On The First Day of Christmas
Christmas marked each year with feasting, present-giving and family gatherings, is a wonderful wintertime celebration. Much of its energy comes from the contrast with the season. In the midst of bitter, cold weather and long, dark evenings, when trees and fields are bare, we celebrate with an orgy of rich food, presents, lights, noise and green leafy decorations.
Before Christianity, winter festivals were celebrated by the lighting of fires to welcome the New Year and banish the old. The riotous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and New Year both contributed elements still found today, including the giving of presents, and the decorating of houses with greenery.
It was during Victorian times that the Christmas festival underwent a great regeneration, becoming a family event and a time to be enjoyed above all by children. The inventive Victorians were responsible for introducing several seasonal elements into the celebration, including Christmas trees and cards, a jovial Father Christmas and even festive crackers with novelty bangs.
In our modern, fast-changing world, Christmas provides a valuable link with the past. It is a unique time of year when each family celebrates with its own customs and personal festive touches, ensuring that Christmas remains our most enduring and popular celebration.
Merry Christmas!
For US and UK residents this, regularly updated, lens will provide you with ideas, information, links, recipes and products to make this the best Christmas ever!
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Winterhaven 2006
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Classic Christmas Cake Recipe from Delia Smith
The Classic Christmas CakeThis, with no apologies, is a Christmas cake that has been in print since 1978, has been made and loved by thousands and is, along with the Traditional Christmas Pudding, one of the most popular recipes I've produced. It is rich, dark and quite moist, so will not suit those who like a crumblier texture. Recently we took some of these cakes along to book-signing sessions up and down the country and were quite amazed to see so many people take a mouthful and then buy a book!
To read the recipe click the Delia Smith Christmas Cake link below.
Delia Smith Christmas Cake
- Christmas Cake Recipe
- Full details of Delia Smith's Classic Christmas Cake Recipe
Gifts for Her!
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David Yurman Jewelry
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Recognized as America's premier jewelry designer, David Yurman's fine pieces are in demand internationally. His original trademark pieces were made from twisted sterling silver ropes - "cable" jewelry. Now worn by discerning men, women...
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Littlearth FenderFlair Handbags & Belts
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If you have never heard of Littlearth before you are in for a treat! They make the most amazing handbags and belts out of recycled licence plates and bottle caps. Littlearth's latest range of bags and accessories are the ProFanity range available in al...
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Swarovski Crystal
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Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut lead crystal glass products produced by companies owned by Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen, near Zürich, Switzerland. Swarovski crystal was born when Bohemian-born Daniel Swarovs...
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Burberry designer bags handbags sunglasses wallets accessories by Burberry
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Once the exclusive province of the County set and seldom seen on anyone under 50 - Burberry is now the epitome of 21st century fashion. Burberry now produce a large range of products for men and women: their trademark handbags, sunglasses, umbrellas,...
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Dooney & Bourke Designer Bags & Accessories
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Dooney & Bourke is an American designer company specializing in accessories, such as leather handbags, iPod cases, luggage, bracelets, watches, and briefcases, and a limited clothing line, which includes sweaters, jackets, and scarves....
Gifts for Her!
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The History of Christmas Cards
In the Eighteenth Century schoolchildren returning home for the holidays would often bring home hand-written Christmas greetings for their parents. The printed pictorial Christmas card as we all know it, however, was the idea of Henry Cole who commissioned a design by H.C. Horsley and published it in 1843. Rowland Hill's Penny Post, introduced a few years previously in 1840, made sending written Christmas greetings both efficient and affordable and the custom grew in popularity. Following in the pattern set by Valentine cards, Victorian Christmas cards often depicted beautiful flowers, birds and young maidens. Humorous cards were also popular. Christmas Cookery & Crafts on Amazon
Jeanne Bice's Quacker Factory Christmas: Simple Recipes, Fabulous Parties & Decorations to Put Sparkle, Not Stress into Your Season (The Quacker Factory)
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Amazon Price: $9.96 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $19.95
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Williams-Sonoma Entertaining: Christmas Entertaining (Williams-Sonoma Entertaining)
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Amazon Price: $19.96 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $24.95
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Christmas with Mary Engelbreit: The Best Christmas Ever
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Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $29.95
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Cozy Country Christmas Cookbook (Gooseberry Patch)
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Amazon Price: $16.61 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $16.95
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Making Beautiful Christmas Cakes (Cookery)
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Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $9.95
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Christmas Links!
- Christmas Charity Shoeboxes
- UK scheme distributing shoeboxes of gifts
- Santa Claus and Christmas at the Northpole
- Enjoy Christmas with Santa Claus at the North pole, an award-winning Christmas web site. Send a letter to Santa Clause or a Christmas card to a friend. Find yummy Christmas recipes, Christmas stories, Christmas entertainment and free games to play.
- Christmas Nativity Play
- Christmas Nativity Play for church, school, club, family. With Script, Carols Sheet Music, rehearsal, production notes, etc.
- The Complete Christmas Collection
- Christmas Recipes, Crafts and Kids Activities.
- Christmas Dinner - eHow.com
- Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything
to do with Christmas Dinner. - Christmas Is Coming - Christmas is Coming
- Christmas is Coming - and we are helping you make Christmas special, with Christmas crafts, decorating ideas, Chistmas gifts, Christmas recipes, printable Christmas cards, poems, quotes and carols.
Gifts for Kids
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Pokemon
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This page is for Pokemon fans. Here we have all the lastest Pokemon figures, games, dvds, trading cards, toys & everything else you can think of to do with Pokemon.
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Step 2 Toys
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Step 2 make a large range of toys, games and ride-ons for younger children, including the Naturally Playful range. These are durable, high-quality toys designed to take the every-day rough and tumble treatment of toddlers and pre-schoolers.
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Transformers
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Transformers is the name of a line of toys produced largely by Takara and sold outside of Japan by Hasbro from 1984 onwards. Transformers has got great characters and created an iconic world, and the mythology still resonates with people 20 yea...
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Shrek Collectibles
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Shrek the lovable green ogre, is one of the heroes of our time. Adored by kids and adults alike Shrek memorabilia and collectibles, toys & games are a sure-fire favorite for the moment and an investment for the future. Enjoy!
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Little Tikes Toys
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Little Tikes make a large range of quality toys for younger children. Little Tikes Toys are durable and are built to last. Through playing children learn many new skills and also use up some of that physical and mental energy they seem to have...
More Gifts for Kids
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Playstation 3 Games
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Now the Playstation 3 has arrived all around the world a whole new entertainment system with High Definition graphics for both movies and games plus Music and video storage on its hard drive, which can be upto 60Gb, if this is not enough you can get...
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The Nintendo Wii
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The big rival to the PS3 at the moment is the Nintendo WII. This is a cheaper alternative to the PS3 and some people believe is alot more fun. Due to the interactive movement required when playing the games. This console system also connects to the i...
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Webkinz by Ganz
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Welcome to the wonderful world of webkinz! Webkinz are lovable plush pets made by Ganz that each come with a unique Secret Code that lets you enter Webkinz World on the internet and play with a virtual version of your pet. What is Webkinz World? I...
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Batman Lego
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The Dark Knight comes to Lego - with the most in demand gifts for boys in 2008. With prices of less than $10 to $60 there is something for everyone and every budget. With the new Batman film "The Dark Knight" on release now - this year is goi...
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Make your Xbox360 look cool with a faceplate
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Fed up with the way your Xbox360 looks, then why not change that with a cool new faceplate. Jazz up your Xbox and make a statement, try a new cool looking faceplate for your xbox360. Check them out below and vote for your favourite. Check out some of...
Gifts for Kids on eBay!
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Buying a Electric Razor or Shaver
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Although you probably will not get as close a shave with an electric shaver as you do with a wet razor, electric shavers are very popular. Electric shavers are very convenient as you dont need any foam, gel or water to shave with, so there is no...
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Sidekick III cell phone
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The sidekick III is a rival to the Blackberry but some say its better. The Sidekick III has a high quality 1.3 megapixel camera with a built in-flash. A very good MP3 player and supports Bluetooth technology. It has a min SD card slot to increase the...
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Mens Jewelry
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Mens jewelry is now taking off in a big way. The force behind this is mainly the celebrities, who are now showing jewelry is not just for the ladies. Stars like David Beckham have been sporting jewelry for sometime now but recently stars such as Clin...
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Suunto Watches
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Suunto started in 1936 when Tuomas Vohlonan invented the liquid filled compass. Over the next 70 years Suunto has become the largest manufacturer of compasses and precision instruments. In the 70s Suunto developed its first Dive Computers, these devi...
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Breitling Watches
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Breitling watches started in 1894 making quality watches. In 1923 they invent the worlds first indepentant chronograph push piece before this the start return to zero was done by using the winder. In 1942 they launch the CHRONOMAT the firs...
Gifts for Him!
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Seiko Watches
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Seiko watches are a great alternative to the more expensive ROLEX, Breitling and other very expensive designer names. Seiko have been making quality watches for more than a hundred years and have led the world in some of the technical advances of the...
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Omega Watches
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In 1848 at the age of 23 Louis Brandt set up an assembly workshop, to assemble precision pocket watches from componants shipped to his workshop. In 1879 he died and his two sons took over the business and because of irratic supply and quality of comp...
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Buying A Camcorder
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Camcorders have found a use in nearly all corners of electronic media, from electronic news organizations to TV/current-affairs productions and saving your own memories. Camcorders are often classified by their storage device such as VHS, Betamax, Vi...
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Buy A Digital Compact Camera
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Digital Compact cameras are great starter cameras for beginners in the camera market or cameras which do not take up too much room and have now improved so much that unless you are wanting to go into professional photography or take long range...
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LCD or Plasma Televisions which is best
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Television's which is best LCD or Plasma, the debate still run's. Below is the information on both Plasma and LCD televisions, but the main thing to take into consideration is which you prefer and what price you are willing to pay. The price differan...
Tell us what you want for Christmas here!
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porter246
Great Lens!!! You Deserve a 5!!! Posted November 17, 2007 |
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Timewarp
Its the most wonderful time of the yeaaar! Posted September 18, 2007 |
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LennyCastellaneta
I love you lens (and Christmas)! Thanks for posting it. Posted July 12, 2007 |
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Shar
Hi, Wonderful work... Happy Holiday,Shar Posted December 16, 2006 |
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YourSmilingChef
What a great lens! It's colorful and very well done and I've added you to my faves. Thanks to you, I'm going to attempt Delia's Christmas cake while staying far away from the Prada bag! Posted December 12, 2006 |
Christmas Blogs
- Christmas Tree Ornaments
- As Christmas happens only once a year almost every family tries to decorate holiday tree as well as possible. The last touch, for any Christmas tree, is its ornaments which usually reflect us and the values of our family. ...
- Christmas in October
- It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas in my house! (OK, I do hate when stores have Christmas stuff up in September.) I start making lists of things I'd like to have, and that the boys would like, ...
- Radio City Christmas Spectacular Tickets
- Are you in search of Radio City Christmas Spectacular Tickets? Then here is the best site where you have to check out. Though we know that it is one of the hardest tickets to get from the box office, this site provides you these offers ...
- Christmas on the brain
- this 100 days to Christmas site-. Go check it out now. Beyond that, I have TONS. of tutorials to share but they will. have to wait until a bit later....because... {photo courtesy of the purl bee which has a great cozy quick blankie ...
