Christmas Plannings

Wedding Gifts : Something That The New Couple Remembers

Wedding is once in a lifetime event, for majority cases though (just kidding). It’s a start of a new life for both of them. And if you have invited to any of the weddings then it is your moral obligation to bring a gift. The sad part about this event is that people consider these gifts as just a mere formality not making any effort whatsoever for choosing the right and the most appropriate gift for the new couple.

What majority people do is that instead of the gift, they give simple plain money to the new couple which is a comparatively good option since they would need this money for starting their new life together. But that’s the simple way out. Why not go out in the market spend some time and money and choose a gift that the couple remembers and cherishes for their whole life after all it’s a matter of few hours of searching.

Coming to the main part of the article which is what gift to choose for the bride and groom and that can only be found if you carefully analyze the couple situation and look for things that you think that would need.

One of the simplest example is that you know that the couple will go on honeymoon pretty soon after the marriage, well then why not arrange them a good honey moon. The things that you can give to a couple vary from couple to couple so you need to analyze the situation very well.

The bottom line being that a little effort from your side can mean a world for the new couple.

Valentine’s Day Gift : Why Not Something Out Of The Ordinary

Love is said to be the language of the universe. No matter which religion or cast you belong to, Love can pave its way between two individuals and to celebrate this great and awesome day all there is the day of Valentine’s Day. Well the fact of the matter is that this day is more popular among the younger generation then the older one.

Valentine’s Day means telling the one you like that you love her and you would like to spend the whole life with her or him. The usual case is the boys that tell the girls and not the opposite way round. Anyhow with valentine ‘day comes the issue of Valentine gifts.

These gifts are different from the ordinary gifts. A simple flower of roses would cost ten to twenty times its normal cost. And the usual trend is that people that day only buy these roses and take their loved ones for some dinner etc. well that is something that everyone does. Why not surprise your partner with something new. Something that you have never tried and done before after all, all you need is to show the other person that you love him or her that’s all.

One of the fun things that you can do is to spend a complete day with your loved one and do what both of you have been planning to do for a while, take out some time and go do just that. Therefore the day of valentine would mean and show your partner that you love him and in life nothing comes first, other than him/her.

Trouble Finding Gifts For Girls : Worry No More

Exchange of gifts is one of the best way to show your love and appreciation to someone you like or adore. But when the question comes for finding the gift for a girl (of any age) then this is when the matters get complicated.

By complicated I mean that you have to take care of the fact that which thing you buy for the girl. Whenever you choose something for the girl the first thing that comes to your mind is whether she will like it or not. You always think that with the gift that you will bring, you might have to face embarrassment.

Well this article is to help you sort out gifts that any girl will always like. No matter which age group she belongs to she will like these gifts. The first of which is Disney princess gift basket. Girls always like exploring these baskets. For them, all this exploration makes the whole gift a matter of pleasure.

Apart from this basket, there is always the second option of Hannah Montana gift baskets. Again the whole idea of exploring the basket makes the gift a sure short success. a word of advice however is that don’t try to make these market at your home. The reason for this is that no matter how hard you try you can never put a perfect set of combination.

For girls of bigger age, a simple flower can do the trick. Yes it’s as simple as that. If you forgot to bring gifts for someone special all you need to do is to go the nearest shop, buy some chocolates and a simple rose flower that is all that you need.

Time For Grandma Day : Time To Look For A New Gift

Every year there is a day that we all dedicate to our Grand Mothers. I know that we all love our parents and grandparents but the place of for the grand mother is a special one. It’s hard to explain but there is some close affiliation with the grandmother especially.

During the childhood, when parents give their children a thought time that is when grandmothers come for the aid of the child. They take you for walks and the local store for shopping. They have a bunch of candies in their drawer so that whenever you crave for some candies they are there to give it to them. Such is the bonding for a grandmother.

So obviously, when the day comes to celebrate the grandmother’s day then every grandchild is looking forward to it. However, the short coming comes when these grand children fail to realize the fact that the grandmother no longer wants any of the worldly objects.

Grand children usually buy some gifts say books or a music player or something antique but all these things don’t fulfill what your grandmother wants. All she wants now is that you go to her house spend a complete day with her, remind her of old things that you and her use to do when you were young and dependent. Because in the old age worldly objects lose their values whereas time and company of the loved ones becomes the source of real happiness.

In The Corporate World : A Gift From Someone Always Means Something

People say and I believe that it’s true that when you achieve a good position in your firm say you become the new regional manager or the country manager or the CEO of the company then you become an important personality.

By important I mean that you have the power to take many important decisions that can affect your firm and many others associated with them. Therefore, more and more people visit you each and every day to see and check if they have the right relations with you. Those who don’t have any try to build these relations and the best way to do so is by sending expensive gifts.

For someone who has been given the opportunity for the first time these gift seem totally free from troubles. Also since they are very expensive you tend to accept these gifts as early as possible. This is where you need to be careful. This carefulness is the theme of this article. By carefulness I mean is that try not to accept any of the gifts in the first place because if you do so then this means trouble.

This means that you have indebted yourself to someone. You cannot take independent steps and decisions. In every decision of your there will be some influence of the other person. Therefore, avoid taking gifts. But in some case taking a gift becomes a necessity, you cannot say no, then share this gift among the company or somehow get it distributed don’t take it onto yourself.

A lot of responsibility is given to you being the representative of the company; therefore, try not to get influenced.

Muslims and Christmas: Know the Truth

Muslims do not celebrate the Christmas holiday as part of their religion. However, since they live in this world with members of other religions, they cannot help but be touched by the festivities. Advertisements of Christmas and the commercialization of the day mean that they cannot be blind to it. That does not mean that they celebrate the day. Instead, they usually watch their neighbours and have Eid al-Adha.

Originally, Christmas is a Christian holiday. Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. This occasion is marked by gift giving and going to church. However, current cultural trends have diminished Christmas as a religious event; and it has unfortunately become largely commercialized.

Do Muslims Celebrate Christmas?

The Quran cautions Muslims against celebrating Christmas because they believe that if they do, they become like them. Hence they do not recognize Christmas. The Muslim holiday that may be slightly similar to Christmas is known as Eid el-Adha.

Similar to Christmas, Muslims do not celebrate Eid the same way. Some will choose to spend their day with their family and friends, while others may choose to go out and serve the needy. The morning prayers are normally held in a ‘masjid’, which is the equivalent of a church. Sometimes the faithful will gather in convention centers where there are more people.

In some families, the children receive presents or money, and this is referred to as Eidi. To summarize, Eid al-Adha shares certain similarities with Christmas in all other religions, mainly the sharing and giving and spreading good cheer. However, Muslims do not like the fact that Christmas has become more of a commercial venture than a religious festival.

Celebrating Eid – An Insight

Unlike Christmas, Eid al-Adha does not celebrate a birthday. Instead, it is based on the story of Abraham and his difficulties. The bible and the torah also mention Abraham. God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his only son, who is known as Ishmael by the Muslims, Isaac by the Christians and the Jews. When Abraham accepted the command, God rewarded him for his devotion and stopped him from sacrificing Ishmael.

Abraham then sacrificed a lamb; as a sign of respect, Muslims are expected to sacrifice a lamb or sheep and donate it to the poor, or else they can donate money. Eid al-Adha also celebrates the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Hajj pilgrimage is an illustration of one’s devotion to God.

Muslims do not have Christmas traditions, but they usually do not have a problem when their neighbours who may be from a different religion do. It is expected of all religions to be tolerant of each other, and hence they will not pressurize other religions to not celebrate Christmas. In Muslim countries with Christian minorities, there are enacted laws that protect these minorities from persecution when they are observing their religious holidays. For example, in India, both Muslims and Christians are minorities, and they usually support each other and respect each others religions despite their differences.

•    Dates, wine and nuts

Prior to the meal being taken, a prayer is said, a Holy Song is sung and a sign of the cross is made on everyone present and on the food. This sign is made with three right hand fingertips. Everyone holds the bread and turns it clockwise. Usually, the bread will not be cut; instead it is torn by the hand and each person must get a piece.

Holy Symbols at Christmas Celebrations

The wicks of two candles are intertwined and then rolled into a ball. The ball is lit, and this represents God as Light. When three candlewicks are twined into a ball, it represents the Holy Trinity: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Celebrating Christmas The Orthodox Way

Orthodox Christians, like the Greeks, normally celebrate their Christmas on the 7th of January of every year. However, their festivities begin three weeks earlier, and there are a lot of several rituals to be done. On the first week, children get their hands and feet tied and they are untied when they offer something to their parents. On the second week, the mothers are tied, and are only untied when they present an offering. In the week following that, fathers are tied. This tying symbolizes the tying to God, and the untying symbolizes the release from sin.

The Significance of the Oak Tree at Christmas

Orthodox observes unique Orthodox Christmas traditions, and Christmas Eve is a very holy day. When the morning dawns, the head of the family must fell a young oak tree after praying for it and saying thank you for the sacrifice it is about to make. They must ensure that the tree falls eastward and that it is not damaged. In the evening, the oak tree branch is carried into the house by the head of the family or a boy. He also sings Holy songs and prays, and this symbolizes Jesus Christ’s entrance into the home and the inhabitants’ hearts.

Christmas Decorations in an Orthodox Home

According to Orthodox Christmas traditions, homes should be decorated with wheat, fruit, honey and wine. These symbolize different things:

•    Wine-the blood of Jesus Christ
•    Wheat, which symbolizes worldly possessions
•    Honey-representing joy and happiness
•    Fruit

The guest room is also supposed to be decorated with straw at the four corners and gold coins. The straw represents the straw on which Baby Jesus lay on when he was born and the gold coins represent the Three Kings who brought Jesus gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense. When thrown in four cornered rooms they signify God’s all-encompassing presence.

Orthodox Christmas Feasts

Christmas is a time for feasting, and the Orthodox Christmas traditions are no different. On Christmas Eve (the night of January 6), a special feast is normally prepared. The meal will be eaten on straw mats placed on the floor. Menus are usually composed of;

•    Bread without yeast to symbolize Jesus Christ
•    Salt, to symbolize God’s Holy power and grace
•    Fish
•    Honey to symbolize happiness and everlasting life
•    Beans
•    Dates, wine and nuts

Prior to the meal being taken, a prayer is said, a Holy Song is sung and a sign of the cross is made on everyone present and on the food. This sign is made with three right hand fingertips. Everyone holds the bread and turns it clockwise. Usually, the bread will not be cut; instead it is torn by the hand and each person must get a piece.

Holy Symbols at Christmas Celebrations

The wicks of two candles are intertwined and then rolled into a ball. The ball is lit, and this represents God as Light. When three candlewicks are twined into a ball, it represents the Holy Trinity: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Jewish Christmas Traditions

The Jewish equivalent of Christmas is Hanukkah. It is a holiday that commemorates the day when the Jewish temple was rededicated, way before the time of Jesus. Hanukkah typically lasts for 8 days. The Jewish calendar is lunar, and so Hanukkah can happen any time from late November to late December. It usually begins on the 25th of Kivlev, which occurs nearly the same time during the Christmas period in December.

The Importance of the Menorah

Hanukkah is the Jewish version of Christmas. During Hanukkah, a menorah, consisting of eight candles is lit, and it also known as a ‘hanukkiyah’. The candles are lit with a 9th candle called a ‘shammash’. This candle is placed at the center and at a raised position than the other candles. The first candle is lit on the first night of the holiday, and an additional one is lit for every day that passes until the last night. The typical way of lighting the candles is from left to right, and this is later followed by a special Jewish hymn and blessing. This is done to thank God. Menorahs are usually placed on windows in front of the house so that passers-by remember the Hanukkah story when they see the light.

Similarities between Hanukkah and Christmas

Just like Christmas, Hanukkah traditions involve giving and receiving gifts from friends and family. Also, it is a time to remember the less fortunate, and people are encouraged to give to the poor. Also, Hanukkah games are many and varied.

The most common game is ‘dreidel’. It involves a top that has four sides, each labeled in a Hebrew letter, these letters, ‘nun’, ’gimel’, ‘hay’ and ‘shin’, stand for the first letters of , ‘Nes Gadol Hayah Sham’. In the game, the players place a coin, or chocolate coin, or nut into a pot, which is then spun. If ‘nun’ comes up, nothing will happen. If ‘gimel’ comes up, the player will.  If ‘shin’ or ‘pe’ appears another item has to be placed inside the pot and another player has his or her turn to spin the pot.

Traditional Hanukah Christmas Meals and Their Importance

The traditional food taken during Hanukkah is usually fried in oil. Some of the popular foods taken include deep fried doughnuts and potato pancakes. Most food eaten during Hanukkah is fried because it signifies the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days while the Temple was being cleansed and rededicated to God. A fundamental consideration is that the food must be shared with those who are less fortunate.

Temple Rededication on 25 Kivley

The dates of Hanukkah and Christmas are possibly related because 25 Kivlev was when the Temple was rededicated. The early Church Christians chose December 25th because they took over the birthday of Greek god Zeus. It is expected of all people of the Jewish religion to respect other religions and their rituals. They do not actually believe that Jesus was the messiah, but they do not discourage others from doing what their faith teaches them.

Christmas For Christians

Christmas is a period where everyone puts aside their worldly stresses and problems and engages in feasting and giving and sharing. People all over the world share with the less privileged, and families dispersed around the world meet again.

For a few days every year, we can allow ourselves to just relax and have a great time with our families and friends. So the history of Christmas, unlike the history of so many other human things, is consistently a pleasant one

The birth of Jesus- A Christian Celebration

A Christian Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The story is that he was born of a virgin, Mary, in a manger, and he was visited by Three Kings who brought him gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense. Christians are meant to be thankful for the gift of Jesus that god bestowed upon mankind.

The Beginning of Christian Christmas in the 4th Century

Christian Christmas celebrations began in the 4th century. The real date of Jesus’ birth is believed to be sometime in spring, but the 25th of December was chosen in order for the church to compete with rival pagan religions, for example, the Romans celebrated their Sun god’s birthday around December 25.It took a long time for people to accept this date and in some places it was prohibited!

St. Nicholas Helped the Poor and Christmas Evolved

In these times, Santa Claus has become the ultimate symbol of Christmas. The real Santa was actually called St. Nicholas, who was a devoted Christian who loved to help the poor. The Romans however did not much like him, and he was imprisoned and tortured. Eventually though, he was released and is the patron saint of sailors and of children. His name has evolved from St. Nicholas to Sint Nikolaas, to Sinterklaas to Santa Claus.

The Importance of a Christmas tree

Most people do not feel that it is truly Christmas until they have a decorated Christmas tree in the house. The size of the tree does not really matter, but it has to be a fir tree.

The Christmas tree is usually decorated with all sorts of things, for example ceramic figurines, angels, stringed popcorn, baubles, lights and some like to put a figure of Santa Claus at the top of the tree. How you choose to decorate your Christmas tree is a matter of personal taste.

Christians Going to Church on Christmas Day

Most Christian families like to celebrate Christmas by going to church on the morning of the day. At church, they are usually told the story of the birth of Jesus, and plays may be held, and it is an enjoyable day for everyone there. After Church, people disperse to go and enjoy the festivities with their various families in their different ways.

Christmas Traditions and Rituals in the Christian Faith

Every family has its own unique Christian Christmas traditions or rituals. Most Western cultures love to bake Christmas cookies, pies; and turkey is very popular. Christianity however emphasizes that Christmas is not just about eating but also sharing and helping those in need. This is possibly the reason why the ‘Secret Santa’ game came about, where people give gifts to others but they are not supposed to know who they are from.

How Christmas Is Celebrated in the Vatican?

Catholic Christians are not that different from other Christians. The way the celebrate Christmas is not different at all, and it involves giving and sharing. It also requires that people tell the story of the birth of Jesus in a manger, and it emphasizes the gift that god gave man by giving us his only Son.

The Catholic Church puts aside the four weeks before Christmas as Advent. Catholics celebrate this period by putting on Christmas plays and making Jesse trees. During Advent, they prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Common Catholic Christmas Traditions

•    The Advent Wreath: A wreath is made out of evergreen leaves tied to a wire circle. This signifies the hundreds of years that humanity had to wait for the Saviour; it also signifies the time Catholics have waited for the Second Coming.

•    An Empty Manger: This is an old tradition where families place an empty manger in the house. Then, any kind acts, sacrifices or service will make the doer get a straw with which they can line their mangers. On Christmas morning, baby Jesus is placed inside the manger, and children are encouraged to make Jesus’ manger as comfy as possible.

•    Nativity Scene: The nativity scene consists of figurines that depict the story of Jesus’ birth. Usually, the figures can be home-made or bought, and they are arranged in a stable around a manger where the baby Jesus will lie. It is a great way to teach children the Christmas story and also to encourage their creativity.

The Significance of Candles at Christmas for Catholics

•    The Christ candle: This is a candle, usually large and white, and it represents Jesus Christ. It is usually lit on Christmas Eve to signify the arrival of the light of the world.

•    The Mary Candle: this is a candle that represents the Blessed Virgin. It is usually decorated with a blue ribbon and placed before the Blessed Virgin’s picture or statue. It is lit during meals, and it acts to keep people aware of the importance of keeping their own desire to see light in the world.
Common Christmas Festivities

•    St. Nicholas Day: St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, and on the night of December 5, children put out a shoe and pray that St. Nicholas will bestow upon them gifts. This is one of the Catholic Christmas traditions that are observed up to the present day.

•    Baking at Christmas:  Christmas baking usually begins a few days before Christmas. Popular foods include pies, cookies, cakes and turkey. It is a nice feeling to walk into a house and be greeted by the warm smells of apple pie and cookies, and it is even better when we share these foods with our family and friends.

The True Meaning of Christmas

As with all religious festivals, Christmas is about giving the Lord’s love to the world the way he gave his Son to the world. All Catholics are expected to remember God’s gift to mankind and act in a manner that respects that fact. The underprivileged in society should be thought of and love, joy, warmth and good cheer is spread when we give to others unselfishly.