Christmas Favorite Traditions

1. Christmas Greenery Ancient Egyptians used palm branches, while northern cultures preferred evergreens, to brighten the home during the winter. Continuing a custom that dates back to the 16th century, German immigrants were the first Americans to purchase and decorate Christmas trees, typically in the pine family.

2. Old Saint Nick Today's "jolly old elf," Santa Claus, is based on a real saint who lived in Turkey in the 4th century. Saint Nicholas was renowned for his generosity and love of children. According to historical sources, he would drop coins down the chimney to preserve his anonymity and the dignity of his recipients.

3. Gift Giving Once frowned upon as a pagan custom dating back to the Romans, gift giving is an integral part of our Christmas tradition. Santa's alias, "Kriss Kringle," means Christ child in German, and referred to a medieval legend that the infant Jesus distributed presents.

4. Mistletoe Kissing Remember the following Norse fable the next time you sneak a smooch under the mistletoe: Frigga, goddess of love and beauty, wanted to make the world safe for her son, Balder. Everything on earth promised to do him no harm except the one plant Frigga overlooked, mistletoe. Loki, an evil spirit, made an arrow from the mistletoe's wood and killed Balder. Frigga's tears became the plant's white berries and revived her son. In her gratitude, Frigga promised to kiss anyone who passed under the mistletoe, just as we do today.

5. Candy Canes The striped confections we now love to crunch were once straight white sticks of sugar candy. In the 1600s, in Cologne, Germany, traditional folktales reveal that the candies were bent at the end to remind children of a shepherd's crook and to keep them quiet in church.


http://lifestyle.msn.com/FamilyandParenting/RaisingKids/ArticleBHG.aspx?cp-documentid=105261

What Is The Definition Of .

Amnesia?...What did you just ask me?

Apathy?...I don't care.

Bigotry?...I'm not going to tell someone like you.

Egotistical?...I'm the best person to answer that question.

Evasive?...Go do your homework.

Flatulent?...That question really stinks!

Ignorance?...I don't know.

Indifference?...It doesn't matter.

Influenza?...You've got to be sick to ask me that question.

Insomnia?...I stayed awake all last night thinking of the answer.

Irreverent?...I swear to God, you ask too many questions!

Narcissism?...Before I answer, tell me, don't I look great?

Over-Protective?...I don't know if you're ready for the answer.

Paranoid?...You probably think I don't know the answer, do you?

Procrastination?...I'll tell you tomorrow.

Repetitive?...I already told you the answer once before.

Self-Centered?...Well, I know the answer, that's all that matters.

Suspicious?...Why are you asking me all these questions?

who's deaf and blind(Helen Keller)

The Meaning of Love I remember the morning that I first asked the meaning of the word, “Love". This was before I knew many words. I had found a few early violets in the garden and brought them to my teacher. She tried to kiss me; but at that me I did not like to have anyone kiss me except my mother. Miss Sullivan put her arm gently round me and spelled into my hand, “I love Helen.” What is love? I asked.
She drew me closer to her and said, “It is here,” pointing to my heart. ...Her words puzzled me very much because I did not then understand anything unless I touched it.
I smelled the violets in her hand and asked, half in words, half in signs, a question which meant, “Is love the sweetness of flowers?”
“No,” said my teacher.
Again I thought. The warm sun was shining on us.
“Is this not love?” I asked, pointing in the direction from which the heat came….
A day or two afterward…the sun had been under a cloud all day, and there had been brief showers, but suddenly the sun broke forth in all its southern splendor. Again I asked my teacher, “Is this not love?”
“Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out,” she replied. Then in simpler words than these, which at that time I could not have understood, she explained: “You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day. You can not touch love either; but you feel the sweetness that it pours into everything. Without love you would not be happy or want to play.”
The beautiful truth burst upon my mind -- I felt that these were invisible lines stretched between my spirit and the spirits of others.

this is helen keller's real handwriting:
short biography of her

some funny quote

The more you learn, the more you know,
The more you know, the more you forget
The more you forget, the less you know
So.. why learn.

Hard work never killed anybody" But why take the risk

I was born intelligent - education ruined me.

A bus station is where a bus stops.
A train station is where a train stops.
On my desk, I have a work station...
what more can I say...

Your future depends on your dreams" So go to sleep

There should be a better way to start a day.......... Than waking up every morning

One should love animals. They are so tasty.

before you criticize someone you should walk a mile on their shoes..that way, when you criticize them you'll be one mile ahead and you'll have their shoes

i'm not a vegetarian cause i love animals
i'm a vegetarian cause i hate plants

You are strong... when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave... when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy... when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.

You are loving... when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise... when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true... when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive... when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.

You are growing... when you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free... when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are honorable... when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous... when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble... when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful... when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.

You are merciful... when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful... when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich... when you never need more than what you have.

You are you... when you are at peace with who you are not.