Christmas is coming and you still are wondering how to decorate the house and the Christmas tree. Be creative and you can make wonderful Christmas decorations using very simple techniques and material. Use placemats and create fun Christmas decorations. You can use them to decorate the house and garden. Find them at cheap markets and yard sales. Here we will give you some great ideas how to create some recycled Christmas decorations.

The first idea is to create a Christmas Garland. Cut out the placemat into strips of fabric. Fold over their edges and iron them down. Then with the sewing machine hem them. Half of the strips you can fold into a circle. Then sew the two ends together and turn inside down. Use the rest of the strips and hook all the rings. Make the garland and decorate the room.

Other thing that you can do with the placemat is to cut them down in squares. Cut out Christmas trees, letters and angels from the fabric and sew each one on to square. That is how you can create different Christmas themes.

Try to create and Christmas ornaments. If you cut out the fabric placemats into bell, angel or other funny shapes you, then punch a hole in the top of each to tie a nice ribbon, you will create very original and nice looking Christmas ornaments.

Be creative and make Christmas stockings. All you have to do is to take one placemat and fold it in half. With a marker, trace a Christmas stocking shape and cut it out. Now you have to fold the top of each stocking and hem it carefully. Sew the stocking together and turn it inside out. Be careful and do not sew the top. Now you are ready.

Surprise the family with your new decoration and enjoy the holiday.

Probably most of you have many boxes with old Christmas cards. When the people we love sent us a card for the Christmas holiday, we do not want to throw it away and keep them for years in shoe boxes. Here we will give you some very easy ideas how to get the out and enjoy them.

The first idea is very simple. Chose from the boxes which are the most beautiful cards of all. From the near craft shop buy some double sided tape and place it on the back of each card. Press the card in the middle of each window in the house.

Old Christmas cards can be used to create great looking garlands. In the corner of each card, make a small hole. Slip through the hole nice ribbon and tie it, the do the same with the next card. The garland can be done only with cards or if you want you can tie different colors big balls between the cards. These garlands can be used as a room decoration. If you want you can decorate the Christmas tree with the smallest cards that you have.

If you have a glass top table at home, this will be the best place to show your cards. Simply remove the glass, arrange the cards like you want and bring it back. This can be done on a big dining table, on a coffee table or on the children’s’ desk.

You can decorate the children’s room with the cards too. If you cut out the most beautiful of all you can attach them to the curtains, or to decorate the tree in their room only by cards and the cut parts of them. Also you can use them in your Christmas games and for other projects.

In Congo the preparations for Christmas begin when the group to prepare the Annual Christmas pagan is chosen. Early in the morning on Christmas day, carolers start walking to and fro the village. They sing popular carols every where, on the streets and in the houses. When they go back home, important for them is to prepare their cloths for the church service. They always wear there the most beautiful cloths that they have.

The most important part of the church service is the love offering. This is the gift that people can gift in honor of Jesus. Everyone who attends the service has to bring his gift to Christ. No one can attend the service without laying down his gift. After the service the people go back to their houses and prepare tables in front of their houses. They invite friends and relatives to share their food with.

In South Africa Christmas is a summer holiday. The summer brings there many flowers and sunny days. The people there celebrate the holiday in absolutely different conditions according to the people who live in Europe, where it is cold winter in December. In stead of snow in the gardens, the South Africans enjoy the beautiful flowers that are in their full pride at this time of the year. On Christmas Eve the carolers make their round. On Christmas morning is held the church service. The houses are decorated with pine branches, and the kids hang up their stockings for Santa Clause.

The Christmas dinner usually is out side and includes roasted turkey or mince pies, yellow rice with vegetables, piper hats, crackers and plum pudding. After the dinner the kids can play out side or the whole family goes swimming and goes back in the evening. Boxing Day is also a public holiday and people usually spend it out side. This is a day or real relaxation there.

Usually on Christmas family and friends gather to share memories, talk and eat. That is why the Christmas dinner is so important to all of us. But to gather the family and enjoy the food, someone of you have to be in charge to organize everything.

 If this year you will be the person, responsible for this important event, it will be much easier for you if you follow some of the most important steps about the organization of a Christmas dinner. This will guarantee you a successful meal and happy moments.

The first step is to determine how many people will come to the dinner. Write a list with their names at least one month earlier. Send the invitations and ask the guests to confirm two weeks before the event. When you know exactly how many people you expect, decide which meals you would like to include in the menu. Then write down all ingredients that you have to buy. Do not change your last decision. Check several times the shopping list and be sure that you did not miss something important. Always plan some more food in case extra people come in the last minute.

If the dinner menu allows you go shopping one week before the party, because in the last minute the shopping centers are overcrowded. You will lose much more time then usually and the stress over you may be too much. Leave only the fresh products that you need for the last day. When you go back home, check everything that you have bought and if you have missed something or if you will need something else for the dinner to go smoothly.

The day before the dinner go to the shop and buy the last products - forgotten items and fresh vegetables and fruits. If the menu allows, cook as much as you can in advance. The family members can help you with the table decoration, while you are cooking the delicious meals in the kitchen. Start cooking early in the day, so you will have enough time in the afternoon to relax and prepare yourself for the dinner party.

Christmas season is the time when you can spend most of your time at home with your family and friends. This gives you the chance to play many interesting and funny games. Here are some very easy ones, where you can involve the kids too.

A great ice breaker for big Christmas parties is the game called “Finish the story”. Your guests have to sit in a circle. You will need a piece of paper and a pen. In the beginning of the game you will need some prearranged Christmas themes. Each of the players has to add a phrase after the first words which you can read them. You have to write very fast, what each of your guests says. Tell them that they also have to add “and”, “between”, “then”, “because” and so on. If you want you can be the person who adds them while writing the story after that. At the end, when all of the guests have said their phrases read the story loudly. You will be amazed how interesting and funny stories the guests can create. The game is even more interesting if the players are kids, because their imagination creates even more wonderful stories.

Christmas Broken Phone
While playing this game, it is guaranteered that all of your guests will laugh. The players have to stay in line, or at least be one next to other very closely. You can be Santa Clause who is calling to tell them very important news. Santa can only whisper the message to one person. Then he has to tell in to the person sitting on his left side, that person to the next, and so on till the last player hears it. Here comes the funnier part. The last person has to say loudly what he has heard. In 99% it is something funny, and usually sounds like a phrase from different language. Especially, if kids are playing.  

This year you can include in your traditional Christmas celebrations something new. It will make your holiday funnier and more interesting. In the German traditional celebrations there are many interesting thins which you can try at home.

In Germany on December 21st, which is the shortest day of the year is celebrated the day of St. Thomas. On this day the member of the family who gets up last in the morning is called the Thomas Donkey. Through out the day the rest of the family can joke and ask the Donkey to do many and not so favorite tasks to do. At the end of the day the family usually has iced current buns and the abuses over the Thomas Donkey ends. This is really funny for most of the kids, because usually the Donkey is one of their parents or bigger brothers and sisters, who love sleeping till lunch. 

Popular German tradition around the world is the Christmas tree presentation. In this country the tradition says that it is not allowed the family members to see the decorated tree before Christmas Eve. On this day the father usually plays with the children in other room, while the mother decorates the tree with fruits, hand made ornaments, cookies and candies, lights, angels and other traditional Christmas ornaments. Then is the time when she places and the gifts under the tree.

On the table the mother places decorative plates with fruits, nuts, chocolates and cookies. When the kids hear the ringing bell, they can come in the room and the celebrations can begin. Then the father reads popular Christmas stories and the family sings Christmas carols. At the end of the evening the kids can open their gifts.

Also in Germany is believed that if you do not eat enough and good food, the bad demons will be around you. So always prepare the best food that you can and have a wonderful time together on Christmas.

Christmas is the time of the year when the whole family should stay together and share happy moments. And this holiday is one of the most favorite for the kids. So they will be proud if you allow them to do some beautiful ornaments to decorate the house for the holiday. They also will love to involve in various types of Christmas crafts. If you join them, this guarantees you great time together around the Christmas tree, creating different beautiful Christmas items.

Order from you local craft shop some pieces of paper in different colors, glue and scissors. You will be amazed by the creative ideas of your kids, using only these simple crafts. But if you want to create something more special allow the kids to come with you and go shopping together. Then you can add in the basket some more ribbons, stickers, glitters and markers. These items will help you to create real Christmas masterpieces.

Provide enough space at home for the kids. If you have a big table, allow the kids to work their. It will give them plenty of room. To protect the table and the floor, spread out some newspapers or an old cloth. This will help you too, because it will be much easier to clean up after them. It may be a real mess after that.

If your kids are too young to work with scissors, then you better help them if they need. Think about easy crafts with painting or fingerprint decorating, which will be easier for them and in the same time will be real pleasure. For older kids, that can use scissors alone, you can make many paper snow flakes. Every time cut them in different shapes and then you can use them for the home decoration. Also, very interesting for the kids will be, to create many snowmen. With the simple items you can create many snowmen and to stick them on the windows.

Make this Christmas holiday memorable for the kids and the teens in your list. The kids usually like all kind of gifts, but if you want to be their hero this year, try with these awesome ideas. For sure the kids will love them. You know that the kids all year around look forward Christmas, so make this one unforgettable.

Among the younger kids are very popular the video games, game systems and accessories for them. The kids just love them. Sony Playstation Xbox or the Nintendo Gamecube are the most popular. The kids really enjoy showing their friends the newest model of these games. A good choice will be if you buy also suitable accessories.

Other very popular and loved gifts are the electric pocket bikes and the scooters. They are pretty safe because most of them can reach only 20 km/h. The kids can organize their races and have a lot of funny moments. The boys also like very much cars, tanks, trucks with remote controls. This gives them the chance to drive their own vehicles. The parents, by the way, like these gifts too, because they can join. You can organize a race to check who will drive from point A to point B as quick as possible.

When it comes to the girls they are more trivial about Christmas gifts. They also love those electric scooters. They can drive them around the neighborhood, visiting friends. But also very suitable for them are the puzzles and the home games. An interesting book with stories or an encyclopedia will surprise a school girl too. Do not forget that the most loved from the younger girls are the dolls and plush animals. Now in the shops are available even speaking dolls. If you want, you can buy and different accessories. Dolls dresses, or dolls houses are very beautiful and the girl can play for many hours.

Not only the kids wish secretly to receive gifts on Christmas. Very popular in the last years are the Christmas Gift Basket. You can send such basket to all your friends and relatives as a Christmas gift. As you probably know Christmas holiday symbolizes the sprit of giving.

If you are not sure which is the best gift which you can send to friends, then you can buy different Christmas ornaments. Christmas tree decoration, small chrystal balls, garlands, angel tree-toppers, twinkling lights and other similar items, will be a nice surprise in a small basket decorated with evergreen branches. Nativity sets, Christmas figurines and collectibles will be appreciated family gift too. If you want to make such basket for your mother, you can buy the so called “Christmas flower”. These are the Christmas rose, Christmas cactus, Poinsettia, and other. Place it carefully in the basket and wrap it with clear cellophane.

Around Christmas there are traditional foods in each country. You can surprise relatives with a Christmas basket filled with untraditional for your country cakes and cookies, personally made from you. For friends who like drinking good wine, you can prepare special wine selected bottles, nicely placed in a basket. This is a great way to say “Marry Christmas”.

As you know the happiest on Christmas are the kids. So do not forget their gift. All kids love chocolates and candies. So make Christmas basket filled with different chocolates and candies. Write on the one side their name and leave the basket under the Christmas tree. Also you can fill the basket with interesting games or books. Buy books with Christmas stories, so the kids will have the chance to learn something new and interesting about the meaning of the holiday.
With love, more creativity and desire, you can make wonderful Christmas Gift Basket for the people you love and care.

The gifts are very important part of the Christmas holiday. We all love giving and receiving gifts.

The best gift to the people that you love probably is your time. To spend a short  vacation with them, may be more expensive that buying some presents from the shop, but they will remember it forever. Because they can not clean it or put it away. Also you can spend time together if you buy tickets for all of you to go to a concert, sporting event, movie or theatre. But if you want to be at home, then write a poem dedicated to them and read it. Sometimes the simplest note can melt the heart of the people who love you.

Try to make a gift that will be remembered, a gift that will remember the people for this special holiday, to remember them for the people they have shared Christmas. Plant a tree for example. It will remember the people you love for this day and they will know that it have been planted with love.

The memories of the wonderfully spent Christmas holiday will be back again if you have a camera to record it. This is a great family gift. This will be a gift of memories, because even after ten years the feeling will be the same when you watch again how the children open their Christmas gifts and how happy they have been.

If your relatives and the people who you love so much live far away, great Christmas gift for them will be a pre paid phone card. No matter where they are, you will be able to hear them again and again at any time.

Other gift that you can buy in the last minute isfood. The delicious food will be always appreciated gift from your family. Very popular are the restaurants coupons. Many families with young children can not afford to go out for dinner and to pay for a baby sitter in the same time. If your friends do not go out often for this reason, them may be the last minute gift will be the best one for the Christmas. This gift will be appreciated and they will have the chance to spend a great evening out.

Children, go where I send thee
 How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee one by one
One for the little bitty baby
That was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.
Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee two by two
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty baybe
That was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

Three for the Hebrew children…
Four for the four that stood at the door…
Five for the gospel preachers…
Six for the six that never got fixed…
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven…
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate…
Nine for the nine all dressed so fine…
Ten for the ten commandments…
Eleven for the eleven deriders…
Twelve for the twelve Apostles…

Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth
Ye who sang creations story,
Now proclaim messiah’s birth

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ the new-born king

Shepherds in the field abiding,
Watching oe’r your flocks by night
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant light.

Sages leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar.
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen his natal star.
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord descending
In his temple shall appear.

The Christmas menu usually includes ham, turkey, goose and other delicious meals. But they always go with special wine. Many people are usually wondering which the best one for their menu on Christmas is. If you want to learn more information about the wines suitable for the Christmas night, read this article and choose which the perfect wine is for your dinner.

Usually we serve red or white wines. We prefer the sparkling ones for New Year and other occasions. So if you want to make rally nice impression at Christmas evening to your guests, then you should prefer Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is one of the toughest grapes to grow. It is a lighter flavored and colored red wine. It comes from Burgundy, one of the most priced wine areas in France. But also it is planted and in Italy, Germany, California and New Zealand. Pinot Noir is produced in small quantities and the price a little higher then the other popular wines. On the specific growing conditions the flavors are reminiscent of cherries, sweet red cherries, tomatoes, plums and wood like flavor. The wine perfectly suits with beef, ham, fish and creamy sauces.

The king of Red Wine Grapes is called Cabernet Sauvignon. it is one of the most sought red wines in the world. Usually 5 to 10 years are the optimal time for the wine to peak. Because of the longer period of the maturation pieces, which allows the wine’s flavors to mellow, the wine has higher price. Caberne Souvignon is characterized with high tannin contest, rich berry, tobacco and green papper flavor. The wine is very suitable with red meats, which are usually served at Christmas dinner in many countries around the world. It is also preferred with traditional Italian food, and dishes with lamb. You can serve this wine if you have dark chocolate or strong flavors cheese on the Christmas table.

The Christmas tree is important part of the house decoration before the holiday. But his Christmas you can try with something more different, modern and very fresh. Try our carefully picked ideas and you may have very funny and happy Christmas days. Instead of a bid Christmas tree, you can have this year, a nice small white tree,. Decorate it with different color candies, lollipops and chocolates. The kids at home will be happy to eat it after the celebrations. Also you can make a Christmas tree of lollipops only. In the shops are available in different colors. Use your imagination and create unique and delicious tree.

Very impressive are the Christmas trees done from brunches and decorated not with the traditional Christmas ornaments but with jewelries. It is not necessary to decorate the tree with expensive ones. From many shops you can find inexpensive necklaces and bracelets of different colored crystals. Spray the branches in color matching your home leave to dry and decorate it with bead garlands and drop ornaments.

Many of us want to recall the summer days in the chilling Christmas time. If you fill the same way, decorate the Christmas tree with fresh flowers. The decoration will warm you in the cod weather. It is really very refreshing to watch the falling snowflakes outside and in the same time the fresh flowers to smile you from the Christmas tree.

But if you are among the people who love the snow, then choose a Christmas tree in white color and with different colored decorations add some freshness. That is a perfect way for bright and modern house. The decorative elements should be in simple shapes. Also you we have that fresh impression if you choose a frosty artificial tree. Hung it with frost drop ornaments and wrap it with a wide, white simple ribbon.

If you do have enough space at home place the Christmas tree on a small table. But if it will be so high, then choose larger decorative elements- huge balls and pinecones are very suitable. Such tree will make really grand impression.

Coffee Creamer Snowman
If you have an empty coffee creamer container and a salt box you can make a cute snowman decoration for Christmas. The snowman’s hat is glued over the lid of the coffee creamer container, so you can use it as a container for Christmas goodies or candies. This is very cheap craft and you need coffee creamer container, salt box container, black, white and red construction paper pieces, two small twigs, three small buttons, black markers, straw broom, golden ribbon, snowflake confetti, sugar ,and orange paint. Also you will need scissors and glue.

Wash the coffee creamer container with soap water and then dry it completely. Then with white construction paper wrap the container. To make the face with the black marker draw the eyes, with red marker you can draw the mouth and with red, the snowman’s nose. To make the snowman’s hat, the salt box will has to fit around the coffee creamer lid. On black construction paper draw a circle about 2sm larger than the hat diameter. Cut out this circle and place the coffee creamer lid in the middle of the circle. To the bottom of the hat glue the hat brim circle. The scarf can be 1 sm, wide piece of cloth and approximately 15 sm long. Tie it around the neck of the snowman and place a knot on one side of the neck. From small slightly curved twigs you can make the snowman hands. Now glue them to the body.  On the top of the hat you can glue some salt or sugar and on the light it will look like real snow. Also you can attach a small golden bell or holly leaves.

CD Snowman
From an old CD you can make a wonderful Snowman decoration. This is very easy craft and all you need is discarded CD, juice can lid, white spray, three buttons, black permanent marker, small piece of red or orange fabric to use as a craft. First you have to paint the CD and the juice can lid with white spay on both sides. Leave them aside to dry completely. With the black market draw the snowman’s eyes and mouth, from small piece of orange fabric, make the nose and stick it. Glue the CD with the lid to form the body. Tie a fabric strip on the neck as a scarf.

Christmas Bells
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Gift Of God
There was seen a radiance
Glowing one night
Near the little maiden Mary
In blue and white.

“Lilies are not fairer,
“Roses more red,
Than the Child she sings to slumber,”
An angel said.

So the shepherds ventured
Through the white cold,
And their eyes beheld the Infant,
An hour old.

Long they gazed and wondered,
Awkward in awe,
At the paramount perfection
Within their straw.

“Diamonds are but trifles!
“Rubies no gem!”
Cried the hearts that slaved for pittance
Near Bethlehem.

So it was forever,
After the night
When the little maiden Mary
Wore blue and white.

I’m Your Christmas Tree, All Brightly Lit
I’m your Christmas tree, all brightly lit,
Hung with angels, colored balls, and elves.
Underneath my boughs your presents sit,
If you’ve behaved yourselves.

Why must we wait till early Christmas morn
To open up our brand-new games and toys?
Why gifts for us the day that Christ was born
If we’re good girls and boys?

Now listen to your Christmas tree: I’m wise
In all the ways of faith that you must know.
I’m here because of what I symbolize:
Green through ice and snow.

There is a world beyond what we can see
Where, by grace of God, we can receive
God’s greatest gift: to live eternally,
If only we believe.

Eternal life is what God gave to you
In sending down His son to live on Earth.
This was His gift, so Santa brings gifts, too,
To celebrate Christ’s birth.

The baby Jesus got gifts on this day
Because, like any child, He loved to play.
And so God wants to share this special joy
With every girl and boy.

Believe God loves you as your parents do,
And takes great joy in giving gifts to you.
Live well and love, and evergreen like me,
You’ll live eternally.

Christmas cheese salad
250 g cream cheese
3 bananas
400g crushed pineapple
1/4 cup sugar
350 g frozen whipped topping
400 g can fruit cocktail
1 Jonagold
1/2 cup sweetened flacked coconut
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 chopped pecans
120g maraschino cherries

In a large bowl beat cream cheese and sugar together. With an electric mixer, beat in the wipped topping. Then also add pineapple, apple, fruit cocktail, coconut and bananas. If you want, mix in the maraschino cherries, raisins and pecans. Pour the salad into the serving bowl and chill it for 1 hour in the fridge.

Christmas snow salad
1/3 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 cup of cold water
2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup of sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
400 g crushed pineapple
300 g red maraschino cherries
40 g whipped topping mix
200 g green maraschino cherries
Additional red & green cherries

Now you have to soften the gelatin in 1/2 cup water and leave it. Drain the pineapple and add to the juice enough water to make 1 cup. Boil this water - juice mixture to boil. Remove it and add the soften gelatin. Chill the mixture for 20 minutes. According to the instructions prepare the whipped topping mixture and also you can add some vanilla extract. Fold the rest if the ingredients in to the gelatin mixture. Before serving, you have to cool the salad. Garnish it with cherries if you like them.

Cabbage Salad
6 cups of shredded cabbage
2 eggs
1 red apple
1 cup of miniature marshmallows
1/8 teaspoon of dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of pepper
Water
3/4 cup of white vinegar
1 tablespoon of flour
250 g pineapple tidbits
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Pecan halves

Combine sugar, salt, paper, mustard, water and white vinegar in a pan. Drain the pineapple and mix the juice with water to fill 1 1/2 cups. Stir this mixture to the products it the pan. On a medium heat boil the mixture, stir constantly. When the mixture is thick enough, cool it for 40 minutes. Toss over with apple, pineapple, cabbage and marshmallows. You can make around 8 servings and decorate them with nuts.

Many people want to know how the people in China celebrate Christmas. The Chinese New Year celebrations are world wide famous, because the New Year is much more popular holiday.

In China Christianity is not very popular and around twenty years ago, if you have been there at this time of the year it was difficult to see sighs of Christmas. But in this modern world now in China you can see Christmas decorations every where. No matter if you are in the big cities or in smaller towns.

In China people celebrate Christmas by lighting the houses with nice paper lanterns, candles and garlands. The Christmas tree is called “Tree of light”. It is usually decorated with paper flowers, paper lanterns and paper chains. Waiting for Santa Clause the kids hang their socks near the fire place. Santa Clause is popular as Dun Che Lao Ren which translated means “Christmas Old Man”. In the major cities as Beijing and Shanghai, where more foreigners are settled, you even can see people singing Christmas carols. The rest of the Chinese people do not understand the main meaning of Christmas but even among them the Jingle Bells song is popular.

If you are among Catholic community, you can go together to the nearest Catholic Church service at midnight if the religion tradition is important for you. Every year the popularity of midnight Christmas mass grows up.

Christmas is not a legal holiday in China, but the most loved part of the holiday - gift giving is very popular among the children and their parents. It is a sign of love and respect to give presents for your friends their. Under the “Light Tree” the parents put the gifts and the happiest moment for the kids in the Christmas morning, when they can see what they have got.

In Bulgaria people celebrate Christmas according the Christian Orthodox traditions. They sing carols, prepare special food and other things connected with their history.

Still many people do not eat any animal products like meat, eggs, milk and cheese, during the forty days of Advent. Fasting ends on the Christmas day and after forty days the meat products come back to their meal. It is also believed  tat Mary bore Christ on Christmas Eve but announced that on the next day to the world (December25th).

On Christmas Eve in Bulgaria is prepared special dinner which consists at least twelve dishes, but all without meat as we already mentioned. Each dish represents a month of the year. The traditional meals are prepared with beans, dry nuts, dry fruits and etc.

Christmas in Bulgaria is known as Koleda and Koleduvane is a custom where young boys dressed in traditional costumes sings songs and spread Christmas cheer around the houses in the village. The songs are for wealth and health to the hosts. This tradition is still practiced in many villages, but it is not in the bigger cities. The woman in the house on the previous day prepare ring shaped cakes, called kolache and give each boy one. The boys come with long sticks and put the kolache on it. It is popular to give the koledari money, wine and so on.

 On the Christmas dinner is prepared similar cake and a silver coin is inserted into. It is believed that the person who finds it will be strong as the silver, the love and good fortune will be with him all year. Christmas in Bulgaria is celebrated three days. On the third day, which is called “Stefan’s Day” the people with the names Stefan, Stefka celebrate their name day and welcome guests.

This time of the year, when the shops and the media displays banners and promotions wishing us “Mary Christmas”, people meet and greet with the same words. But many people prefer speaking and writing the short “Merry Xmas”. For some people it is a way to remove Christ from the celebrations. Others just proffered it a shorter form of “Merry Christmas”. But using this short form, we do not have to forget that the main reason to celebrate Christmas is the Birth of Jesus and the events that surround the time.

Many Europeans in the 16th century, as shorthand of Christ name, started using X. That comes from the Greek letter X, which is the first letter of the word “Christos” in Greek language. You can still see such abbreviations in many Christian Orthodox churches on icons depicting Christ. Some people even believed that X represents the cross on which Christ was crucified, but that can not be proved, because the shape of the Christ’s cross was more like T, not X. But the time passed and many people lost the main meaning of Xmas. That is how, it became a sing of disrespect, from the people who doesn’t know its origins.

In our days the Christmas has become very commercialized. With the parties, decorations and the stress around the holiday we sometimes really forget what we are celebrating. This is a magical time and we have to be grateful for all the good things that we have in our lives.

All I Want For Christmas
Is My Two Front Teeth
Every body stops
and stares at me
These two teeth are
gone as you can see
I don’t know just who
to blame for this catastrophe!
But my one wish on Christmas Eve
is as plain as it can be!

All I want for Christmas
is my two front teeth,
my two front teeth,
see my two front teeth!

Gee, if I could only
have my two front teeth,
then I could with you
“Merry Christmas.”
It seems so long since I could say,
“Sister Susie sitting on a thistle!”

Gosh oh gee, how happy I’d be,
if I could only whistle (thhhh)

All I want for Christmas
is my two front teeth,
my two front teeth,
see my two front teeth.
Gee, if I could only
have my two front teeth,
then I could wish you
“Merry Christmas!”
James Pierpont

Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth
Ye who sang creations story,
Now proclaim messiah’s birth

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ the new-born king
Shepherds in the field abiding,
Watching oe’r your flocks by night
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant light.
Sages leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar.
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen his natal star.
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord descending
In his temple shall appear

Frosty The Snow Man
Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
and two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of snow but the children
know how he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic in that
old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head
he began to dance around.
O, Frosty the snowman
was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh
and play just the same as you and me.
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Frosty the snowman knew
the sun was hot that day,
So he said, “Let’s run and
we’ll have some fun
now before I melt away.”
Down to the village,
with a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all
around the square saying,
Catch me if you can.
He led them down the streets of town
right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when
he heard him holler “Stop!”
For Frosty the snow man
had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye saying,
“Don’t you cry,
I’ll be back again some day.”
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.
 Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins
 

Christmas is a new holiday in Japan. The people in this country start celebrating the holiday in the beginning of 20h century but it is sure to keep on going.
There are two very important customs for the Japanese. The daiku means great nine and refers to the Beethoven’s ninth symphony. At Christmas times it is performed in huge masses of choruses. The other special Japanese custom is thee Christmas cake. It is not homemade but Christmas in Japan will be not the same without it. The main meal at Christmas night is turkey.

In Japan the Christmas trees are not widely spread yet, but more often you can see the artificial ones in the people houses. The most popular ornaments are the “origami swan”, but people use also small toys, lanterns, paper ornaments and dolls. It is believed that the Christmas tree in a hospital will lift the spirits of the sick. To decorate their houses and public places, Japanese people use mistletoe, evergreen, lights and tinsels. They place an amulet for good luck on their front doors.

A few weeks before Christmas the shops are over crowded as they as and in Europe and USA. They display appropriate gifts for adults but mostly for the kids. On Christmas day the family gathers with friends and relatives and they exchange their gifts. If the family has a Christmas tree, they place the presents under the tree to surprise the children. Santa Clause in Japan is known as Santa Kurohsu. He is a popular character but doesn’t appear in a person. He is only pictured as a very kind, old man with big sack on his back. Many kids believe that Santa has eyes on his back too, so he can watch if they have been good.
The Christians who are less than 1% in Japan and the Christian tourists can go to a church in the neared Sunday before Christmas. In many Japanese homes can be heard Christmas carols. The most popular one is “Silent night”.

Christmas is over and you have to focus on the new coming year. But before that, use these tips to organize much easier your next Christmas holiday.

If you do not want to miss any of the people who sent you Christmas cards, make a list with their names. Add the names of the rest of the people you want to, and save it on your computer. It will be easy every time through the year to add the name of a new friend or new colleague you want to sent Christmas card next year.

Usually after the holiday, the many shops organize big sales. Use that and buy as many cards as you need. Do the same with the wrapping paper. This can save you up to 60%of the price.

If you want to save your Christmas decoration for the next year, you have to buy big enough storage containers. But if you want to surprise family and friends with new ones, then you can go on the traditional January sales and this money can help you for the next year new decoration.

You can use the same list with names you did and choose the people you want to buy presents for. Write next to their names what you would like to buy and throughout the year, use the big sales to buy what you can. Calculate how much you have spent for this years Christmas holiday- cards, gifts, special food and cloths, Christmas decoration and other expenses. Separate the amount into 12. Now you will know how much you have to save each in the next months to avoid the big Christmas credits.

Ask your family and closer friends what were the most interesting and the least liked things and activities they did. This will help you to focus on the preferred activities and you will avoid the ones that nobody liked.
If you follow this tip you may organize the best Christmas.

Stollen
Stollen is traditional Christmas bread made in Germany. It was created in Dressden around 1450. Its shape originally is made to represent the baby Jesus. The traditional weight of the cake is two kilograms but in most shops today you can find and smaller sizes. Today the bread is popular in many parts of the world, but the original bread is produces by 150 bakers only.

If you want to prepare this bread at home the recipe is:
1 1/2 cup mixed fruits
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
4 1/2 cup flour
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons rum
3/4 cup powdered sugar
If you do not have rum at home you can use 6 tablespoons water with 1/2 tablespoon rum flavor
1 cup chopped almonds
3 packets dry yeast
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup very soft butter
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Grated zest of 2 lemons
For icing:  2 tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

In a bowl soak the dried fruits and raisins with rum. Cover the dish and stir occasionally. Leave it for over night. In a frying pan toast the almond pieces and stir frequently for about 5-6 minutes. When ready set them aside. In a small saucepan heat 3/4of the milk, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter. Stir until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. When ready pour in a large bowl and set it aside. In a cup, put warm water and sprinkle the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Wait for 5 minutes and stir the mixture into the warm milk mixture. Separately stir well the eggs and three cups flour. Add to this mixture 1/4 cup softened butter, lemon zest and vanilla, then the nuts and the rest 1 1/2 cups flour. Knead for few minutes until the dough is elastic and soft. Oil the dough and lave it a large bowl, cover it and leave in warm place for at least an hour to double its size.

Grease two baking sheets and divide the dough into several smaller pieces, oval them and brush each one with melted butter several times. If you want you can sprinkle over some powdered sugar. Bake it and keep it at least for a week before serving.

Traditional English Christmas cake
This is a traditional Christmas cake prepared in the southwest part of England. It is very easy recipe to make but you will need several hours to make the cake, one night for soaking and 5 days resting time.
The ingredients that you will need are:

4 eggs
250 g flour
250 g brown sugar
250 g butter
250g dark raisins
250 g sultanas
250 g currants
100g chopped candied cherries
1/2 glass brandy
1tst allspice
1tsp vanilla
1tsp almond extract
1tsp baking powder

For the decoration you will need:
50 ml water
250 g apricot jam
500 g almond paste

For Royal Icing
3 eggs
700g icing sugar
20 ml lime juice
1 tsp glycerin

In a large bowl mix the dried fruits, brandy, cherries, almond extract and vanilla and leave to soak for one night. Cream the sugar with butter. Separately beat the egg yolks and then add to the butter mixture. Combine the dry mixture with the butter mixture very well. Mix the flour, allspice and baking powder with the other mixture. Line a round pan cake with parchment paper and grease it. Preheat the oven to 160C and pour the mixture. Bake for 2 hours. You have to wait for 30 minutes before removing the cake from the pan.

In a small saucepan heat the jam and water and bring to boil, until the liquid is smooth and brush it over the cake. Sprinkle your working surface with sugar. Roll out 2/3 of the almond pastry into a rectangle. The high of the cake and the width of the rectangle should be the same size. With this band of almond pastry cover the sides of the cake and press the ends together. The remaining of the almond pastry rolls out a square with the same size as the top of the cake and places it on the cake. Now you have to leave the cake to dry for 5 days in a warm room.

To make the icing you have to:
Beat the egg whites very well and with spoon add the icing sugar, glycerin and  lemon juice. When soft peaks form, cover the bowl and leave for 3-4 hours. Ice it and garnish the cake with cranberries or spring holly.