All About Rudolph and Santa's Other Reindeers

Maybe it's the undeniable alliterative appeal of Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer
that makes him the most known or popular of all Santa's nine flying reindeers.
It certainly doesn't seem as easy to come up with a similar catchy description
for the others - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and
Blitzen - as named in the song.

The story of Rudolph whose glowing red nose made him a standout, first appeared
in 1939 when Montgomery Ward department stores distributed about 2.4 million
booklets with the poem in the form of a story about "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer." It was written by Robert L. May, who worked in the store's
advertisement or marketing department, to be used to attract more people into
the store. When the booklet was reissued in 1939, sales soared to more than 3.5
million copies. But it wasn't until a decade later, in 1949, that the story
really gained immense popularity when Gene Autry sang a musical version of the
fable. As a Christmas song, it is second only in popularity to 'White
Christmas.'

Rudolph, the ninth reindeer whose lighted nose guides Santa's sleigh through the
night, is now known worldwide as the song has been translated into more than 20
different languages and an animated television movie has also been based on the
story. Rudolph and his noticeable nose have also become the subject of jokes and
sparked more interest in reindeers which has led to much research into Santa and
the flying reindeers who pull his sleigh through the sky.

Along with the catchy rhythm of the lyrics, Rudolph's story is also appealing
because of the moral lessons it contains. As the story goes, Rudolph was
ostracized by the other reindeers, which laughed and teased him about his shiny
red nose. But on a foggy night, when Santa must have been concerned that he may
not be able to deliver his Christmas gifts around the world, Santa spotted him
and kindly asked if he would step to the front as the leader to 'guide my sleigh
tonight.' His shiny red nose would after all be very useful in lighting the way,
Santa thought. From then on 'all of the other reindeers loved him," and rightly
predicted that he 'would go down in history.'

Among the moral lessons the story can impart is that an attribute that is
perceived as negative or as a liability can be used for a positive purpose, or,
become an asset. It also makes the point that an individual should not let the
negative behavior of others define him or her and limit expectations of what can
be achieved. And it also illustrates how quickly opinions and attitudes about a
person can change.

The question still lingers however of where Rudolph came from. He is commonly
regarded as the son of Donner (or Donder), one of the original eight reindeers.
But the Snopes.com site rejects this however, saying that he dwelled in a
reindeer village elsewhere and it was there that he was seen by Santa who had
already started on his Christmas Eve journey to deliver gifts. And in a more
modern evolution of the story according to Wikipedia.com, an animation by the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) introduced a son, named Robbie, of
Rudolph. That son has now become the tenth reindeer.

It's also interesting to note that the idea of Santa's sleigh being pulled by
reindeers was originated in the poem, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.' That
poem tells the story of St. Nicholas, who is Santa, calling his eight tiny
reindeers by their names, as previously mentioned, just before he came down the
chimney of a house to start filling the stockings from a sack full of toys he
carried on his back.

Making Christmas Special With A Postmark From Santa Claus

There is not a doubt that times are hard for millions of families everywhere. The economic downturn has resulted in the loss of jobs and decreased incomes. But even during difficult times the holidays and gift-giving events continue. Finding ways to make Christmas special without blowing a budget can be easier than you think.

One of the most important things to remember is that special time with family during the holidays can create lasting memories that are cherished forever. One of the most basic things a family can do is to create and/or continue fun family traditions that all can enjoy.

I suggest that you begin your Christmas holiday season on Thanksgiving Day. Here’s what my family does:

After the dinner and dessert is over and the table is cleared, all the children and some adults gather to create homemade Christmas decorations. By keeping a craft box at all times that is contributed to regularly, the options are limitless. We keep things like remnants of fabric, buttons, colorful pipe cleaners, ribbons and lace, construction paper, glue, glitter, Styrofoam balls and bits and pieces of miscellaneous items.

In the end the result is usually some very creative Christmas crafts and most are extremely cute. As the crafters work diligently to create their projects we have beautiful Christmas playing on the stereo. And after the creation process is over it is time to find the perfect spot for displaying them.

Next it’s back to the table for a final project of the day – which is writing letters to Santa. Each child usually spends time talking about this part of the day throughout the dinner so they already have a good idea of what they want to say to the old guy.

While writing the letters is fun for old and young alike, getting letters from Santa Claus is magical. The good news is that authentic letters from the North Pole with a postmark from Santa Claus are not only possible to get – they are inexpensive.

These simple ideas and others like them can result in a Christmas that is very memorable and one that will be cherished because it involves stress-free family time. Many of the decorations will be used year after year and the letter from Santa will become a childhood keepsake.

A Caribbean Christmas

In the tropical islands of the Caribbean, the temperature is
above 75 degrees from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, which means that it is warm
and pleasant during Christmas. The Christmas season in the Caribbean is
also pleasant because it is far removed from the rainy season, which
usually occurs from late March to May. During Christmas time in the
Caribbean, the temperature is also more temperate and tolerable
compared to the searing hot days of the summer months.

As in many parts of the world, family, merriment, gift-giving are
among the many activities that the people of the Caribbean enjoy during
Christmas. Families often live in fairly close proximity to each other
however. But what makes getting together at Christmas so special is
that it often involves intense and laborious preparations that are not
done at any other time of the year.

In many homes, an intense cleaning is done in the two or three
weeks before Christmas Day. All furniture is moved and may even be
rearranged and new and fancy curtains put up for the season. The best
bed linens, tablecloths, cutlery and dinnerware are also used in
entertaining any visitors during the season. It is a common occurrence
for visitors, including people from the neighborhood, to stop for short
visits during the season.

During those visits, guests are entertained with certain food and
drinks, many of which are made only at Christmas time. These include
fermented drinks such as sorrel and mauby, as well as the alcoholic
drink rum punch. A special type of cake, called Black cake or
fruitcake, is also made at Christmas. It is made with raisins and other
dried fruit that are minced and placed in wine for several weeks.

This cake is the traditional dessert for Christmas dinner. The main
menu of a traditional Caribbean Christmas dinner includes baked
poultry, roast beef ham, boiled and steamed root vegetables, rice with
peas, seasoned rice or rice pilaf, with sorrel, rum punch or mauby as
the beverage.

Caroling has also been a tradition, although its practiced has
been declining in recent years. Small groups from churches or schools
will walk through neighborhoods singing Christmas carols or, will drive
from house to house to sing carols in neighborhoods primarily in rural
areas where houses are not always found in close proximity.

Two Christmas traditions that are unique to the Caribbean are the
practice of Jonkonoo and having a grand market. Jonkonoo consists of a
group of masked revelers who take part in a parade dancing to the beats
of drums, shaking tambourines and improvised instruments. The group
also include stilt walkers who appear as tall as some trees and single-
story buildings. Jonkonoos perform various antics to amuse onlookers
and to give candies and treats to children, especially younger children
who may seem scared of any of the Jonkonoo participants.

Grand market is the big outdoor market that takes place the week
before Christmas up to Christmas Eve. Outdoor markets, found in the
central points of regional towns, are common in the Caribbean as a
place to get fresh fruits, vegetables and produce that are grown by
local farmers. But at Christmas time, they also become filled with
assorted items that can be given as gifts and they bustle with activity
even after nightfall. It is a special treat for children to accompany
parents to grand market during the Christmas season.

Since Christmas falls during the high winter tourist season in
the Caribbean, Christmas is also an opportunity for many school
children to perform for tourists. Many hotels take advantage of the
fact that most schools and churches will have singing and dramatic
groups that perform the Christmas story and sing carols and Christmas
songs. These groups are often invited to provide local entertainment at
hotels and guesthouses during Christmas.

Christmas in African Nations

Christmas celebrations in African nations is characterized by
much outdoor activity because the season often occurs during a time
when the weather is pleasant. Using palm trees and participating in
processions are also characteristic features of activities related to
Christmas in many parts of Africa.

In South Africa, activities that occur outside during Christmas
include the usual caroling, but also the unusual ones of swimming and
camping. The beach and mountains play an important role during
Christmas in South Africa because the season occurs during the hottest
time of the year - summer.

Given the pleasant nature of the weather during Christmas,
families also take advantage of it by often going sightseeing in the
countryside on a relaxing drive in the late evening of Christmas Day. A
rich and sumptuous menu that includes a suckling pig or roast beef,
turkey, mince pies, yellow rice, vegetables and puddings usually makes
up the traditional South African Christmas dinner.

To create a festive environment, decorated pine branches and fir,
sparkling cotton wool and tinsel are used in homes and businesses as
decorations.

A similar decorative pattern of using evergreen, palm trees and
lighted candles are also seen in countries such as Ghana and Liberia.
While these are used in homes and businesses, they are also often
carried in processions and during caroling activities.

While South Africans gather at the beach during Christmas time to
enjoy the warm summer waters, people in other African nations often
gather outside at in town squares and in the streets to march, sing and
enjoy an overall feeling of merriment.

Despite the seemingly general similarity in activities, however,
countries have their own individual style that makes Christmas
celebrations unique.

Of all the celebrations in African nations, Christmas activities
in Ethiopia stand out for their difference in when they are celebrated
and how it is done. One of the features that make Ethiopian Christmas
different is that the main celebratory event occurs on Jan. 7, around
the time known as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day in North and South
America.

Given the general modest economic financial situations of a
significant number of the population in many African countries,
Christmas celebrations also tend to occur over a shorter period of
time, compared to activities in more wealthier countries.

Another difference in celebrations of Christmas in Ethiopia is
the participation of various people who take part in a pilgrimage and
converge on the capital city during Christmas Eve. These wanderers fill
the night air with a din of praying and chanting and create a
multicolor spectacle when they gather on Christmas morning to have a
religious service.

But retaining a similarity with other African nations, Ethiopians
enjoy a Christmas dinner that includes a meat stew. Stews, rice, root
vegetables such as yams, breads and soups often are part of the menu of
traditional Christmas day dinners in African nations.

Christmas dinners are likely enjoyed by families outside, where
everyone shares the meal while sitting in a circular pattern outside
under the shade of a sprawling tree, instead of sitting in a formal
setting at a table.

As is the practice in every household during Christmas, Africans
also exchange gifts. Popular items that are exchanged as Christmas
gifts include cotton cloth, soaps, sweets, pencils and books, all very
practical items that can be readily used. Again, this may be related to
the modest financial resources of up to half the population in many
African countries, as well as to cultural norms. Individuals aren't
able to afford extravagant gifts but they still want to surprise
children, family and friends at Christmas with an unexpected gift.

The generally pervasive cultural norm of humility and modesty that exists
among traditional African peoples, also plays an important role in not
having overreaching extravagance at Christmas.

Letters From Santa Clause

This is just a short post about a wonderful Christmas Tradition that anyone can appreciate. First of all, it is important to understand the importance of holiday traditions.

When you think back over your past holidays - especially ones from your childhood, what do you remember the most? While many of us will remember a special gift received at one time or another, most of us will always treasure the memories of the love and security we felt during a holiday event. This might be a time that family and friends traditionally visited, or a time when the family did something together to celebrate in a special way.

Of course, it's wonderful if you can afford great things during the Christmas season - if a vacation can be added into the holiday fun that is definitely a way to make it special. But the reality is that most of us cannot do that. Even if we have the money we probably do not have the time. The fact is that money can hold us back from doing a lot of things that could make the holidays more memorable.

But the good news is that there are some wonderfully amazing ways to make Christmas magical without spending much money at all. A favorite in my home is taking at least one Saturday to create homemade Christmas decorations. The whole family gets involved.

We have a craft box that we use to hold things like extra buttons, styrofoam balls and other pieces of styrofoam (the kind used for packing), remnants of cloth, pipecleaners, construction paper, glitter, pine cones, ribbons, lace, and, well, you get the idea....This craft box, as we call it is actually one of those large plastic tubs that are usually used for storage. We are constantly adding to it.

As we make our decorations Christmas music is playing and we are sometimes singing along. I usually throw a cake or other delicious baked goods in the oven. The house smells great and we have a wonderful time. I usually make a special holiday drink on that day - it's a tea with orange and cinnamon flavor - very tasty and has just the right hint of specialness because I save it for the holiday season.

Besides the Christmas decorations we spend time writing letters to Santa Clause. The funny thing is that even the non-believers and full grown adults seem to enjoy this. Christmas really is magical - it seems to bring out the best in everyone.

The best part about writing a letter to Santa Clause is when he writes back! There is a website that offers this service for a very small price. The letters are personalized and look authentic enough to turn almost anyone into a believer again!

Simple traditions like these can make Christmas special and leave lasting memories that will always be cherished. If you don't have a craft box yet now's a good time to start collecting items that can be used for fun projects. And if you haven't written Santa in a few years, why not give that a try too? Surprise your kids with a genuine letter from Santa. The looks on their faces will be true Kodak moments!

Inexpensive Ways To Make Christmas Special

Let's face it, although Christmas is a wonderful time of year, it can also be stressful. The truth is that some people are more depressed during the holiday season than any other time of the year. This is sometimes due to loneliness but many other times it is related to feelings of powerlessness or complete failure when one is not able to provide the gifts or the Christmas that they feel their family deserves.

The good news is that the focus of Christmas doesn't have to be on gifts at all - instead, it can be placed on a nice tradition of getting together with family and loved ones. Just enjoying time together, having a nice meal and conversation can be a very nice way to celebrate the holidays.

As for the children, that can be very easy. Begin with fun things like doing simple craft projects. My family has always used Thanksgiving to mark the beginning of the Christmas holiday season. After our traditional dinner, the children gather around the table and write their first letters of the season to Santa. I say first because they usually end up writing two or sometimes three.

You know how that goes - the kids change their minds as time goes on and they worry that they will be on Santa's Naughty List because of some bad behavior so they write another letter to explain it away.

Another wonderful tradition is decorating our home. Once again the kids get in on the action. They enjoy making ornaments and other items to adorn the house. They proudly point out to visitors the things they have created.

By instilling these basic traditions in our children at an early age we are teaching them that there is more to Christmas than simply what is under the tree. In fact, one of our traditions is for the kids to make Christmas cards out of construction paper for the residents of a local nursing home.

We draw names for each of us in the family and the idea is that we have to 'make' the gift that we give. This has been a lot of fun for everyone - and even though the gifts are simple and sometimes, lacking the expertise needed to make them what they should be - they are extremely special because they were handcrafted just for us.

We also play silly games on Christmas Eve where the winners get a prize from the 99 cent store. It's good family fun.

By using your imagination and creativity you can find ways of making Christmas special. How about having your children receive a genuine letter from Santa direct from the North Pole? This inexpensive gift will become a treasured keepsake and you will cherish the delight on the kids' faces as they read the letters again and again.

I will be posting more ideas as time goes by so keep checking in!

Keeping The Magic Alive

Old or young, Christmas is a joyous and magical time of the year. It's a time for remembering those we love and looking back over good times we've shared. But it's also an opportunity to create wonderful and lasting memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.

The good news is that this can be done without spending a lot of money or without a lot of hassle. Just keep reading this blog for exciting ideas about ways to make this Christmas a memorable one.

Santa Claus can keep the magic alive for all of us with his wondrous delivery of toys around the world in one night. Of course, children everywhere enjoy writing Santa letters in hopes of receiving a personal message from Santa himself that insures them that they are on his Nice List and will be remembered on Christmas Eve night.

That letter writing is one of the small but special traditions that can be capitalized on to make Christmas magical. The delight on a child's face as he receives a letter from the North Pole is one that you will cherish.