Certainly, the falling needles can cause a problem in the middle of the living room but there is something reminiscently warm and friendly about the smell of pine and the way real trees always have a slight imperfection that makes them feel homey.  >> more

Setting a Christmas budget can be done and it can be effective. Make a decision right now that you are going to spend your money wisely and avoid frugal spending just to make a holiday impression.  >> more

Perhaps more important than decorating the Christmas tree is deciding which kind of tree to get. People who love fresh trees versus those who love artificial trees are definitely groups that feel strongly about their conviction.  >> more

The first time you hear the bells of the Salvation Army trying to collect your nickels and dimes at a local storefront the stress of Christmas has begun.  >> more

There’s something about Christmas lists that tug at our hearts and minds...the wrong way. It almost resembles narcissism, a total abandon of prudence and logic. Just because it’s an unshakeable tradition among some families to hand out wish lists doesn’t mean that we can’t break away from tradition when the occasion calls for it.  >> more

During the Christmas rush when buying seems to be the activity that reigns supreme, we tend to overlook what goes into buying a Christmas tree. Coming back from the mall and the car trunk already brimming with merchandise, we pass a roadside tree shop and say, “okay, we’re here already, might as well buy a Christmas tree now!”  >> more

If we were living in a remote island, stress at Christmas would be something we’d be unfamiliar with. Alas, we live in the midst of this thing called civilization. Christmas, therefore, has turned into that dreaded once-a-year exercise. Yes, folks, stress at Christmas is a real 21st century disorder.  >> more

Originally the Christmas cake contained oatmeal, which was considered a filler so that the less financially comfortable families could afford to have cake for Christmas.  >> more

The lighting up of the Christmas tree has been a holiday tradition since the very first tree was decorated indoors, at least as far as we know. Of course up until the 1930’s the lighting of the Christmas tree included the use of real fire and candles.  >> more

The candy cane has its unique history just like every other aspect of Christmas. And just like every other aspect of Christmas, the history is based partially on fact and partially on myth.  >> more