Christmas & Holiday Traditions
Fun things about Christmas is traditions. Take for instance, the Land Down Under, because, well, someday I want to visit there, just
probably not at Christmas. The English and Irish predominately settled Australia so it stands to reason their traditions reflect those countries. Aussie’s decorate their homes with ferns, palm leaves and evergreens along with blooming flowers of Christmas Bush and Christmas Bell Flower. It’s summer time in December down under, when most of the United States is looking forward to big flakes and blankets of snow for a white Christmas. Carols by Candlelight is one of the popular events in Australia. People come together under the stars at night to light candles and sing Christmas carols. Seems to me, it’s not far from our own tradition of Christmas carolers. I just can’t imagine Christmas without snow, that’s why I live in Colorado.
Because I am of Swedish descent, let’s take a peek at Christmas traditions in Sweden where in December the days are quite short, the nights 
long and the ground is usually snow-covered. The Christmas season begins at church on the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Children use an Advent calendar to keep track of the first day of December until Christmas, just like some of ours do. Each morning, they open a flap in the calendar’s Christmas scene to see the charming picture behind it. This year, I have a modern Advent calendar on my computer and enjoy a surprise behind each door daily.
My husband is part Native American. The European settlers had a large influence on Native American culture. The Winter Solstice has always been a reverent time for Native people all over the world during the Christmas season. It’s a time to offer gratitude, honor family and ancestors, and follow a ritual observance of beliefs. A few days before Solstice, members of various tribes create prayer sticks to honor an ancestor or native deity. They plant the sticks during a ceremony on the Solstice.
For many Native Americans, continuing cultural and historical integrity is extremely importance. Without this focus, the “old ways” would become only a memory. Therefore, many tribal members choose to combine European Christmas traditions like holiday trees and mangers with native customs including dances to honor Indian heritage as well as Christian beliefs.
As for my family’s traditions: The weekend after Thanksgiving, we put up the Christmas tree and decorations inside and out. Weather permitting. Trust me, climbing around on a wet, icy roof is not a smart idea. Our tree is not real but it looks great complete with pine cones and needles. We have artificial because I’m allergic. <sigh>
We pack everyone, pets included, in the SUV and drive around enjoying the Christmas light displays with mugs of hot cocoa in hand. Watching Christmas 
movies throughout 
December is tradition but so is making candy such as Divinity, Fantasy Fudge and Beaver Dams. What are Beaver Dams, you ask. Well, take a package of butterscotch chips, melt them in a double boiler, stir in half-package of crispy Chow Mein Noodles and one-half can of cocktail peanuts. Spoon the concoction by tablespoon full onto foil and let set. They look like beaver dams hence the name. YUMMY.
What traditions does your family observe on Christmas Eve and Day? Or during the month of December? I look forward to hearing from you.
Views: 350
Posted in Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged Christmas, Christmas Lights, Holidays, homemade candy, Traditions by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Elusive Holiday Joy – Found!
Joy of the Season Blog Hop is in full swing with rafflecopter giveaway (below), games, prizes and holiday tales. Please stop by, leave a comment then pop on over to the next participating blog (pssst.. just click on the link at the bottom of the page).
As your remember, before the trip to the North Pole, my faith in people was restored by an entertaining sales clerk encounter. We went home and put up the LED lights around the outside tree and planter, hung
lights in the windows, and set timers. Who wants to run all over the house and yard turning on lights each night? Not me! Afterwards, we loaded the CD player with favorite Christmas carols by several well-known artists and decorated the tree. More holiday joy surfaced. As darkness fell, we sprinted outside to see our bright holiday lights shining in the otherwise dark neighborhood. Holiday cheer ratcheted up another notch or two.
Whistling Christmas carols, we scooted inside, flipped on the TV and turned to the channel that shows heartwarming holiday tales from Thanksgiving through Christmas. A mug of hot cocoa in hand, we cozy up on the sofa as the fire in the hearth crackles. The holiday cheer meter soared. I am looking forward to gathering and reading new holiday tales from favorite and new authors to add to the Christmas Spirit. I believe I will dive into the holiday cookie baking with sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, and gingerbread cookies from recipes I found on the holiday hops I’ve participated in. Did you check those out as you popped from blog to blog?
So tell me how is your holiday cheer meter going?
My offering, A Witch’s Holiday Wedding. It’s a feel good story about friends, family, and wildlife rescue with Christmas surprises and cheer!
Here’s a little sneak peek.
After she set her glass down, Lathen brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes and searched her face. “Are you all right?”
“I’m tired, my wedding is in a couple weeks, I have ghosts fighting over who is going to do what. Guests that have no idea the place is haunted and… Your family and pack, my parents, Gwen… To top it all off, the head of my clan, who is a ghost, is sitting in front of me wanting to know who is coming to the wedding and whether the ghosts will be outed. How could I possibly be all right?”
“When you put it that way.” Lathen chuckled. “It sounds just a bit… I don’t know…crazy?” His right eyebrow winged up. She saw mischief sparkle in his eyes. “We could still elope,” he offered.
“No sir. Not after all the trouble—Not on me watch.” Aidan shook his head so vehemently his ghostly upper torso blurred.
Available at: Amazon, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press, All Romance, and Barnes & Noble
Holiday joy found. My advice. This holiday season, take a step back from the craziness, put a smile on your face and Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays on your lips. Ignore the commercialism. Set out to make someone laugh each day, and celebrate the reason for the season. Merry Christmas! Oh, don’t forget to visit Joy of the Season Blog Hop, giveaways and free entertainment are good things!
We are giving away prizes to two randomly selected winners: 1) an ebook bundle, including books in various genres by various authors participating in the hop (see the list of books at the bottom of this page); or 2) a $50 Amazon gift card. Please visit the main hop page here to see a list of books included in the bundle.
Enter now for your chance to win!
Next week with my holiday joy found, we’ll take a look at holiday traditions. I’d love for you to share some of your family’s holiday traditions. Look forward to hearing from you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Views: 684
Posted in Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged books, Christmas, Hightway Cafe Blog Hop, Holiday, Joy, Joy of the Season Blog Hop, Tales by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Joy of the Season Blog Hop & Highway Cafe Christmas Blog Tour from the North Pole!
Direct from the North Pole, welcome to the Joy of the Season Blog Hop and Highway Cafe Christmas Blog Tour (links to participants and rafflecopter are at the bottom of the post)!
Here at the North Pole it’s extremely busy, but we still have time for a little holiday fun and shenanigans.
Let me introduce myself. I’m an elf and my name is Twinkle Bright because my elf hat has twinkle lights wound all around the scalloped edge and the pointy top.
I make yummy Hot Chocolate for Santa and the elves from a secret family recipe passed down from generation to generation. My hot chocolate keeps everyone warm and toasty inside at the North Pole. There is even an automatic dispenser in Santa’s Sleigh providing him with hot chocolate during his travels on Christmas Eve. It goes good with the cookies the children leave for him.
While I am mixing up large batches of hot chocolate, I listen to Christmas Carols from a variety of pop, country and rock artists. I always taste each batch to insure its up to elf standards.
. You would think I’d get tired of hot chocolate, but no — never. I love the steaming chocolaty drink. I usually keep mine in an insulated mug so it stays warm while sampling the cookies in the elves’ bakery. Frosted sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies are my absolute favorites.
Now, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. But you must promise not to tell…anyone. We do a secret Santa gift exchange around here and this year I got Bob, her job at the North Pole is name checker to make sure Santa has all the correct spellings of the girls and boys. One year she spelled Chrys’ name Chris and wow what an uproar. Luckily Santa caught it, but we had to rush to change all the tags on her packages. Whew! I’m getting Bob a package of 120 different color markers in a jewel encrusted case for marking off the correctly spelled names after she checks them. Do you think she’ll like that?
Do you like fudge? Great, I’ll share with you my favorite Fantasy Fudge Recipe.
3 CUPS OF SUGAR
3/4 CUP BUTTER OR MARGARINE
1 – SMALL CAN (5OZ) EVAPORATED MILE (ABOUT 2/3 CUP)
DON’T USE SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK)
1 – 12 OZ PACKAGE OR NESTLES SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS
1 – 7 OZ JAR OF MARSHMALLOW CREME
1 TEASPOON OF VANILLA
YOU CAN ADD CHOPPED NUTS IF YOU WISH.
BRING SUGAR, BUTTER AND EVAPORATED MILK TO A FULL ROLLING BOIL IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT, STIRRING CONSTANTLY. (COOK 4 MINUTES OR UNTIL CANDY THERMOMETER REACHES 234 DEGREES. HIGH ALTITUDE IT TAKES ABOUT 5 MINUTES). REMOVE FROM HEAT AND ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND MARSHMALLOW CREME, STIR UNTIL MELTED. ADD VANILLA AND NUTS, STIR UNTIL WELL BLENDED. POUR INTO A GREASED (I USE BUTTER) 9 X 13 INCH PAN, SPREAD EVENLY. COOL COMPLETELY. CUT INTO SQUARES AND ENJOY!
For leaving a comment on my blog, you will be entered into a drawing for a $5.00 amazon gift card.
Tales of redemption, magic, wildlife rescue, true love and paying it forward will leave you breathless. A Witch’s Holiday Wedding
Elemental witch, Pepper McKay and former Navy SEAL, Lathen Quartz have built Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on enchanted McKay land. During a romantic interlude on Halloween night, Pepper happily agrees to become Lathen’s wife. What better day than Winter Solstice for their wedding in a town that loves celebrations and Christmas. However, planning a wedding and operating their wildlife center takes a toll on both Pepper and Lathen.
When the couple takes a much-needed break for Thanksgiving with family in Colorado, a Maine snowstorm fills the center with injured wildlife. Lathen finds himself drawn into a covert military mission, while trying to deal with issues concerning friends and family. Pepper wants to cancel the wedding. Is she having second thoughts? Will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans?
Available from Amazon, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press, All Romance, and Barnes & Noble,
I am participating in Joy of the Season Blog Hop and Highway Café Christmas Blog Tour with prizes, giveaways, fun
and games. Please click on the links to visit the other blogs on the hop and tour for more holiday tales . You don’t want to miss out!
We are giving away prizes to two randomly selected winners: 1) an ebook bundle, including books in various genres by various authors participating in the hop; or 2) a $50 Amazon gift card. Please visit the main hop page here to see a list of books included in the bundle.
Enter now for your chance to win!
Views: 432
Posted in Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged A Witch's Holiday Wedding, Christmas, Elves, Giveaway, Highway Cafe, Holiday, Holiday candies, Joys of the Season, North Pole, Paranormal, Romance, wildlife rescue by Tena Stetler with 36 comments.
Finding the Holiday Joy
Over the years, joy of the holiday season seems to be fading. Each year it seems harder and harder to get excited about putting up the brightly colored Christmas decorations inside and out. In search of the joy, I joined holiday blog hops, took the elf name of Twinkle Bright to participate in holiday events. Results, only a slight bump in the holiday joy meter. Huh.
Shopping, now that’s a real experience these days. Black Friday deals most of November, then the real Black Friday, Cyber Monday, harried shoppers looking for the elusive super bargain. It’s nuts. I shop most of year for just the right gifts, so my shopping is nearly done by the above events. One thing missing from these shopping experiences is the Christmas Cheer. Yes, I know the reason for the season, but it’s lost among the boxes, bows, and lack of goodwill toward anyone. Not to mention, the change in greeting of Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for fear of offending someone. Call me a rebel, but I still sing out Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
My hubby and I dared a visit to a big box retailer on Sunday after Black Friday. We talked with an employee there. His description, including entertaining animated gestures was blood bath, enormous crowd, grabbing, pushing, climbing over others, and shoving to get just the right popular computer watch (he worked in electronics). He buried his head in his hands on the counter at times during the discussion. We couldn’t help but laughed at his antics. Encouraged, he look up and grinned. At which time I dared to ask, “Do you have any of those second series watches left?” Wide eyed he laughed hysterically and shuffled to a locked glass case. He stared down at the one lonely box and pointed. “That’s it.” Just so happened the watch was a rose gold cased sport with a pink sand band. “Exactly what we are looking for,” I squealed. No waiting in line, no blood spilled, and the look on the clerk’s face was priceless. “Really?” He grinned wide and handed the box to us. “Fate,” he said, “Enjoy.” As we paid for our treasure, we chimed, “Merry Christmas.”
The fun of the holidays began to build with the first spark of goodwill. December 4th-17th, I am participating in Joy of the Season Blog Hop and December 5-7th Highway Café Christmas Blog Tour with prizes, giveaways, fun and games. You don’t want to miss out!
My contribution to holiday joy, A Witch’s Holiday Wedding, preorder today and it’s will be on your ipad or kindle on December 9th. A heartwarming tale of romance, family, wildlife rescue and friends with Christmas cheer and surprises.
A little about A Witch’s Holiday Wedding:
Elemental witch, Pepper McKay and former Navy SEAL, Lathen Quartz have built Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on enchanted McKay land. During a romantic interlude on Halloween night, Pepper happily agrees to become Lathen’s wife. What better day than Winter Solstice for their wedding in a town that loves celebrations and Christmas. However, planning a wedding and operating their wildlife center takes a toll on both Pepper and Lathen.
When the couple takes a much-needed break for Thanksgiving with family in Colorado, a Maine snowstorm fills the center with injured wildlife. Lathen finds himself drawn into a covert military mission, while trying to deal with issues concerning friends and family. Pepper wants to cancel the wedding. Is she having second thoughts? Will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans?
Sunday, December 4th the Blog Hop Fun begins with a trip to the North Pole, elves and all.<grin> Then December 8th an update on my search for holiday joy! If that isn’t enough, we’ll explore Christmas traditions the third week of December. What restores your holiday joy?
Views: 17
Posted in Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged black friday, Christmas, Cyber Monday, Happy New Year, Holidays, Merry Christmas, Paranormal Romance, Romance, shopping by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
