What is Boxing Day?

Does anyone know what Boxing Day really is? A website I found discusses the origins and meanings of Boxing Day (snopes.com).

Wikipedia has a similar describtion of the holiday:
"Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong and countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. In South Africa, this public holiday is now known as the Day of Goodwill. It is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society. Contemporary Boxing Day in many countries is now a "shopping holiday" associated with after-Christmas sales."



I didn't know that the United States doesn't have Boxing Day. And I also learned that it originated from the UK.

So those websites are worth checking out if you want to know what Boxing Day is really about.

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Tis the Season to Give

I had mentioned in an earlier post that a good gift idea is a donation in someone's name (see Christmas Gifts Under $10). It's a good gift for people that are hard to buy for or the person that has everything. The website Canadahelps is the perfect resource to do this. It provides access to make donations to over 80,000 Canadian charities. For a small transaction fee paid to Canadahelps, you can donate any amount you want, any way you want to.

You can do it online and the best part is you can get a Charity Gift Card. You choose an amount for the gift card and send it to the recipient. The recipient can then use the gift card to donate to the charity of their choice. I think this is a pretty neat idea.

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Nothing says Christmas like a Twisted Santa

An interesting and creepy article from the Globe and Mail.

Nothing says Christmas like a twisted Santa
JENNIE PUNTER
From Friday's Globe and Mail
December 19, 2008 at 3:54 AM EST

"Not everyone appreciates the Christmas season's candy-cane smiles and chocolate ho-ho-hos. Which is why a rare screening of Christmas Evil - originally titled the more appropriately sinister You Better Watch Out - should appeal to those who prefer naughty over nice during the holidays.

The obscure 1980 slasher film - which by today's standards plays more like a low-budget psychological drama - has become something of a cult classic in recent years. A 2006 special edition DVD includes audio commentary by none other than singular "bad taste" filmmaker John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray) who deems Christmas Evil "the best seasonal film of all time," adding, "I wish I had kids. I'd make them watch it every year and if they didn't like it they'd be punished!"

Only one 35 mm print of the film is known to exist and it travels with director Lewis Jackson, who brings his road show to a screening in Toronto next Tuesday (9:30 p.m., Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., $13 for non-members, $10 for members). Lewis will also present a reel of deleted 35 mm scenes from the film and participate in an onstage discussion with critic Richard Crouse. And for last-minute gift needs, Jackson promises a satchel full of Christmas Evil merchandise.

The film opens on Christmas Eve, 1947, in suburban New Jersey as young Harry, his brother and mother quietly watch Santa Claus quaff some snacks, deliver gifts then disappear up the chimney again. Later that night, unable to sleep, Harry hears a creature stirring; but it's no mouse - it's Santa (actually his dad still in costume) on his knees groping his mother's garters. A stunned Harry goes to the attic where he smashes a snow globe and deliberately cuts his hand. Creepy music lets us know this kid's screwed for life." Read more

Discussion: I like movies but I have never heard of this one and it doesn’t sound like one I would like to watch. Does anyone else know about it?

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Christmas Movie Times

This is a listing of a few Christmas movies that will be on in the next few days.

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 21
@ 8:00pm on CBC

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2
December 20
@ 8:30pm on YTV

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 21
@ 7:30pm on CBC
December 23
@ 8:00pm on ABC

4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
December 20
@ 2:00pm Tree
@ 6:00pm YTV
@ 10:00pm Tree
December 21
@ 6:00pm on Tree
December 23
@ 12:30pm on Tree
@ 7:00pm on YTV
@ 8:00pm on Tree

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas
December 17
@ 7:00pm on YTV

See more Christmas Movie Listings at TVGuide.ca

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Christmas Q&A

This is just a fun Christmas Post.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, gift bags for awkward shapes and sizes and wrapping paper for others
2. Real tree or Artificial? I used to be against artificial trees for Christmas but now I prefer them, less mess, cheaper in the long run.
3. When do you put up the tree? 3-2 weeks before Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? Less than a week after Christmas
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Can’t remember
7. Hardest person to buy for? My mom
8. Easiest person to buy for? My fiancee
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, or given in person
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Do not want to say
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Rudolph, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don’t think so
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Clementines
16. Lights on the tree? Yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Stay at home Christmas morning then go to relatives for dinner
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Only three: Donner, Blitzen . . . are Dasher or Cupid names?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning for my family, eve for my finance’s family
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The awful Chipmunk songs
23. What theme or color are you using? No themes
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Not much

Discussion: Answer these questions on your own blog and provide a link in a comment to this post.

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How to Enjoy Christmas 101

Between finishing up the semester and all of the Christmas shopping in the crazy busy malls, sometimes we forget to enjoy the great things that Christmas brings.
Here's what I like to do around Christmas to get into the Christmas spirit. This is something I always leave too late and it seems like Christmas goes by so fast. So if you would like to be in the "Holiday mood" these are the things I would recommend.

Watch Christmas Movies
A Christmas Story
The Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Listen/Sing Christmas Songs
Silver Bells
I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas
Silent Night
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Jingle Bells

Relax with Pleasant Christmas Scents
Turkey dinner
Orange peels
Cinnamon
Baking

Engorge on

Christmas Foods
Turkey dinner
Clementine
Gingerbread Cookies
Candy Canes

Engage in Christmas Activities
Holiday crafts
Decorating the Christmas tree/house
Looking at Christmas lights
Baking and cooking

Surround Yourself with Christmas Gifts
Planning a shopping list
Making your own Christmas list
Christmas shopping
Wrapping gifts

Take The Time to Relax
One of my favourite things to do on a cold December day is to dress into comfortable clothes and warm socks, wrap myself in a blanket, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while reading a good book.

Happy Holidays Everyone

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Christmas Gifts Under $10

Simple Solutions: This is a list of gifts I think would be nice if you were planning on spending $10 or less:
Handmade craft
Cookie/Brownie/Soup mix in a jar
Donation
Gift Card
Journal and fancy pen
Plant in a pot
Coffees/Teas in a mug
Tin with homemade baked goods
Coupon booklet
Picture frame with family photos
Hairbrush, hair elastics, and hair clips
Nail Polish, nail file, and nail clippers
Basket with assorted fruits
Basket with assorted chocolates
Lottery ticket/Scratch tickets
Fancy candle and candle holder
Framed pressed flowers
Mini booze candies
Box of chocolates
Bag of almonds, pistachios, cashews, or an assortment
Stationary Set
Charm necklace/bracelet
Earrings
Lotions
Tin of cookies
A book
DVD
Poster
Makeup
Deck of cards and book about card games

Make it Fancy: These gifts can be decorated with nice wrapping to make them look nicer and more expensive. For example, you can buy a fancy $10 chocolate bar and then wrap it with shiny paper, tie ribbons around it, and add a homemade name tag. Here are some other ideas:
- use ribbon
- add bows
- use nice, or shiny, wrapping paper
- wrap jars and baskets in cellophane
- put gift in a box with tissue paper
- make Christmas card/label
- buy baskets/tins from dollar store to put gifts in
- add family photos for a personal touch

Remember: Keep an eye out for sales and bargains. You can often find really nice gifts at a much lower price. And whatever your budget, remember that people will understand that you’re a college student and you may not have a lot of extra cash. If you are not seeing certain people for a Christmas get-together, simply sending a card will do.

Resources: Here is a list of resources that havemore ideas for Christmas shopping on a budget.
Better Budgeting: 63 Gift Ideas for Under $10
XTreme Geek: Gifts Under $10
Gooseberry Patch: Christmas Gift Ideas
ezinearticles: Homemade Christmas Gifts and Decorations for Under $10

Discussion: What is your favourite gift to give, under $10?

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