Christmas Holiday Season Blog

Christmas Season Versus Holiday Season

By admin on Friday, May 28th, 2010 | No Comments

In the United States, the month of December is the Christmas Season, not the Holiday Season. To the best of my knowledge there is only one holiday in December recognized by our government. December 25 was made a legal holiday in order to celebrate the birth of Christ. There are no other legal holidays during the month of December. Chanukah, Hannukah, or Hanukah is a celebration and, some say, a Jewish Holiday but it is not a legal holiday. Kwanza is a celebration and not a legal holiday. Christmas Eve is not a day and New Years Eve is not a day. We don’t call the month of May, the Holiday Season, even though that’s when Memorial Day is celebrated. On Martin Luther King Day we don’t have holiday parades, we have Martin Luther King Day parades. We don’t say happy holiday on the Fourth Of July, we say Happy Independence day or Happy Fourth Of July. Why then, do some people insist that we say happy holiday and holiday season when we are celebrating Christmas?

I’ll tell you why. It is because the organized religion of atheism (Yes atheism, is an organized religion, it is a religion of non belief.) is waging war against Christianity as the first battle in a war against all other religions. If they can defeat Christianity in this country of Christians, then they can defeat all religions that believe in a God or higher power.

I am a Christian. I don’t, however, know for sure, if Christ is the son of God or if he was a teacher or what. I do know, that I believe in the teachings ascribed to him. I do know, that even though we are humans and therefore can not and do not always follow all of those teachings, that if we all tried to live by those teachings of love and kindness, the whole world would be a better place. I also know that, I want Christ to be the Son of God because then it would mean that God did and does care about us and that there may very well be a Heaven.

I disagree with the director of special projects for the American Family Association when he says, “Christmas is not a holiday” and that calling Christmas a holiday “devalues our nation’s most holy day.” Christmas is a holiday. In fact, I consider Christmas and the Fourth Of July to be this country’s two most important and happiest holidays. The Fourth Of July celebrates the birth of our nation and Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ. Workers are given Christmas Day off with pay, school children are given several days off for Christmas vacation. Offices hold Christmas parties. Families get together, listen to Christmas music, stuff themselves with food and give each other gifts. Marines collect “Toys For Tots”. The Salvation Army puts out it’s kettles and collects money which is used to help needy people all year long. Many family members who have been feuding all year round get together and forgive each other. Christmas is a holiday of love and forgiveness.

Christmas is a holiday that everyone, not just Christians, should celebrate. Almost no one denies that Christ did exist at one time. The controversy is, whether or not he is the son of God. Putting that controversy aside, Christ preached or taught “peace on earth and goodwill towards men”. If people bemoan the fact that John Lennon died because he was a fighter for peace, how can they not celebrate the fact that Christ was born? Christ was arguably the original teacher of peace, forgiveness and goodness. He lived and died promoting peace. He not only promoted peace, he lived peace. He not only taught forgiveness, he lived forgiveness. Christ set an example that has lived for over two thousand years.

A note to other religions: You should support Christmas. If you allow the atheists to kill off Christmas, it could be your religion that they go after next. There is a war being fought today. I’m not talking about the war in Iraq. I’m talking about the war against religion being brought by atheists and certain hard line fanatics on the far left. Right now, they are winning the war because religious groups are not fighting back in a cohesive manner. If religious groups don’t help each other, someday they will all cease to exist and the United States will become another Soviet Union. Taking away our right to participate in religion and to celebrate our religion is a first step in taking away our other freedoms.

One of the main reasons that the United States was able to become so great is that, contrary to what the atheists and some others tell you, we are not a secular country. Our whole method of government and our laws come in large part from our forefathers religious beliefs.

It may not seem so, but I am not against all atheists. They have a right to believe in non belief and I support that right. I am just against the activists that are trying to force their non beliefs down my throat. I am willing to leave them alone if they are willing to leave me and mine alone. The problem is that they won’t leave us alone. They don’t want to allow us to believe as we wish. They want us to believe as they do. They don’t believe in Christmas so they want to take Christmas away from us.

One final note to all you major retailers who want to sell me gifts for me to give as Christmas presents, if you won’t acknowledge the Christmas Season in your advertising and in your stores, then don’t expect me to shop in your stores. If you insist in saying holiday season and happy holidays instead of Christmas Season and Merry Christmas, then I will insist in not dealing with you. For the time being, at least, you are free to do as you wish and I’m free do as I wish. My wish is to boycott you, not only during the Christmas Season but for a long time to come.

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Mothers Day – The Second Sunday In May

By admin on Saturday, May 1st, 2010 | No Comments

The second Sunday in May comes every year with celebration, but not to the extent that is warranted. Some of us nearly forget it as Mother’s day at some point in our lives. Does your Mother’s Dayinclude the joy of sharing thoughtfulness, care, and consideration with Mother’s Day cards, flowers, andother gifts? Your mom may want to see you express your love by a true expression of gratitude that is meaningful to her.

Every year in America we celebrate Mother’s Day on the Second Sunday of May. Although we are only half way to Christmas, a special gift is due to a special endearing person, your mother. You can tell your mom, in a very special way, how much you love her and how much you appreciate her, but showing her that you love her is what truly counts.

A bouquet of flowers for her on Mother’s Day is certainly an appropriate and thoughtful gift idea. Mother’s Day flowers tend to express what words cannot say and fill the home with beauty and soft fragrance. Mother’s Day flowers convey tenderness and beauty to a mom who will remember moments of sweetness a bouquet of flowers will bring to mind.

We can show mom our love by taking time out of our busy lives to visit her, to call her, and to be with her. As children we experienced unconditional love from our mother. As adults we need to honor that love in reciprocation. This year, on the second Sunday in May, take time out to tell her how special she is. You may say it with a lovely Mother’s Day card or a Mother’s Day gift that is selected especially for her.

A Mother-in-law is also entitled to a sincere gesture of care and thoughtfulness on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day can help us to strengthen this special relationship. On Mother’s Day you can convey that she is truly an integral part of the family, and that you wish to give her a place in your family’s daily life. Mother’s Day offers an opportunity to share a few moments of consideration for your mother-in-law with caring thoughts, a Mother’s Day card and a unique Mother’s Day gift she would enjoy.

The ideal Mother’s Day gift would be a gift idea that she would find useful and practical. It would also be elegant and exquisite. A gourmet kitchen gift or selections of imported gourmet condiments make great gift ideas for a Mother’s Day.

An excellent gift idea would be to present her with a hand blown glass teapot for her kitchen. Perhaps an oil and vinegar set from Europe would be appropriate. A gourmet gift accentuates your appreciation of her cooking and taste, and adds flavor to a time of reflection, such as tea time. Today you will find all of these Mother’s Day gift ideas online. The perfect Mother’s Day gift is easily found in numerous gift shops and boutiques, but remember SHOWING your mother that you do indeed love her, means more than any item you could send her. Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday in May, halfway to Christmas, yet “a gift to give” well worth remembering.

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Easter- Jelly Beans Galore

By admin on Monday, March 22nd, 2010 | No Comments

Easter is a mark for children with the sense of spring is nearby and the snow and cold weather is about to end. Children sensing school will be over for the year, with summer on way. Easter for children is excitement for coloring eggs, Easter egg hunts, and candy. Jelly beans galore.

The history of jellybeans started back years ago, around biblical times when a Turkish Delight candy was introduced as a soft, jelly sticky filling with coating of sugar or coconut. Turkish Delights common flavors, rosewater, lemon; other familiar flavors were cinnamon or mint. Small nut pieces pistachio hazelnut or walnuts add extra flavor to the candy.

In the 19th century, the French developed a hard shell candy, Jordan Almonds. To make the hard shell over the almonds, the almonds placed in a bowl and moved side to site to coat the almond with sugar and syrup. The method the French used recognized as panning. With adding coloring, the Jordan Almonds came in a variety of pastel colors, blues, green, yellow, purple, and pink.

The 20th Century brought new life to the jellybean when the Turkish Delight and Jordan Almonds were introduced in America. General stores where penny candy sold, jellybeans were in large glass jars. With array of colors and flavors in the 1930’s the jellybean was include as an Easter candy with the jellybean representing the Easter egg shape.

Jellybeans made out of sugar, cornstarch, and food starch. The process for making jellybeans takes 6 to 10 days. Starting with a sugar cornstarch and other ingredients placed in a large vat. As the filling of sugar, mixtures fill in cornstarch-coated molds, to form the egg shape. The filling then dries for 24 hours. After the drying process the mixtures goes through a process of sugar coating and flavoring and color added until a hard shell forms on the mixture. The jellybeans then set 48 hours to dry. After drying a coating of Confectioner’s glaze sprayed on to, give each jellybean a shinny shell.

Flavors of jellybeans are small portions of natural and artificial flavors and colors. A bean flavor could be chocolate, coconut, juice, peanuts, oils cream, or milk. There are over 100 different flavors of jellybeans today. Thanks to Jelly Belly Company for the original flavor and gourmet flavor jellybeans. From the red cinnamon flavor to the tropical fruit flavors, Bubble gun, Watermen, Blueberry, Apple, and more.

For people with a taste for jellybeans now come in sugar free. Sugar free jellybeans have become popular over the last few years. With more people, becoming and finding out about diabetics, people are looking at the sugarless candy including jellybeans.

Jellybeans are not just for Easter however, they are for those of us that have a sweet tooth though out the year. As Halloween, approaches orange and everyone’s favor black licorice jellybeans are showing up on store shelves.

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St. Patricks Day Traditions

By admin on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | No Comments

On March 17, 431AD, when Patrick of Ireland died, a new holiday was born. Though the celebrations began in the 700′s as a traditional Catholic Holy Day, over the years St. Patrick’s Day has become more a secular holiday which marks the beginning for spring. The official date for the beginning of spring is March 21, and this also supports the tradition of wearing green. Green is the color for life and growth and if you desire good luck and on this day, you should “be wearin’ a touch o’ the green!

The spreading of Christianity and Catholicism to the Irish of the 4th and 5th century is mainly attributed to St. Patrick, who received the name of Patrick while in seminary after his captivity in Ireland. Traditions that originated back in the 7th century have changed from being strictly religious to a St. Patrick’s Day where “everybody is Irish for the day”. Catholics will start the day off at early mass which signifies the beginning of the holiday. Tradition has it that St. Patrick often used a Shamrock to explain to pagans the concept of the Trinity. The trinity is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost which Christians know all stem from the same God – three in one like the Shamrock plant – three leaves from one stem. If you are wearing a shamrock you can claim Good Luck or Blessings! The tradition of the Shamrock still remains though most don’t know the reason behind it; but it still means Good Luck! to whoever wears it or receives it.

St. Patrick’s Day was first observed as a holiday in the United States in 1737. The US was still under the authority of the British because the Revolutionary War that gave freedom didn’t even start until 1776. So even though many of the Irish had not yet arrived to our shores yet, St. Patrick’s Day was still considered a very important holiday. Queen’s NY started the first parade in honor of St. Patrick and as a result, St. Patrick’s Day parades are popular all across the country. Parades are a great way to celebrate this day!

If you need a tad bit more good luck to start your season off, invite a Leprechaun to accompany you throughout the day. They are packed with good luck – and are kind of cute, to boot!

Of course, one of the most popular traditions that goes only with St. Patrick’s Day is the drinking of particularly green ale. Green is the color of the day! For this holiday, there should be no bar or tavern which does not add some green food coloring to a keg of draft beer to serve mugs of tinted beer to its customers. And of course Irish cream and Irish Whiskey ought to be available too, but make sure the kids get green lemonade or 7UP!

St. Patrick’s Day is a day of fun for all ages!

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Healthy Easter Treats

By admin on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 | No Comments

Easter baskets don’t have to be full of chocolate and peeps. Here are some great ideas that will fill your Easter basket without all the extra fat and sugar.

Bubbles

What child doesn’t love to blow bubbles? Grab a couple of bottles of bubbles for this year’s Easter basket. The kids will have a blast with them and with a little luck it will be warm enough outside to keep them busy and running around chasing bubbles for quite some time.

Sidewalk Chalk

Another fun treat is sidewalk chalk. This is the perfect time to draw on the sidewalk with the weather warming up. Plus we get enough rain in the spring that your driveway or sidewalk won’t be decorated for too long.

Homemade Playdough

Make some playdough using your favorite homemade playdough recipe (we have one at kinderinfo.com). Get a couple of small playdough toys to go along with it and let the fun begin.

Toys from the Dollar Store

You can also pick up some very inexpensive toys at the dollar store. I have found anything from Easter themed coloring books to kites in there. This is also a great place to shop for the Easter baskets themselves, as well as some plastic Easter eggs that are great for hiding small trinkets and treats.

Of course every child should have some special treats in the Easter basket as well. Along with the obligatory chocolate bunny, include some healthier treats.

Chocolate and Yogurt Covered Raisins

Both chocolate and yogurt covered raisins look like little mini Easter eggs and are a yummy treat. Fill a small cellophane bag with these sweet treats and tie a pretty bow around it.

Trail Mix with Jellybeans

Mix some low sugar cereal like chex, or cheerios with some small pretzels, peanuts, raisins, and some jellybeans for an Easter inspired Trail Mix. You don’t have to feel bad about your kids filling up on this. Pour your trail mix in a small bag, or fill some large plastic Easter eggs with the mix.

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