"Cole" in Macy's Stocking

April 1

When Hollywood decided to make a modernized version of the holiday film classic, "Miracle on 34th Street," they ran into a major snag. Macy's Department Stores, who figure prominently in the plot line, refused to give permission to the producers to use their name. So the name was changed to C.F. Coles. Cole... Coal? Was the producer putting coal in Macy's stocking for being naughty?

Christmas Club Savings Accounts

March 31

A Christmas club savings account is a savings program designed to help people put some money away each month for Christmas expenses and gifts. The first one was offered by the Carlisle Trust Company in Pennsylvania. 350 customers signed up and saved an average of $28. The idea really caught on during the Great Depression and continues in popularity today though they provide very little return on the investment. Perhaps State Farmers Bank put it best back in 1920 when they encouraged parents to open one for their children "to develop self-reliance and the saving habit."

In this age of internet and electronic banking, we're not sure how many banks have continued the idea, but you might want to check with your banker to see if they still have a Christmas Club program. Very often, smaller, local banks will offer them to attract new customers. If not, you can always open any savings account, and contribute weekly.

The Angel Puzzle Answer

March 30

Yesterday we posted this brain teaser: There were four angels on a Christmas tree. Two had a blue halo and two yellow. The angels knew that; they just did not know who had which color. None of them can see their own halo. Angel A is on the highest place, and he can see angels B and C, which hang below him. Below hangs angel B, who can see only angel C under him. Angel C can't see anybody. Angel D can see no one, and no angel can see him. Which one of them can announce what color his own halo is?

Here is the answer!

1. If angels B and C had halos of the same color, then angel A must have immediately said his own color as well as the unseen angel's halo (Angel D).

2. If angels B and C had different colors, then angel A must have been silent, and that would have been a signal for angel B, who could know (looking at angel C) what his own color is (the opposite color of C's halo).

Four Angels on a Tree Puzzle

March 29

There were four angels on a Christmas tree. Two had a blue halo and two yellow. The angels knew that; they just did not know who had which color. None of them can see their own halo. Angel A is on the highest place, and he can see angels B and C, which hang below him. Below hangs angel B, who can see only angel C under him. Angel C can't see anybody. Angel D can see no one, and no angel can see him.

Which one of them can announce what color his own halo is? See tomorrow for answer.

Buying Fresh Trees

March 28

Tips for buying a Christmas tree: One, do a freshness test. Gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Very few needles should come off in your hand if the tree is fresh. Two, shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground. Some loss of interior brown needles is normal and will occur over the lifetime of the tree. Three, make sure the handle or base of the tree is straight and six to eight inches long so it will fit easily into the stand.

Significance of The Gifts

March 27

There are two schools of thought regarding the Magi gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. One is that the gifts were considered typical gifts for royalty. The other theory is that they have significant prophetic meaning -- gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of priestship, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering.

Matthew 1, 18-21

March 26

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Conception Day?

March 25

It is often said that a December 25 date for Christmas was simply a pagan Roman holiday, Saturnalia, turned to a Christian purpose. The winter solstice is celebrated in countless cultures worldwide. But there is evidence that the date was actually determined by earlier Christians, who believed that saints died on the same day of the year they were conceived. They calculated that Jesus was put to death on March 25, and therefore, if that was also the day of his conception, he would have been born on December 25th.

Christmas Dominoes For Kids

March 24

You can create a fun game for children by making your own holiday domino sets. take six designs (like a Santa, a wreath, a tree, a reindeer, etc) and then make sets of dominoes on 2x4 cards. Below shows the combinations to create, using number 1-6 to represent each design:

1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6
2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6
3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6
4-4, 4-5, 4-6
5-5, 5-6
6-6

The large cards will make it easier for kids to hold, and can spread easily on the floor. Laminate them for durability. When you are done playing, they gather up in a tidy little package held together with a rubber band.

Cologne's Shrine to the Magi

March 23

In 1270 AD, Marco Polo wrote that he was shown the tombs of the Magi at Saveh, which is south of Tehran. However, a shrine to the three "kings" can be found today at the Cologne Cathedral, supposedly thanks to the efforts of Saint Helena, mother of Constantine I, who rescued their remains from Muslim territory and brought them to Constantinople and later to Milan.

In 1154 AD the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) moved the relics to Cologne. Sources vary, but Frederick is one of two credited for giving three crowns to the shrine, though King Otto is also considered by some as the donor around 1200 AD. Today, those three crowns continue to be depicted on the Cologne city Coat of Arms.

Other locations also claim to house the relics of the Magi, but it should be noted first that relics can be separated into several parts, and second, The idea of three "wise men" or Magi is traditional, based on the three gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. There may have been more, or only two. The Bible only mentions them as a group. So it is possible other relics exist.

Tips for Lighting your Tree

March 22

Many artificial trees are now made with lights built in, but if you have one that you need to string lights on yourself, do it by section. That way you'll be able to take the tree apart and store the tree in sections with the lights on, and you won't have to take them off and restring them next year.

One way to make your stringing project easier is to get an extension cord that is made especially for tree trimming. These have several outlets along the string at intervals, and the cord can be fastened to the center of the tree along the trunk.

Be sure to read manufacturer's instructions regarding limits on the number of strings you can connect together. LED lights are more energy saving, so usually more strings of them can be connected together.

When you are approaching the end of the project, stand back from the tree with the lights lit, and squint your eyes until most of what you see are just the points of light. That way you can see areas that might need adjusting for more or fewer lights.

Frosty Was A Protest Song

March 21
First Day of Spring

"Frosty the Snowman" is a popular song written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950. Autry was looking for a follow-up hit to his previous song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The song is about a snowman who came to life thanks to a magical hat some children found. As spring arrives, the children are sad to learn Frosty must leave. However, Frosty reassures them by exclaiming, "I'll be back on Christmas Day!"

In 1972, Walter Rollins admitted in an interview with Life magazine that initially the concept of Frosty the Snowman was written as a cautionary tale pertaining to the scare of "nuclear winter" and initially it was said that nuclear fallout mixed with the snow and children's dreams of a world without war were what brought Frosty to life, but the publishers and Gene Autry thought that the song would have more commercial value as a children's Christmas song.

Fontanini Nativities

March 20

Distributed since 1978 by the Roman Company, Fontanini is a famous brand of Nativity scenes for collectors. The House of Fontanini was founded in 1908 by Emanuele Fontanini in Bagni di Lucca in Tuscany. The company today is run by his great-grandson, Emanuele Fontanini, with other members of the family -- Stefano, Marco, Luca, and Alessandro.

The scenes come in various sizes and are sold in sets and in individual pieces. The Holy Family, the shepherds, the wise men, and various animals make up the bulk of sales in addition to various styles of stables. The basic Nativity sets can be expanded to include many figurines which are not generally available in standard cribs, such as villagers, musicians, winemakers, and Evem, the innkeeper's wife. It is also possible to purchase additional buildings, such as the synagogue and the carpenter's shop. Many of the additional figurines are only available for a certain time. www.roman.com

The Legende de Saint Nicolas

March 19

In France, "The Légende de Saint Nicolas" is a song that dates back to the 16th century and is still sung by French children today. It tells the gruesome story of three children who were slain by a butcher. Sometime later, St. Nicolas happens by the butcher's cottage and recognizes the evil done. The butcher runs away, refusing to repent, as Nicolas speaks to the children, now happy in heaven:

“...Ils n'étaient pas sitôt entrés,
Que le boucher les a tués,
Les a coupés en p'tits morceaux,
Mis au saloir comme pourceaux. “

Christmas Entertaining: Make A Shrimp Christmas Tree

March 18

Shrimp Christmas Tree
Take two pounds of fresh or frozen shrimp and place them in 1.5 quarts of boiling water. Add 1/3 cup salt. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes or until shrimp are pink and tender. Drain. Peel shrimp, leaving the tail section of shell on. Remove veins and wash. Chill.

Separate and wash three bunches of curly endive. Chill. Then, starting at base of a styrofoam cone and working up, cover with overlapping leaves of endive and fasten with toothpick halves. Cover fully with leaves to resemble a Christmas tree. Attach shrimp to tree with wooden picks. Serve with cocktail sauce for dipping.

Christmas in Killarney

March 17
Feast of St. Patrick

"The holly green, the ivy green
The prettiest picture you've ever seen
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

It's nice, you know, to kiss your beau
While cuddling under the mistletoe
And Santa Claus you know, of course
Is one of the boys from home

The door is always open
The neighbors pay a call
And Father John before he's gone
Will bless the house and all

How grand it feels to click your heels
And join in the fun of the jigs and reels
I'm handing you no blarney
The likes you've never known
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home!"

-Lyrics to Christmas in Killarney by by John Redmond, James Cavanaugh and Frank Weldon

Church of the Nativity

March 16

Bethlehem, the town where Jesus is said to have been born, is the site of the Church of the Nativity, which is ablaze with flags and decorations on every Christmas. On Christmas Eve natives and visitors alike crowd the church's doorways and stand on the roof to watch for the dramatic annual procession. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade. They are followed by a solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black steed; then come the churchmen and government officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church. Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto where visitors find a silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.

Harry And David

March 15

Samuel Rosenberg was a successful hotel owner in Seattle, Washington, but his true love was agriculture. In 1910 he traded his hotel for 240 prime acres of pears in Southern Oregon's Rogue River Valley. Following Sam's death in 1914, his two sons, Harry and David, took over the family orchard business. Harry and David named their luxurious pears "Royal Riviera" to set them apart from varieties grown elsewhere. Throughout the Roaring 20s, the fame of Royal Riviera pears spread, and business boomed. Then came the crash and Great Depression, and Harry and David’s affluent market vanished. The brothers came up with the idea of selling their pears by mail, marketing to industry leaders for corporate gifts. It was the beginning of Harry and David as America's premier direct marketer of fruit and food gifts.

Wigilia

March 14
"Pi" Day (3.14)

The highlight of Christmas celebrations in Poland is Christmas Eve as the family watches for the first star of the night, or Gwiazdka (little star), in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem. The moment the star appears, everyone exchanges greetings and good wishes. Families unite for the most carefully planned meal of the year, Wigilia, the Christmas supper, which ends a 24-hour fast. The Wigilia derives its name from the Latin word “vigilare,” which means to keep watch or keep vigil.

Fields of Spiked Snow

March 13

Penitentes are snow formations found at high altitudes. They take the form of tall, thin blades of hardened snow with blades oriented toward the sun. They can be up to six feet tall and were first described by Darwin from his journal describing how he had to work through masses of them near the Piuquenes Pass on the way from Santiago de Chile to Mendoza.

They are caused through a process called sublimation, where the sun turns snow directly into vapor before it has the opportunity to melt into water. Some theorize that certain patches of snow become polluted with carbon matter, which retains the heat from the sun, and causes the formation. The impact could be significant on glacial melting, with arguments either way regarding the benefits or troubles the phenomenon causes. Either way, They make for fascinating fields of spiked formations.

Avoid Lugging Gifts Through Security

March 12

If you are flying somewhere for the holidays, you can put off your Christmas shopping until you arrive! Many airports have unique gift shops. In Chicago, visit George's Music Room, just beyond Chicago Midway's security checkpoint. Dallas-Ft. Worth is the home of La Bodega Winery in Terminals A and D, and Orlando International has the Kennedy Space Center Shop and a large Disney store. Check out the airports you will be arriving at for other great shopping opportunities.

Claus-trophobia?

March 11

Children who cry on Santa's lap do not have “Claus-trophobia,” but they may be suffering from pogonophobia, the fear of beards. Or it could be xenophobia, fear of strangers. That one could actually be a good thing. It may not be a good thing to be quick to sit on the lap of strangers.

Here's a few tips that might help you get that perfect picture next year: Many times children are afraid of the size of Santa, and just being thrust upon the large, hairy man. Your best approach might be to have Santa well behind the child for the photo, and in a seated position. Get your Santa photo early, before the crowds turn the mall-Santa phenomenon into a fast-pace event. If your child has the opportunity to meet Santa on his own level in his own timing, you may have a much happier experience with St. Nick.