DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh    One of the most fascinating parts of the Christmas story is the coming of the Magi.  When the Magi or Wise Men visited the baby Jesus, they brought gifts to present to Him.  It was customary that foreign emissaries and ambassadors would bring gifts to court the favor of royalty.  This was especially true of the times of royal births.  The Magi came to Jerusalem seeking the newborn king of Israel and did not find Jesus there.  The Magi were directed to Bethlehem to search for Jesus there.  Once they located Jesus they presented Joseph and Mary gifts for the birth of the King.  Each of the three gifts represented an aspect of who Jesus is and what his mission was to fulfill.  We are not given any indication of the amounts of each of the gifts or how many of the Magi were represented.  The importance of the gifts was the message that each one conveyed about Jesus.  The gold represented the fact ...

   We all remember our first slice of cheesecake-that gooey, delicious dessert that almost melted in our mouths.  What you may not have realized is that the original cheesecake looked and tasted nothing like what we enjoy today.  Before you grab another slice of this tasty dessert, take some time to learn about the cheesecake origins you never knew. Cheesecake History Starts in Ancient Greece    The first cheese cakes were thought to be made in Ancient Greece.  On the island of Samos, archaeologists reported they found cheese molds that dated back to 2,000 B.C.-that means cheesecake is more than 4000 years old!  In Ancient Greece, cheesecake was not the creamy dessert treat we recognize today.  Instead, athletes used it as an energy source before the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. and newlyweds served it at their wedding reception.    The Greek writer Athenaeus is credited with recording the original cheesecake recipe....

   The visit of the Magi is an incredible and fascinating event that is one of the favorite parts of the Christmas story.  The coming of the Magi or Wise Men has been clouded in mystery and intrigue for thousands of years.  One reason for this intrigue is that because of the many misconceptions surrounding their visit.  Today we hold many aspects of their visit to be true but in reality are unknown or untrue.  Here are just a few of the misconceptions involving the visit of the Wise Men. Misconception #1:  The Wise Men were Kings    Nowhere does the Biblical record describe these men as kings.  We hear the song We Three Kings and take it for gospel.  The Wise Men were Magi, a class of advisers that were part of the Babylonian society.  The Magi were well known for various skills such as diplomacy, the interpretation of dreams, the use of sorcery and politics.  The word magi is where we derive our English word magi...

   Luxury retailer Nieman Marcus is out with its 2010 holiday gift guide.    The catalog, which began as a Christmas card for shoppers in 1915, showcases the latest in fashion, shoes,jewelry and luxury items.    Here is a listing of the featured luxury items that appear in this years catalog. His and Hers Metroship Luxury Houseboat    On the 50th anniversary of His and Hers gifts, it is called the ultimate romantic retreat.  With a 40 foot by 12 foot open floor plan and 7 foot high ceiling.  Built as a luxury loft that floats. It has all the "bells and whistles" a loving couple could  want in a little retreat from everyday life. Twin 60 hp Honda outboard engines. Price: $250,000.00  Diamond and Gold His and Hers 50th Anniversary Charm Bracelet    Crafted from one of a kind 11 marquise-cut diamonds.  Certified fancy-and extremely rare-naturally colored diamonds in the collection include richly hued ...

   Peek among the branches of the family Christmas tree in many homes, and you may spot a glistening green glass pickle ornament or 2.  Do you find yourself in a pickle, trying to figure out why this pickled cucumber ornament is a symbol for Christmas? Why do many families traditionally hang pickles on their Christmas trees?    The Christmas pickle ornament tradition apparently began centuries ago in Germany.  As a family gathered to decorate the Christmas tree together on Christmas Eve, a blown glass pickle would be among the holiday ornaments.  Once the Christmas tree was fully trimmed, one of the parents would secretly hide a glass pickle ornament among the branches.    On Christmas morning, the first child in the family to find the Christmas pickle, tucked inside the branches of the Christmas tree, would be considered especially lucky.  Often, the Christmas pickle finding child would receive an extra special holiday gift from S...

   Tracing the roots of the artificial Christmas tree, we find they did not start out as being purple, nor did they start out costing the high dollars they do today.    The first artificial Christmas tree appeared in the Sears and Roebuck catalog.  It had a wooden base, 25 branches, five candle attachments, and was decorated with red berries.  The price for this tree was .23 cents.   By 1915, Sears and Roebuck offered artificial Christmas trees mounted in large white pots.  The thick branches were covered with artificial foliage and the price had skyrocketed to an unbelievable .98 cents.  In addition to the price of the artificial Christmas tree, the biggest change over the past few decades has been how the tree is put together once the consumer gets it home.  Back then, the artificial trees consisted of many small pieces that had to be fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.  Dad's across the country spent many long, frustrating ho...

    Now I know that some of you may not know exactly what a Christmas cracker is or what it does, but let me start out by assuring you that it is not something that you can spread cheese on and eat!  Well, you could, but you might regret it a short while after....    Perhaps not as well known in the United States. , The humble Christmas cracker has been a staple ingredient in every household in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia since time immemorial.  They are loved by children and adults alike and are always the first part of the traditional Christmas dinner every year.    They are basically a party favor, a small cylindrical cardboard tube, wrapped in festive paper and filled with a small prize, a paper hat and usually an awful joke.  There is a long, thin peice of paper that runs through the cracker that, when broken, produces a loud snapping sound, or "crack"-hence the name.  The idea is that you hold one end ...