DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

    Christmas begins early in Germany with the season of advent.  Starting 4 weeks before the big day, a wreath made of fir tree branches, or holly or other greens, is laid on a table.  There are 4 candles placed around the wreath and one is lit each Sunday of Advent.  A little bit about Advent, since it is an important part of the season.  It begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas Day, the Sunday nearest November 30th, and ends on Christmas Eve.  If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the 4th Sunday of Advent.  Advent is a time of fasting and prayer, leading up to the Christmas Eve feast.  There is a special tradition for children during Advent, too.  It is the Advent calender.  It is made up of 24 windows, one to be opened each day of Advent.  In most of the Advent calendars, there is a picture to be revealed each day, but the more elaborate ones can hide little presents or candy treats.     The market places throughout Germany turn into Wonderlands.  The entire area is

    Brits who follow tradition for celebrating Christmas in England will put up their trees precisely 12 days before Christmas, and take them down precisely 12 days after Christmas.     Each and every member of the family, by tradition,  stirs the pudding with a wooden spoon from east to west.  This is intended to represent the honorable Three Kings.  Then, the family drops a silver coin into the pudding mixture before it is cooked.  The lucky person who gets the coin when the pudding is doled out,  is supposed to be in line for wealth, health and happiness.  if they keep the coin, that's a start toward the wealth....unless they happen to be the same family member who produced the coin in the first place, of course.      English folks started decorating their trees in 1841, after Prince Albert arranged for a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle to be strewn with lights, as a gift to Queen Victoria and their children.  This carried out a long time tradition that Prince Albert ad

    Christmas movies come in a variety of genres.  From musicals, to drama, comedy to animated.  Here is a list of what I think and hopefully you will to, of some of  the better  Christmas movies to  watch and enjoy every Christmas season. Some are entertaining and meaningful, while others are just fun to watch and bring a big laugh out of you and puts a great big smile on your face.   Just by looking at the movie DVD covers,  you start reminiscing about your favorite parts  and what the movie meant to you and how it made you feel.  opping it into the DVD player with all of the excitement,  just as if it were first time you've seen it. White Christmas (1954) - World War II ends and army buddies Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye form a song and dance team and hit the road.  The end up putting on a program to help their ex commanding general with surprises for him and them. The Nativity Story (2006)- In my mind this is the best depiction of the events surrounding the birth of