2017 Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions A special publication of the Messenger-Inquirer | Saturday, December 2, 2017

2 Christmas Traditions

Messenger-Inquirer Saturday, December 2, 2017

The origins of some holiday traditions

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hristmastime is here. The presents are being purchased and wrapped. The stockings will soon be hung on the fireplace mantle.

Mistletoe is pinned above the front entryway, and poinsettias add rich color to home decor.

Tradition is integral come the holiday season. Throughout the month of December, traditions fill people’s days and comprise the many reasons why individuals decorate, celebrate and dine the way they do this time of year.

But few may know the origins of some of the most beloved holiday traditions.

C hristmas stockings

The Christmas stockings of today may be a byproduct of various traditions. One such tradition dates back to a Dutch custom in which children would leave shoes full of food to feed St. Nicholas’ donkeys, and then St. Nicholas would leave small gifts in return.

Another origin story of Christmas stockings can be traced to the 12th century, when nuns would leave socks full of nuts, fruit and tangerines for the poor. This is why some people still put tangerines in Christmas stockings.

C hristmas tree

Christmas Trees are everywhere this time of year. The use of evergreen trees predates Christmas and is associated with the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which celebrated the agricultural god Saturn with partying

and gift-giving. During the winter solstice, green branches served as a reminder that spring would arrive anew. Germans are credited with first bringing evergreens into their homes and decorating them.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is hung in doorways, and couples who stand beneath are encouraged to share a kiss. The tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. Mistletoe was thought to bring good luck to a household and ward off evil spirits. The custom of kissing under mistletoe can be traced to England. Originally, a berry was picked from the sprig of mistletoe before the person could be kissed. When all the berries had gone, there could be no more kissing.

bishop who lived during the fourth century. St. Nicholas was very generous and gave away his fortune to help the needy. He also did various other good deeds. St. Nicholas became infamous and began to be known by various names around the world. The

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C hristmas bells

Church bells ring for many special services, including Christmas mass.

During Christmas midnight mass in the Catholic Church, the altar bells may be rung while the priest says the “Gloria.”

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.

Santa C laus

Santa Claus’ origin story can be traced to St. Nicholas, a Christian

Dutch called him Sinter Klaas, which was eventually transformed to Santa Claus. The jolly persona came later when 20th century advertisers — especially the artists responsible for Coca-Cola ads — portrayed Santa in a red suit with a big smile.

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Christmas Traditions

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Christmas cards made easy and efficient

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estive greetings sent to family, friends, coworkers, and business associates are an enjoyable element of the holiday season. The first Christmas card was sent in England in 1843. Despite the popularity of online cards and social media posts for other occasions, and a greeting card industry that is declining at a rate of about 5 percent per year according to an IBISWorld analysis, when it comes to Christmas cards, many people still choose to write out and mail their cards.

The amount of money spent on holiday greeting cards is substantial, accounting for roughly 25 percent of total annual greeting card sales, according to the Greeting Card Association.

Around $2 billion per year is spent on the 1.6 billion Christmas cards people send each year.

Although millions of people are still buying boxed cards, signing and mailing them, there is no denying that the process of choosing, addressing and mailing cards can take a considerable amount of time. Streamlining the process and starting card preparation early can make sending Christmas cards that much easier. Here is how to get started.

Choose your card

Photo greetings remain fashionable, particularly among families who may want to show how much their children have grown over the last year.

Photographers book up quite quickly come the holiday season, and photo printing services may be backlogged in December.

The best way to streamline the process is to choose your family

photo early (take advantage of summer vacations or autumn foliage trips to snap a great shot) and have those cards printed well in advance of the holidays.

If you have the forethought to shop end-of-season sales, purchase deeply discounted generic boxed cards, if this is your card preference.

Maintain your contact list

Keeping a digital file of current addresses can make sending cards much more efficient. Update it regularly as people move or life situations change. While it may be more personalized to hand-address each card, sometimes time constraints may not permit that. Printing address labels can save time. This also gives you more wiggle room to put personal sentiments inside of the card, where they are more appreciated.

Edit your recipients

Mailing greeting cards can get expensive. Carefully review your holiday card list and see if anyone can be removed from the list. Opt for electronic greetings for those people on your list who you are not close with, such as coworkers. Reduce postage costs by personally delivering cards to family, friends and neighbors who live nearby.

Beat the rush

Spend the weekend after Thanksgiving getting cards sealed and ready to ship. This way your attention can be focused on the other holiday-related activities instead of on getting and sending cards.

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4 Christmas Traditions

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Christmas is a special time for so many families. Memories made during the holidays are some you hold dear to you for the rest of your life. Here are some special memories submitted by people who live in Owensboro. n the Dunlop household we would gather by the Christmas tree and sing.

Happy birthday to Jesus before we opened any presents.

— Karen Dunlop he most important Christmas tradition in our family is the Christmas Eve Baby Jesus Birthday Party. Our children and grandchildren gather in our home after Christmas Eve Mass and before any partying is started or any gifts are opened, we light the candles on the Baby Jesus Birthday Cake. Each year a different grandchild is privileged to hold our almost life size ceramic Baby Jesus while we all sing “Happy Birthday”. All of the youngest grandchildren want a chance to hold the special Baby Jesus and we light the cake and sing happy birthday until all the little ones are pleased. Afterwards, we go around the room and everyone gets a chance to say what they are thankful for over the past year. Even the youngest children usually have something to say. We make sure our little ones understand the true meaning of Christmas and that the only reason we exchange gifts is because we are celebrating the birth of our Savior.

— Tom and Ann Castlen

Swedish Gingerbread Cookies Makes 8 cookies

1 cup butter 11/2 cups sugar 1 egg 11/2 tablespoons grated orange peel 2 tablespoons molasses 1 tablespoon orange juice

31/4 cups enriched flour 2 teaspoons soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cloves Throughly cream butter, sugar and egg and beat until light and fluffy. Add orange peel, molasses and orange juice.

Mix well.

Stir together dry ingredients.

Stir into creamed mixture.

Chill dough throughly.

On light floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch, cut with cookie cutter (flour the cookie cutter often) Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 F for 8-10 minutes.

Sprinkle with sugar if you like.

This cookie recipe is made at my house every holiday. It has a very delicious taste and is very good to make ahead and freeze.

We also have a tradition of making gingerbread houses after the Thanksgiving meal. I then use them as a part of my Christmas table decoration. This is our family’s way of kicking off Christmas.

— Jane Miller

Jam Cake 2 cups sugar 1 cup lard 2 cups blackberry jam 5 eggs 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon nutmeg 1 cup raisins 4 cups flour 2 cups pecans 1-2 cups black walnuts 1 cup buttermilk Bake at 350 F until done.

Caramel Icing

3 cups brown sugar 1 cup thick cream 1 heeping tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla Sugar enough to spread

Christmas where we wore long calico dresses and matching bonnets and the men wore This is my grandmother’s checked cotton shirts and hats and recipe. I have been making the food and desserts were from it for 60-plus years. I am now that period.

89-years-old.

Then there was the Christmas — Margaret Hawes she gave every grand child money in antique. wooden puzzle boxes and we had to figure out how to them. That was a great time.

Our family Christmas tradition open This Christmas all her presents ince I can remember, my are going to be wrapped or mem would celebrate the enclosed in Christmas tins that Christmas Holiday in a she has purchased at sales and different way each year and when consignment shops. the family got together to open We always play games for gag presents that was where the fun gifts before we open our real began. presents. We compete to answer Each year, she had a different questions from “Are you smarter theme and decorated the tree than a fifth grader” or some such accordingly. We had an Asian trivia which she finds online.

Christmas where she purchased One Christmas she made up Asian jackets for us to wear. She her own list of questions and the prepared Asian food. Then there first one was, “What is my middle was the Little House on the Prairie name?” None of us grandkids

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could remember, we have always great-grandchildren. known her as mem or memmie or — Sally Halbig memalator.

Blessings to you all at ur family is small Christmas. there are not many — The Roberts Family relatives that my three grandchildren can experience or more than 20 years, the holidays with. As thier my family has celebrated grandmother I have tried to make Christmas with the arrival fun and easy traditions. For the of the “Holy Family” and assorted past five years I have had one animals, sheep, angels, wise men day they all three come to our and shepherds as someone reads house and we bake Christmas Luke 2:1-20. presents. The list of goodies are With every new addition, the always the same, banana bread, role of baby Jesus could be filled brownies and my special peanut with a live infant; other years we butter cookies. I am not a great used a doll. We use whatever we cook so I have found certain boxed have for the costumes and have products work and no body is the bought some animal caps and wiser I have the kids decorate vests, as well as angel gowns and brown paper bags for each person wings and assorted props. The and they fill them with our baked fun begins as they all crowd into goods. the furnace room in the basement The very favorite thing I do close to our family celebration with them is what they refer to as space. They close the door so they “Nanny steals a Christmas tree” can surprise us with which outfit tradition. This is where I take them they have chosen for that year, out on back roads and we cut an and there is lots of giggling and evergreen tree to decorate. I pick preparations. Last year the ages one that is on the side of the road of all who participated was three and we cut it from the middle. This to 21. They don’t mind if they look way it has a nice form and it allows sort of silly and their beards or the tree to grow again. The kids crowns or headpieces fall off — it get so embarrassed because they just adds to the merriment. are afraid someone will see us and Following this “the real may know them or me and call the meaning of Christmas” we open cops. I have them watch for cars presents. As with many families, while I get out and cut. After we as our brood gets older and it do the deed I take them to a little becomes more difficult to find a mom and pop country store to eat. time, our “Christmas” could be Throughout the year I tease them anywhere from Thanksgiving by pointing out possible Christmas to New Year’s but it will always trees we may need to consider for be a very important part of our our traditional outing. celebration.

— Jonnie Cambron-Phillips We are blessed with four grown children; one son-in-law; he Parker Family three daughters-in-law; nine Annual Christmas Lights grandchildren ranging in age from, Extravaganza started in one grandson-in-law; and three 1979 as nothing more than a father

taking his two-year-old daughter to see what she called the “purty yights.”

If you asked my dad, the tradition probably started as a simple way to occupy a toddler, but for me it is still one of my most special memories and I know it became one of his too. We would drive around town enjoying not only the Christmas lights, but also the decorated trees in windows, and sometimes just pretty houses or areas. We enjoyed the sites together and that was the most special part of all.

As I grew older, grandchildren joined the trips. Soon cars were replaced by SUV’s, vans, and sometimes multiple trips to accommodate everyone. I loved that my own kids were enjoying this experience with my dad, but I missed it too. With the family growing by leaps and bounds,

Christmas Traditions

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soon even the big kids were forced to give up their seat. We joked and asked why only the little kids got to have all of the fun and not the big kids or the biggest kids, the adults? Of course, picking and choosing who could go wasn’t fair so one year our parents surprised the whole family with a brilliant idea. They rented a bus. The entire family could enjoy the fun together and now this special night is shared by not only family, but also friends. Amazingly, no matter how big the family gets, there is always plenty of room on the bus for everyone who can make it.

The passenger list starts with our patriarchs, Larry and Debby Parker, their six children and spouses, and a continually growing list of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Parker Family Annual Christmas Lights Extravaganza has grown into an

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6 Christmas Traditions

Messenger-Inquirer Saturday, December 2, 2017

amazing full family tradition, but dad always mentions the ‘purty yights’. I think for he and I, that’s still our favorite part.

— Submitted by Tennille McIntyre on behalf of Larr y and Debby Parker and entire Parker family

Togetherness uring the holiday season, each family has their own traditions. With those, there are a lot of thoughts that come into my mind. Some of those are thoughts of excitement because I love the spirit of Christmas, but others tend to be a bit bittersweet. Since I was born, I was always extremely close with my mom’s side of the family.

In my eyes, they are the only one’s I have truly ever had. My family, consisting of only seven people, means the world to me.

For Christmas, we always go out to eat on Christmas Eve before going to church. After church, we all head home to get a good night sleep. Then, when it is actually Christmas Day, we open presents at our own homes and then head straight over to my grandma and pappy’s.

When it came to traditions, the one person that held my family together was my grandma. Above everyone else in the world, she was my best friend. No matter what anyone believed, we all

had to get together and do the traditions like always such as getting together on Christmas Eve to eat, going to church, gathering at their house, and then sitting in the living room opening presents by each persons age in order. Most years the order went youngest to oldest, but some went oldest to youngest just to put my pappy in the hot seat which was always humorous. My grandma was the best gift giver because no on ever had to give her ideas on presents because she knew all of us so well. This day has always been a special one where we all could come together, have fun, laugh, and be happy.

Then, four years ago in September, the one person who held my family together, my grandma, passed away due to pancreatic cancer. On any given day, it is still hard to understand, but holidays are when it gets to be the toughest. In the years after, my family does not come together as much as we used to since the kids have grown up and we have all gotten busier. Although times change and we all grow up, my family has never let go of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditions. Even though we lost our eighth and most important member to the family, the traditions have survived and we all plan to keep them going in years to come. Family means the most to me, especially during the holidays,

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Christmas Traditions

Christmas recipes Susie’s Sour Cream Waffles Yield: 12-14 waffles

4 eggs 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1 cup sour cream 1 cup milk 1 cup butter, melted 2 cups flour, sifted 1 tsp baking soda Preheat waffle iron. Beat eggs until light. Sift together flour, salt, soda, and baking powder. Set aside. Mix the sour cream and milk together. Add flour mixture, sour cream, and milk to beaten eggs (alternately), beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add melted butter; blend thoroughly. Pour batter into center and spread to 1 inch from edge, about 1/2 cup. Cook until steaming stops.

Homemade Syrup 1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup white syrup 1/2+ tsp. maple flavoring

Heat ingredients in a saucepan on medium high; bring to a boil. Once there, reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved and syrup reaches desired thickness.

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7 Up Biscuits 4 c. Bisquick 1 c. sour cream 1 c. 7 Up 1 stick butter or margarine Melt butter in 9x13 pan.

Mix Bisquick, sour cream, and 7 Up in bowl.

Pour onto floured surface.

Put flour all on top and sides so they won’t be sticky.

Roll and cut out biscuits, Bake 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes

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8 Christmas Traditions

Messenger-Inquirer Saturday, December 2, 2017

No Fuss Potato Soup 1 (32 ounce) package frozen hash brown potatoes 1 medium onion, chopped 1 (141/2 ounce) can chicken broth 2 cups water 1 can cream of celery soup 1 12 oz. can low-fat evaporated milk Combine first four ingredients in large soup pan.

Bring to a boil.

Cover, reduce heat.

Simmer for 30 minutes.

Stir soup, milk; Heat thoroughly.

Note: Shredded HB makes thinner soup. Cubed makes chunkier soup

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Skillet Peanut Butter Candy (like Butterfingers) 2 cups sugar 1 cup water ¾ cup white syrup 2 cups creamy peanut butter Butter an iron skillet and cover bottom with peanut butter. Set aside.

In saucepan, mix well sugar, water and syrup. Cook to hard crack (290-300 degrees). Pour mixture over peanut butter and mix well with a fork. Keep sides of iron skillet clean. Pour onto large buttered cookie sheet and cut with scissors into rectangles before it hardens (I use a pizza cutter). Dip in candy chocolate.

— Tammy Johnson

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Ideas for making holiday memories Counting down to Christmas Day means many different things to people across the globe. Although families likely have several different traditions they anticipate each year, it can be fun to incorporate some new merrymakers into the festivities. Here are some festive ideas to include in the days leading up to Christmas — a special family calendar of fun finds.

1. Annual memento

Have the kids or adults make one new handmade ornament each year. This way the tree is always evolving, and everyone can track milestones.

2. Cookie day

Devote one day to making Christmas cookies. Invite friends or family members over.

Distribute some cookies to elderly neighbors.

3. Holiday classic

Spend a night in and watch a classic Christmas flick you’ve never seen before.

Streaming movie services often put classics and obscure titles into rotation during the holiday season.

4. Christmas concert

Host a gathering of children where they can sing or perform their favorite tunes for an audience. Take it on the road to a nearby nursing home.

5. Dine out

Take a break from cooking, shopping and

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10 Christmas Traditions

Messenger-Inquirer Saturday, December 2, 2017

hosting and stop into a restaurant you’ve been meaning to try.

Keep it local to support nearby businesses.

and make it happen this Christmas. It can include feeding the hungry or helping a disabled person shop for the season.

6. Adopt a child/family

12. Kids’ Secret Santa

Volunteer with a charitable organization that provides for less fortunate families. Answer the Christmas desires of a needy child or family by purchasing an item on their wish lists.

7. See the sights

Spread the joy of giving by having the kids choose a sibling or friend’s name from a hat and purchasing or making a gift for that person.

13. Hand out hot chocolate

questions and hide small trinkets for children to find.

17. Surprise box

Put a gender and age nonspecific gift into a box. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the person who finds a hidden gift tag under their chair at dinner

gets to open the box.

18. Family portrait

Wear your holiday finery and pose for a portrait that actually will be printed and framed.

Pack the children into the family car to tour nearby areas Make a big and look at Christmas lights thermos of hot displays. Bring along cookies and chocolate and give hot chocolate. it out to shoppers or workers who have been out in the cold.

Get together with adult friends at a tree-trimming party. Rotate the hosting house each year.

8. Trim a tree

9. Play dress-up

A gentleman can dress up as the man in red and pop into a friend’s holiday gathering.

10. Wilderness walk

14. Read religious stories

Understand the true meaning of the season by reading Biblical passages.

15. Camp-in

The first night the tree is Enjoy the crisp air and snow decorated, allow the kids to and see a local park from a winter sleep beside it under the glow of perspective.

Christmas lights.

11. Acts of kindness Choose any act of kindness

16. Scavenger hunt Plan holiday-themed trivia

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Christmas Traditions

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pine tree trimming

tips and techniques

p

eople have visited forests to select their Christmas trees for centuries. While tree sellers conveniently stationed in store parking lots and artificial trees displayed in various retailers have led fewer people to venture into the wilderness, the Christmas tree is still an important component of holiday celebrations.

Long before the spread of Christianity, evergreen plants and trees held special meaning for people during the winter.

Boughs and garlands were hung in homes and over doors and windows to repel evil spirits and illnesses. On the winter solstice, the greenery would represent that spring would once again arrive and banish winter’s dreariness.

Germans who decorated trees inside of their homes are credited with starting Christian Christmas tree traditions during the 16th century. Early Americans were late to adopt Christmas trees because early Puritan settlers thought the tradition — as well as carols and other concepts — were Pagan influences.

It took the popularity of England’s Queen Victoria and her German Prince Albert appearing around a decorated Christmas

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presents, place a narrow tree stand inside of a waterproof planting container.

Place the tree inside. This will provide a more streamlined look that’s neater than a tree skirt.

The more lights the better, especially on dense trees.

For a whimsical approach, match the tree decor to home decor and the color of furniture.

Make handcrafted ornaments with the whole family.

Hang the most delicate pieces toward the top where they won’t be disturbed.

Step back and enjoy your handiwork, which will also give you a chance to find any blank spots that need filling in.

Tree trimming is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the holiday season, and there are no rules other than safety guidelines when it comes to decorating.

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tree to eventually win over much of Europe, Canada and the United States.

Trees are very popular today.

According to StatisticsBrain, 10 million artificial trees are sold in the United States each year, while 34.5 million real tress are sold annually. Such trees require decorating, and the following secrets and tips can help celebrants do just that.

Prune the tree first. Be sure to shape the tree as desired, since natural trees will have branches sticking out.

Wear gardening gloves to avoid being covered in sap.

Position trees away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, vents or radiators, which can cause the tree to dry out prematurely and become a fire risk.

For added safety, anchor a tree to a wall or ceiling, so it will not tumble over onto children or curious pets.

In homage of the first German Christmas trees, decorate with natural ingredients, such as berries and pinecones. Also, use apples, nuts and marzipan candies.

To free up more space for

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12 Christmas Traditions

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