Christmas Holiday Stories and Recipes | The Christmas Chimney

5 Top Christmas Tree Myths

Santa Fan — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:37:25 +0000

Seems like there’s myths and urban legends about almost everything today and the Christmas tree hasn’t been left out. So many things have been said about live trees throughout the years that many consumers are confused about what is true and what is false. Here are 10 of the most common myths that might ease your mind about using a live Christmas tree.

1. Live Christmas trees are cut down in the nations forests.

While this myth is mostly false, it does have a little truth to it. There are a few locations where the Forest Service allows people to purchase a permit to cut a live tree. The trees are cut to create fire…

20 Interesting Facts About Live Christmas Trees

Santa Fan — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:34:05 +0000

The Christmas tree is the center piece of the holiday decor. The sparkle of the lights and the shimmer of tinsel are favorite holiday memories of both children and adults alike. It’s a gathering place for family on that very special day of the year. But, there’s lots of interesting facts about Christmas trees that few people know.

*The first known decorated Christmas tree originated in Riga, Latvia in 1510.

*The commercial sale of Christmas trees began around 1850.

*The very first retail Christmas tree lot was in New York in 1851. It was started by Mark Carr.

*Christmas trees are grown in every state in the United States.

*Live Christmas trees are grown just…

Christmas Ghost in the Cathedral

Santa Fan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:38:24 +0000

In my family we always have and always will go to church on Christmas Eve. Now we go to church every week, but for the Christmas mass we go to a Cathedral in the city.

Where my family always sits there is a very fancy wood piece carved into the wall about 150 feet from us. I have never liked the church. It is so old, and don’t get me wrong, it really is beautiful, but I have always gotten a bad feeling by it.

When I was really little I thought I was seeing someone walking behind it. But all I could see was a shadow. I never pointed it out to my mom…

Will’s Christmas Visitor

Santa Fan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:40:31 +0000

This story was told to me by one of my customers. This gentleman is a very serious, quiet natured, older man, who never jokes around about anything, a very “salt of the earth” person, so, I take the story he shared with me to be a true tale…

One Christmas time, several years ago, “Will” went by to check on “Janie”. Janie was now a widow, she had been since earlier in the year when her husband “David” had passed away rather suddenly of a heart attack at a relatively young age, he was only in his 40s. Will was a little bit older than Janie and David and as they were all from the…

Paranormal December

Santa Fan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:01:59 +0000

My parents and I had lived in this small one bedroom house; it used to be a guest home for a much bigger house. When we first moved there in 1997 I would always have nightmares. We eventually moved to much bigger house but during the time we lived there, I would always see and hear things.

When I turned six I started sleeping on the couch. In December of 2003, when I was eight, I had the worst “nightmare” of my life! I was lying in the couch, trying to fall asleep, but I couldn’t. The lights from the Christmas tree kept me awake. I stared at the star on top of the tree…

The Origins of Santa Claus

Santa Fan — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:12:45 +0000

HO HO HO

The battle cry of Christmas. Just where did Santa Claus come from? Why do most accounts have him living at the North Pole? Is there any truth to the stories of kind and generous souls who left gifts for children on Christmas Eve? Where did the reindeer come in, and why does he wear a red suit?

St. Nicholas, who was a Greek Orthodox bishop in the 4th century of what is now Turkey is one of the earliest ideas of what we now know as Santa Claus. He was a kind and generous soul who gave gifts and dowries to poor children. There is also the German god Odin, who led…

Christmas Traditions From Around The World

Santa Fan — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:40:05 +0000

December 25 is the day Christians celebrate as the birth of Jesus Christ… however, it is unknown when the birth actually happened, and the chances of it being in December are slim. December 25 was originally a pagan holiday in Babylonian times to herald the Son of the Goddess of Nature (Isis). It was celebrated with a huge feast and much merriment.

The standard Christmas traditions of the United States came from Great Britain. There is an interesting tale of the tradition of hanging stockings…. when Father Christmas came down the chimney, gold coins fell out of his pocket. A stocking that had been hung over the hearth to dry caught the coins… hence hanging…

The Christmas Tree Ghost

Santa Fan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:18:16 +0000

This story happens every Christmas Season roughly around December 1st to the 20th.

The first incident or encounter happened on December 7, 2004. It was 3 am in the morning, when out of the blue, I woke up thirsty and of course got up and went to get a glass of water. After doing so, I noticed someone or some thing was standing just on the left side of the Christmas Tree and it was staring at my cousin’s room with it’s two red eyes and I couldn’t make out a face. I tried talking to it by asking who it was or what it was doing in our house at that time but I…

Christmas Traditions In Germany

Santa Fan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:18:11 +0000

In Germany, the preparations for the Christmas celebration usually begins in November. The people in Germany set aside special evenings so that they can bake delicious deserts and make Christmas decorations and gifts.

December 6 is Nikolaustag, St. Claus day. On the eve of December 5, shoes or boots are set beside the fireplace. While all the children are asleep, St. Nicholas goes from house to house with his book of sins, which lists all the misdeeds of the children.

If he checks his book and finds out that the child has been good, he will fill the boot with holiday candies and treats. But, if the child has been naughty, he would awake to…

Pre-Christian Roots Of Christmas

Santa Fan — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:31:19 +0000

Many of the traditions and customs that are part of our current Christmas festivities have been with us since long before the birth of Christ. Christmas, as we know it today, evolved from year end and new year holy days that were celebrated in the Near East, Rome and Northern Europe.

Before Rome “converted” to Christianity there were three major holy days that were celebrated.

Saturnalia
Saturnalia began on December 17 and lasted for eight days. This festival was in honor of Saturn who was a prehistoric king and god that was believed to have taught their ancestors agriculture, civilization and peace. The celebration started with the sacrifice of a pig which was attended by…