CHRISTMAS DECÒR

Christmas decorations
There can be no Christmas without Christmas decorations! Decors evoke Christmas sentiments among children and grown-ups.

Christmas decorations date all the way back to the old Christmas markets in 16th century Germany. In those days, Christmas food, such as sugar rods, honey cakes, and other Christmas candy, were particularly used as Christmas decorations. In the 18th century, many other kinds of Christmas decorations became popular. Among them were glazed paper, colored paper, and those which contain candies, nuts, cakes, raisins, and fruits.

Today, many different kinds of Christmas decorations are known. Here are a few:

Angels:

As early as the mid-1880’s, using angels as Christmas decorations became widespread. Angles are associated with the Christian culture, but are also known in Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism, where angels or beings similar to angels are used as messengers.

Christmas balls:

As far back as three hundred years ago, glass balls were already used as Christmas decorations. Today, the big, shiny balls of thin plastic or glass are used. They were originally invented in Germany.

Christmas candles:

To decorate the Christmas tree with Christmas candles is a tradition that dates back to the 16th century – the time when the Christmas tree was first brought into a living room. The candle symbolizes life and joy in a dark time, and is perfect for Christmas

Tinsel:

In 1610, tinsel was invented in Germany and was made from genuine silver. Machines that shredded silver into thin tinsel-sized strips were invented. However, since silver tinsel tarnishes and loses its shine over time, people eventually created artificial replacements. It must be noted that the original inventor of tinsel remains unknown.

In many families, Christmas decorating traditions and decorations are passed on from generation to generation. However, every year, new decorations are purchased to replace the old or if new inspiration is needed.

CHRISTMAS RECIPE: EGGNOG

Eggnog Thumbprint Cookies

2/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 slightly beaten egg whites
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon rum or 1/4 teaspoon rum extract
1 to 2 teaspoons milk
Ground nutmeg

Beat the 2/3 cup butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and the 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg; beat until combined. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Beat in as much flour as you can. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. If necessary, cover and chill dough about 1 hour or until easy to handle.
Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in egg whites, then in chopped walnuts. Place 1 inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Press centers with your thumb. Bake in a 375° F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
For filling, beat the 1/4 cup butter until softened. Add powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in rum or rum extract and enough milk to make of spreading consistency. Spoon or pipe about 1/2 teaspoon filling into center of each cookie. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
Makes about 40 cookies

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Christmas party
Christmas is a time for numerous social events. Many people get involved in voluntary work during the yuletide season -- collecting money for charitable purposes or personally helping out in the local community. Christmas is also a season for parties. Typically, a Christmas party is organized by a school, a company, an organization, a church, or a family. Traditionally, such parties include songs, dances, competitions, and games.
Obviously, there is a great difference between a Christmas party for children and grown-ups, but here in the site, we offer you some ideas for both types of holiday parties.

A Christmas party for children
Children love to dress up, thus, during Christmas; it is a good idea to come up with a Christmas theme when children are invited for a party. Try a Xmas Candy land theme where all children are dressed up as candy, or what about a Christmas light theme where the whole house is decorated with colored electric lights before the children arrive. You can also make a Tower of Gifts where you put candy in small boxes, tie them together in several tall towers, and use them as table decorations. That is a guaranteed success with the children.

Games and small christmas party competitions are also great ideas to keep children busy:
1. Gift wrap gameWrap 5-10 gifts in several layers of gift paper and seat the children around a table. Play Christmas music, and pass the gift around among the children. The children may only take the paper off the individual gift while the music plays and it is your job to turn off the music with short intervals. When the music stops, the gift is passed on to the next. The child who pulls off the last piece of gift paper while the music is playing wins the gift.
2. Find the Christmas starAsk each of the children to fold a Christmas star. When the stars are complete, you lead the children to another room and hide the stars in the living room. It is now the children’s task to find the stars.
3. Where is your sleigh?Have children sit in a large circle and blindfold one child. Another child will be given the sleigh and must say: Santa Santa, where is your sleigh. Someone has come and taken it awayGuess who? Guess who? The blindfolded child gets three guesses. The child who has the sleigh is next to be blindfolded.

A Christmas party for grown-ups
For most grown-ups, the company and Christmas food are the top priorities when planning a Christmas party. During the party it’s a good idea to sing some Christmas songs and arrange a Christmas quiz as entertainment. Actually, there doesn’t have to be that much of a difference between a Christmas party for children, and a Christmas party for grown-ups. Grown-ups also love gifts; therefore, a gift game is an obvious choice for all age groups. Here are some examples on how grown-ups can entertain themselves at a Christmas party

1. Gift gameEverybody brings a small gift to the party. At the start of the game, all of the gifts are placed on the table, and each guest rolls a dice by turns. When the dice rolls to 6, the guest may choose a gift from the table or “steal” others’ gifts. After twenty minutes, everybody can keep his/her gifts. The game is usually a lot of fun.
2. Guess a songBuy 2 - 3 CDs with Christmas music or download the music from the Internet. Play 5 seconds of each song. Guests will have to guess the right title of the Christmas song that has been played.
3. True or falseThis is a good game if many of the guests don’t know each other. Each person tells three stories. Only one of the stories should be true. It is now up to the other guests to guess which of the stories is true. The game can be played all year round, but during Christmas it’s a great idea to tell stories related to Christmas.

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Christmas stockings
Christmas stockings are hung near the chimney on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill it with goodies for the children. It is an empty sock or a bag that is given the shape of a sock. The children in United States and some other countries have been following this tradition of hanging a Christmas stocking, believing that Father Christmas will fill it with sweets and gifts for them. The items that are believed to be stuffed in the Christmas stocking by Santa Claus are known as stocking stuffers.

The tradition of the Christmas stockings began by a story told since ancient time about a kind noble man who had three daughters. The wife of the nobleman expired and the daughters and their father were left in a state of sorrow. The daughters had to do all the work in the house. When the daughters became young and eligible for marriage, the poor father could not afford to give the huge dowries to their husbands.
One evening the daughters, after washing their stockings hung them near the fire place to be dried. Santa Claus being moved by the plight of the daughters came in and put in three bags of gold one in each of the stocking hanging by the chimney. The next morning the family noticed the gold bags and the nobleman had enough for his daughter’s marriage. The daughters got married and they lived happily ever after. Since then children have been hanging Christmas stockings.

Christmas stockings are supposed to have the gifts given by Santa Claus. The other gifts are wrapped in present papers and placed near the Christmas tree. It is believed that a child who misbehaves during the year will not get a gift in their Christmas stocking. The Christmas stockings are traditionally hung on the fireplace. But as most of the modern homes do not have a fireplace, any location is suitable for hanging the Christmas stockings. In many traditions the Christmas stocking is to be stuffed by a gift that will stimulate the five sensory organs.
The gift given by Santa Claus would be something to eat, a thing that makes a sound and gives a pleasant view to the eyes or gift which has a lovely fragrance.In the present modern culture there are special Christmas stockings available in the market. Some families design unique stockings for each family member.