Christmas is Coming!

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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! 

Christmas Lights Photos 

Percussive by jModus

Percussive

All around the world by jModus

All around the world

Crescent by jModus

Crescent

Covent Garden #3 by bgarciagil

Covent Garden #3

Sefridges' shopping window by bgarciagil

Sefridges' shopping...

Covent Garden #1 by bgarciagil

Covent Garden #1

Covent Garden #4 by bgarciagil

Covent Garden #4

Covent Garden #2 by bgarciagil

Covent Garden #2

3 years ago by dno1967

3 years ago

 by TossMyPancake

 by TossMyPancake

IMG_5142 by sevenphive

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IMG_5144 by sevenphive

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IMG_5140 by sevenphive

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IMG_5141 by sevenphive

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IMG_5134 by sevenphive

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IMG_5115 by sevenphive

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IMG_5102 by sevenphive

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IMG_5098 by sevenphive

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IMG_5095 by sevenphive

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IMG_5116 by sevenphive

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automatically generated by Flickr

Classic Christmas Cake Recipe from Delia Smith 

The Classic Christmas Cake

This, 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! 

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 

Click on any of the links to buy now or see more like this!
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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 

More Gifts for Kids 

Gifts for Kids on eBay! 

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Gifts for Him! 

Gifts for Him! 

Tell us what you want for Christmas here! 

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Christmas Blogs 

Rachel Strugatz: Christmas Gifts 2009: 23 Super Stylish Ideas ...
The holiday season is upon us and gift buying madness has officially begun. In order to give you ideas, and let's face it - just make your life easier - we've compiled a list of the best presents out there.
All I Want For Christmas Is My Web – GigaOM
It's my web, delivering the information that it thinks I want, based on my preferences, friends and eventually location. And I think that by Christmas 2010 everyone will be well on their way to having a ?my web? of their own. ...
ABC announces Oprah-Obama Christmas special--The Live Feed | THR
The queen of daytime will interview the president of the country during an ABC holiday special that brings together Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama.
The thrills and frills of Christmas | Vanguard
In this piece, first published in 2002 (and now modified and reprinted on account of public demand) I offer the reader a peep into a made-easy legal ramification of the thrills and frills of Christmas. Perhaps, there are lots of people ...

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