Be generous to your local S.P.C.A.
Tag: christmas blog
“The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.”
― George Carlin
“Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more….”
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ”
― Roy L. Smith
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ”
― Norman Vincent Peale
“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.”
― Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home
“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.” ― Bob Hope
There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.”
~ Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), American author and humorist.
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”
~ Peg Bracken.
Have the best holiday ever!
I truly BELIEVE in the “Spirit” of Christmas – that’s right! It used to be
allabout the excitement of getting presents under the tree and the anticipation the night before of waking up the next morning to find whatgiftstraces Santa left….like cookie crumbs on the plate. As kids you don’t have to rush around madly looking for the latest gadget or toy…your job is to receive. The complacency of getting. Wasn’t that nice?
Of course if Santa got the WRONG toy, doll or game you’d make a big stink about it – didn’t he get my list? What is wrong with SANTA?
Now we’re
somewhatall grown up and it’s our turn to do the gifting. Not an easy task with so much pressure from media, store windows, etc. …..well it’s everywhere on the street. How did this significant holiday get so out of control?
Do we ever stop to think that maybe we put the pressure on ourselves! Maybe we don’t have to follow set rules and can keep it more simple. That’s not to say gift giving is off entirely – most definitely NOT….I still have a wish list but it’s gotten smaller. And giving as it turns out can be a very pleasurable and meaningful thing to do. Some ideas…
What about offering something to the parents of children who cannot afford to buy presents for them? Don’t be a Grinch! Toys, books, clothes, games, you name it – this is the time to be charitable.
The magic of Christmas for me now is the warm feeling that this time of the year (minus the cold) brings where people show their appreciation by getting together for some good cheer and neighbors have open houses when they otherwise would not.
Seems like most of us are in a good frame of mind.
But what about the homeless?. How about donating blankets, food and clothing to the homeless or a woman’s shelter? How about adopting a loving pet from the humane society or even fostering an orphaned elephant (but not at home) for only $50.00 Find out more at:
AND what if this ONE day of the year could instead be ALL days of the year where everyone is in a good mood, nice & obliging and open houses abound. Wouldn’t THAT be nice!
…speaking of store windows here are some shots from window shopping on 4th Ave.
December 25th takes on a unique local flavor depending on where you find yourself on that day. In some places Christmas falls on a different day entirely. Have a very Merry Christmas wherever you live and whatever day you end up celebrating!
A look around…….
Christmas in Santa Fe – I’ve experienced & loved it!
Visit the historic Santa Fe Plaza on any chilly, clear evening from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, and you will find silvery lights strung on every tree, sparkling against the gray winter dusk. The farolitos, luminous brown paper bags of candles and sand, are lit by hand each night, to flicker on the rooftops of the surrounding adobes. The City has a hushed, reverent quality at this time of year, regardless of the number of locals and tourists who partake of the numerous holiday festivities.
Colosseum Christmas
In Italy, Christmas decorations may traditionally be put up on the 8th of December, a national holiday. Depending on the region, Christmas gifts might be given on Christmas Eve, or on Christmas Day. Decorations are taken down on the 6th of January and in some areas, female puppets are burned to signal, along with the end of Christmas, the end of the old year and beginning of the new. Photo: Jakob Montrasio
Parisian Christmas
Unlike the tradition of hanging socks by the fireplace, many French children will put shoes out for Father Christmas to put presents into. Photo: Her Own Journey
Parisienne Chocolates – always the best!
eTHIOPIAN cHRISTMAS
Christmas is widely and seriously observed in Ethiopia by its Orthodox Christian majority. As the country follows a calendar based on traditional Coptic calendars (which denote the current year as 2003 like the Julian calendar), Ethiopians will celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Photo: Richard Stupart
Brazil Christmas
Brazilian Christmas follows similar traditions to Northern Europe and America. Some cities, such as Curitaba, will have decoration contests where judges will inspect interior and exterior decorations of competing houses to proclaim the most beautiful.. Photo by Denise Mayumi
German Christmas
In some parts of Germany, St. Nicholas will come and visit children on St. Nicholas’ Day, giving out sweets. Sometimes he will be accompanied by his servant Ruprecht, dressed in dark clothes and occasionally with a devil’s tongue.
Ruprecht carries a stick, in theory to punish naughty children. Nowadays, he mostly hangs around looking scary and reminding German kids to behave ahead of Christmas. Photo: Marius Kallhardt
IndiaN Christmas
In India, Santas sleigh and reindeer are often replaced by a horse and cart. Although Christians only make up about 3% of the country’ population, Christianity has a long history in India, allegedly founded by the Apostle Thomas himself. Photo: Meanest Indian
Russian Christmas
Christmas in Russia is actually celebrated on the 7th of January like it is in Ethiopia. The Russian Orthodox Church still operates according to the Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar of the rest of the world. As a result, Christmas gets bumped back almost a fortnight until after the New Year. Photo: Dmitry Boyarin
Australian Christmas
While Christmas traditions in Australia are very similar to the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth countries, it is less well known that the country is responsible for starting the tradition of Carols by Candlelight. The practice began in 1938 after Norman Banks, a radio announcer with Melbourne station 3KZ saw a woman singing Away in a Manger by candlelight and had the idea to organise a large candle-lit singalong. Photo: Ctd 2005
JapanESE Christmas
Christmas in Japan is both popular and secular. Christmas is not a national holiday in the country, though gift giving is popular. Its first Christmas was held way back in 1552 by Jesuit priests in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Photo: mendhak
Scandinavian Christmas
In Scandinavia, the Julbock or ‘Yule Goat’ is the traditional bringer of gifts at Christmas time. Large versions of the goat are frequently put up in towns and villages over the festive season, while in older traditions, smaller-sized versions of the animal made of straw or wood would be snuck into people’s houses as a prank. Houses finding goats in them had to pass them on by pranking others. Photo: Seppo Laine
Vancouver Christmas – anything goes!
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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