Merry Christmas Warm Christmas Greetings Floating Your Way — The News-Review and Area Businesses are Sending this Special Delivery of Holiday Cheer from Our Hearts to Yours.
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Happy New Year!
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
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sigourneynewsreview.com
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Holly And Mistletoe Are Symbols Of Christmas “Oh, by gosh, by golly it’s time for mistletoe and holly. Tasty pheasants, Christmas presents, countrysides covered in snow.� As exemplified by this holiday hit by Henry Sanicola, Frank Sinatra and Dok Stanford, holly and mistletoe are an integral part of holiday imagery and tradition. Holly is used to adorn a home in green and red finery alongside evergreen boughs and wreaths. In addition, it has become customary to hang a bouquet of mistletoe under which people are encouraged to share a holiday kiss. While these elements of celebrations are now incorporated into many of the secular and religious components of Christmas, they have very different origins. Holly Holly has been used since the days of the early Pagans as a decoration for midwinter festivities, when it was brought into homes to keep evil spirits away. The ancient Romans also believed holly prickles drove away evil spirits, and it held a place of honor at December festivals dedicated to the god Saturn. To avoid persecution during the Roman pagan Saturnalia festival, early Christians would participate in the tradition of hanging evil-repelling holly on their homes to appear like the masses. Eventually as the number of Christians grew, the tradition became less of a pagan one and more associated with Christians and Christmas. Some people have inferred that holly and its prickly edges is symbolic of the crown of thorns Jesus wore at his crucifixion, with the red berries representing blood. Mistletoe The Norse, Celtic Druids and North American Indians once held mistletoe sacred. It is actually a parasitic plant that grows on a wide range of host trees. Heavy infestation can dwarf the growth and kill these trees. In cultures across pre-Christian Europe, mistletoe was seen as a representation of divine male
essence (and thus romance, fertility and vitality). The plant also was thought to be a symbol of peace, and anyone standing below it should receive tokens of affection. When enemies met beneath mistletoe, they had to lay down their weapons and observe a truce until the next day. This is how the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe likely began, and why a ball of mistletoe is now hung in homes during Christmas, a season of peace and affection. Homeowners who hang mistletoe and holly around their
homes during the holiday season should be mindful of pets and youngsters around the plants. Mistletoe and holly are considered to be moderately to severely toxic, and ingesting the leaves could be dangerous. Therefore, keep these plants away from curious hands. Mistletoe is commonly hung up high, which should make it less problematic, but holly should be hung high as well. Now largely associated with Christmas celebrations, holly and mistletoe were once part of pagan rituals and ancient superstitions.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
sigourneynewsreview.com
Finding Time During The Holiday Season Perhaps no time of year is as busy as the holiday season, when social engagements and holiday shopping combine to dominate so much of what is normally our free time. Additionally, holiday travel and late nights spent at work to make up for lost time also cut into our free time, leaving many people in search of ways to add more hours to the day. Though there’s no way to make a day last longer, there are ways to save some time this holiday season. • Go it alone. Holiday shopping can be very time consum-
ing, but shoppers who decide to shop alone may find themselves more productive and focused on the task at hand. Rather than going from store to store and checking items off multiple shopping lists, shoppers who shop singularly can devote all of their attention to their own lists. • Shop online. This saves the time it takes to drive to and from the mall and walk around multiple stores, all the while saving from the often frustrating and time-consuming experience of finding a parking space. So rather than just eating lunch
at the desk or spending the last hour before bed for the night idling away on the couch, make more efficient use of that time by doing some holiday shopping. • Plan ahead. For example, when choosing a weekend to go Christmas tree shopping, inform others a few weeks in advance and go early to avoid crowds. This saves time and might just help land one of the best trees on the lot. The same principle of planning can be applied to other aspects of the holiday season as well. Planning a meal early allows time to gradually stock up on menu items, saving the hassle of rushing to the store at the last minute. • Don’t shy away from shortcuts when hosting holiday dinners. Hosting a holiday dinner is a big undertaking, one that often finds hosts spending a significant amount of time in the kitchen. For instance, when hosting an especially large meal, don’t be afraid to buy some premade side dishes from a local grocery store or buy a bakery cake rather than whipping up a homemade dessert. Guests will understand some cut corners in an effort to save some time, and the food will likely be just as delicious. • Stay home. Travel is a big commitment come the holiday season, but what about staying home this season? If the time commitment of traveling is something you truly want to avoid this year, invite some friends and family over to your home instead. You might be busier on the day of the holiday, but you will save yourself the travel days you usually build into the holiday season. Parents of young children might prefer to stay home so they can create their own unique holiday memories, while those without children might just appreciate some peace and quiet during this hectic time of year.
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Poinsettia Plant Basics Although poinsettias are most often associated with the holiday season, they are actually tropical plants. In spite of their origins, poinsettias can thrive during the holiday season and even last long after the holidays have come and gone. Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America. Aztecs called the plant cuetlaxochitl. The flowering plant was first introduced to the United States by Joel Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico and was subsequently renamed the poinsettia. It’s important to note poinsettias grow in a warm climate and therefore must be kept in tropical conditions to ensure the plant’s health. Furthermore, poinsettias bloom in response to shortening daylight hours. That means they need ample darkness each night in order to simulate the dark nights of short, winter days. To achieve this, put the plant into a dark closet for 12 to 14 hours each night. During the day, the plant should be in a sunny window where it will have access to bright light. The more light the
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
better. Keep the soil evenly moist. Misting the plant helps it to retain some humidity. Also, fill the overflow saucer on the flowerpot with gravel to allow water seeping through the pot to evaporate from the gravel. Hot temperatures indoors combined with high humidity help the plant to thrive. Even one day without adequate moisture can cause the leaves to drop. Furthermore,
decreasing temperatures can cause leaves to fall off. The goal is to keep the indoor temperature consistent. While many poinsettia plants are discarded after the holiday season, these plants can actually be cut back and saved for next season. Trimming back any
remaining leaves and continuing to care for the plant by keeping it moist can help. To force the blooms next season, start reducing the plant’s exposure to sunlight in mid-September to October. Again, this will mean removing the plant to an area shrouded in complete darkness.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Christmas Tree Lighting Tips Lighting a Christmas tree may seem like child’s play, but time and again people struggle with
the task. Untangling wires and wrapping them around boughs can be nerve wracking, but lighting a tree doesn’t have to be a chore when you follow some tips from the professionals. First, keep in mind that wrapping lights around the tree horizontally is more work and often doesn’t produce a multi-dimensional effect. Rather, string the lights from the trunk up to the top, working vertically. This is actually how the tree decorators at Rockefeller Center in New York City do the famous tree year after year. This method helps eliminate tangled wires and empty spots. Remember to plug in the strands of lights before you begin to check for burnt-out bulbs and to adjust the spacing of lights to prevent dark spots. Think about varying light bulb sizes to add more dimensions. String an inner layer of small LED white lights to produce an inner glow on the tree before adding larger, colored lights on top to increase visual appeal. Just be sure to match the same wattage of the lights so that you do not have power surges and can prolong the life of the bulbs.
sigourneynewsreview.com
sigourneynewsreview.com
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
sigourneynewsreview.com
sigourneynewsreview.com
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
sigourneynewsreview.com
Did You Know? Christmas Day has become a big day in the movie business. Many studios now release big-budget films on December 25, and audiences have recently flocked to the theaters to see some of their favorite stars in films that opened on Christmas Day or shortly before. According to Box Office Mojo, an online movie publication and box office reporting service, no film has fared better on Christmas Day than “Sherlock Holmes,” which premiered on December 25, 2009, earning just under $25 million in its initial day onscreen. “Avatar,” the 2009 James Cameron film that went on to gross $760 million, holds the distinction of earning the second most money on Christmas Day, when it earned a little more than $23 million despite having already been out in the theaters one full week. The 2004 Ben Stiller film “Meet the Fockers” opened three days before Christmas but still managed to earn $19.5 million on Christmas Day. Numerous films are slated to open on December 25, 2013, including Stiller’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” starring Chris Pine and Kevin Costner.
Healthy Holiday Eating Mahaska Health Partnership Clinical Dietitian, Lea Rice, urges everyone to make healthier eating choices. “Many individuals attend multiple celebrations in a short amount of time,” Rice said. “Unfortunately, many of these celebrations involve foods that are not always the best for us. Being aware of the foods we are consuming, it will be easier to enjoy the celebrations without feeling guilty afterwards.” According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it takes 3,500 calories to gain one pound of fat. It is not uncommon for Thanksgiving dinners to contain upwards of 4,500 calories so it’s not difficult to see where the extra weight might come from. “A good idea is to bring a healthier snack to holiday parties, like a veggie tray. If you know you will be tempted to snack, this provides a healthier option. Another great option is to use substitutes. For instance, if a recipe calls for heavy cream, replace it with evaporated skim milk. This saves at least 600 calories and 80 grams of fat per 1 cup!” Rice also suggested other substitutions, including using unsweetened applesauce instead of oil to save almost 900 calories per one-half cup, and including items like flax seed or turkey sausage in casseroles. “Holiday celebrations always seem to bring stress along with them. Simple changes, including eating one slice of pie instead of four, or using a napkin for snacks instead of a plate can save you a lot of unnecessary calories. The most important thing to remember of course though, is to enjoy the holiday season and don’t stress about your weight too much!”
sigourneynewsreview.com
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
11B
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
sigourneynewsreview.com