2014 christmas album

A PUBLICATION OF

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Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014

The History Saint Nicholas

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Courtesy of www.thehistoryof christmas.com Saint Nicholas was born in 280 AD, in Patara, a city of Lycia, in Asia Minor. He became the gift giver of Myra.

His gifts were given late at night, so that the gift giver’s identity would remain a secret. St Nicholas was eventually named the patron saint of children, sailors, Russia and Greece.

St. Nicholas was a Christian priest, who later became a bishop.

He was a rich person, and traveled the country helping people, giving gifts of money and other presents.

St. Nicholas did not like to be seen when he gave away presents, so the children of the day were told to go to sleep quickly or he would not come!

Nothing has changed and Santa Claus will not arrive this Christmas unless the children go to sleep early.

A famous story about St. Nicholas, is about a poor man who had no money to give to his three daughters on their wedding day.

St Nick dropped bags of gold into the stockings which the girls had left to dry by the fire.

The sisters found the gold and ever since, children have hung up stockings on Christmas Eve hoping that they will be filled with presents by Christmas morning.

Despite being quite young Nicholas had earned a reputation for kindliness and wisdom.

In the year 303, the Roman emperor Diocletian commanded all the citizens

He suffered from cold, hunger, and thirst, but he never wavered in his beliefs. In 313, when Diocletian resigned, and Constantine came to power Nicholas was released, and he returned to his post as Bishop of Myra.

He continued his good works and became even wiser and more understanding by the time of his death on Dec. 6, 343.

In the eyes of the Catholics, a saint is someone who has lived such a holy life that, after dying and going to heaven, he or she is still able to help people on earth.

They often become patron to different groups of people - one such was children and many legends sprang up to explain his

of the Roman Empire, which included Asia Minor, to worship him as a god.

Christians believed in one god and one god alone, so their conscience would not allow them to obey the Emperor’s order.

Angered by their stubborn-

ness, Diocletian warnd the Christians that they would be imprisoned.

The Emperor carried out the threat and St Nicholas who resisted too was also imprisoned.

For more than five years, St Nicholas was confined to a small cell.

presence.

By 450, churches in Asia Minor and Greece were being named in honor of him. By 800, he was officially recognized as the a saint by the Eastern Catholic Church.

In the 1200s, December sixth began to be celebrated as Bishop Nicholas Day in France.

By end of the 1400s, St Nicholas was the third most beloved religious figure, after Jesus and Mary. There were more than 2000 chapels and monasteries named after him.

In the 1500s people in England stopped worshipping St Nicholas and favored more another gift giving figure Father Christmas.

Over the centuries, St. Nicholas’ popularity grew, and many people in Europe made up new stories that showed his concern for children. The name Santa Claus was derived from the Dutch Sinter Klass pronunciation of St. Nicholas.

Early Dutch settlers in New York (once called New Amsterdam) brought their traditions of St Nicholas.

As children from other countries tried to pronounce Sinter Klass, this soon became Santa Klass, which was settled as Santa Claus.

The old bishop’s cloak with mitre, jewelled gloves and crozier were soon replaced with his red suit and clothing seen in other modern images.

THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 2014 - THE ELLIS COUNTY PRESS - PAGE 3B

The origin of Christmas carols

Courtesy of www.thehistoryofchristmas.com

The early Christmas music compositions are regarded as chants and hymns. The original carolsChristmas carols referred to a circle dance which did not have any singing - that came later.

As the church struggled against the influences of pagan customs, the singing of carols was barred from sacred services.

However, outside the church, Nativity carols were written and became popular.

Nearly all were simple folk songs created by people from the countryside.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with bringing carols into the formal worship of the church during a Christmas Midnight Mass in a cave in Greccio, in the province of Umbria in 1223.

It’s said that the music sung that night was more akin to what we know as carols than to hymns.

Carols enjoyed further development and popularity when they were used in the mystery plays of the Middle Ages.

Wandering minstrels traveled from hamlet to castle, performing carols in the distant past.

In later years, villages had their own bands of waits.

Waits were originally watchmen who patrolled the streets and byways of the

old walled cities keeping guard against fire and singing out the hours of the night.

During the holiday season, they would include some carols for the people along the way, although some folks complained that they would rather get

a good nights sleep than have somebody singing under their window.

Eventually the term was used to describe groups of musicians who sang and played for various civic events during the Christmas season.

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Snacks for Santa

Did you know that the most popular cookie kids leave for Santa is the Oreo?

Maybe that’s because more than 9.1 billion of them are sold each year.

There is no exact date recorded, but the idea of leaving cookies for Santa started sometime in the 1930s.

Naughty kids use them to bribe Santa at the last minute and nice kids use them as a way of thanking him for all his hard work on Christmas Eve.

THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 2014 - THE ELLIS COUNTY PRESS - PAGE 5B

ORIGINS

Christmas trees

Courtesy of www.thehistoryofchristmas.com Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had achristmas tree special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows.

In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on Dec. 21 or Dec. 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well.

Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.

The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the

head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.

Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.

I n

Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce.

It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many

German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.

It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims’s second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out “pagan mockery” of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against “the heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated “that sacred event.”

In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That

stern solemnity continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.

In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree.

Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very

popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived.

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It See Trees Page 13

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Letters Letters submitted by Ingram Elementary

Santa

THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 2014 - THE ELLIS COUNTY PRESS - PAGE 7B

TO

See More Letters to Santa from Ingram on Page 11B

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THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 2014 - THE ELLIS COUNTY PRESS - PAGE 9B

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Ugly Sweater Cake Servings: 10–12

Courtesy of Family Features he holiday season is all about making fun memories. Why not wear something no one will soon forget at your own ugly sweater party?

Hosting one is simple — have everyone show up in the tackiest holiday apparel they can find, whether from their closet, at a thrift store or something they “blinged” on their own.

With the party attire planned, try these easy and ugly dessert ideas from Wilton: • Soft, sweet and so ugly cakes: If your guests’ apparel doesn’t grab attention, your cake sure will. Use the Ugly Sweater Cake Pan to bake the cake. Style the decorating after your own garment — use buttercream or fondant, Set Up a sweater cookie decorating station

T

holiday-shaped sprinkles and icing decorations to add some ugly to your cake.

• Cookie decorating fun: Bring the classic seasonal activity to your party by having guests decorate their own sweater cookies. Set up a decorating station with the Tacky Sweater Cookie Kit. With 12 pre-baked vanilla cook-

ies, a dozen of your friends can have a blast decorating with the included green and red icing and sprinkles. Set up a photo station so guests can take pictures of their silly cookies to share online.

• Warm up with lattes: Who doesn’t love sipping hot beverages by a warm fire with friends?

Brew delicious Spirit

of the Season Mocha Lattes to toast a merry Christmas. Offer assorted liqueurs for an adults-only party.

• It’s time to judge: At the end of the party, hold a contest for the ugliest sweater — both real and cookie. Award winners in different categories, such as All-Around Ugliest, Most Original, Fun-

niest, Most Non-Ugly or Most Ridiculous.

Get creative with the prizes, too. Find an inexpensive and unique white elephant gift, or hand out little first place ribbons.

Your party will be one to remember with these ideas. For more fun and festive party ideas, visit wilton.com.

1 package (16.25 ounces) Devil’s Food cake mix 1/4 cup hot cocoa mix 3 eggs 2/3 cup water 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract Buttercream icing Red Decorator Preferred Rolled Fondant White Decorator Preferred Rolled Fondant Primary Colored Fondant Multipack Piping Gel String licorice Sprinkles: Sugar Pearls, Trees, Yellow Colored Sugar Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Ugly Sweater Cake Pan with vegetable pan spray.

In large bowl, beat cake mix, hot cocoa mix, eggs, water, vegetable oil and peppermint extract with electric mixer at low speed 30 seconds.

Scrape bottom and sides of bowl; beat at medium speed 2 minutes.

Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading to even thickness.

Bake minutes 44–47 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.

Cool in pan on cooling grid 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on grid.

With spatula, lightly ice cooled cake. Roll out red fondant 1/8 inch thick; cover cake. Knead small amount of white fondant into remaining red fondant, white with small amount of yellow fondant, small amount of yellow fondant with green fondant.

Roll out all colors of fondant separately, 1/16 inch thick.

Using holiday cutters, patterns or cut free-form, to make collar, ornaments and sweater neckline, cuffs and bottom band.

Use piping gel to attach licorice ornament hangers, sprinkles and sugars.

Eggnog Ugly Sweater Cake Servings: 10–12

1 package (16.5 ounces) yellow cake mix 2/3 cup eggnog 1/3 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Buttercream Icing Icing Colors: Juniper Green, Christmas Red Holly Mix and Candy Cane Sprinkles Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Ugly Sweater Cake Pan with vegetable pan spray.

In large bowl, beat cake mix, eggnog, oil, eggs and nutmeg with electric mixer at low speed 30 seconds. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl; beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading to even thickness.

Bake 39–42 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on cooling grid 10 minutes.

Remove from pan; cool completely on grid.

With spatula, ice cooled cake. Using tip 233 and green icing, pipe tree on cake. Using tip 46 and red icing, pipe outline neckline, sleeve cuffs and bottom sweater band. Attach sprinkles.

Spirit of the

Season Mocha Latte Servings: 8

2 cups very hot strong brewed

coffee 2 cups Wilton Dark Cocoa Candy Melts Candy 6 cups milk 1/2 cup chocolate syrup Assorted liqueurs and spirits (optional), such as: peppermint schnapps, Irish cream liqueur, creamy rum liqueur, chocolate-flavored liqueur, cinnamon schnapps, caramel-flavored vodka

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3 Tips for Easy Holiday Entertaining Vineyard, with its subtle tropical and citrus aromas and lovely balance of oak and vanilla flavors.

For red, consider lighter-bodied reds like a pinot noir which will match a variety of dishes.

Courtesy of Family Features he holidays are a time for connecting with friends and enjoying quality time with family, but if you find yourself hosting an endless stream of guests, it can also be a time of hectic preparation and hours spent in the kitchen.

Make your life easier with three tips for easy, elegant entertaining.

T

BE PREPARED

If you have wine and cheese on hand, you’ve already cut your job in half.

Stock up on a few different cheeses and wine varietals so you’re always prepared for any impromptu visits.

Add sliced fruit or grapes, some crackers and roasted nuts and you have a beautiful spread ready in minutes for any surprise

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

guests. Looking for something warm?

Keep a supply of your favorite store-bought appetizers in the freezer and simply pop in the oven

when needed.

Dress up with a simple sauce or garnish for a homemade touch.

For wines, choose perennial favorites that pair

with a variety of foods. One white and one red are often sufficient.

A chardonnay is a classic choice, like Cambria Estate Winery’s Katherine’s

SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY

An elegant holiday party doesn’t require weeks of preparation or intricate, multi-course dinners.

Spend some time in the See Hoiday Page 14

More Letters to Santa

Continued from Page 7

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Christmas history in America

In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebratedearly american christmas - winter holiday in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.

The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America.

From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston.

Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

An outlaw ChristmasAfter the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas.

In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America’s new constitution.

Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

Washington Irving reinvents Christmas It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia.

But what about the 1800s peaked American interest in the holiday?

The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot.

This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to

begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.

In 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent., a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house.

The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving’s mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status.

Irving’s fictitious celebrants enjoyed “ancient customs,” including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving’s book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended—in fact, many historians say that Irving’s account actually “invented” tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.

Before the Civil War The North and South were divided on the issue of Christmas, as well as on the question of slavery. Many Northerners saw sin in the celebration of Christmas; to these people the celebration of Thanksgiving was more appropriate. But in the South, Christmas was an important part of the

social season. Not surprisingly, the first three states to make Christmas a legal holiday were in the South: Alabama in 1836, Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838.Early Christmas & Santa engraving In the years after the Civil War, Christmas traditions spread across the country.

Children’s books played an important role in spreading the customs of celebrating Christmas, especially the tradition of trimmed trees and gifts delivered by Santa Claus. Sunday school classes encouraged the celebration of Christmas.

Women’s magazines were also very important in suggesting ways to decorate for the holidays, as well as how to make these decorations.

By the last quarter of the nineteenth century, America eagerly decorated trees, caroled, baked, and shopped for the Christmas season. Since that time, materialism, media, advertising, and mass marketing has made Christmas what it is today. The traditions that we enjoy at Christmas today were invented by blending together customs from many different countries into what is considered by many to be our national holiday.

An overview: 1600’s: The Puritans made it illegal to mention St. Nicolas’ name. People were not allowed to exchange gifts, light a candle, or sing

Christmas carols.

17th century: Dutch immigrants brought with them the legend of Sinter Klaas.

1773: Santa first appeared in the media as St. A Claus.

1804: The New York Historical Society was founded with St. Nicolas as its patron saint. Its members engaged in the Dutch practice of giftgiving at Christmas.

1809: Washington Irving, writing under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, included Saint Nicolas in his book “A History of New York.” Nicolas is described as riding into town on a horse.

1812: Irving, revised his book to include Nicolas riding over the trees in a wagon.

1821: William Gilley printed a poem about “Santeclaus” who was dressed in fur and drove a sleigh drawn by a single reindeer.

1822: Dentist Clement

Clarke Moore is believed by many to have written a poem “An Account of a Visit from Saint Nicolas,” which became better known as “The Night before Christmas.” Santa is portrayed as an elf with a miniature sleigh equipped with eight reindeer which are named in the poem as Blitzem, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder, Prancer, and Vixen.

Others attribute the poem to a contemporary, Henry Livingston, Jr. Two have since been renamed Donner and Blitzen.

1841: J.W. Parkinson, a Philadelphia merchant, hired a man to dress up in a “Criscringle” outfit and climb the chimney of his store.

1863: Illustrator Thomas Nast created images of Santa for the Christmas editions of Harper’s Magazine.

These continued through the 1890’s.

1860s: President Abraham Lincoln asked Nast to

create a drawing of Santa with some Union soldiers.

This image of Santa supporting the enemy had a demoralizing influence on the Confederate army -- an early example of psychological warfare.

1897: Francis P Church, Editor of the New York Sun, wrote an editorial in response to a letter from an eight year-old girl, Virginia O’Hanlon. She had written the paper asking whether there really was a Santa Claus. It has become known as the “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” letter. 4 1920’s: The image of Santa had been standardized to portray a bearded, over-weight, jolly man dressed in a red suit with white trim. 5 1931: Haddon Sundblom, illustrator for The CocaCola ™ company drew a series of Santa images in their Christmas advertiseSee Christmas Page 13

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CHRISTMAS TREE TRIVIA • • • • • • • •

Christmas

Continued from Page 12

ments until 1964. The company holds the trademark for the Coca-Cola Santa design.

Christmas ads including Santa continue to the present day.

1939: Copywriter Robert L. May of the Montgomery Ward Company created a poem about Rudolph, the ninth reindeer. May had been “often taunted as a child for being shy, small and slight.”

He created an ostracized reindeer with a shiny red nose who became a hero one foggy Christmas eve.

Santa was part-way through deliveries when the visibility started to degenerate. Santa added Rudolph to his team of reindeer to help illuminate the path. A copy of the poem was given free to Montgomery Ward customers. 6 1949: Johnny Marks wrote the song “Rudolph

Trees

Continued from Page 5

was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.

The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity

the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Rudolph was relocated to the North Pole where he was initially rejected by the other reindeer who wouldn’t let him play in their reindeer games because of his strange looking nose. The song was recorded by Gene Autry and became his all-time best seller. Next to “White Christmas” it is the most popular song of all time.

1993: An urban folk tale began to circulate about a Japanese department store displaying a life-sized Santa Claus being crucified on a cross. It never happened.

1997: Artist Robert Cenedella drew a painting of a crucified Santa Claus. It was displayed in the window of the New York’s Art Students League and received intense criticism from some religious groups. His drawing was a protest. He attempted to show how Santa Claus had replaced Jesus Christ as the

most important personality at Christmas time.

brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to ap-

pear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.

References: Barbara G. Walker, “The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets.”

Harper & Row, (1983) Pages 725 to 726.

“St. Nicholas of Myra,” The Catholic Encyclopedia, at: www.newadvent.org/ cathen/11063b.htm “Father Frost,” at: www.bobandbabs.com/ “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” at: www.stormfax.com/virginia. htm “The Claus that Refreshes,” at: www.snopes.com/cokelore/ santa.htm “Rudolph,” at: www.snopes.com/holidays/ xmas/ “R Cendella Gallery - Theme: Commentary,” at www.rcenedellagallery.com “St. Nicholas of Bari (Fourth Century),” Catholic Information Network, at: www.cin.org/nichbari.html

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.

In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.

Between 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the Christmas Ship would tie up at the Clark Street bridge and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.

The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1933.

Franklin Pierce, the 14th president, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House.

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn.

Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.

Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet.

In 1912, the first community Christmas tree in the United States was erected in New York City.

Christmas trees generally take 6-8 years to mature.

Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.

100,000 people are employed in the Christmas tree industry.

98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.

More than 1,000,000 acres of land have been planted with Christmas trees.

77 million Christmas trees are planted each year.

On average, more than 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.

You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. It can contribute to creosote buildup.

Other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.

Thomas Edison’s assistants came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees.

In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.

Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.

In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.

Tinsel was once banned by the government. Tinsel contained lead at one time, now it’s made of plastic.

In 1984, the National Christmas Tree was lit on December 13th with temperatures in the 70s, making it one of the warmest tree lightings in history.

34 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.

California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are the top Christmas tree producing states.

The best selling trees are Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir and White Pine.

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Holiday

pairs equally well with light and dark meats, as well as Continued from Page 12 roasted vegetables and even days leading up to your chocolate desserts. party preparing dishes that can be cooked ahead of time, and then simply re- MAKE IT UNIQUE Add a special touch to heated when needed.

Think potato gratins or any get-together without mashes, roasted vegetable elaborate decorations. soups, gravies and trifles Create your own festive look by using similarly for dessert.

Alternately, for big fam- colored platters, plates and ily dinners, serve dishes glasses and mixing in fresh buffet or family style that flowers and foods found at are just as delicious at room the local farmers market. temperature as piping hot. Or give more meaning For example, barley to your party by selecting salads and sliced beef can products that do their part be served warm, and can to give back. be perked up with heated sauce.

Finally, choose one food-friendly wine to serve throughout the meal, such as Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir which is sure to impress with its red fruit and dark berry aromas that carry through for a lush, fruity finish.

This wine

For example, Cambria gives $100,000 to women making a difference in their communities with the winery’s Seeds of Empowerment grants.

Highlighting giving programs is a thoughtful way to make your party more memorable and feel even more special to guests.

Every hostess can throw an elegant holiday gathering by following just a few simple tips.

For more ideas to enhance your celebrations, visit www.cambriawines. com.

THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 2014 - THE ELLIS COUNTY PRESS - PAGE 15B

HOLIDAY SEASON

Give Artfully this Holiday Season

Courtesy of StatePoint

When it comes to creative gift-giving, you may feel you’ve exhausted your options, especially for those who seem to have everything. But there’s no need to make a holiday tradition out of giving the same old gifts year-in and year-out.

Luckily, you don’t need to look far to see beyond traditional sources of holiday inspiration.

Whereas in the past you may have had to schedule a trip to a vintage store, art gallery or antique market and pay top dollar to score a unique find, new online marketplaces are conveniently bringing consumers the creativity of talented independent artists and designers.

“We wanted to provide those hungry for unique and beautiful wearables, housewares, accessories and useful items an alternative to the mass retailers,” says Faith Sedlin, CMO of Redbubble a diverse creative community and marketplace that brings together artists and designers from across the globe. “We also wanted to make these items affordable.”

Offering more than 14 million designs, Redbubble, is a great place to start your holiday shopping this season.

Is your gift recipient a fashionista, a metal-head or a sci-fi fan? The site sorts designs by interest, making it easy to find artwork that suits any gift recipient. You then have the option of applying the design to a high-quality item, such as a t-shirt, hoodie, throw pillow, tote bag, duvet cover and more.

A unique, one-of-a-kind gift will mean so much more Unique Art from independent artthan something generic or ists is becoming more widely availpredictable. Not only can you

able, thanks to online retailers.

help your gift recipients transform the look and feel of their living spaces with cool wall art or to stand out in the crowd with apparel that reflects their personalities, you will support an independent artist in the process.

Just be sure to order with plenty of time, as the shipping deadline for some sites may come in advance of the holiday. In the case of Redbubble, holiday gifts should be ordered by December 15. For gift ideas and inspiration, visit www.Redbubble.com.

Before you hit the shops this holiday season, consider reaping the benefits of the artistic renaissance taking place in cyberspace.

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