Children love to write letters to Santa Claus. Usually parents lend a hand. How should a parent help a child write a letter to Santa Claus? Here are some tips that will make your child’s letter to Santa more than just a list of gifts he or she wants.

Dear Santa………
First of all, a letter to Santa should be a personal message from your child to Santa Claus, not to a parent or grandparent. The child’s own words should be used and his or her personality should shine through. Very young children ages 2 to 5 can draw or cut out pictures to show gifts they want for the holidays. The parent can write down words just as the child says them. Encourage your child to watch as you print and say the letters out loud. Talk about the sounds the letters make. Show the child how to leave a space between each word.

Kindergarten through Third Grades
For children in kindergarten through third grade, making a chart of words is a great idea. The child can think of words first, get help spelling them, illustrate them, and then write the letter by himself. The 5 and 6 year olds will need a bit of additional help. It helps to have a chart showing the form of a letter to Santa, for example, showing where to put the date, the greeting, the body of the letter, and the closing. Your child should tell Santa the good things they have done during the year, as well as what they wish for as gifts.

Grades 3 through 5
Children in grades 3 through 5 probably don’t believe in Santa Claus, but can be encouraged to write a letter anyway, “for fun”. Encourage your child to tell what good deeds he/she has done during the year and how he/she has helped others. Have the child put in a “Good wish for the world.” The child can also tell “Santa” their goals for the coming year. Parents can respond to these letters, giving advice and sending love to their children. Keep the letters to Santa Claus for posterity.

All children should send best wishes to everyone at the North Pole. The letters may be mailed to: Santa Claus, The North Pole, The Arctic, Earth.

Do you ever feel as though your children don’t understand the true meaning of Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza? Do your children write letters to Santa Claus that are laundry lists of expensive presents they want? Read the following story and consider helping your children learn the true meaning of the holidays.

Since 1997, Lori Fletcher, working in New York, hasn’t sent Christmas cards to her business clients.
Instead, she’s sending them notes saying what gifts she has purchased for poor children in the area.

Stories like this flood in from the Operation Santa Claus office (http://www.operationlettertosanta.com/Pages/story_1.htm) every Christmas where poor kids write in requesting just one simple gift. Some people take home over thirty letters from children and still feel that it isn’t enough.

Operation Santa Claus receives over 150,000 letters to Santa from children in need, most of them in the New York area. Post Office workers volunteers to sort the letters and track the gifts - this is an amazing story of generosity from people at every level in the city.

One kid included a picture of a Rolex watch he had cut out of a magazine advertisement, and advised, “I have been good almost every day.” One girl asked for “pencils for school,” and said it was important because she wanted to be a secretary when she grows up.

One boy wrote to Santa, “I love you and I will always believe in you.”

How can my family learn the true meaning of the holidays?

Of course your children will still write their letters to Santa Claus. But, think of the lessons in humility, love, and generosity your children would learn if every parent insists that each Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza the children in the family use money they earned doing chores or saved from their allowances to purchase gifts for needy children.

Even if the “gift” costs only fifty cents or is made by hand, the importance of helping others less fortunate will be learned and appreciated. You don’t know any needy families? Ask the school principal, your pastor or priest, or call a Mission in a low socioeconomic area and you will find plenty of them. To make the lesson more powerful, the givers should remain anonymous.

Learn the true meaning of the festive season this year!

It is fascinating to know how Santa Claus makes kids around the world very happy during Christmas. Every wish come true and smiles can be seen from their faces. This happiness may even last for a lifetime. But have you ever thought if Santa has other names? When and how he brings the gifts all over the world?

Every country calls Santa’s in a different name (Father Santa, Kris Kringle, Granfather Frost, etc) and he has unique ways in bringing gifts to the children. Below is the list of countries where Santa is giving away presents.

• Known as Santa Claus in Canada, Alaska and US while Kerstman in Netherlands, he loves to bring gifts on a sleigh ride with his reindeers and flies through the sky during Christmas Eve.

• In Germany, gifts are given during December by Knecht Ruprecht (on the 6th), Christkind, (on the 24th), Belsnickel and der Weihnachtsmann.

• La Befana (Old Witch) is flying on her broomstick to give candies to kids in Italy. This is done on the night before Epiphany.

• In France, Pere Noel places the gifts in the shoes that kids have left near a fireplace. This is observed every 6th of December.

• Children in Africa hung their stockings where Father Christmas would place their presents during Christmas Eve.

• Heiliger Nikolaus (St. Nicholas) give rewards to good children in Austria during December 6. While Christ Child brings gifts during December 24.

• It is quite different in Belgium because Pere Noel (St. Nicholas) visits the children twice. First is every December 4 so he’ll find out who have been good and bad among the children. Then good children would receive toys and candies while the bad ones will find twigs on their stockings on December 6.

• Santa Clause (Winter-grandfather, Tel-apo or Mikulas) in Hungary has similar practice as in Belgium which is done on the 6th of December.

• In Brazil, Papai Noel (Father Noel) who usually wears a silk clothe will bring the gifts for Christmas. However, Latvians believe that Father Christmas brings gifts for 12 starting on the eve of Christmas.

• Kids in Sweden will behave all year so that during Christmas, Santa would give them great presents such as toys and candies. They would hang stockings on their Christmas tree. During Christmas Eve Santa will come down the Chimney and put their presents on the stockings underneath the Christmas tree.

• St. Nicholas is very popular in Russia because of the miracles that he had performed. A feast is being celebrated every Dec 6. But later on, his identity changed into D’yed Moroz (Grandfather Frost). During January 1 D’yed Moroz (Grandfather Frost) arrives to bring gifts from a Sputnik-drawn sleigh.

• UK’s gift giving tradition started in the Victorian era. Santa is known as Father Christmas and children would write letters to him about the presents they want to receive. However, instead of sending the letter, they would burn them because they believe that Father Christmas would be able to determine their wishes through the smoke.

No matter how we call Santa in our country, there is one goal that he always would like to achieve which is to give joy to the kids all over the world and make them feel that the earth is a great place to live.

Is Santa Claus Real? This is a question that is on most children’s lips at some point in their childhood. What will you tell your child what they ask if Santa Claus is real?

Of course Santa was a real person. He was St Nicholas, the patron saint of giving. St Nicholas was born in 300 AD. He was a holy man, being brought up in a monastery after being orphaned at an early age. He remained within the monastery and rose to the position of bishop.

He obtained his reputation for giving because there are many tales of him giving gifts to the poor and needy and in particular children.

Over the years the European community have embraced to concept of St Nick and customised it to make it their own. Because of this Santa’s appearance sometimes changes, his cloak may be described as different colours but his ‘Giving’ nature remains the same.

It is sometimes considered that Christmas festivities which do not include the nativity misconstrued the meaning of Christmas. However, St Nicholas was a religious man and lived his life according to the holy scriptures of the time and it’s because of this that Santa and the Nativity hold parallels.

The birth of Jesus Christ itself depicts God giving mankind his only son, and the prospect of the gift of eternal life. Additionally the three wise men also came bearing gifts for the baby Jesus.

Although St Nicholas lived many years ago, he still lives on. He lives because he is a major part of Christmas and we all keep Santa alive, and he lives in us every year that we give one another a gift at Christmas time. So when your child asks you if Santa Claus is real, say - Yes.

Visit www.santaspostbag.co.uk for a free special Christmas message to send to your child from Santa, so that they know that the patron saint of giving - Father Christmas himself still lives.

Everyone knows Rudolf. He is Santa’s leading reindeer on account of his red nose that lights Santa’s way through the winter night sky every Christmas Eve.

However, there is no mention of Rudolf in Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem ”Twas the Night Before Christmas (‘also known as ‘A Visit From St Nicholas’) written in 1822. More clearly names all of Santa’s reindeer -

“Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!

On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!”

But Moore doesn’t make any reference to Rudolf.
Rudolf is a later addition to the festive season. The famous Christmas song ‘Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer’ was written by Robert L. May originally created as an advertising strategy for the Montgomery Ward Department Store in 1939.

The song depicts the heart-warming tale of the disfigured reindeer. Rudolf has the obvious deformity of a bright red nose. Because of his nose he is ridiculed and cast out from reindeer society.

“All of the other reindeer,

Used to laugh and call him names,

And they wouldn’t let poor Rudolf,

Join in any reindeer games.”

However, Rudolf’s luck changes when Santa sees Rudolf’s affliction as an asset and asks Rudolf - “Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

This simple but touching story line won the hearts of millions, so much so that Rudolf was added to the festive season as a special companion of Santa.

More Christmas info at www.santaspostbag.co.uk

As a parent with young children, I used to wonder how it would feel once my children grew up and stopped believing in Santa Claus. How would we stop the wonderful Christmas morning ritual of opening their Christmas stockings together? What would we do to replace that warm feeling of all sitting round with delightful gifts from Santa?

Well, my children are going to be 21, 19 and 16 this coming Christmas, and we still continue to enjoy the wonderful myth of Santa - though they stopped believing in him long ago.

Last year my suggestion that everyone was old enough to manage without their stockings from Santa was greeting by an uproar - in particular, from my eldest son who simply loves the magic of Christmas.

Although each of my children still get plenty of presents under the tree, the fun of choosing small and appropriate gifts for their stocking is one of the most enjoyable preparations for Christmas.

Each year I enjoy choosing them gifts such as gold-wrapped chocolate coins, crazy toys & stocking fillas, a book and/or magazine that they’ll enjoy reading, dried fruits (- such as apricots, or figs), useful stuff like fun rulers, erasers and pencils, character socks or underwear, as well as the obligatory silver coin and satsuma or orange for the bottom of the stocking.

In recent years I’ve added a DVD to the list too - buying these cheap from discount outlets has meant that it’s not so expensive - although for many people this is a luxury. I now budget about the same for the stocking as I do for their present itself - around £40-£50. In previous years, I’ve managed to fill their stockings for around £15 - in fact, they all say that their best year was the year that their stocking was full of nuts and dried fruits.

I have often started collecting stocking filler items as early as the summer - particularly when the children were young and finances were particularly stretched. In the July sales there’s often plenty of bargain & fun items that are ideal stocking fillers. Each year I wonder if our tatty stockings (they’re all long socks left over from my teenage years or from their grandfathers rugby days) will manage to hold these goodies bursting out of them. Every year I wonder how I’ll manage to find enough to fill one of these socks, but end up with more gifts and toys than there’s room for.

Whatever your children enjoy or like - with a little creativity you can ensure that their eyes will light up on Christmas morning as they sit on their beds and open their full-to-bursting Christmas stockings.

The belief of Father Christmas the giver of presents adds excitement for many children to the festive season. St Nick, the jolly, plump man dressed in a scarlet cloak and hat trimmed with white fur, who delivers presents in the dead on night on Christmas Eve. His reindeer fly him from roof to roof so he can drop down the chimney pots to stuff stockings with gifts ready for Christmas morning. No wonder parents want to hold their children’s faith in Santa Claus as long as possible. Here are some tips to plant hard evidence of the existence of Santa.

Mince pies and Sherry
Before your child goes to bed on Christmas Eve, let them prepare a snack For Santa. Leave a mince pie and a small glass of sherry out for him in the living room.

Before you go to bed, drink the sherry and eat mince pie. Make sure you leave a lot of crumbs on the plate.

Reindeer bells
Buy some bells and ever reveal hem to your child. An hour or so after bedtime nip outside, out of view of your child’s bedroom window and ring your bells to mimic the sound of bells on Santa’s reindeer collars.

Correspondence from Santa
Of course you can’t do this in your own handwriting because you will get caught out. At www.SantasPostbag.co.uk you can send a free personalised email to your child, adding details such as the child’s age, best friend and even the family pet adds credibility to the letter and the existence

Wish list letters to Santa
SantasPostbag.co.uk also enables you child to write a letter to Santa, listing toys they are hoping to find under their Christmas tree and your child receives a reply from Santa which rein-forces he existence of Santa.

Use these little tips to prolong your child’s magical belief in Father Christmas.

We all know Santa’s story by now. He was originally a bishop back in the day, and after he died he became known as Saint Nicholas, or Saint Nick for short. And even way back then, before Christmas became a major holiday, the anniversary of his death was a day to celebrate by giving out gifts. But most of us don’t know that Saint Nick actually had a bad rap for a while, and that is actually how he got all of the other names we know him by today.

During the time of great change in the Christian Church known as the Protestant Reformation, which occurred in the 1500s, the famous Martin Luther declared that all good Christians should stop celebrating saints. For the devout followers of Luther, that meant also stopping the celebration of Saint Nick, no matter how fun the gift giving had become.

But of course, not all Christians stopped celebrating Saint Nick, not even all of the Protestants. Instead of stopping the celebration, they crafted a plan to enjoy the Saint Nick holiday in secret. This is when Saint Nick became known in England as “Father Christmas”. In Germany, people referred to Santa as “Christmas Man”, and the Dutch created the name “Sinterklass.”

About this time, a large majority of Dutch settlers moved to New Amsterdam in America—what would later become New York—and brought their celebration of Sinterklass with him. Americans caught on to the idea, and tried to pronounce his name right. But instead, what came out was “Santa Claus.”

However, Santa Claus did not hit the big time until the author of “Sleepy Hollow,” Washington Irving, got wind of Santa Claus and promoted him the American press. This happened in the early 1800s, when Washington Irving wrote a story called the “A History of New York,” in which he went into great detail about a man called “Sinterklass.” This Saint Nick was fat and short, wore a funny costume, and would travel around on the Eve of Saint Nicolas on a horse.

The idea of jolly gift-giving man caught on in the American press. Another writer, the poet Clement Clark Moore, wrote a poem called “A Visit from St. Nicolas,” which is better known as, “The Night Before Christmas.” It was Moore who made Saint Nick a jolly old elf who flies around the night in a magical sleigh powered by eight flying reindeer. We all know the names of those reindeer, right? Well, Moore also included them in his poem.

Americans would get their best images of Santa Claus in the magazines of the late 1800s, when the cartoonist Thomas Nast put out his own visions of Saint Nick in Harper’s Weekly. For Nast, Santa was a bigger man with a big fat belly, who wore a red suit lined with fur and a big leather belt. Nast also started drawing images of Santa’s workshop in the North Pole, and Santa using a list to keep track of his kids who were naughty and nice.

Of course, these are all the images of Santa that we use today in the newspapers, in cartoons, and on TV. Or should we say, perhaps, images of Sinterklass?

Christmas is a worldwide phenomenon, and so is the holiday’s number one fan and symbol, Santa Claus. So it makes sense that because people all over the world celebrate Christmas differently, they also see Santa in different ways and have different traditions.

For instance, in France Christmas goes by the term Noel, and Santa goes by the name Pere Noel. Like the United States, the French who celebrate the holiday do so with a Christmas tree. Sometimes, the French decorate their trees in the traditional, which is with bright red ribbons and real candles, instead of the garland, electric lights, and fancy decorations used in the US. They also believe in decorating outside, especially the evergreen trees on their properties, which they cover with lights that they leave on all night long.

In Hungary, the Christmas tradition is a bit different than the French or American versions. In this Eastern European country, Santa Claus is called the “Winter Grandfather,” or Mikulas in their language. He comes not on Christmas Eve, but on December 6. It’s the job of children before this day to make sure that they are clean and that they have cleaned their rooms. For these good children, Winter Grandfather leaves candies and toys for them in freshly cleaned shoes or boots. For those children who don’t clean? They get a golden birch, which means they deserve a spanking! In Hungary it’s not Santa Claus (or Winter Grandfather), but Baby Jesus and the angels who brings presents and the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. To give him time to set them up, families usually go visit a relative’s house or go to the movies.

In Germany, the holidays are all about the decorations. They love putting electric candles in their lights, and covering their homes with all sorts of lights and colors. The German specialty decoration is the Adventskranz, which is actually a leaf wreath with four candles in it. And like many American homes, Germans like to decorate inside with a manger scene, the famous depiction of the stable, with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, animals, and the Three Wise Men. Father Christmas brings children from Germany presents on Christmas Eve, while St. Nicholas brings small gifts on December 6.

Kids should consider moving to Latvia along the Baltic Sea for Christmas time. There, Father Christmas brings presents for all of the 12 days of Christmas, with the first day of gift giving coming on Christmas Eve. Latvia also claims to be the home of the first ever Christmas tree, documented in the year 1510. Then again, you might want to check the menu before visiting this country. The traditional meal on Christmas is brown peas with bacon sauce, sausage, cabbage, and small pies.

Here’s a meal that sounds delectable and Christmas will still be a blast—it’s in New Zealand. Since Christmas arrives in the middle of summer for New Zealand children, their Christmas dinners usually include foods on the BBQ, like ham, shrimp and fish. Many towns enjoy Christmas parades throughout the holiday season. Similar to children in America, families open Christmas presents from Santa Claus on Christmas Day. However, some people love Christmas so much, they also celebrate this Santa-driven holiday in the middle of July, when it is cold enough for a proper English Christmas dinner.

Wherever you are on the map, you can obviously enjoy Christmas in one way or another. And don’t worry. With his reindeer-powered sleigh, Santa will find you no matter where in the world you are living.

To many, the appearance of Santa in malls and in stores means that Christmas is coming. Children anticipate the coming of the season and Santa is a symbol of their very childhood happiness. Sure, Santa isn’t the reason the holiday exists. Nevertheless, he is still an integral part of the celebrations, especially in the United States.

There are a few reasons why you could need Santa costumes. Perhaps you are a store or mall who is looking to hire a Santa Claus or two to help attract more customers, or to simply make the kids happy. Maybe you are throwing a party and want Santa to make an appearance. Or perhaps you are holding a holiday costume party and need the Santa costumes for some of your guests.

Each of these cases may require different Santa costumes. For example, if a child wants to dress up as Santa, then the costume will be smaller and have less fabric. If a female wants to dress up as ìSantaî it will be made differently than costumes designed for men.

Finding Santa Costumes

There are a few places you can typically find Santa costumes. Around Christmas, you may be able to find some in department stores with the Christmas decorations. You can definitely rent them but since it is a high demand season for Santa costumes, you may need to reserve it well in advance. If you get a job as a mall or department store Santa, the establishment may have Santa costumes for you to choose form.

Making Santa Costumes

Of course, you can always make your Santa costumes. This works especially well if you need to make some modifications to the typical costume. For example, if you are going to a costume party, you may want to create a costume that has considerably less fabric. Also, it may be harder to find Santa costumes for children or women so this is a great alternative to finding them in the stores.

Getting into Character

Once you find your costume, you will need to get into character. Think about what Santa is and isn’t. He’s nice, jolly, and filled with joy. He isn’t mean or cranky. If you are going to be interacting with children, it is especially important to remember this.

Are you thinking of dressing up as Santa Claus this wintertime? Maybe you have been invited to be Santa for the local school Christmas fair, or maybe you’re off to a fancy dress party. Maybe you just want to do something special for your children this Christmas time by dressing up as Father Christmas and sneaking into their bedrooms this Christmas Eve, to deliberately be seen and to deliver them a special gift. Don’t get caught though, because they’ll never believe in Santa Claus again.

When buying your Santa costume there are some things that you need to consider to pass yourself off as an authentic Santa Claus.

Santa is rather a plump fellow with a ‘little round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly’ - ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. Father Christmas isn’t a heavy drinker, he doesn’t have a beer belly. Obviously he is plump because he eats all those mince pies on Christmas Eve. Anyway, my point is that unless you also over do it on the mince pies, you’re going to have to make yourself plump. The easiest way to do this is to sew tape ties on to the top of a cushion, so that you can wear it around your waist like an apron. You may need to give your new belly a bit of manual assistance to wobble like jelly when you laugh. When buying or renting your costume, make sure that you buy a size that will accommodate your new figure.

Santa is also known for his rosy cheeks ‘His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry’ - ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. Of course being out in the night air so long on Christmas Eve, it’s no wonder that his cheeks are rosy. Make your cheeks and nose rosy by applying some pink blusher. Make a pink circle on each cheek and a smaller one on the tip of your nose. Don’t worry if you feel a little foolish, it will look great when you have the full costume on.

Santa’s boots are very individual, you can’t get away with just wearing black wellingtons. Santa rides on a sleigh, he doesn’t wear boots to keep his feet dry, he wears them to keep warm. Your boots need to appear to be fur lined and they need to have a fleecy turnover at the top of the boot.

Finally, you need to perfect your “Ho, Ho, Ho.” It needs to be in a low pitch and needs to sound happy. Santa’s trademark “Ho, Ho, Ho” isn’t just Santa’s chuckle for when he finds something amusing, but he also uses it when he makes a mistake. So if he leaves sooty foot prints on the carpet “Ho, Ho, Ho,.” If he knocks your Christmas tree over “Ho, Ho, Ho” and with cold numb fingers, Santa is often clumsy.

If you are dressing up as Christmas time, please make sure that you abide by this advice and do not blemish Santa’s reputation, but do have a splendid time. Laugh lots, and hover around the mince pies!

Many people from around the world dress in Santa suits each year but fewer people know how the tradition started. St. Nicolas was a Catholic Bishop around 300 AD who spent a large sum of his money and time giving gifts to children. Dressed in his red robe with a long white beard and red hat, he later became a saint.

But when the Reformation happened, and the Protestants split from the Catholic Church, they still continued the concept of St. Nicholas as being a Christmas figure and his Christmas costume stayed the same for the most part. But not long after that point each country began developed their own Christmastime gift-givers, putting them in similar Santa suits, although they varied in color (and some of which were even dressed in black).

For example, in England St. Nick became Father Christmas. But instead of the Santa suits of St. Nick of the Catholic Church, sprigs of holly, ivy and mistletoe adorned his outfit. In France, the Protestants called him Pere Noel while the Germans called him Weihnachtsmann, which means Christmas man. To the Dutch, he was known as Sinterklaas. As immigrants came to America many people from the mixed nationalities mispronounced his name and Sinterklaas became Santa Claus.

But even countries that didn’t have a connection to Christianity began to have their own ‘wintertime’ customs. For example, when Russia became a communist state, and outlawed Christianity, Santa’s name was changed to Grandfather Frost. Pictures of him in any Santa suits showed him dressed in blue rather than the traditional red garb.

But no matter the names for the figure or the colors of their Santa suits, the ‘St. Nicks’ of the world have always had two things in common: they all have long, white beards and they all carry gifts for children.

One of Santa’s favorite traditions around Christmas time—and surely a favorite tradition of men everywhere during Christmas —is that of mistletoe. When a man catches his wife or special someone under the mistletoe, he gets to plant a kiss on her. Of course, with all other Christmas traditions, this wonderful habit is almost as old as the snow that falls around Christmas time.

It actually all started with an ancient myth from the Nordic people of Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Hundreds of years ago, the goddess Frigga had a son named Balder who was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe. Frigga was so sad that her son died, that she cried and cried, but instead of tears, white berries poured down her cheeks. These were no ordinary white berries, and they actually worked to bring Balder back to life by stripping the poison from the mistletoe. That made Frigga so happy that she blessed all mistletoe, and anyone walking underneath it was given a free kiss.

Of course, the Nordic folks were not the only ancient people who used and believed in the magical powers of mistletoe. The ancient Druids of the United Kingdom were big fans of the evergreen plant, and would distribute it to all the people in their villages. They would hang the plant over the front door of their homes, because they believed that the plant would protect them from evil spirits, goblins, and even thunder and lightening. Druids also believed that mistletoe stood for peace, so if Druid warriors ever met underneath a patch of mistletoe in the forest, they could not fight. They would call a truce and meet somewhere else to fight.

Put all of these traditions and beliefs together—and then mix in the traditions of Christmas and Santa Claus—and you have what would become today’s modern tradition surrounding mistletoe and kisses.

It was not that simple for guys and gals and the magical mistletoe in the 1700s. Back then, kissing was a very serious thing to do with a girl. There was no spin the bottle or truth or dare. If you kissed a girl under the mistletoe, you meant business. Basically, a kiss under the mistletoe meant you were prepared to marry her. On the flip side, if a girl stood under mistletoe at Christmas time and no man kissed her, that meant she would stay unmarried for the entire next year. But the lucky man who would be brave and kiss her could expect a lasting friendship, a deep romance, and happiness with the lucky woman.

We cannot know for sure if this is how good old Saint Nick got proposed to Mrs. Claus, but we can be sure that the jolly old man hangs a piece of mistletoe in his home in the North Pole. Come to think of it, he probably also hangs a bunch of mistletoe in the reindeer barn, the toy factory, and anywhere else Mrs. Claus might find herself!

Watch as Santa Claus pops out of the chimney pot. But don’t get him stuck because if he catches you he won’t bring you any Christmas presents.

To make a popup Santa you will need - 2 loo-roll tubes. One needs to be slightly bigger than the other, so that one can easily slide up and down inside the other tube.

The larger tube is the chimney pot. Cover this tube in paper or paint to look like a chimney pot.

The smaller tube is Father Christmas. Stick on paper or paint this tube to look like Santa Claus. Give him a long white beard and a bright red coat.

Stick on a strip of red paper around the top of the tube so that the paper over hangs the tube. Scrunch the top edge of the paper to form Santa’s hat. Stick a cotton wool ball on the top to finish it off. The glue helps to keep the scrunched up edge nicely in place.

Cut out two thin strips of card. Stick them on the side of Santa to make his arms. The turn over you make to stick on the arms acts as a hinge later. Santa’s arms will pop out of the chimney as Santa appears.

When Santa is complete and the glue or paint is dry, cover Santa in sticky clear book protector or clear selotape. This reduces friction as Santa slips up and down inside the chimney.

Put Santa inside the chimney. Put your fingers up inside the chimney to mover Santa up and down so that he appears to POP out of the chimney.

Popup Santa is great for ‘doing’ the actions to the song ‘When Santa got stuck up the chimney’

When Santa got stuck up the chimney,
He began to shout,
“You girls and boys won’t get any toys,
If you don’t pull me out!
My beard is black,
There’s soot in my sack,
My nose is tickling too”
When Santa go stuck up the chimney,
Achoo Achoo Achoo!

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When I first heard Audrey Hepburn sing “These are a few of my favorite things” in the evergreen movie “ My fair Lady”, I never thought I’d have an occasion to present my own list some day. But you know what they say, “Every dog ahs his day”, and I got mine too. This Christmas, my dear owner in my eyes, is no less beautiful than Audrey. Hepburn herself, has asked me for a list of 10 things that I want. And God! I can’t wait to get started.

• The first and foremost thing I want is to have my own bean bag, in front of the television. With my own Bean Bag, I can be a part of the prime time audience.

• I also want to have my own car and a driver, so that I can go for long drives as and when I want. Oh what fun would it be, to just hop on to the back seat of a convertible, have the wind blowing in my face and to have no one pushing me to the extreme corner of the car seat. I can’t wait to lie back and say to myself, “Now that’s the way to live!!!

• One thing I always dream of is to have a cupboard full of dog bones, in all flavors - chicken, pork, mutton, egg and even fish!!! I can chew on it all day and treat my palate to my heart’s leisure. That’s called getting a real taste of life!!!!

• Another thing that has always been a secret passion for me is to have cat in my captivity. But something tells me, this wish of mine will remain a wish considering my owner goes “Oh chooo chweet” every time she sees a cat at her window still, sitting majestically - much to my rising blood pressure !!!

• One thing I have always dreamt doing is to fly first class. After all, my owner has always made me feel that I deserve the best!!! I would love to lie back in the comfy cozy chairs I see in the television ads, be served chicken/mutton soup, with chop lambs and a jug of my favorite milk that I can keep lapping up while admiring the clouds and the sky outside. I would love to be on cloud nine literally, this X’mas.

• I also want a nice big bed all to myself. Even though I have been provided a decent bed and I am practically the master of the whole house (at least my owner tells me so), I still would love to have a master bed, where I can sleep without having to worry about stretching too much. Sometimes, I feel I don’t manage to catch the other dogs and cats in my dreams, because I don’t have that much of space to run while dreaming.

• I also desperately need a mobile phone. You might not believe me, but I do have quite a few local friends. They are cool dudes and it’s nice to meet them when I go for my walks. But there are times when I’m getting bored in the house. No cat or mouse in the house to hold my attention and no maids or squirrels to bark at. That’s when you feel like just calling up your friends.

• I would love to have my own personal shrink. There are so many things I want him to analyze for me, especially my dreams. I want to know why I only dream to cats and dogs and chasing them unsuccessfully all over town. I wonder if I have any karmic debts to settle with them or is it just my ID, my ego or the super ego that is causing me so much of heartburn.

• You might find this funny but I would also love to have a skateboard for myself. You know how it is. Sometimes you just feel so tired. I do want to go out for a walk, but I somehow don’t have the energy to walk. At such to just step on to the skateboard and look around. Now that would be a real smooth walk, don’t you think????

• And last, but not the least, I would like to have my own ATM card. There are times when you feel like indulging in something particular, but my owner does not understand exactly what I want. That’s when I feel my ATM card would be very useful. I can just go and withdraw money and head straight for the nearest dog store and buy whatever goodies I feel like eating. With time I might even cajole my owner to get me my own credit card. I have seen how easy it becomes when you have one. Then I can got o the jazziest dog store and have a blast.

Come to think of it, my list can go on and on, but I have been told to stop at 10 things for now. I can’t wait for December and the jingle bells ringing. With my wish list all set for my very own Santa Clause, I have already started my countdown. I am going to be the happiest dog this Christmas with all my wishes set to be fulfilled. And all those who love my kind and me, please come forward and join me in chorus to say “Amen” to that. Soon, I shall call all of you from my mobile and thank you all personally for all your good wishes. Merry X’mas!

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It’s the holiday season, and the first thing that comes to so many minds is presents, and who better to deliver these presents than Jolly Saint Nick himself. Chris Cringle, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, etc. etc. But who is this roly poly elf that sneaks around the living room each year? Where did he come from? And -watch out kids- is he real!?
In this article you’ll see how Santa went from
thin and worshiped to pudgy and present-giving.

The first Europeans brought with them to the new World Saint Nicholas, and Columbus even named a Haitian port for the saint in 1492. Even the city now known as Jacksonville, Florida, was once known as Saint Nicholas Ferry. However, during the sixteenth century, there was a protestant reformation which took a low liking to saints. Although everyone tried to get rid of Saint Nick-related activity and custom, only the English traditions of Christmas were permanently altered. Since so many common people still liked Saint Nick, ‘he’ continued to place nuts, apples and sweets in any shoes left on the hearth, windowsill, or beside a bed.

The colonists coming to America in the 1500’s were mainly Puritans, and Protestant reformers who didn’t bring Saint Nicholas with them. And although many think that the Dutch brought Saint Nicholas to New Amsterdam, scholors have little evidence of this. Germans in present-day Pennsylvania, however, held the feast of Saint Nicholas and several accounts tell that Saint Nick Himself visited the feast.

In 1773, another Saint Nick-based occurance happened with the forming of the Sons of Saint Nicholas by the patriots. This, however was not to honor the bishop, but to blow a raspberry to the English St. George society. After the American Revolution, New Yorkers thought about their proud Dutch roots. John Pintard promoted St. Nicholas as the patron saint of Society and City. St. Nicholas as mentioned in “The knickerbocker’s History of New York” was an elfin Dutch burgher with a pipe. These imaginative thoughts are the source of many New Amsterdam St. Nick legends, such as that the first Ductch emigrant ship had St. Nick as a figurehead, that St. Nicholas day was observed in the colony, that the first church was dedicated to him, and that St. Nick comes down chimneys with heaping sacks of presents.

The NY historical society held its first St. Nick Anniversary dinner in 1810, on December 6. John Pintard commissioned Alexander Anderson to create an American image of St. Nick for the occasion. St. Nick was depicted as a gift-giver, with treats stuffed into stockings hanging at the fireplace. An accompanying poem read “Saint Nicholas, my dear good friend! To serve you ever was my end, If you will, now, me something give, I’ll serve you ever while I live.” The elfin idea of Santa got a boost in 1823 when a poem was written: “A visit from Saint Nicholas”. Later to be known as “The night before Christmas.”

“He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes?how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. . . .”

There are arguments between the writer being Clement Clark Moore, and Henry Livingston, who wrote humerous verse for children. Many artists continued the progression to Sancte Claus, or Santa Claus, which was very much unlike the Bishop Nicholas. A series of drawings in ‘Harper’s Weekly’, by Thomas Nast, based on descriptions of Washington Irving’s work, further showed Santa with his furry garb and bag of toys. It was, however, Haddon Sundblom who solidified the Santa Image with thirty-five years of Coca-Cola commercials featuring Santa as the Rotund, Red-suited, Full-bellied, white-haired fellow we know today. Santa has become so familiar that he has spread around the world and could possibly threaten Europe’s Saint Nicholas, who is still a Christian Bishop and Saint.

“From St. Nicholas Center,  where there is more information about the saint, customs from around the world, stories and activities for children, recipes, crafts, and much more to help families, churches and schools learn about and celebrate St. Nicholas.”

The Holidays are coming and children have thought long and hard about the gifts they would most want to receive this year. Trucks, trains, Groovey girls and scooters are popular gifts this year. Each year lists are filled with the “most popular” toys of that year. There is one thing each year that can be found on many children’s lists. A puppy. The image of a bright eyed plump adorable pup dressed in a red bow is an irresistible one. Or is it? Giving a life for a gift is something to think very carefully about. Puppies grow up quickly, cost a lot and need a life long commitment.

As a Professional Dog Trainer and Breed rescue volunteer, I have seen many sad endings for these once so irresistible pups. Spring comes around and the pup is now sixty or so pounds and full of unappreciated energy and spunk… The issues of teething and housebreaking are sore subjects for the entire family. The pup is out of control and no longer the highlight in the kid’s day. Many times this leads to a decision to “re home” the pup. This is the worst case scenario. Unfortunately it is all too common. Preparing ahead of time is essential to the success of a new puppy in your home.

If your family has made a decision to get a puppy please keep several things in mind. Getting a puppy is at least a 13 year long commitment depending on the type of dog. The most enjoyable dogs are well mannered. It is advised you seek out a dog trainer for instruction that suits your needs… All dogs need monthly heartworm prevention as well as yearly medical check ups. Please research the type of dog you are interested in. Different breeds have traits specific to them. Find traits that suit your family’s lifestyle there are many options for where to get a dog or puppy from. The internet is a great resource of information on this. Most breeds have a rescue group of some kind. There are many wonderful dogs that are without homes.

So, if you see a puppy on the top of your child’s list this year. Might I suggest that you go out and purchase the cutest stuffed puppy that you can find? Get it a leash and collar with tags. Get a food bowl and some biscuits for effect and then research together the many options you have in deciding when and what type of furry family member you would like to bring into your family. Preparation, Education and dedication are the best recipe for a perfect happy ending for all. Happy Holidays

About The Author

Jennifer Shryock, Canine behavior consultant - http://www.familypaws.com

U.S. Coordinator for http://www.doggonesafe.com

Jen@familypaws.com

Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this holiday are happier than a fat kid eating a Krispy Kreme donut. Christmas brings so many great things to the table; the caroling, the NO SCHOOL, the snowmen and hour long snowball fights that ends with bloody noses, the eggnog and drunken relatives, the presents, holiday parties, and the drinking hot coco next to a roaring fire while cuddling up with your loved one. How could anybody not love this great holiday! It’s a hiatus from the dark sadness of reality and a time where you can be ridiculously happy! But maybe too happy…

In a recent poll, over 45 percent said that they dreaded the holiday altogether. Not everyone seems to see the light that Christmas brings, and if you look harder into the eyes of this joyous holiday, you may see why. More people kill themselves around Christmas time than any other time of year. “Well,” Khayeni Sanders, a fellow Christmas lover states, “I think you should make a club, or a house, for those people. It’s like an equivalent of a homeless shelter! Wait, what’s the question again?”

There are several reasons why people just don’t like Christmas, one is that spending Christmas alone is a very depressing situation for anyone. The couple theme that constantly exists with this holiday is not easy to hide from if you are single. For people who are already suffering from depression, the Christmas season only makes it worse. Another reason is the belief that Christmas has become too commercial. In fact, over 50 percent of people polled said that they think Christmas should be toned down a bit. “It definitely has become too commercial with people putting out decorations two months in advance, but the spirit behind it has generally stayed the same for most people” declared Sarah Geiger. A third common reason why Christmas isn’t favored by some is that there is often a feeling that everyone else is having a better time than you. The constant belly-full-of-jelly laughs around the company water cooler may have you thinking, “Did I miss something? Am I being left out?!

What’s going on?!” Other more common dislikes are the constant money spending, the overeating, and the Christmas parties. Christmas time can also remind people of a lost one, which could make anyone, have a miserable Christmas time. All of these horrible things that tag along with Christmas could make even Satan cry a tear of sympathy for the people who just can’t see the joy Christmas can bring. It’s a shame not everyone can be happy during this time of year, but being depressed on Christmas is completely understandable. These poor saps seem to miss the Christmas bliss train every year, but who knows; this year maybe, just maybe, they’ll catch it.

About The Author

Daggi Pulz is co-webmaster at http://www.links2see.com an online family directory. She can be contacted at Daggi@links2see.com

North Pole- The word is out! Due to an “unpublished dilemma” last Christmas Eve Santa has gone Low Carb!

Sources reveal that Santa was stuck in a chimney somewhere in California for over an hour last Christmas Eve - how embarrassing! The incident certainly wreaked havoc with his jolly schedule for the most important night of the year. In the aftermath, it caused Santa to really stop and think.

After careful consideration - Santa and Mrs. Claus decided they could not risk a repeat of the incident, but more importantly the risk factors associated with Santa’s health - oh my! Right after the holidays, Santa visited his primary care physician for a complete physical. A “new lifestyle” was decided upon - It’s the “Low Carb Lifestyle” for Santa!

Santa has Changed His Mind - Changed His Heart - and is Losing Weight for Life! Will this make Santa “less jolly”? Absolutely not! Fat is not what makes Santa jolly! His weight goals are not to be a skinny “Twiggy Santa” but rather a “healthy weight Santa” with less inches (for some VERY obvious reasons). The keyword here though for Santa is: HEALTH!

Our sources tell us that Santa has more energy than ever, his creativity and staying power seem to be at an all time high! He has hired more elves this season just to keep up with him! The jolly fellow is even less stressed this season.

The absence of stress seems to be relative to the fact that his chances of losing his jolly lifestyle to diabetes, heart disease and obesity have been considerably reduced by his new choice of a healthy eating lifestyle! Santa has serious work to do and HEALTH has become his priority!

In fact, our elf resource reported that we are going to see a big shift in “stocking stuffers” this Christmas. Huge orders are being received and warehoused at the North Pole for “sugar free” candies and low carb treats! Santa’s sleigh is going to look like a “sugar free zone” this year!

With Christmas quickly approaching, as Santa’s inches have dropped away, the “sewing elves” are working round the clock in altering Santa’s RED wardrobe!

So this Christmas watch for an even “more jolly” Santa and just a “little less” of him but a much healthier and happier Santa ’cause he’s gone Low Carb!

And…”Laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod, up the chimney he [easily] rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,”HAPPY [LOW CARB] CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!”

http://www.LowCarbcookin.com

Home site of Low Carb Christmas Cookin’
The FIRST Low Carb Christmas Cookbook!
Low Carb Christmas Cookin’- with an Old-Fashioned Cook!
224 fun-filled, sometimes hysterical pages!

About The Author

Jan McCracken is author and self-publisher of 39 gift books and cookbooks. Born in the Midwest and former owner/innkeeper of a country bed and breakfast in Branson, MO, she has been cooking since she was seventeen years old (she won’t tell us how many years that is!

Jan has been living the low carb lifestyle for almost eight years. Her long-term goal is helping people understand that food is truly the great medicine, prevention and healer of disease.

jan@lowcarbcookin.com

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How Does Santa Make Out His List?

I’ll let you in on a secret: I know Santa Claus. And I received a letter from him with his Christmas list.

“Dear Kristin,

“Thank you for the homemade cookies last year. For some reason, people seem to forget that I’m not planning to lose weight, thank you very much. I don’t have a peanut allergy and I’m not lactose intolerant. Up here at the North Pole, we don’t get nonsense like that. But you wouldn’t believe some of the notes I get in lieu of cookies.

“‘Santa, you’re too fat, get real, love Dr. Phil…Dear Santa, you’re in violation of the no-fly zone, signed, the Coalition…Dear Santa, you’re using slave labor and oppressing our elf minorities, peace, the Rev. Jesse Jackson…Dear Santa, you’re cruel to reindeer, sincerely, PETA…Dear Infidel Santa, we shall eliminate you, signed al-Qa’eda.’

“I was never designed to be politically correct. Right jolly old elf and all that. I’m tired of all this nonsense from people who have forgotten what Christmas used to stand for.

“So, here’s my Christmas list. I won’t stop delivering toys, but I will start at least expecting a little something in return after all these years.

“1. Dear al-Qa’eda: I have nothing against Allah. Or Jesus Christ or Buddha or anybody’s God. I dislike murder in the name of religion. I deliver to all the children who you’re going to someday teach to blow themselves up. I deliver love. Your mullahs always say Islam is a religion of love and peace. And for the record, several of my elves are gay. Do I hate them? No.

“2. Dear television news media: Please stop saying ‘Christmas stress.’ You create Christmas stress. Thousands of miracles happen every day from babies being born to people being rescued to children deciding that someone else needs help. And yet you deliberately choose to talk about alcoholism, murder, sex, family quarrels, and above all, endless materialism. Not to mention celebrities. Who elevated these people to all-knowing status? Who cares what Christmas toy they buy or endorse? And please stop criticizing people for having religious beliefs. If the President of the United States can’t express faith in God, there is something wrong with this world. You are only helping those who use religion as an excuse for hatred and greed.

“3. Dear celebrities: Stop making movies where I am the bad guy. There is precious little wonder and innocence in children’s lives. And while you’re at it, stop taking your clothes off and blowing up people in your films. Give me more ‘Seabiscuit.’ Steven Spielberg is always on my nice list. I loved the ‘Shrek’ movies.

“4. Dear advertising executives: Stop using me to sell things that no one uses. We don’t need all this stuff. It’s getting in the way of our family time, our planet’s well-being, our faith and our happiness.

“5. Dear parents: Please stop telling children I don’t exist, that I’m evil, and that it’s not necessary to be good all year because you will buy them what they want. Whatever happened to kindness? To being good just because it makes someone happy? Because it’s the right thing? I can tell you right now that there are quite a few kids, and several of you, who are getting coal in their stockings. It’s tough love, which is what you do when someone’s headed down the wrong road. It’s called parenting and I’ve got millions of your children to help raise. Hey, at least I’m not the government. Or the television. By the way, turn off all those electronic devices and spend time with your families. I know that there are plenty of you out there who would give your right arm to be able to do just that. I love children. And I love all of you too.

“6. Dear Dr. Phil: I’m happy just the way I am. Thank you.

“7. Dear PETA: You’re getting too extreme. My reindeer have better working conditions than in industrialized nations.

“8. Dear Rev. Jesse Jackson: When my elves have the victim consciousness, high teen pregnancy rate, high arrest rate, high drug use rate, and lack of education that your followers have, then I’ll consider emancipating them.

“9. Dear Coalition: God and I were here first. I’m immune from no-fly zones and I don’t play politics. I do however support the military.

“10. Dear Jesus Christ, YHVH, Allah, Buddha, Great Spirit, et al.: Keep up the good work.

“Love, Santa.

“P.S. from Mrs. Claus: Will women please stop trying to be a size 2?”

You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout…

Movie reviewer/screenwriter Kristin Johnson composes personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and family memories. Visit http://www.poemsforyou.com to order your personalized memories. She is also co-author of the Midwest Book Review “enthusiastically recommended” pick Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com