Groundhog Day Fun Facts

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It’s doubtful whether anyone would have thought, during the first official Groundhog Day in 1886, that over 100 years later people would still be focusing their attention on a little critter on February 2 each year. It is on that date that Punxsutawney Phil tells the nation if there will be six more weeks of winter or not.

Many people don’t realize Groundhog Day has its origin in Germany. Tradition there claims that a badger or hedgehog would predict the coming of spring. If the animal saw its shadow on Candlemas, winter weather would continue. German settlers moved to the United States and continued the tradition. However, since there weren’t hedgehogs or badgers where they lived, they chose the groundhog as the weather prognosticator.

* Phil, the groundhog everyone looks to, has a long name: "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary." This name was given to a groundhog in 1887 by the "Punxsutawney Groundhog Club."

* Phil lives in the Punxsutawney Library for the remainder of the year, but each year as Groundhog Day nears, he’s taken from his home at Gobbler’s Knob.  He is then placed in a heated burrow until he makes his appearance at 7:25 a.m. on Groundhog day each year.

* In 1993 the movie “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray, was released. The movie, filmed in Woodstock, Illinois because Punxsutawney is in a rural area which made it difficult to use for filming.

* For those unable to make the annual trek to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, each year’s ceremony is broadcast on major television stations. It can also be seen on the big screen at Times Square, New York City.

* Groundhogs hibernate each year and generally come out of hibernation between the first and second weeks of February. Experts say the animal comes out of hibernation due to the increased number of daylight hours.

* In the wild, groundhogs live about six to eight years. Phil, however, is said to be given a magical drink every year which enables him to live seven more years. Having said that, members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club claim Punxsutawney Phil is over 120 years old.

* Although Punxsutawney Phil is said to be the official Groundhog Day weather predictor, other groundhogs are found around the world. These include General Beauregard Lee, Peewee the Woodchuck, Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam, Stanten Island Chuck, and Dunkirk Dave.

* Each year tens of thousands of people make their way to Punxsutawney to learn first-hand whether winter will continue for six more weeks.

* In over 100 years of predicting the coming of spring, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, seen no shadow 14 times, with 9 years where there was no record.

Is Punxsutawney Phil, or any of the other groundhogs around the world, accurate in predicting the arrival of spring? That’s up for debate. One thing is for sure, however, when it comes to Groundhog Day, these fun facts can make the day more enjoyable for all who celebrate.

History of Easter Eggs

It never fails. Year after year the stores pack their shelves with various items mean to “decorate” an egg. All dressed up for Easter, the plain, white egg you normally have for breakfast or use in your baking becomes a multi-colored, glittery, or tie-dyed work of art.

If you celebrate Easter then you, too, probably purchase dozens of eggs to decorate but do you know why you do it? Is it simply because that’s what your mother did each year because that’s what her mother did? And why does a bunny deliver them?

Though-out history, eggs have been a part of many spring celebrations. Eggs are generally thought of as a symbol of life and Easter is in Spring when new life abounds in the world. The Romans, who believe that “All life comes from an egg” used eggs in their spring festivals and feasts and salted hardboiled eggs were part of Jewish traditions as well.

Pagan beliefs viewed the egg as a sacred symbol and an old fable told of an egg that fell from heaven and hatched the goddess of Fertility, Astarte (Easter). Since then eggs have been found as symbols of new life and fertility in Rome, Northern Europe, China and Japan.

Christians later adopted the use of eggs into their Easter celebrations as the “seed of life” symbolizing Christ’s resurrection. Many different beliefs have been held about the actual use of eggs. It was once believed that eggs laid on Good Friday and cooked on Easter would promote fertility of the trees and crops will protecting against sudden deaths.

Today Easter Eggs have become a central part of Christian Easter celebrations in North America with chocolate Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts and decorating Easter eggs. It is unclear as to the specific reason for decorating eggs, but painted eggs have been part of spring celebrations in many cultures for centuries, each with their own styles and color traditions. Red and version of red have been the most common color in many cultures, symbolizing the blood of Christ.

The most famous Easter egg to date is the first Faberge egg. This small gold egg encased in platinum and enamel was created by Peter Carl Faberge in 1883 as an Easter gift for the Empress Marie of Russia from her husband Tsar Alexander. The egg was gorgeous, and a tradition began with a new egg being designed each Easter. Nicholas II, Alexander’s son, continued this tradition with a total of 57 eggs designed in total.

Today, Easter eggs are generally connected with the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts. The Easter bunny came to be part of Easter tradition because rabbits and hares are known for their ability to produce multiple births and that made them a natural choice for the celebration of spring and new life.

For many decades, young children have taken part in Easter egg hunts, searching for colorful eggs laid by the Easter bunny in the grass. Easter egg hunts have become a traditional part of American Easter celebrations, with the Whitehouse and many community churches hosting annual Easter egg hunts each year.

Who Are You Mr. Claus?

Just about everyone in the world knows that jolly toy-bearing Christmas figure from the North Pole, but how much do we really know about him?

Here are a few quick trivia questions about our beloved Santa brought to you by www.247trivia.com.

Q: Where does the name Santa Claus come from?

A: The name Santa Claus was derived from Sinterklaas, the Dutch term for the ancient Christian figure of Saint Nicholas who was famous for his generosity to the poor (more about him later). The Dutch immigrants to America imported their gift-giving saint to New Amsterdam where he merged with his British counterpart, Father Christmas, to become America's own Santa Claus.

Q: Everyone knows that Santa lives in the North Pole, but where is the real St. Nicholas from?

A: St. Nicholas who many consider to be the inspiration for modern Santa Claus was born in Patara around 275AD. Patara is located in present day Turkey, on the Southern Mediterranean coast in what is today an international tourist resort area where visitors spend hours basking in the warm Mediterranean sun. Certainly not a place you would want to be wearing fur coats in.

Q: If you really wanted to find St. Nicholas today, where would you go looking?

A: You may enjoy a trip to the North Pole, but if you really want to honor St. Nicholas, you would do better by heading towards Italy, where the remains of St. Nicholas are stored in the basilica of St. Nicola in the city of Bari. They have been there since the 11 century when they were, uh… borrowed… from their previous resting place in Myra in present day Turkey.

Q: Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and his companions take Santa on his rounds completely airborne. How is it that reindeer can fly?

A: Many people believe that the tale of flying reindeers (as well as other parts of the Santa story), originates from Lapland in modern day Finland. Some say that in Lapland reindeer had a habit of seeking out the hallucinogenic amanita mushrooms which they ate and then would prance around while under their influence. As these mushrooms are quite toxic, it was regular practice for local shamans to drink the urine of tripping reindeer for a "safe high" and then "fly" together with them. This could also explain the general cheerful disposition (with the "ho ho ho" and all), and the flushed red cheeks of today's Santa.

Q: Where did Santa get his unique outfit?

A: While it's no secret that the marketing people of Coca Cola have a lot to do with the modern image of Santa, some say the roots go way back. The same North European Shamans that liked to consume those red and white mushrooms with their reindeers used to wear quite a similar outfit when they went out to collect their pickings – red and white fur trimmed coats with long black boots. As implied above, it's quite certain that St. Nicholas was no inspiration for this outfit, as he lived in sunny south Turkey.

Q: Who was the first to create Santa's modern image?

A: Coca Cola still uses the iconic images of Santa which were hugely successful in the 30s, and created for it by the gifted artist Haddon Sundblom, an American of Swedish origin (does Northern Europe ring any bells here?). However the modern image of Santa was only finally standardized in his works, but had actually been developing for years before. Coca Cola wasn't even the first beverage company to make commercial use of every child's jolly toy bearing hero – a company called White Rock beverages used him to sell ginger ale and mineral water as early as 1915. However earlier versions wore a wide variety of colors. Coca Cola's Santa is the one the finally set the record straight, and since then Santa has been wearing nothing but Red and White.

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Each year America celebrates a day in November that has taken on almost a religious reverence which we call Thanksgiving. We give this holiday so much honor that it ranks right along with Christmas and Easter as an important holiday in the hearts of families and as a nation. This holiday, so rich with tradition, has it origins in the earliest days of the founding of this nation.

The early years of the explorers who came to the American continent were difficult ones indeed. Those explorers, we now call The Pilgrims, faced harsh weather, unpredictable relations with the natives, disease and other challenges as they carved out homes from the wilderness they found here. Because their earliest homesteads were in the northeast, the winters were harsh and their ability to build houses that could keep them warm and to find sufficient food was a constant worry to the men and women trying to raises families in America.

So anytime they received help from the native population, it was viewed as a gift from God and accepted with the greatest of joy and celebration. A Native American chief by the name of Squanto saw the plight of these new neighbors and saw to it his tribe helped these young families to survive. Besides providing food and wisdom about how to build structures that could keep them safe in the winter, Squanto taught them to fish and how to farm.

This act of friendship was the origin of our revered holiday of Thanksgiving. The Virginia Colony established the tradition of holding a day of collective prayers of thanksgiving, and that tradition continues today. Except it is not just a day of thanksgiving for the kindness and generosity of Squanto to our forefathers. We take advantage of this day of reverence and thanksgiving to be grateful for all the good things that God has blessed this nation with.

The foods we use to celebrate Thanksgiving were ones that the pilgrim travelers found native to this country and the foods that, with the help of Native American teachers, they learned to capture, harvest and prepare to feed their families and prosper in their new home. Turkey was a game foul that was in ample supply to the pilgrims once Squanto showed them how to hunt the bird with reliable success.

The vegetables we love to have on our traditional menus also had their origins in the early lives of the pilgrims. Potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, green beans and all the rest were vegetables that the pilgrims had to learn to harvest, farm and prepare from natives of the land. So in many ways, our modern holiday, despite the dominance of football games and the upcoming Christmas holiday, retains the atmosphere of those early celebrations.

And the meaning of the holiday, despite commercialization, has been retained. Americans have much to be thankful for. For most of us, it is a time to gather family and friends near and be thankful for our health, for the blessings of jobs and for the privilege all Americans share to be able to live in this great nation. The abundance of the land, a society that is free and to be able to encourage freedom in other cultures are just a few of the things we celebrate at this holiday time. All these are things and much more are truly worthy of giving thanks for.

Father's Day - Celebrations and History

by Stephanie Davies

Father's Day, also known as "Not ANOTHER tie" day, comes to us each June as we celebrate the men in our lives who are fathers, grandfathers or fatherly-figures. This article will show you that not only mothers deserve our appreciation! There are many facts, myths, and history associated with Father's Day, and we are going to share those with you as well as giving you some creative celebration ideas.

Father's Day was first proposed as a holiday in 1909 from an idea from Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.

It was after Mrs. Sonora Dodd became an adult that she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so with support from the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA, she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972.

According to Hallmark, "Father’s Day is the fourth-largest card-sending occasion with nearly 95 million Father’s Day cards expected to be given this year [2006] in the United States."

Yet it is another statistic related to the day that is more impressive: While Mother's Day is the biggest holiday for phone calls, Father's Day is the busiest for collect calls. (The overall busiest day of the year for phone calls is the Monday after Thanksgiving.)

So what should you get dear old dad for Father's Day this year? Not a present from 1-800-COLLECT I hope! Actually, many polls have shown that neckties, cologne and underwear/socks were what they wanted the LEAST for Father's Day. Let's chalk that one up to "women not knowing what to buy for men". However what men DO want happens to be a pretty fascinating (if not a bit predictable) list.

Ranking number one on what men want for Father's Day is dinner out at their favorite restaurant - well they do have that saying, that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Second on the list is electronics items - no big surprise there, men love gadgets. Also ranking up there in the gifts department are "time to do what they want" and "sports related items".

Of course, every father figure in our lives is a unique individual, and as with every other holiday, it should always be the thought that counts. If you think that soap-on-a-rope best expresses your emotional fondness, caring, and joy for the man in your life, by all mean, soap-on-a-rope it shall be!

This Father's Day, make sure you take some time out to remember and thank that special father figure in your own life, and let them know how much you appreciate their hard work and love.

Stephanie Davies is a 28 year old work at home mom to a 9 year old boy in Mid-Missouri. Her hosting company, Hosting WAHMs at http://www.hostingwahms.com offers premium webhosting from $2 per month and up, with an easy to use sitebuilder! She also loves to knit, build websites, and talk to people.

Article Source: Lady Pens

History of Mother's Day

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Did you know that Mother’s Day has actually been around since the Ancient Greek and Roman Empires? The Greeks celebrated the holiday in honour of Rhea, the God of motherhood, while the ancient Romans celebrated a similar holiday in honour of Cybele, a mother goddess. Cybele’s festivities took place from March 22-25.

While today’s Moms aren’t quite as lucky as Cybele in having 3 days set aside, just for them, it is nice to know that the practice dates back so long ago.

In reality, the Mother’s Day that we have come to know and practice actually has its closest roots in Merry Old England where it was known as Mothering Sunday. Taking place on the fourth Sunday during Lent, it began as a day when servants and apprentices were allowed to return home for the day to visit their mothers. They often brought with them a gift, sometimes called a Mothering Cake, which consisted of fruitcake or a fruit-filled pastry. By the time of the 19th Century, the holiday had all but fizzled out.

So what revived it? Well, historians seem to have a few explanations… One story states that after World War II, American serviceman brought the custom back home to share with their families, where it ultimately became known and celebrated as Mother’s Day. How nice to know that it was men who recognized the need for a special time to honour Moms.

Apparently, it was from that point on that the commercialization of Mother’s Day actually began. Big box greeting card companies, department stores and restaurants began to jump on the bandwagon, using it as an occasion to drum up business during the month of May.

There is also another story of a young Philadelphia woman named Anna Jarvis, whom many claim to be the official founder of Mother’s Day. It is said that in 1905, Miss Jarvis swore at her mother’s gravesite in 1905 that she would dedicate her life to her mother and establish a Mother’s Day to honour mothers, both living and dead.

In 1907, she passed out 500 white carnations at her mother's place of worship, St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. And on May 10th, 1908, St. Andrew’s was the first church to respond to her request for a Sunday service, honouring Mothers.

Nowadays, the holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, in over 40 countries, including the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium. Although we may never know the true origins and founder(s) of Mother’s Day, it still remains a special time to acknowledge and thank Moms everywhere for the lifelong love, support, and the single greatest gift that they have given us – Life.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mom2Mom Magazine, http://www.mom2momlounge.com is an online magazine written by moms, for moms. Find mom-relevant issues, insights, product reviews, fun ideas, fashion and beauty, family travel, health, recipes, humor and more. Each issue is filled with realistic, quick and easy reads that matter to Moms.

Article Source: Lady Pens

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Cinco de Mayo For Kids

By Barbara Feldman

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for the fifth of May. The fifth of May is a significant day for Mexicans, being the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, a battle between Mexican and French forces which has become symbolic of the Mexican spirit and determination to thwart foreign aggression.

The battle of Puebla took place in 1862. Leading up to this event, in 1861, Mexico declared a temporary moratorium, or delay, on their foreign debt. In response to this, the English, Spanish and French all invaded Mexico. After negotiations, the English and Spanish left by 1862, but the French remained.

The French were trying to establish a monarchy and also had designs to curb United States' power in North America.

On their way to the Mexican capital, the French forces needed to pass through the town of Puebla. Although they were heavily outnumbered, it was here that the Mexicans, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, managed to defeat the French forces.

Although the battle of Puebla was a success for Mexican freedom, the French returned a year later and were successful in taking over Mexico City. Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria's Hapsburg House was selected by Napoleon III as Emperor of Mexico and for three years ruled from the Chapultepec Palace in Mexico City, which was built by the Spanish.

The French had begun to overextend themselves in Mexico as they spread their control of the region. Soon the American Civil War was over and the United States informed the French of their Monroe doctrine which stated they would treat any colonial disputes within the Americas as hostile towards the United States and would step in. This caused the Napoleon III to withdraw troops from Mexico. Eventually Maximilian was captured and executed in June, 1867.

It took five years to drive the French out of Mexico. However the Battle of Puebla, being the beginning of the resistance against the French, is seen as symbolising the determination of the Mexican people.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated throughout Mexico and the US Southwest, but especially in Puebla, where soldiers, students, mariachi bands and dancers parade on the main street. The celebrations culminate in a party at the “zocalo,” or main plaza. In some cities, re-enactments of the battle of Puebla take place.

Some US states celebrate the day also, especially in the Southwestern states and areas with a large Hispanic population. In particular Goliad, Texas holds a major celebration of Cinco de Mayo, as it is the birthplace of General Ingnacio Zaragoza.

For more on Cinco de Mayo, with links to recommended sites, visit Cinco de Mayo at "Surfing the Net with Kids." http://www.surfnetkids.com/cinco_de_mayo.htm

Also from syndicated columnist Barbara Feldman: kids coloring pages and clean kids jokes.

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The Roots of the Cinco de Mayo Holiday

By Richard Monk

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrated each and every year. Known as El Cinco de Mayo, the holiday is based on an event, not the independence of the country.

Every country celebrates a unique day representing a significant event in its past. This is often the day when the country either gained independence from an imperial force or came together in its present form. For instance, the United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4th each year to commemorate the day independence from the British occurred. Many people assume Cinco de Mayo refers to a similar event. It does not.

The independence day for Mexico is celebrated every year in September. As the name suggests, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5th each year. Given the popularity of the holiday, one must wonder what the exact reason for Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of a military victory. The holiday is a memorial to the defeat of the French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Specifically, the battle was a sign of the coming of age of Mexico, primarily because of the circumstances surrounding it.

In the mid-1800s, the French were a superior military force. This is the period of Napoleon, a time when France dominated much of the known world. In Mexico, the military process of the people was in great doubt. The Battle of Puebla would change this forever and provide a huge boost to a country.

The battle commemorated by Cinco de Mayo was one of those historic events where the underdog comes out on top. In this case, a Mexican force of 4,000 men were led into battle by a 33 year old general by the name of Ignacio Zaragoza. In turn, the French force consisted of 6,000 crack troops from Napoleon’s army, although Napoleon did not lead them. As you can guess, the French were defeated after only four hours. This, of course, resulted in a massive boost to national pride in Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo is a momentous event in the culture of Mexico. Just keep in mind that it is not a celebration of independence day.

Richard Monk is with FactsMonk.com - a site with facts about everything. Visit us to read more about Mexico.

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Easter History and Customs

On Easter weekend, those of the Christian faith celebrate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the observation of Easter did not originate with Christianity. Read on to learn about the true origin of the holiday.

“Easter” was taken from “Eastre”. She was the goddess worshipped by the Saxon peoples of Northern Europe. They held festivals every year to celebrate the Spring Equinox—the one time during the spring when the day and the night are of equal length. The festivals were believed to ensure the fertility of both the land and its people.

In ancient times, those of the Jewish faith celebrated Passover around this same time of the year. The Passover feast commemorated the Israelite captivity in Egypt under the cruel hand of the pharaoh. The last plague that God sent on the land was that of the death of every firstborn. Blood on the doorposts of Israelite households spared them as the Angel of Death spread through the land.

Christians decided to celebrate what we now know as Easter at this time also. Early followers were persecuted even after Jesus’ crucifixion. As a result, they held their religious observances to coincide with the pagan holidays. They called their remembrance, Easter—a derivative of Eastre. The idea behind the two occasions is different, but they share common symbols and traditions that people still use today.

The Easter egg- The use of eggs in celebration existed long before our modern day observance. Eggs were given and received as symbols of rebirth. Today, eggs are decorated on Easter and hidden for children to find.

The Easter bunny- The rabbit was the symbol of Eastre, the Saxon goddess. The idea of the rabbit as a part of Christian tradition was introduced in colonial days by the Germans. Children are taught that the Easter Bunny brings treats on the night before Easter, much like Santa Claus during Christmas.

The Cross- The symbol of the cross has been associated with Christianity and Easter since the first centuries after Jesus’ death. The cross was a symbol of cruelty throughout the Roman Empire. Today, those who practice Christianity view it as a badge of courage and salvation.

Now you know the origins of the holiday of Easter. Will this knowledge change anything about your observance? Only you can decide if the history of the symbols is more important than the reason you celebrate it today.

Groundhog Day - Will Punxsutawney Phil See His Shadow?

Groundhog Day or Groundhog's Day is a traditional holiday which is celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2nd of each year, four days before the cross-quarter day between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

History tells us that as far back as the fifth century the European Celts believed that certain animals had super-natural powers on the special day's half-way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. They believed that if bears and groundhogs came out of their winter dens too early that they were frightened by their own shadow and went back into their dens for four to six more weeks of hibernation.

The traditional weather lore says that if a groundhog comes out of his burrow on Groundhog Day and can not see his shadow, because of cloudy weather, then winter will soon end. However, if the groundhog is able to see his shadow, due to clear sunny weather, he will be frightened by the bright light and run back into his den, meaning that winter will continue for six more weeks.

The earliest known American reference to Groundhog Day is February 4, 1841 and took place in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. In storekeeper James Morris' diary he wrote; "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas Day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."

In the United States, the tradition of Groundhog Day comes from a famous Scottish poem:

As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight
If Candlemas be cloud and snow
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas Day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas Day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop.

The celebration of Groundhog Day began in Pennsylvania and the town of Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. It was begun out of humor and has continued to this day. Every year on February 2nd, their groundhog, known as Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his den and predicts the weather. If Phil can see his shadow then winter will be six weeks longer, however if he is unable to see his shadow then spring will begin.

It is said that the weather predictions of Phil are more than 50% accurate, though the residents of Punxsutawney say that he is 100% accurate, of course.

While Groundhog Day seems like a rather weird holiday to many, it is simply a fun and quirky way to look at weather. Many school children have fun with the day and get to learn about weather and even groundhogs themselves at the same time. They often learn about hibernation as well as the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

So, while the holiday is a bit odd, it is built from strong tradition and meant to educate and entertain at the same time.

Family Christmas Traditions

Christmas is the time of year when families get together for fun and fellowship. It is during these times that traditions are created that can be passed down to each new generation. What are your family traditions? If you really hadn’t thought about it, use this Christmas season to begin a few special ones.

Depending on your denomination of the Christian faith, some people attend services on Christmas. Programs are held on Christmas Eve night or the Sunday immediately before Christmas Day. Attending a service gives families time to reflect on the spiritual aspect of the season and share the nativity story with their children. In some churches, the children perform Christmas plays for the church congregation.

The night before Christmas is the perfect time for the famous story of the same name by Clement C. Moore. The story is about a man who witnesses Santa’s visit to his house on Christmas Eve. Gather the entire family for the reading just before bedtime.

Christian and secular traditions don’t have to exist separately. The two can be merged to create a well-rounded holiday family tradition. For those parents that choose not to let their children believe in Santa Claus, tell them the story of St. Nicholas. When a child really thinks about it, he or she will realize that no one can make it around the world to every home in a night, let alone fly on a sleigh to do it.

St. Nicholas is the bishop on whom the legend is based. He was a Christian man who sought to use his money to serve the people in godly ways. He was so loved that after his death, stories circulated about his many deeds. Over time, the good deeds turned into miracles performed. In Europe, more specifically among the Dutch, the legend of Sinterklaas was born. He was the predecessor of the American folk hero, Santa Claus.

Christmas traditions can include volunteering at a soup kitchen or collecting money for charities. When thinking about others, families express the true meaning and spirit of the season. Good will towards mankind sets an example that our children can and should follow. Not only will you be helping those in need by doing these things, but you will be teaching your children great lessons for life at the same time.

A favorite tradition of mine is telling stories of past Christmases shared with family. Remembering the excitement of Christmas Eve night when I was the age of my own kids brings a feeling of warmth to my soul. Christmas traditions that I grew up with such as decorating the tree together in early December are observed in my home today.

How about you, what memories or traditions do you have from your own childhood that you could incorporate into your own family now?

More Christmas Ideas:
The Ultimate Christmas Collection
Christmas & Advent Celebration For The Holidays Package

Some Christmas Traditions History

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.

Holly and Mistletoe

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

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

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.

Christmas Cards

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.

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The History of Rudolph and Santa's Other Reindeers

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 of Ruldolph named Robbie the Reindeer. 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.

The Christmas Story

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.

The Many Legends Of Santa Claus

It's only fitting that since Santa Claus has the magnificent capability to visit homes around the world in a single night that more than one place would claim to be his home. It's common belief that Santa hails from the wintry North Pole, but folks in Finland will also tell you that Santa calls that country his home. To prove it, the Finns will even invite you to visit Santa in his workshop before Christmas or during the year and talk with Santa Claus as he and his elves busy themselves for their end-of-year Christmas expedition around the globe.

The popularity in America today of the images and legend of Santa Claus can be traced to the poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" , that was written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822. In that poem, Moore described St. Nicholas as a jolly fellow who flew from house to house in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and waited for children to go to bed on Christmas Eve before he came down the chimney to deliver Christmas presents for them.

Following the distribution of that poem, the popular magazine Harper's Weekly published cartoons by Thomas Nast between 1863 and 1886 that depicted Santa as a cheerful fellow with a large round belly and long white beard who wore a bright red suit that was trimmed with white fur. In those cartoons, Santa also held a sack, which was filled with toys for boys and girls, over his shoulder. The cartoons also showed Santa reading letters from good boys and girls, working in his workshop with his elves, checking his list to make sure he had all the required toys and even showed his wife, Mrs. Claus.

The tradition of Santa Claus was brought to America however by Dutch colonists who settled in New York City, which was called New Amsterdam at the time. The real St. Nicholas is said to be a minor saint from the 4th Century with a reputation for generosity and kindness that gave rise to legends of many miracles that he performed for the poor and unhappy. One of the stories about the legend of St. Nicholas is that he saved three poor girls who were sisters from being sold into a life of slavery by their father. According to the legend, Santa Claus provided the girls with a dowry so that they could get married.

The legend of St. Nicholas led to hundreds of people being devoted to him and consequently thousands of European churches became dedicated to him. After the Reformation period however, widespread practice and worship of St. Nicholas disappeared in European countries that were Protestant, except in Holland where the legend of St. Nicholas continued. St. Nicholas was known as Sint Nikolaas but that was later corrupted to Sinter Klaas.

Dutch colonists took this tradition of Sinter Klaas to New York City where it was adopted using the English name of Santa Claus. Over time, the Dutch legend of the kindly saint was combined with old Nordic folktales about a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good ones with presents to give rise to the stories that now exist about Santa Claus.

The red and white-trimmed suit of Santa Claus is believed to be the colors that the original St. Nicholas wore because red and white were the colors of the robes worn by traditional bishops. It is also believed that the Coca Cola Co. played a role in what is regarded as the popular look of Santa Claus today through paintings by artist Haddon Sundblom that were placed in some of the company's advertisement between 1931 and 1964.