Christmas Tree Ornaments from the Victorian Era

The long period (1837-1901) during which Queen Victoria ruled England – known simply as the Victorian era – is normally associated only with England, but the United States was also hugely affected by Victorian tastes and morals. Victoria was famously rigid, yet her era also saw extremely fine decorations, and Victorian Christmas tree ornaments often reflect this.

For most of the Victorian era, electricity was not available or very rare. So instead of strings of Christmas lights, candles were used to light up the tree. While very few candles survive from that time, the candles themselves were set in brass candle holders, and those candle holders are now prized as classic Victorian Christmas tree ornaments.

Another example of classic Victorian Christmas tree ornaments are those depicting Father Christmas. Although Father Christmas and Santa Claus are really the same person (who was really Saint Nicholas), they do not look at all alike. Instead of the familiar red suit with white trim and a black belt, Victorian era “Father Christmas” ornaments show figures of a man with a long white beard and flowing robes, giving him an appearance that we might associate more with an ancient philosopher or wizard. A fairly large number of Victorian Christmas ornaments that depict this image of Father Christmas are still out there, and you can find them — if you’re willing to look.

One type of Victorian Christmas tree ornaments that are rather hard to come by these days are velvet ribbons. Crimson colored velvet ribbons were prized tree ornaments, and were placed decoratively throughout the Christmas tree. Velvet does not last well over time, so if you are lucky enough to find any examples of these antique Christmas tree ornaments in a shop, chances are they will need some restoration.

Thus, an easier option is to simply go to your local fabric supply store and purchase new velvet for your Christmas decorations and ornaments. In fact, if you or someone you know can sew, you can purchase a piece of velvet, cut some strips out of it, then just sew the sides, and you’ve just made your own velvet ribbons. Whichever method you choose, have fun decorating your Christmas tree! Don’t forget that the Internet always has plenty of sites that will help you with all of your holiday decorating needs.

Finding the ideal Xmas table decorations may not turn out to be that simple. Depending on what kind of event you’re hosting, you may be restricted room on hand for decorating. If you want fun Christmas table decorating ideas that will be fun and light-hearted – have your children decorate a paper tablecloth. Let your kids cut out paper snowflakes, have some pens and they can enjoy themselves for a few hours. We give them old Christmas cards that are clogging up drawer space. We’d let them cut out any clip art from the old Christmas cards and stick them to the tablecloth also.

Nevertheless, if you’re searching for Christmas table centres ideas which are somewhat more grown-up, there are plenty of other ideas around. You can easily call to a flower shop and pick out some striking floral arrangements and spend the money on them. Or, you can be more creative and design some yourself. Tall unscented plain candles usually make a dining room and Xmas table more elegant. Make some decorative candlesticks to support the candles and it’ll look very pleasing. Coming up with a exceptional and appropriate sized gingerbread house makes a perfect Christmas table centrepiece decoration idea. Not only will it look and smell appealing to your family and friends, but it will bring out the child inside of everyone. After all, everyone loves a gingerbread house?

Christmas is very much about warm and colourful décor, and you can incorporate that into a striking Christmas table centre decoration plan. Put together place cards out of tinsel red or green bows. Hang some glittering ornaments from a chandelier hanging above your table. Some carefully crafted Christmas table centre décor ideas have included strands of flashing lights wrapped around a floral center island and with the proper precautions carried out, have looked utterly astonishing.

And of course, around Christmas you are bound to find Christmas sweets. The sparkly wrappers on Ferrero Rocher and other sweets make for some yummy Christmas table centerpiece decoration designs as well. You could easily lay out some candy trays with loaded with an assortment of sweets to create some sort of decoration with them, letting their glittering wrappers captivate the attention of your party guests.

No matter how you set-up your celebratory Christmas table centerpiece, make certain it is something that will be practical, fun, inexpensive and will emphasize your Christmas for the best.

Christmas Contests
There are loads of competitions and contests for anything from barbecues to beauty products. Why not pay a visit to loquax.co.uk and take a look at the Christmas competitions. Lots of fun and you may even win something.

Sell Stuff on Ebay
Take a look in your loft, your garage and your shed to find old, unused things that you might sell online. For example, you may still have your children’s outgrown clothes and toys, children’s toys, retro computer games or old vinyl records. Take some pictures, write some good descriptions, get the stuff up on eBay and turn your rubbish into cash.  This is a great way to make some useful cash while clearing out unwanted items.

Baby Sitting
Christmas is the party season and many parents are desperate for reliable and trustworthy people to baby-sit while they attend their company Christmas party. Why not post some notices in your local shops, drop leaflets through people’s doors or simply spread the word around your neighbourhood.

Pet-Sitting and Dog Walking
Many people like to go away to visit friends and family at this time of year and often can't take their pets with them. Cats often need little more than feeding and little attention if left for a couple of days so why not offer this service to the cat owners in your vicinity. You might also like to provide  dog-walking service for those who are too full of mince pies and Christmas pudding.

Gift-Wrapping and Storage
I am probably the world’s worst gift wrapper. I would happily pay a reasonable fee for someone to expertly wrap my Christmas gifts neatly so why not offer this service to your neighbours? You may also offer to store Christmas gifts until the big day, avoiding the chance that inquisitive children will spoil their surprise.

Grocery and Christmas Shopping Service
Not everybody can get into town or visit their local shops to get what they want for Christmas. This could be a valuable service for the elderly or house-bound in your area.

Offer Services to Busy Businesses
There are lots of businesses that are exceptionally busy at this time of year. Shops, restaurants, delivery firms, the post office. All will need additional, seasonal staff.

Make Stuff to Sell
You might be able to sell home made cookies through a local store. Why not make a test batch and take them along for a trial. Alternatively, crafts are always good at this time of year. Personalised Christmas stockings embroidered with a child’s name, table centre-pieces for the Christmas dinner table or unique Christmas decorations are all likely to be popular at this time of year.

Home Tuition
Christmas is a time of year when people have a little time on their hands. There are still many people who need a little help using their computers. If you have the patience you may find that offering a hand-holding service for those who are frightened of computers could be popular.

Car and Van Valet Service
Christmas is a time of year when people don’t want to be washing and cleaning their cars or company vans. Armed with a few cleaning tools you could offer a valet service to get those automobiles looking bright and fresh for 2009.

Whatever you plan to do advertising and promoting your service is vital. You may find that notices placed in your local grocery store, post office, community centre or church, along with some friendly leaflets delivered door to door, will generate the business that you need.

If you are thinking of getting a new car or van in 2009 I recommend that you consider car leasing or van leasing as leasing can give you some significant savings.

Toys have fascinated people of all ages, ever since we can remember.

This years top seller so far has been; Fur Real Pets

With time, people’s interest in toys has gone through many changes. People across the globe are now participating in the club culture and you can see teenagers making a beeline for club toys. In reality club toys can be the ideal additions which are aimed to cater to the club culture.

A large selection of such toys is available in club stores and online shops which can suit any lifestyle preference. Following the items listed below to hone your party spirit further during the coming season.

This ball keeps on flashing bright colors which is so cheerful to look at and the colors are also varied. The circles of light seem unbelievable and would definitely be a source of great amusement. This is portable so carry it whichever party you are going to next.

To prove to the world that you firmly believe in the club culture, you could brag about this toy and show off to others. A state-of-the-art material makes these balls glisten brighter and for a longer period of time. It is unique in the sense that it reflects its glow for a much longer time than the usual ‘glow-in-the-dark’ light toys. In the field of club toys, this toy is unforgettable if you consider its recyclable property.

In the world of club toys, body lights are perhaps one of the jaw-dropping options which have left the party animals asking for more. They are latest of the kind illuminated jewelry available for almost all the visible parts of your body.

You can get them in a range of colors and styles and can be clipped anywhere on the body, like belly, arms, ears, and hair. You would be able to splash a range of vibrant colors and it is no wonder that party buffs are making a beeline to procure them. These can be purchased from club stores or fashion stores selling merchandise on the net.

A latest entry into the club scene, club toys has caught the fancy of every person who wants to have fun at parties and the makers are happy that their produce could win so many hearts. These are designed to dominate the club culture and would soon become the number one item amidst the party circuit.

 In fact, Advent is so connected with candles that the Advent wreath has 4 candles and some have a fifth candle in the center.  Each candle has a special meaning and each one needs to be lit on a certain day. 

 Advent is known as the season when the King is coming. For this reason, purple has been the traditional color that is used for the Advent wreath since purple is considered the color of royalty.  On an interesting note, purple was chosen as a royal color simply because the dye was one of the most expensive dies available. 

 But back to the Advent wreath, which has 3 purple candles and one rose colored candle.  Each candle represents a countdown to the coming of the King and it also has a symbolic meaning.  The first purple candle means Hope.  The second purple candle means Love.  The third candle that you light is the rose colored candle and it means Joy.  And finally, the fourth candle and third purple one means peace.  The candle that rests in the center of the Advent wreath should be white and it represents Christmas Day.  The fifth candle is completely optional.

 Okay, you are probably sick of this little history lesson, or would that be religious lesson and you probably want to get to the main focus of this article, to make an Advent Wreath of your own.  Like all my crafts, this candle craft can be very easy to do and requires very little know how before you begin.

What you need:

• Three Purple Taper Candles

• One Rose (pink) Taper Candle

• One White Pillar Candle (optional)

• A candle holder ring (the wire frame type that is used for floral arrangements)

• A ring of evergreens that will fit the ring (you can use fresh or fake)

• Floral Wire

o Optional:  You can make the evergreen ring yourself but you will need

? Fresh Evergreen branches

? Floral Wire

Directions:

1. Take out the candle holder ring and remove any of the tags from the store. 

2. Pop on the ring of evergreens and secure it with floral wire for safety.

3. Place the four candles in each holder.

4. Place the white pillar candle in the center of the ring.

And there you have an Advent wreath.  See, I wasn’t lying when I said that it was fast and simple.  Of course, if you decide to make your own evergreen ring there are a few steps that you need to do, which I have gone over below.

1. Take out the candle holder ring and remove any of the tags from the store. 

2. Arrange the evergreen branches around the holder.  Make sure that they cover it completely and you like the design.

3. Take the floral wire and attach the evergreens to the candle ring.  The best way to do this is to find a start point for each sprig of evergreen.  So at the first candle holder, tie on the end of the evergreen sprig.  Leave that sprig and move onto the next holder, tying on another sprig of evergreen to the next holder and so on until you have four sprigs hanging out from each of the holders.

4. Next, secure one of the evergreen sprigs in the middle between two holders, move to the next sprig and repeat until you have secured them all.

5. Lastly, secure as close to the tip as you can while still maintaining a nice look to the ring. Repeat until all the sprigs are attached.

6. Add more sprigs of evergreens to spots that need them.

7. Place the four candles in each holder.

8. Place the white pillar candle in the center of the ring.

When you use your Advent wreath, you will light a purple candle on the first Sunday of Advent, the second Sunday of Advent you will light two purple candles; the one you already lit the week before and the second one.  The third Sunday of Advent, you will light the two previous candles as well as the rose candle, and on the fourth Sunday, you will light all the candles except the white one.  The candle in the center represents Christmas so you don’t light it until Christmas Day.

Now you have an Advent wreath that everyone will want and you will find yourself making some last minute Advent wreaths for gifts.

It is cooling down outside and the favorite time of year for many is fast approaching. Yes many love getting together for Thanksgiving and spending time with family and friends. But right after that is when the best month of the year gets here for many. I am talking about Christmas time of course!

Although it is the best time of the year, it is also one of the most stressful times of the year. This year is likely to be very stressful as peoples budgets are shot and available credit is gone or very limited for many. Maybe this will push people to return to more simple times where materialism is out of favor. It will have to for many as people simply will not be able to buy things like they used to.

That does not mean this Christmas needs to be gloomy, just that better planning will be needed to get everything you need. This includes decorations as the décor of your house and outside decorations help set the mood. So getting those right can help boost things up.

Christmas first and foremost should be more about spending quality time with loved ones then about what gifts you bought someone or what gifts you received. If you are honest with yourself things have gotten so materialistic over the years it has really taken away from the holiday spirit for many. Maybe you could find it by watching a feel good movie but then when you get back into your real life maybe you felt pressured that you needed to spend more money to buy more material items to make you and others happy. That is simply not the case. In the long run when you look back you will probably be happier when the focus is changed to quality time spent with family and friends then the stresses of a materialistic Christmas holiday.

With that in mind the need to save money and watch every penny is key this year for the majority of people. That is one reasons why sites about discount Christmas decor are going to be booming this season. People want to save money on everything from an Artificial Christmas Tree to gifts they will be buying. It will be interesting to watch if people are really happier this year because there will be less pressure (on everyone) to not buy too much or spend too much money.

Now that you can ship wine to almost any state after the recent law changes, wine gift baskets should be a huge hit for the holiday seasons (especially Christmas) but they’re also ideal for weddings, anniversaries , and dinner parties. Wine always conjures up a smile.

You can find a great selection of wines and baskets at many online sites that can handle shipping the wine.

Just go online and choose a wine gift basket that meets your budget and taste. They do the rest!

Wine gift baskets are reasonable priced and can generally run from $35-$150

Wine gift basket have many choices to select from and the price ranges from $35 to $150.

Many varieties are available to choose from. Apart from ready-made wine & country gift baskets, you can have a basket custom-made to suit the people or occasion you are buying for. You can make a very tasty gift basket by adding fine wines, cheese and gourmet goodies. A gift basket stocked with fresh fruits and accompanying sparkling wines and champagnes makes a charming wine gift.

Chocolate lovers will surely be delighted when they receive a chocolate-dipped bottle of fine wine or champagne with an assortment of other goodies. Sending gifts of wine allows you to add your special touch and create something unique that is sure to be loved. Ordering online makes it easy to select the ingredients you want and can be delivered direct to their door.

Use the tips below to make sure your gift wine basket is as perfect as you planned.

Each company has different ordering, shipping, payment, and refund policies. Always read the company policy details before ordering. Doing this will ensure that your gift wine basket delivery meets your expectations, and help you avoid later unnecessary frustration and disappointment. Feel free to call the basket company with any questions. Another thing you should remember is to save your order and tracking numbers.Another thing you should remember is to save your order and tracking numbers. To double check on your gifts’ delivery status or to ask questions use the following numbers after placing your order.

While many of us celebrate modern Christmas traditions of decorating Christmas trees and waiting for Santa, the Celts celebrated the Winter Solstice. The Druids felt that the sun stood still for 12 days from Christmas Eve to January 6th. A Yule log was burned for light on those days. Its charred remains protected the house for the rest of the year. Mistletoe, a sign of fertility, was hung in the house with other greenery as a symbol of life in the darkness.

The Scots believe that on Christmas Eve, a raging fire keeps mischievous elves from coming down the chimney. On Christmas Day, people dance around bonfires while listening to bagpipes and enjoying oatmeal cake. The biggest celebrations happen on Hogmanay, New Year’s Eve. These involve “first footing”, where the first person to set foot in a house in a New Year is said to bring either good or bad luck, depending on their hair color. The Night of Candles lights the way for the Holy family, first footers, and Mummers. Mummers dressed in masks and travelled from house to house for music and dancing. The home owners would have to guess who they were. On New Year’s Eve, they would circle houses beating on the walls to drive out the old year while saying a special rhyme to request entry for food & drink.

In Ireland, the celebration lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6th. They light red candles decorated with holly sprigs on Christmas Eve. The women bake a seed cake for each person and three puddings for Christmas, New Year’s and the Twelfth Night. On Christmas evening, milk and bread is left out and the door was left unlocked as a symbol of hospitality. St. Stephen’s Day, Dec. 26th, is filled with football and meetings. The Wren Boys Procession is a fun event for boys who would dress up and go door to door singing and playing music while holding a Holly bush on a stick. They would say that a Wren was hiding in the bush and they needed money to feed the starving wren. Actually, the money is for them!

The Welsh are known for their wonderful singing voices and carolling, known as eistoddfodde, is a very popular Christmas activity. In some communities, people gather in a public area to announce who has submitted the best music for a new carol. This carol is added to all the rest that are known and sung in Wales. In some areas, a villager is chosen to be the Mari llwyd, who travels around the town in white clothing while carrying a horse’s skull on a stick. Anyone given the “bite” by the horse’s jaws must pay a fine. One of the popular sweets for this holiday is Taffy. Christmas goose is also a meal must. Santa gets no cookies and milk; instead, mince pies and a bottle of Guinness! They also maintain the English traditions of holly, mistletoe, pudding, stockings, and snow.

Whatever traditions you may celebrate, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Clans Celts & Clover

Email: clans@sasktel.net Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com and http://kinnairdbagpipes.com

]]> http://happychristmasfrom.me/celtic-christmas-traditions-clans-on-broadway/feed/ 0 http://happychristmasfrom.me/inexpensive-christmas-gift-ideas/ http://happychristmasfrom.me/inexpensive-christmas-gift-ideas/#comments Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:49:00 +0000 admin http://happychristmasfrom.me/2008/10/11/inexpensive-christmas-gift-ideas/ Continue reading →]]> Christmas is possibly the most economically demanding time of the year. Nonetheless, there are numerous ways to come across affordable Holiday present ideas.

Create It

If you are crafty or possess any special abilities, you can create a present. For instance, if you knit you can make the person a pair of mittens. If you are a closet rhymester or jingle writer, pen a poem or song relating to the person. Perform the song or poem and have the original framed.

Coupon

A hand made coupon book may be a a welcomed Christmas gift idea. Put together special coupons for doing errands, organizing, and clean-up for the person. You could offer to organize their pictures into albums, do a week’s worth of chores, or clean their house. If the recipient is a husband or wife you might present passionate delights such as foot massages and date nights. A coupon book can be made by printing off clear certificates that can be located on the web and bound with staples or string.

Gift Baskets

If you’re searching for a gift for a whole family, and don’t have an idea what they like, a gift basket could be the best solution. You can fill an affordable basket with homemade cookies or muffins, packs of cocoa mix, coffee mugs, and ripened fruit. You might also want to consider garden decoration gifts such as bird houses, bird baths, or garden statuary. A child may love a gift basket full of activity books from the thrift store. Some ideas could be crayons, rubber balls, jump ropes, balloons, vivid windmills, small stuffed animals, play dough, and gum.

Teenage girls might like a gift basket that includes items like burettes, clips, combs, make-up, nail polish, and a magazine or two. A new mother may like a gift basket that might include pampering bath gels, foot creams, and ointment. If you are able, include a gift certificate to a spa, beauty salon, or a department store. The important thing is that you include thoughtful Christmas present ideas that take into consideration what the person enjoys.

Treasure Chests

Children love getting treasures, so why not give them a treasure chest? This X-Mas gift idea is simple and you can incorporate products from department stores, online stores, and even your own closet.  First, locate a chest with a safety lid. This can be a decorated plastic tub, cardboard box, or an authentic chest. Next, decide upon a theme. If your theme is dress-up, you could fill the trunk with bracelets, hats, old clothing, toy batons and swords, footwear, ribbons, and pendants. Several, Some other, A few theme ideas are cowboys, royalty, medieval, sports, astronauts, or extraterrestrial. 

Hence, with a bit of consideration you can come up with inspirational Holiday gifts that are reasonably affordable. All it takes is a small amount of digging to find out what the recipient’s interests are, if you don’t already know what they are, and a trip to the nearest convenience store. Don’t forget, it’s the thought that counts.

Are you one of the millions of people who loves to celebrate Christmas? When asked, the majority of individuals respond that Christmas is one of their favorite holidays, if not their favorite.  If you love to celebrate Christmas, there is a good chance that you may be interested in decorating your Christmas shop.  Unfortunately, as you likely already know, decorating your place can get quite expensive. However, if you want to decorate for Christmas, but you do not have an unlimited amount of money to do so, there are a number of ways that you can go about decorating for Christmas while on a budget. 

Perhaps, the best ways to save money on Christmas directions is to decide ahead of time what you need.  Unfortunately, a large number of shoppers, possibly just like you, have a difficult time with impulse buying. Impulse buying is when shoppers purchase an item as soon as they see it, an item that they may not have intended on purchasing.  If you are shopping for Christmas decorations and you are on a limited budget, you are advised to not give into your impulse buying urges. That is why it is advised that you determine what you would like to buy ahead of time.  If you are unsure exactly what you would like to buy, that is fine, but you may want to focus on which rooms that you want to decorate for Christmas and which rooms you do not.  This will also make it easier for you eliminate unnecessary purchases. 

Once you have decided which type of Christmas decorations that you would like to buy, you can then start shopping; however, it is important to remember your goal of saving money.  Christmas decorations are nice, but you will not want to spend more money on decorations than you have.  The less money you spend on Christmas decorations, the more money you will have to put towards a nice Christmas dinner or Christmas gifts.Also consider the store where shop and when you will be going there. 

If you are shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, one of your first stops should be your local dollar store. While many individuals assume that the items sold within dollar stores are poor in quality, they aren’t always. In fact, around Christmastime, you could get some really nice Christmas decorations for a dollar or less. Depending on the dollar store you choose to shop at, you should be able to walk away with Christmas pictures, Christmas wall hangings for kids, Christmas tree decorations, Christmas lights, and even Christmas potholders for your kitchen.Dollar store items for the most part is always a dollar or less. 

In addition to dollar stores, you may also want to check out your local discount stores. Discount tores, in most cases, are a cross between a convenient store and a department store. You may want to check out dollar stores as they carry a wide variety of Christmas products including decorations.  While the prices at discount stores will vary, you should be able to find beautiful Christmas decorations for fewer than five dollars each.  Of course, there will always be items that cost more than five dollars, but you may be surprised with the selection of low-cost Christmas decorations that can be found at your local discount store.

Although there is a good chance that you may prefer to have brand new Christmas ornaments, it might not always be possible.  If you are looking for low-cost, but specialty Christmas decorations, you may want to try shopping on an online auction website. By carefully examining which items you choose to buy, you could walk away with Christmas decorations that are slightly used, but look new. 

As previously mentioned, it is also important that you keep when you are shopping in mind. For the largest selection of Christmas decorations, you will want to shop early, but for the best prices, you may want to wait until it gets closer to Christmas.  In the days leading up to Christmas, some retail stores offer discounts on their Christmas supplies, including decorations. In fact, right after Christmas many of these discounts reach up to seventy-five or ninety percent off.  Although shopping right after Christmas won’t help you this year, but it may be able to help you decorate your home, at an affordable price, next year.