Creative Christmas Gift Basket for family and friends

Creative Christmas Gift Baskets for Family and Friends

Holidays are just around the corner, and so is the time for last-minute gift shopping. However, it’s not always easy to figure out what people would appreciate the most, whether you’re shopping for your mom, neighbors, or in-laws. But there is one gift you cant go wrong with, regardless of who you’re giving it to. …

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Hanukkah, Chanukkah - Which is it?

Hanukkah, Chanukkah – Which is it?

The word “Hanukkah” comes from the Hebrew word for “dedication” or”consecration.”  In Jewish tradition, it celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the forces of the King of Syria Antiochus IV Epiphanes and commemorates the “miracle of the container of oil.” According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the …

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Creating the Magic

Creating the Magic

The fourth quarter, with all its many holidays, seems to arrive earlier each year. Almost before the “back to school” products are off the shelves, the Christmas products begin to appear.  The trick-or-treaters are still picking out their costumes to come knocking on my door while the leaves begin to fall when my local newspaper starts carrying a huge ad with a countdown to the …

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The Origin of Christmas Trees in America

The Origin of Christmas Trees in America

What is the origin of Christmas trees in America? A decorated Christmas tree would have been an odd sight for your ancestors to see any time before the mid-19th century. With few exceptions, German-Americans (and only those from a particular region of Germany) were the only ones in the U.S. who decorated trees with moss, …

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