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Santa Claus Letters And Personalized Christmas Gifts; A New Twist …

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

Santa Claus Letters And Personalized Christmas Gifts; A New Twist On An Old Game

Christmas is a lot of people’s favorite time of year. Almost everyone is happier during the Christmas season. Adults and children alike look forward to this special season. Different cultures celebrate Christmas in different ways, but one common thread is the belief in the personage of Santa Claus by the children. He may go by different names in different countries, but the person is the same.

Santa Claus has been making his yearly round for several centuries delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls in the world. The rest of the year, Santa is busy in his workshop preparing for the next year’s trip. Many children write letters to Santa Claus every year. Parents may help smaller children with this task. It gives children a chance to tell Santa about their particular wishes for a Christmas gift. This practice has been going on for a long time. Parents like it because it helps them learn what their children really want for Christmas.

This is an old game, but today it has some new twists. Santa Claus letters and personalized Christmas gifts from Santa before Christmas throw a little more cheer into the season for Christmas. It is now possible for parents to arrange to have their children receive letters back from Santa Claus. These Santa letters are usually written in such a way as to appear to be a response from Santa to the letter written by the child. Sometimes, parents choose to include some small personalized Christmas gifts in the mix. These can be craft kits pertaining to Santa Claus, small ornaments with the child’s name on them, or a number of other items. They don’t have to be expensive to fulfill the purpose.

Santa Claus letters are the easy part. Many different types of suppliers have added this service to their Christmas offerings. These are normally form letters that have several blanks included that can be filled with personal information about the child intended to receive the letter. These letters usually come in a wide variety of different forms so that they can be personalized to any child.

The addition of personalized Christmas gifts is an even newer twist on this old game. When taken in combination with Santa Claus letters, these gifts add an air of authenticity that makes the whole deal seem even more real to the younger children. Even older children who no longer believe in Santa Claus will enjoy these additions to the Christmas tradition. They may even be willing to play along to help make it seem real for the younger ones.

Christmas has been a favorite time of year for many people for a very long time. There are a great many traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas. Most of them date back for centuries. Encouraging children to believe in Santa Claus is one old game that people still engage in. Santa Claus letters and personalized Christmas gifts are adding a new twist to an old game.

By: E-WeddingFavors

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Create Magic in your child’s eyes with our Santa Claus Letters and Santa Letters to give them the best Christmas ever. Pick over 20 Stationery designs and receive a free gift and free shipping with your Santa letters.

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Buying The Perfect Christmas Gift For Children

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

Buying The Perfect Christmas Gift For Children

Buying Christmas gifts for children is the simplest thing in the world, or is it not? Well, it is not always as easy as if you have children of your own in the same age. How do you know exactly what this special child wants? You want to buy a Christmas gift than will hopefully be used frequently and not just end up on a shelf in a closet somewhere. There are naturally hundreds of great Christmas gifts to buy children, so here I will run through a few good ones.

Children’s clothing

As we all know, children grow at an amazingly fast rate, and because of this their clothes do not fit well for an extended period of time. In addition, they play around a lot more than us adults, which means their clothes will get worn out in a completely different fashion than adult clothing would. Buying clothes for Christmas is hence a popular choice for the children as well as for their parents; they can skip buying clothes for awhile and focus on the hard gifts.

Toys

Producing a hard Christmas gift usually means the child will get extremely happy, because this means it contains some kind of toy. Kids love toys of all shapes and colors, but it may also be a good thing to check with the parents ahead of time before buying the gift if you are unsure as to the excellence of your choice. Many parents do not like their children playing with toy guns and rifles or similar toy weapons. Another thing is that it is always hard to know which toys are popular if you do not have children of the same age.

Books

Kids need to be reading more. Proper reading is done with books. This makes a book a marvelous Christmas present for kids. There are numerous books to choose from depending on the level of the child’s age and reading skills. Everything from picture books to for different adventure tales. Ask around in the book store and you are sure to find something.

Computer games

Almost every kid in the western hemisphere today has daily access to at least one computer and/or a video game console. Most of the time, playing games is something kids very much enjoy doing, to their parents aggravation. There are, however, plenty of choices in addition to the classic shoot them up game types and addictive massive multiplayer online role playing games. Educational games have come a long way from Nintendo’s Anticipation back in the eighties and can really help children playing learn a thing or two. Therefore a new and popular computer, or video, game is a great Christmas present.

Posters

Every child has a hero of some kind that they look up to. Whether it be someone on the TV, someone in real life, or just something inanimate as a car or motorcycle, you can probably find a poster of it online on a poster store. Why not purchase a frame as well while you are at it? That would really make the Christmas gift stand out due to its size and make the child anxious to open it.

By: Robb Stark

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Robb is writing about Christmas, and what presents to give to children. Read more at julklapp barn or go to leksaker.

And if you want to make any of the above mentioned gives even more unique, buy them in PINK! Check out BestPinkChristmasGifts.com for best selction.

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Christmas Craft Ideas: Can Be Made Pink

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Christmas Crafts – Easy Christmas Craft Ideas

Christmas is the time to give, to celebrate and spread joy. Here are some Christmas craft ideas to help you make decorations and gifts, so that you can decorate your house and spread some Christmas cheer too.

Christmas Crafts - Easy Christmas Craft Ideas

Soon it will be Christmas, when Santa will come through the chimney and leave little gifts for boys and girls. Why don’t you make Santa something this Christmas? He’ll surely be happy to know that you care for him as much as he does for you! I have collected some Christmas craft ideas to get you started.

Jingle Bell Door Hanger

Materials

  • Some metal jingle bells
  • Heavy gauge wire
  • Wire cutters and pliers
  • Curling ribbons
  • 1-inch metal rings (key ring)

How to make the door hanger

  • First decide on how long you want the hangers to be when they are complete. Add two inches to the length you have decided and cut the piece of wire.
  • Use pliers to wrap one end of the wire around the key chain or metal loop once or twice, this part will be later used for hanging.
  • String the jingle bells onto the wire leaving wire at the end to form a secure loop.
  • Then add several pieces of ribbon to the loop at the bottom and curl.
  • It’s now ready to hang on the door.

Candy Cane Reindeer

Materials

  • A six inch wrapped candy cane
  • Some ribbon
  • 2 wiggle eyes
  • Red or brown pompoms
  • 2 pipe cleaners
  • Some craft glue or a glue gun

How to make the candy cane reindeer

  • Leave the wrapping on the candy cane and then glue eyes on the rounded face of the candy cane.
  • Glue a red pompom on the face for a nose.
  • On the straight part of the candy cane, tie a ribbon into a bow.
  • Cut one of the pipe cleaners into half and wrap the other full pipe cleaner around the crook of the candy cane to begin the antlers.
  • Now use the cut pipe cleaners to make the antlers.

Pretzel Wreath

Materials

  • Little pretzels
  • Some curling ribbon
  • Glue

How to make the pretzel wreath

  • First string the curling ribbon through the pretzel.
  • Use an under over/over under pattern so that the pretzels remain flat.
  • As you form a circle, apply glue to secure each pretzel.
  • Add another layer of pretzels on the top and glue on a sprig of pine or holly.
  • Your decoration or gift is ready!

Shining Snowball Ornament

Materials

  • Plastic pushpins (clear or white)
  • Small Styrofoam balls
  • Some satin ribbon
  • Glitter spray (optional)

How to make the shining snowball ornament

  • Insert the pushpins into the Styrofoam balls until they are completely covered.
  • Make a loop using the satin ribbons for hanging. Use one of the pushpins to secure the loop into the ball.
  • Now lightly spray with glitter spray to add a sparkling effect.
  • Once the glitter is dry, hang this pretty ornament on your tree.

Fun Foam Santa

Materials

  • Small pieces of foam in three colors – red, white and flesh
  • Small pink and white colored pompoms
  • Tiny google eyes
  • White curling ribbon
  • A pair of scissors
  • Pin backing or magnet
  • A craft or tacky glue

How to make the fun foam Santa

  • First cut a hat out of the red craft foam.
  • Now cut a small cloud shape out of the white foam. Glue this on the hat.
  • Then cut a small half oval face shape out of the flesh colored foam.
  • Glue the hat onto the face and also glue a white pompom at the top of the hat.
  • Curl about 5 ribbons and glue it to the face. Place one near the ears, one on each side and three at the chin.
  • Glue the small pink pompom close to the beard for a nose. Use glue to place the google eyes near the nose.
  • Lastly, glue on a pin back or a magnet so that you can either wear it on show it off on the fridge.

Sparkling Beaded Napkin Rings

Materials

  • A few tinsel pipe cleaners
  • Some metallic shiny pony beads

How to make a sparkling beaded necklace

  • Bead approximately 24 beads to the pipe cleaner. Leave about 2 inches on each side.
  • Use the beaded segment to make a circle.
  • Secure this by twisting the pipe cleaner once or twice.
  • Once this is done, loop the remaining pipe cleaner segment around a pencil to make the curly design on top.

Pine Cone Angel

Materials

  • A medium sized pinecone
  • Sheet moss
  • Some dried or silk leaves
  • A wooden disk or ball
  • Tacky or white glue
  • Craft paint (flesh colored)
  • Fine tipped black permanent marker
  • A pink marker, crayon, blush makeup or lipstick
  • A small length of rickrack, wire edged ribbon or metallic cord
  • Spray sealer, decoupage medium or spray paint (optional)
  • Invisible fish line or thread (optional)

How to make a pinecone angel

  • Select a pinecone that has open petals and a flat bottom.
    Use two dry leaves for the angels wings, if you desire you can use four wings too. If using four wings, glue them together in pairs using small dots of white glue between the leaves.
  • If you like, you can protect the leaves with a coating of decoupage medium or spray sealer. You can even decorate it with gold spray paint.
  • Glue the leaves at the pack of the pinecone.
  • Now paint the wooden disk/wooden ball in flesh toned paint and let it dry. Draw the facial features first in pencil and then trace over them with a fine tipped permanent black marker. While at this you could use add a little color to the cheeks with the blush/lipstick or marker.
  • Using glue stick small pieces of sheet moss all around the edge of the wooden disk.
  • Then cut a small length of gold rickrack, gold cord or even thin gold wire and use this to make a circular halo for the top of the angel’s head. Stick this, using glue.
  • Now put the angel’s head into place.
  • If you wish to hang this angel, tie an invisible thread or fish line to one of the pinecones petals near the head at the back.

By Rachna Gupta
Published: 10/14/2007

For the best pink Christas gifts, go to Best Pink Christmas Gifts with US and UK pricing the selection is sure to please any pink enthusiast…even yourself!

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Nightmare Before Christmas News – My favorite holiday songs

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Last Friday, the Gazette asked readers to submit their favorite holiday songs via e-mail to me, along with the stories behind the songs.

Check out Best Pink Christmas  for a very silly Pink Christmas Song

Read more…

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Nintendo Ds Lite Pink is the Perfect Handheld Game for Christmas

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

The Nintendo DS Lite console is now available in the very sought after metallic rose color, and other games console colors include Nintendo DS Lite Coral Pink and a very sought after Limited Edition Nintendo DS Lite Pink Ribbon .

Pink DS Lite is smaller and sleeker than the original Nintendo DS , and combines dual screen action with touch screen interactive play, providing you with a unique Pink gaming experience.

It also includes wireless communication technology, allowing gamers to play their friends in multiplayer games, or use the console’s embedded PictoChat software to send messages and drawings to each other. The DS Lite Pink Metallic Rose console is revolutionising handheld gaming and now it’s available in the very sought after metallic pink color, and other games console colors include Nintendo DS Lite Coral Pink and a very sought after Limited Edition Nintendo DS Lite Pink Ribbon handheld games machine.

With the Nintendo Pink DS Lite the possibilities are limitless – one screen can be used to show the main action, while another might be used as a map, inventory, or secondary viewpoint – or both screens can be used simultaneously to depict huge boss characters!

Nintendo DS Lite Pink
Included with every Nintendo DS Lite Pink is a powerful rechargeable lithium ion battery pack and recharger. The system offers up to 19 hours of play on a single recharge if the brightness setting is used correctly; so there’s no need for additional battery packs.

The unit recharges to full capacity in three hours – one hour less than Nintendo DS Lite Pink The system also includes a clock, calendar and alarm functions, and you can select other details like the colour of the background screen, your birthday and your nickname.

 Even America Ferrera of Ugly Betty likes to play games on her Nintendo Pink DS Lite.

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Christmas-A Time To Share

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Christmas – A Special Time Of Year

It’s that time of year when you have a stroll outdoors, the air smells crisp and the skies are a little grey. Mr jack frost has felt the window panes with his magic fingers and the ice scraper needs to come out of the glove box in order to scrape off the front car window. Lights on the street take on a new aura as their red and green lights turn on and off. You begin to drive down the side streets on your way home to see who has the best light show on their lawn, and the children have sent their wish lists off to Santa Claus. If you haven’t guessed what time of year it is, it is Christmas time.

Christmas Has Countless Meanings

Christmas itself represents a Holiday season that has taken on countless meanings all over this diverse country of ours; from snow covered hills to pink lights on palm trees, nativity scenes to peppermint pigs. Scrooge and The Grinch with Jim Carey, as well as Miracle on 34th Street and It’s A Wonderful Life with James Stewart, all hold a special place in our hearts. Some of us may travel across the country during Christmas time, while others of us may simply travel across the street.

A Time To Share

Regardless of what our Christmas traditions are, there is one very enduring connection that we all share. Recent events in our country’s history, ( tragic events such 9-11 in New York and Hurricane Katrina], remind us all of this connection and continue to strengthen that bond each and every day. This time of year we gather together with our friends and family. As we get together, some of us may celebrate the birth of Christ, some of us may light up candles on a Menorah, whilst others will simply unwrap Christmas gifts with a smile on their face, without a second thought. Yet there is no doubt, no question at all, that we all gather to celebrate each other.

We get together to celebrate life, and family, and those we love. We gather to enjoy good food, stimulating conversation and good company. We reminisce nostalgically about holidays from the past, remember those we love who are no longer with us, and plan for the future. We share photos, we share gifts, and we share laughs. At Christmas time we look for the innocent sparkle in our children’s eyes as we help them to create their own memories, and put them into bed, neatly tucked up with a big smile on their faces as ‘visions of sugar plums dance in their heads’.

No matter what our age, our race, or our origin; No matter our heritage, our upbringing, or our traditions; At Christmas time, we live, we burst into laughter, and we love.

Make a Pink  Your New Christmas Tradition. Remember to Have A Merry Pink Christmas this year and THINK PINK!

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Holiday Flowers

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

 Why not give pink flowers for Christmas?  

 Holiday Flowers

There are a number of good used for flowers during the holidays. From gift giving to decorations and everythin in between, learn creative ways to use seasonal flowers during the holidays.

The big holiday celebrations are just around the corner now, and thoughts are turning to gifts, food, and decorating. Whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa; you don’t have to get stuck in the same rut you may have been in for years when it comes to appropriate gift giving and decorating.

There are always those people you want to give a nice gift to, but just don’t know what you should get. There are those you want to say thank you to for a great job done. Maybe you want to do something creatively different this year in your own decorating for the holidays.

There is a wonderful answer to these holiday dilemmas. Do it with flowers. That’s right flowers. There are many beautiful varieties of blooms available during the fall and winter seasons. Tulips, Hyacinths, Poinsettias, and Narcissus are Christmas favorites. Send flowers to that someone you want to give a special gift to, and they will always remember your thoughtfulness.

There are so many ways to use them too. Place a live flower arrangement on the table for a centerpiece; nothing says elegance like live flowers. You don’t have to confine yourself to the traditional red either. Think of a white and green centerpiece made up of white tulips and evergreen boughs for a beautiful winter tablescape. Or for a more unique look, try an arrangement using flowers and live succulents. It will last a long time if cared for properly. Use winter roses in your Christmas tree: Try pink rather than red. Put Paperwhite Narcissus in a blue vase on your Hanukah table. Use greenery in abundance for your Kwanzaa party. And, of course, you can place live poinsettias in the wreath hanging on your front door. Live flowers are especially lovely when used with tiny white lights. And you can’t use too many of either during a holiday celebration, so get plenty of each. Flowers and candles make a serene setting in the bathroom. And, every work desk should have a plant or flowers on it all the time. It is cheery and brightens what might be a dark spot.

Greenery has been associated with the holidays dating back to the use of decorated trees, boughs of holly, fir garlands, and the list goes on. Only your imagination can hamper your creativity. With the use of colorful blooming bulbs, any greenery can be dressed up like a belle going to a ball. And of course there is always that sensuous perfume associated with some flowers. That mixed with the scent of evergreen will ensure everyone will remember your home for years to come.

When it comes to gift giving this holiday season don’t settle for less. Try using colorful live flowers or greenery to lift one’s holiday spirit, say thank you, or even as decoration in your own home!

George White runs Morningside Florist, a highly regarded Sacramento florist for special occasions, thank you flower gift baskets, or corporate gift needs where arrangements can be made for same day flower delivery in Sacramento or timely delivery for anywhere else in the United States.

By rob tendick
Published: 12/4/2006

For more the best pink Christas gifts, go to Best Pink Christmas Gifts with US and UK pricing the selection is sure to please any pink enthusiast…even yourself

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Darlene Love-It%u2019s Christmas Of Course Review

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Darlene Love-It’s Christmas Of Course Review

It’s Christmas Of Course Is Sure To Get Everybody’s Hips Swiveling

Darlene Love-It's Christmas Of Course Review Artist: Darlene Love
Title: It’s Christmas Of Course
Genre: Christmas/Holiday/R&B
Label: Shout! Factory

Christmas comes earlier and earlier with each passing year. Last year, it seemed like they put out the red and green M&Ms and the cardboard Santa displays before the last trick-or-treater knocked at my door. So when I was given Darlene Love’s It’s Christmas of Course to review at the beginning of October this year I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Now don’t get me wrong; I like Christmas as much as the next guy but, anymore, I only enjoy Christmas music for the two weeks leading up to the big day itself, and that’s about it.

That being said, It’s Christmas of Course is actually a pretty cool album. I was kind of expecting some over-the-top Broadway production, but this album has an intimate, live-blues club feel with music that is reminiscent of that old Stax Volt rhythm and blues sound. Love’s voice is thick like molasses and comes from a deep place as she sings contemporary Christmas songs, making them sound like standards from decades earlier.

"Santa Claus Go Strait To The Ghetto" is a really fun song; it’s got a wonderful Memphis blues beat, and the horn section punctuates the verses in a nice way. "Christmas All Over Again" begins with spirited organ flourish that leads in to an early 60’s style rock and roll jam with Tom Petty fashioned electric guitar. The drums on this track sound great with the snare having a crisp snap to it, and the beat has an authentic golden-era R&B feel.

I’ve always enjoyed Billy Squire song, "Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You," and these guys do a fine job on this version. The lead-in is a little weird though. I think they were going for a street corner a cappella sound, but the echo effect they used is phony and bad sounding.

It’s Christmas of Course is sure to get everybody’s hips swiveling at this year’s big holiday party. The album is mostly up-beat and the music is catchy and with a good vibe. My Christmas wish would be for all of these guys to get together and do a non-Christmas album that I could enjoy the other fifty weeks of the year, but for now I’ll be sure to add the spinning of this disc to my annual holiday traditions.

Credits:
Gary Leonard: guitars
Zev Katz: electric and acoustic bass
Billy J. Stein: piano, Hammond B3, Wurlitzer, Rhodes and synthesizers
Nir Z: drums and percussion
Pattie Darcy Jones and Ula Hedwig: background vocals
Cissy Houston: guest vocalist on "Happy X-Mas (The War Is Over)"
Horns arranged by Steve Bernstein
Steve Bernstein: trumpet
Paul Shapiro: alto and tenor sax
Eric Lawrence: tenor and baritone sax

Tracks:
01. Christmas All Over Again
02. Who Took the Merry Out Of Christmas
03. Christmas Wish
04. Santa Claus Go Straight To the Ghetto
05. Please Come Home For Christmas
06. 2000 Miles
07. Christmas Is the Time To Say ‘I Love You’
08. What Christmas Means To Me
09. Christmas Must Be Tonight
10. Thanks For Christmas
11. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
12. Night Of Peace

By Keith Hannaleck
Published: 10/23/2007

For more the best pink Christas gifts, go to Best Pink Christmas Gifts with US and UK pricing the selection is sure to please any pink enthusiast…even yourself

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Advent Trivia

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Advent Trivia

1. What is Advent?
A. Preparation
B. Celebration
C. Mourning
D. Darkness

A. Preparation
TOPICS: In the Christian church, Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

2. What feast marks the beginning of the Advent period?
A. Feast of John the Baptist
B. Feast of St. Andrew
C. Feast of St. Matthew
D. Feast of Thanksgiving

B. Feast of St. Andrew
TOPICS: Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (30 November) which does coincide pretty closely with Thanksgiving many years. In the 5th Century, Advent began on 11 November (St Martin’s Day) and took the form of a six week fast leading to Christmas. During the 6th century, Advent was reduced to its current length and later the fasting was dropped.

3. How many Sundays are included in the traditional Advent celebration?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

D. 4
TOPICS: The first Sunday may be as early as November 27th, and then Advent has twenty-eight days, or as late as December 3rd, giving the season only twenty-one days.

4. What shape is the Advent wreath?
A. Square
B. Triangle
C. Circle
D. Rectangle

C. Circle
TOPICS: The circle of the wreath reminds Christians of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end.

5. What colors are the candles in the Advent wreath?
A. Purple
B. Pink
C. White
D. Purple, pink and white

D. Purple, pink and white
TOPICS: Traditionally three of the candles are purple, the color of kings and of penance. A rose-colored candle is used to mark the Third Sunday of Advent as a time to rejoice over the closeness of Christmas and the coming of Christ. In the center of the circle is a fifth candle (traditionally white) which is lit on Christmas Day. Candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son, Jesus.

6. What color is the Advent wreath?
A. Gold
B. Silver
C. White
D. Green

D. Green
TOPICS: The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Christians have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.

7. Why was purple chosen as an Advent candle color?
A. Represents the common people
B. Represents royalty
C. Represents peace
D. Represents war

B. Represents royalty
TOPICS: Purple dyes were once so rare and costly that they were associated with royalty; the Church has long used this color around Christmas and Easter to honor Jesus.

8. Two of the five Advent candles are different than the others. What does the rose or pink candle signify?
A. Joy
B. Birth
C. Angels
D. Prophecy

A. Joy
TOPICS: The third week of Advent is marked by the Shepherds’ Candle or Joy Candle. The shepherds represent the message of great joy that is brought to the world about Jesus’ birth.

9. Three of the Advent candles are the same color. Which is NOT represented by one of these candles?
A. Christ
B. Hope
C. Peace
D. Love

A. Christ
TOPICS: The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolise hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The first candle is called either the Hope Candle or the Prophecy Candle. The second candle is the Bethlehem Candle or Peace candle represents the preparations made for the coming Christ child. The fourth candle is the Angel Candle or Love Candle which represents the love which God shared with the world when He sent His Son, Jesus.

10. The candle in the center of the Advent wreath is called what?
A. The Star Candle
B. The Bethlehem Candle
C. The Stable Candle
D. The Christ Candle

D. The Christ Candle
TOPICS: In the centre of the circle is a fifth candle (traditionally white), the Christ Candle, which is lit on Christmas Day.

Deanna Mascle shares more Interesting Facts in her Fun Trivia Ezine and trivia blog at http://trivialtopics.net

By Deanna Mascle
Published: 12/23/2006

For more the best pink Christas gifts, go to Best Pink Christmas Gifts with US and UK pricing the selection is sure to please any pink enthusiast…even yourself

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The Poinsettia – A Christmas Tradition

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

The Poinsettia – A Christmas Tradition

The poinsettia’s botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, means "the beautiful euphorbia". For more than one hundred years Americans have enjoyed the pretty poinsettias and they now run second only to the Christmas tree as the holiday’s most popular plant.

The Poinsettia - A Christmas Tradition Description
The poinsettia’s species name pulcherrima means "most beautiful" and that it is! Poinsettia’s brilliant red floral display held against rich green foliage has made this unlikely species a holiday favorite. Its appealing presentation of the traditional Christmas colors has so endeared poinsettia that it is now second only to the Christmas tree as the most popular holiday plant. Euphorbia pulcherrima is named after Dr. J.R. Poinsett, and was introduced to gardeners in the early 19th century. Always popular, the holiday poinsettia trade is today a multi-million dollar business with plants sold everywhere from florists and nurseries to supermarkets and convenience stores.

The species is a tall, rangy shrub that grows to a height of 10 ft (3.1 m). It has large, dark green, oval leaves that are "toothed" on the sides and pointed at the tips. They emerge from smooth green erect stems. Flowers are borne at the stem tips in winter. The actual flowers are quite small (they are the yellow structures at the center of the brilliantly colored "bracts"). The bracts are actually modified leaves – in the species there usually are 8 to 10 bracts that are 4-7 in (10.2-17.8 cm) long.

The poinsettias that we buy at Christmas are invariably selected cultivars that have more numerous bracts that are larger, growing to 7-12 in (17.8-30.5 cm) long. The Mikkelsen cultivars were introduced in the early sixties. They were better adapted to container culture, had larger "flowers" and were easier to dwarf. Commercial growers typically strive to limit the height of the plants to prevent top heavy specimens. This can be accomplished through several techniques, but most commonly the plants are sprayed with a chemical agent. They are typically forced into bloom at a height of 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m). Make no mistake though, planted in your backyard, this year’s table decoration can reach roof height in a season.

Location
Poinsettia is native to the tropical areas of Central America and Mexico. They are now grown and enjoyed nearly worldwide wherever Christmas is celebrated.

Culture
When grown outside, keep poinsettia mulched to discourage root knot. Cut back old growth in the late winter just before new growth begins as this encourages branching. You can pinch back terminal shoots several times during the spring and early summer to get more flowers later on. Never prune after about August 15, as by then poinsettia has formed the nuclei of the buds that will become the flowers.
Light: Likes full sun but will tolerate some shade. Flowers are reduced in size and number and the plant become very scraggly if grown in too shady a site.
Moisture: Average water. When grown in a container let dry out before watering – too much moisture will cause leaves to drop.
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9 – 11. Frost will kill back this tropical plant.
Propagation: Take cuttings in summer. Use rooting hormone on 8 inch tip cuttings. An easier way is to take cuttings of woody stem about 18 in (45.7 cm) long, stick in ground and keep moist (not wet) for several weeks.

Usage
The poinsettia is king of the holiday table decorations. Use groups of potted specimens to bring color and warmth to entryways and dark corners. Use them to hide the base of the Christmas tree. If you live in a frostfree climate you can continue to enjoy your Christmas poinsettias if you plant them in the yard. They make imposing specimens on the lawn and work well in mixed shrub groupings and hedges. Avoid planting near night time light sources as this will disrupt the blooming cycle.

Features
The poinsettia is inexpensive and easy to care for. Varieties are now available in colors ranging from the traditional scarlet to white to pink to coral. The poinsettia can blend with virtually any decor or color scheme to set a holiday mood.

WARNING
Every holiday season newspapers run stories about whether or not Poinsettia is toxic and to what degree. Although many species in the genus Euphorbia are highly toxic, poinsettia is not among them. Having said that, ingestion of this plant probably will make you sick (it just won’t kill you). Remember too that several chemicals are used in the commercial production of poinsettia and these are potentially toxic as well. Do not put poinsettia (or any other house plant) where infants and toddlers can reach them. Children should be taught from a very early age to NEVER eat, or place ANY houseplant in their mouths.

Floridata – Perennial Plant List
Links to hundreds of Profiles of popular perennial plants.

   By Jack Scheper
Published: 12/5/2005

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