Want to spread joy and cheer this holiday season without damaging your personal finances or suffering a nervous breakdown? According to ThirdAge.com, it can be done with some planning and by exercising some self restraint. (1) Start by making a list and stick to it. Be discerning. Does everyone belong on the list? (2) Set limits for spending. Write down a maximum amount you plan to spend on everyone. Keep track of how much you are actually spending as you shop. (3) Plan for some unexpected gift needs and buy some simple gifts anyone could enjoy like extra tins of homemade cookies, scented candles, bottles of inexpensive but flavorful wines or etc. (4) Ask yourself: is the maximum amount you plan to spend really realistic? Do you have the cash to finance the spending spree or will you go into January with a new line of credit card debt? (5) Go back to your list. Can you make it smaller? Can you suggest gift exchanges in large families, circles of friends or groups of co-workers instead of buying for everyone? Can you make gifts instead of buying them? (6) Shop with cash only. Take the cash you have planned to spend and leave the credit cards at home. Stick to your list. If you must use plastic be sure that you use a debit card instead of a credit card. (7) Start getting ready for next year by taking advantage of post holiday sales for people you know will be on your list next holiday season.

Relax and enjoy your holiday season. Spend special time with friends and family. The act of giving can be as simple as a smile. Best wishes for a joyful holiday season from the Macon County Extension Office staff.

Teresa Adams

Health Promotion Coordinator

Canada

German settlers migrated to Canada from the United States in the 1700's. They brought with them many of the things associated with Christmas we cherish today: Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, cookies–and Christmas trees. When Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1848, the Christmas tree became a tradition throughout England, the United States and Canada.

Mexico

In most Mexican homes the principal holiday adornment is el Nacimiento (Nativity scene). However, a decorated Christmas tree may be incorporated in the Nacimiento or set up elsewhere in the home. The typical arbolito (little tree) is often an artificial one, a bare branch cut from a copal tree, or some type of shrub collected from the countryside.

Britain

The Norway Spruce is the traditional species used to decorate homes in Britain. The Norway Spruce was a native species in the British Isles before the last Ice Age and was reintroduced there before the 1500's.

Greenland

Christmas trees are imported, as no trees live this far north. They are decorated with candles and bright ornaments.

Guatemala

The Christmas tree has joined the "Nacimiento" (Nativity scene) as a popular ornament because of the large German population in Guatemala. Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning for the children. Parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New Year's Day.

Finland

The earliest account of a Christmas tree in a Finnish home is from the year 1829, when a Helsinki nobleman, Baron Klinckowstrom, had eight of them indoors. Within the next hundred years the Christmas tree tradition spread from the west and the south to all parts of Finland. The first outdoor Christmas tree decorated with electric lights stood in the market square in the town of Pietarsaari in 1905. The City of Helsinki has erected a Christmas tree in the Senate Square since 1930. Since 1954, Helsinki has donated a Christmas tree to the Belgian capital, Brussels. (Source: Christmas With Virtual Finland).

Brazil

Although Christmas falls during the summer in Brazil, sometimes pine trees are decorated with little pieces of cotton that represent falling snow.

Ireland

Christmas trees are brought in anytime in December and decorated with colored lights, tinsel, and baubles. Some people favor the angel on top of the tree, others the star. The house is decorated with garlands, candles, holly and ivy. Wreaths and mistletoe are hung on the door.

Sweden

Most people buy Christmas trees well before Christmas Eve, but it's not uncommon to take the tree inside and decorate it just a few days before. Evergreen trees are decorated with stars, sunburst and snowflakes made from straw. Other decorations include colorful wooden animals and straw centerpieces.

Norway

Nowadays Norwegians often take a trip to the woods to select a Christmas tree, a trip that their grandfathers probably did not make. The Christmas tree was not introduced into Norway from Germany until the latter half of the nineteenth century, to the country districts it came even later. When Christmas Eve arrives, there is the decorating of the tree, usually done by the parents behind the closed doors of the living room, while the children wait with excitement outside. Then follows a Norwegian ritual known as "circling the Christmas tree." Everyone joins hands to form a ring around the tree and they then walk around it singing carols. Afterwards, gifts are distributed.

Ukraine

Celebrated on December 25th by Catholics and on January 7th by Orthodox Christians, Christmas is the most popular holiday in the Ukraine. During the Christmas season, which also includes New Year's Day, people decorate fir trees and have parties.

Spain

A popular Christmas custom is Catalonia, a lucky strike game. A tree trunk is filled with goodies and children hit at the trunk trying to knock out the hazel nuts, almonds, toffee and other treats.

South Africa

Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Although Christmas trees are not common, windows are often draped with sparkling cotton, wool and tinsel.

Saudi Arabia

Christian Americans, Europeans, Indians, Filipinos and others living in Saudi Arabia have to celebrate Christmas privately in their own homes. Christmas lights are generally not tolerated. Most families place their Christmas trees somewhere inconspicuous.

Phillipines

Fresh pine trees are too expensive for many Filipinos, so handmade trees in an array of colors and sizes are often used. Star lanterns or parol, appear everywhere in December. They are made from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane and usually feature a tassel on each point. There is usually one in every window, each representing the Star of Bethlehem.

Japanese

For most of the Japanese who celebrate Christmas, it's purely a secular holiday devoted to the love of their children. Christmas trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans, lanterns and wind chimes. Miniature candles are also put among the tree branches. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan. Japanese children have exchanged thousands of folded paper "birds of peace" with young people all over the world as a pledge that war must not happen again.

University of Illinois Extension

Holiday Tree-Shaped Cheese Ball

(An easy, eye-catching way to serve a holiday cheese ball. The best news? You can make it up to a month in advance!)

3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

(16 ounces)

2 tablespoons basil pesto

1 tablespoon grated onion

1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard

Red pepper sauce

1/4 cup finely chopped parsley or

cilantro

1/4 cup pine nuts or sliced almonds

2 tablespoons chopped red bell

Pepper

Piece of lemon peel, if desired

Assorted crackers, if desired

1.Stir together cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; divide in half. Stir pesto into 1 half; stir onion, mustard and 2 or 3 drops pepper sauce into other half. Cover each half; refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape.

2.Place cheese mixture on cookie sheet. Shape each half into cone shape to look like a pine tree.

3.If desired, wrap each tree, label and freeze up to 1 month. Twelve hours before serving, remove trees from freezer. Thaw in wrapper in refrigerator.

4.Just before serving, roll trees in parsley or cilantro, pressing it evenly onto trees. Press pine nuts into trees in a line for the garland. Press bell pepper pieces onto trees for ornaments. Top each tree with star shape cut from lemon peel. Serve with crackers.

Source: www.bettucrpcler.com

Sour Cream-Cranberry Bars

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups quick-cooking oats

1-1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups dried cranberries

1 cup sour cream

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1.Heat oven to 350®F. Mix butter and brown sugar in large bowl with spoon. Stir in oats, 1-1/2 cups flour and the baking soda until crumbly. Press half of the mixture in ungreased rectangular pan, 13/9/2 inches. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

2.Mix remaining ingredients in large bowl. Pour over baked crust. Crumble remaining oat mixture over filling.

3.Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and filling is set. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For 32 bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows.

Source: www.bettycrocker.com

Olive-Cheese Balls

2 cups shredded sharp natural Cheddar cheese (8 ounces)

1-1/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

48 small pimiento-stuffed olives, drained and patted dry

1.Stir together cheese and flour in large bowl. Stir in butter thoroughly. (If dough seems dry, work with hands.

2.Mold 1 teaspoon dough around each olive; shape into ball. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.

3.Heat oven to 400°F. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light brown.

Do-Ahead Tip

To make ahead, place unbaked olive-cheese balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Freeze at least 2 hours until firm. Place balls in plastic freezer bags. Seal, label and freeze up to 3 months. Heat oven to 400°F. Place cheese balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 20 minutes or until hot.

Source: www.bettycrocker.com

Long before thee was a Christmas, stars held importance in ancient religions:

·Babylonians used three stars to represent a god.

·The Egyptians believed that certain gods controlled different stars and constellations.

·The six-pointed Star of David became the symbol of the Hebrew nation.

·The North American Blackfoot Indians believed that every star was at one time a human being.

There is also a legend that on the night Christ was born, a brilliant star appeared in the sky and it was this star that guided the three wise men to the baby to be known as Jesus. The wise men studied the stars nightly. They noted the constellations in the night sky and watched their movements. This is why when they noticed a large, brilliant star they had never seen before, they knew they should follow it.

What could explain this phenomenon? One scientific explanation for the star is that on that particular night, the planets Saturn and Jupiter were so close together that they could have given the impression of a single large and brilliant star.

The star became a Christmas ornament around the 1840s. Many people use a star on the top of their Christmas tree. If that special star could help the wise men on their journey, then perhaps it helps Santa Claus find your house each Christmas Eve.

Source:www.hoover.archives.gov

Basic Training May Alleviate Pet Behavior Problems

Did you know the biggest reason for pet euthanasia in this country? Is it incurable disease? Injury? The truth is that more companion animals are euthanized for behavior problems than for any other reason. Some animals are euthanized because they are aggressive and dangerous, but many are euthanized for behavior problems that could have been avoided.

Linda Case, an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, owns and operates Autumn Gold Dog Training Center in Mahomet, IL. One of her goals is to raise awareness among dog owners in order to prevent behavior problems. "One of the biggest problems we see is that people underestimate how much time caring for a dog requires. Many dogs do not have all of their needs met, and many are horribly under-exercised," says Case. "Unfortunately, since crate training became popular, the crate has sometimes been used as a place to stow the dog rather than being used as the housebreaking tool it was meant to be. Many dogs spend far too much time in their crates."

Dr. Christine Merle, a veterinarian formerly at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, agrees. "Another problem people have with dogs is a basic lack of manners. Because they have not been taught manners, many dogs engage in undesirable activities, such as jumping up on people and not coming when called. When people take the time to educate themselves about the needs of their pet, behavior issues such as these can be prevented. Unfortunately, owners often assume that the dog should somehow be aware of basic rules of behavior without ever having been taught."

If bad behavior continues for an extended period of time, pet owners sometimes attribute very human characteristics to the dog, as if the pet is engaging in the unwanted activity on purpose. Despite what some owners think, their pet is not defecating in the house or digging up the garden in order to exact some sort of retribution.

Most likely, undesirable behavior that occurs within a home are due to some need that is not being met by the owner. "Unruly behaviors such as digging and barking excessively are called attention seeking behaviors," says Case. "The challenge of dog training is often to discover why the dog is engaging in those behaviors. Instead of looking at training as something that is done to the dog, the best way to solve these problems is to approach dog training from a human-animal bond standpoint, which involves looking at how the owner lives with the dog and how that lifestyle is affecting the dog's behavior."

One of the best ways to avoid behavior problems before they start is to enroll in a dog training class early, ideally when the dog is young. These classes not only teach good manners, but can help the dog become more comfortable around other dogs and people. For dogs with a problem with aggression, there are private trainers who can help owners and pets on an individual basis. Certified veterinary behaviorists can help with problems that are insurmountable through regular training.

Matching the animal to the owner's lifestyle is very important, and many behavior problems can be avoided by choosing a pet carefully. Before you decide to get a pet, research the needs of that animal and find out about breed-specific characteristics that need to be taken into consideration. Remember that most of the time, getting a pet on a whim is a very bad idea.

If you have a dog that has a behavior problem or you would like to enroll your pet in a training class, contact your local veterinarian and ask for a list of dog training clubs in your area.

University of Illinois Extension

At one time, wrestlers purposely dehydrated to lose weight rapidly and make weight categories. Fortunately, this practice is decreasing, but it still occurs.

Wrestlers dehydrated in many ways. Some exercised in hot rooms, often while wearing rubber suits in an attempt to sweat off water. Others simply did not drink any fluids or eat foods high in water. Still others lost weight by spitting in a cup all day. And some took diuretics (water pills) to increase urine output.

Unfortunately, a few wrestlers used a combination of these methods to reduce body water, lose weight, and make weight categories. None of these practices is recommended. Using them in combination is especially dangerous.

Dehydration poses both short– and long-term dangers to your health. In the short-term, your body's cooling system can't work properly and you can overheat, suffer heatstroke, and possibly die. Long-term, repeated episodes of dehydration can be damaging to your kidneys.

The most common outcomes of dehydration are poor endurance and poor performance. Some athletes mistakenly believe that after purposely dehydrating their bodies, they can rapidly rehydrate and almost immediately regain optimum performance. While drinking plenty of fluids is the right thing to do after becoming dehydrated, it may take many hours before your body completely rehydrates and you can perform your best.

University of Illinois Estension

What you eat every day can have a big effect on how you perform. What you eat right before an event can be critical. Wrong choices can be disastrous. Right choices can give you that competitive edge. Planning your pregame meals will help you make wise food choices. While the pregame meal can supply your body with significant amounts of energy, don't expect it to supply all the energy you'll need for the event. You should eat the right kinds of food for several days before the event to charge up your muscles with glycogen. Glycogen is a key energy source your muscles use during most sports activities. Although the pregame meal won't cause large increases in muscle glycogen, it will:

·Help avoid hunger during the event.

·Stabilize blood-sugar levels and add some food energy to complement existing energy stores of muscle glycogen.

·Hydrate the body (supply water to the body's cells)

·Provide a relatively empty stomach at game time.

·Prevent gastrointestinal upset or other adverse reactions to food.

No one pregame meal is right for every athlete or every event, but some food choices are much smarter than others. General guidelines for individual food selection and meal planning are included in this article. Make sure your pregame meal plans follow these guidelines.

Pregame Guidelines

Make sure your pregame meal plans follow these guidelines:

·Allow enough time for digestion. Eat the meal at least three hours before an event.

·Choose a meal that's high in starch. Starch is easy to digest and helps steady the levels of blood sugar.

·Consume only moderate amounts of protein. Protein foods take longer to digest than starch. Any high-protein meals may lead to increased urine production, which can add to dehydration.

·Limit fats and oils. They take too long to digest.

·Restrict sugary foods. Sweets can cause rapid energy swings in blood sugar levels and result in low blood sugar and less energy.

·Avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the body to increase urine output, which can contribute to dehydration problems, and a full bladder can be very uncomfortable.

·Watch out for foods that produce gas. Certain raw vegetables, fruits, or beans may cause problems for some young athletes. Be aware of the foods that cause you problems, and avoid them just before an event.

·Within these guidelines, choose foods you like to eat.

·Remember to drink plenty of fluids with your pregame meal.

University of Illinois Extension

Your biggest concern is getting enough water–pure cool water. Even the salt you lose while sweating can be easily replaced by adding salt to foods.

Plain, cool water is the fluid of choice when the actual exercise does not last longer than 60 to 90 minutes. And that includes most situations, even a tough practice session, a hard-fought football game, or a track meet. You don't need an energy source in the fluid you drink to rehydrate. During these normal situations, if you have been eating and training properly, you should have enough energy stored as liver and muscle glycogen to power you through.

However, in some situations where the exercise is unusually long or several games occur in a short period of time, sport drinks containing carbohydrates and electrolytes may offer you an advantage. For example, if you are a long-distance cyclist, you should consider using a sport drink. If you must compete in a tournament that has more than one game a day or several games in just a few days, you could benefit from a sport drink that supplements your energy and electrolyte supply.

There are many different commercial sport drinks available. They contain varying kinds and amounts of carbohydrates and electrolytes. For example, GATORADE® Thirst Quencher is a glucose electrolyte solution of about six percent carbohydrate concentration. Exceed® is a glucose polymer solution of about seven percent carbohydrate concentration. If you use a sport drink, pick one that has less than eight percent total solids (carbohydrates, electrolytes). More concentrated solutions can delay fluid absorption. They must be diluted with plain water before you use them as a fluid replacement drink. Also, avoid sport drinks that contain fructose as the only source of carbohydrate. Fructose may delay gastric emptying of fluid and cause upset stomach. And fructose must first be converted to glucose before it can be used for energy. This converssion means you can't use fructose as an energy source as quickly as other carbohydrates.

Fruit juices like orange juice should also be diluted if you're using them as a fluid replacement drink before, during, or after an event or practice session. Fruit juices vary from 10% to 17% carbohydrate concentration. Dilute them with an equal amount of pure water before you use them as fluid replacement. Of course, when you drink juices at other times, such as with a meal or snack, you don't have to dilute them.

University of Illinois Extension

Food and Family

Many times adults think it is easier and faster to do something themselves rather than ask their kids to help. Cooking is definitely one of those things. It is faster and often easier to do it yourself, but are there advantages to including the kids in this activity? The answer to this question is definitely yes. There are also benefits to eating meals together.

Here are some important reasons to cook and eat meals with your kids:

·Studies have shown that eating with other people results in improved nutrition at all ages.

·It has been found that interactions between parents and children at mealtime can improve both learning skills and language skills.

·Shared meals offer people a way to express togetherness, affection and nourish the mind as well as the body.

·Many traditions and memories are food-related, offering people a way to link past, present and future generations.

·Through cooking activities, children learn a basic life skill everyone needs to have. It can also help with reading and math skills and learning to follow directions.

·How many times a week does your family eat together? Try setting a goal that the whole family will eat together a certain number of times a week.

Kids in the Kitchen

Cooking is fun and kids love to help, but hot ovens and sharp knives can also make it dangerous. It is important to let your kids help in the kitchen, but it is also important to have some rules for cooking. Summer is a good time for you and your kids to work together.

Ten rules for cooking fun and safety:

1.An adult should always be in the kitchen when a child is cooking.

2.Always wash your hands before you start cooking.

3.Collect all ingredients and utensils before you start.

4.Be very careful with sharp knives. Hold them with the blade pointing downward and always use a cutting board.

5.When cooking on top of the stove, turn the saucepan handles to the side so you do not hit them.

6.Have a space ready for hot things. Put them on a mat or a wooden board, not straight onto a table or work surface.

7.Always wear oven gloves when picking up anything hot, or when putting things into or taking them out of the oven.

8.Keep a towel nearby so that spills may be wiped up quickly. Clean up anything that spills on the floor immediately.

9.Wash up as you go along. When you have finished cooking put everything away and clean up any mess.

10.An adult should turn the oven on and be sure it is turned off when you are finished.

Using these rules can make cooking fun and safe for you and your kids.

Food Preparation Activities

Four Year Olds

·Wash vegetables

·Shuck Corn

·Snap beans

·Wipe table

·Put toast in toaster

·Tear lettuce

·Shape burgers and meatballs

·Peel bananas ( if top is cut)

·Place things in trash

·Break eggs into bowl

·Measure and mix ingredients

·Open packages

·Knead and shape dough

·Stir mixtures in bowl with spoon

·Pour cereal, milk and water

·Make sandwiches

·Toss salads

·"Wash" baking utensils (water play)

·Clear own place setting

Five Year Olds–all of the above plus:

·Make cakes and cookies using baking mixes

·Use blenders or hand mixers with close supervision

·Set and clear the table

·Make pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, hot cereal and rice with close supervision.

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Nonstick cooking spray

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. Ground cinnamon

4 tablespoons margarine

2 pop-cans refrigerated dinner rolls

Parent Prep

Spray a 9"x5" pan with the nonstick cooking spray. In a small shallow bowl, blend the sugar with the cinnamon. Melt the margarine. Open the pop-cans and pull the rolls apart and place on a cutting board.

Call the Kids

Show your children how to cut each of the rolls in half using a plastic knife. Then show them how to dip each piece of dough into the margarine, then roll in the sugar mixture to coat all sides. Place the coated pieces of dough on top of each other in the prepared pan. Sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over the top. Bake at 375°F for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Let cool slightly, remove from the pan and place on a serving dish or plate. Your children now can pull apart the pieces of cinnamon bread.

University of Illinois Extension

Succulent Plants Indoors

Just because the snow is flying outside doesn't necessarily mean that gardening is over until spring, says a University of Illinois Extension horticulture specialist.

"Succulent plants are well adapted for growing indoors during winters where the relative humidity of Midwestern buildings is low," says Barbara Bates.

Plants described as succulents have thick, fleshy leaves, stems, or tubers. They have evolved in arid environments and their specialized structures are used for water storage.

Best known among the succulent plants is the cacti, but Bates points out there are over 60 plant families considered succulent.

"There are many architecturally interesting ones to choose from," she says. "You can find a succulent plant to fit just about any location indoors because they come in a wide range of forms and sizes. Some present best in hanging baskets such as string-of-pearls (Senecio rowleyamus), succulent grape (Cissus sp.) and Ceropegia woodii.

"Others are most effective when mixed together in a dish garden and others are best as solo performers that serve as a focal point."

Jade trees (Crassula argentia) with their bright green waxy leaves can grow to be five feet tall with stems several inches in diameter. Aconium and Echeveria come in a variety of rosette forms.

"Echeverias can be grown in low-to-medium light conditions and the rosettes stay low and compact," says Bates. "Aconiums vary in form including some that hold their rosettes of leaves high on stalks to those that are very flattened with closely overlapping layers of leaves."

Succulents, she adds, are available in a wide range of colors and textures, from various shades of green, variegated, blue-green to purple-red.

"Leaf texture is most often plump and fleshy, but sometimes the stem is the most visually interesting part of the plant," she notes. "With living stones (Lithops), two leaves are all you see until a delicate flower emerges from deep within a crevasse between the two leaves.

Coorophytums resemble Lithops, but have a papery sheath that remains around the pair of leaves. Both Lithops and Conophytums produce beautiful flowers.

"Other succulents are referred to as 'fat plants' because the prominent thickened stem is the primary part of the plant," Bates says. "Brachystemia sp. and some Dioscorea are two such plants that have broad, flattened tubers that remain above the soil for an interesting display."

Bates says that the ability of succulents to store water makes them very low maintenance. During the growing season, watering once a month is adequate.

"Let the soil dry out between watering, clear to the bottom of the container," she says. "Porous containers, such as unglazed terra cotta are preferred. Porous, sandy soils are best. Watch for the leaves to show a lack of turgidity, then water thoroughly. Over-watering will lead to leaf drop. Under-watering will be shown as limp, wilted leaves.

"Fertilize with low nitrogen fertilizer only during the growing season. Average household temperatures are ideal for succulents. Avoid placing them in drafty locations, where cold air may cause leaf drop."

Bates says that for easy care, good conversation pieces, and a truly unique feature, create a dish garden with a variety of succulents.

University of Illinois Extension

The poinsettia is native to Mexico. It has been associated with the Christmas season because the Mexicans thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. The plant was brought to America over 100 years ago by Dr. Joel Poinsett, our first ambassador to Mexico.

In Mexico it is an old custom to take flowers to the church on Christmas Eve and place them at the altar in honor of the birth of Jesus.

The legend of the poinsettia goes like this. . .

Each Christmas Eve, the villagers would go the church and take beautiful flowers to the baby Jesus. Young Mario would only follow the procession and watch because he was too poor to buy flowers for the Christ Child–this made him very sad.

One year he was kneeling outside the church crying because he had no flowers to give. A voice from the stone angel near the church whispered to Mario to pick the weeds and take them inside to Jesus.

When Mario replied he couldn't give the Baby Jesus weeds, the angel told him that the simplest gifts, when given with love, are the most beautiful.

Mario picked the weeds and took them into the church. As he placed the weeds into the crib the grown stalks turned green and the dried leaves turned into a beautiful scarlet flower. The Mexicans call this beautiful flower the "Flor de la Noche Buena," or the Flower of the Holy Night.

www.hoover.archive.gov

Every holiday season, family members travel to get together. Unfortunately, those that come together one day a year and try to make up for being apart the other 364 days may be destined for some turbulence.

People often go home longing for the smells and feelings they had during their childhood and are disappointed when that doesn't occur. Be realistic about what will happen. Just as times have changed, so have your family dynamics.

When families get together, they are likely to fall back into their childhood roles–the "know-it-all" older brother, the quiet, obedient sister, the spoiled "baby," and the one you feel Mom liked best who still gets all the attention. Mom and Dad may be tempted to share their "wisdom" by telling their adult children what to do and how to do it.

Another family issue may be that "cranky" Aunt Mabel is invited as well as Uncle Joe whose drinking always spoils the fun. And then there is your brother-in-law who feels it is his duty to let everyone know his political views, often causing arguments at the dinner table. All of this can cause emotional indigestion.

Since there are no perfect families, there are only suggestions on ways to deal with the "emotional baggage" that family members bring to holiday gatherings.

·Keep in mind that you can't change people, but you can change how you view what goes on. Tell yourself that this year you will not fall into the trap of taking on the family role you assumed as a child. Or you will not get upset when your mother insists that you carve the turkey "her way." Accept the fact that your family isn't perfect and make a conscious effort to get along.

·Avoid discussing deep conflicts that family members ignore or struggle with the rest of the year–the holiday dinner table is not the place to resolve serious issues. But if things get to the point where you feel you must say something, use your best communication skills to discuss the issues. Remain calm and choose your comments wisely; it won't help if family members think you are criticizing them or telling them what to do. And, truly listen to their point of view and clarify what you think you heard.

·Things don't have to be done the same way year after year. If your family situation changes, it's time to change the traditions. For example, when preparing a large meal becomes too much work or the family becomes too large to fit into someone's home, many families elect to eat out. That way, no one gets burdened with the preparation or the clean up. Everyone has more time to visit and enjoy each other's company.

Family gatherings can be fun or troublesome. Don't expect your festivities to resemble the Norman Rockwell painting of the perfectly behaved family gathered around the table, smiling and happy to be there. Just do what you can to make it an enjoyable experience. If you have realistic expectations, you won't be disappointed.

University of Illinois Extension

Beeswax

Beeswax is the oldest wax in the world. It was first used for creating decorations in the 1600's in Germany where it was discovered that when the wax was melted and poured into a mold used for gingerbread cookies, it would reproduce the most minute details of the mold.

In the 16th century at Christmas time, German bakers traditionally made lebkuchen (gingerbread) and pressed it into ornate wooden molds depicting religious scenes. Since honey was used in the gingerbread, it is thought that while waiting for the cookies to come out of the oven, the bakers may have found the leftover beeswax could be manipulated by hand and pressed into the cookie molds, resulting in an image that could very well be used for a Christmas decoration. The gingerbread makers who produced these ornaments became known as chandlers, or wax workers.

In the late 17th century, the German people brought their art form to eastern Pennsylvania. Colonial women would gather honey from wild beehives found in the wooded areas. As the craft evolved, more elaborate beeswax ornaments were often painted or gilded.

Today, beeswax is used to make Christmas ornaments almost identical to those crafted hundreds of years ago in Germany. The color of the wax figures varies, depending on the type of flower from which the bee collected the nectar. The molds are now made of metal and plastic, as well as wood. Over time, all beeswax develops the dull mottling known as bloom. There are antique beeswax ornaments in German museums today that are over 300 years old.

Music

Music early became a marked feature of the Christmas season. The very first chants, litanies, and hymns were in Latin and much too religious for popular use. But as this music evolved, the style changed so the music was more familiar and festive. Then in the 17th Century, there was no Christmas music because the Puritans banned all feasts and celebrations and claimed the practice of singing Christmas carols was pagan and sinful.

But then, centuries later, as Christmas became more popular around the world, so did the music used to celebrate the holiday. The days and nights of the Christmas season are alive with music. We hear familiar Christmas music on the radio, at the grocery store or shopping mall and, of course, in our churches. It is just not possible to conceive of this joyous season without the familiar music that goes with it. Whether it be an echo of the song sung by the angels to the shepherds in the fields on a night two thousand years ago, or the story of a reindeer with a red nose, the music is our acknowledgement of the wonder and beauty of Christmas.

Source: www.hoover.archives.gov

Holiday Food

For centuries the celebration of the Christmas holiday has brought people together. And when people gather to celebrate this holiday, there is a wide assortment of food. The English traditionally serve goose, the Germans suckling pigs, and in America the holiday dinner usually centers around a turkey.

Many foods have special meaning at Christmas. Mince meat pies have long been a traditional Christmas food. Many years ago they were made with a mixture of beef, chicken and spices that was meant to symbolize the gifts the Wise Men brought to the manger. The pies were shaped like a manger with an image of the baby Jesus on top. This custom was declared sacrilegious by the Puritans in England, but Puritan settlers in New England refused to give up the pie and began to shape it in the traditional pie shape. Today mincemeat is made of raisins and other dried fruit.

Christmas breads and cakes can be found in most countries that celebrate the holiday. The Danish have Danish Kringle which is an advent bread shaped like a pretzel. The "figgy pudding" we sing about is actually a rich, dark fruit cake. Panettone is an Italian Christmas bread with raisins and a lemon flavor. The Swedes prepare a braided bread called St. Lucia's crown that is served at dawn on December 13 to signal the beginning of the holiday season. The most spectacular of these cakes is the French Buche de Noel, or Christmas log. This cake resembles the traditional yule log.

Gingerbread has been baked in Europe for centuries. During the 19th century it was romanticized when the Grimm brothers wrote Hansel and Gretel. At Christmas time gingerbread makes its most impressive appearance. The baking of lebkuchen (a gingerbread cookie) and elaborate gingerbread houses is a custom that originated in Germany and quickly caught on in North America.

Families throughout the world prepare special holiday foods together. Baking sugar cookies shaped like holiday symbols and decorated by the family with frosting, sprinkles or candy pieces is a popular tradition in the United States.

Fruits

According to Christmas folklore, the world would come to life in miraculous ways at Christmas time: trees bloomed with blossoms and gave fruit although it was winter, animals would speak, and rivers turned to wine. Because of this, many of the early Christmas trees were hung with flowers and fruit to represent the new life that had come into the world. Signs of life in the dead of winter, such as flowers blooming and evergreen trees, were often thought to signify the future. In the 16th century, for example, Germans cut boughs from fruit trees in November and took them into a warm room to grow.

The apple played an important role in traditional European Christmas Eve celebrations. Following dinner, the head of the family would cut an apple crosswise. If there was the image of a perfect star inside and the seeds were plump, it was believed that a peaceful year of good fortune and health awaited the family. Many customs surround the apple at Christmas time, and according to many sources, apples were the first ornaments to appear on Christmas trees.

Fairies

The word "fairy" comes from a Latin word fata meaning 'fate'. This means that fairies are cousins of the classical Fates, who were believed to control the fate and destiny of the human race. We hope that the fairies associated with Christmas are good-natured spirits with kindly dispositions who perhaps appear at this time of the year to assist in perpetuating the aura of good will toward men.

One German Christmas fairy legend tells about a young, handsome, and unmarried count named Otto. One day, as Otto was hunting near his castle, he dropped his gold ring into a well. That night he was awakened by the creaking of the drawbridge being lowered, and the patter of many small feet coming down the hall and into the next room. When he opened the door, he saw fairy beings clad in sparkling robes dancing, laughing and singing around a splendid Christmas tree decorated with gold and precious jewels. Suddenly a beautiful lady came forward wearing a jeweled crown and a robe of rose-colored satin and creamy velvet. She introduced herself to him as Ernestine, the queen of the fairies and said she came to return his lost gold ring.

It was love at first sight and Count Ottto soon asked the fairy queen to be his bride. She consented on the condition that he should never speak the word "death" in her presence. They had a magnificent wedding and lived happily for many years.

Then one day, Count Otto and his fairy wife decided to hunt in the forest near the castle, but the count grew impatient waiting for Ernestine to join him. When she finally appeared, he blurted out, "You have kept us waiting so long that you would make a good messenger to send for Death!" As soon as he spoke the forbidden word, the fairy vanished from his sight never to be seen again. The count searched in vain and all he could find was the imprint of her delicate hand set in the stone arch above the castle gate where legend says it remains to this day.

Pickle

The tradition of hiding a pickle inside the Christmas tree comes from a medieval folktale. The story tells of two Spanish boys traveling home from boarding school for the holidays. They were tired from their travels so they stopped at an inn to spend the night. The innkeeper was a mean and evil man. He stole their possessions and then stuffed the boys into a pickle barrel.

That evening, St. Nicholas stopped at the inn for a rest. He found out that the boys were inside the pickle barrel. St. Nicholas tapped the pickle barrel with his staff and the boys were magically restored. After thanking St. Nicholas for his help, they continued on home for Christmas.

Through time, this Victorian tradition has been celebrated by hiding a hand-blown glass pickle on the Christmas tree. Whoever finds it first on Christmas morning receives a special gift.

Source: www.hoover.archives.gov

What is avian influenza? Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, fowl pet, or fowl plague, is a respiratory disease of birds caused by a Type A influenza virus. It occurs world wide and was first described more than 100 years ago in Italy.

In birds signs of avian influenza may range from mild respiratory signs, such as coughing and sneezing, to very rapidly spreading severe illness resulting in all infected birds.

There are 15 strains of influenza virus that are known to infect birds. Usually birds and pigs are the only species affected. However, some strains, such as the H5N1 virus that is currently causing outbreaks in Asia, can cause disease in other mammals.

Why is avian influenza currently raising concerns? Influenza viruses mutate rapidly. A mutation can cause an outbreak to shift from causing only mild illness in birds to causing rapid high mortality rates. A viral mutation during the course of an epidemic may also alter which species can be infected by the virus. Avian influenza is currently of concern because more than 100 people have been infected with the H5N1 virus over the past 2 years, resulting in 60 human deaths.

However, avian influenza will not become wide spread in people unless the virus gains the ability to be transmitted from person to person easily. When human or swine populations are infected by more than one strain of influenza virus at the same time, these non-avian species can serve as a "mixing vessel" for the mutation and spread of a strain that can be transmitted easily between humans. To date this has not occurred. Almost all of the human cases have been traced to close contact between humans and live poultry or ducks.

Where is the current outbreak of avian influenza happening: Between December 2003 and October 10, 2005, H5N1 avian influenza was isolated from birds in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

The first reported case of H5N1 avian influenza in humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997. Between December 2003 and October 10, 2005, a total of 117 HUMAN cases of H5N1 avian influenza were confirmed worldwide. These occurred in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam and resulted in 60 human deaths.

How do birds get avian influenza? Migratory waterfowl, such as wild ducks, are the natural reservoir for avian influenza and are the most resistant to clinical disease, meaning that they can carry and spread the virus without showing any signs of illness themselves. The feces of infected waterfowl are the likely source of some outbreaks of avian influenza in domestic birds. Domestic ducks may also carry the virus and infect other birds.

The virus is shed in saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Respiratory droplets and dust contaminated with the virus spread the disease to other birds. Footwear, supplies, vehicles, and equipment that are contaminated with bird droppings or feathers and dust from infected birds can also spread the disease from one place to another.

How do people get avian influenza? Presently, the H5N1 avian influenza virus does not spread easily from person to person. Human beings who have contracted the disease had close contact with infected, live poultry or ducks or handled equipment that was contaminated with feces, feathers, or dust from infected birds. (See also "Is it safe to eat poultry and eggs?" below.)

Is there a vaccine or cure for avian influenza in people? There is currently no vaccine available to protect people from avian influenza. The human influenza vaccine will not offer protection against avain influenza. A vaccine was developed for the 1997 H5N1 avian influenza; unfortunately, the virus has changed considerably since then and that vaccine is not recommended for use against the current strain.

Nevertheless, it is a good idea to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding flu shots. If more people are protected against human influenza, there will be less opportunity for the avian influenza virus to infect someone with human flu and develop the capacity to spread easily from person to person.

The antiviral drug Tamiflu (Roche) is the most effective treatment for avian influenza in human beings. However, it must be administered within 40 hours of the onset of clinical signs to be effective, and supplies of this drug are limited.

Can other animals get this strain of avian influenza? Yes, reports indicate that in addition to affecting chickens, ducks, swine, and human beings this strain may affect domestic cats, tigers, leopards, ferrets, eagles and falcons. Work is under way to determine the extent to which other wildlife and domestic species may be infected. It is believed that all birds can transmit avian influenza to some extent. Therefore, the U.S. restricts importation of all birds (Class Aves) and feathers from countries affected by the outbreak of avian influenza. This should prevent the disease from being introduced into the U.S. by exotic bird species or pet birds.

Is it safe to eat poultry and eggs? There have been no reported human cases of avian influenza associated with the preparation or consumption of poultry meat or eggs.

In countries where the outbreak is currently ongoing, the chickens affected have been from small backyard flocks and communities in which free-range chickens and ducks co-mingle. Avian influenza has not been reported in large-scale commercial poultry operations. Backyard and free-range poultry are more likely to come into contact with wildlife carriers and their droppings, so they are at increased risk for being exposed to avian influenza virus.

In areas where the outbreak is ongoing, people should avoid contact with sick and dying birds and use proper hygiene when handling live poultry and preparing them for consumption. The virus is inactivated by heat, so adequate cooking of the meat and poultry will further prevent transmission of the disease to people.

What is the United States doing top prevent avian influenza in commercial poultry populations? To date, the United States does not have H5N1 avian influenza, and it does not import poultry from the affected countries. In addition, several safeguards are in place in the United States to protect the health of chickens on farms and to ensure the quality of poultry and eggs purchased by consumers. In modern commercial poultry and egg production systems, birds are housed indoors in climate-controlled buildings to prevent contact with wildlife that may spread diseases that the chickens are susceptible to, including avian influenza.

There is ongoing surveillance of flocks to test birds that show signs of respiratory disease or unexpected mortality. If a flock is suspected of having avian influenza, the farm is placed under quarantine until the diagnosis is confirmed. If the diagnosis is confirmed, restrictions are placed on the movements of birds, equipment, and personnel to and from the facility and the flock will be depopulated on-site. Birds from infected farms are not sent for processing or sold for consumption. An investigation is conducted to determine the source of the virus. The flock may be quarantined and de-populated as a preventive measure. Farms in areas where an outbreak is ongoing do not receive new chickens until the area is determined to be free of disease.

So, the risk of H5N1 avian influenza moving from backyard flocks in Asia to commercial flocks in the United States is probably low. If an outbreak in birds in the United States does occur, the risk of American consumers being exposed to the virus from handling or consuming poultry meat or eggs is remote.

University of Illinois Extension

The Christmas Rose

The Christmas Rose is from a charming tale of a little shepherd girl who stood weeping outside the stable where Jesus was born because she had no gift for him. A watching Angel caused the snow at the little girl's feet to disappear, revealing the Christmas Rose which was formed by the angels from each tear of the little shepherdess; a lovely gift for the baby Jesus. The Christmas Rose should be planted by the door to welcome Christ into the house. The rose is also associated with Saint Agnes, the patroness of purity, whose feast day is Jan. 21. She was only 13 when she suffered martyrdom for the Faith in Rome in 303.

The Legend of Rosemary

Rosemary is a revered ceremonial herb symbolizing remembrance, friendship and fidelity. It was thrown into, or placed on graves and presented to those that grieved (as a sign that the deceased would always be remembered). It was also woven into a bride's wreath, used to decorate the church and was presented, tied with ribbons to the bridesmaids and guests. Anne of Cleves wore a rosemary wreath when she embarked on her ill fated marriage to Henry VIII. The floor of the church was strewn with it at Christmas and, as a poor man's incense, was burnt in place of the real thing. Housewives spread it on the floor at Christmas!

There are many legends surrounding rosemary but perhaps the best known is that it will never grow higher than Christ and if it outlives the 33 years of Our Lord's life, will grow outwards rather than upwards.

Another legend claims the flowers were originally white, only changing to blue when Mary, on the flight from Egypt, threw her blue cloak over a bush, changing its color at the same time as giving it its distinctive fragrance. A variation of this legend says when the Holy Family fled to Egypt, they stopped to rest on a hillside by a little stream where Mary washed the baby's clothes. She spread His tiny garments on a fragrant bush to dry in the sun. For its humble service, the plant was named rosemary, and God rewarded it with delicate blossoms of the same heavenly blue as Mary's robe.

Christmas Gifts

In ancient Rome, people exchanged gifts on New Years' Day, as a means of saying "Happy New Year". According to their means, these might be jewelry, pieces of gold and silver, or home-made pastry, cookies and candies. In French Canada, this custom has been preserved. Also customary was to give gloves or else the money to purchase them, which was known as "glove money". This custom was extended to metal pins, introduced in the 16th century. Eventually "pin money" came to mean the little bit of cash that women were allowed to spend as they pleased during the centuries when they lacked economic rights! Sweet things were given to ensure sweetness for the year to come; lamps to wish for the light and warmth; and money was given to wish for increasing wealth. Wrapping of gifts may have originated in Denmark.

This is one of the instances where Holy Mother Church took an existing custom and "baptized" it. When the Apostles brought the Gospel to Rome, the people learned of the Three Wise Men who came from the Orient to present gifts to the newborn King. From then on, the old custom was only slightly changed. The exchanging of presents remained, but now it was done in imitation of the Three Holy Kings.

Customs and dates for Christmas gift-giving vary from country to country, as do the supposed donors of the gifts. Depending upon the place, the gifts allegedly are delivered by elves, angels, the Christ Child, and even by Jesus' camel. They are provided by the Three Kings or Wise Men, or by Saint Nicholas or his derivative, Santa Claus. When the Dutch settled what was to become New York, they brought with them an annually reappearing Saint Nicholas or, as they called him, Sinterklaas. From there his name was altered to Santa Claus. In Brussels, it is a custom to give living gifts such as birds, pets, flowers. In the west Indies it is the custom to exchange or give hospitality, service or talent. Material gifts are not exchanged.

Source: www.domestic-church.com