Once again, the holiday season calendar is filling fast. There are all kinds of Christmas-related activities that families are involved with, each year. There are private parties for friends, civic gatherings for whole towns, office parties for businesses, and of course, large family gatherings. Most families try to schedule at least one large party for the extended family members, every Christmastime. Parents of small children often face these large family parties with a mixture of anticipation and doubt. They know that there will likely be family members at these parties that they haven't seen in many years, maybe since their own childhoods. And now, as adults and parents themselves, this is their first opportunity to introduce their own children to the rest of the family. Many parents are extremely self-conscious, when it comes to bringing their children to family parties, worried that the family will judge their children more stringently than friends, or even than strangers would. Some parents may feel that a large gathering of people, many of whom really are strangers to their kids, isn't the best light in which to meet young family members. It's also not the best situation in which to expect the best behavior from children. It's a fear that's exaggerated by most parents. They want their kids to be seen as the best kids, ever, but they forget that sometimes kids really just act like kids. Even so, it's the goal of most children to behave correctly and to please their parents. A bit of natural rambunctiousness or noisy behavior shouldn't ruin a parents night, no matter what Uncle Joe thinks about it. On the other hand, it can be helpful for parents to prepare their children a bit for large family Christmas gatherings. Discussing, ahead of time, the kind of behavior that's expected can provide a child with a blueprint for the party. Also, making sure that children are well-rested and well-fed, beforehand, can make a big difference in a child's mood at the party. Parents should prepare themselves, as well. Most of the adults who will be at any gathering have had experience of some sort with small children. They understand that even the best kid has moments of noisy or disruptive or even destructive behavior. Parents need to understand that, though it's nice when relatives compliment them on their kids, what others really think about their children isn't important, ultimately. It's the unconditional love between parents and their children that matters the most, at Christmas and throughout the year.

When we walk into large department stores or malls and see Santa, we know that Christmas is just around the corner.  Santa is a symbol of happiness and excitement for children.  Most of us have magical memories of Santa Claus.  There may be a time during the Christmas season where you or your friends need Christmas costumes such as Santa, Mrs. Claus or an elf.  People wear Christmas costumes in school plays, at house parties or even for surprising children Christmas Eve when Santa shows up unexpectedly.  Some people wear Santa Christmas costumes in stores to attract customers and listen to what some little boy or girl wants for Christmas. 

If you are buying Santa Christmas costumes for yourself or others, you certainly want to look authentic so nobody guesses it is you under the costume.  When looking for Santa Christmas costumes, you often find them in large department stores or costume shops.  Many shops online specialize in Christmas costumes.  The internet is a great way to shop, compare prices and have your Christmas costumes sent to you without ever leaving your house.  Once you have your costume, there are a few things to remember.  Father Christmas is a plump fellow with a round belly that shakes when he laughs.  He is probably plump from all the cookies the boys and girls leave out for him to eat.  If you are not plump to start with, you will need to make yourself heavier to wear Santa Christmas costumes.  A very easy way to give the illusion of being heavier is to take a cushion and sew a couple of ties on it.  Fasten the cushion across your waist and chest.  You may need to push it a bit to make it shake like jelly.  Make sure your Santa Christmas costume is big enough for the pillow to fit.  Your Santa boots should appear lined with fur and a turnover piece at the top that looks like fleece.  Put blush on your cheeks and nose as Santa has rosy cheeks and a cherry nose.

If you like to sew and have the time, making your own Christmas costumes is certainly an option.  There are patterns available for any Christmas costume you can imagine, such as Santa Clause, Mrs. Clause, Santa’s elf, Rudolf or even Christmas tree costumes.  You can find patterns at hobby and craft stores, fabric shops, large department stores and online.  You will find the best selection is on the internet, as there are hundreds of sites from which to choose.  They carry a huge selection of sizes, materials and price ranges.  It is certainly a fast and convenient way to shop for Christmas costumes.

Perfect your, ‘Ho, Ho, Ho” which is Santa’s trademark because you do not want anyone to find out your secret.            

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It has become a common practice to send friends and family an electronic card for their birthday or a holiday, including Christmas. And it is easy to see that there are numerous good reasons for doing so. The price of Christmas greeting cards and stamps have risen to a level that makes sending Christmas cards an expensive hobby. These days everybody has access to a computer, so anyone can receive a card for Christmas. The Christmas e-cards have become very sophisticated, with great animation. Something that is not possible at that level with a Christmas post card. Another advantage of the email christmas card is the fact that you do not have to worry about the timely arrival of your card at its destination. Even friends and family that live far away can receive your card practically instantaneous.

Why is it, than, that there is still a large population, that will not send email Christmas cards, even if they have no problem sending email cards during the rest of the year? It seems that tradition plays an important role here. Christmas cards, by tradition, are displayed during the holiday season and make for a very festive picture. Furthermore, if the receiver looks at your card, chances are that it will bring back memories and it will make them think of you. And this is something we all appreciate at the end of the year. It makes for the special Christmas atmosphere.

What do you think? Do you prefer a Christmas post card, or is an Christmas e-card just as good for you. Share your opinions. Fill out the comment form and let others know what you think.

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To parents, the holiday season may mean parties, music and pageantry, as well as a whirlwind of Christmas-themed activities, from Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. To their youngest children, the holiday season means planning for one thing-Santa Claus's Christmas Eve flight and visit. And every child understands that Santa Claus knows exactly where to leave the toys and goodies he's bringing, because he knows where every child lives. Lots of children are fairly meticulous about preparing for Santa Claus. Many of them write to Santa, carefully listing the toys and gifts they want to receive. Many children work hard to improve their behavior, as the holiday season begins, heeding carefully the advice in the song that says, "He knows when you've been bad or good, so be good, for goodness' sake!" Santa Claus is important enough to young children, that, for all of its ceremony and celebration, its lights and its sounds, Christmas can be serious business. Yet, every now and then, parents can come carelessly close to ruining Christmas, as though they didn't understand anything at all about the holiday. Like when parents decide that, after spending every Christmas of a child's life at home, this year the family's going to Grandma's house, or to the beach, or anywhere that's not home. It's the perfect way to panic a child. After all, how is Santa supposed to know where a family's going to be, if they aren't at home? Parents who make such ill-conceived plans for Christmas had better have a plan for convincing their children that Santa Claus can, indeed, find them, on the big night. Sure, Santa could leave the presents at the family's home, but then the children wouldn't have much of a Christmas morning, would they? The best thing is for parents to provide some kind of proof that Santa Claus is aware of the family's plans. The Santa at the shopping center could assure a child that he knows where the family will be. Or a letter from the Big Guy might make a child breathe easier. There are many ways a parent can find to prove that Santa won't miss them, but it's a sure bet that, if this is the family's first Christmas away from home, their child will be on pins and needles, worried about what Christmas morning will bring. Of course, no child will totally believe that Santa can find the family, until Christmas morning dawns and the child finds the treasures Santa has left. But once that's happened, and Santa's come through, the Christmas trip is something that can become a family's tradition.

The fir tree was a Pagan symbol for winter. They had the habit of decorating the trees. 1,000 year ago, St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of Pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut the oak tree. To everyones amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. This believe was past on from generation to generation and in the 16th century the fir tree was brought into the home at Christmas time and decorated. The Christmas tree tradition has begon.

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It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the Christmas season. When the carols begin to play, we know that there are parties and events to attend, family to visit, and decorations to put up. It's also the time when Santa Claus makes his annual sleigh-ride, with his bag full of goodies for children everywhere. Parents look forward to Santa's visit almost as much as their small children. The delight a child expresses on Christmas morning, when seeing all the presents under the tree, is one of the most fulfilling sights in any parent's life, a moment they'll remember forever. Unfortunately, Santa usually leaves the bill for all that delight squarely in Mom's and Dad's mailboxes, come January. Many Christmas shoppers, and especially parents, hit the shopping bricks, each year, without doing enough delving. Though most parents know by Thanksgiving exactly what their kids want Santa to bring them, a lot of parents head to the stores without knowing where to find the best prices. As a result they may buy the sought-for item at the first store they come to, when they could buy it for less, down the street. The internet can be an alternative way of finding the perfect toys. Sometimes, leading up to Christmas, retail stores run special internet sales on popular toys and games. The advantage to internet purchasing can be in saving on sales tax, but consumers will pay for shipping, in most cases. It's also a good idea to make sure you're buying something that the retailer actually has in stock, and can ship promptly. Moms and Dads should always remember to take written shopping lists with them, when they hit the malls at Christmastime. A running account of what is spent, along with a total budget that's written out, can be a great tool to have when a parent is tempted to overspend. Once the Christmas shopping for the kids is done, parents need to put it out of their minds until Christmas morning. Too often, parents want to add that extra little spark to their kids' Christmas day, so they find themselves, at the last minute, running back to the store for just a little more. Then they exceed the budget, and usually wind up buying something that gets thrown away soon after it's opened. We all want the best for our kids at Christmas. Overdoing and overspending will only create financial tension, later on, and leave parents with less-than-perfect memories of Christmas.

 In part I of this series we discuss the general preparation for a Christmas party. In subsequent articles we will go into more detail in things like Christmas party themes and Christmas party food. We will also discuss Christmas party invitations in more detail. So, be on the look out for them.

Everyone knows the month of December is full of shopping, cooking, and Christmas parties.  Many people enjoy entertaining during the holiday season.  Unfortunately, issues do arise, such as scheduling problems. Furthermore, money always gets tight right before Christmas.  Don’t let that stop you though.  If you want to throw a Christmas party for your friends and family there are some important tips to keep in mind. 

The first thing to do when deciding to have a Christmas party is start planning well in advance.  December is a busy month and getting the ball rolling early will be a huge help in your preparations.  So step by step, here is how it should go.  Decide on your guest list.  If your budget is limited (and who’s isn’t during the holidays?) you may want to put a number cap on your list.  Also be aware that space is an issue as well.  Overcrowding into a small area does not make for a merry party.  This is also the time to decide if you want to go the potluck way or handle all of the food yourself. 

The next step in your Christmas party preparations is to send out your Christmas party invitations.  Be sure to give guests as much notice as possible and, to avoid confusion, call, mail, or email everyone on the same day.  This just avoids hurt feelings.  No one wants to feel like an afterthought.  This is also the time to include a brief note mentioning the potluck theme if that is the way you decided to go.  Check back with any potential guests who may not have responded in a week.  A quick phone call should work fine.

Now that you have a good idea on how many people will be attending your Christmas party, you can start to think about the menu.  Make a list for the grocery store, being sure to estimate high on the cost.  If things look a little pricier than you intended, look the list over again to see if you can eliminate any items.  Don’t forget to include paper napkins, plates, and plastic ware.  Of course if you are having a more formal party those things won’t be a concern.  Go to the store, stick to your list, and get ready to party.

Having a Christmas party can be the highlight of your holiday season.  If you are prepared in advance, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy the party as much as your guests.  Accept any help that is offered, cook your behind off, and celebrate the holidays with those nearest and dearest to you.

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Most adults enjoy the Christmas season, each year, with its holiday foods, the special concerts and plays and pageants, and of course, all the holiday parties. But as much fun as the holidays promise each year, the joy that adults feel is multiplied tenfold when they become parents and can celebrate Christmas with their children. The family holiday gathering is one of our most common traditions, a time when the extended family of aunts and uncles and cousins get together to celebrate not just the holidays, but their shared love and fellowship. It's also the time when young parents introduce the newest family members to the rest of the brood. But with families so spread out, today, it's becoming more and more difficult for families to engage in this treasured custom. No matter how far apart from each other families may live, today, young parents can be sure that there's one custom that will never change-the insistence by grandparents that they have to see their grandkids at Christmas. It's a custom that every grandparent seems to engage in, every holiday season. Even the most intelligent and aware and considerate grandparents seem to ignore the fact that air travel, these days, is more difficult than ever, for everyone. And it's not easy for two-career couples to find the time to travel to grandma's house, together, with the kids. It's no fun for any family to be pressured into spending time and money on travel, at Christmas, and it's even worse for families who have to travel with young children. By the time a family with tired toddlers has been through several crowded airports, and sat crammed into several planes, none of them are in a mood to enjoy the holiday. Rather than applying the kind of guilt that only they can apply, and making Christmas difficult for their childrens' families, grandparents should consider making the holidays as easy as possible for everyone concerned. A couple without children can travel for less money and with less hassle than their children, with their own young children, can. Grandma and Grandpa can stay in a motel, too, near their grandchildren, without making anyone lose their own bedroom. Many grandparents find that it's easier to visit their children and grandchildren a few days prior to Christmas, when it's easier and cheaper to travel, and when the families being visited aren't as rushed as they are on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Then, many older couples find, they can schedule their own holiday time, at a resort or hotel, in a quiet destination, when great prices can be found. This way, everyone gets to enjoy a peaceful and guilt-free Christmas.

Every year, the dazzle, the colors, the music, and the magic of the holiday season seem to fill our senses earlier than the previous year. Santa Claus appears in stores and advertisements as early as October, and the parties that fill the season begin in November, often prior to Thanksgiving. The season that leads to Christmas and Santa Claus's visit is full of parties and events that keep most families busy, until January. Many of the holiday activities we indulge in, every year, are centered around food. Every culture and ethnic group seems to have its own rich epicurean heritage, which is spotlighted in this season of joy and cheer. Not only is it difficult to avoid eating wonderful, calorie-filled food during the holidays, it's probably impossible. It's really true that the average person puts on at least a few pounds during the holiday season. And the earlier we begin celebrating the holidays, each year, the more pounds we're likely to add, before the New Year. And it's not just an adult problem, either. Children today are just as vulnerable to the holiday weight gain as their parents. So, what to do? It's probably unrealistic to expect anyone, during this busy season of parties and pageants, to begin a brand-new cardio-vascular exercise program. Our calendars are too full, already, to spend hours, each day in the gym, to make up for our over-eating. That doesn't mean that there aren't ways for families to spend at least some time, each week, burning off a few calories. Weekends can be great times for parents to take their kids on morning walks. An early, brisk, half-hour walk can charge the metabolic batteries for the whole day, so that the body burns calories more efficiently. A good walk on the morning of a party, where there will be great food, can stave off a tiny bit of weight gain. Whenever possible, family members should avoid elevators and climb stairs. There are few ways to get an overall cardio workout that are better than stair-climbing. Though children love escalators, parents should set an example, especially during the holidays, and use the stairs. Parents should make sure that both they, and their children, receive as much good sleep as possible, during the holidays. Lack of sleep has been proven to contribute to weight gain, in both adults and children. Avoiding wonderful food during the holidays is like trying to avoid Christams carols-who wants to do that? The best thing that families can do to avoid buying larger clothes in January is to look for as many opportunities as possible to burn a few extra calories, every day.

The holiday season always seems like a whirlwind of shopping, parties, pageants, and family gatherings, a month or two of furious, but joyful, activity, leading up to Christmas and the New Year celebration. By the time it's all over, most of us need a breather, a bit of time to relax and reflect and renew. No matter how wonderful the holidays have been, by January many families experience a kind of celebration withdrawal. Most of us naturally miss the lights and the music and the fellowship of the holiday season, and the gray winter days of the next few months just seem to emphasize the fact that the wonderful feelings of Christmas are over, for nearly another year. But the feelings generated by the season leading to Christmas need not vanish completely, for the calendar, beyond December. Though Santa Claus's visit is the high point of the holiday season for families with children, there are many other aspects of these days that can be kept fresh and alive, throughout the year. Those donations of clothes and toys and food we worked so hard to make during the holiday season can, and should, be repeated throughout the rest of the year. Most charities, which take in the bulk of their donations just before Christmas, find themselves scrambling to meet their goals during the rest of the winter. Many families find that the new toys of Christmas have replaced old favorites, in their childrens' hearts, and are able to gather last year's toys and drop them at their local donation centers. Kids grow out of their clothing so fast that most families have boxes full of gently-worn clothes, which are perfect for donation. The preparation and delivery of donated goods can be an all-day family project, capped by a movie or a trip to the pizza parlor, to celebrate making someone else's days a bit more special. Besides donation, volunteering together can be a rewarding way for a family to liven up the winter, after Christmas. Families who find themselves longing for the feelings that permeate their lives during the holidays can rekindle that spirit, year-round. Working together to make others' lives a little better isn't just a generous exercise, it's also a wonderful way for a family to keep Christmas alive. The calendar shouldn't be the only way to measure the spirit of Christmas.