Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

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A long time ago, a bishop named Nicholas lived in what is now the country of Turkey. No one knows much about him. But there are stories that he often helped children who were in need.
Many years after his death, Nicholas was made a saint. In time, he became the patron saint of children. Today, the date of his death, December 6, is an important date in some countries in Europe. On the night before, children put out their shoes and hang up their stockings. Early next morning, they rush to see what gifts Saint Nicholas left them.
Saint Nicholas is dressed as a bishop, of course, wearing a red or white robe and a tall, pointed hat coming to chimneys with 8 reindeers.
Dutch settlers in America continued to celebrate this feast day. Their name for Saint Nicholas was Sinterklaas. And in English, this became Santa Claus.

So close no matter how far... I have you in my heart and nothing else matters...

For most Christians, the Christmas season begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, which is the feast day of Saint Andrew, one of the 12 apostles of Christ. The nearest Sunday is the first day of Advent, a four-week period during which Christians prepare for the celebration of Christmas. The word advent means a coming and refers to the coming of Jesus on Christmas Day.
Many Christians have an Advent wreath in their homes during the holiday season. Most of these wreaths are made of evergreen or holly branches and may lie on a table or hang on a door. Four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent, are placed among the branches. On the first Sunday, the family lights one candle and joins in prayer. They repeat this ceremony on each Sunday of Advent, lighting one ad***ional candle each time. Three of the candles are dark purple, and the fourth is pink or light purple. It remains unlit until the third Sunday, when people celebrate the beginning of the second half of Advent. A large red candle, which symbolizes Jesus, is added to the wreath on Christmas Day.
In many countries, people use special Advent calendars or Advent candles to keep track of the 24 days before Christmas. An Advent calendar has a colorful Christmas scene, and each date is printed on a flap. One flap is lifted daily to uncover a holiday picture or a Biblical verse. On an Advent candle, the dates appear in a row down the side. Each evening, the candle is lit and then burned down to the next date. By Christmas Day, the entire candle has melted.

The Christmas season ends on Epiphany, January 6. In Western Christian churches, Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Wise Men to the Christ child. Among Eastern Christians, this day celebrates Jesus'' baptism. Epiphany falls on the 12th day after Christmas. The song ``The Twelve Days of Christmas" refers to the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany.
So close no matter how far... I have you in my heart and nothing else matters...

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The Christmas Tree probably developed in part from the ``Paradise Tree.", an evergreen decorated with apples used in a popular play about Adam and Eve held on December 24 in medieval Germany. By 1605, some Germans decorated their homes with evergreens for Christmas. They trimmed the trees with fruits, nuts, lighted candles, and paper roses. Later decorations included painted eggshells, cookies, and candies.
Today, some form of Christmas tree is part of every Christmas celebration. Decorations include tinsel, bright ornaments, and candy canes. A star is mounted on top of many Christmas trees and other Christmas displays. It represents the star that led the wise men to the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

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The tra***ional colors of Christmas are green and red. Green represents the continuance of life through the winter and the Christian belief in eternal life through Christ. Red symbolizes the love people share with one another .
Christmas decorations that feature these colors include the Christmas tree, the Christmas wreath, holly, and mistletoe.
The Christmas wreath, like the evergreens used as Christmas trees, symbolizes the strength of life overcoming the forces of winter. In ancient Rome, people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory and celebration. The custom of hanging a Christmas wreath on the front door of the home probably came from this practice.

Holly is an evergreen tree with sharply pointed, glossy leaves and red berries. It is used in making Christmas wreaths and other decorations. The needlelike points of the leaves were thought to resemble the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when He was crucified. The red berries symbolized the drops of blood He shed.
Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with dark leaves and shiny white berries. Ancient Celtic priests considered the plant sacred and gave people sprigs of it to use as charms. The custom of decorating homes with mistletoe probably came from its use as a ceremonial plant by early Europeans. In many countries, a person standing under a sprig of mistletoe may be kissed.

Được britneybritney sửa chữa / chuyển vào 15:39 ngày 20/12/2003

The word carol came from a Greek dance called a choraulein, which was accompanied by flute music. The dance later spread throughout Europe and became especially popular with the French, who replaced the flute music with singing. People originally performed carols on several occasions during the year. By the 1600''s, carols involved singing only, and Christmas had become the main holiday for these songs.

Most of the carols sung today were originally composed in the 1700''s and 1800''s. They include ``O Little Town of Bethlehem" and ``Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The words of the famous carol ``Silent Night" were written on Christmas Eve in 1818 b y Joseph Mohr, an Austrian priest. Franz Gruber, the organist of Mohr''s church, composed the music that same night, and the carol was sung at midnight Mass. ``O Holy Night" was introduced at midnight Mass in 1847. Adolphe Adam, a French composer, wrote the music. Popular nonreligious carols include ``Jingle Bells" and ``White Christmas."
Hey you wanna know how people the world over celebrate Christmas??? Click here Christmas around the world and find it our yourselves!
So close no matter how far... I have you in my heart and nothing else matters...

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May lovely, happy time decorate your holiday season, may warm, special memories brighten your new year, may the wonder of Christmas be with you 4eva!!!!
So close no matter how far... I have you in my heart and nothing else matters...

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Happy new year and may all your wishes be fullfilled .​

Wishing you a Happy
and Prosperous
New Year !!
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Hello! How are you ? I hope you are enjoying yourself to the hilt and having a groovy time! Speaking of which, it''s almost time to shake, rattle and toast the brand newyear! Ya know, I just read sumwhere, the ancient Babylonians celebrated New Year''s Day in March, during the Spring Equinox, way back, about 4,000 years ago! The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days! In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII started the Gregorian calendar which welcomes the New Year on January 1! Guess what, in Spain, as the clock strikes 12 midnight on December 31st, everyone tries to eat 12 grapes. Finishing all 12 grapes before midnight is thought to bring good luck. Another New Year tra***ion is making New Year resolutions! Do ya know, this tra***ion of making resolutions also dates back to the ancient Babylonians ? The early Babylonians'' most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. Well, this year my resolution is to organize my desk and my CD collection! My buddies are forever pulling my leg about my table, which according to them is the equivalent of King Tut''s tomb, a labyrinth where one can get lost at the drop of a hat! I must confess, even I have a hard time in finding things I need! Like if I''m looking for a pen, I''ll end up with my baseball cap, my rejected tie, last year''s new year resolutions (printed in bold letters!) and everything but a pen! Once a friend of mine couldn''t even find the computer mouse! But I''ve resolved to get organized by the first weekend of 2004! (Why do I get a feeling you are laughing ?). Hey, my fave ways of welcoming New Years are by looking at firework displays and celebrating with my friends! Speaking of celebrations and toasts I just found out why a Toast is called a Toast! Long time ago the Romans put a bit of burnt toast in their wine to purify it! The Romans used the word ''tostus'' (roasted) to describe the drink and from then on drinking to the good health and happiness of one''s friends was called a ''toast''! This year we have loads bright and sparkling wishes so you can toast & welcome the New Year and wish your friends and family in style! All tha bezt wishes for everyone in this Ec. Stay cool
Am talkactive, i know.
Im not 'bout lose my freedo' over no female
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