Christmas Emporium's Weblog

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christmasemporium — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:35:11 +0000

Visit Christmas Emporium Community

Click here to join us at the Christmas Emporiums online community. The Christmas Emporium Network is for those who love Christmas. Membership is free – you just need a deep and passionate love of Christmas. Create your own page, post videos, music and photos or chat! Leave comments for your friends. The more, the merrier! Family friendly and kid safe. All videos, photos, etc. are closely monitored.

Breaking News From Santa!

christmasemporium — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:54:16 +0000

Exciting News Everyone!

Mark your calendars, November 1st is the big day.

Santa will be podcasting live. Watch his

update video and check back for updates!

Christmas Card

christmasemporium — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:36:55 +0000

The practice of sending a Christmas greeting card to friends was initiated by Sir Henry Cole in England. The year was 1843 and the first card was designed by J.C. Horsley. 1000 copies were sold in London. An English artist, William Eagley, produced a popular card in 1849.

Christmas Candle

christmasemporium — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:34:49 +0000

Light was an important part of the pagan midwinter festivals, since this was the time when the sun ceased to wane and began to grow stronger and brighter. In imitation candles and bonfires helped to drive away the forces of the cold and darkness. ax tapers were given as gifts at the Roman festival of Saturnalia. To the Christian community, the lighting of the candles took on the additional symbolic significance of Jesus as the Light of the World.

Blowing In The Yule

christmasemporium — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:32:39 +0000

One of the delightfully noisy traditions of Christmas, this custom probably originated in Pagan times to ward off evil spirits. Today it is found in areas of Germany and Scandinavian countries.

Bird Tree

christmasemporium — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:29:15 +0000

This is a Scandinavian custom at Christmas time. It is the spirit of sharing the festivities with all animals and plant life so that the coming year will be a prosperous one. A sheaf of wheat or some other grain, or even just seed and bread, is placed on a pole and set outside where the birds are know to congregate. This is done on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Christmas in Brazil

christmasemporium — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:22:22 +0000

In Brazil, Christmas comes at the beginning of their summer season. It is a time for boating, picnicking and other summer festivities. The red and green of Christmas decorations are provided eucalyptus leaves and brilliant red flowers of many sorts. The “pesebre”, or manger scene is important and there is also a Christmas tree decorated with candles. On Christmas Eve the “cena”, or meal, is set out before the family goes to Midnight Mass so that the Holy Family can have some if they wish while everyone is out. A popular menu would include turkey, fish and champagne. Before going to bed, the children set out their shoes for Papa Noel. On Christmas morning the children fix breakfast, then get their presents from their shoes and look for gifts that are hidden around the house. Christmas evening can be spent outdoors in the balmy weather and is a great time for fireworks. The people of Northern Brazil, as in Mexico, enjoy a version of the folk play Los Pastores (“The Shepherds.”) In the Brazilian version, there are shepherdesses rather than shepherds and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the Christ Child.

Christmas in Belgium

christmasemporium — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:21:43 +0000

In Belgium, St. Nicholas pays two visits to each house. On December 4 he comes to check into the behavior of each child, to find out if they have been naughty or nice. Then on December 6 he returns with just rewards for all, either presents or switches, which he leaves in the shoes or small baskets that have been placed inside near the doorway, where he will easily find them. Just to get on his good side there are snacks of hay, water and carrots left for his horse or donkey. Christmas Day is reserved for religious celebrations & Nativity plays sponsored by the churches. They are often performed in 16 th century costumes. In small villages, there are often three virtuous men chosen to portray the three Wise Men and go throughout the town, caroling at each doors and receiving small gifts of food.

Charles Dickens

christmasemporium — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:12:27 +0000

Who can be insensible to the outpourings of good feeling, and the honest interchange of affection- ate attachment, which abound at this season of the year? A Christmas family-party! We know nothing in nature more delightful! There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas. Petty jealousies and discords are forgotten…Kindly hearts that have yearned towards each other, but have been withheld by false notions of pride and self-dignity, are again reunited, and all is kind- ness and benevolence! Would that Christmas lasted the whole year through (as it ought), and that the prejudices and passions which deform our better nature, were never called into action among those to whom they should ever be strangers.
Charles Dickens

William Shakespeare

christmasemporium — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:11:33 +0000

Some say, that ever “gainst that season comes, Wherein our Savior’s birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow’d and so gracious is the time.
William Shakespeare