Joe Willmeth asked:


The English word wreath comes from the old English word, writhen, meaning to writhe or to twist. Holiday wreaths have long been made by twisting or bending evergreen branches into a circular shape. The ancient Greeks, and Romans, used evergreen leaves and garlands to make headdresses that were awarded as prizes to Olympic athletes, military hero’s, kings and others. Athletes received wreaths of Laurel, military hero’s received wreaths made from olive branches. Members of the aristocracy began adding jewels and precious metals to these headdresses, creating what became the Crown. The word crown comes from the Latin word corona which means wreath or garland. The bible associates wreaths with joy, triumph and honor. In Christianity the holiday wreath represents the circle, and likewise is given as a symbol of eternity. When made of evergreen leaves and branches the wreaths symbolize everlasting life with the green color symbolizing hope and new life. It was somewhere during the 15th century that the wreath began to be used as a hanging decoration. Select this link to see our line of Artificial Christmas Wreaths and Pre-lit Christmas Wreaths. Some believed that hanging a wreath was a sign of victory, be it political, personal or religious.

The History of Christmas Wreaths.

Evergreen plants, such as holly, ivy and pine, which stay green all year, have long been used to create holiday wreaths. Such greens as holly, ivy, and mistletoe have special meaning since they not only stay green, they bear fruit during the harsh winter months. Anciently people symbolized these plants to represent the promise of new or everlasting life. The people of northern Europe and the Romans decorated their homes with evergreen boughs during their winter festivals. Select this link to see our Christmas Wreaths, Garlands, Christmas Greenery and Christmas Ribbon. Sprigs of holly would also be exchanged as tokens of good will for the coming new year. The early Greeks and Romans brought green boughs indoors as a living reminder of nature’s vitality. The Victorian era brought an appreciation for lavish arrangements from greens such as ivy, hemlock, yew, laurel, and bay. Select this link to see our Battery Operated Lights.

A nineteenth century an American custom was to use greens and boughs for wreaths as memorials, honoring the dead at Christmas. The boughs would be woven into wreaths, Christmas stars, and crosses for graves. Later, the boughs would be removed from the cemeteries by family members and brought home, where they continued to symbolize the season as holiday decor.

In the early 1900’s natural Christmas foliage and greens had become less abundant in the countryside. With the introduction of plastic artificial Christmas foliages, Unique Christmas Ribbon and greens we could now make artificial Christmas decorations without endangering nature. Select this link to view our Christmas Trees Artificial. Plastic holly, evergreen, and berries were the most realistic of these early reproductions. By the early 1960’s, new materials such as silk and vinyl opened the door to more life like Christmas Wreaths and decorations. New Christmas Greenery, Christmas Picks and Vases were now available for the Christmas decorators. Select this link to see our Christmas Tree Lights and Outdoor Christmas Decorations. Making the choice of colors and textures limitless.

Holiday Wreaths.

Advent wreaths originated as folk traditions of the people of northern Europe. In the deep of winter candles were lit on circular shaped bundles of evergreen. Both the evergreen and the circular shape symbolized everlasting life. The candle light gave the people comfort at that darkest time of the year, as they looked forward to the warm days of spring. Traditionally an advent wreath consists of four candles, three purple and one rose colored. The three purple candles symbolize hope, peace and love. They were lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, symbolizes joy and was lit on the third Sunday. By the sixteenth century advent wreaths were being made much as we know them today. Check out our wonderful Christmas Decorations Ideas Web Site.

Christmas wreaths are a friendly welcome to all.

Traditional Christmas wreaths are a symbol of faith. Since wreaths are a circle with no beginning or end, they symbolize God’s eternity and mercy during the Christmas season. When Christmas Wreaths are decorated with evergreen leaves and branches they symbolize everlasting life and God’s everlasting love. Their green color is a representation of hope and new life.



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Michel Froh asked:


It is very important to have a healthy and friendly relationship with your office colleagues and co-workers. This will promote good working condition and will inspire you to work better. This Christmas season, why not give them special business Christmas gifts to strengthen friendship and work relationship.

Generally, business Christmas gifts will be greatly appreciated by your co-workers. There are some important reminders though when giving business Christmas gifts. Here are some useful tips which could help in your gift giving efforts.

1.It is best if you can discover the hobbies and personal preferences of your co-workers. If you intend to give customized business Christmas gifts to your co-workers, why not try to give custom bobbleheads.

Custom bobbleheads are very versatile business Christmas gifts. So, if your co-workers love sports, buy them custom sportsman bobbleheads. They can surely appreciate your business Christmas gifts especially if the bobbleheads reflect their personal hobbies.

2.When giving business Christmas gifts, avoid gifts that are too personal and intimate. These gifts will only promote awkwardness between you and the recipient of the gift. Make your business Christmas gifts very neutral but not very common.

Luckily, there are custom bobbleheads which you can give as business Christmas gifts. Custom bobbleheads are not impersonal gifts but they are also safe to give. In fact, your co-workers will surely be delighted by bobblehead gifts. They are personalized gift items that do not promote awkwardness. Instead, the bobblehead business Christmas gifts can promote friendship and fun between you and your co-workers.

3.If you intend to give business Christmas gifts to selected co-workers, it is best not to distribute the gifts at the office. Invite your selected co-workers to a lunch out and give your business Christmas gifts to them.

4.When you give business Christmas gifts to your co-workers, make sure that there is no one who will receive a special gift than the others. Some of your co-workers could misinterpret this gesture.

Your safest business Christmas gifts to give therefore could be the custom bobbleheads. Custom bobbleheads are very affordable so you can buy lots of them. Give each of your co-workers a bobblehead and you can surely light up the Christmas spirit in your office.

5.If you intend to give bobbleheads as business Christmas gifts, make sure that you order the items in advance. Some custom bobbleheads, especially personalized figures, can take time to create. Bobblehead makers could spend a week creating the personalized bobbleheads.

Placing your order early will give you more time to find a suitable package and wrapper for the bobbleheads. Although bobbleheads are already perfect business Christmas gifts, it is still best to find the best materials to package your gifts.

Gift giving is a good tradition that can promote good working relationships. Giving business Christmas gifts to your co-workers and colleagues will surely improve the working atmosphere at your office. By giving custom Christmas gifts, existing friendships can be strengthened. You can also build new friendships at the office through the act of gift giving.



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Gayle Hartley asked:


The Christmas holiday season in Spain is a truly magical affair. Although it doesn’t get going until seemingly the last minute, the Spanish throw themselves whole heartedly into the spirit of things and the festivities finally culminate on the 6th January.

The true mark of the beginning of Christmas in Spain is the Spanish national lottery draw held on December 22nd. ‘El Gordo’ or the fat one, is so called because it is the largest national lottery in the world with the total prize fund running into billions and it also has the best odds of winning. The draw takes place throughout the whole morning and the whole nation tunes in to watch the very elaborate drawing of the numbers. The tickets can cost up to 200 euros so many people club together to buy a share, although there are those who put aside a saving fund, sometimes up to 1000 euros to buy a few tickets for the family. The lottery draw is the moment when Christmas comes to Spain, this symbolic tradition has been going for centuries and Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without it.

Once the lottery draw has been made, the festivities really begin, students and children break up for the holidays and lights, decorations and trees suddenly appear overnight. The traditional Christmas decoration for a true Spanish Christmas is the ‘belén’ or nativity scene. Just like other countries across the world, where Christmas trees take centre stage in town and village squares, each town and village has its own belen. Some of these scenes are breathtakingly beautiful and elaborate and can be visited in town halls and churches across the land. Even personal ones can take over whole rooms in the house and just with the Christmas tree it is a magical family time spent putting it together and adding all the little touches. As well as the traditional religious characters and popular local scenes, one special character is paramount to the Spanish belen. He is known as ‘el Cagón’ and to be polite, he is a figure in a squat position doing a poo! His presence symbolises the fertilisation of the land for the coming year but of course provides much amusement for the children. Although an important and historical figure in the belén, he has been banned from public nativity scenes in many towns by local governments so as not to cause offence…

Just like other Christmas celebrations, here in Spain it is a time to gather the family together and celebrate with a meal. The main Christmas meal in Spain is held on Christmas Eve or ‘Noche Buena’

The meal on the eve of the 24th is the most important meal in the Spanish calendar and is always held in the evening, many people won’t even start until after midnight as the old saying goes, “ Esta noche es Noche Buena, y no es de dormir” this night is the Good Night, and is not meant for sleeping”

Generally, the celebrations usually begin early evening when friends and family meet in bars for a drink before returning home for the main event. Like most Christmas meals, the Spanish one involves a lot of preparation, many courses, lots to drink and lasts all night.

You can expect to find a large array of moth watering seasonal delights at the table during the meal. Popular foods for starters or appetisers are shellfish and cold cuts of meat which are usually followed by soup and then another fish dish. A traditional one is ‘besugo’ which is baked bream but you may also find lobster, crab, salmon, hake, sea bass or trout. Then for the main course the traditional roast is lamb or sucking pig although duck, or turkey served with truffles are becoming more popular. Dessert is traditionally a selection of sweets and cakes such as marzipan, ‘polvorones’ a sweet kind of bread or Spanish turrón which is nougat made with sweet toasted almonds and has been made in Spain for centuries. The only drink to accompany your meal is cava, the Spanish equivalent of champagne which many say is far better than its French counterpart.

Another must do for a true Spanish Christmas is midnight mass which people go to either before or after the meal, depending on the time they eat. Christmas midnight mass in Spain is known as ‘La Misa del Gallo’ or ‘Rooster Mass’ because the rooster was the first to announce the birth of Christ. Once the meal and mass is over, people return home to exchange gifts. Children will often only receive a small gift as ‘Papa Noel’ is less popular than the Three Kings who arrive on 5th January with presents for all the children. The evening, or morning, usually ends in a bar or disco where whole families gather to party and celebrate once the family festivities are over.

Christmas day is a quiet affair and the quietest in the Spanish calendar. People meet up for a walk or a drink and while many continue the celebrations with a meal in a restaurant, most people are still recovering from the evening before. In Catalonia, there is a wonderful Christmas day tradition which goes by the name of “El Tio.” Basically a decorated log or tree trunk is ‘fed’ with sweets and other goodies during the few days before Christmas and then on the day, Children sing the traditional catalan Christmas song and beat el tio with a stick when he produces sweets and other delights for all the family.

Shortly after Christmas day on December 28th there is another curious celebration unique to Spain called ‘The Day of the Innocents.’ Although the origins of this fiesta lie in murders of women and children committed by Herod in Judea, modern day celebrations are similar to those of April fools Day on a much larger scale. Newspapers print ridiculous stories and even prominent political figures get involved. Never believe anything you see or hear on this day and watch your step carefully!

New Year’s Eve or ‘Noche Vieja’ in Spain is celebrated much like everywhere else with a few unique exceptions. It is apparently tradition to wear red underwear which must be bought for you by someone else (although I’ve never been brave enough to check this one out for myself.) Another great and long standing tradition is ‘las doce uvas’ or the twelve grapes. At the stroke of midnight, one grape must be eaten with each chime of the bell or clock, anyone who manages all twelve are said to have good luck throughout the coming year. It is a tradition taken very seriously by many Spanish people and while some of us are still struggling at ten past twelve, there are lots of people well practiced in the art. Preparation is everything though, I remember helping to peel and deseed enough grapes for 10 people last year……. You can buy ready prepared grapes in tins but it is not the same somehow.

Once the grapes have been eaten and multiple kisses bestowed, the party really begins. Again, whole families from the young to the old can be seen in bars and discos celebrating the beginning of the New Year until the early hours.

For Spanish children, the best days of the festive season have to be the 5th and 6th of January. While the rest of us are packing away the trees and tired decorations, Spanish children everywhere are preparing for the arrival of the Three Kings. In Spain it is not Santa who brings the children their presents, but the Three Kings or ‘Los Reyes Magos’ On the 5th January, the eve of Epiphany children go to local parades which herald the arrival of the Three Kings. Each village parade consists of decorative floats with a variety of themes and sweets and streamers being thrown into the crowds. At the end of the parade, children get the opportunity to ask the Three Kings for their chosen gift and then leave their shoes out overnight in which their gift will be placed. In many villages though, the parade of the Three Kings culminates in a gathering at the local church or school hall where each child’s name is called out and they receive a small gift. The day of the 6th January is a national holiday, much like Christmas day and children wake up to presents left by the Three Kings. The typical dessert of the day is called “Rosca de los Reyes” and is a home baked ring style bread decorated with coloured jellies to symbolise the jewels worn by the three Kings. Inside is hidden a small surprise similar to what we find in Christmas crackers. Anyone lucky enough to find the hidden surprise may be crowned King or Queen for the day!

Christmas celebrations in Spain are fantastic and what I like is the way things are not commercialised as they are in the UK for example. Walking down the road at the beginning of December, you would hardly notice that Christmas is round the corner, there are very few Christmas adverts on TV and it seems ages before lights and decorations go up. However once the fever takes over, you are spoiled by the generosity of Christmas spirit bestowed on you by the locals, you get free gifts in the shops and free tipples in the town hall, lights and decorations appear as if by magic, there is music to be heard and people seem to suddenly take to the streets and squares just to wish you well and enjoy the atmosphere which goes on right until January.

The 6th January marks the end of the Christmas celebrations in Spain and then like everywhere else, it’s back to the same old. But don’t worry the next fiesta is just around the corner…



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Dominique Halet asked:


Apart of Christmas tree, decorations, parties and gifts, there is something that adds a special atmosphere to the holiday season: Christmas movies.

Almost all adults have sweet memories related to a Christmas movie; a movie that remains favorite and have - sometimes just for a second - a special flavour: the taste of childhood.

We are now adults and know that movies related to Christmas create a fun atmosphere and also teach moral lessons to our children.

When I was a child, the most watched Christmas movies in Belgium were 1950’s American movies (Hollywood style obviously) or French films.

For twenty-five years, our society evolved and the quality of Christmas TV broadcasts in

French-speaking Europe has decreased. Movies of Christmas Eve have generally been replaced by musical broadcasts whose quality was not the best. Lots of TV companies also tend to offer hundred times viewed movies: for instance, TVI will display Harry Potter 1 and 2 on December 24th while we were expecting watching Harry Potter 3 or 4…

However, thanks to the Internet and DVD stores, I have the opportunity to watch the movies I love instead of those proposed by TV companies.

Here are some examples of beautiful and/or humorous Christmas movies I love:

“Bishop’s Wife”

A nice movie in the Hollywood tradition!

While working on plans to build a cathedral financed by a rich widow, Henry Broghaman, an Episcopal bishop neglects his family and prays for divine guidance.

His prayers are heard and Dudley, an angel, is sent to help him. The mission of the angel is not to assist with the building, but in his relations with his family that he is neglecting.

But Dudley falls in love with the bishop’s wife and Broghaman is jealous…

French title of this movie is “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (Old English: shame upon him who thinks evil of it).

“The sound of music”

This movie tells the story of Maria, a young Austrian who was studying to become a nun. She was hired by Captain Von Trapp, a widower to be the governess to his seven children.

The children were initially hostile to her but finally became her friends when she thaught them the joy of singing.

Captain Von Trapp and Maria fell in love and get married. When the Nazis took power in Austria, Captain Von Trapp and his whole family fled the country and found refuge in Switzerland.

This romantic musical comedy is one of French-speaking European favorite movies.

“3615 Code Pere Noel”

Thomas is a child who has everything: a mother who loves him, a cheeky grandfather, thousands of different and expensive toys.

Thomas is a clever child and on Christmas Eve, while planning of catching, he communicates with him through the Minitel (the French ancestor of the instant messenger).

Unfortunately, the alleged Santa Claus is a psychopath employee that his mother just laid off. A few hours later, the false Santa penetrates Thomas castle and the nightmare begins.

The English title of this thriller is “Dial Code Santa Claus”

“Le Pere Noel est une Ordure” (Santa Claus is a junk)

“SOS Distress and Friendship” is a charity association run by Mrs Musquin. While she decided to celebrate Christmas Eve with her family, Pierre and Therese, will spend their evening the phone and try to give some hope to desperate people.

They do not know that this Christmas Eve will get them into silly accidents as well as unannounced visits of desperate, and sometimes, dangerous people. The evening will turn into a humorous nightmare.

The American remake of this movie is “Mixed Nuts”.

“Scrooged”

This is a modern adaptation of the Dickens tale. Francis Cross, who is the program director of a TV station, is a disagreeable person.

During the Christmas Eve, three ghosts will take care of them and teach him how to become a pleasant person by showing him the good side of life.

This movie is also a nice message that teaches to the world the real meaning of Christmas.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

The return of Griswold Family!

25000 bulbs on the front of the house blinding the neighbors, unbearable related family, a burning Christmas tree, a charred Christmas turkey, hostile neighbors, a removed Christmas bonus and a lot of unexpected accidents, this is the Christmas of the Griswold family.

I watched this movie for the first time in the late 80’s and never have enough of it! I even bought the DVD in order to have the opportunity to create a hysteric Christmas atmosphere any other day of the year!

“Surviving Christmas”

Tired of the customs associated with Christmas and New Year? What about being paid $250,000 to to celebrate a traditional Christmas Eve with an unknown person?

Enjoy watching these movies and have a very Merry Christmas!



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