History of Christmas Stocking

Christmas Stockings are an integral part of Christmas Holiday traditions. The custom of gifting Christmas Stockings, as Christmas or holiday gifts are not a recent development .It has had a longer lineage than we can ever think of. How Christmas Stockings came to be regarded as a hot favorite is shrouded in mystery. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17858438

Myths and tales explaining the origins of Christmas Stockings are many. But the most accepted legend goes like this.A kind nobleman squandered all his wealth and property when his wife expired due to an illness and left him three daughters. So pathetic was his condition, that he had to move to a peasant’s cottage and lived a life of misery. He did not even have enough booty to get his daughters married. Generous as he was, St Nicholas decided to help them out but anonymously. One night he rode up to their house and having discovered that all had fallen asleep, he quietly dropped three pouches of gold coins down the chimney and they landed on the stockings that the girls had hung up by the hearth. The next morning the daughters were overjoyed with the gold coins they found inside their stockings as it was sufficient enough for them to get married and they lived happily ever after. Even today, children all over the world celebrate this day by hanging their stockings near the fireplace. Most of the countries follow similar traditions with minor variations. In France and Hungary, kids keep their shoes by the hearth or on the windowsill; in Holland they stack their shoes with hay and carrot for the horse of Sintirklass. So kids, don’t forget to hang your Stockings by the hearth, for you never know what your boon in disguise is going to be like. For more information on History of Christmas Stockings log on to our site at Christmas Carnivals.
http://www.christmascarnivals.com/christmas-stocking/history-christmas-stockings.html

Counting the Days Until Christmas

This month is all about getting ready for Christmas. About what gifts to buy your relatives, or how to host a perfect holiday party. Also, the special, meaningful things that families may do together during the Christmas season. I've found some examples and will add a little history of each. What are some of your holiday traditions during the Christmas season? Do you decorate a tree? Do you set up a Nativity scene? And what special things do you do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Share your family traditions in the comments section.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Track Santa and countdown the moments till his arrival. Follow Santa Claus on Christmas Eve as he travels around the world with http://www.noradsanta.org/. For over 50 years, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), and previously CONAD (Continental Air Defense Command), have tracked Santa's journey each Christmas.The tradition began in 1955 after a store advertisement for children included a misprinted telephone number to call Santa. Instead of Santa, children ended up calling the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations. Colonel Harry Shoup received the first Santa call. Wanting to help the children Colonel Shoup had his staff check radar data to see if they could spot Santa making his way from the North Pole. As it turned out there were signs of Santa and children who called were given an update on Santa's position. Thus, the tradition was born. NORAD carried out its first Santa tracking in 1958 after inheriting the tradition.

Do you remember paddle ball?

Turkey Paddle Ball Game

If you have kids coming over for Thanksgiving, this makes a great project to keep them busy while you cook.

This is a game I remember from my childhood. Warning! You must teach the little ones how to paddle. Not to use as a weapon!

You need:

Paddle Ball

Feathers

Tacky Glue

Paint & Brush or Markers

Instructions:

Paint paddle. Let dry. Glue feathers to the back sides and one on the top. Draw or paint on a face. You can find this project and a whole lot more at http://www.makingfriends.com/.

Bisquick Sausage Ball Recipe

Sausage Balls Rock, Quick and Easy to Make

Bisquick Sausage Balls are favorites for holidays, special events like Super Bowl Parties and yummy any day of the year.

I only make sausage balls for Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas. It doesn't take long to make sausage balls, and almost everyone loves them. I always make two batches, one with pork and the other with turkey sausage.

The basic recipe for Bisquick Sausage Balls is:

2 cups Bisquick
1 pound sausage
10 oz. pack of shredded cheese (or just shred your own from a block of cheddar)

Directions:

Put everything in the bowl and mix. This is easiest to do with your hands though it feels pretty gross at this stage. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls, use a teaspoon for measuring. I think the smaller the better. Place the sausage balls on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degress F for about 10 to 15 minutes. depends on size. The Bisquick balls should be lightly browned with the meat cooked through.

Refrigerate leftover and reheat in the oven or microwave.

Sock Monkey

All you need to make this cute little Sock Monkey are a pair of socks, sewing machine, buttons (just two for the eyes), ruler, pens, scissors, stuffing, pins, and needle and thread.

You can find detail instructions at CraftBits http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1104. I think you will love this site.

A Grand Gobbler

Possibilities

Write seven reasons to be thankful on tiny pieces of paper, and tie one to each button on the turkey's tail. Ask family members to read them during your Thanksgiving feast.

You can find this FREE pattern at http://www.sewing.org/html/grand_gobbler.html. Free Sewing & Craft Projects, Learn to Sew, Guidelines Articles, Charitable Projects, Bridal, Kids & More!