Thursday, December 11, 2008

Santa Claus the Jolly Bearded Man



Santa is a jolly, chubby, white bearded man in the red suit.. He is recognize around the world as symbolizes love, caring, and gift giving through out the Christmas season.

I has become a tradition to let children believe in the magical world that Santa Claus brings.

Too Many Santas - Will the Real Santa Please Stand Up

Santa has many helpers. Spot the real Santa is the photos.



History of Santa

Santa Claus



1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, with Clement Clarke Moore, helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus.

Santa Claus, aka Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa", is the figure who, in most of Western cultures as man bringing gifts on Christmas Eve.

The modern depiction of Santa Claus as a plump, jolly man wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar, and black leather belt and boots, became popular in the United States in the 19th century.
One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, while Father Christmas is said to reside in Lapland. Other details include: that he is married and lives with Mrs. Claus; that he makes a list of children who have been bad or good.

Santa travels full of presents with his flying reindeer who pull his sleigh.

Early Christian origins



A medieval fresco depicting St Nicholas from the Boyana Church, near Sofia, Bulgaria.

Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor.


Influence of Germanic paganism and folklore




An 1886 depiction of the indigenous Germanic god Odin by Georg von Rosen

Numerous parallels have been drawn between Santa Claus and the figure of Odin, a major god amongst the Germanic peoples prior to their Christianization.
Odin was sometimes recorded, at the native Germanic holiday of Yule, as leading a great hunting party through the sky. Two books from Iceland, the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, describe Odin as riding an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir that could leap great distances, giving rise to comparisons to Santa Claus's reindeer.

Children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy.
This practice in turn came to the United States through the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam prior to the British seizure in the 17th century, and evolved into the hanging of socks or stockings at the fireplace. In many regions of Austria and former Austro-Hungarian Italy (Friuli, city of Trieste) children are given sweets and gifts on Saint Nicholas's Day.



Sinterklaas (also called Sint-Nicolaas or De Goedheiligman in Dutch [pronunciation (help·info)]) and Saint Nicolas in French) is a traditional holiday figure in the Netherlands, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles and Belgium, celebrated every year on Saint Nicholas' eve (December 5) or, in Belgium, on the morning of December 6. The feast celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of, among other things, children.

Sinterklaas is the basis for the North American figure of Santa Claus.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Cafepress Shop - Short Bus Merchandise


Short Bus Merchandise



Too many people come off the “Short Bus”. We all know who these people are. Everyone at some point had experience this illness. The only answer is to make a purchase, so together we can find a cure. Help make this possible.

Clothes, hats, buttons, men's wear, women's wear, stickers, bumper stickers, t-shirts, teddy bear, tote bags, apparel, yard sign, clocks, calendar, apron, banners, kids wear, underwear, caps and more.



Go to:

http://www.cafepress.com/short_bus_santa

http://www.cafepress.com/real_xmas_tree

http://www.cafepress.com/holiday_dog

http://www.cafepress.com/holiday_dog_1

http://www.cafepress.com/holiday_dog_2


http://embracethehill.com for more complete listing of my shops.



Find about me at http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/sandyspider



Support This Site









Christmas Cafepress Style


August 2008, I discovered Cafepress.com. Then the addiction began! I opened my first shop. I had debated on if I should go with the paid or free shop. Now I am glad that I have chosen the free shops. The slang, "Build it and they will come" does not work for me. Despite that, I haven't given up. I keep building more shops as I do lenses. I have an addiction that has taken over my life.


SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!

Cafepress has been successful for many people. I would encourage anyone who to opened a shop & give it a try.

Support This Site



I am late at opening up Christmas shops, but maybe there is some hope that my shops will have something that you would like to buy.

The great thing about shopping online is that you never have to leave your home and fight the crowds. Compared to other online shops, Cafepress.com is not over priced for the shipping.

If you have already bought your Christmas t-shirts, mugs, calendars, greeting cards or other gifts...it is never too early to think about next year!

Here is a list of the new Christmas shops that I have just opened up.



Short Bus Merchandise
Real Christmas Tree
Santa Bus



Our Pet Merchandise
Holiday Dog
Holiday Dog 1
Hoilday Dog 2

My other shops

If you do find something that you like, but would like a different variation or adjustment, then please let me know. I will make that adjustment for you. I would like you to be happy with your purchases.

If you have any questions, please email me at sandyswebnetwork@gmail.com or just click on the contact me option on Squidoo.

Come on Pose for the Picture! I said SIT!


What are the holidays without a nice picture of your pet. After all...they are family.

I wanted to take a nice picture of my dog Buddy. I had him in a nice sitting pose. But to my dismay, the batteries in the camera were dead. So, I told Buddy to stay and frantically searched the house for batteries.

For 20 minutes...Buddy did not budge. He was a very patient model.

When I finally had fresh batteries in the camera and really for that nice picture...Buddy decided that he had waited long enough.

I told him to sit. He decided that it was play time and went for his toy. Then he did sit in the opposite direction that I wanted him to do.

Once I finally got him back into the right pose, Buddy decided to lay down and roll over.

How well behaved are your pets on picture taking day?

The Modern Christimas Tree


This is what the modern Christmas tree looks like today. They come in all different sizes to suit the house or apartment. The Christmas tree can be fir, pine or spruce. And even an artificial one.Christmas Divider For Myspace

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Christmas Tree Varieties and Types




Looking for the right tree, but don't know which variety is right for you? This guide will help you decide which Christmas Tree species or types sold and grown in the United States is worth the price and has the properties you want.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

CHRISTMAS TREE HISTORY





There are some variations on how the how the Christmas tree history began.

Why do we decorate the Christmas tree?

The habit is probably inherited from the Egyptians that used to decorate their houses with palm tree leaves in the day of the astrological winter. This habit was taken by the Romans that used instead of palm trees the conifers.

But the story really begins around the 7th century when a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the word of the Lord. Legend says that he used the triangular form of the Christmas tree to symbolize religious meanings. In the Europe of the 12th century, on Christmas day, the Christmas tree was installed upside down, hanging down from the ceiling!

It appears the tree was first decorated at Riga in 1510. At the beginning of the 16th century, Martin Luther decorated the tree with candles to suggest to his children the sparkling of the stars in the sky.

At the middle of the 16th century, in Germany, appear the first markets specialized in selling presents for Christmas, usually food or objects of practical use.

Christmas decorations that were meant to suggest snow were invented in Germany in 1610. At that time not only they were silvery, but they were also made out of silver. There were invented machines to make thin silver strings for the tree. Silver lasted long but it oxidized very quickly, so they tried to ally it with cooper and zinc, but the product was so heavy that it just broke under the action of his own weight. So silver was used till the middle of the 20th century.

In Great Britain, the Christmas tree came along with merchants that originated from Germany and settled in England. Decorating the Christmas tree meant silver ornaments, candles and pearl-like ribbons all produced in Germany and Eastern Europe at the time. The custom said that every family member or invited person had to have a little tree placed on the table in front of him, with the presents besides it.

In 1846, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert – both born in Germany - appear in "Illustrated London News", along with their children, all around the Christmas tree. The popularity of the regal family made this custom to spread fast among the people. The tree became a fashion matter not only in the Britain Islands, but also on the eastern coast of America.

Decorations were of a huge variety. Mostly home made because they were expensive at the time. Young ladies spent hours cutting paper snowflakes and stars, folding presents envelopes and paper supports for candy.

In America, the Christmas tree appears around 1747, in German communities from Pennsylvania, but it spreads only along with the development of communications, at the middle of the 19th century.

In 1879 the electric light bulb was invented by Thomas Edition. In 1882, Edward Johnson, as associate of Thomas Edition was the first to electrically light Christmas tree.

Present day, we have a variety of firs, pine and spruces to pick from. Plus all the different type of artificial Christmas trees.

Cash in on Christmas!


"How about MAKING money, instead of spending it this Christmas?" Cash in on Christmas!

Throughout the world, there are many different signs of the holiday season. No matter what city you are in, there are usually two clearly identifiable signals that December has arrived.

The first indication of the approaching celebrations is the beautifully hung decorations that are magnificently streamed throughout populated areas in most cities. Everywhere, from city halls to public parks, municipal governments spend hundreds of thousands of dollars sprucing up their city in preparation for the wonderful season of snow.

The second hint that Christmas is soon approaching is the long lines of people waving money in places of commerce. Holiday shopping is a common phenomenon the world over and the need to spend drives most economies in the cold winter months.
These two signs of December are usually looked upon as separate entities, coexisting without really having anything really to do with each other. Two standards that rise and fall as punctually as the sun does.

The tie that binds them together though, might be the perfect solution if you are looking to make a little money this holiday season. Let me explain...

A couple of years ago, the Author Riel Roussopoulos, of this ebook, "Cash in on Christmas", was approaching Christmas with a certain amount of dread. He work most of the year as a landscaper and winter was his lean time. Not too many people want their lawns maintained and their flower beds treated when it's too cold to appreciate them.

Riel hadn't had much work, and as soon as saw the holiday lights start to go up all over town. He was overwhelmed with instant fear.

He knew that he was expected to buy gifts for friends and family, but also knew that his bank account wouldn't allow him to purchase much of anything at all. Riel was as broke as a busted engine.

He racked his brain for ways to make the money he needed to survive the season. But all the ideas Riel had were either stupid or were too difficult to implement in the short term.

Riel didn't know what to do, so he did the only thing he could think of. He continued going about his life normally. He had no other choice but hoped that something would come his way.

In Riel words, "I Was Living In Fear Of Christmas. Every time I walked through my neighborhood and saw the Christmas lights being hung, I felt a lump in the back of my throat. I had my own lights to put up, but the thought of stringing these same lights around my own house made me almost want to vomit. For the first (and I think only) time in my life, I was living in fear of Christmas. I didn't know how I was going to afford the holiday and the Christmas lights were an overly bright symbol of my failure."

Riel usually took a great deal of pride in putting up his lights and generally found the entire process very relaxing. After all he was good with my hands and enjoyed working outside, but that year, he was not excited about the prospect.

He knew that he couldn't avoid putting my lights up forever, Riel decided to ask his friends to help. So his friends came over and we started laying out lights. He never realized before how elaborate his lighting scheme was and as they were putting up the strings, his friend kept mentioning how cool his designs were. He was glad he invited them over.

As the day progressed and the lighting design was taking shape, a crowd started to build. People were 'oohing' and 'aahing' when they tested the lights When the entire project was finished, people actually applauded.

Strangers were amazed at the masterpiece they had created. Once it was completed he walked over to the crowd to find out why they were so obsessed with his house.
Each person he spoke to relayed a similar story about how boring the lights were in the city and how the lights on his house seemed interesting by comparison.

Almost instinctively Riel said that his designs weren't anything spectacular.

It was then that his greatest idea hit him and he realized that heI had finally found a realistic way to make some great holiday money.

He started telling everyone in the crowd that he ran a Christmas light installation business and if they wanted their house or business to shine like his did, that he would be happy to give them an estimate.

His reputation was building and so was his bank account. You can find his website on http://weputuplights.com

With every job he did, Riel was gaining more experience and more clients. At this point, he often wished that he had a guide to teach him what to learn. Riel had no choice but to rely on what he thought was the best way to put up the trickiest of Christmas lights.

Despite his best efforts, Riel made so many mistakes that second year that he almost ran myself out of business. But he kept learning and I got enough jobs to allow him to continue learning. Click Here!

By the third year, he had a much better idea of what he was doing. That is when he came up with an ebook complete with entrepreneurial spirit. you can learn the same smart business decisions that he made, without the mistakes or trial and error. Once you buy this ebook, you'll be able to run your very own Christmas light installation business. Be your own boss and fill your bank account with money.

Make Money And Feel Good Doing It!

If you are a service person and are looking for ways to supplement your income in the slow winter months, this might be the opportunity you've been searching for.
With the proper training you can easily learn how to design and construct beautiful Christmas lighting schemes.

Find out more on this unique business. Your purchase is 100% guaranteed. Act now you really have nothing to loose. Cash in on Christmas!

FREE Christmas Coloring Book



Keep the kids busy this Christmas season with Christmas coloring pages. Just select a page from the PDF, print it out and give it to the kids to color.

There are 75 Christmas coloring pages in the eBook, featuring Santa Claus, reindeer, Christmas wreaths and scenes for every age group. Plus all the lyrics to "Jingle Bells".

This is a pretty thorough Christmas coloring book There are pictures of the Christmas tree, presents, candy canes, snowflakes, gingerbread men, different Christmas decorations, and more. And of course, Santa Claus! For children with Christian upbringing, the pictures of the Church, Madonna and Baby Jesus and the shepherd (although these should have been shepherds) are good. Kids would like this.

For the adults who would print this book out, I appreciate that there are instructions on how to do so, especially on the print settings. My only nitpick is that some of the drawings have thicker lines and thus consume more ink, like Kitty Cat Christmas, Smiling Candle and Smiling Candy Cane.

That aside, though, this is a good coloring book. And though this is only intended for printing, it would make a nice stocking stuffer.

Kids would love this! And the best part is that this is a FREE ebook. Send me an email at sandym@ebooktreesaver.com

Mention, "Squidoo sent me for the Christmas Coloring Book." If you don't hear from me within 24 hours, send me a message through Squidoo.

ebooktreesaver.com

Quality ebooks!

Amazing Lighted Christmas Glass Blocks





You will absolutely love this because inside this informative Ebook you'll be making beautiful glass blocks that at you can show off to your friends. Use them as not Christmas additions to the wrapping. And even start selling these unique beauties.

Check out the special bargain price, just in time for the Christmas holiday.

LIMITED TIME ONLY - SO GRAB IT BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP!

You will instantly receive power-packed pages of information, illustrations, and tips in this "How To Make Decorated Glass Blocks" ebook.

This ebook has step-by-step directions on how to create this amazing Money Maker creation. So you can get started right away! All this for a low price of $24.95. Hurry it goes up to the original price of $34.95.

* Learn how to get top dollar for your Decorated Christmas Glass Block!

* Learn the best places to set up your displays for instant sales!

* Learn the best places to get the light strands that go inside the Glass Blocks.

* Learn what kind of Christmas lights to use.

* Learn what color of Christmas lights sell the best.

* Learn the best and quickest way to drill the Glass Blocks!

* Learn which drill bit is best to use!

* Learn what size to drill the hole to fit the Christmas light strand.

* Learn what to do about the pesky glass dust that forms inside of your Glass Block!

* Learn how to cleverly save on supplies for your Decorated Glass Block!

* Learn which Decorated Glass Blocks sell better than the others!

* Learn what to charge for your decorated Glass Block!

* Learn the most effective method for making beautifully aligned bows!
(complete bow tutorial included with pictures!)

* Learn what type of ribbon to use!

* Learn what type of ribbon will sell the best!

* Learn what adornments to put on your block to make it sell instantly!

* Learn how to turn this into a full-time business!

More more information Click Here!

Little Kid Christmas Crafts


Christmas is such a special time for most children... Full of magic and love. How much would it be worth to you to be able to add your own special touch to their childhood memories of Christmas? Click Here!

You probably never thought about it--

But suppose you could sit down with a young child and create your own special Christmas memories through a Christmas craft designed specially for them?

Imagine that the child is attentive and enthusiastic about the project, they understand what they're trying to make, and you both share fun and giggles over the craft. Imagine that they had such a great time with you that they beg to do more Christmas projects with you and they tell everyone they talk to what they made and how much fun they had with you.

Best of all, you and your child have created some wonderful Christmas memories together!

Maybe that all sounds too good to be true to you, but I'm here to tell you that it isn't... If you have the right resource.

Think about it!

If you had the most fun, age-appropriate, engaging Christmas crafts at your fingertips you could have hours of quality time with your child. You wouldn't have to assemble everything for them or work your tail off to keep them engaged.
No one wants to spend the entire Christmas Season looking for great children's Christmas projects.

Simply put, you need the right Christmas crafts to create that "Magic Time" with a child. But Finding Christmas crafts For younger children that inspire a "Magic Time"

Is Difficult?

It could take you hours of searching online and cost you a small fortune in children's crafting books before you find any Christmas craft projects that will work with a younger child -- meanwhile your wasting the little precious time you have this Christmas with your child.

But instead of knocking yourself out trying to come up with great craft ideas for little kids, you can have a bounty of Christmas ideas at your fingertips with one outstanding book called:

"Little Kid Christmas Crafts"

Fun Crafts To Get Little Kids In The Spirit Too!

At last! A Christmas craft book truly aimed at younger children!
Not only is this book designed for crafting with younger children, the children that benefit the most from crafting, but it is also a one of a kind resource that's breaking new ground in the area of children's Christmas crafting books.

NEWLYWED'S FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE


It was a good time in life, still newlyweds, both doing little things for each other. We were carefree, with no children, no huge debts or aches and pains. We were invincible. Our looks were important to us, we were in shape and being healthy was cool.

My husband and I lived in a small apartment in California, far away from any of our families. I left my family from the beautiful state of Washington and his from Wisconsin. He was in the service and stationed at Camp Pendleton.

It was our first Christmas together, just the two of us. We had set up a space in our little apartment for the Christmas tree. Now was the time to search out for that perfect tree.

We lived in a small retirement town. Everything seemed more expensive. Even for back then, in the good old days. We were on a budget, which made it harder to find that perfect tree.

We went from one tree lot to the next. The more we looked, the more disappointed we became.

After searching for what seemed like hours and the last tree lot in town. A young man working on the lot came over to us. He said that he was secretly pocketing some money on the side. He offered us a nice looking tree that had a $25 tag on it for $1. It wasn’t until we moved the tree to our car, that we noticed it was very sparse in the back.

Once in the apartment, we placed it in the corner. It was our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. After we had decorated it, you would have never known that it was branch less in the back. It was perfect! Just like in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." It turned out to be one of our best Christmas trees ever.

CHRISTMAS TREE MEMORIES


When I was a little girl, my family would drive out into the country where we would cut our own Christmas tree. Once we were there, it became a long process. My father was a perfectionist and was quite picky. It couldn’t be just any tree. It had to be the best one out there. We would search for what seems like hours. I would watch people come after we did and leave long before, with their non-perfect tree. Often we would return to where we first started, my father saying, “I guess, this one will have to do!” with the disappointment ringing from his voice.

After this entire ordeal, we would drink hot cocoa and take the hay ride that was offered on farm. The hot cocoa was so warming after spending a good deal of the day searching for that perfect tree. Our legs were so tired, that the squares of hay, which we sat on felt more, like a cushion of feathers.

Sometime in my teenage years, we bought our first artificial tree. From there my parents never went back to the real thing.

I couldn’t help but sense my dad’s disappointment of not going back to the tree farm those first few years with the artificial one.

I often look back at those days. It was more than looking for a Christmas tree. It was our family tradition.

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Find more Christmas products at 3DROSE under Sandy Mertens. Here are the links for the desk and wall clocks that can be purchased off of 3DROSE site. 30 day money back guarantee if not satisfied.

If you are looking to add any of these to your site with your Amazon associate ID, cut and paste the titles into Amazon search. Otherwise, they aren't the easiest to find there.

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