Santa’s Sleigh

The legend of Santa Claus’s sleigh being pulled by a bunch of reindeer in a frigid arctic environment and ascending up to the sky with its extraordinary load of toys was born a little over 200 years ago. On the one hand, this legend goes through the trouble of providing details about the jolly old man Santa Claus and his delivery of toys to children who had been good all around the world. On the other hand, this legend fails to explain how he does it. What makes the sleigh soar through the air? What enables the reindeer to fly? And how can they get around to all corners of the earth in a single night with only Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to light up the way? I am a pragmatist who needs realistic explanations and so I created my own. Santa Claus is able to navigate his sleigh around...

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Twelve Days of Christmas

Why are there twelve days of Christmas? Even the holiest of births could not have taken twelve day. No. Of course not. The twelve days of Christmas is the stretch of time between December 25 and January 6. December 25 marks the birth of Jesus Christ while January 6 represents the feast of the Epiphany that memorializes the visit of the Magi to Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.Before I continue, permit me to take a moment to define two very important words that are often associated with Christmas: epiphany and Magi.Epiphany is defined in modern dictionaries as “an intuitive grasp of reality usually through something simple and striking, an illuminating discovery, a revealing scene of moment." In Christianity or the Christian church, epiphany is traditionally described as "the first manifestation...

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The Christmas Tree

Thinking about Christmas immediately brings Christmas trees to mind. As a matter of fact, Christmas trees are one of the most recognized images of the Christmas season and they are visible just about everywhere. Furthermore, many of the traditional Christmas activities revolve around Christmas trees. First there is the ritual of selecting a perfect tree, then setting it up in a prominent location in the home, then comes the decorating aspect, piling up the gifts under it, coming together around it to sing Christmas carols and drink eggnog. But how did it all begin?The earliest story that was ever found that associates trees with Christmas dates back to the beginning of the 700s. This story talks about a British monk and missionary who was born in 680, was christened as Winfrid and was...

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Santa’s Little Helpers, The Elves

In spite of the fact that elves are such little folks or maybe because they are such little folks they have been incorporated into many different cultures through the ages. Folklore and fairytales would just not be the same without them. They may be set in different environments under different circumstances and they may answer to different names but they are still elves of one kind or another.The list of elves or elf-like beings is endless but the following is a short sampling for your brief edification:* Ireland had leprechauns who are miniature elf-like folks who use their craftiness and wit to mischievously hide their treasured pots of gold.* Iceland had “hidden people” who are a bit taller but still elf-sized. Being very powerful, Icelanders will not build around areas which may be...

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Out of all of Santa’s reindeer, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” who was also known as Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer and then Reginald the Red-Nosed Reindeer is, by far, the most famous and most often talked about. As a matter of fact, he is the only one that is distinguished out of the entire herd and called forth to stardom and fame.It all started with a Christmas song which made its début as a poem that was distributed by a posing Santa Claus at a Montgomery Ward department store in Chicago. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was penned by Robert May who was an advertising copywriter for Montgomery Ward in 1939. The poem was printed in a booklet form and was colorfully illustrated by Denver Gillen, an artist and a close friend to Robert May. The original name of the reindeer was Rollo,...

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Meeting Mary and Joseph, the Parents of Jesus

Mary and Joseph both came from educated families who saw to it that their children receive a solid and above average education as well.Mary was a brown-eyes and blond-haired beauty with a cheerful disposition. She was fearless about expressing her emotions and easily adapted to hardships and unusual circumstances.Joseph was one of nine children in a pious Jewish family. He had black eyes and dark brown hair, a mild manner and he was very meticulous about his affairs and faithful in every way to the religious and cultural practices of his people. He was a quiet and contemplative man who suffered the plight of the Jews wordlessly.Mary and Joseph met when Joseph worked for Mary’s father on building an addition to their family home. And their courtship began when Mary brought Joseph a cup...

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How Does Santa Get Down the Chimney

Call me stupid or unenlightened but I am really confused about Santa Claus coming down a chimney. First of all, he is such a fat-bellied guy and unless you have an extra large industrial-size chimney, there is absolutely no way for him to pass through it. I know that you are going to tell me that Santa Claus is magical. But even magic has its limits, doe it not?I have seen magicians perform amazing deeds but really, this magical Santa Claus has to overcome more than I am willing or even able to accept. Please help me through the process as we retell the story: * Let us first of all assume that Santa Claus knows exactly how to get to where he is going because he has got a top-of-the-line navigational system Let us further surmise that he also knows which chimney belongs to which child,...

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How Does Santa Claus Know Whether I Have Been Naughty or Nice

The fact that I am asking this question here and now does not make me unique or especially smart in any way, nor does it make this question original. As a matter of fact, there is no doubt in my mind nor should there be any doubt in yours that this question had been asked by many believers in Santa Claus through the ages and most particularly by those who fear that their behavior may indeed have earned enough demerits to disqualify them from Santa’s list of “Nice.” And if their names are not allowed to appear on Santa’s list of “Nice” and because everyone must be on one of Santa’s list or the other, it must then have been added to his list of “Naughty.”For those of you who believe in Santa Claus you most likely also believe that:* Santa Claus and his wife, Mrs. Santa Claus now live in a...

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Has Christmas Become Too Commercialized

The answer to the question whether Christmas has become too commercialized or not, is not a matter of a mere “yes” or “no” because the issue is much more complicated than that. And, frankly, I am not all too sure that it is a relevant question to ask. After all, those of us who live in the United States of America, where most or at least much of the so called commercialization of Christmas occurs, also live in “the land of the free.” As citizens of “the land of the free” or of a free country, we are at liberty to choose just how we want to celebrate Christmas. Personally, I will respect whichever method of celebrating Christmas you choose, as long as it does not harm anyone else or even yourself.* Allow yourself to go along with a commercialized Christmas but be careful. On the one hand,...

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Do Santa’s Christmas Reindeer Really Exist

Do Santa’s Christmas reindeer really exist? Santa’s Christmas reindeer are every bit as real as Santa Claus himself is. Do you believe in Santa Clause? Then you must believe in his reindeer or your Christmas presents will never get delivered.As for any other reindeer, they are very real indeed and they are also known as caribou in the wildernesses of the North American continent. Reindeer are deer which lived and roamed freely in large herds in the arctic, subarctic as well as in the Holarctic regions. Historically, reindeer had a vast range that spanned over various continents across the world. They were found in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe which included Russia, Mongolia and northern China, Greenland, Scotland, Ireland, Alaska, Canada and in the northernmost states of the United States...

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Be Inspired! eMillions: Behind-the-Scenes Stories of 14 Successful Internet Millionaires

Discover the golden nuggets of the booming internet marketing industry.eMillions is an exceptionally written inspiring book for all aspiring entrepreneurs who is seriously considering establishing and developing a lasting online business presence.Get it right and you'll find it's content rich with inspiration and strategies that an entrepreneur can gain new insights, ideas or tactics that you can turn, tweak and try in your own life and business.You'll find 14 candid, one-on-one conversations from real people - who started out with nothing- and who used the Internet to build real businesses - and in the process - became real millionaires.The...

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Part 7 – More Traffic Sources

digg_url = 'WEBSITE_URL';digg_bgcolor = '#ff9900';digg_skin = 'compact';Getting links from other websites is not the only way to attract visitors to visit your blog. This time, we are going to explore alternative methods to attract high quality traffic with both free and paid methods.The first thing you can do to generate traffic is to recycle all the content you have written on your blog. What I really mean is to turn your blog posts into little “manuals” or articles that help people solve their problems or offer valuable information and submit them to article directories. These article directories are like aggregators that collect articles of similar themes together in one place, so they receive thousands and thousands of qualified visitors every day.When you submit your articles to these...

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Why Do We Dream of a White Christmas

In an earnest attempt to eclipse a number of pagan winter celebrations and the festivities associated with them of days long ago departed and to attract the masses away from their idolatry and into the awaiting bosom of Christianity, the commemoration of the birth of Christ which was ultimately called Christmas was permanently set on December 25. To the best of our knowledge, Jesus was never anywhere near snowy peaks and icicles.Why then are so many of us dreaming of a “white Christmas”? Well, Christmas originated in Europe which is in the Northern Hemisphere where December 25 is, for some of the regions, winter white with snow. Needless to say, snowy weather on Christmas Day is far more common in some countries or parts of those countries yet it is an unheard of phenomenon in others. ...

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Do Santa Claus and His Entourage Really Live in the North Pole

Let us contemplate the question of whether or not Santa Claus and his entourage really live in the North Pole as we take a closer look at the North Pole and weigh a few facts against reality:* The North Pole is the northernmost point on earth which is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, where the waters are perpetually covered with ice. Since this ice is in constant movement, it cannot sustain permanent structures. If Santa Claus and his entourage really lived in the North Pole, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus’ home would be in constant motion and shifting right along with the ice on which it would be standing and so would Santa’s toy workshop. Under such circumstances, I envision a life time of motion sickness. Ooh! Not a pretty picture.* In the North Pole the sun rises in March and...

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Why Do We Decorate With Garlands and Wreaths

A wreath is a hoop or a ring made out of various flowers, leaves, branches and, at times, fruits as well as ribbons and bows that is used as an adornment on festive occasions. A wreath can be hung on a door or above it, on a window or on a wall. It may be laid on a table or another horizontal surface or, in a much smaller version; it may be worn as a crown on top of the head of a man, a woman or a child.A garland is essentially a wreath that is opened to an arc or a half circle and it is usually made up of similar components to be used similarly as an ornament during festive occasions.Wreaths come in a variety of styles and are used for many different occasions. To symbolize long lasting life, most wreaths are made from evergreens and those using bay laurel as their evergreens are called...

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Do-It-Yourself Christmas Decorations

Christmas is just not the same without decorations because they add festivity, color and an aura of holiday which lifts spirits. You could go out and buy some very beautiful decoration this Christmas season, but why? Do-it-yourself Christmas decorations are so much more memorable and certainly a whole lot less expensive.As I sit here in front of my computer monitor to key in the letters that will comprise the words, sentences and paragraphs of this article, I take a mental inventory of my own Christmas decorations and smile. They are bright, they are sparkly and each one of them conjures up a memory from the past. Some of these memories are precious and I shall cherish them for the rest of my life. For example:* There is that irregularly shaped ornament that adds so many fun colors, it...

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What is the Christmas Crèche

If you are French you will call it crèche, if your are Italian you will call it presipio, if you are German you will call it krippe, if you are Spanish you will call it nacimiento and if you speak only English as I do, you will call it the “crib.” But what is the Christmas crèche or the Christmas crib? Well, it is an artistic three dimensional depiction of the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger and it is one of the oldest and most favored of all Christmas traditions. Artists of Christmas crèches naturally put most of their emphasis on the baby Jesus Christ and his mother Mary but they also add earthly as well as heavenly participants such as shepherds, animals, angels, wise men and common folks.Pictures of the Baby Jesus Christ in the manger and other such pictorial stories of Bethlehem...

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Christmas Symbols

It has recently occurred to me that Christmas is endowed with more universally recognized symbols than any other holiday. Considering the fact that Christmas is the holiday that is celebrated by more people in many more parts of the world than any other Christian holiday, one should not be surprised with the wealth of easily recognizable icons that represent it.Below you will find a list of Christmas symbols that any child will recognize along with a brief narrative of their origins or meanings:The Wreath: The wreath is traditionally hung on the front door of homes during the winter festivities and it has pagan significance as well as Christian.During the Middle Ages the red berries of hollies were thought to have the power of keeping witches away from homes and the evergreen boughs were...

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What is Most Important this Christmas Season

I am afraid that many of us get so distracted with buying gifts for others and then thinking about what they will buy for us, that we do not take the time to consider what is it that we really and truly want. Nor do we allow ourselves to mull over what is most important to us this Christmas season. Sure, we all like nice presents but the happiness they bring us is very short lived and only surface deep.Psychiatrists, psychologists and psychoanalysts have been asking countless clients and patients “What is most important this Christmas season” over a span of many years and the conclusion is always the same. What is most important at our gut level during the Christmas season is HAPPINESS, JOY, LOVE, FUN, PEACE, SERENITY, ACCEPTANCE, CONTENTMENT, FRIENDSHIP and COMPANIONSHIP as well as GOOD...

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Christmas Celebrations Around the World

Christmas is an internationally celebrated holiday around the world and for some it is the holiest day of the year — it is a day on which Christians of all denominations rejoice in the birth of their Lord. It may or may not come as a surprise to you to discover that Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways in different parts of the world and in different cultures. Let us, then, take a brief peek at a Christmas festivities in a few countries:* Christmas in the Holy Land.The Holy Land is where Jesus was born and where he spent his entire life on earth as a mortal being. Many thousands of Christians make their annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land to not only celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but to also walk on the ground where He had walked over two thousand years ago.Jesus is said to...

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What is Christmas and How Did It Get Its Name

Whether you view Christmas as a holiday and time for vacating or as a holy day of worship, Christmas is in fact a mixture of various cultures from around the world which has been accumulating for hundreds of years. Turkey dinners with cranberry sauce, decorated evergreen trees and the colorfully wrapped gifts at their bases, Christmas cards and their heartfelt greetings, jolly old Santa Claus and his reindeer, yule logs and chestnuts roasting on open fires, mistletoes and granted kisses, chiming bells and carols are all many aspects of Christmas which we have come to consider as inherently inseparable and at the heart of December 25, all came in bits and pieces from different peoples.Today’s Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s birthday but in reality, no one knows when Christ was born...

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Christmas Cards

We have all become so accustomed to sending and receiving beautifully decorated and eloquently phrased store-bought Christmas cards that we take it for granted that past generations have done the same as will future generations. However, the fact is that sending commercially printed Christmas cards is a relatively recent phenomenon taking us back to 1843 London, England.Prior to then, people were exchanging Christmas greetings on handwritten notes that were either delivered in person or they were sent via postal services. Eventually, the postal services became the favorite means by which to dispatch Christmas greetings and its popularity grew to burdensome proportions. In 1822, the Superintendent of Mails in Washington D.C. requested that sixteen more postmen be hired during the holiday...

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