My Christmas Cards Joy For You

By ChristmasIdea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - One of the pagan traditions that Christians have incorporated into their Christmas celebration includes hanging mistletoe.

The week after Thanksgiving, the Christmas cards start arriving. I enjoy displaying Christmas cards all throughout December. I pin them to red ribbons and they hang everywhere. The number of Christmas cards I receive usually increases by a couple every year. I currently send out eighty three cards to family and friends and receive about sixty.

I enjoy Christmas cards because they seem to come from all points over the globe. I have made many friends over the years and have been very vigilant to remember to include them all in my mailing of Christmas cards each year. I like to let everyone that has affected me in my life to know that I remember them and care about them.

Ho Ho Ho - Find some used carton, coloring materials, scissors, glue, wire, ribbons and other necessary things you'll need. You could also consider recycling old Christmas decorations.

My favorite Christmas cards are the handmade ones. Those are the only ones that I have ever done anything beyond saving them in a large envelope with all the others from that year. I have taken a few of the super creative Christmas cards and had them framed for display. My favorite handmade Christmas cards come from my niece. The best one featured three sparkling trees and I had it framed.

Ho Ho Ho - Make a pattern of your desired Christmas flower, and then carefully cut it.

I don't dislike any Christmas cards. They are really just a way for friends and family to reach out to one another and let them know that they are still thought of and cared about. I don't usually display the bulk Christmas cards with plain pictures in my living room, though. I'm also not a big fan of overly religious Christmas cards. I do not put the Christmas cards with nativity scenes out in my den.

I think that sparkles and glitter are wonderful additions to Christmas cards. All of the extra embellishments are what makes them so special. In addition to the appearance of the card, I like to send and receive cards with personal notes inside. I am always excited to hear good news from old friends. Christmas cards with included photos also keep me feeling like I am part of my friends' lives.

I encourage my kids to send out their own Christmas cards to their friends. Even if their friends don't reciprocate, yet, someday they will. My kids make their own Christmas cards with white tags and craft items. My daughter prefers using stamps and ink to create Christmas cards. My son prefers to glue lots of small shiny objects to make his masterpieces.

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German Christmas Recipe Traditions

Ho Ho Ho! Why not try this very easy fruit cake which doesn't take a great deal of time to prepare and tastes absolutely mouth watering. This is traditional recipe for Christmas time and will always be well received by your guests.

In the early 1990's, my family and I had the opportunity to live in Germany. During that time, we enjoyed a world of new sights, sounds and most memorable - foods! We loved to wander the quaint little village were we lived, taking in all of the wonderful smells coming from the shops and bakeries near our home. The local brass band would walk along the sidewalks, playing Christmas songs while everyone waved and cheered them on. A wonderful Christmas punch was sold in the market that literally warmed our hearts!

My son, then 8 years old, became fast friends with the neighborhood baker, even though neither one of them spoke each other's language. It was a time that we'll never forget, and during holiday time especially, we miss the lifestyle that only life in a small German village offers.

Ho Ho Ho! Christmas Goodie Swap is the perfect way to begin your holiday festivities. Make it special from the start and create a free email invitation from the Internet

There are a couple of favorite German Christmas Recipes that I make sure to add to our celebrations every year, and I've included variations of them here for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season.

Traditional German Christmas Punch

1 cup water
2/3 cup sugar or Splenda
Couple pinches of ground cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3 cups apple juice
1 lemon, sliced

In a 3 quart saucepan, bring water, sugar, cloves and cinnamon to boil. Stir in juice and heat through. Do not boil. Take spices out and pour over lemon slices in serving bowl. Serve warm. Makes 1-1/2 quarts.

Ho Ho Ho! You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon.

German Christmas Stollen

1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar or Splenda
3/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
5-2/3 cups flour
1 ounce active dry yeast
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup candied citrus peel
1/2 cup candied cherries

Scald milk. Add sugar, butter, and salt, and cool to lukewarm. Add 2 whole eggs, and 2 yolks. Mix and Add to 3 cups flour and yeast in food processor. Process and let double. Add raisins, citron, and cherries, and rest of flour. Process and put on floured board and knead. Let rise in greased bowl. Once raised, cut into 3-4 pieces. Roll each into an oval, butter, and fold in half lengthwise. Put on greased baking sheet, cover, and double. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Cool and frost with white butter frosting and decorate with candied cherry halves and sprinkle with colored sugar.

Ho Ho Ho! Place Christmas candles everywhere even in the bathroom. Crank up those Christmas tunes and you have a party. Have each guest tell about the creation they have brought to contribute.

About the author: Sherry Frewerd publishes ‘Family Crock Pot Recipes' http://familycrockpotrecipes.com, free and delicious slow cooker recipes your family will love. During the holidays, make sure to visit Sherry's Christmas Blog, ‘Christmas Traditions' for fun and interesting Christmas recipes, crafts and articles. http://theres-more-to-life-than-food.typepad.com/christmas_traditions

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