23. Making an Early Start to Christmas Shopping

Many radio stations have started playing Christmas songs so early in

November in the past few years that one wonders if we may soon start hearing

Christmas songs around Halloween time. That would be a bit weird, even creepy

perhaps. But some early Christmas shoppers likely will have Christmas Carols

silently playing in their heads even before then.

That's because shopping, much like Santa Claus, is a staple of Christmas.

Santa never gives away any secrets to shopping for all those gifts, but he must

certainly have a strategy to be so successful every Yuletide season. The early

Christmas shopper is someone who is very organized and has a strategy to fulfill

Christmas shopping before the season kicks into high gear.

The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is the official retail

start to a shopping season that is always hoped to be a robust one. The strategy

of retailers is to advertise Christmas sales, specials, pre-Christmas markdowns,

giveaways, special-hour sales and other promotions. The reason for the frenzy of

retail advertising during Christmas season is because it is the single biggest

shopping time of the year. Christmas shopping that begins the day after

Thanksgiving accounts for well over half - with some estimates of up to 70% --

of annual revenue for stores.

Since retailers clearly have a strategy for Christmas shoppers seeking the

perfect gift, then shoppers also need to implement their own strategy.

The savvy and early Christmas shopper is the one who may start silently

singing Christmas Carols and songs very early to get in gear for shopping.

Starting from as early as the beginning of October, the early Christmas shopper

can begin to make lists of gifts and begin browsing to check the availability,

variety, and most important, the price of items.

By browsing before the Christmas shopping season officially kicks off, the

early Christmas shopper is more likely to get more bargains, better prices, and

is also better able to do comparison shopping when the season officially kicks

off.

It's important to know that retailers won't offer true 'rock bottom' or

'close-out' sales, or the very lowest prices during Christmas sales. It's also

important to remember that retailers are likely to offer earlier sales starting

in early October to near mid-November.

Two significant pre-Christmas sales are for Columbus Day, which falls on

Monday, Oct. 9, and Veterans Day, which will be on Saturday Nov. 11. The early

Christmas shopper who already has gifts in mind can benefit from price markdowns

during both sales periods. And of course the early Christmas shopper will also

have the benefit of shopping during the season, therefore extending the thrill

and joy of shopping.

If there is any disadvantage to being an early Christmas shopper and doing

Christmas shopping very early, it is that some retailers, particularly makers

and sellers of toys, wait until the official start of the season to introduce

some new items into stores. The strategy in doing this is to build anticipation

for a new toy that they hope will be very popular and to also target and capture

a larger majority of shoppers.

During every Christmas season there always is one, or maybe two toys, that

are regarded as the 'must-have' toys for Christmas. And it has become a present-

day phenomenon for shoppers to arrive from the wee hours in the morning to get a

prime spot near the doors of some stores so that they can be among the first in

those stores to make a mad dash for the 'hot' toy of the season.

But being doing or starting Christmas shopping early does not mean that it

has to be over before the Christmas shopping season starts. What it means is

that most or a significant part of your shopping will be done by the time Black

Friday rolls around.

What is most important to making an early start to your Christmas shopping

is to get the best deal and to do so with as little hassle as possible, by

avoiding a crowded store for example. Both of those will be accomplished for

those who are organized and motivated to get into the spirit of Christmas before

the season really begins.

42. Effortless Christmas Tree Decoration

The decoration of Christmas trees has evolved and undergone many changes,

much like many of the early traditions of the Christmas season. Christmas tree

lighting that started out with real candles underwent probably the biggest

change when electric light became commercially available and special Christmas

tree lights were manufactured. It is therefore not surprising that today you can

set up Christmas trees that are expertly decorated with little or no effort.

While many people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its scent, many others

simply want a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and will choose an artificial

or man-made tree. Artificial trees have been available in America since the

start of the 20th century. Many artificial trees are made to have a similar

appearance like real Christmas trees, but changes have been made to them to make

them decorative and different from regular Christmas trees.

As an example, in the 1950s some artificial Christmas trees had branches

made of aluminum-coated paper to give them a shiny metallic look. For those who

like to have a Christmas tree with a unique look, trees with a similar shiny,

metallic appearance are available today. They are however made with a different

material because the older trees were a fire hazard.

For the those people who are very busy and don't have the time to spend

carefully placing Christmas lights on trees, there are several pre-lit models of

Christmas trees on the market today. A standard type of these Christmas trees

look like their real counterparts except multi-colored fiber-optic lights can be

found scattered throughout the limbs and branches of these trees. This

arrangement saves time and effort of having to undo or untangle strings of

Christmas tree lights.

Another type of pre-lit artificial Christmas tree are those that are made

completely of fiber optics so that the tree appears to be shaped out of strands

of light that are wispy. Some of these brightly-lit fiber-optic trees also come

equipped with pre-recorded Christmas songs and carols and speakers to give the

added pleasure of music.

Many pre-lit Christmas trees have electric Christmas tree lights however

which need to be plugged into a real electrical outlet. The advantage of these

trees is that the lights are already strung on them from the factory and you

need only to follow the instructions about how to assemble the tree and plug in

the different parts for it to appear lighted. Once this is done correctly, the

tree will look as if it was decorated with lights manually or professionally.

Another ready-made decorative feature of artificial Christmas trees is to have

the appearance of snow-covered branches. That trend is an evolution of faux snow

that is often sprinkled in garlands and wreaths to add a Christmas quality to

those decorations. Icicle ornaments are also used to decorate real and

artificial trees and icicle lights are commonly used along rooflines and outdoor

areas for additional lighting decoration. These decorations, along with the

ready-made snow-covered branches of artificial trees, all convey the frosty, icy

and cold feel of the winter season when Christmas occurs.

Christmas trees that arrive from the factory with lights also have

decorations such as apples and minute red berries to provide additional color,

and real pinecones that may or may not be frosted or sprinkled with faux snow.

They may also be pre-decorated with red or gold bows, round ornaments, flower-

like patterns, dried bow and twigs and gold frosted branch tips. to give an

appealing, sparkling appearance. The trees also have varying hues of green

similar to real Christmas trees.

Pre-lit and pre-decorated Christmas trees are therefore an excellent way

to brighten the holiday in your home and enable you to gain more time to enjoy

the festivities of the season.

11. Christmas in Central and South American Nations

In Central and South American nations, which have a fairly large Christian

population, the Nativity or Manger Scene is the main decoration in homes at

Christmas time. In Mexico, a Christmas tree may also be set up in some homes

along with the Nativity scene or Nacimiento. The Christmas tree is usually a

small artificial tree, called arbolito. It can also be as simple as a branch cut

from a special type of tree or a type of shrub that is then minimally decorated.

The primary Christmas celebration in Mexico is called La Posada. It is a

religious procession that dramatizes how Joseph and Mary tried to find a place

where Jesus could be born. During the procession, the participants carry images

of Mary and Joseph and go from house to house seeking a place to stay. During

Midnight Mass, which is called la misa del gallo or 'rooster's mass,' those in

attendance sing lullabies to Jesus. On Christmas Day children receive gifts as

well as candies that are stuffed into a piñata. This may be one or more

sculptures made of papier mache that are hung from the ceiling. Children are

blindfolded and take turns hitting the piñata until it breaks and scatters the

candies on the floor. All the children then scamper around as they try to get as

much candy as they can. Children also receive a gift on Jan. 6 from the Three

Wise Men, if they were good.

People in Venezuela usually put out pesebres, which show the Nativity

scene, on Dec. 16. Early morning church services, called Misa de Aguinaldo, are

also common from Dec. 16 to Christmas Eve. After Mass on Christmas Eve, a grand

dinner is traditionally enjoyed.

In Argentina, red and white garlands are used to decorate houses. After

attending Midnight Mass, Argentinians have a meal, toast each other, dance and

go out to see fireworks. The meal may be roasted pork or turkey, stuffed

tomatoes, mince pies, Christmas bread and puddings. Drinks such as cider and

juice made from different fruits are used for the toast. Christmas gifts are

opened on Christmas Eve just before the family retires to bed.

In Chile, Santa Claus is Father Christmas and is known as 'Viejito

Pascuero.' He arrives in a similar but slightly different manner than Santa

Claus because his reindeer is pulled by a taxicab. Chileans use small figures

made from clay to place near the Christmas tree in a display called pesebre to

show the Nativity story. The traditional Christmas dinner includes chicken soup

with stuffed potatoes, onions and corn on the cob. Another favorite item is a

Christmas bread that is called pan de pasqua and which is made with candies and

fruits.

Christmas customs in Brazil originate from the many different ethnic groups who

make up the country. The Nativity scene is called the Presepio and can commonly

be found displayed in homes, churches and stores. Papai Noel, or Father Noel,

resides in Greenland and brings gifts at Christmas. He is said to wear silk

clothing because Christmas occurs during summer when it is very hot in Brazil.

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is called Missa do Gallo, because the coming day

is announced by the rooster and the Mass finishes at 1 am on the following day.

A traditional Christmas dinner, called Ceia de Natal, includes ham, turkey,

colored rice, a variety of vegetables and fruit dishes. Christmas Day Mass at

Catholic churches are mainly held in the late afternoon because people enjoy

sleeping late or going to the beach after having Christmas dinner. Christmas

festivities, which include folk dancing and singing, continue until January 6th,

which is called Three Kings Day.

44. All About Santa Claus

It's only fitting that since Santa Claus has the magnificent capability to

visit homes around the world in a single night that more than one place would

claim to be his home. It's common belief that Santa hails from the wintry North

Pole, but folks in Finland will also tell you that Santa calls that country his

home. To prove it, the Finns will even invite you to visit Santa in his workshop

before Christmas or during the year and talk with Santa Claus as he and his

elves busy themselves for their end-of-year Christmas expedition around the

globe.

The popularity in America today of the images and legend of Santa Claus

can be traced to the poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' that was written

by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822. In that poem, Moore described St. Nicholas as a

jolly fellow who flew from house to house in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and

waited for children to go to bed on Christmas Eve before he came down the

chimney to deliver Christmas presents for them.

Following the distribution of that poem, the popular magazine Harper's Weekly

published cartoons by Thomas Nast between 1863 and 1886 that depicted Santa as a

cheerful fellow with a large round belly and long white beard who wore a bright

red suit that was trimmed with white fur. In those cartoons, Santa also held a

sack, which was filled with toys for boys and girls, over his shoulder. The

cartoons also showed Santa reading letters from good boys and girls, working in

his workshop with his elves, checking his list to make sure he had all the

required toys and even showed his wife, Mrs. Claus.

The tradition of Santa Claus was brought to America however by Dutch colonists

who settled in New York City, which was called New Amsterdam at the time.

The real St. Nicholas is said to be a minor saint from the 4th Century with a

reputation for generosity and kindness that gave rise to legends of many

miracles that he performed for the poor and unhappy. One of the stories about

the legend of St. Nicholas is that he saved three poor girls who were sisters

from being sold into a life of slavery or prostitution by their father.

According to the legend, Santa Claus provided the girls with a dowry so that

they could get married.

The legend of St. Nicholas led to hundreds of people being devoted to him and

consequently thousands of European churches became dedicated to him. After the

Reformation period however, widespread practice and worship of St. Nicholas

disappeared in European countries that were Protestant, except in Holland where

the legend of St. Nicholas continued. St. Nicholas was known as Sint Nikolaas

but that was later corrupted to Sinter Klaas.

Dutch colonists took this tradition of Sinter Klaas to New York City where it

was adopted using the Englist name of Santa Claus. Over time, the Dutch legend

of the kindly saint was combined with old Nordic folktales about a magician who

punished naughty children and rewarded good ones with presents to give rise to

the stories that now exist about Santa Claus.

The red and white-trimmed suit of Santa Claus is believed to be the colors that

the original St. Nicholas worebecause red and white were the colors of the robes

worn by traditional bishops. It is also believed that the Coca Cola Co. played a

role in what is regarded as the popular look of Santa Claus today through

paintings by artist Haddon Sundblom that were placed in some of the company's

advertisement between 1931 and 1964.

Twelve Contemporary (Shopping) Days of Christmas

Nov. 24 – Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving, you have time off from work and it's the official start of the Christmas season

and of Christmas shopping. Stores are open 3-4 hours earlier and they close later. Holiday sales begin, it's the first time that some

items will be available…. but definitely won't be among the crazies up at 4am to get to the top of the line to make some wild dash for

the $99 flat-screen television or the Crazy Elmo toy. (Black Friday is the second single biggest shopping day for retailers and got its

name because in the days of old so much shopping was done on this day that it would turn the tide for many stores and put them in the

black, or, make them profitable.)

Dec. 2 – First Saturday in December – weekends are important because it means free time to shop. The early holiday and Christmas

shopper should be more than halfway through shopping list. Average shoppers are just starting to browse.

Dec. 3 – First Sunday – weekend Christmas shopping can be done but stores close the usual earlier time on Sundays.

Dec. 7 – Pearl Harbor Day – it isn't recognized by most but is very important to war veterans. The President usually gives a speech to

a Veterans group and lays a wreath in honor of those who died on Pearl Harbor Day and in World War II.

Dec. 9 – Second Saturday – only two full weeks to go before Christmas. Where did the time go and where did the year go? To your

disguised annoyance, you are starting to hear the ubiquitous phrase, 'Finished all your Christmas shopping yet?' Christmas shopping

has to pick up speed or panic will set in. You are running out of time to enjoy some quality Christmas entertainment with your family.

Dec. 10 – Second Sunday – go to church if you haven't been attending so that you won't look like a 'Christmas only attendee.' Need

to squeeze in some shopping and must start sending out Christmas greeting cards this week.

Dec. 16 – Third Saturday, First Day of Hanukkah – it's unbelievable that there's only one full week to go before Christmas. Make

supermarket shopping list for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner preparations.

Dec. 17 – Third Sunday – exactly one week before Christmas. Make sure Christmas toys and presents in hiding are still undiscovered.

Make final plans for family dinner on Christmas Day.

Dec. 21 – oh dear me!!! Only three days to go before Christmas. Do last minute planning, get as many chores as possible out of the

way, finish all Christmas and supermarket shopping. Assign final preparatory tasks to family members as necessary. Go over plans for

Christmas Dinner.

Dec. 22 – First Day of Winter – My goodness!! you still have shopping to do!!? You dread going to the mall this weekend. Pray for a

miracle to find one of those needle in a haystack salesperson who will hold hand and get you 95% through your Christmas shopping

list.

Dec. 23 – Last Saturday before Christmas – Now The Single Biggest Shopping Day of the Year!!!! The mall is absolutely crazy and

there are no sales people anywhere. It's a zoo everywhere – on the roads, in the supermarket, even at the gas station people are

honking, hollering at the gas attendant to pump faster! But you know what … stopped at my favorite pastry store and was in and out in

a nanosecond… there was no line!!

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve – downtown is glorious, everything is so splendid and magical…. will go to Midnight Mass…. Christmas is

the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!!

25. Where To Do Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping can be seen as an absolute thrill and to some extent,

as a necessary evil. It's a thrill to be out and about amid the sights and

sounds of the season and the jovial crowds. But for the same reasons, others

dread shopping at Christmas time. These days, you don't have to leave your home

much or at all to get your Christmas and holiday shopping done. That's because

the Internet puts shopping at your fingertips. And rather than competing with

traditional retail stores, the Internet has actually expanded the ability of

traditional stores to sell more merchandise to a larger number of people in

various locations.

Both large and small retailers can be found at their specialized Web sites

on the Internet. Most will also offer selections that can be found in the store.

Many times online retail sites will have additional items available, or access

to additional items, that aren't found in the store.

Another advantage of shopping by the Internet is that it offers access to

stores that are located anywhere. It's therefore becomes easier to order a

unique gift from niche or specialty boutique stores in locations that you

otherwise wouldn't be able to reach. It is also easy to do comparison shopping

using 'shop bots' or simply comparing prices yourself.

If Christmas shopping is done through the Internet, you have to pay

careful attention to the order times and any cutoff dates to get an item

delivered in time for Christmas. Based on anticipated volume, most sites will

give a date or the number of hours within which orders have to be confirmed for

guaranteed delivery of the items before Christmas.

The mall is a popular place for traditional Christmas and holiday shopping

to be done. Malls offer one-stop shopping and have a large variety and wide

selection of merchandise, which can minimize endless searching of several stores

for some items. They will also be beautifully decorated for Christmas, have

splendid displays and a Santa Claus to interact with children. These and other

activities that are usually at the mall during Christmas and the holidays also

make them an interesting place to take children to enjoy some of the season's

delights.

To maximize shopping at the mall, you'll need to know the differences

between the mall department stores. You'll need to find out which stores have

certain exclusive brands, which stores are moderately priced and which are more

upscale.

There are also the specialty standalone stores and spinoff store branches

for children and teenagers that seek to fill a particular niche. As an example,

stores have emerged that carry only styles related to hip-hop culture or styles

that have an 'urban' look. So it may be worth consideration to start your

shopping at a specialty store, because they are more focused, and then continue

at a department store that has a wider selection.

Another interesting place to shop at malls are the standalone kiosks that are

usually located at intervals in the open areas of a mall where there is a lot of

foot traffic. These kiosks are more likely to carry one-of-a kind and unique

items, which can even provide or inspire ideas for Christmas presents.

Also at malls will be specialized that offer home/household items, books,

music and movies, electronics, sports gear and shoes.

All of the types of mall stores previously mentioned can also be found at

Outlet or Factory Malls or Warehouses, which offer lower prices. These stores

often carry clearance items from their related mall store, merchandise with

minor flaws and merchandise that is made for the outlet. Those merchandise

usually have slight style variations from what is found in mall stores and may

also be made from different materials.

A final place to consider for Christmas shopping is downtown businesses.

They are usually small and intimate, have unique offerings and offer more

personalized assistance. Although downtown businesses are also likely to be

crowded at Christmas time, there likely will be less of a crush of people like

15. Christmas Day

The Christmas season and all its activities are geared to the big day,

Dec. 25, which is Christmas Day. The word Christmas is derived from Middle

English 'Christemasse' and Old English 'Cristes maesse,' both of which means

'Christ's Mass.' The day is celebrated by Christians as the day that Jesus

Christ was born, although the true date of Jesus' birth isn't really known.

Given the religious significance of Christmas Day, it therefore follows

that attending church is a big tradition on that day. It is seen as mandatory

for devout Christians and for others who are concerned about retaining the

sacred meaning of the day. Many people fear that the sacred aspects of Christmas

are being lost and overshadowed amid the bustle of commercial activity now

associated with the entire season.

Church services therefore take place early on Christmas morning. Attending

those services is the first official activity that many people do on Christmas

Day. Unlike the Midnight Mass and other earlier church services on Christmas

Eve, Christmas Day services do not usually include the dramatization of the

birth of Jesus. They may be more subdued with a sermon that recounts the birth

of Jesus and his purpose to save mankind. The congregation is then exalted to be

as giving as Jesus and to help out those who are in need.

Consequently, many people will take some time on Christmas Day to

volunteer in a charitable activity such as serving dinner to the poor and hungry

at a church, charitable organization or other social services center. Others

will also work with charitable organizations to distribute toys to needy

children at shelters, hospitals and other places.

As part of the religious aspect of Christmas Day, groups that sing Christmas

carols will also be out very early on Christmas morning.

Although Christmas Dinner is the most significant meal of the day, a large

breakfast will also be served in most households that will be shared by all

family members. The occasion of all family members having a meal together is a

disappearing tradition in many American households and so Christmas is seen as a

perfect time to return to the tradition. Christmas Day after all, is all about

family, sharing and togetherness.

Throughout the day, greetings of 'Merry Christmas' will be exchanged by

telephone calls with family, friends, acquaintances, and loved ones who are

located elsewhere in the country and overseas. It is a common occurrence for so

many people to be trying to make international calls to loved ones and friends

on Christmas Day that telephone communication systems to some countries often

are overwhelmed. The availability of technology and the Internet eases that

somewhat nowadays however, as emails and instant messaging can also be used as

other communication channels to exchange greetings on Christmas Day.

Christmas Day Dinner is undoubtedly the central activity of the day. Family and

friends gathered for dinner take pleasure in enjoying and sharing a delicious

meal and also are mindful and thankful for the opportunity to be able to share

the meal, to have each other and for the material things that make their lives

comfortable and give them happiness.

Some of those material things are then shared in absolute delight as everyone

will gather around or near to the Christmas tree after dinner to exchange and

open Christmas presents. It's an activity that is relished and which is filled

with much laughter, happy chatter and merriment, especially by children who are

usually much delighted to get a toy that they had wished for.

After dinner and the exchange of presents, adults may have light conversations,

play games or even watch a movie. Children are often taken up with experimenting

or playing with their new toys. It has also become a tradition on Christmas Day

for members of some families, such as teenagers and young adults, to end

Christmas Day by attending the movie theater on Christmas evening or Christmas

night to see a recently released film.