Christmas - what it means to my family
While I was putting this lens together I started talking to the rest of my family, asking them what Christmas means to them. Then I got talking to my parents about what Christmas was like for them when they were children. Then I started to remember what Christmas was like for me as a child and as I was growing up.....
So, this lens has not turned out quite how I originally planned, but that is what I love about Squidoo!
Home for the Holidays Lens Contest 2008
1st Place in All About Christmas!
(Christmas Eve is December 24, 2009)
The origins of Christmas
We rarely go to church and if I am honest I do not know what I believe in as far as faith and an after life are concerned. However, I do believe that around 2000 years ago a baby was born in a stable, which gave rise to the Nativity story and the bible stories that followed. For this reason we always have a traditional Advent calendar that has a nativity scene on it.
I want my children to understand the story of the Nativity and respect the fact that even if they decide that they do not believe it, there are other people who do.
The Story that started it all
Beautiful Christmas images to music by Vangelis
Nativity
Nativity Stories
Beautiful Christmas stories to treasure
Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas
Amazon Price: $13.46 (as of 07/10/2009) 
'Twas the Night: The Nativity Story
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Spirit Child: A story of the Nativity
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
The Nativity Story
Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 07/10/2009)
Angels & All Children: A Nativity Story in Words, Music, and Art
Amazon Price: $12.79 (as of 07/10/2009)
My Mother's Memories of Christmas Past
Christmas was tough for some people in the 30s and 40s
My Great Grandfather and his second wife, who my mother called Aunt Alice, would always send a box of small gifts for my mother, her brother and sister and their cousins. After Mum's Grandfather and Aunt Alice died there was nothing. Two women and six children lived in a tiny terraced house in Danygraig Street, on the side of the mountain. There was no toilet or bathroom, just a small shed at the bottom of the garden.
I visited the house in the 60s and it still did not have an inside bathroom. My mother's cousin still lives in the house, but I think it now does have a bathroom!
Photo of Danygraig Street
reproduced by kind permission of Fray Bentos on Flickr
Christmas was no different to any other day, except for the fact that my Grandmother would roast a rabbit for lunch. However, in 1943 when she was 15, my Mother got a job as a Mother's Help (which actually was a maid) and she went to live in the village where eventually she met my Father. They married when my mother was 23 and we lived there until I was 12 years old.
The house where my Mother went to live was a large country house at the edge of the village and for the first time in her life my mother saw another side to Christmas. Mum ended up being a Nanny to the children of the house and was treated very much as one of the family. She remembers the enormous Christmas tree, singing carols and beautiful presents.
Advent
The season before Christmas
The four weeks leading up to Christmas are called Advent, which is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning 'coming'. Advent has been celebrated in the western church for around 1,500 years. It is marked by the colour purple - which is seen as a solemn colour of penitence and preparation. Christian Churches light the Advent Crown throughout the lead-up to Christmas.The crown is traditionally a wreath of fir with four candles; the candles are lit successively on the four Sundays of Advent, symbolising the coming of light into the world with Jesus.
Traditional Advent Calendars
25-Piece Set Wooden Nativity Christmas Advent Calendar 16"
Amazon Price: $69.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Holy Night Advent Calendar
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/10/2009)
Away in a Manger Advent Calendar
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Nativity Advent Calendar with Candle 13 by 9.5 inches
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Fontanini 25-Piece Nativity Advent Calendar Set With Wooden Stable #65400
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
My Father's Memories of Christmas Past
My father has happy Christmas memories
When my father was still quite young my grandparents left their jobs at the "big house" and moved into the village. They grew much of their own food and I remember the cupboard in the dark hallway, where my Grandmother would store the wine and jam she made from all the fruit they grew. It was an incredible garden, with every vegetable, fruit tree and fruit bush you could possibly name growing at the back. Both my father and I love gardening and growing things - it is definitely in our genes.
Although my father's parents had very little money to spare at least my dad never went hungry, always had clean clothes and he has fonder memories of Christmas than my mother. His Grandparents, who they called Dump and Gran, would get a big bin and fill it with small wrapped presents. Gran called it her Christmas Lucky Dip. There would be small toys such as marbles and whistles, handkerchiefs, sweets and if they were really lucky they would find a farthing or a halfpenny (pronounced ha'penny).
The Christmas Song
The year it really did snow
OK - it wasn't a White Christmas but by 27 December 1962, we had a problem
The winter of 1962/63 was tobogganing heaven for children in the UK but the cold and snow would offer a challenge of a different kind for just about everyone else. Glasgow, in Scotland, had its first white Christmas since 1938 when rain turned to snow as it moved south, and a belt of snow became almost stationary over southern England on Boxing Day, which is where we live.
I remember my parents saying that my Uncle just managed to get my Aunt into the hospital before the snow came and my cousin was born not long after.
The following day 30cm of snow covered much of southern England. The initial effect of this snowfall was to bring transport to a standstill, delay schools opening and force the cancellation of sporting events - but more snow was on the way.
On 29 and 30 December a blizzard across south-west England and Wales left drifts six metres deep which blocked roads and rail routes, left villages cut off and brought down power lines. Thanks to further falls and almost continual near-freezing temperatures, snow was still deep on the ground across much of the country three months later.
Recently my parents and I tried to remember how long my brother and I were unable to go to school. We lived in a small country village and relied on the bus to get us to school in the next village, some three miles away. We could not remember how long it was that the roads were blocked and the bus did not run.
In the intervals when snow was not falling, the country simply appeared to freeze solid - January daytime temperatures barely crept above freezing, and night frosts produced a temperature of -16°C in places as far apart as Gatwick in the south and Eskdalemuir in the north. Freezing fog was a frequent hazard - but the spectacular rime deposits that built up over successive days were a photographer's dream.
I remember waking up and it was so cold in my bedroom that ice had formed on the inside of the windows! There was no central heating in those days and we relied on just one fire to keep us warm and to heat our water. There was a field across the road from our house and we would walk across the frozen snow to see how far we could get before the ice cracked and we sank up to our knees. And don't tell my mother, but we also used to love sliding across frozen ponds!
January 1963 was the month when even the sea froze (up to half a mile from the shore on the south coast at Herne Bay), the River Thames froze right across in places, and ice floes appeared on the river at Tower Bridge in the middle of London.
February was marked by more snow arriving on south-easterly winds during the first week, with a 36-hour blizzard hitting western parts of the country. Drifts 20 feet deep formed in gale-force winds (gusts in excess of 70 knots were common, and a gust of 103 knots was recorded on the Isle of Man). Many rural communities found themselves cut off for the tenth time since Christmas.
A slight lull in the wintry proceedings happened around mid-month, but in the third week of February it was the turn of the north-west UK to suffer - in Cumberland the snowfall was reckoned to be the worst in living memory. By the end of the month the weather over the country had reverted to 'normal' - cold but clear and sunny days with severe night frosts and freezing fog.
A gradual thaw then set in - the morning of 6 March 1963 was the first day in the year that the entire country was frost free, and the temperature soared to 17 °C in London. Temperatures recovered, and long icicles playfully speared into snowdrifts by children in January, finally started to shrink.
Monster snowmen and snowballs - now adrift and melting in the green 'seas' of gardens and playing fields - were soon all that was left of the winter that was probably the coldest since 1795.
AJ's early Christmas memories
I never, ever did see or hear Father Christmas come and fill my stocking but would always wake up about five o'clock in the morning and open all the little presents that were tucked inside. It was also traditional to stuff the toe with an apple and a fresh mandarin orange. Christmas was the only time of the year that we would have mandarins - they were a luxury in those days and for the rest of the year we made do with tinned ones - nuts, figs and dates. My Dad did love his figs!
When I was five years old we moved from the small flat (apartment) at the top of the road to a larger house at the bottom of the road. It was incredibly cold in the winter and although there were fireplaces in two of the bedrooms as well as downstairs, my parents never lit the fires upstairs. They probably could not afford the extra coal that was needed.
Although it was never lit, I always envied my brother because he had a fireplace in his room but it is only recently that my Mother reminded me that he always refused to hang up his Christmas stocking in his bedroom - because he was frightened of Father Christmas creeping into his bedroom when he was asleep!
Christmas Cooking & Crafts
FamilyFun's Cookies for Christmas: 50 recipes for You and Your Kids
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
The Family Christmas Cookbook: Best-Loved Recipes from the Christmas Annual
Amazon Price: $15.59 (as of 07/10/2009)
Old Fashioned Christmas Recipes 1980 (Bear Wallow Books)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Classic Crafts and Recipes Inspired by the Songs of Christmas
Amazon Price: $17.16 (as of 07/10/2009)
300 Ways to Make the Best Christmas Ever!: Decorations, Carols, Crafts & Recipes for Every Kind of Christmas Tradition
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 07/10/2009)
The origins of Christmas stockings
The story of Father Christmas and Christmas Stockings began with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the Greek village of Patara. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.
One of the many stories about the man who became St Nicholas tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value-a dowry. Without a dowry, this poor man's daughters were unlikely to marry.
One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing, they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the man's house after the family had gone to bed. He peeked in the window and saw the daughters' stockings hanging by the fire.
Nicholas took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them carefully, one by one, into the stockings. The next morning when the daughters awoke, they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married.
This led to the custom of children hanging stockings, eagerly awaiting gifts from St Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why oranges are put in stockings - to represent the gold balls, the symbols for St. Nicholas who he became known as a gift-giver.
And I thought my parents put mandarins in our stockings just to fill up the toe!
Christmas Stockings
GOLD TRIMMED STOCKING
Amazon Price: $6.65 (as of 07/10/2009)
Red Plush Christmas Stocking
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
My First Christmas - Stockings (Red with Green)
Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 07/10/2009)
Sterling 198066 Plush Stocking
Amazon Price: $3.89 (as of 07/10/2009)
Christmas Stocking - 12" (Quantity =2)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Christmas Stockings to make
Perhaps these stockings will become a treasured family heirloom?
Toys From Santa Stocking Felt Applique Kit
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Christmas Fun Stocking Felt Applique Kit
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Angel Kitty Stocking Counted Cross Stitch Kit
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Fast, Fun and Easy Christmas Stockings: Festive Fabric Projects to Stir Your Imagination
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
More stockings - if you want something a bit more fancy
Christmas Tree Window View Stocking Felt Applique
Amazon Price: $20.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Christmas Carousel Stocking Felt Applique
Amazon Price: $20.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Giant 36-Inch Christmas Stocking
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Bucilla 85435 Felt Aplique Stocking- Santa Chef
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Bucilla 86060 Felt Aplique Stocking- Christmas Kitties
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Christmas on Blue Peter
Featuring the famous Advent Crown
Blue Peter is one of the longest running television programmes in the world. First broadcast on 16 October 1958 and still going today, it became popular with each new generation of children due to its willingness to change its presentation style to keep up with the times.Who can forget their "Here's one I made earlier" moments, which has worked its way into common British phrases!
Christmas would not have been the same without the good old Advent Crown being remade every year out of tinsel and wire coat hangers. Then in the four weeks before Christmas a candle would be lit at the start of each week. Sadly, in 2007 the Advent Crown was replaced by a table decoration, so one more Christmas tradition bit the dust.
Each year they came up with cards and presents to make and the video shows the opening of a programme before Christmas. The quality of this video is not good but it is truly nostalgic television and a great reminder of "Christmas Past" and watch out for that Advent Crown!
Advent Crowns and Wreaths
Beautiful decorations for Christmas
Purple Ribbon Advent Wreath
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Advent Wreath
Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 07/10/2009)
Traditional Pine Cone Advent Wreath
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Celtic Advent Wreath Stone Look with Candles
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Special Christmas presents and special memories
One year I was desperate for a tape recorder. We had such fun, singing into it and recording the "Top 10" on it from the radio. The Monkees "I'm a Believer" was one of the first records I ever taped. Yes, I know it wasn't legal.......
I wish I still had one of the recordings. It was my daft Dad singing "Slow boat to China" and at the end of the song he just dissolves into hysterics. As my Dad laughs like Goofy, we were in hysterics too!
I'm a Believer
The Monkees - I'm a Believer [official music video]
I'm A Believer Shrek Music Video
Christmas Lunch & Boxing Day
Mum would make mince pies, with melt in the mouth pastry and there would be a lucky sixpence hidden in the Christmas pudding - actually there were two, to make sure that with two children in the household, there would be no upsets!
We would spend Christmas day with just the four of us and in the evening there was always a "blockbuster" film to watch, that had never been shown on TV before. This was long before VHS recorders. We were unable to afford to go to the cinema very often so this was a huge treat and there would always be Christmas "Specials" that had been pre-recorded, featuring well know popstars of the day such as Andy Williams, Cliff Richard and others.
On Boxing Day we would make the short walk to my Grandmother's house and meet up with my Dad's brother and his family who lived next door. Sadly, the Grandfather we all adored died when I was only 5 years old and after that my Grandmother always insisted on spending Christmas Day on her own. So Boxing Day ended up being like another Christmas Day, with presents, games, the cake my Grandmother always made and real candles on the Christmas tree, which she would let us light. It was the only day of the year when we would use the "front room".
Dad's Bread Sauce Recipe
Christmas lunch would not be the same without it
This sauce is served as an accompaniment to either chicken or turkey, in addition to cranberry sauce and gravy - the gravy must be home made. No bisto in this house!!1 small or half a large onion, cut into small slices
1 oz butter
3 slices of bread or crusts, roughly chopped
Milk (amount depends on desired consistency)
Salt and pepper
Melt the butter and soften the onion
Add a small amount of milk so that the onion does not start to burn
Add the bread
Stir while you add the milk
Keep adding the milk until you get the desired consistency
Add salt and pepper to taste
The photograph is reproduced under permission granted under the GNU Free Documentation License by ElinorD
The day we had "nice doggy" for Christmas Lunch
Do read on - it's not as bad as it sounds!
When I was very small my parents used to keep chickens. Most of the time they were only kept for their eggs but one year, there was a cockerel who was going to end up as Christmas lunch. It was a vicious bird and would peck at anyone or anything that got within pecking range.
When I was around 18 months old, my mother lost sight of me for a few minutes and found me sitting next to the chicken run. She quickly rushed over to get me away before I got pecked by the nasty cockerel. As she got closer she realised that the bird was leaning ecstatically against the wire as I stroked it, saying: "Nice doggy".
A couple of weeks later, it was Christmas and my Grandfather "did the deed" on Christmas Eve. The next day as the eagerly awaited Christmas lunch was served and the roast chicken was put on the table ready to carve, I uttered the words: "Nice doggy"!
My parents suddenly lost their appetite and not long after we stopped keeping chickens.
Christmas during my teens
When I had my son, followed by my eldest daughter, I carried on all the Christmas traditions we had when I was a child. However, as with many families, we would take it in turns to have Christmas Day with one set of parents and then go to the others for Boxing Day. This was easy because both sets of parents lived only 10 minutes drive from each other, so I did not cook my first Christmas lunch until I was in my 30s!
However, when I split up from my first husband, there was a new dimension to Christmas as my children were the ones to take it in turns to spend Christmas Day with their parents. All during this time I used to "go home" for Christmas and spend it with my Mum and Dad.
Add your Traditional Christmas lenses
Please - they must be genuine lenses about Christmas traditions. It's OK to have a few affiliate links, but if there is a blizzard of sales modules the lens will be deleted.
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Christmas Crackers
I decided to write about Christmas Crackers after more...3 points
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How to Make a Christmas Spirit Jar
Keeping the Christmas Spirit alive the year 'round more...2 points
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Christmas Ideas 2008
Welcome to great Christmas ideas 2008 and I hope y more...2 points
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The Tradition of the Yule Log
This lens has links to the history of the Yule Log more...2 points
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Many Faces of Santa
Santa is a jolly, chubby, white bearded man in the more...2 points
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Christmas Tree History and More
This is what the modern Christmas tree looks like more...2 points
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Origami Christmas
I love to play with origami. A simple square of pa more...1 point
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Spirit of the Season Challenge
The Spirit of the Season Challenge is all about sh more...1 point
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Worldwide Candle Lighting is December 14, 2008
Every year, since 1997, on the second Sunday in De more...1 point
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One Laptop Per Child the Gift that Gives Twice for Christmas in 2008
In 2007 Americans bought 100,000 laptops for child more...1 point
11
The Wish Tree - A Wish for Peace for Any Day
The Wish Tree is a lovely concept to create for yo more...1 point
12
Christmas Jars - Holiday Money Jar - Ramahanukwanzmas Jar
A Christmas Jar or Holiday Money Jar is a great ne more...1 point
13
Pantomime - a Great British Tradition
In the UK a Pantomime, or 'Panto' as it is usually more...1 point
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Christmas Cocktails
Christmas time is a great time to get together wit more...1 point
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Classic Christmas - Celebrate with Retro Style
Enjoy a simple yet festive Christmas holiday even more...1 point
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Reindeer Food - For Santa's Reindeer
We all have the tradition of leaving cookies for S more...1 point
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Santa's Hat - A Christmas Icon
Santa's Hat is something we all know very well. Th more...1 point
18
Christmas New Orleans Style
Every part of the world has it's Holiday Tradition more...0 points
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Top 10 Christmas Symbols, History and Traditions
Christmas is the most widely celebrated festival t more...0 points
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Music and songs over Christmas
Everything we do needs some kind of atmosphere, so more...0 points
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HOWTO: Fix Broken Christmas Lights Quickly
Broken fairy lights are frustrating and it can tak more...0 points
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My Super Easy Eggless Eggnog Recipe
My own invention.0 points
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Make a Paper Christmas Ornament: The Porcupine Ball
Re-use squares of foil and tissue wrapping paper t more...0 points
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Christmas Cocktails
Christmas time is a great time to get together wit more...0 points
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My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Songs
There's something about Christmas music that helps more...0 points
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A Funny Christmas Story
This story is a way to memorialize a friend of min more...0 points
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A Christmas Tree in the White House by Gary Hines
This book for children is based on true facts abou more...0 points
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HOWTO: Fix Broken Christmas Lights Quickly
Broken fairy lights are frustrating and it can tak more...0 points
30
Crackers and Cheese - A Christmas Tradition
This traditional serving is fairly tasty, versatil more...0 points
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Music and songs over Christmas
Everything we do needs some kind of atmosphere, so more...0 points
The Morecombe & Wise Christmas Show 1977
Featuring Elton John
FULL VERSION! Elton on The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Special 1977
What Christmas means to my son
When I read this it made me cry!
This is what he e-mailed me, when I asked him for his Christmas memories and what Christmas means to him now.
What Christmas means to me!
by "Son of AJ"
I suppose I will always be a kid at heart so I still get excited about Christmas. I don't think I will become one of those adults that look upon Christmas as a few days of continuous stress with the family.
I do think that I can split what Christmas means to me into two parts. My childhood probably up until the end of my teens and then from 20 plus up to the present.
I used to get most excited about what great presents I might get and being able to play with them all Christmas. I suppose that hasn't changed (hee hee) because it was only a few years ago that I spent six hours putting together some Star Wars Lego.
But that's not what Christmas means to me now. Yes the presents are great, but I now take more interest in what others get. Especially my two little sisters. I used to be up early in the morning to tear through what Santa brought, but now it's up early in the morning when my sisters burst through the door to show me what they got in their stockings.
It may be a cliché but Christmas really is about family and those that you love. I have had one "quiet" Christmas but will never do that again. It's about being with those who mean the most to you. Having a house so full that I have to sleep in the lounge with the florescent blue light of the video recorder shining in my face.
The presents and booze are great but I suppose it's a sign that I have grown up, as it's family and those you love that should always be number one.
December 2008
Christmas present
We carry on our family Christmas traditions
It makes it so much easier for me to have my family here as I would far rather cook for everyone than pack to go away for a few days and our house is big enough to accommodate my parents, my four children and a couple of partners plus various dogs, even if the sofa in the lounge has someone sleeping on it.
And I am delighted to say that Father Christmas stills fills our stockings every Christmas Eve and one year he even left a trail of footprints in the girls' bedrooms to prove it. (As you can see from the date on the Photo, it was a long time before we cleared the footprints up!) I think he also enjoys the glass of sherry and mince pie we leave out for him and I'm sure the reindeer love the carrots.
On Christmas morning, there's stockings to be investigated and gradually everyone makes it into our kitchen/diner for breakfast. My eldest daughter usually has to be dragged from her bed - all the coffee in Columbia will never, ever, ever make her a morning person!
Presents have always magically appeared overnight under the Christmas tree but all my children learned right from when they could crawl that presents do not happen until everyone has had breakfast, dressed, done their hair, washed their faces, done their teeth, the breakfast dishes have been cleared and the dogs have been walked.
The only music I will allow while all this is going on is Christmas carols.
What Sparky has to say about Christmas
If Sparky was a Lensmaster, the dragon would be her Avatar
Sparky's claim to fame on Squidoo is that my most successful lens to date (December 2008) is about her: Bullying at Primary School.This is what Sparky, aged 12, has to say about Christmas:
I think that Christmas is a time for all the family to get together for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year. Putting up the tree is really our first day of Christmas, as it puts everyone in the mood.
Having all the family around [AJ's note: well we do have a big family!] seems to happen only at Christmas, but it is worth the wait and we all have a laugh together, especially my Pop!
To all the people on Squidoo reading my Mum's lens, I just want to say that you could never have a better time than at Christmas, with the whole family. My Mum does so much, and you could never believe the amount of things that she has done for all of us.
On behalf of my brother, sisters, Nana, Pop and Dad, I just want to say "Thank you" to my Mum. She brings the Spirit of Christmas to all of us, and Christmas would not be the same without her.
Note from AJ: When I read this boy did I feel guilty about yelling at her a couple of days ago!
Christmas Music
The Three Tenors Christmas
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 07/10/2009)
Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 07/10/2009)
Sing We Christmas
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Classical Kids Christmas
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 07/10/2009)
A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale
Amazon Price: $7.98 (as of 07/10/2009)
What Lizzy has to say about Christmas
On Squidoo, Lizzy's claim to fame is that my lens about Auditory Processing Disorder is all about her - and it made Lens of the Day twice!This is what Lizzy, aged 10, has to say about Christmas:
Christmas means spending time with my family and having a well cooked meal together. Getting alsorts of wonderful presents and knowing that evreyone gets presents.
Seeing my Pop being VERY funny and telling us crazy stories. I enjoy seeing and spending time with my family as I love seeing them and having a good laugh.
Lizzie also has dyslexia - and this has been reproduced exactly as she wrote it. She is really coming on extremely well with her spelling these days!
My favourite Christmas Carol
Chef Keem's beautiful lens-
Silent Night, Holy Night...
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Videos and history of the ultimate Christmas carol: "Silent Night, Holy Night", originally titled in German: "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht". Who created this wonderful song? What was the original version of "Silent Night"? How many different versions...
Christmas Lunch at AJs
As well as cranberry with the turkey we also have Dad's bread sauce, which we always forget about until the last minute, so just as we are serving up, he is in a panic making it. Then when the turkey is cleared away we all sit and watch, shuddering, as my Dad goes through his annual ritual as he piles sugar, custard and cream (in that order) on his Christmas pudding!
Christmas Crackers are also a feature of lunch and we have lots of photos of people wearing silly hats - including of course my Dad. Even Mum stops worrying about messing up her hair and puts one on as well.
The biggest change these days is that instead of a real tree, we now have a fake one, but it really is hard to tell the difference.
For me the biggest joy of Christmas is having my brood around me and each year I treasure the fact that my parents are still here to enjoy it with us.
Every year my Dad worries that it is too much for me to do what I do and every year I tell him I do it because I want to. Mum says she just enjoys "Being warm and everyone being together".
Christmas TV
Christmas would not be the same without the Wizard of Oz and now more recently The Dr Who Christmas Special is a favourite too.
The Snowman - gifts a child will treasure
The Raymond Briggs' The Snowman
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
The Snowman
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Raymond Briggs' The Snowman: A Magical Adventure
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
![Raymond Briggs' The Snowman [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51454TM04NL._SL75_.jpg)
Raymond Briggs' The Snowman [VHS]
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
The Snowman: Touch and Feel Book
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Christmas would not be the same without The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz 1939 (Trailer from the mid-50s)
Dr Who Trailer
The programme we do not ever miss
Doctor Who Christmas Special 2008 Teaser
AJ's Other Traditional & Seasonal Lenses
Can you imagine what it would be like for it to always be winter but never Christmas?
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Remembrance Day
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Remembrance Day is on the second Sunday in November. In the UK Ceremonies and Services are held in Churches and at War Memorials in cities, towns and villages all over country. The nation pays homage to those who died in the two World Wars and other...
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Narnia
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The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven novels for children, written by C. S. Lewis, which has been adapted for radio, television and more recently, cinema. The books are regarded as classics of children's literature and they are C S Lewis' be...
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Twelve Days of a Green & Ethical Christmas
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The Twelve Days of Christmas to my family is simply a time of being together. When I was a child there was no such thing as "global warming" and vegetarians were very unusual. Naturally, as I have got older my awareness of the damage the human popula...
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Autumn at AJ's
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Autumn in the UK starts in September and goes through until the beginning of December. Autumn is a huge topic to tackle in just one lens, so in order to narrow it down I decided to write something more personal. Each season has its own special meanin...
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Pantomime - a Great British Tradition
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In the UK a Pantomime, or "Panto" as it is usually affectionately called, is a musical show, performed around Christmas for the entertainment of millions of families. Many of the stories are based around popular Fairy Tales. Children love to see thei...
Christmas Lenses
Other lenses I think are well worth visiting - including a lens about one of my favourite Christmas songs-
Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
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On November 25th 1984, dozens of British and Irish rockers arrived at SARM West studio in London to record a single track. The result? One incredible song and 14 million dollars to help feed the people of Ethiopia.
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Countdown to Christmas
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This lens is all about getting ready for Christmas. Not about what gifts to buy your relatives, or how to host a perfect holiday party, but the special, meaningful things that families may do together during the season of Advent. I've found some beau...
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Support Operation Christmas Child
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I would not say that I am an emotional man. Actually, there are very few things in life that will choke-me-up, or get me "teary-eyed". But, there are a couple of situations that get me every time. These things would include: - When I hear our Natio...
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Christmas Crackers
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I decided to write about Christmas Crackers after hearing about a friend's experience outside of the UK, when it became apparent that other Nationalities (you know who you are!) didn't really know what to do with a cracker! A Christmas Cracker is a...
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Recycle It! Greeting Cards
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Everyone loves to receive postcards, and greeting cards for special occasions. They're simple, thoughtful, and beautiful - especially Christmas and holiday cards. They're so memorable and nice, that many people hold on to their greeting cards for yea...
Christmas cards on the internet
This website has some beautiful animated e-cards that the children love and it is featured here not because of any affiliate links but just because it is so delightful.
I was introduced to the site when someone sent me a link to "The Snowdog". It is an interactive card that the children love and we always look at it every Christmas.
New cards have been added over the years and the website has expanded and features cards for all occasions, not just Christmas.
All I want for Christmas
A Christmas wish for my family
We did have some snow.....
....but that was at Easter!
So, what do I want for this Christmas? I can honestly say I just want to see my family well and happy. And if it snows, well then that will be just magical!
Thank you Debnet for helping make this Christmas lens better
Who pointed out that I had forgotten a crucial module
Thank you Debnet for suggesting I include a module about Christmas Stockings!Doh! And Doh again!
My Christmas message to LH, my "Lovely Hubby"
Did I ever tell you that I love you?
Love Actually - All I want for Xmas
Happy Christmas!
Christmas Joys
Evergreen boughs that fill our homes
With fragrant Christmas scents,
Hearts filled with the loving glow
That Christmas represents;
Christmas cookies, turkeys stuffed,
Festive holly berry,
Little faces bright with joy,
Loved ones being merry;
Parties, songs, beribboned gifts,
Silver bells that tinkle,
Christmas trees and ornaments,
Colorful lights that twinkle;
Relatives waiting with open arms
To smile and hug and kiss us;
These are some of the special joys
That come along with Christmas.
By Joanna Fuchs
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Santa Claus
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I remember not being able to sleep for pure excitement. One night in the year (didn´t time go slow when we were kids) where dreams & reality merged... simply magical!. This Lens is all about Father Christmas, his role at C...
Please share your favourite Christmas memories with us or just say hello
What do you like about Christmas? Do let us know but don't leave any links, as they will be gobbled up faster than you can say turkey!
shajo wrote...
Haha getting ready to go on a beach vacation and reading about Christmas! How did I get here? Anyway, glad I found this lens, it is wonderful! Loved reading about what Christmas means to you and your family!
Posted June 26, 2009
StephenC wrote...
Great lens! Just stopped by for a little Christmas cheer in May!
Posted May 22, 2009
chefkeem wrote...
Reading about Christmas in May? Why not - your lenses are enjoyable all year round! Blessed. :-)
Posted May 20, 2009
About AJ
AJ is very proud and humble to be a Squidoo Angel
I am also very proud to have been awarded lens of the day for
Auditory Processing Disorder TWICE!
And then I got it for Twelve ways to have a green & ethical Christmas!
Lensmaster aj2008, aka AJ , has been a member since July 10 2008, has rated 2,071 lenses, favorited 404, and has created 52 lenses from scratch. AJ donates their royalties to Save the Children. This member's top-ranked page is "Bullying At Primary School". See all my lenses
AJ's other lenses about her family
Well, some of them!
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Otosclerosis - a disease of the middle ear
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Otosclerosis is a disease of the middle ear that will inevitably lead to hearing loss. It affects about 1 or 2 in 100 people in the UK and approx 10% of people in the USA. It usually develops between the ages of 15 and 35. Sometimes it can develop in...
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Auditory Processing Disorder
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Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a little known condition that may affect 10% of children, the majority of whom are undiagnosed. According to Contact a Family it was first recognised in the USA in the 1960s. APD is a term that is often used to...
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I am aj2008
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The AJ stands for Always Juggling. Married....four children.... two still at school.... one very big dog....trying to balance family life with the need to earn an income....trying to do my bit to save the planet.... former website editor....get invo...
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I love you Mum
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Mother, Mum, Mummy, Ma, Mom - many different names for many different people, but whether it is "I love you Mum", "I love you Mummy" or whatever it is your child calls you, those words are amongst the most precious that a mother will ever hear. For...
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Bullying At Primary School
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Bullying at Primary School summarises everything that I learned when my daughter was being bullied and gives tips and strategies to use when dealing with the school. I hope your children are never bullied, but if they are then perhaps our experience...
