyone.

Plan your menu

When you are the hostess of the dinner, you will provide the turkey or ham as well as some vegetables and a dessert. You can purchase a lot of the food you will need a week before. You will want to wait to get your salads or fruits. Also, clean out your refrigerator a week before. The more room you have in there, the better! You can ask your guests to bring a side dish such as a salad or breads. The last thing you want to do is to wait until the last minute to plan this. Determine who will bring what dish and notify them right away. Christmas is a big holiday. Everyone is busy and stressed out. You don't want to cause your guests any additional stress by asking them at the last minute to bring a dish!

Do as much as possible in advance

To reduce stress the day of your dinner, you will want to prepare as much as possible a day or two before. Here are a few things that can be prepared early; vegetable trays, cheese and cracker trays, breads, salads, and desserts.

If you have decided to have your dinner at your house, do all of the cleaning on the day before. Get your kids and husband to help you. Be sure to let them know that once it is clean, it must stay that way. Christmas day will be very busy and you will not have time to redo the chores.

Christmas is a time to be with your family and friends at a wonderful Christmas Dinner. It can be stressful to plan and prepare the meal, but if you plan ahead you will find that you and your guests will have plenty of time for visiting and celebrating. I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Amy Royce has been married since 1995 and she has two wonderful children.

She is an affiliate marketer and she has a blog that you can view at http://amyswordsandthoughts.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Royce

Tags: Christmas, Dinner, Guide, Planning

One way to make Christmas Day a great day is to avoid these seven things.

1. Get up before 6 AM, even if you are a kid. My sister used to wake up before 6 AM and start ringing some stupid bell to get everyone up. What a great way to start a day. Don't get up too early, you might interrupt Santa.

2. Travel ouir of obligation. This is especially so if you have a young family. It's time to start your own traditions. If friends and family want to see you, it's important to remember that the roads and airspace go both ways.

3. Set yourself up for disappointment. If you convince yourself that this will be or has to be the best Christmas ever, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

4. Don't push the day. Some people get so anxious that certain things MUST happen and/or people MUST feel a certain way. You can really shoot yourself in the foot by pushing so hard for a certain outcome that you essentially prevent it.

5. Take the Peggy Lee approach Peggy Lee's famous song "Is That All There Is?" captures the way some people can fall into feeling on Christmas Day. Focus on appreciation and not lack.

6. Use up everything the first day. If you use, open, play with every single thing you got that day, you are bound to experience a big let down the next day. Pace yourself.

7. Compare this day to other Christmas Days The joy is to be found in today, not several years ago.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Herring

Tags: Christmas, Things, Holidays

Christmas is a holiday celebrated by millions worldwide. Since it has become a global holiday different cultures and nations have come up with unique ways to celebrate it. It has helped to transform a primarily Western holiday into one of the great global holidays of the year. If you are a parent who wants to make Christmas more interesting taking a look at how other countries celebrate to get some good ideas. You never know when you may find a tradition that will appeal to you and help your kids learn about the many faces of Christmas. Here are just some of the holiday traditions that you can choose from.

The African Christmas in not the traditional White Christmas that most people in the western world are familiar with. However, it is every bit as festive if not more so than how most European nations celebrate it. In Africa there is a great emphasis on the Church, feasting, dancing, and then presents. The African Christmas starts in reality with the Christmas Day service. In some counties like the Congo it is customary to leave a gift at the altar of the church at the end of the service for the Christ Child. After the service family and neighbors celebrate with a big holiday feast with music and dancing. Gifts are also more practical and while toys can be given, families also use it as an opportunity to get new clothes for children. English speaking countries in Africa also celebrate British Christmas holidays such as Boxing Day.

Brazil is another tropical country that celebrates the holidays in its own unique way. Like many Latin American countries, its holiday traditions are strongly influenced by the Catholic Church to which a majority of this part of the world is adherents. Christmas holidays follows the traditional month long celebration and ends on Jan 6 with Three Kings Day, the traditional Catholic holiday that commemorates when the three Wise Men came to see baby Jesus. In Brazil the build Nativity scenes called Presepios. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is also considered to be important and is followed by a great Holiday feast. Santa Claus is called Father Christmas and it is believed that he lives in Greenland not the North Pole.

Austria is a European country with some of the world's oldest holiday traditions. For them Santa Claus who they call Saint Nicholas visits children on Dec 6 accompanied by the devil to take an accounting of their good and bad deeds for the previous year. If they have been good they get sweets and toys. On Christmas Eve things are done differently than in the United States. Instead of Santa Claus coming to deliver presents, the Christ Child comes and not only that, he also brings the Christmas tree! Caroling is also a big part of the season in Austria. Actually some famous carols such as Silent Night originated there.

If you want to make a new tradition for your children you can have them receive a call from Santa Claus. This will be a special and magical moment as your children who still believe in Santa get to talk to the Jolly Old Elf himself. You just order the call online and customize it with the good things that your kids have done and what they wanted for Christmas.

Create magic in your child's eyes with our letters from Santa. EZSantaLetters.com offers fully personalized Santa letters and 15 pre-written Santa Letters. All letters are postmarked from the North Pole and will definitely put a smile on your child's face.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellie_Evergreen

Tags: Interesting, Christmas, Traditions

Let me ask you a simple question; if you could bring in $20-$30,000 in two months every year, would you take the time to learn how to do that? There are many contractors, landscape designers and painters who're currently doing just that with a side business they conduct just three months out of the year.

You may not reach that level right away unless you have the infrastructure already in place but some new Christmas holiday lighting business owners are already seeing $20,000 from last year's business. If you remember, the Christmas holiday season was supposed to be terrible last year.

What we have noticed it is that people want their holiday spirit. You might be thinking that everyone in your neighborhood does their own lights, but you may not be right about that. It may give you an example. I've watched several well-to-do homes in my area lit up bright the Rockefeller Center Plaza on Christmas Eve. Every year our family drives through the neighborhood and enjoyed the light show.

When I first started investigating this business I thought that doing this much work to make a spectacular looking Christmas light display couldn't possibly be a profit making venture. On closer inspection was I ever surprised! Several of my older neighbors no longer install their own lights. One reason above all was safety. They wanted to see many more Christmases!

No one likes the idea of a 70-year-old climbing onto the roof of his house every year to conduct a spectacular Christmas light display. Yet many elderly folks want to have their display that they've been putting up year after year and are willing to pay someone good money to do it.

There are of course things to consider when starting your Christmas light design and installation business. You'll want to get the best training possible to make the experience for you and your customers the best it can be. You'll need to learn the tricks of:

- lighting design
- display lights
- tools and supplies
- decorating techniques
- proper maintenance
- utilizing manpower
- appropriate marketing techniques
- customer service and business practices

This unique field is not for everyone but if you have the drive and willingness to learn this trade, you can transition your Christmas light decoration business from seasonal to a year-round range of services for your clients. What are you waiting for?

FREE HOLIDAY LIGHTING BUSINESS RESOURCE: Grab Your Copy Of The Christmas Cash Report And Get An Inside Look At The Insanely Profitable Holiday Lighting Business As Well As Discover The 10 Things You MUST Know Before You Start A Christmas Light Installation Business. Use The Link Below To Grab Your Copy: http://CashingInOnChristmas.com/christmascashreport.htm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tanner_Larsson

Tags: Holiday, Lighting, Business

Come out of your shell and try to be innovative while decorating your home for the Thanksgiving dinner. Follow the ideas, decorate the home and get noticed.

Deck Up The Entrance

The decoration at the entrance should resemble and convey the merry mood. Make strings of peony and phlox with olive leaves. You can also use the decorative lights to add glow to the floral bunch. Besides, silver and shimmery ribbons would be adding class to the entire decoration.

Floral Tinge

Let your imagination run wild and add the floral aura to the chandeliers too. Put some leis of orchids and amaranthus hanging over the chandelier and other lamps in the sitting and dining areas. Alstroemeria is another good option to spruce up the home décor, especially over the shading zones.

Let There Be Fragrance

Fill in all the vases with fresh flowers. Ensure the flowers are freshly cut and vibrant. You can put some sticks of exotic orchids and amaryllis. Not only are these flowers bright and colorful, they also stay fresh for longer hours. Try to put some pots in the corridor and gallery as it will enhance the ambience with bright flowers.

Dining Table To Grab The Eyeballs

Allium, lily casablanca and bunches of asters are great options to deck up the dining table. The edge of the dining table can be decorated with silver and gold satin ribbons. You can add some pieces of glasses in the table cloth as it will give a shiny look. For the main bouquet, be creative with the lucky bamboo sticks and anthurium. Deck up your home with special floral themes on this Thanksgiving Day and get rave reviews.

Jasnav is an expert relationship advisor who gives extremely practical advice on making relationships last a lifetime. Click here to get great discounts on wholesale flower orders on the best flowers for your Thanksgiving Day celebrations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jasnav_Nagpal

Tags: Dinner, Floral, Theme, Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve is a time of expectation and excitement that comes with it. Not only small children love it. This is the only day in the year when people should forgive and forget everything that was wrong, show each other love symbolized by the breaking of the Christmas wafer. As a matter of fact Christmas Evening is the most special day of all Christmas! Why?

I believe that Christmas is the most special holiday in the year. There is no other in the whole world. Jesus Christ is being born and the world is happy. But what is more exciting - birthday or a day before it, when everything is about to change and happen once again, with new hope, and stronger beliefs? In my opinion this waiting has more advantages. It's the first time you can really feel the spirit of Christmas!

Before Christmas joy may begin there are a lot of things to do and remember. You spent at least a few days before Christmas on shopping and preparing the house to be clean and decorated properly, baking cakes, cooking. You have to remember all the details like napkins, lights and of course gifts for everyone. In your mind there are thousands of gift ideas, and different ways to make children happy. In this purpose you are also searching the internet for new ideas for Christmas decorations and then probably spend uncountable hours with children on preparing those decorations. There are so much things to do that although Christmas spirit is all around you can't feel it at all. The rush is really amazing! And all the preparation stops at one evening just after you finish dressing Christmas tree.

On this evening you start the celebration and savouring the earlier work. You can sit and relax. Feel the spirit of being together with family, see the smile on the face of your children when unpacking the first presents and almost touch a mystical atmosphere that is characteristic for Christmas Eve supper. Light candles, taste food and wait for midnight that will bring first Christmas Day.

To gain the special mood on Christmas Evening it is best to think earlier, around the beginning of December, about decorations, other home accessories and gifts. This year you may find all of them on the internet. One of the online shops that offers such things is Velvet Brown. Their specialty at this season are luxury Christmas door wreaths as outdoor decoration and jewellery stand as special Christmas gift idea. See their website and make Christmas Evening even more special!

Read also about garden buildings at winter time and rugs Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Sorrow

Tags: Christmas, Special, decorations

Listening to the conversation that two of my girlfriends were having over coffee last week, it dawned on me that they sounded very much like over-worked A Level students about to sit their exams...

"I'll be glad when it's all over... I simply don't have a minute to myself... I don't see how I can possibly get everything done".

I'm sure you've guessed from the title of this post that they weren't taking any exams. No, they were talking about Christmas; the time of cheer and goodwill to all men... and apparently stress, pressure and hard work to all mums!

It started me wondering: how did we manage to take all the fun out of Christmas?

But then the memories of last year came flooding back. All that organising; writing all the cards; buying and wrapping presents; shopping for food; cooking for hundreds; acting the perfect hostess; sorting out family politics ; keeping Aunt Mabel away from the cooking sherry (please note, name changed to protect the guilty)...

Suddenly I felt the same as my friends. But I am so determined to enjoy Christmas this year that I came up with "6 Christmas Stress Management" tips, which are designed to let me and my girlfriends have our Christmas cake and eat it!

So, if any of the above strikes a chord, keep reading to see how you can ensure that you're rested and stress free when Santa finally climbs down the chimney.

1- Get back to basics

Have reasonable expectations - chances of a perfect fairytale Christmas are unrealistic and difficult to plan for. Christmas Day is a time to enjoy being with family and friends. It doesn't matter if lunch is late, presents aren't wrapped perfectly or grandma has a few too many sherries! Keep it simple and remember that Christmas is about everyone - including you, having a good time!

2- Ask for help

Even Santa has an army of little helpers, so you are allowed a helping hand at Christmas too. If you're hosting a Christmas party for a lot of people, don't try to be Superwoman. Ask others to help with food preparations or decorations.

Perhaps a sister or friend could bring the Christmas cake and another relative could help decorate the tree. Give everyone a task - a team effort is often far more fun and rewarding!

3- Not everything has to be made from scratch

In an ideal world, we'd all be there in our red and white checked aprons, happily baking Christmas cakes, Christmas puddings, mince pies, warming home-made mulled wine and milking our own cow to make sure that the cheese is fresh.

That might be fine if you've plenty of time, are super-organised or both (and keep a cow in your back garden). But let's get real. Most mums these days are trying to juggle work with school nativity plays, shopping, wrapping and hiding presents and the other million and one things that must be done by Christmas.

So, my advice is to be smart, take advantage of the convenience offered by today's modern world (sounds much better than saying 'cheat').

Ready-made Christmas cakes and puddings are often just as delicious (sometimes more so, knowing my past disasters) and will lighten your workload. Likewise, artificial trees are mess free (less cleaning), and shop-bought mince pies can work out cheaper than baking your own.

You can even take it one step further. Supermarkets have a great, and tasty, range of fresh, ready prepared vegetables and frozen roast potatoes. Or if you really do want to make your own, why not prepare stuffing and part-roasted potatoes a couple of weeks before and keep them in your freezer. Saves a great deal of time on Christmas Day - as long as you remember to defrost them in time!

4 - Sorting out family politics

This can often be the trickiest part of Christmas, especially for those with extended step-families or long lasting family feuds. From experience, Christmas has also been known to cause a few feuds!

My advice is to sort out arrangements well in advance. If you have family that won't mix, invite one set at Christmas this year and the other for New Year and explain that the following year the invitations will be reversed.

It also helps if you or your partner have siblings who could take some of the heat off you by extending an invitation to family members. Get together with brothers and sisters in the autumn to sort out between you who is inviting who, so that no-one is left out and everyone is happy.

This won't solve all problems, but at least you're making some steps towards tackling them in advance of Christmas Day.

5- Plan a late Christmas dinner

Don't start cooking at the crack of dawn - enjoy your Christmas morning! If you have a good breakfast, there's no need to sit down for your main Christmas meal until mid-afternoon or early evening.

That gives you plenty of time to sit and watch the kids open their Christmas gifts and play with their new toys.

6 - Boxing Day is to put your feet up!

If you've been in charge on Christmas Day, don't even think about doing it all again the next day.

Let someone else take their turn and you become the guest for the day or even have a quiet day by putting that left over turkey to good use and having sandwiches!

I hope it works for you and wish you a stress free, very merry Christmas!

Sophie Baxter lives in the UK with her husband and two children. She runs http://www.bigfatballoons.co.uk and online shop that sells helium balloons, teddy bear gifts and chocolates.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophie_Baxter

Tags: Festive, Management, Christmas, Stress

Christmas day is definitely one of the best days for you to show your love and express your appreciation for your mother. If there's one person who has sacrificed a lot for you, it is definitely your mother so making sure that she somehow feels your care and admiration is just appropriate. The past many years, you may have tried giving here some simple mementos such as a Christmas day greeting card, a box of chocolates, a bouquet of flowers or many other common gifts. Now that you might already be in the position where you can afford it, giving mommy necklaces and handcrafted personalized jewelry might be something you want to give serious consideration.

Make Christmas day more memorable for the most important woman in your life by giving her these mommy necklaces and precious handcrafted personalized jewelry. Those ones who have tried this would tell you that their mothers were really filled with gratitude and emotion upon receiving a wonderful gift. Especially if you would purchase a handcrafted personalized jewelry, it could be very touching for your mom to see her name inscribed in the pendant or the attached charm.

Gifts like these are the ones that mothers really treasure. After all, it is a given fact that women love jewelry so you have double guarantee that this could work once you give her handcrafted personalized jewelry since she will finally own a jewelry piece that has her name.

Another idea that has been effective for others was to give mommy necklaces that had all the names of the mother's children. Obviously, this can have a great impact for any mother and she will truly cherish gifts like this. For handcrafted personalized jewelry, you have wider choices ranging from rings, bracelets, and much, much more.

When looking around for mommy necklaces and handcrafted personalized jewelry, you can seek the services of local artists from nearby jewelry stores. Just ask around and try to see if they are offering these services and how much these could cost you. If you find one, then that's a good thing for you since they can get started crafting your orders shortly thereafter.

Otherwise, you might instead use the internet so you can just find online jewelry makers that are willing to render their services as you request for it. This modern method is obviously becoming famous among many clients who need to order mommy necklaces and handcrafted personalized jewelry because of the excellent quality of the services provided. On top of that, this also allows buyers to get meaningful gifts without even having to leave home or office.

Regardless of how you purchase mommy necklaces and handcrafted personalized jewelry, the important thing is for you to do is to make sure that the item arrives on time. Besides, you surely would want to be able to give the gift to your mother during the exact day of the event. As you do that, occasions can take on new meanings and you can truly make thus an unforgettable moment for mommy.

Kate is a mother of two and is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. For more information on mommy necklaces, I recommend you visit the website NeckCharms.com and choose from their huge selection of handcrafted personalized jewelry!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Adams

Tags: Necklaces, Christmas, Giving

If you love celebrating the holidays in your home surrounded by all of your friends and family, but are tired of making the same old boring baked ham every time, here are some alternative and delicious Christmas Eve dinner ideas that will leave your guests loosening their belts a notch and taking a little snooze on the couch after the finish your delicious holiday meal! Having a large family gathering can be tricky as far as the main course goes, but with a little practice, you can make a delicious and fancy meal that is not only appealing to the tummy, but looks gorgeous too!

If you think of holiday meals of old, do you envision a golden crown roast, with it's golden foil wrapped individually around the end of each bone and you always thought that looked too difficult to do? Well, guess what? Your butcher can do all of the dirty work for you! Talk with your butcher about tying up the crown roast, or rack of lamb and all that you will need to do is season it and cook it and it will look like a million bucks! Fill the center of it with a delicious stuffing with ingredients that will compliment the meat such as an apple stuffing for the pork roast or a minty rice medley for the lamb. You can also try a beef tenderloin stuffed with delicious ingredients like mushrooms, bleu cheese and grilled red onion.

To make these holidays easier on you, try to plan for side dishes that you can make ahead of time. There is no reason why you should be rushing through the day and wasting all of your time in the kitchen because you won't be able to enjoy the holiday. Making a couple of tasty casserole dishes (such as scalloped potatoes or a candied yams or sweet potatoes) can all be done ahead of time so all that you need to do is pop it in the oven along with your meat and you will be able to enjoy your guests and all of the festivities along with them. These Christmas Eve dinner ideas don't take a lot of time but will make your guests think that you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen....shhh, it's a secret.

Matt writes more about internet franchise at http://www.franchise911.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Murren

Tags: Holiday, Festive!, Dinner

The festive period is full of age-old traditions such as eating turkey on Christmas Day. But how did this originate and why should we continue this tradition? It has not always been traditional to eat turkey on Christmas day. Indeed, before the turkey was introduced to Britain, geese, peacocks and even boars' head were eaten as a Christmas day treat. In 1526 William Strickland imported six turkeys from America and sold them for tuppence each.

The birds were considered to be extremely tasty and a more practical alternative to other livestock such as cows (which were more useful alive to produce milk), or chickens (which were more expensive than they are today). The popularity of turkeys has steadily increased and today in the UK we eat around 10 million turkeys every year.

Henry VIII was reputed to be the first person to eat turkey on Christmas Day, but it was not until the mid twentieth century that the turkey overtook the goose as the most popular Christmas Day meal. Today 87% of British people believe that Christmas would not be Christmas without a traditional roast turkey. Turkeys have the advantage of being affordable, big enough to feed the entire extended family (with guaranteed leftovers!) and fresh - if you know where to buy them from! Naturally they are born in the spring and typically take about seven months to mature to a healthy full-sized turkey.

If they are reared free range they have the space to roam around, ensuring that their muscles and tissues are fully developed. If you want to ensure you have the most succulent and flavorful bird for your Christmas celebrations buy your free range turkeys direct from the farm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Lindsell

Tags: Christmas, Eat, Turkey

This Christmas many families are looking for fun activities to do together. One of the factors is that they are something that they can afford to do. Most families won't have the money for a winter get away. So they will be celebrating at home. However a Christmas season at home is not be underestimated. There are plenty of exciting and fun things that family can do for the holiday season in their hometown. Some of them are even free. Take advantage of everything your town or city has to offer this Christmas. Here are some civic events that your family can enjoy.

You can go to play at the local park. If you are in an area that normally experiences white Christmases take full advantage of it. Make sure that your entire family is warmly dress and bring a big thermos of warm drinks such as cocoa and apple cider. Then let your family have fun in the snow. Build snow forts or snowmen. Have snowball fights. If the park has some good hills you can enjoy some sledding. It is free and still a good time.

A tree lighting ceremony is a civic event that is not to be missed. Every city that traditionally has big Christmas tree for the Christmas holidays has one. They pick a large evergreen and decorate it in time for the holiday season. When the lights on the tree are turned on it is considered that the city is officially starting the holiday season. There are normally great performances by local groups that are part of the event. If you live in a town that does not have one, you can still enjoy the Tree lighting in New York on TV. Check your local listings and mark your calendar so you don't miss it.

There is nothing that shows civic pride during the holidays like a Christmas parade. Local service organizations, civic groups, and high schools participate to put on a great show for their towns. Every city has one in one shape or another. For no charge your family gets to see amazing floats and see groups such as high school marching bands perform. If you are going make sure to dress warmly and bring snacks depending on how long the parade will be.

You can go to events held by your local library. We often only think of the library as a place where our kids go to do research for school or check out books. However the library has a wide selection of events that it sponsors year round and especially for the holidays. It can be a workshop for making gingerbread houses or a reading event with milk and cookies. These are often free and are used to encourage the public to come to the library. Take advantage to have a good time for nothing.

Go to a play or performance by a local church or theater group. These groups often put on high quality performances either for free or for a reasonable ticket price. Each of these performances will be a great opportunity for your family to see a great show. However look into both to see the time and where they are happening so you can make the decision whether to go or not.

Something special you can do for your family this Christmas is to have your younger children receive a call from Santa. This is a great way for your kids to believe in Santa and excuse yourself from their suspicion.

Create magic in your child's eyes with our letters from Santa. EZSantaLetters.com offers fully personalized Santa letters and 15 pre-written Santa Letters. All letters are postmarked from the North Pole and will definitely put a smile on your child's face.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aaron_Hu

Tags: Christmas, Activities, Holiday

Holidays, especially Christmas, can be a magic time. A time for families to come together and celebrate. This generally means we have to feed and entertain them. Since most families include extended family members and friends this means we have multiple age groups gathered. So how do you keep them all entertained?

Our family enjoys playing games. We especially like trivia games. So try generating a couple quizzes that center around the holiday. Test everyone's knowledge of the season. The following is a sample of how to put together a simple quiz that can be made simple (for younger children) or more challenging for the adults.

Let's start with the Christmas song - Up on The Housetop (Ho, Ho, Ho). We've all sung it, but how well do you really know the lyrics? (The answers to this short quiz are at the bottom of this article. But don't peek....)

1. First comes the stocking of ______ ________
a. Little Nell
b. William Tell
c. Tiny Tim

2. Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will _____ ____ _____ ____ _____
a. rumble and tumble and flys
b. open and shut her eyes
c. speak oh that's wise

3. Next comes the stocking of little Will
O just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
Also a ball and __ ____ ____ _____
a. a bat that smacks
b. some cracker jacks
c. a whip that cracks

So those were pretty easy. Did you get them right?
Now maybe a little more difficult one

4. What year what Up on the Housetop originally written?
a. 1945
b. 1860
c. 1950

So this was just a sample of what you can do. Just take any song and work up your own questions and some possible answer choices and pass out to your guests. Maybe have a prize or two for the person who gets the most correct answers. This is a sure way to liven up any party and gets guests talking.

Visit my website for other quizzes and activities for your holiday season. http://www.squidoo.com/easyholidayquiz

Warning...Answers follow.... don't peek until after you finish the quiz!
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. b

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynette_Metzer

Tags: Christmas, Holiday, Knowledge