Tuesday, December 25, 2012
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen… but did you know that Christmas trees are edible?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, according to someone. And even though that someone isn’t on our list of fun facts, there’s plenty of other Christmas trivia to brighten this holiday season. So settle down with a mug of egg nog and enjoy our gift to you, these 10 things you probably didn’t know about Christmas: 1. Your Christmas tree is edible. Well, unless it’s made of plastic. The bark of evergreen trees is not only edible, but is actually a pretty good source of Vitamin C. Just don’t eat the pinecones. And speaking of trees… 2. The average Christmas tree takes seven years to grow to a height of 6 to 7 feet. ...and is used for about two weeks. That means, if you were born today, and a tree was planted today, you’d be in second …
From lighting your mouth on fire to taking on the Puritans' Christmas ban, learn some holly jolly Christmas facts.
Whether your love of Christmas is rooted in religion or you’re more of the “be good for goodness sake” variety, the trappings of a modern Christmas are common to all who celebrate the season: the trees, the candy canes, the bird poop-inspired traditions. Just trust us. Here are five things you need to know about Christmas. 1. Americans buy 25-30 million Christmas trees annually, according to the National Christmas Tree Association (yes, such a group exists.) And at any one time, 350 million Christmas trees are growing on tree farms in the United States — that’s almost 42 million more trees than people in the country. 2. What’s your favorite Christmas tradition? A Yule log? Cookie baking? Bor-ing. Snapdragon is where it’s at. Snapdragon …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Fill your family's stockings with thoughtful little gifts without spending your whole holiday budget.
My parents are stocking-stuffer experts. Every item in our stockings is perfectly personalized and tailored for its recipient. Some are sweet, some are thoughtful, some are silly, some are useful. They work together to pick up things here and there throughout the year. We always save our stockings to open last, and it’s one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I love to be handed a big, fat stocking, brimming with possibilities! (Our stockings usually come with an annex, a pile on the mantel or an extra bag full of all the goodies that didn’t fit in the stockings. My parents don’t stop filling the stocking just because the stocking is full.) Reaching in and pulling out small things, one by one, and appreciating the level of thought my …
Monday, December 17, 2012
How to have fun and spread holiday cheer without breaking the bank.
This year’s holiday season can be special for you and your family regardless of your budget. Here are some fun tips for creating new holiday traditions while saving money.
How ready are you for Christmas?
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Monday, December 17, 2012
Christmas Eve is a week away. How ready are you? Are you an organized Christmas shopper who already has everything purchased, wrapped and ready to go, or are you procrastinating buying gifts until later this week. Tell us how prepared you are by voting in our poll, then in the comments, tell us why you got shopping out of the way or why you're still procrastinating.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
As 'highly sought after collectibles,' Dr. Lori takes a look at Christmas Cards from the President and family over the years.
President Ulysses S. Grant made Christmas Day (Dec. 25) a national holiday in 1870. From that point forward, a Christmas card from the White House was a special keepsake. While these cards are highly sought after collectibles, these coveted Christmas cards are rare and do not come to the antiques and collectibles market without a high sales value. Here is a look at some of the facts surrounding the official holiday card from the President of the United States. President Truman took office after President Roosevelt’s death in April of 1945. As World War II came to an end and Christmas of 1945 was upon the nation, the mood was ripe for a great big holiday celebration. The Truman White House sent out official, yet conservative White House …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
About 40 percent of Christmas tree fires involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction between 2000 and 2004, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.
With Christmas just a few weeks away, many families are starting to buy and decorate their Christmas trees. The National Christmas Tree Association wants customers to keep a few safety tips in mind when they purchase their tree. Consumers also need to know how to care for it once it's in their home. Share your tree-caring tips in the comments.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Little pieces of my life are represented in the boxes of Christmas decorations.
One of my fondest memories from Christmases past is sorting through all of the ornaments. When I was younger, I'd help my mom decorate the tree and my favorite part would be going through what seemed like an endless supply of ornaments. Honestly, we had so many ornaments that we had several trees at my house. We had one dedicated strictly to Santa Claus ornaments. My sister and I each had smaller trees in our rooms with some of our ornaments and then we had the big tree with a combination of everyone's ornaments. It's long been a tradition in my family to get an ornament that pertains to something going on in your life that year as a gift. From pianos and musical note ornaments, to snowboarding snowmen and lifeguarding Santa's to the …
Study reveals we buy according to our age and life stage. But, for gifts, is cemetery lot maintenance really a crowd pleaser?
During the holiday season, many struggle with the anxiety of wondering if a recipient will really like his or her gift. Are you considering opera tickets for your great aunt? What about purchasing a photograph session for a person under 30? Or, maybe grabbing a game for granddad? If the data in a recent article on The Atlantic’s website is any indication, you may want to think foremost about a person's stage in life before purchasing gifts. The article cites a report from HS Dent, an economic forecasting firm that looked at U.S. Census data regarding spending behavior by age groups. Some of the data is less that shocking—spending on hearing aids, prescription drugs and the upkeep of cemetery lots rises dramatically as we age. …
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Here are five things you probably never knew about the Advent season, which starts Dec. 2 and runs through Christmas.
The Christmas season officially starts in many churches this weekend with the beginning of Advent. Here are a few things to know about the season. 1. Advent has a different start date each year In 2012, Advent starts Sunday, Dec. 2. Despite the fact that most people associate the beginning of the Advent season with Dec. 1, the official dates of the season actually change each year. An anticipatory recognition of the “second coming of Christ,” in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian and Methodist traditions; Advent is the period of time preceding Christmas, beginning on whatever Sunday is nearest to Nov. 30. Because start dates vary, so does the length of each Advent season. This year, Advent officially begins Dec…
Jesseka Kadylak
4:29 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sure, Kathleen. But this article is about "little-known" facts of Christmas. more ›