Advent Calendars

The first advent calendars appeared in 19th-Century Germany, when various methods of counting the days between the start of Advent and Christmas Day were used. Starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, or simply on 1 December, the Protestant Christians would keep track of the days by making marks on their doors with a piece of chalk, which would then be rubbed off one by one as Christmas approached. Other practices then developed, including burning a candle or putting up a small religious picture to mark each day.

These days during Advent, people make or buy Advent calendars as a way of counting the days to Christmas. Usually these calendars have twenty-four 'windows'.

Traditional calendar windows open up to show a picture of something linked with this time of year. One may show an angel or one of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus. Others may show pictures of Christmas presents, a candle or anything else to do with Christmas. The last window to be opened usually shows Jesus himself, lying in a manger.

Popular advent calendars today usually have chocolate hidden behind each window. The theme/ picture displayed is usually a character from a TV show or film.

Some people like to make their own Advent Calendars, this Homemade Origami Calendar pattern is one of my favourites, but doesn’t really leave much room for treats.

If it’s an advent calendar full of treats you're looking for, especially if you have younger children then a Wooden Advent Cabinet might be more suitable, where you have 24 little drawers in which to pop a sweet or a chocolate.

Dont forget to put an extra special treat in door number 24 though!

Christmas No1 Songs (UK)

Ah, the Christmas No1 - a highly sought-after achievement in the world of pop - and often the subject of much speculation.

It used to be an open contest, then Cliff Richard started to dominate things in the late 80s and 90s, then the Spice Girls had a turn. These days there is something of an X-Factor monopoly on Christmas number ones (apart from the one year when we all rebelled and put Rage Against The Machine up to number one at Christmas - Facebook power!)

Christmas 2010 and it was the X-Factor again beating everyone else to the number one spot, with Matt Cardle's "When We Collide".

Here's a list of all the Christmas No 1 songs from the last few decades!

Christmas Number 1 Hits of the Past

Noughties Christmas Number Ones:

• 2009     -     Rage Against the Machine     "Killing in the Name"
• 2008     -     Alexandra Burke     "Hallelujah"
• 2007     -     Leon Jackson     "When You Believe"
• 2006     -     Leona Lewis     "A Moment Like This"
• 2005     -     Shayne Ward     "That's My Goal"
• 2004     -     Band Aid 20     "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
• 2003     -     Michael Andrews & Gary Jules     "Mad World"
• 2002     -     Girls Aloud     "Sound of the Underground"
• 2001     -     Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman     "Somethin' Stupid" 
• 2000     -    Bob The Builder     "Can We Fix It?" 

Nineties Christmas Number Ones:

• 1999     -    Westlife     "I Have A Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"
• 1998     -    Spice Girls     "Goodbye"
• 1997     -    Spice Girls     "Too Much"
• 1996     -    Spice Girls     "2 Become 1"
• 1995     -    Michael Jackson     "Earth Song"
• 1994     -    East 17     "Stay Another Day"
• 1993     -    Mr Blobby     "Mr Blobby"
• 1992     -    Whitney Houston     "I Will Always Love You"
• 1991     -    Queen     "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
• 1990     -    Cliff Richard     "Saviour's Day" 

Eighties Christmas Number Ones:

• 1989     -    Band Aid II     "Do They Know It's Christmas?
• 1988     -    Cliff Richard     "Mistletoe and Wine"
  
• 1987     -    Pet Shop Boys     "Always on My Mind"
• 1986     -    Jackie Wilson     "Reet Petite"    
• 1985     -    Shakin' Stevens     "Merry Christmas Everyone"
• 1984     -    Band Aid     "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
• 1983     -    The Flying Pickets     "Only You"
• 1982     -    Renée and Renato     "Save Your Love"
• 1981     -    The Human League     "Don't You Want Me"
• 1980     -    St Winifred's School Choir     "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma"

Seventies Christmas Number Ones:

• 1979     -    Pink Floyd     "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
• 1978     -    Boney M     "Mary's Boy Child" / "Oh My Lord"
  
• 1977     -    Wings     "Mull of Kintyre"
  
• 1976     -    Johnny Mathis     "When A Child Is Born (Soleado)" 
• 1975     -    Queen     "Bohemian Rhapsody"
• 1974     -    Mud     "Lonely This Christmas"
• 1973     -    Slade     "Merry Xmas Everybody"
• 1972     -    Jimmy Osmond     "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool"
  
• 1971     -    Benny Hill     "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"
• 1970     -    Dave Edmunds     "I Hear You Knocking"

Santa! Stop Here!

Look at this cute Personalised Santa Stop Here Sign - also available in a reindeer design. 


Personalised with any name up to 11 letters, this simple stake sign pushes into soft ground - make sure Father Christmas doesn't miss your house!


More Christmas ideas.

Cute Santa Claus Christmas Tree Topper

I love cute Christmas decorations, so imagine how excited I was to find this gorgeous Santa Christmas tree topper - he's adorable and will brighten up any Christmas tree!

You can buy the Santa tree topper here:
http://homeshopping.24studio.co.uk/search/22826505



For more Christmas inspiration, Christmas gifts and decoration ideas, visit www.24studio.co.uk/christmas

Christmas Crafts

The run-up to Christmas is the perfect time to get crafty - especially if you have excited children to keep entertained!

Christmas crafts can be a lot of fun, and you could create some unique Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations or other accessories / novelties - as well as having lots of messy fun with paper, glue and glitter.

You can save items all year round for your Christmas craft box - find your inner magpie! - save anything shiny, bright or glittery, as virtually anything can be put to good use once your creative juices get flowing.

As a starting point, your Christmas craft box should include: paper and card (ideally in assorted colours), scissors, PVA glue, paints and pens, foil, and glitter. Also worth saving are pine cones, pieces of old wrapping paper, greetings cards, ribbons, bows, sequins and any other shiny bits or bobs you can save throughout the year.

The easiest Christmas craft projects to make are customised gift tags, paper chains, advent calendars and tree decorations.

You'll find some great Children's Christmas craft ideas at : www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/.

Enchanted learning also have a selection of printable childrens Christmas activity books and worksheets with colouring, writing, questions and all kinds of fun activity to keep them busy.

Christmas Craft projects on the site also include puppets, wreaths, stockings and fun novelty items - and when you make your own gifts, you can personalise in any way you wish! 

Also worth a visit is www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/index.shtml - packed with clever Christmas craft ideas, you'll find inspirational ideas for Christmas gifts and treats, some may be too tricky for younger children.

Why not get crafty this Christmas and make some special Christmas gifts - if you have children to help you, even better, some of the most memorable keepsakes and enduring Christmas ornaments are handmade by little hands!

If craft isn't your thing, you can start shopping for Christmas gifts and Christmas decorations nice and early with www.24studio.co.uk/christmas - they also stock all kinds of Christmas novelty items, cards, wrap, trees, and a range of craft materials and craft kits.

Christmas Countdown - start your Christmas Planning Now!

 

Only 163 days to Christmas 2011!

If you're ready (are you ready?) to start planning for Christmas, take a look at christmas.organizedhome.com/printable/christmas-planner, a great resource for printing your own Christmas planners, calendars and checklists.

Even if extensive Christmas planning isn't your thing, you'll probably find it helpful to write a Christmas List.  

Make a simple list of friends and family, anyone you need to buy a Christmas Gift for. Then list any other essential Christmas items you may need, such as new decorations, lights, tableware etc.

Don't forget Christmas cards, wrapping paper, Christmas crackers - and you may wish to think about your Christmas menu.

Once you feel you have everything down on your list, set a budget for each new thing you need to buy this Christmas, and make a note of your budgetted amounts at the side of each item on your Christmas list.

Add up all the amounts to see what your grand total is - this is an estimate of what you are likely to spend this Christmas, although it is likely to be a conservative estimate - most of us end up spending more than we intend each Christmas. You might add an extra 'contingency' amount onto the subtotal for this. Consider Christmas parties, secret Santas and party outfits.

Next, divide your grand total by the number of months left between now and November, to create a monthly saving budget. If you start your Christmas planning in July, you have four months to prepare!

Now you can start a Christmas savings plan to ensure you have enough funds to pay for everything!

Happy Christmas planning!

Virtual Christmas Tree Fun

Have fun decorating a virtual Christmas Tree - great for the kids, click on the tree below to get started and you can adorn the tree with candy canes and baubles etc.
Thanks to http://www.christmaswebmaster.com/decorate.html for this resource.

Christmas Cards

All About Christmas Cards

Most of us send Christmas cards to friends, relatives and colleagues each year - but do you know why we send Christmas cards?

The first commercial Christmas cards were created and sent way back in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole of London came up with the idea to help promote his 'penny post' idea that had been launched just three years earlier. The first Christmas cards featured an illustration of a family drinking wine - controversial as it was deemed inappropriate to associate alcohol with a religious festival. The idea of Christmas cards soon caught on though, and by the following year several thousand were sold, and by 1875 the idea had caught on in the USA.

Traditionally Christmas cards featured festive designs and illustrations - from Christmas trees, baubles, gifts and family scenes, nativity and other religious designs, winter scenes and snowmen, reindeer, cute animals and of course, everyone's favourite Christmas card character - Santa Claus.

Today, Christmas cards have evolved into a massive industry - Christmas cards come in every imaginable design, size, shape and quality, with a vast choice of message and greetings. Most Christmas cards feature an image on the front, with an optional greeting, and then a full message inside, typically "Merry Christmas And Happy New Year". You can also buy personalised Christmas cards.

The internet age has also brought technology into the Christmas card world - virtual Christmas cards are sent by email and many prefer this paper-less option as it has less environmental impact.

Many businesses, small and large, send Christmas cards to their customers - a goodwill gesture no doubt designed to raise brand awareness and revenue!

You can buy special Christmas cards that give a percentage of profits to a charity - many charities now have their own Christmas card ranges nowadays, so you  can combine your Christmas card buying with charity.

You can buy extravagant and special Christmas cards, cards for every member of the family, for a whole family, from a whole family, Christmas cards for specific relatives, even Christmas cards for pets!

Consider buying multipacks of Christmas cards if you have a large family or a lot of friends.

Countdown to Christmas - 171 Days To Go!

Only 171 Days until Christmas! 

The countdown has begun:

It's now less than six months until Christmas 2011!  

Ho-Ho-Ho!