A thirst for knowledge
December 2007

Deck the halls

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

I just love Christmas time and I do love Christmas Carols and songs. Now I'm sure they don't appeal to everyone, but I get a really warm and fuzzy feeling when I walk into the shops and hear them playing for the first time. I also have to admit that I do walk around humming them, particularly when one gets stuck in my head. However the good news is this year I will be learning lyrics from www.christmas-carols.net so I can sing rather than hum! On second thoughts, perhaps that's actually bad news for my family and friends!

• Did you know that the stickiest of all Christmas Songs is Rolf Harris' "Six White Boomers"... have a listen here and you will know what I mean!

Sent your Christmas Cards yet? Have you ever left it until the last minute and then realized you don't have enough time left to get them to your loved ones before Christmas Day? I do like the old Christmas traditions, but I'm also a new age Babe and need to be time savvy so I realize I must move on and start new traditions. Of course I also care about the environment which is why I have decided to look into e-cards this year. They not only save you time, but they are also gentler on our environment. This is a great site for Christmas e-cards.

• Did you know the very first Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London, 1843, and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. Interestingly, Christmas cards did not feature winter or religious themes as we commonly see today. Take a look at the very first one - they've certainly come a long way since then!

If you really love Christmas lights but don't have time to drive around town looking at the displays, take a trip to PlanetChristmas and look at some the spectacular displays on show from the USA and elsewhere in the world. Some of them are amazing! Clark Griswald would definitely have "light" envy!

• Christmas lights were first used in Germany in the homes of only the very wealthy as long ago as the 17th century. The lights were actually candles and were only used on trees at that time, and were strategically placed to illuminate the ornaments that hung from the branches. The candles were held in place by either gluing melted wax to a tree branch or using pins to hold the candle.

Christmas is celebrated in many different ways around the world and not always on December 25. If you are interested in finding out what happens in other countries visit this site for some interesting reading. I'm very glad I didn't grow up in Hungary ... otherwise I would have been very well acquainted with "Devil Boy"!!

• Would you believe that artificial spiders complete with web, are often included as a decoration on Ukrainian Christmas trees? It is believed that a spider web found on Christmas morning will bring good luck. Eeuww!

It's time to put the tree up!! Here are some superstitions about when to put up and take down your tree:

• Traditionally, the Christmas tree was not put up until 24th December, Christmas Eve, and it was taken down on 6th January - the 12 Days of Christmas.
  
  
• It is considered bad luck to put up your Christmas tree before 1 December.
  
  
• 6 January is the traditional end of the Christmas holiday and is the date you should take your tree down. Taking it down earlier is thought to bring bad luck for the rest of the year.

I really can't talk about Christmas and not mention the true meaning of Christmas. It is a celebration of the birth of Christ, who incidentally was not born on December 25 - it is believed he was born in the springtime. Pope Julius I chose December 25 because the Pagan's already celebrated the Winter Solstice on this date. By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders hoped to increase the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced. I think it worked!

Whatever your religious beliefs the one message at Christmas time is clear. It is a time for celebrating with the ones we love, showing kindness and caring to all those around us and sharing with those who may not be as fortunate as we are.

Remember there are many Australians doing it tough at the moment and Christmas is an especially hard time for them. Spare a thought for these people and try to incorporate a way of helping them into your regular Christmas routine. Some ideas are:

• Volunteer with one of the organizations providing Christmas meals for the Homeless - there are many such as Red Cross or Rosies.
  
  
• Buy a Present and put it under the K-Mart Wishing tree.
  
  
• Invite a neighbor who lives alone in for a Christmas drink or to share a Christmas meal.
  
  
• Take your family to visit an old people's home for an hour or two on Christmas morning - you won't believe how many people are forgotten on Christmas Day!
  
  
• Buy some small presents, eg boxes of chocolates etc, wrap them and take them into town and give them to the wonderful homeless people selling "The Big Issue".
  
  
• Assist the Salvation Army distribute gift and food hampers to families with financial difficulties.

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Well, just in case you aren't sure, Santa has been watching you and you can check to see which list you are on.

Thank you so much for reading my columns. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with love and laughter. Over the Christmas break remember this ... Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. ~ Janice Maeditere.

Until next year ...

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Annie Reuss Beakon Services - providing HR & Systems Assistance to Small Business m 0412 505 193 e areuss@bigpond.net.au