Christmas stockings - background
The legend of Christmas stockings is linked to that of St Nicholas and Father Christmas.
The story goes that there was a poor man with three daughters, in the days when it was common to pay a dowry. The man, being poor, could not afford any dowry for them and worried that his daughters would never marry.
The girls had hung their stockings to dry on the fireplace, and legend has it that St Nicholas, who was the Bishop of Myra, and believed to be the inspiration for Father Christmas, dropped some gold coins down the chimney, which landed in the girls' stockings.
When news spread of this, others began to hang stockings too in the hope that they would receive gifts.
Search for Christmas gifts
Saturday 26 February 2011
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Get Ready For Christmas With The Kids
If you have children in your family, or your friends have children, I'm sure you'll agree that they add an extra dimension to Christmas - the fun, the excitement, the suspense in the run up to the big day!
If you've ever spent time with kids in the run up to Christmas, you'll know that the excitement can almost get too much - so much waiting (and behaving!)
Here are five ideas for entertaining children in the last few weeks before Christmas without spoiling them!
1. Take them Christmas carolling - ah bless their cotton socks, even the naughtiest most-hyper child will be transformed into a little angel once they start belting out "Away In A Manger".
2. Long walk outdoors - whether it's crisp and cold, or wet and windy, a walk outdoors is a sure-fire way to tire out little legs and create a diversion in little minds. Try to point out Winter wonders as you go along, winter berries on the trees etc! Perhaps try and collect pine cones or holly that can be used as part of a Christmas decoration project!
3. Bake mince pies and treats - good old fashioned baking can fill an afternoon and what could be more Christmassy than mince pies? If you don't fancy messing with the oven, try making truffles or sweet treats that don't need an oven! As a bonus, things like truffles can be boxed and use as inexpensive gifts - grandmas will love gifts made especially for them by little hands!
4. Visit the grottos, garden centres and Christmas fayres - Santa might be there, but you don't need to spend time in queues or paying to see him, young children are often captivated by the displays in shops and around the town. They also love seeing houses that are covered from roof to floor in lights and decorations (and a lot of people enjoy decorating their homes this way), so keep an eye out for these Christmas wonders and remember to take the kids for a look, they will love it!
5. Get busy with the wrapping paper and sellotape - let the children get crafty - collect a box of old/surplus wrapping paper, cards, tape, decoration, bows, glitter and glue and let them go wild. (A plastic sheet for the floor might be an idea before you start!) You could collect things all year so that you have a box full of materials by Christmas time - remember to supply them with safety scissors! They can make all kinds of fun stuff - you could even get them to wrap sweets and treats and put them under the tree!
One thing's for sure, if you have kids, your Christmas preparations will be a lot more fun!
If you've ever spent time with kids in the run up to Christmas, you'll know that the excitement can almost get too much - so much waiting (and behaving!)
Here are five ideas for entertaining children in the last few weeks before Christmas without spoiling them!
1. Take them Christmas carolling - ah bless their cotton socks, even the naughtiest most-hyper child will be transformed into a little angel once they start belting out "Away In A Manger".
2. Long walk outdoors - whether it's crisp and cold, or wet and windy, a walk outdoors is a sure-fire way to tire out little legs and create a diversion in little minds. Try to point out Winter wonders as you go along, winter berries on the trees etc! Perhaps try and collect pine cones or holly that can be used as part of a Christmas decoration project!
3. Bake mince pies and treats - good old fashioned baking can fill an afternoon and what could be more Christmassy than mince pies? If you don't fancy messing with the oven, try making truffles or sweet treats that don't need an oven! As a bonus, things like truffles can be boxed and use as inexpensive gifts - grandmas will love gifts made especially for them by little hands!
4. Visit the grottos, garden centres and Christmas fayres - Santa might be there, but you don't need to spend time in queues or paying to see him, young children are often captivated by the displays in shops and around the town. They also love seeing houses that are covered from roof to floor in lights and decorations (and a lot of people enjoy decorating their homes this way), so keep an eye out for these Christmas wonders and remember to take the kids for a look, they will love it!
5. Get busy with the wrapping paper and sellotape - let the children get crafty - collect a box of old/surplus wrapping paper, cards, tape, decoration, bows, glitter and glue and let them go wild. (A plastic sheet for the floor might be an idea before you start!) You could collect things all year so that you have a box full of materials by Christmas time - remember to supply them with safety scissors! They can make all kinds of fun stuff - you could even get them to wrap sweets and treats and put them under the tree!
One thing's for sure, if you have kids, your Christmas preparations will be a lot more fun!
Monday 21 February 2011
Traditional Religious Christmas Icons
Ever wondered why poinsetta and mistletoe are used to symbolise Christmas?
Here's a nice article / gallery of images with detailed commentary about traditional religious Christmas symbols, from poinsetta and mistletoe to robin red breasts and Christmas stockings...
www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/christmas/
Here's a nice article / gallery of images with detailed commentary about traditional religious Christmas symbols, from poinsetta and mistletoe to robin red breasts and Christmas stockings...www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/christmas/
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