Christmas
Christmas is one of the most celebrated and enjoyed holidays in North America when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas celebrations in North America feature Santa Claus, the jolly old man in the red suit who comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve, leaves gifts and stockings filled with treats and departs in a sleigh drawn by eight reindeer. The origins of this tradition include carols from England and Australia, trees from Germany, Santa Claus, or St. Nick. in a red suit from Scandinavia, his arrival through the chimney to fill stockings is from the Netherlands and his sleigh drawn by reindeer began in Switzerland.
From ancient times, American Indians have held religious dances to coincide with the winter solstice. Franciscan monks succeeded in bringing this Indian celebration and the Christmas Holy Day together. One of today's most popular Christmas songs, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" originate in tthe Appalachian and was originally a "counting song" of magical or pagan origin, and no one seems to know what it originally meant. Christmas Decorating and Entertaining Ideas
- Greet guests at the door with a wreath holding a personal tree ornament for each of them to take home.
- Use fresh flowers on your Christmas tree in water vials. Florists can recommend long-lasting varieties and tell you how to add water to vials. Dried or treated flowers are also a beautiful choice.
- Use wrapped boxes, festive bows and flowers as table decorations. Give wrapped "packages" to your florist in advance and he or she can create floral designs for them. Place your "packages" with flowers under the tree or on the mantle.
- Wrap the pots of poinsettias or other holiday plants in festive paper and ribbons.
- For an elegant celebration take advantage of all places where candles could be displayed:
- Line a walkway with votive candles in luminaries leading up to a door.
- Place garland on the mantle with fresh flowers and candles to beautifully grace your room and make the most of light by enhancing the fire.
- Float candles and flowers in treasured crystal or silver bowls to create a fabulous effect.
- Place scented candles with fresh blossoms in each powder room.
- If an open house is on the agenda and many persons will be in a room, it is important to give special attention to the larger display areas such as the front door, foyer, mantle, buffet or serving areas, powder rooms, windows and staircase. This will help you get maximum impact because with many people in a room smaller arrangements placed around will not be seen at all times . Additionally, by focusing on a few focal areas in each room, more space is made for glasses, cups and food plates...and there is less chance of an accident.
- As guests leave, have a vase of loose flowers by the door and invite them to take one home as a gift.
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