I bet you are just dying of curiosity of Christmas Card Day is!
In 1843, the first commercial Christmas card was created in England by Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant who was responsible for the idea of sending greetings scribbled into the now familiar cards we get around the season of good cheer.
One of the world’s first cards, commissioned by Cole and produced by J. C. Horsley, saw the hammer come down at £22,250 in 2001. Another one of Horsley’s cards sold for almost £9000 in 2005 – and if you want to see a big collection of these coveted cards you can drop by the British Museum to see Queen Mary’s early 1900s collection.
So over the past weekend, I did help out a little bit with making some shortbreads!
Every Christmas we have certain little treats, shortbreads being one of them. We also make mince pies, and fudge. All very English things. We are boringly English. I am first generation Australian, but have very strong English roots.
For those who don’t know what those treats are, I’ll just post a couple of links below:
A mince pie is a sweet pie of English origin, filled with a mixture of dried fruits and spices called “mincemeat”, that is traditionally served during the Christmas season in much of the English-speaking world.
Oh so it seems Shortbread is actually a Scottish tradition.
Shortbread or shortie is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three to four parts plain wheat flour. Unlike many other biscuits and baked goods, shortbread does not contain any leavening, such as baking powder or baking soda.
… well … generally … Some of you may have even busier times of the years, in which case. I am so sorry!
Remember, though, to make sure you get through!
This time of year can be such a “bad guy” to a lot our mental health. Whether it is just the general stresses, have you got enough presents? Have you got the right food, are there foods to considers ie vegan options).
While I can post a whole lot of articles, about what makes a less stressful Christmas. Let’s have a discussion about it instead.
For myself, I come up with rules for myself, well in advance of Christmas (I have probably written about this before). During end of June, start of July, I started to put money away, especially if I still not yet working. Even if it’s only $10.00. By the time December rolls around, you have at least over $200. Which may not seem a lot, but if you’re a “smart” shopper, it can help a lot. Even if you use it just for food.
KNOW the dates and days surrounding Christmas. Find out if you have to work on Christmas Eve, and in some cases on Christmas. Then you can work out your present buying schedule. And work out your pays as well. I get my last pay, before Christmas (and for the year) on the 23rd of the 12th. So, that is the day I am going to the shops and getting any vouchers. Then Friday is Christmas Eve, the gift certificates should be the last things I need to get.
Internally, be satisfied, with what you can get. Too me, the point of Christmas, is not necessarily the gifts. They should just be, and always be an added bonus to the day.
Choose travel friendly gifts, especially if you have family or friends, coming interstate or internationally! We have a lot of family (hopefully) coming from interstate. So, their gifts must be able to be packed into a car, or a suitcase. With room for their own things, haha.
Don’t give up on things that make you happy. For example, I love to read just before bed. I’m not giving that up just to try and get some presents wrapped earlier.
And if you do go into the shops to get your presents, I’m trying to do both this year. But we’ve just had another outbreak of COVID. See if you can make a plan, before you go into the shops. If you are familiar with the shop, then that makes it easier (clearly).
Well…For some you, you may absolutely hate it. My mum were going to go Christmas Shopping together this weekend.
Well, instead my Mum decided, instead of shopping. Too bring my Gran down from her home, to spend the day cooking with us, too make her famous shortbread for Christmas! Whether or not she’ll remember her recipe, is another question…But it’s kind of not the point. Like, I think it’s a much better idea than Christmas Shopping. She’ll forget and as soon as she gets back to her home, shell probably ring my Mum or Aunt 10 minutes later.
What a better time then to write about some theories about Christmas!
I suspect, after this weekend, things will be a little more full on. As such, I want to try and get the heavy topics out of the way, lol
Was Jesus born on December the 25th?
The earliest Christians did not celebrate his birth. Dec. 25 is not the date mentioned in the Bible as the day of Jesus’s birth; the Bible is actually silent on the day or the time of year.
By most accounts, the birth was first thought — in around 200 A.D. — to have taken place on Jan. 6. Why? It may have been the result of “a calculation based on an assumed date of crucifixion of April 6 coupled with the ancient belief that prophets died on the same day as their conception,” according to religionfacts.com. By the mid-4th century, the birthday celebration had moved to Dec. 25. Who made the decision? Some accounts say it was the pope; others say it wasn’t.
So, long story short. No one has any record why, they eventually made December 25th Jesus’s birthday.
Who invented Christmas?
Well, this is always up for a debate.
The first recorded incidence of Christmas being celebrated actually dates all the way back to the Roman Empire in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine – so technically the Romans invented it, although there’s no specific person who is credited with having done so.
However, the Christmas that we know NOW, was first really celebrated with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The prince sent decorated trees to schools and army barracks around Windsor, but it was likely a visual that made British citizens tree-crazy. An engraving published in 1848 featured the Queen, the Prince, and their children decorating a tree. Given the family-focused culture of the era, it wasn’t long before Christmas trees became a key component of a middle class family’s holiday celebrations.
Unlike today’s royals, Victoria and Albert were very into the tradition.
Oh, that is a total myth. There’s nothing wrong with saying Merry Christmas. There is no “War” on Christmas. As we become a more global and accepting society, we interact with more cultures and societies that don’t celebrate Christmas, and that’s fine. That’s why more people say “Happy Holidays”, as well as, Merry Christmas. Personally I always send a “Happy Holidays” Christmas card to the bigots in my family =D Hahaha … Hey … Don’t judge me =P lol
My new job means that I am working right up until Christmas Eve, but here in my state of Australia, Thursdays are late night shopping. The 23rd is a Thursday, so that’ll be the night I get all the vouchers, and I SHOULD be ready then. I’ve got three pays until Christmas Eve. Including tomorrow =D I’ve already bought the BIG presents for each person, I buy the BIG Christmas presents for.
My usual “thing” is, 3 presents for:
Brother
Mother
Father
Partner
With that, I like to buy them all one big thing. Usually with my Mum, she faffs about so much, I can’t get her something big. Like, I always make sure I ask, even in a roundabout away. My partner, really loves Lego Technic. So, I’ve gone through with him, some of the Lego Technics that are out, but he doesn’t know which one I got him.
With my Secret Santa present on my Mum’s side, if I can afford it. I will get all three presents. We usually ask for three things.
And then, the rest … I start putting money, even $10, away from the start of June!
Do you have “rules” or things you do to get your Christmas presents?
Normally, I spend the first week of December writing and sending out Christmas cards. With the sadness of this year, I really want to make the Christmas Cards special. What that’ll be, I don’t know at the moment.
However, with our postal service taking a strike for a whole week at a time, I feel like I need to get a quick start on them! Especially for those overseas!
I bought my first Christmas present last week, and it made me feel a little better. It was a horrible week last week. This week isn’t really looking that much better, but I have been good with myself, and have not buy anything for myself … Yet, lol
I LOVE planning for things like Christmas, and even though I’m Australian, I love “celebrating” Halloween too. So I’m trying to think of something for that too. It’s all going to depend on what happens with my Gran AND of course, if we go into lock down or something.
Christmas may also be a little sadder this year, NSW and Victoria are not looking like they’re going to be “open” in time for Christmas. Half our family live in one of at least two of those states.
So many people are starting to celebrate this in Australia now. It is kind of nice, but at the same time. I have no idea where it came from! I’m hoping it started in Australia though.
You see, Christmas in Australia is pretty much, smack bang, in the middle of Summer. January is the middle of Summer, so it’s pretty close. Also though our “Christmas” in July, is in the middle of Winter (hence why I’m writing about it on the 14th). Close to the middle of the year, in the middle of Winter.
No one could really do it last year though. Though I suspect some did.
I really do love the idea though, what normally entails with a Christmas in July Party:
“Ugly” Christmas Jumpers
Traditional Christmas meals, but with a twist. As an example, we have a family friend who wraps up the brussels sprouts in bacon! She also makes the best truffles.
People tend to make more Winter/Christmas drinks, like your mulled wines and eggnog. As these Christmas drinks actually become more drinkable, because the weather is cooler, the eggnog doesn’t go off as quickly and make you sick -.-
People do buy each other presents too! However, they are normally silly (sometimes rude) little things. From a pound or 99c type shop.
(I don‘t know why WP is making my text only partly highlighted).
So it’s about 48hrs ish until Christmas…Are You Ready?!
No? Well don’t stress! There are so many different things that you can do for Christmas. I think this year, people will be more forgiving if presents don’t turn up on time, or there not as expensive as previous years.
THAT’S OKAY!
What I want to write about, are possible gifts ideas, where you can use things from your own house. Or things you can grab from the supermarkets. Sort of quick and handy ideas, for present ideas. Some of these though will clearly depend on who you’re giving the gift too.
Of course there is always the re-gift. While not “socially proper” If not one finds out, whose going to know! Just make sure you know who you’re re-gifting a gift too. My Mum, as an example, gave these wine glasses to my Aunt, that she thought were awesome, and great, since my Aunt and Uncle sit outside a lot. My Aunt gave them to someone who posts EVERYTHING ON FACEBOOK! So you can imagine my Mum’s surprise when a few months later a mutual friend of theirs were given the same suspiciously looking unique wine glasses, from my Aunt. Every one wanted to know where she got them from, so they could get some…Total Silence. The woman that my Aunt re-gifted too, posts EVERYTHING on Facebook. So be careful!
So one thing a lot of people I’ve noticed really getting into this year, are plants! I would highly recommend, thinking about taking a beautiful plant from your garden and placing it in a pot, to give to someone. If you have beautiful flowers, what about a bouquet of flowers?
Baking and Cooking, while they may seem “easy get outs”. If you have a favourite recipe or a really good recipe, people will love it! I have a cousin who cooks really well (was on Australia’s first season on “The Great Australia Bake Off). He makes jams, oils, and delicious foods. He now runs a little market type store in Sydney So while we may all not be my cousin. You don’t have to be on a tv show, or a run a market to make delicious foods, spread, oils etc.
Which brings me to other things you can use in your own home to make things. You can make things like soaps, sometimes you can make candles. Depending, clearly, on what you have at your home at the time. This is great is you have dying flowers, or smells around. Now, while I was investigating this, while it’s simple. I kept coming across this product, Lye. So this link goes to what Lye is. It does say you don’t need Lye, but it’s a better product to make soaps with.
If you sow or knit, although knitting does take a long time. Why not try redesigning some old clothes, either to make “new” clothes, or to make something completely different! You can make bags, pillow cushions, socks…Depending on the material though!
Lolsys Library 