Christmas Letter Tips.com

How to Create a Christmas Letter in the Shape of a Christmas Tree

xmastips — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:55:08 +0000

Looking for a fun idea for your annual Christmas letter? Why not create a Christmas letter in the shape of a tree? It’s not too difficult to do and you can use any word processing software to create your letter. Here’s one way to do it with Microsoft Word.

Creating Your Christmas Letter in the Shape of a Christmas Tree
Millions of people use Microsoft Word to create written documents every day and most of them want their text to appear in blocks and columns. So Microsoft has never automated an easy method of creating Christmas tree-shaped text. They have left the advanced features of wrapping text in the shape of an object to more advanced (and more expensive) photo editing and publishing software. However, you can create this effect in Word with a bit of effort.

To create a Christmas letter in the shape of a Christmas tree like the one shown here, you simply set the text alignment to center and then use manual returns to make each line slightly longer than the previous one. Start with very short lines and gradually increase the length of each one. To make sure your tree isn’t very short and stubby, you’ll need to have two or three lines in a row that are very close in length before you add one that’s a bit longer.

When you get to the base of the tree, you’ll want to create very short lines that are close to the same length to create the illusion of a trunk. To make it more fun, you can make the text of the tree green and the text of the trunk brown. You can also use the Insert>Shapes function to add a star on the top of the tree.

This method requires very little skill or technical knowledge. But if you’d like to try another option that requires the ability to wrap text around objects, see this post on WordBanter.com.

Then print your Christmas letter in the shape of a tree and let your friends and family enjoy your annual update in a whole new way!

More Creative Christmas Letter Ideas

For Easy Holiday Letters, Try Christmas Letter Cards

xmastips — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:02:13 +0000

Sending an annual holiday letter with your Christmas cards typically means printing out a separate sheet of paper, folding it in half a few times, and stuffing it inside the card so you can fit everything into the envelope.

Wouldn’t it be nice to skip the whole printing, folding and stuffing part? Well, you can.

Clever card manufacturers are now making holiday cards that have enough room for you to print your Christmas letter right in the card. You can create these Christmas letter cards right online. They look great, are easy to create, and mean less work for you.

You simply upload the photo(s), write your text, and then relax or bake Christmas cookies while you’re waiting for the printed cards to arrive in the mail. You’ll still have to address and mail them yourself, but you should have plenty of time for that, since you’ll no longer need to sit at the computer to design and print your Christmas letter.

Of course, you’ll still need to figure out what to say in the letter, so if you need some help drafting your message before you go online to place your order, check out our page with Christmas letter writing tips.

Then when you’re ready, visit Pear Tree Greetings to select a Christmas letter card. All of their cards are printed on 100 lb. card stock, and many of their Christmas card designs are available on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Use code SANTA15 to save $15 off holiday cards with an order of $100 or or code 16734 to save $10 with a purchase of $70 or more.

Christmas Letter Examples – Howard Family Christmas Letters

xmastips — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:03:20 +0000

Here’s an example of how to turn the events of your year into a story. This is one of four actual Christmas letters sent out by the Howard family of California. Each year, their holiday update would include a very short story that would usually feature characters from the North Pole learning about things the family had done during the year. The 2003 letter is printed below. To see other Christmas letter examples from this writer, click one of the years below.

More Christmas Letter Examples: 2002 – 2000 – 1999

Christmas Letter Examples
Howard Family Christmas Letter 2003 – The Stolen Naughty and Nice List

It was lunch time at the North Pole. Moe and Joe Jingle, two elves from the Nintendo division, slipped outside the toy factory and quietly raced behind the reindeer barn.

“You got it?” Joe asked. Moe pulled out a sheaf of papers and smiled slyly. “Yep,” he said. “Got it.” They huddled together as Moe unfolded the papers.

“So who are we reading about today?” Joe asked anxiously, trying to peer over Moe’s shoulder. Santa had never installed satellite TV at the North Pole, which meant entertainment was mainly limited to watching reindeer games and playing hockey. Joe and Moe were tired of both. So the two had hacked into Santa’s recently computerized “Naughty and Nice” list to read about the lives of the faraway people who awaited the red-suited gentleman’s visit every year.

“Let’s see. Today we’ve got… some folks from California,” Moe said.

“California! Wow! They’ve got sun there!” Joe said. Joe’s dream was to live in a sunny place. “I bet this one’s gonna be good. They’ve got surfing and oceans and Hollywood actors who become governors. Does it look interesting?”

Moe’s eyes skimmed the paper. “Sorry. No surfer dudes. No Hollywood actors. Just a three-year-old little boy and his parents.”

Joe’s face fell. “Well, might as well read it anyway. We don’t have anything better to do.” He leaned against the reindeer barn and stuck his tongue out to catch the snowflakes that had started falling.

“Let’s see,” Moe said. “Cayne, Lisa and Chase are their names. Sounds like they lead a pretty normal life. Chase just turned three this year. Chase has a few marks in the Naughty column due to intermittent three-year-old naughtiness, but he still got a Nice rating.”

“What about the parents?” Joe said. He had moved away from the building and was now leaning this way and that with his tongue out as he maneuvered to catch the falling snow.

“They’re also on the Nice list.”

“Darn. Nice people are always so boring,” he said.

“Well, it’s not all bad. Says here that they took a few trips this year – camping in Big Sur and northern California, a trip to Seattle and the San Juan Islands to see family, and a visit to Montreal when Lisa had a business trip. That was Chase’s first trip out of the country. He had to get a passport.”

“Hey, that’s cool — a three-year-old with a passport. I’ve never even been away from the North Pole,” he said wistfully. “But I bet Montreal isn’t much warmer than here. What else?”

Moe’s eyes continued down the page. “They were also on TV this year. Cayne, Lisa, and Chase were on the evening news during a Dr. Dean Edell segment. It aired in November.”

“There’s also a whole section here about ‘first’ things Chase did. In addition to taking his first trip outside the country, he learned to ride a bike with training wheels and went to his first dentist visit.” Moe smiled. “Looks like Santa almost put him on the Naughty list that time because he cried when the dentist looked at his teeth, but he was smiling by the time they left. He also got his first driver’s license…”

“What?! Three-year-olds can drive now?” Joe yelled, forgetting all about catching snow on his tongue. “Santa won’t even let me take the sleigh for a practice ride!”

“Calm down, calm down,” Moe said, motioning with his hand. “It was just a license from Autopia at Disneyland. They went there for a week over Thanksgiving with their families – Lisa’s dad, brother, sister, and their families came down early in the week, and then Cayne’s family came down at the end of the week. It says here that Chase loved the Tea Cups, the Matterhorn, and the Haunted Mansion. He wanted to go on all of them again. In fact, Santa has a note here that Lisa gets extra Nice points for taking the kids on the tea cup ride six times.”

“Six times? Wow, that must have made her dizzy,” Joe said. He was back to his snowflake catching. ”I guess these people aren’t as boring as I feared.” He leaned his head way back to catch a snowflake and his green elf hat fall into the snow with a soft jingle from the bell on top. “What else?”

“Chase took swimming lessons during the summer. That was a first, too. He loved it. In fact, he even enjoys going under the water. He actually likes to hold his breath. And Cayne has been doing water aerobics five days a week at 24Hour Fitness, which she really enjoys. She’s made a lot of friends.

“Water aerobics…” Joe sighed. “I wish we had a pool here.”

Moe continued reading. “Oh, no. It says they lost their cat, Kimba, this year,” he said. “They put up flyers all over town and checked the shelters for weeks, but they never heard a word. Then, in a weird, chance meeting, they met a woman who worked at an emergency animal clinic. She said she was pretty sure their cat had been brought in by a nice family who had found him wandering. Unfortunately, he had a urinary blockage and they couldn’t save him. But at least they know what happened to him.”

“Gee, that’s too bad,” Joe said. He stopped catching snowflakes long enough to look appropriately mournful.

“But they also got some new critters, it says,” Moe continued. “They’re on the Naughty list. Callie, their new kitten, who was a stray whose owner they couldn’t find, is on the Naughty list for always trying to get Chase’s new pet fish, Beta. Chase has loved fish ever since he saw ‘Finding Nemo.’” Moe smiled again. “And Cayne and Lisa get extra Nice points for completely indulging him and taking him to see the movie 5 times!! He absolutely loved it. In fact, that was the theme for his third birthday party.”

“But, uh-oh. Looks like Zoey, their dog, is also on the Naughty list for chewing everything in sight. According to Santa’s notes, she’s a real sweetie, but she has chewed the cover for the BBQ grill twice, as well as tubing for the drip irrigation system and numerous other items. And she is on the Naughty list simply for being too big for her exuberant puppy energy. It says Chase loves her, but Zoey gets in trouble a lot because she knocks him down in her excitement.”

Joe took a break from trying to catch snowflakes and looked at his watch. “Hey, we better get something to eat before we get back to the toy factory. Anything else before we grab some grub?”

Moe skimmed the list. “Well, it says Lisa’s company laid off a bunch of people at the end of the year after MSN canceled their contract. She lost eight of the 13 people on her team, but she’s okay for now and looking for another job in case the company goes under.”

Joe swiped at one more snowflake with his tongue. “Think you can get another one tomorrow?”

“Sure. No problem. Santa will never know.” He and Joe turned and headed off to the cafeteria to get lunch.

They never even saw the man in the red suit who was quietly adding names to his Naughty list.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a great 2004!

Sample Business Christmas Letters

xmastips — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 05:36:58 +0000

Business Christmas letters are a great way to stay in touch with customers and business associates and to thank them for their business throughout the year. They’re typically much more formal than family Christmas letters, so you’ll need to keep this in mind when writing.

In a family Christmas letter, you want to tell your readers about things that happened to you during the year. But the goal of a business letter is not to tell about your company’s successes, but to express your thanks to customers and partners.

Here are some sample business Christmas letters to help you get started.

——————————————————————-

Sample Letter #1

Dear [Customer or Client Name],

The holiday season is a wonderful time for us to remember the friends and customers who help our business and make our jobs a pleasure all year long. Our business would not be possible without your continued support.

So we’d like to take this moment to say thank you and send our best wishes to you and your families. May your new year be filled with all the success and happiness you deserve.

Happy holidays!

[Your Company Name]

——————————————————————-

Sample Letter #2

Dear [Customer or Client Name],

As the holiday season approaches, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued business. It is business associates like you who make our jobs a pleasure and keep our business successful.

May your holiday season and the new year be filled with much joy, happiness and success. We look forward to working with you in the coming year and hope our business relationship continues for many years to come.

Happy holidays!

[Your Company Name]

You can give your business Christmas letter some holiday cheer by printing it on holiday paper instead of your company letterhead. Then be sure to send your letters in plenty of time to arrive before the holidays.

Happy writing!

Catch a Video of Santa in Your House

xmastips — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:02:29 +0000

When you were a kid, did you try to stay up late at night to catch Santa in your house? Millions of children have tried to catch the jolly old elf, but somehow his magic only seems to work when you’re asleep. But with today’s high technology, you’d think there would be a way to catch him at work. And, indeed, now there is.

You can get video proof of Santa’s visit to your very own house to show your kids. It’s easy. Just set up your video camera in the room where you want to catch St. Nick, send your kids off to bed…. and then sneak to the computer for a little Christmas magic at TheSantaVideo.com.

The Santa Video makes it easy for anyone to get a video of Santa in your house. All you need to do is upload a photo (not a video) of your living room, family room, or wherever Santa leaves presents in your home. Then select from one of 5 video clips of Santa at work. You’ll see him walk into your home, put down his bag of gifts and even enjoy some milk and cookies while he’s visiting. Once you choose the Santa video you prefer and indicate which of the songs (if any) you want to add as background music, you’ll be able to see a preview of your video showing Santa at work in your house. It’s so believable you might find yourself believing in Santa again, too!

The whole process of creating your video will take less than 5 minutes. And your kids will be amazed! Catching Santa has never been easier.

Christmas Cards: Then and Now

xmastips — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 01:11:51 +0000

Christmas Cards

Christmas is the perfect time of year to reconnect with friends and family at home and abroad. The practise of sending messages of good will to each other has been made since Pagan times. German records show that people sent New Year cards in the fourteenth century, which later developed into a tradition of sending New Year gifts of a printed scene for the home complete with an inscription. In the United Kingdom eighteenth century children would design “Christmas Pieces” for their families, which were specially written messages on engraved paper, it is believed these messages eventually led on to the cards we know today. The origins of the first commercially available Christmas cards can be traced to Sir Henry Cole in December 1843; it simply bore the message `A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to You`.

Cards are usually sent in the weeks running up to Christmas and may carry a range of images. Some bear overtly religious scenes and messages relating to the nativity scene or even relevant Bible passages. Other cards may have a less religious feel but still convey thoughts of goodwill. Many have scenes of traditional Christmas festivities and customs such as feasting, giving gifts, carolling or enjoying winter weather. Father Christmas and his minions provide great fodder for more humorous cards and are frequently featured.

Cards for close family members and for friends can be easily customised using the Hallmark site. Imagine Grannies delight at receiving a card designed especially for her. Dads, Mums, Granddads, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces and Nephews can all receive the same joy when opening their cards. Friends need not miss out either, as using templates makes it possible to provide a unique design for every recipient. If the templates do not quite suit then it is possible to use your own photographs. Businesses too can use the template system to customise a range of cards to be sent. Charity cards are also available.

Involve everyone in the family when it comes to sending the cards. Addressing envelopes and sticking on stamps can seem more fun if you are all together. It is also a chance to talk to younger members of the family about who you are sending cards to and why it is important to keep touch! Don`t forget to add a little a personal touch when contacting friends, even a hand written signature will go a long way. If you are posting abroad, then check early to make sure you don`t miss posting dates.

And finally make sure you allow plenty of time to choose your perfect Christmas cards. Due to the increasingly busy lives people live, the tradition of exchanging cards is, perhaps, more important than ever as it allows you to connect with friends and family and let them know that you are thinking of them. Of course if you do leave it a little late or get caught out by a card you weren`t expecting, you could also send a New Year card instead.

Green Your Holidays with a Christmas Letter Template

xmastips — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 08:57:32 +0000

Sending Christmas cards and letters is a fun tradition during the holidays. But if you’re looking for ways to go green and help cut down on paper waste, you may want to consider using a downloadable Christmas letter template rather than store-bought stationery.

Using a printable Christmas template for your annual holiday letter to family and friends is an eco-friendly way to make sure you’re not wasting paper – or running out! You’ll always have just the right amount.

What is a Christmas letter template?
A Christmas letter template is simply a document with a holiday design that has been set up for you to customize with your own content. Typically, they are saved as Microsoft Word documents, so they’re easy to edit. You simply download the document, open it in Word, and replace any sample text with your own. Basic templates may just have a Christmas background design inserted into Word with the text box already set up, or more advanced templates may include a place for you to add your own photo, or may be formatted as a newsletter with multiple columns, boxes and areas for you to write your own content.

Why Use a Christmas letter template?
If you’re concerned about our natural resources, a template makes sense for several reasons. First, you’ll never have to worry about having leftover paper that you can’t use. With a downloadable Word Christmas template, you’ll never have excess.

Second, you can always choose recycled paper. If you buy Christmas letter paper at the store, you may have a hard time finding a design you like on recycled paper, or the recycled content may not be up to your standards. With a printable template, you can print your holiday letter on the paper you prefer.

Third, there’s no shipping or packaging involved. Your stationery isn’t hauled across the country in gas-guzzling freight trucks or packaged in non-biodegradable plastic. So your purchase is greener and cleaner than stationery from the store.

You can find inexpensive printable Microsoft Word Christmas letter templates here at Christmas Letter Tips.com or at our partner site, ChristmasLetterTemplate.com.

Article Source: Go Green with a Christmas Letter Template

By Lisa Howard

Samples of Christmas Letters

xmastips — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:01:43 +0000

Your annual Christmas letter doesn’t have to be a letter at all. You’ll find ideas for multiple choice quizzes, newsletters, creative stories, digital Christmas cards and more on the Christmas letter ideas page.

But If you’ve already read through the list and want to see how some people have put their own fun ideas into practice, click on a link below to see examples of creative Christmas letters available on the web.

Howard Family Christmas Letters – four examples of how to weave a story into your annual Christmas letter

HinesSight Collected Christmas Letter – a collection of great Christmas letters, including the 2001 edition, in which the newest member of the family, a dog, reflects on the past year

my tiny voice in this big world: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Cards – a take on the classic poem

Metropolitan Diary-style Christmas letters
– a Mom’s self-deprecating stories told in the style of The New York Times "Metropolitan Diary"

Waite Family Christmas letters – good example of how to make a Christmas quiz fun

YouTube Christmas letters (see below) – amusing digital Christmas letters saved on YouTube

For more samples of Christmas letters, check out the book, “Ideas for Writing Creative Christmas Letters” by Janet Colbrunn. Click here to find a review of Ideas for Writing Creative Christmas Letters.

Christmas Newsletter Template – Red Snowman Banner

xmastips — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:03:04 +0000

This MS Word newsletter template for Christmas is designed to make your Christmas letter writing easy! Simply open the document in Microsoft Word (version 97 or newer) and edit it like you’d edit any Word document. The holiday design includes places to include your own update on the first page and family photos with captions and a shorter update on the second page. The template includes two pages, so you can choose whether to use one or both pages. It’s easy to modify and includes instructions right in the template that explain how to replace the text and photos with your own. Give your family Christmas letter some new life with this easy-to-modify Word template!

Price: $3.49
After clicking Buy Now, please allow a few seconds for the PayPal checkout page to load.

The Buy Now button will take you to a secure checkout page where you can purchase this template with a credit card or your PayPal account. You do NOT need a PayPal account to make a purchase.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You will need Microsoft Word 97 or newer to open this document.

The Tradition of Holiday Greeting Cards

xmastips — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:33:44 +0000

Many people enjoy receiving Christmas greeting cards during the holidays, but have you ever stopped to wonder how the tradition of sending Christmas cards began?

Sir Henry Cole, a British inventor and civil servant, produced the first commercial holiday cards in 1843. He commissioned an artist named John Horsley to illustrate them, and Cole obliged by drawing a three-panel image that included a family raising their glasses for a toast in the middle above the words “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.” Cole sold over 2000 of the cards for a shilling a piece that year.

Other cards soon followed, although they didn’t look like the cards we’d think of today. Rather than having winter or religious themes, early Christmas cards depicted flowers and fairies and other images that looked forward to the coming of spring.

The first holiday cards in America weren’t offered until more than three decades later. In 1875 Louis Prang became the first printer to offer cards in America. The advent of the postcard brought an end to elaborate Victorian-style cards for awhile, but by the 1920s, cards with envelopes had returned.

Christmas cards have been continually evolving and changing since then. During the World Wars, patriotic themes were popular, while in the 1950s, cartoon illustrations and cards with risque humor caught on. Today you can get holiday cards with a wide range of images and greetings. Nostalgic, sentimental, and religious images continue to be popular, and, now you can also purchase many “unusual” Christmas cards that can do double-duty as Christmas letter, calendars or tree ornaments. Many companies choose to send out corporate holiday cards these days as a way to keep in touch with their customers during the holiday season. Today’s Christmas cards can be anything from humorous to religious, simple to ornate, small to large, and everything in between.

Unfortunately, sending out printed Christmas cards is a tradition that’s in danger of fading out as more high-tech options become available and more popular. In recent decades, the number of cards sent during the holidays has been declining. The estimated number of cards received by American households dropped from 29 in 1987 to 20 in 2004. Despite the decline, printed cards are still popular – 1.9 billion cards were sent in the U.S. in 2005 alone. And new services that send cards out for you are making it easier to combine the popularity of printed cards with the ease of online ordering.

So even though the tradition of holiday greeting cards may be changing, it should be with us for a long time to come.

Talking to Your Kids About Santa Claus

xmastips — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:15:17 +0000

My son finally came to me and asked about Santa Claus. I had been preparing for the question for almost three years, but it still made me a little sad to know this magical part of his childhood was coming to an end. My greatest fear was that he would turn around and tell his little sister, who is only in kindergarten. That is just what I did when my older brother told me about Santa, and my sister has never quite forgiven me. (Perhaps that’s why I now sell printable Santa letter templates – to keep Santa’s magic alive for other little children and pay penance for my earlier misdeed! )

Fortunately, I knew just what I wanted to say to my son about the legend of Santa Claus.

I told him that Santa was a real man who lived in the fourth century and was known for his kindness and generosity, especially to children. Nicholas was such a good person that he has inspired millions of people for thousands of years to continue bringing joy to children. How many other people in history have had such an impact?

I told my son that he’s now part of the secret society of people who safeguard Santa’s secret and are charged with continuing his legacy. He was excited to become part of this “adult” group, and now wants to make sure his little sister continues to believe in Santa as long as possible.

I’m sad to see this chapter of my son’s childhood coming to an end, but I’m glad he understands and magic that Santa inspires and is anxious to keep it alive for his sister.

(Please visit HubPages for more thoughts on how to tell your child about Santa Claus.)

Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Home

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:04:21 +0000

Article by Puneet Decor

Christmas is approaching fast. And that means you have to decorate your shack again. Need good Christmas decorating ideas for your home? Read on to get some nice Christmas home decoration ideas.

Christmas home decoration

Christmas is the biggest festival in the western world. In the U.S and other western countries, the occasion is celebrated with much fanfare. Preparations for Christmas festive celebrations begin in these nations from as early as November. Craft and gift stores are flocked by thousands of Christmas shoppers. Plenty of decoration items are bought from these stores by Christmas celebrants. These are used to deck up homes in a beautiful way.

Home decoration ideas for Christmas

Christmas celebrations require your home to be decorated the most beautiful way. It is a commemoration of the supposed birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December. Every lover of Christmas wants to provide a warm welcome to baby Jesus on this holy day. Christmas is not only a holy occasion but also a time for family get-togethers. So you cannot afford to come up with a shoddily decorated home for the festival.

Here are some useful Christmas home decoration tips for you. Check out these Christmas home decoration ideas and deck up your shack in a beautiful way for this Christmas season.

Christmas home outdoor decoration ideas

Hang strands of electric lights from rooftops. If possible, use a timer to control the lighting.

Hang a beautiful Christmas banner above the entrance door. Stick one or two Christmas wreaths to the door surface. This will lend a nice Christmas flavor to your home.

Coil a long strand of electric light around the trees outside your home. Use a timer to control the lighting. It is better if all the bulbs outside your home glow on and off at the same rhythm.

Does it snow in your place during Christmastime? If it does, you may urge your kids to make two big snowmen on either sides of your front entrance. Kids love making snowmen. Let them have some fun while you get pleasure at watching them go creative. Dress up these snowmen and illuminate them with electric lights. This is one of the best Christmas decorating ideas for your home.

Christmas home indoor decoration ideas

Fill glass bowls with water and release small, round pebbles into it. Float a handful of fern leaves over this. Pour over the petals of some seasonal flowers. Use the bowl as a Christmas table centerpiece.

Hang several Christmas stocking in a line across your living room. Fill these with small candies. You can gift these to the little family members who come to visit you during the festive season.

Make ribbon bows and stick them to your furniture and doors. You should ideally paste one just below the spot where you stick the wreath on your front door.

Hope you found these Christmas Decorating ideas for your home useful. Implement them to dress up your home during the Christmas celebrations this year. You will feel overjoyed to see the positive transformation of your house.

For more information about Christmas decorations visit – http://www.christmascarnivals.com/

About the Author

Puneet is the author of Christmascarnivals and provide the information of Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Home, Christmas home decoration, Home decoration ideas for Christmas, Christmas home decoration tips, Christmas home decoration ideas

Christmas Markets around the World

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:06:52 +0000

Article by Dertour

Christmas is a time for rejoicing and celebrating the birth of Jesus as well as eating too much and swapping gifts! The beginning of December welcomes the opening of countless Christmas markets around the world and they are a fun and traditional way to shop for seasonal gifts and decorations. Christmas markets originated in Germany and Alsace and they are now held on the streets for the four weeks of Advent in countries all over the world including Romania, Argentina and Spain.

A History of Christmas Markets

Christmas markets boast a long and interesting history and one of the oldest of its kind is the Dresden Christmas Market that was first held in 1434. However the Bautzen Christmas Market has been running since 1384 and German Christmas markets remain some of the most popular markets in the world although many countries have since adopted the seasonal market spirit. Food and drink as well as singing and dancing are commonplace at Christmas markets. Various seasonal items are for sale that range from handmade jewellery through to arts and crafts and these traditional offerings have been part of the Christmas market scene since their inception.

Attractions and Gifts

The stalls found in Christmas markets usually sell a range of Christmas decorations and souvenirs that are often handmade by local businesses, children and charities. A firework display may mark the opening of the markets along with nativity plays and copious amounts of dancing and Christmas carol singing. As the markets are usually held on the streets, the stalls are temporary and range from basic tables to wooden huts and shacks. A tall Christmas tree will often boast centre stage at Christmas markets and decorations will be for sale at the various stands. Christmas cookies and seasonal gifts are usually on sale as opposed to gifts that don’t have a Christmas theme found in shops and stores. Warm drinks accompanied by hot snacks are often found in these traditional markets.

Here are a few of the more common features found in worldwide Christmas markets:

* Central location* Music and dancing* Plays and nativity decorations* A novelty Santa dishing out presents* An ice rink

German Christmas Markets

Around two million keen Christmas shoppers flock to Dresden every year for its market and it has more than 60 stalls to explore. Many of the German Christmas markets and others around the world have popular opening nights that will welcome various plays and scenes often performed by local school children. Fireworks, Christmas lights and decorations can be seen for miles around. Gl

Christmas and Shopping in Stratford upon Avon

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:06:38 +0000

Article by Herdeep Mann

Christmas Shopping in Stratford is always a very special occasion as you can expect certain shops to stay open late for those last minute shoppers making that all important Christmas purchase to free car parking in certain areas of the town to the world famous local and continental markets that will be open over the festive period and Christmas would not be Christmas if the town did not switch the Christmas Lights on and have Santa’s Grotto there for the kids to enjoy.

Late Night Christmas Shopping

Christmas Shopping in Stratford upon Avon is a hugely enjoyable experience the Town Centre has all the big name retailers essential for all your Christmas purchases with over 170 different brand names to pick from to smaller independent retailers from bespoke craft shops to stylish boutiques so you are assured you will find the ideal gift for everyone on your Christmas shopping list. To make things easier Stratford has late night shopping over the festive period this normally begins on Thursday 26th of November and continues right up to the 17th of December with shops staying open till 9pm.If that was not enough the town also provides on the Thursday nights a free late night park and ride facility this operates from 4pm to 10pm every Thursday night right up to Christmas Eve (24th of December).There is also free car parking in all of the Stratford District Councils car parks (except Bridgefoot and Unicorn Meadow) as well as Church Street, Arden Street, Windsor Street and the Riverside car parks.

Christmas Markets

Apart from the hustle and bustle of the traditional Christmas shopping in Stratford you may want to venture off to the world famous markets well know for there home grown produce of chutneys and cheeses and all sorts of festive fare. So with the festive period Stratford markets come alive with traditional Christmas produce on offer and different themes based on Christmas classics such as Scrooge and Bob Cratchett.The main Christmas market is located a Bridge Street and this opens on Thursday 26th of November until the 17th of December or if you wish you can also visit the Stratford Farmers Market which opens on the 5th of November until the 19th of December this market stays open until 3pm.Last but not least is the Friday Retail Charter Market which is located at Rother Street this market opens every Friday all the way up to Christmas Eve(respectively the markets do not open on Christmas day and New Years Day)

Christmas Lights Switch On.As I mentioned before Christmas would not be Christmas without the traditional lights. The Christmas lights display in Stratford upon Avon is considered to be one of the finest in the UK with generous funding and grants from the Town Trust and the Town Council and individual businesses and local residents. The Christmas lights switch on takes place on Thursday 26th of November at around 4.30pm at the Town Hall you can also expect to see a fantastic festive fireworks display and live entertainment and a candlelit procession plus lots of festive food and drink.

As for the Children at Christmas in Stratford upon Avon it would not be appropriate if Santa and his elves did not make an appearance therefore over the festive period the Town Centre is transformed into a Winter Wonderland where you can visit Santa in his ultimate Grotto and meet up with his Elves and take part in some interactive fun with crafting and receive your special Christmas gift from Santa. The Grotto opens on the 26th of November and then every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then everyday the week before Christmas. As well as the traditional Christmas events you can also expect to see over the festive period in the town various acts in the Town Centre ranging from Christmas songs to dance performers and Mini Gigs are also held in parts of the town where Jazz Music to Mediaeval Music using traditional instruments can be listened to these are normally held at Greenhill Street, Rother Market and Shrieves Walk and there will be plenty of Buskers in the town to make your Christmas shopping in Stratford a experience to remember and enjoy for all the family.

Festive Food and Drink in Stratford After all that Christmas shopping you may want to take the weight off your feet what better way to do it then enjoy a delicious Christmas lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants and eateries dotted around the town. Over the festive period Stratford comes alive with all the cafes,bars,pubs and restuatrants all offering you traditional Christmas fare to foods from all over the world from Indian to Italian to Chinese.

About the Author

Herdeep Mann resides in the UK,and is the sole licensee and webmaster for a website which is all about Stratford Upon Avon,to find out more visit:Online Guide To Stratford upon Avon

Great guide to Italian, French and Spanish Christmas markets breaks

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:05:31 +0000

Article by Cole Rees

Why not enjoy Christmas abroad this year and experience the incredible celebrations put on across Italy, France and Spain? There is no doubt that the Christmas markets in London, Manchester, Birmingham and other UK cities are impressive, but experiencing Italian, French and Spanish festivities is something that everyone really should put on their Christmas wish list.

The festive season should be filled with fun, food and laughter, and these are the things you will find in abundance when you take a four or five day escorted tour to the Paris Christmas markets, Barcelona Christmas markets or Italian Alpine Christmas markets. Whichever country tickles your fancy, you won’t be disappointed by the atmosphere or the festive decorations and traditions that you’ll find in the Piazzas of Italy, the Places of France and the Barras of Catalonia.

Sights and sounds not to be missed at Christmastime in Europe:

ItalyChoose from Christmas breaks to Lake Garda and trips to the Italian Alpine Christmas markets, and experience a magical few days tasting the renowned Italian cuisine and browsing all that Italy has to offer. If you choose Christmas in Lake Garda you will see immediately what all the fuss is about when you arrive and see the mirror-calm waters, the craggy and dramatic mountainous backdrop and the pastel-coloured houses that line the shores. Lake Garda is one of the most idyllic places to base yourself from if you plan to visit some of Italy’s most prominent cities, from Romeo and Juliet’s “fair Verona”, to the Christmas markets of Trento – a great place to finish off your Christmas shopping. On Christmas Eve you can attend a traditional midnight mass at the church in Riva del Garda and welcome Christmas in the traditional style. Then enjoy Christmas day on the Lake, exploring the shoreline, before mooring and enjoying a four-course Christmas dinner complete with live music and entertainment.

If you choose to leave Lake Garda for another time and instead visit the Italian Alps and the Christmas markets in Bolzano and Merano, you will see exactly what a white Christmas should look like, thanks to the snow-capped Alps and the rooftops of the houses in the Alpine towns and villages. Spend your days perusing the local arts and crafts, and pick up some unusual and unique Christmas gifts for friends and family back home, before tucking into traditional Italian cuisine and warm spiced red wine.

FranceIf a Christmas markets break is what you want, then Paris is the city for you thanks to the incredible work that goes into dressing, decorating and lighting France’s capital. Don’t miss the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Notre Dame and the Champs Elysees in all their festive glory; these sights are particularly impressive at night when they’re lit up against the night sky and when the hustle, bustle and aroma of the Christmas markets at La Defense (the business district) fills the air. Experience Paris with the help of an experience tour guide when you choose escorted tours to France, and don’t miss out on all the things this great city has to offer quite apart from all the fun you’ll have practicing your French with the Christmas market stall holders, trying the food and drink that is on offer and investing in festive arts and crafts for friends at home.

SpainVisit Barcelona’s Christmas markets for the ultimate Spanish festive experience because, while being by the sea might not conjure up festive thoughts, Barcelona is so much more than a seaside city. Home to some of the most incredible Modernist architecture, to authentic and delicious tapas that changes with the seasons and, of course, to the Christmas markets during December, Barcelona is definitely worth a tour. Simply strolling the main areas of the city will give you an insight into how the Catalans celebrate Christmas. Take inspiration home with you, as well as some of the traditional, handcrafted jewellery, artworks and woodcrafts that are sold on the market stalls.

There are two main Christmas markets sites in Barcelona, the Fira de Santa Llucia and the Fira de Nadal, in the shadow of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, one of the world’s most awe-inspiring cathedrals. Whichever one you pick, you’ll also see just what food is traditional in Spain and how it differs from the turkey dinner we’re used to.

So, why not broaden your festive horizons this year and spend a few days at one of the atmospheric Christmas markets of Italy, Spain or France?

There are many Christmas Market Breaks in Europe such as Barcelona Christmas Market Breaks that could be the perfect getaway this winter.

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