Helping Those Less Fortunate At Christmas
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Product Description
One Christmas Eve, after being particularly cruel to his employee, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his dead business partner, Jacob Marley, who tells him that he will be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, Future. Each ghost shows him things that rekindle the joy and spirit of Christmas within his heart and awaken his goodwill toward his fellow man. In typical fashion, Dickens deals with social injustice in a way that transcends the 19th century. This illustrated version of the classic holiday tale is brough to life with an illustrated Character List (like a Dramatis Personae), 134 pages of color story artwork, and fascinating support material that details the life and work of Charles Dickens as well as information on Victorian England.
The real meaning of Christmas sometimes gets lost in all of the hustle and bustle of the season. Christmas is not about parties, gifts or spending an obscene amount of money. The season of good cheer is about giving assistance to those who need help for their daily survival and don’t have the material resources to enjoy the Christmas season. The importance of giving to those in need during Christmas is embodied in the story of Jesus’ birth, which is the true reason Christmas is celebrated.
For Christians, Jesus was born to save mankind from sin by giving everlasting Salvation to all who believe in the Word of God and choose to follow the principles for living in the Bible. Jesus therefore gave in the ultimate way – he offered himself as a sacrifice for every living person. Christians
therefore believe that Christmas should be about following the example of Jesus by giving of oneself to others, especially to those who are in need.
The Christmas season should be about spreading goodwill and good cheer. This purpose of Christmas is very significant because research by social service organizations has shown that Christmas happens to be a high time for depression among the have-nots, among people with problems and others who just don’t have the means and resources to enjoy the merriment of the holidays.
The hundreds of Santa letters written by children are often a sad testament to the many unmet needs of families and individuals during the festive Christmas and holiday times. Just about every child is told the story of Santa Claus, or hears about him because his presence is everywhere at Christmas. Up to the age of 7 to 8 years, most children believe the story about Santa Claus bringing toys and other gifts. That’s the reason why so many young children often write letters to Santa at Christmas time innocently pleading for toys and other gifts because their parents or other relatives will not be
able to give them those Christmas toys or Christmas gifts that they want.
Thankfully there are many volunteer and charitable efforts carried out by groups and corporations that seek to fulfill the needs of children and also of adults during the Christmas season. One of the most notable organizations that does such charitable work is the Salvation Army, which has a history of giving service to those in need.
According to The Salvation Army’s website, the organization as known today was started in 1865 by a Methodist minister, William Booth and his wife Catherine. They formed a group that preached, provided food and shelter to the homeless, the hungry and to alcoholics in need of recovery services. The services were provided in London’s East End. Booth and his followers, first known as ‘The
Christian Mission,’ started to use The Salvation Army name in 1878. The Salvation Army is now uniquely associated with the Christmas season through its many representatives who dress up as Santa Claus and stand outside retail establishments ringing their bells while they kindly seek donations from shoppers to help the poor at Christmas.
Individuals also play Santa Claus at Christmas time and help out those in need by donating toys and gifts through their companies, other business enterprises such as banks or through their local municipality. These groups usually all have a box or an area where new toys or clothing can be dropped off. The items are then donated to families in need or to social service providers for distribution to the needy during the Christmas season.
Along with much charitable giving at Christmas time, other public interest groups also work hard to inform and educate consumers about avoiding the after Christmas blues. This is often experienced in January when the bills and debts are due as a result of all the spending, much of it on credit, that is done for the holidays.
These groups try to spread goodwill and cheer in a different way. They try to provide educational information on spending responsibly during the Christmas season with the hope that the happiness and good feeling enjoyed during the season can also carry over after Christmas and not be spoiled by the burden of having huge bills to pay.
This Christmas Season, while you are spending time with friends and family, I hope you will take a moment to remember those less fortunate than you. The economy has made this year harder on all of us. Most of us will not be able to spend as much money as in previous years. However, there are those who never have money to spend at Christmas. There are many who struggle to keep food in their children’s stomachs, shoes on their feet and clothes on their backs. Many who have long forgotten what it is like to gather with friends and family at Christmas to exchange gifts and enjoy a Christmas Feast.
I challenge everyone who reads this to do at least one thing this Christmas season for someone less fortunate than you. Whether you serve food at a homeless shelter, give a few dollars to the Salvation Army Bell Ringer, give to the Toys For Tots organization, or anything else you can think of to spread a little Christmas cheer to someone who needs it. And if you feel like sharing, please feel free to let us all know how you helped someone this Christmas Season in the comments.
I hope you all have a joyous Christmas Season filled with many blessings.
12 Things You Never Knew About Christmas
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Product Description
“The first Christmas was a simple one. So simple that it had all the makings of a first-class disaster. It’s a miracle it turned out well at all. In fact, that’s the whole point. It really was, and remains, a miracle–the greatest miracle of all time. And it really was simple.”
-Mike Huckabee
Christmas has become synonymous with shopping, overindulging, competition, and stress. But according to Mike Huckabee (who was a pastor before getting into politics), that was never God’s intention. Going back to the Nativity, Christmas is supposed to be about simple things: faith, love, family, and hope. The hard part, in today’s crazy world, is remembering that those simple things are the most precious of all.
Now Huckabee recounts twelve Christmas memories–often funny, sometimes deeply moving–that range from his childhood in Arkansas to his years as a young husband and father to his time as a governor and then a presidential candidate. These true stories will help you smile, take a deep breath, and maybe slow down your own holiday treadmill. For instance:
As kids, Mike and his sister would sneak open their gifts before Christmas, play with them, then rewrap them so their parents wouldn’t notice. The plan worked great for several years until one Christmas morning when young Mike unwrapped a brand-new football…that was covered in mud. That led to a powerful lesson about patience.
In 1966, like millions of preteens, Mike was obsessed with the Beatles. He dug in his heels, telling his parents that if they wouldn’t buy him a guitar for Christmas, he didn’t want anything at all. He was selfish, stubborn, and obnoxious, with no idea what it would take for working-class parents to find an extra $99. It took many years for him to understand the sacrifice they made for that life-changing gift–or how it connected to the Lord’s own sacrifice.
Only a year after Mike and his wife, Janet, had gotten married, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the shocking age of twenty. That Christmas of 1975 was the most terrifying and upsetting they would ever know, as they wondered if they would ever get to share another one. But in retrospect, it’s a Christmas they will treasure forever.
If you’re looking for a little clarity, sanity, and inspiration at this insane time of year, you’re sure to enjoy A Simple Christmas.
Below are Twelve Things You Never Knew About Christmas:
1. Christmas trees were first lit with actual candles, which presented a fire hazard. As a result containers filled with water had to be kept near the Christmas tree.
2. Workers in the construction industry are responsible for the tradition of having a Christmas tree on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. They are credited with placing an undecorated tree at the site in the early 1930s.
3. Since the mid-1960s, The National Christmas Tree Association has maintained a presence in the White House at Christmas by donating a Christmas tree to the First Family.
4. The former Woolworth department store first sold manufactured Christmas tree ornaments in 1880.
5. Plastic became the primary material used to make tinsel after their use for decorative purposes was at one time prohibited because lead was used in the manufacturing process.
6. The idea of Christmas greeting cards started in Britain in the late 1830s when John Calcott Horsley started to produce small cards that had festive scenes and a holiday greeting written inside. Similar cards were also being made in the United States at about the same time by R.H. Pease, in Albany, New York, and Louis Prang, who was a German immigrant. The idea of sending the greeting cards during Christmas gained popularity in both countries about 10 years later when new postal
delivery services started.
7. The shortened form Xmas for Christmas has been popular in Europe since the 1500s. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word ‘Xristos’ which means Christ.
8. According to the National Confectioners Association, for 200 years candy canes were only made in the color of white and it wasn’t until in the 1950s that a machine was invented that could automate the production of candy canes.
9. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in England and it is a national holiday. Several stories exist for the origination of the name. It is believed to have originated from the practice of boys who would be about collecting money in clay boxes. Others think that the term is derived from a custom in the Middle Ages, about 800 years ago, when churches would open their ‘alms boxes’ and distribute the contents to poor people on the day after Christmas. Alms boxes are boxes in which donations of gifts and money would be placed. Yet others believe that it comes from a custom of
masters giving their servants Christmas presents in boxes on the day after Christmas.
10. Evergreen trees had special meaning in winter to people, particularly in Europe, before Christianity started. Ancient people would hang evergreen branches over their doors and windows because evergreens were believed to ward off witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. For worshipers of the sun god, evergreen plants were a reminder of all the green plants that would grow with the return of summer and the sun god being strong again.
11. In ancient times, many people worshiped the sun as a god in December because they thought winter occurred yearly because the sun god had fallen into ill health. They therefore celebrated the winter solstice because it was a sign that the son god would begin to regain strength and return to good health.
12. Legislators in Congress did business on Christmas Day in 1789, which was the first one to be observed under the country’s new constitution. The reason for the Congressional session was because it had become unpopular then to observe and take part in English customs following the American Revolution. And when Christmas celebrations were barred in Boston earlier in 1659 to 1681, it became a costly thing to be seen participating in any event or activity related to Christmas.
Anyone caught doing so had to pay five shillings.
I hope you enjoyed these 12 little know facts about Christmas. Do you know anything about Christmas that is not well known? Feel free to leave your fact in the comments.
We Can All Learn From Rudolph and Santa’s Other Reindeers
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Product Description
Includes 7 Holiday Favorites:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Who’s got a nose for Christmas? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Just in time for the holidays, here comes Rudolph in the most beloved special of all time! Packed with a sleigh full of memorable songs and unforgettable characters, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lights up the hearts of young and old alike.
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Where does Santa’s suit come from? Why does he slide down the chimney? Why does he live at the North Pole? The answers to all these questions and the origins of our favorite holiday traditions are revealed in this delightful classic about Kris Kringle, the world’s most famous gift giver.
Frosty the Snowman
Look at Frosty Go! What’s become a bigger holiday tradition than building a snowman? Watching the original Christmas classic, Frosty the Snowman! Grab your scarf, bundle up, and get ready for the incredible adventure of a magical snowman who’s got enough personality to win over the whole family. You can’t go wrong with Frosty!
Frosty Returns
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Bah Humbug, Mr. Magoo! In this first-ever animated holiday TV special, the bumbling and loveable Mr. Magoo is Ebeneezer Scrooge in a hilarious and heartwarming musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol”.
The Little Drummer Boy
This story has touched the hearts of families everywhere. In this holiday classic, the true spirit of Christmas is revealed when a lonely orphan stumbles upon the birth of the baby Jesus and affirms what the holidays are really about – giving and love. Featuring a beautiful soundtrack by the Vienna Boys’ Choir, this timeless tale of generosity makes the perfect addition to your holiday collection.
Cricket on the Hearth
A delightful, animated musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Cricket on the Hearth, tells the story of a poor toymaker and his daughter whom a helpful Cricket named Crocket befriends on Christmas morning. When tragedy strikes the family, it’s Crocket who comes to the rescue and restores peace and happiness.
Bonus In-pack Holiday CD:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer- Burl Ives
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree- Bobby Rydell
Holly Jolly Christmas- Burl Ives
Silver & Gold- Burl Ives
Let it Snow- Chicago
Winter Wonderland- Jewel
Merry Christmas Baby- Otis Redding
Maybe it’s the undeniable appeal of Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer
that makes him the most known or popular of all Santa’s nine flying reindeers.
It certainly doesn’t seem as easy to come up with a similar catchy description
for the others – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and
Blitzen – as named in the song.
The story of Rudolph whose glowing red nose made him a standout, first appeared
in 1939 when Montgomery Ward department stores distributed about 2.4 million
booklets with the poem in the form of a story about “Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer.” It was written by Robert L. May, who worked in the store’s
advertisement or marketing department, to be used to attract more people into
the store. When the booklet was reissued in 1939, sales soared to more than 3.5
million copies. But it wasn’t until a decade later, in 1949, that the story
really gained immense popularity when Gene Autry sang a musical version of the
fable. As a Christmas song, it is second only in popularity to ‘White
Christmas.’
Rudolph, the ninth reindeer whose lighted nose guides Santa’s sleigh through the
night, is now known worldwide as the song has been translated into more than 20
different languages and an animated television movie has also been based on the
story. Rudolph and his noticeable nose have also become the subject of jokes and
sparked more interest in reindeers which has led to much research into Santa and
the flying reindeers who pull his sleigh through the sky.
Along with the catchy rhythm of the lyrics, Rudolph’s story is also appealing
because of the moral lessons it contains. As the story goes, Rudolph was
not accepted by the other reindeers, which laughed and teased him about his shiny
red nose. But on a foggy night, when Santa must have been concerned that he may
not be able to deliver his Christmas gifts around the world, Santa spotted him
and kindly asked if he would step to the front as the leader to ‘guide my sleigh
tonight.’ His shiny red nose would, after all, be very useful in lighting the way,
Santa thought. From then on ‘all of the other reindeers loved him,” and rightly
predicted that he ‘would go down in history.’
Among the moral lessons the story teaches us is that an attribute that may be
perceived as negative or as a liability can be used for a positive purpose, or
become an asset. It also makes the point that an individual should not let the
negative behavior of others define him or her and limit their expectations of what can
be achieved. It also illustrates how quickly opinions and attitudes about a
person can change.
The question still lingers however of where Rudolph came from. He is commonly
regarded as the son of Donner (or Donder), one of the original eight reindeers.
But the Snopes.com site rejects this however, saying that he dwelled in a
reindeer village elsewhere and it was there that he was seen by Santa who had
already started on his Christmas Eve journey to deliver gifts. And in a more
modern evolution of the story according to Wikipedia.com, an animation by the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) introduced a son, named Robbie, of
Rudolph. That son has now become the tenth reindeer.
It’s also interesting to note that the idea of Santa’s sleigh being pulled by
reindeers was originated in the poem, ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.’ That
poem tells the story of St. Nicholas, who is Santa, calling his eight tiny
reindeers by their names just before he came down the
chimney of a house to start filling the stockings from a sack full of toys he
carried on his back.
Style And Fashion For The Holidays
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Product Features
- cotton
- 50% cotton 50% polyester blend
- Also available in a Long Sleeve T-Shirt. Click on “Other products by Earth Sun Moon” above to see more
In New York, which is considered the style capital of the world, black is always a chic and
fashionable selection. That’s even more true in the Fall and Winter seasons when
dark colors are favored. But even those who like somber colors add a
bit of sparkle and cheer to their Christmas and holiday clothing by adding some color,
usually magnificent red. A red scarf, or a white one, is a must-have accessory.
Holiday-themed apparel with snowflakes, candy canes, stars and Christmas
trees are also popular during the season. Along with being colorful, they
convey the message that the person is fully embracing the spirit of the season
and is in a festive mood. When individuals wear holiday-themed apparel, they are
therefore radiating a positive attitude and giving the signal that it is
pleasant to be around them. After all, nobody wants to be around the ‘grumpy
bah-humbug’ type of personalities during the Christmas season.
Holiday-themed jewelry also works well as accessories. These can add that
little sparkle to an outfit that makes it stand out in an admirable way.
Holiday-themed jewelry is also perfect for those individuals who simply want to
show a touch of the holiday spirit without having to actually wear holiday-
themed apparel. The bright colors maybe too different from the conservative style of
their wardrobe.
Many consider it necessary to add some sparkle to their apparel during the Christmas season.
The current style trends of having jewel-engraved or embroidered tops play well
for the Christmas season. They also allow the wearer to look festive in a very
understated but elegant way.
Popular Fall styles will also undoubtedly be a fashionable way to dress
for the holidays. Based on the Fall Fashion Shows in New York, there are five
basic outfits that stylists say should be in the wardrobe of all women. They
are: the Tunic, the Winter Short – which is cut just above the knee – the Vest,
the Pencil Skirt and the Super-wide pant.
The vest can be a dressy one with embroidery or other adornments, or it
can be more minimal based on the overall outfit. The Winter Short and Pencil
Skirt can easily convert from a working outfit to party wear with the right
accessory, making them perfect to wear to an early evening Christmas or holiday
party. A variation from the Pencil Skirt is the Pencil dress. This too is likely
to be popular for Christmas as it can be easily accessorized with a broad belt,
which is one of the accessories that top fashion advisers say is a ‘must-have’
accessory for the Fall.
The Tunic and Super-wide pant are also liked for Christmas and the Holiday
season because they are very flexible in how they can be paired with other
garments.
Another fall fashion staple are Knit Sweaters – oversized and as tunics. They
will also work well with black tights and leggings, which has made a comeback in
leg wear. Leggings can be worn under skirts or dresses. Very slim leggings can
also be worn simply in place of pants with a jacket or again, with an
oversized knit sweater. Using the basic colors of red, white and black that are
popular during Christmas and the holidays, colored leggings will definitely add
a nice touch of style to outfits and make them seem perfect for the Christmas
and holiday season.
It is also good that dresses are once more welcomed among the fashionable.
The red dress for Fall fits well into Christmas and the holiday season.
The latest in jeans, which is a mainstay in everyone’s wardrobe and suitable to
wear at all times including during Christmas and the holidays, is that a skinny
fit is in. And if ultra-skinny is not very complimentary to your body shape, you
can still get one of the newer types of jeans that are said to have a lot more
stretch, giving a 360-degree or all-around wrap to the body for a perfect or
near perfect fit.
Since Christmas is the season to be happy and cheery, the truly jolly
can always top off their Christmas outfit with a cone-shaped, red and white
Santa hat!
Day After Thanksgiving (Black Friday) Online Shopping Discounts
November 23, 2008 by admin
Filed under Xmas Gift Ideas
It is a tradition for many to start their Christmas Shopping on the day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday. Stores everywhere open early and stay open late offering one day special discounts to those brave enough to hit the overly crowded stores. But did you know that online stores also offer one day only special discounts on the day after Thanksgiving?
For the last few years I have done all of my Day After Thanksgiving shopping online. I no longer have to fight someone for the last of an item, stand in long lines, or get run over by buggies. Plus, I have found that online stores usually offer better deals than my local stores and many of them run daily specials on the day after Thanksgiving, all weekend long and on Monday. The Monday after Thanksgiving has become such a huge online shopping day that online stores now call it Cyber Monday and offer just as many specials and discounts as they do the day after Thanksgiving.
I have searched the internet for stores advertising Day After Thanksgiving specials, Weekend Specials and Cyber Monday specials so I could bring them all to you at one place. Keep checking back all week as I add more that I find.
Other Special Deals:
2. Pacific Sunwear: a.Holidays Special – FREE Shipping on ALL Orders.
b. Spend $50 Now and Get $25 Off Your Next Order.
c. BLACK FRIDAY SALE – Guys & Girls Clothing and Accessories – 50% Off
3. Free shipping for the holidays at iCraveit.com!
4. Take 20% OFF your order at Gourmet Station between 27 November and 2 December 2008
17. FREE SHIPPING on orders of $25 or more – Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deal
19. Over 200 Video Game Chairs with FREE SHIPPING
21. 20% OFF at Max & Chloe. Use code CYBR20.
22. 20% off VIP and Motorcycle Covers use code VIP
24. FREE Sunglasses with every snowboard purchase. An $80-$100 value free at the-house.com
25. Let’s Holiday Big Time – 30% coupon BIGTIME30
26. Save 10% on all RC helicopters, airplanes, and more at Raidentech.com using coupon code: CJ10($50.00 minimum purchase required)
