Nativity : That moment of birth when the infant takes its first breath and so begins the process of self maintenance of bodily functions. In Christmas terms, Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus. Catholicism : A denomination of Christianity dating from the original church created by the Apostle Peter, a disciple of Jesus. The central headquarters of the Catholic Church is the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Christmas Carols : Carols, song used in celebrations and dances, written for and sung at Christmas. Wassail : From the Middle English "Waes Haeil", that means to be in good health, the custom of toasting to each others health, a custom that has woven itself into Christmas traditions. Carols : Originally secular songs to accompany dancing during communal celebrations, Carols have evolved to become religious songs sung at Christmas. Boxing Day : This is the day after Christmas day when all the presents are given to extended family and friends. Possibly dating from the Middle Ages when the householder would give presents to the servants and tradesmen. A public holiday in some Commonwealth countries. Christmas Star : The star that guided the Wise Men, or Maji, to Jesus in the stable. One of the more prominent symbols of Christmas and one extensively used as decoration at Christmas time. Father Christmas : An alternate name for St Nicolas, first introduced by 16th Century Protestants to avoid Catholic Saints. Christmas tree: represented by an ornate fir. Vixen : One of Santa's original eight Reindeer. AMERICAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS The Oshkosh Public Museum has a holiday exhibit of the traditions of Christmas by the decades from 1850 - 1990. Find out how we decorated through the years. Christmas Traditions
CARLTON ORNAMENTS Carlton Cards has some very neat looking ornaments, including many licensed pieces that are usually hard to find! Carlton - Web Site.
MIDWEST OF CANNON FALLS A visit to the Dallas Gift show found some intriguing new pieces for 2001, including vintage look-a-likes, silks, dioramas and paint worn ornaments. Midwest Pictures