Origins of Beloved Holiday Traditions Christmastime is here. of today may be a byprod- and is associated with the to . The jolly The presents are being pur- uct of various traditions. pagan festival of Saturnalia, persona came later when chased and wrapped. The One such tradition dates which celebrated the ag- 20th century advertisers stockings will soon be hung back to a Dutch custom in ricultural god Saturn with — especially the artists on the fireplace mantle. which children would leave partying and gift-giving. responsible for Coca-Cola is pinned above shoes full of food to feed During the winter solstice, ads — portrayed Santa in a the front entryway, and St. Nicholas’ donkeys, and green branches served as a red suit with a big smile. add rich color to then St. Nicholas would reminder that spring would Mistletoe home decor. leave small gifts in return. arrive anew. Germans are Mistletoe is hung in Tradition is integral Another origin story of credited with first bringing doorways, and couples who come the holiday season. stockings can be evergreens into their homes stand beneath are encour- Throughout the month of traced to the 12th century, and decorating them. aged to share a kiss. The December, traditions fill when nuns would leave Santa Claus tradition of hanging it in people’s days and comprise socks full of nuts, fruit and Santa Claus’ origin story the house goes back to the the many reasons why indi- tangerines for the poor. can be traced to St. Nicho- times of the ancient Dru- viduals decorate, celebrate This is why some people las, a Christian bishop who ids. Mistletoe was thought and dine the way they do still put tangerines in lived during the fourth to bring good luck to a this time of year. But few Christmas stockings. century. St. Nicholas was household and ward off evil may know the origins of very generous and gave spirits. The custom of kiss- some of the most beloved Christmas Trees are away his fortune to help the ing under mistletoe can be holiday traditions. everywhere this time of needy. He also did vari- traced to England. Origi- Christmas stockings year. The use of evergreen ous other good deeds. St. nally, a berry was picked The Christmas stockings trees predates Christmas Nicholas became infamous from the sprig of mistletoe and began to be known by before the person could be various names around the kissed. When all the berries world. The Dutch called had gone, there could be no him Sinter Klaas, which more kissing. was eventually transformed Christmas bells Church bells ring for many special services, including Christmas mass. During Christmas in the Catholic Church, the altar bells may be rung while the priest says the “Glo- ria.” Bells are part of caroling, and jingling bells are associated with sleighs and Santa’s reindeer. Christmas is rife with traditions that date back ages. 2 - Christmas Open House • www.DouglasNow.com Support your local merchants Three reasons to buy local for the holidays

You’ve finally finished draw- people you know. Promoting ing up your list economic activity in your region and you just know it’s going to also helps improve the quality of make all your loved ones happy. life for workers. You also have to keep working You’re encouraging local on that endless shopping list producers, entrepreneurs and for the various holiday gather- merchants when you do your ings you have to prepare for. But holiday shopping at the neigh- wait; don’t jump into your car borhood clothing store or at the just yet. Have you thought about artisanal butcher shop. You’re shopping locally? It’s a surefire strengthening the trust between way to make even more people producers and consumers and happy. Not convinced? Here are bolstering your sense of belong- three good reasons to buy local. ing to your community. What 1. PAMPER YOUR TASTE more could you ask for at holi- BUDS: Nothing beats buy- day time, which is an occasion ing locally if you want to serve for sharing and love? your guests the ultimate in deli- 3. GIVE MORE ECO- cious food. Locally-sourced food FRIENDLY GIFTS: Choosing products are fresher, more nutri- local products also means re- tious and tastier. And they aren’t ducing the distance between as likely to be treated with pre- the producer (or the merchant) servatives to make them last lon- and the consumer. This, in turn, ger or stay fresher looking. Vege- helps reduce greenhouse gas tables, cheeses, meats, beers and emissions and pollution related wines are just a few examples of to the transportation of goods. things you can buy locally dur- And that’s beside the fact that ing the holiday season. They’ll transporting products across help you make your holiday thousands of miles generally re- meals even more delicious than quires more packaging. In short, usual. buying local is an environmen- And how about buying local tally-friendly gesture. foods as gifts for your favorite Buying locally is also more foodies? It’s a great idea that convenient. Why go to the big will give you the opportunity to shopping center located outside make some beautiful and deli- of town when your own neigh- cious discoveries. borhood is full of all kinds of 2. SUPPORT THE LOCAL stores and businesses? You’re ECONOMY: Are you fond of more likely to find unique gifts, your area? When you buy lo- and you won’t have to go as far cal it helps your community if you need to exchange them become more dynamic. That’s later on. On top of all that, you’ll because when you spend your save on gas and produce less money close to home, you’re pollution. The only person who helping the local economy grow could do it any better is Santa and open up more jobs for the Claus. www.DouglasNow.com • Christmas Open House - 3 4 - Christmas Open House • www.DouglasNow.com What should you put under the tree to spoil your little fur ball? Do you love your dog more than anything in the world? Would you not be able to live without cuddling with your cat? The following gift suggestions are aimed at all pet owners who are unabashedly crazy about their four-legged friends. If you want to spoil your pet, keep its age and personality in mind. Puppies and kittens, which have energy to spare and love to chew things, will adore a colorful toy that they can destroy to their heart’s are as nutritious as they content. are delicious. These treats Is your loyal companion are made with healthy something of a four-legged ingredients like oats, eggs foodie? Homemade and fruit. Christmas cookies are a For an older, calmer pet, great bet. Go online or visit keep comfort in mind with a your local bookstore to find gift like a cozy bed or a soft pet-friendly recipes that blanket.

www.DouglasNow.com • Christmas Open House - 5 Last-minute holiday shopping tips Christmas cookies made simple Holiday shopping season typi- Baking cookies is a holiday tradition for many families. Come cally begins the day after Thanks- the holiday season, many homes are filled with the inviting scents giving and extends all the way of vanilla, cinnamon and melting chocolate. to . While that’s a Baking cookies can be a social occasion in which family considerable amount of time for members and friends gather to create recipes passed down through shoppers to find gifts for every- generations. Or baking can be a solitary venture in which cookies one on their shopping list, many are prepared and packaged as holiday gifts. Either way, people who people will still find themselves bake during the holiday season understand that making Christmas putting holiday shopping off until cookies can be a time-consuming, yet rewarding, process. the last minute. This year, holiday bakers can embrace a number of time-saving In certain ways, last-minute tips and tricks to reduce the amount of time they spend in the holiday shopping is easier than kitchen and possibly even improve on existing recipes. ever. Thanks to online retailers • Use a cookie mix. Who says you have to toil and make cook- who can ship products overnight, ies from scratch? It’s the thought that counts, and any number of men and women who delay their creative recipes can begin by utilizing a premade baking mix. These holiday shopping have more mixes already have most of the dry cookie ingredients sifted to- options at their disposal than gether, including flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. they did before the arrival of the All you have to do is add the wet ingredients and any extra embel- Internet. And unlike the days of are often incapable of slashing lishments to make the mix your own. If mixes are too much work, yore when the best deals were prices as significantly as their purchase refrigerated or frozen cookie dough. Include your own largely exclusive to , larger competitors, and that may add-ins, such as nuts, white chocolate chips, bits of dried fruit, or some shoppers find that compe- mean they have more extensive crumbled candy canes, to give the premade dough a unique flavor. tition between online retailers inventories available throughout • Prepare ahead. Many cookie dough recipes can be made and and traditional brick-and-mortar the holiday shopping season. In stored for later use. In fact, refrigerating a log of cookie dough can stores is so great that deals can addition, shoppers who stick with make it easier to cut or handle later on. Spread out the bulk of your be found regardless of when they local retailers won’t have to pay baking over two days and you might feel less taxed. begin shopping. But while wait- shipping costs to ensure items • Try a no-bake recipe. Creative culinary experts continu- ing until the last minute to begin arrive on time. ally reveal their clever tricks, and many of these include no-bake holiday shopping may not be as • Shop during off-peak hours. versions of favorite desserts. No bake cookies come together in a risky as it used to be, shoppers Shopping during off-peak hours may still benefit by sticking to matter of minutes, but still employ a host of delicious ingredients. can help last-minute shoppers certain strategies so they can find Recipes frequently feature similar ingredients to traditional cookies, make efficient use of the limited the perfect gifts without breaking but rely on chocolate, honey or peanut butter as the setting agent to time they have to buy gifts for the bank. keep them together. Bakers may also like not having to turn on their their loved ones. Visit stores early • Stay within your budget. ovens. in the morning or late at night, Even last-minute shoppers have • Recycle leftover cookies. If you have a fair amount of cookies or schedule a midweek afternoon holiday shopping budgets. But remaining or several that broke apart or do not look good enough shopping trip so you aren’t spend- it can be harder for last-minute to serve, never fear. Such cookies can be used as part of another ing what little time you have left shoppers to stick to their budgets delicious dessert. Grind cookies into crumbs that can serve as a waiting on lines or hunting for because they have less time to pie crust for pudding pies or no-bake cheesecakes, or mix cookie parking. comparison shop and hunt for • Give something less tradi- crumbs with cake frosting or a nut butter and roll into balls. Dunk deals. As the holiday shopping tional. Holiday gifts need not the balls into melted chocolate, add a lollipop stick and make deli- season winds down, resist the come from stores. Rather than cious cookie pops. temptation to go over budget. If spending their time shopping for a gift you had in mind is avail- gifts for loved ones who seem- able but more than you can spend, ingly have it all, last-minute look for something else. Over- shoppers can give the gift of a do- spending on holiday shopping in nation in their loved one’s name. December is a recipe for debt in Last-minute shoppers who want January, and no shopper wants to to give something more tangible begin the new year weighed down can create a homemade gift that’s by consumer debt. both unique and heartfelt. If your • Shop local. National chains DIY skills are lacking, give a and big box retailers are re- loved one the gift of a night out nowned for rolling out great deals on the town at your expense. during the holiday season, but Shoppers who wait until the such stores may have very limited end of the holiday shopping or unimpressive inventory left season to begin their searches for by the time last-minute shoppers holiday gifts can still find great begin shopping. Local retailers gifts without going broke. 6 - Christmas Open House • www.DouglasNow.com Festive tree-trimming tips and techniques People have visited forests during the 16th century. Early have branches sticking out. to select their Christmas trees Americans were late to adopt Wear gardening gloves to for centuries. While tree sell- Christmas trees because early avoid being covered in sap. ers conveniently stationed in Puritan settlers thought the • Position trees away from store parking lots and artifi- tradition — as well as carols heat sources, such as fireplac- cial trees displayed in vari- and other concepts — were es, vents or radiators, which ous retailers have led fewer Pagan influences. It took can cause the tree to dry out people to venture into the wil- the popularity of England’s prematurely and become a fire derness, the Christmas tree is Queen Victoria and her Ger- risk. still an important component man Prince Albert appearing • For added safety, anchor a of holiday celebrations. around a decorated Christmas tree to a wall or ceiling, so it Long before the spread of tree to eventually win over will not tumble over onto chil- Christianity, evergreen plants much of Europe, Canada and dren or curious pets. especially on dense trees. and trees held special mean- the United States. • In homage of the first • For a whimsical approach, ing for people during the win- Trees are very popular to- German Christmas trees, dec- match the tree decor to home ter. Boughs and garlands were day. According to Statistic- orate with natural ingredients, decor and the color of furni- hung in homes and over doors sBrain, 10 million artificial such as berries and pinecones. ture. and windows to repel evil trees are sold in the United Also, use apples, nuts and • Make handcrafted orna- spirits and illnesses. On the States each year, while 34.5 marzipan candies. ments with the whole family. winter solstice, the greenery million real tress are sold • To free up more space for • Hang the most delicate would represent that spring annually. Such trees require presents, place a narrow tree pieces toward the top where would once again arrive and decorating, and the following stand inside of a waterproof they won’t be disturbed. banish winter’s dreariness. secrets and tips can help cel- planting container. Place the • Step back and enjoy your Germans who decorated ebrants do just that. tree inside. This will provide handiwork, which will also trees inside of their homes are • Prune the tree first. Be a more streamlined look that’s give you a chance to find any credited with starting Chris- sure to shape the tree as de- neater than a tree skirt. blank spots that need filling tian Christmas tree traditions sired, since natural trees will • The more lights the better, in.

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