Writing can be passion for many people who share their experiences on various subjects they encounter every day. I have seen few people focus on a specific topic they are most interested in; on the other hand, other do write on a various types of topics depending on their knowledge and the sources they find on Internet or through a common understanding of the trending topics. However, in both cases most people publish their articles on the Web to make good money through increased traffic to their articles. Unless one has a typical passion to be engaged by just writing anything, most people do write on various topics to ensure that they provide relevant information to the global audience and generate income based on the page views.

Now, while doing this, a suitable niche is of primary importance. Isn’t so? Well, I strongly believe that one who cares to write for a cause not limited to simply earning money can take up any topic that will help readers in some way or the other. But hitting the right niche at the right time is quite important in today’s demanding scenario. By saying “demanding scenario” I mean people search for one or more topics very often for a particular time only. However, they are other topics that run through the search engines throughout the year. Let me make a few things clear here about choosing a suitable niche.

Specific occasions in a year

In an entire year, we come across various occasion, including New Year, Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Birthdays, Marriage, and so on. Now, if you have been writing fairly well all through the year on various topics, try choosing a niche depending on the occasion. Say you write some fifty odd articles on Christmas celebrations, Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations, etc. During the month of December, these topics are most likely to be searched over the Internet by maximum number of people. Not only your articles will provide useful information about various activities during Christmas, it will generate good revenue for you as your article pages will hit the maximum number of times. Needless to mention that your articles needs to be keyword oriented, well written, informative, and appealing to generate the traffic you might be targeting at.

Same is the case with every occasion in the year. Be it a New Year celebration or Thanksgiving day, your articles can be on these topics to generate the maximum page views if you post your articles during the celebration timeframe.  I have experienced that a few of my articles on New Year Party ideas got good traffic in December and the first half of January. But the traffic and page view reduced like anything in the month of March and April. Believe, that is a common trend and quite inevitable.

Current affairs and everyday news

Well, if you are a hardcore writer who writes articles every day, occasions can limit your passion. Then it becomes vital to choose good niches that are very demanding. Current affairs and everyday news on various national and international issues are something people search over the Internet everyday without fail. So, it is one good – rather great – opportunity to share your views on the everyday topics through your articles. With this, you can trigger a thought in every reader’s mind and continue to have discussions to share your opinions and gather others’ understanding. This is definitely one more way of creating maximum number of traffic to your articles as people in such cases will share your articles to multiple people for sharing knowledge, initiating a discussion, and talking over a debate. So, keep yourself updated about the current topics and news that people find interesting to know about.

Common and informative niches

Besides the above two categories, there are various other niches that are common to everyone. People look for information about many things including health, fitness, beauty, etc. Now, here you may have to consider your expertise in choosing a niche to write articles on because every topic may not be your cup of tea, unless you have sufficient knowledge or do a good research on a particular niche that you are new to. So, before trying out on every niche that comes to your mind, it might be good to stick to a couple of niches here that you have interest in. You may like to write on “making money online” and “real estate investment opportunities”. This way, you are likely to write good and informative articles that can build a sound reputation about you through the information you share with others. Moreover, such articles are searched all through the year without any time dependencies. So, you can generate good traffic everyday through such common and information niches.

Product-based niches

This is one of the most popular and difficult niches I believe. There are numerous products in the market that are highly in demand. People make their best effort to find all possible information about a product before they purchase one. Now being a writer, one cannot just pick up any product and start writing unless you have sound knowledge about a product’s features, its functions, and its advantages and disadvantages. Be it a health-related product like herbal medicines, sports-related product like sports drinks or sports T-shirts, or a device like a trendy Smartphone, you must be equipped with sufficient product knowledge. Choosing a niche in this category might be quite critical. If you have been keen on electronic gadgets and mobile devices, you better not choose a medicine niche to write on “advantages and disadvantages of Aleo vera”. I am not saying you cannot choose to writing about the medicine, all you need is good knowledge. It is important that you provide accurate information about any product you are writing about. So, all I can say is, choose your product niche sensibly.

How to do… niches

This one is my favorite. Again, the How to do… topics are always informative and interesting. The best part of such niches is that you can think of very simple topics that everyone would be interested in knowing. Most of us might be having Google plus, Facebook, or Orkut accounts. No one among us might have ever felt the need for deleting one of these accounts since we might not be using one very often. One fine day you plan to delete one of your accounts, say Google plus. You will be keen to know how to delete the account, what happens to all the images and videos you having in your account, and so on. Wonder, a simple How to do… article on such topics can be very important for readers. Not just these, there can be many such articles where you can help people understand and follow some simple steps to perform an activity, such as “How to clean your car interiors?”, “How to prepare for an interview?”, “How to maintain a healthy diet?” and many more.

Conclusion

Choosing a suitable niche is very important as you build a good rapport among your audience. The more your articles are informative and oriented towards the demands of readers, the more you can drive traffic to your web pages and articles. Your selection of niches would of course depend on your knowledge about specific areas, but it is worth attempting to gather sufficient knowledge on occasional niches, trending topics, current affairs and news, and so on. 

Christmas is a favorite holiday season for people all around the world. The season of snow could feel cold from the outside but every home brings the feeling of warmth, comfort, love and joy. It is a month long holiday season and there are a host of parties planned. Preparations for Christmas begin early and each one has a definite plan in mind. Some like to celebrate the festival in an exotic location, some want to at home and enjoy with their loved ones. A lot of dancing, singing and merry-making accompany every Christmas celebration. christmas holidays are a whole lot of fun.

Around Christmas, all markets, all shops, big or small, all malls are full of Christmas goodies, gifts, packages, Christmas tress and several other things. Decorations are a major part of this grand festival. Decorations are elaborate and are fun to indulge in. People decorate their homes with lights, Santa with His reindeer and elves, one can see mistletoes, wreaths, stars and several other significant christmas symbols around houses, markets and malls. christmas decorations bring a lot of color and beauty to the festival and are an essential part of the whole celebration.

The preparations for Christmas begin early and shopping is a major part of all the preparations. Exchanging gifts on Christmas is a custom which is exciting and people of all age-groups look forward to it. Each one makes a list of unique gifts to be bought for their loved ones. Markets and malls are full of unique christmas gift ideas. From flowers to candies to candles to Christmas baskets, almost everything that one can think of, is on offer. An exclusive collection of Christmas gift items including toys, cakes, etc are available. The colorful and exquisite packaging of all items makes them much attractive.

Christmas is a festival which is much awaited by all. All fashionistas go shopping for the most exquisite dresses for parties. Dinners, picnics, parties, cruises, get-togethers are common all around the world during the festive season. It gives the enthusiastic home makers a chance to dress-up their homes as well and prove their skills at hosting parties. christmas parties are planned much in advance for they are elaborate and involve a whole lot of games, singing, dancing and merry-making. A christmas party is a lot of fun for all. There are theme parties where one gets to dress up specifically for the occasion.

In 1993, neighbors in Arkansas complained about a light display. Not just any display, but a huge one that showed off at one residence. They complained that it brought too much traffic, as well as noise. Also, the lights were blinding, which posed hazards to motorists.

They filed a lawsuit the next year, in 1994, and a restraining order tacked the head of the household, the late Jennings Osborne, with a lawsuit. Police fined him just for turning the display on for that one family out of curfew. He appealed to the Arkansas and the United States Supreme Courts, but the case was too picayune.

The story went national and several cities offered him to transfer the display. It caught the attention of former Walt Disney World project manager John Phelan, who offered him to move it to the resort complex. Osborne agreed to transfer it to Residential Street, a backlot of Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then Disney-MGM Studios). In 1995, he placed his display at that part of the park and no one complained, even if it went on in subsequent Christmases.

Thus, the Osborne Spectacle of Lights was born.

Sadly, some battles between owners of Yuletide displays and those who are offended for both non-religious and religious reasons are won by the latter each year. All over Florida, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise wanted plain, unadorned toll booths in their tollways for all holidays, Christmas included, in 2010. A parent complained that a elementary school in the same state banned all red and green items that year, but the story was not true.

So why are officials, bosses, and management following the ways of the Osbornes’ neighbors – just like when they filed suit against them in 1994 for decorations?

Some people think that Christmas trees have the penchant to offend someone, religious or not. (Image via Wikipedia.)

Obviously, the issue has to do with mainly religion. Because motorists of the Christian faith griped about Halloween in the turnpike system’s booths before the fiasco, the enterprise decided to do away with all the holidays.

But the obvious decoration that makes many a non-Christian affronted is the crèche. It’s an obviously offensive decor because it’s a nativity scene – and no scene is complete without a stable, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and the infant Jesus Christ. A lot of government and other civic places have none of those displays due to bans on them.

But faith-affronting seasonal decorations go beyond the religious tableau. Not only infant Jesuses and Stars of Bethlehem are being eradicated by bosses, but even snowmen and plain evergreens are being axed as well. Management is too afraid that a Muslim would bash them for that one person putting up a commercialized version of St. Nicholas of Myra – the Santa Claus almost everybody knows. Bosses might be scared that many a Jew would scream in horror at a merely lighted fir tree with white lights with just a five-pointed star.

But religion is not the only reason employers and landlords want Christmas purged out of their locations. In 2006, the council of Tower Hamlets in the UK banned lights in cubicles. The reasons were various – they pose safety hazard (which means that workers might trip over them) and waste energy.

So how upsetting to those who revel in the most religiously debatable part of the holiday season can banning the typical holly and ivy in schools, offices, and residential areas be? It’s just as shocking as singing nursery rhymes in place of carols in a winter concert, saying “Happy Holidays” instead of saying “Merry Christmas,” and cancelling a parade. 

So let those who celebrate the season have their tinsel and reindeer up. If you are offended because your religion does not allow you to celebrate Christmas, please ignore them. Just leave Christmas alone, OK?

Buy year after year, I intend to change my shopping for gifts and really find the most effective way to get the most out of what I use, I tried to Christmas presents early this year orders online purchases with coupons and the list goes on. These strategies have been all the time and money. This year I do things differently. I decided to start in the center and go back to the board. First, I changed my list of relatives who will buy and separated by age and gender, I quickly learned that the organization makes each job easier and quicker. I made a list and put a few names and ideas to simmer for a few days and some days passed, I felt a sense of clarity and gift ideas for my main beneficiaries have begun to flow. I did my shopping with a thought and took my time, found that it reduces stress and make me really wanted to give everyone the attention they deserve. I managed to turn the list of my 14 friends / family between 25-35 in less than a week, was a delight!

Next on the agenda of mine, I started to find Christmas gifts for children. I set it up, because I thought it would be easier, but I was wrong. I guessed that the endless variety of gifts to children as a gift shopping easy and effortless, but really, I only lead to confusion and uncertainty. I decided to go with my new technique, take your time and shop carefully and thoroughly for the kids this Christmas. The more he did, the more I realized that the Christmas gifts to children is as common and, despite the different providers and sites I’ve visited. I did my personal goal to add to the originality and uniqueness of my gifts to children this year. Believe it or not, it has reduced my search and removed the traditional candy canes and Santa hats filled with candy.

Instead, take time to surf the web for sites offering ideas for unique Christmas gift for children and cheap. Shortly after I started surfing I came across a website that shows exactly what I was looking for. I was able to create or select gift baskets pre-made for children by age, gender, location and interests. The place was a filtering tool in itself, which was great and restoring confidence in my philosophy as before, the organization is key! I had to choose between different objects and make my Christmas gift basket, very clean and allow me to control the theme, content and especially the price! In addition, there was a lot of thought to the Jewish people on my list, because it assumes that all the gifts this season and enjoyed a Christmas tree just a symbol for this time of year, this includes site games holiday gift Hanukkah, too.

I was literally my stop shop for all my Christmas and Hanukkah gifts for children. While acting in this way, I had the opportunity to enjoy the comfort of my own home instead of stumbling in and sort the mess they call the mall during this time of year, calmly and honestly, I liked to play in my creativity and give me a close personal and special gifts. Mainly because it chooses the content and make myself some original gift and full of my love and my time, doing everything by hand to. Although the purchase of your home, needless to say I saved a lot of time and energy, but what makes the whole process was great shipping options available to them. I was literally able to choose, create, buy and send my Christmas gifts to children across the country at the right time! In short, it was a wonderful gift giving season and we hope that the implementation of my strategies for years to come!

Oven Mitts and Potholders

Mitts and potholders are among the things you can use to decorate your kitchen.  Christmas themed potholders and mitts abound during the holidays, and they’re often sold by the bulk and at very low prices.  Choose a theme that would complement the colors of your kitchen.  Potholders with a picture of snowflakes, reindeers, Christmas trees, or Santa are the most common.  You don’t have to use these decorative potholders; you can just hang them or make them temporarily replace doilies.

Image by hodgers via Flickr

Kitchen Towels

Just like mitts and potholders, you can easily find kitchen towels that come with a Christmas theme. Hang these items in your kitchen and you’ll instantly have Christmas decorations. In addition to kitchen towels, try Christmas themed table cloths or make a curtain for your kitchen window using special Christmas fabric.   

Kitchen Magnets

How about kitchen magnets?  Many retail stores, even those online, carry a large selection of Christmas magnets.  These magnets come in different styles and purpose; some are handcrafted while some double as picture frames.  Think of a Christmas theme that you’d like to showcase on your refrigerator.  You can get magnets to form a picture of the Nativity, or display Santa and his reindeers.  Another good idea is to place pictures of your family members using picture frame magnets.  Whatever theme you decide on, you are sure to find the perfect magnets everywhere you look.

Kitchenware

What could be easier than decorating the kitchen with kitchenware?  Kitchenware refers to the items that you use in your kitchen. Christmas themed plates, bowls, cups and eating utensils can be bought from practically any retail store you can get into.  You can get a boxed set if you wish to showcase a variation of kitchenware with one single theme.  Another good idea would be to buy items with different designs.

The abovementioned ideas and items are just a few of the many ways you can decorate your kitchen for Christmas. Look for more ideas in books, magazines and websites.  If you have very specific items in mind, shop early so you can get the best deals and prices.

Image via Wikipedia

You will need:

• A clear wide necked glass vase or gold fish bowl
• Some spare Christmas baubles

All you have to do is fill your vase with Christmas baubles. It is that simple. I find using no more than three colours work best.

Currently I have a large glass vase with glittering gold and red baubles on my kitchen table and a gold fish ball filled with the same on the coffee table in the lounge. When the light hits the baubles they reflect off the glass and make a cheap, but stylishly elegant Christmas centrepiece.

There’s no sticky back plastic involved – honest!

LESSONS FROM CHRISTMAS THINGS

Christmas is a wondrous and wonderful time of year and one that is anxiously looked forward to by the secular as well as the Christian community but what about Christmas, what does Christmas and all the symbolism really mean?  What is the story behind all these Christmas customs?

Christians and the secular community have celebrated Christmas for nearly two thousand years but we haven’t always celebrated it as we do today and different cultures have different ways of celebrating this much loved holiday.  For many of us it is a religious holiday centered on the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, the Messiah, Christ our Savior and Lord and for others it has a lot to do with Santa Claus, presents, and family fun with friends and neighbors.  For many of us it is a combination of the two and there is a lot of symbolism used in our holiday celebrating but what are all those Christmas traditions and symbols all about and where did they come from?  Most all of the symbols we use during the Christmas season come from other cultures and religions and through time have been given a religious significance of our own.  We’ve borrowed from others and given it a Christian twist though they are not symbols used in the Bible to specifically teach about Christmas.  Christmas celebrations aren’t even mentioned in the Bible other than the actual night of Jesus birth when all Heaven rejoiced.  So what is the story behind all these Christmas symbols, customs and traditions?

HOLLY: We all seem to do a lot of decorating when the Christmas season comes around, you know, “deck the halls with boughs of holly.”  Why holly?  Holly is evergreen and produces bright red berries and Holly also has thorns.  It doesn’t lose its color in the cold of winter and is popular for making wreaths and garlands. The thorns are actually on the leaf and not the stem or bough and the berries are poisonous for human consumption and should not be eaten but can be dried and used year after year. Holly from a religious perspective represents the crown of thorns worn by Jesus when He was crucified and became our Savior and the bright red berries represent the blood He shed for the redemption of our sin.  Holly is also used to make Christmas Wreaths but more often today the boughs of the balsam, pine or spruce tree are used in wreath making or a combination of the three.  The evergreen whether it is from holly or the fir tree represent eternal life, the life promised us when we accept the gift of life through Jesus.

THE WREATH:  Whether your wreath is made of holly or fir or some other more modern way of making them, a wreath forms a circle, unending and that symbolizes God’s unending love for each of us, the reason God gave His Son, the reason Jesus was born into humanity; the day love came down from Heaven.  The wreath, decorated with evergreen symbolizes eternal life and forever love, a love that is unconditional and continuous, the very nature of what real love really is.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE:  Trees of evergreen, usually balsam, spruce or pine that is often lavishly decorated with glittering lights and bobbles and strings of garland.  Fir trees remain green all year ‘round, the green reminding us of eternity and our everlasting hope.  The needles on the evergreen bough point toward the sky, they point toward heaven and symbolize the glory in which our hope is found, they turn our thoughts to Heaven and God through which all hope comes.

ANGELS:  Angels we have heard on high…Oh Hark, the herald angels sing; listen,

“Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace and good will toward men.”  It was an angel that appeared to announce the birth of Jesus, brought to Earth the glorious news that the Savior, the Messiah had been born and then all the heavenly host sang and praised God.  What a marvelous celebration!  The babe who would be King, the Savior to the world had been born.  The angels we decorate with remind us of that moment when Jesus came into the world and took on humanity for our sake and that it was so important and such a blessed event that even the heavens rejoiced.

SHEPHERDS:  When God announced the birth of His Son he didn’t announce it first to the kings, emperors, rich, famous, priest or other elite.  God sent His angels to the lowly shepherds in the fields tending their sheep.  Shepherds were pretty much the lowest of the low when it comes to station in life.  The shepherds remind us that Jesus came for all mankind, no matter our station, rich or poor, wise or uneducated; God gave His Son for everyone.

THE STAR:  Over seven hundred years before Jesus was born God announced through His prophets that He would send a Savior for the world, the Messiah who would save the world from their sins and open the way for us to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, Jehovah God again.  The star symbolizes the fulfillment of that promise.  The star represents the light of Jesus love that shines for each of us.

THE GIFT:  We all like gifts, presents, don’t we?  I do.  Christmas has become big on gifts, very commercialized with stores promoting sales of all manner of wonderful things for gift giving and for many of us that is what we look forward to most, the gift or gifts.  There is more to the gift than just the presents you and I receive.  The gift should remind us of the greatest gift of all, Jesus, God’s gift to us.  God gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting.  What a marvelous gift, the gift of love and life.

THE CANDLE:  The candle gives forth light and reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world illuminating our lives, lighting our darkness, bringing forth hope and wisdom, knowledge.  Jesus is the candle that lights our path as we journey through this life here on Earth.

THE CANDY CANE:  How sweet it is, the sweet, abiding love of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.  The candy cane represents the staff of the shepherd.  The shepherd uses the staff to guide and reach out and rescue sheep that have gone astray bringing them back into the flock.  That is what Jesus does.  He is constantly reaching out to us, guiding us, leading us and keeping us safe.  And like Jesus, we who know Him should do likewise; reach out to help and guide our fellowman so they won’t be wandering astray and be lost.  We need to be good shepherds too.

THE BELL:  How lovely the sound of the Christmas Bells, they are joyful and ring out with glad tidings.  In ancient times bells chimed to warn of danger and when the danger was past chimed again to let people know it was safe and there was peace.  Our safety and peace is found in Jesus.  It is the sound of harmony and unity between Heaven and Earth.  The bell also symbolizes guidance and direction. There is always one sheep (lamb) in the flock that wears a bell; the other sheep follow the sound of that bell.  It is the lead sheep, the sheep that sets the example for all the other sheep.  Jesus is called the Lamb of God, the good lamb, the perfect lamb, the one whose example we should follow.

THE MISTLETOE:  The mistletoe, frequently hung as part of our traditional Christmas decorations or placed in sprigs on the boughs of the evergreen tree is actually a parasitic plant that get its strength from other plants (trees) namely the apple tree and the oak tree both of which have strong wood and the life giving nourishment the mistletoe needs to survive.  Without the strength from the apple or oak the mistletoe would perish and die but so long as the mistletoe clings to the tree it lives and continues to produce new life.  The mistletoe is like we are, without the strength and life giving force of Jesus (our oak or apple tree) we will perish and die but when we cling to Him we have life everlasting.  It represents renewal and rebirth found in the partnership with its life giving force just as we have renewal and rebirth through Jesus.  The mistletoe also represents surrender, that until we surrender our life to the greater tree (Jesus) we cannot have life but in surrendering we have life and life abundantly.

There are lessons to be learned from Christmas things and even though most of these symbols come from other religions and beliefs they also remind us of what Christmas is really all about and why we celebrate it in the first place.       

Well, school concerts rename their Christmas winter concerts to include not only Christians, but also Muslims, Jews, and atheists. Also, they have to only play winter and/or other perennial, secular songs to make them more inclusive. Billboard advertisers put up atheist billboards that say that Jesus Christ’s birthday is just plain folklore. Offices ban ivies and hollys and instead make workers put up unadorned wooden animals just to please a few coworkers who are Jewish.

A notable example of the latter circumstance is Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, a road agency that operates the turnpike proper and some other toll roads all over Florida.

I’m talking about the 2010 ban on Christmas decorations in toll booths on the enterprise’s tollways, and it’s clear why they have done so. Before that particular ban, some (mostly) Evangelical Christian organizations griped about Halloween adornments in them. Shortly after that, they banned them. At that Christmas season, officials banned decorations of any kind – no Christmas trees, holly, tinsel, or even snowmen in colors besides red and green. Not only do they want professionalism, but they want to be inclusive for both employees and motorists of all walks of life (including religious attributes).

What the enterprise is not aware is that there are a lot of attractions all over Florida celebrate Christmas. Epcot, a theme park at the mostly-secular Walt Disney World Resort, is not afraid to host an event that involves the religious side of Christmas (the Candlelight Processional). Some towns are not afraid to advertise a walk-through or drive through attractions surrounding the birth of Jesus – the truest meaning of Christmas. A lot of areas put of trees and their trimmings, have their sparkly lights on, and even have wooden crèches on display and virtually no one complained.

If someone stares at those stink eyes of the turnpike’s owners and tell them “Merry Christmas, put those darn evergreens and ribbons back in those booths,” more agencies would follow their lead. Although someone secretly have adorned one pine tree on the median of the Garden State Parkway for quite a while, it wouldn’t be long until the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (which owns that and the putrid turnpike proper) purges Kris Kringle figurines and wreaths. Toll bridge owners would also make light of the turnpike’s bans and eradicate traces of stockings out of collectors’ booths.

Also, if that trend continues, toll takers would wish everyone, “Happy Holidays” all the live long days of each Christmas time. How do people who revel in Hanukah feel? How would Kwanzaa-revelers react? Worst of all, how would people who celebrate Christmas, both secular and sacred sides, would make of that?

With all that said, I hope someone would stand up to those Grinch-induced, pollitical correctness-driven bans and let everyone enjoy their Christmas. Here’s to a Merry Christmas, religious or not!

You’re a mean one, Florida’s Turnpike! (Image by Joe Shlabotnik via flickr)

Related:
The War Against Christmas
Merry Bleepmas and Happy Holidays – Why Christmas Becomes Politically Correct

Image by Herr_Bert via Flickr

Here are some ideas to get you started:                                         

Air-drying clay:

This new clay is fairly clean but very easy to use. If it feels a little dry, just add a little water to moisten and soften it. Keep whatever you don’t use tightly wrapped in cling film. Use a rolling pin to roll out a flat piece of clay about 1 cm thick. Cut sections for each child so that they can have their own piece of clay to work on. You can use cookie cutters for young children with which to cut the clay into shapes. Older children and adults can use cutting tools to cut shapes, or mould the clay themselves. There are a variety of shapes of cookie cutters available, including Christmas and music themed cutters.

Once the pieces are cut, use a pencil to make a hole in the top of the shape. The hole should be large enough to get some ribbon or thread through it easily.

Check the back of the hole for any protruding clay and cut off and smooth off. Allow the pieces to dry as per instructions.

Some makes require 24 hours to dry out completely before painting, while other makes may only take an hour in a warm room. Be sure to read the drying instructions so that the clay isn’t damaged in any way.

Once your pieces are hard and dry, you can paint and decorate them. You can use food colouring for very young children so that everyone can join in. Paints can be used for older children. Add sparkle to your decorations by gluing glitter or using glitter pens to create patterns.

Finally thread ribbon, string, or gift wrapping ribbon through the holes and tie tightly leaving a loop with which to hang it on the tree. Alternatively you can tie several pieces to a long piece of string and hang it above the fire place or in the hall.

Papier mâché:

Papier mâché is a great favourite and nice and cheap if you have a stock of old newspapers. If you don’t have newspapers lying around, you can ask libraries or doctors surgeries for their old stock.

In addition you will need plain flour, water, clear glue and small round balloons.

Image via Wikipedia

Blow the balloons with a little air, or to the size you want the decorations. Tie the balloon end. Make up a thin paste with the water, flour and glue in a disposable plastic container, such as a washed out ice-cream plastic.

Tear up strips of newspaper. Its best to use smaller pieces of newspaper as this gives more control over the shape and allows the layers to build up more evenly. Cover the strips of paper with the solution and add to the balloon. You should cover your working area with old newspapers as it does get messy. Cover the balloon with small strips working round and adding each layer as you finish the last. After several layers allow the balloon to dry by hanging it up from the tie. If you wish to add more layers you can. It is a good idea to allow a number of layers to dry through before adding more so that it doesn’t take too long to dry.

The last layer should be a layer of white paper. Allow to dry until hard. Burst the balloon which should shrink and recycle it in waste. There will be a hole at the top, where the balloon was tied, close this hole up with papier mâché carefully. Before you close up the hole completely, unwind a paperclip, or you can use Christmas decoration hooks, and pierce one end into the damp part of the decoration. Add the remaining papier mâché around the hook, securing it in place. Allow to dry.

Once dry, paint with a coat of white poster paint first. Allow to dry, and then you are ready to decorate as you wish. Paint patterns, pictures, use glitter or glue on shapes etc. you can buy from the shops. To prevent damage to the decorations, spray with clear lacquer spray (do this outdoors) as this will harden and protect your decoration.

Your baubles will look bright and cheerful on your tree, and the children will love seeing their own creations on the tree.

Christmas bags:

You will need A4 coloured card, wrapping ribbon, hole-punch, glitter pens and items for surprises.

This is a nice idea for extra treats, especially if you have lots of family and friends around for Christmas. It is easy to do and a variation on the advent calendar.

Fold your A4 size card into half and then half again. Cut the card into 2 halves and fold each half along your previous line. Glue either side to make a parcel. Hole punch two holes in the top, open part of the parcel.

Thread wrapping ribbon through the holes and tying on the inside of the parcel so the knot is not visible. You should leave enough ribbon so that you can hang to bags onto the tree. To decorate your bags you can personalize them by writing the recipient’s name on the front. General patterns and Christmas messages will mean you can re-use the bags for future Christmas’.

Add little surprises in the bags: chocolates, small toiletry gifts, biscuits or even a nice message. Seal the top with a Christmas sticker or some sello-tape and hang on the tree.

And most importantly enjoy your family at Christmas.

The word parol or Christmas lantern is derived from the Spanish farol which means street lamp or lantern. It is a traditional Christmas decoration in the Philippines next only to the Christmas tree in terms of popularity. The usually five-pointed star lantern symbolizes the star in the Biblical account that guided the three magi to Bethlehem to pay homage to infant Jesus. Lanterns are usually sold by mid November, and the increase of demand and sales start by the beginning of December.                                  Image via Wikipedia                                   

The lanterns come in variety of sizes and colors. Some have rings around them, others do not. The frame of the “star’ is made from thin bamboo strips. It is covered or wrapped in a colored transparent crepe paper. The ring is made of a larger bamboo strip that is bent into a circle. The ring may be totally round or an incomplete circle. It maybe wrapped in old newspapers or any paper to make the surface round and thicker. It is then coiled with cut rice papers with loops pattern to cover entire length of the ring. Tassels of thin strip of papers are hung at the point connecting the bottom tips of the “star” and the ring. The tassels or tails of the “star” signify its “ray”. Usually, the upper half of the length of the tassels are swathed with a decoratively cut paper. There are lanterns that have only one tail when they have a ring with full circle. Blinking lights are usually placed on the surface of the “star” or around its ring. Although the parol is literally a lantern, great numbers are made with no lights. Christmas lanterns are not displayed in the house but outdoors. They are usually hung from the eaves.

Image via Wikipedia

Making Christmas lantern is a folk craft in the Philippines. Some people make it as seasonal means of livelihood in the months of November and December. Prisoners of Misamis Oriental jail are allowed by the provincial authorities to make lantern to enable them to earn income for their families during the Christmas season.

Star-shaped lanterns come in variety of prices and designs from the intricately made to the simplest. Adults usually design and make them, but children are also capable of doing them. In the Philippines especially in the rural areas it is a common practice to hold a parol or Christmas lantern making contest in public halls or grounds and in the elementary school campuses just before Christmas break.

Related articles:

Love, the Essence of Christmas

http://socyberty.com/holidays/love-the-essence-of-christmas/

The Story of First Christmas

http://relijournal.com/christianity/the-story-of-first-christmas/