Though Christmas has been celebrated since the birth of Christ, the first known usage of any Christmas greeting was in an informal letter written by an English admiral in 1699. The same phrase appeared in the first Christmas greeting card, produced in 19th century England. The then relatively new term 慚erry Christmas?figured prominently in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843. The origin of Christmas greeting refers directly to the Christmas holiday and was initially the first greeting used for any holiday in the November朖anuary timeframe. Christmas greetings are popular among Christians and the non-christians alike.

The father of American Christmas cards was award-winning Boston lithographer/inventor Louis Prang, who, in 1873, reproduced a holiday card autographed by Christmas Carol author, Charles Dickens. Perhaps the greatest of Prang’s many innovations was the development of a multi-color printing process that incorporated as many as 20 colors on one print or card. Hues and detailing were so vivid that artists were sometimes not able to distinguish their own works from reproduced chromos (chromolithographic prints) when hung side by side on a wall. Taking full advantage of this technology, Prang employed the finest artisans of his day. Card painters included the likes of Frederick S. Church, Arthur F. Tait and Winslow Homer. Poetic geniuses such as Longfellow, Tennyson and William Cullen Bryant were among those hired to write verses.

Do you know where the word 慍hristmas?sprang from? Christmas is derived from the words 慍ristes Maesse? meaning Christ’s Mass. It is also sometimes referred to as Xmas. This 慩?in the word stands for 慩ristos? and means Christ in Greek. Xristos Mass is shortened to Xmas.

Christmas is one event in the calendar which is celebrated around the world in the most varied of ways, with customs and traditions differing from one region to another and celebrations spanning a wide range from deeply religious to festively secular. Christmas around the world makes an interesting study by all odds. Motley of bits and pieces taken from this region and that, every country around the world has developed its own way of celebrating Christmas.

Many people send cards to both close friends and distant acquaintances. The greeting in the card can be personalized and are usually exchanged year after year, the phrase “to be off someone’s Christmas card list” is used to indicate a falling out between friends or public figures. Many businesses, particularly smaller local businesses, also send Christmas cards to the people on their customer lists, as a way to develop general goodwill, retain brand awareness and reinforce social networks. These cards are almost always tasteful, and do not attempt to sell a product, limiting themselves to mentioning the name of the business.

Typical content of these Christmas Greeting Cards ranges from truly Christian symbols such as Nativity scenes and the Star of Bethlehem to purely secular references, sometimes humorous, to seasonal weather or common Christmas time activities like shopping and partying.

Many organizations produce special Christmas greeting cards as a fundraising tool; the most famous of these enterprises is probably the UNICEF Christmas card program.

A season full of joy, a holiday brimming with cheer桟hristmas uncorks the festive spirits in the hearts of all and sundry in both secular and religious ways. So we all embrace each other梩he ones loved and lost and the ones still held close梬ith all your good wishes and Christmas holiday spirits. And of course you know the warmest expression of this holiday, Christmas, is the Christmas card. Just like giving presents on Christmas, Christmas greetings also occupy a major part of our Christmas celebrations. It抯 a different feeling altogether to send and receive cards on Christmas! Warm and snug, as they are, Christmas cards help one express a world of thoughts and feelings to one’s loved ones. Research says that as many as two billion Christmas greeting cards are exchanged by Americans every year! Well, that says it all, doesn’t it?

The first thing the parents need to do is to sit down and discuss all the relevant things that need to be considered. The most important things to consider is the age of child, how many people are going to be invited, birthday cake, theme for the party, menu, drinks, decoration, location and so on. If the child is over ten of age, then the parents will also need to consider inviting his friends as well.

The child can be brought into the discussion. Maybe, he has some specific plans and ideas about his party. All the necessary ideas can be put on paper so that no important thing is missed out at the time of the party. A guest list can be made as soon as possible and invitations should be sent so that they also have time to reserve the day for this particular party. The amount of party supplies, food items, appetizers also need to be considered. Executing these basic planning tips will ensure that the parents are one step ahead for a smooth stress free party.

Once the venue for the party is chosen, it is time to wonder about the decoration ideas. A party planner can be hired to take care of everything, but if the parents choose to do the decoration by them then they will be saving heaps of money. When thinking about decoration, special attention needs to be paid to the entrance where a carpet can be rolled out matching the theme of the party. The guests need to be impressed by the entrance and it is an effective way to get everyone in the party mood as well. However, having a specific theme will make the decoration part easier to some extent.

Special attention can also be paid to the amount of lighting and type of lighting. Mirror balls and disco lights create an exceptional kind of atmosphere which will surely keep the guests entertained. Moreover, by following the basic tips of planning, parents can throw a stunning party that will be enjoyed by everyone. The parents also need to have a great time during their child’s birthday party and this can be achieved by planning everything well in advance and doing the right kind of planning.

One very important aspect of the new baby’s room is the type of bed and bedding that should be used. Although comfort and colour are very significant, the vital rule to be adhered to is safety. This cannot be emphasised enough. It must be thought about long and hard.

There have been many investigations into SIDS – or sudden infant death syndrome. These concluded that problems occurred due to very soft baby bedding being used, in which babies mattress being too soft allowed a babies nose and mouth to become covered and unfortunately the air they were exhaling would become the air they would inhale.

This is a precarious situation because instead of breathing oxygen the baby would be inhaling the carbon dioxide they had just released. This could result in drowsiness, coma and occasionally death. Therefore parents are advised to purchase only bedding that is totally suitable for they bed they choose.

As a rule there are three main selections of bed available for a new baby.

These are:

1) a bassinet – this is generally an oblong shaped basket that serves as a bed for a baby. Occasionally round bassinets are found. The bedding must allow the baby enough space for him or her to be able to roll from side to side.

2) a crib – these are normally square in shape, allowing the mattress to be fitted to the size of the crib. The bedding usually consists of a coverlet and small pillows. Only two or three pillows should be included because any more and the baby could stand on them and fall over. A crib is flanked by high side bars for additional safety. Cribs are popular because they can be used from infancy up to two years of age.

3) a cradle – cradles tend to come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have rockers on the stand. Cradles are often chosen because they allow an infant to be rocked, thus soothing their mood and relaxing them for sleep. The bedding should follow the contours of the cradle, but not too much should be placed inside as it is used mainly to rock the baby to sleep.

Out of the three beds shown above the one most often chosen is the crib, due to the length of time it can be used for and thus providing better value for money.

We have established that to avoid unwanted incidents bedding must fit the bed correctly, but what is the most appropriate bedding material?

Cotton is the most popular choice due to its absorbency and coolness on a baby’s skin. Using a variety of designs can help develop a baby’s colour and pattern recognition ability, which is an additional benefit in keeping a baby healthy, happy and stimulated, whilst providing a comfortable and warm environment in which to sleep.

In an online survey I asked 1,500 kids “What do you wish your parents did differently?” The overwhelming response was not what I expected. I expected them to want more freedom, a later curfew, or another gadget. Instead, what teens said they wished their parents did differently was listen to them more often. I received responses like these: “I wish my parents really listened to me instead of just acting like super mom and super dad.” “I would love it if my mom was around more often to hear what was going on in my life. We rarely catch up.” These kids didn’t mean they wished their parents gave them solutions, advice or solved their problems. They simply wanted to be heard and respected. Something technology doesn’t solve.

Try at least one of the following tips sometime in the next week. You will begin to see a shift in everyone’s attitude.

1. Take time to connect as a family. Dazzling technology can diminish the worth of humans. Make your family time count.

2. Put the TV in a place that takes some effort to reach instead of allowing it to take center stage in your home. Your computer, on the other hand, goes in a central place so that technology is part of the family’s group experience rather than a solo activity.

3. Designate this week as “We Care Week.” Each family member does one caring thing a day for his or her secret recipient.

4. Frequently remind your kids how grateful you are they were born. Sounds corny but they NEED to be reminded of your joy in their very existence.

5. Pick one day a month as FAMILY DAY. Mark them on your calendar and begin planning now for all twelve magical days.

6. Don’t forget the wonderful habit of note writing. Leave some unexpected words of encouragement in a lunch box, under a pillow. If you travel, begin a postcard tradition. Send your child a postcard from each trip you take.

7. Learn something new with your kids. Approach ideas from their perspective.

8. Come up with a secret sign that means, “I love you.” It comes in handy at the bus stop or in a crowded room.

9. Ask your kids to write a letter a week — longhand. They can write to whomever they choose: family, friends, heroes, someone they read about in the paper.

10. Wish upon a star with your child. Listen to his/her wish.

A moon bounce comes in almost every shape, size, theme, and color imaginable. You can get a moon bounce in boy colors, themes, and characters or in a girls theme. There are also many different bounce inflatables that can go for either a boy or a girl.

Moon bounces fit almost any regular party theme as well. You don’t have to have a kids theme to have a bounce that fits. For example, if you were looking to do a Hawaiian themed event, you could get a luau or palm tree moon bounce. That way all the adult decor would match with the kids decor and it would be a great themed event.

You can rent a moon bounce from almost any regular party rental company. They should have all the shapes, sizes, and themes that you could ever imagine. Have your kid help you pick out the theme for the moon bounces at the party so that they can feel like they were an integral part of making the party a huge success.

Your party will be a huge success with a moon bouncer! Everyone will love it, including the kids. You may even see the same one at the next party that you go to at your friend or neighbors house!

So, on with the show. Beatrix is here to tell you that organic fertilizer, a.k.a. organic gardening compost is the life’s blood of your organic vegetable garden. Organic gardening is incomplete without organic gardening compost.?This is not just an essential element of organic vegetable gardening it is probably the singular most important element. And it is the element that you can produce and control.

Understanding organic garden fertilizer will allow you to understand how important the plant’s life is and it will help the soil, insects, and everything that our wonderful vegetables need to grow and thrive.
Many of my gardening燼ficionados have written to me and asked, “Beatrix, what can I put into my compost?” My dear, the answer is quite simple, twigs, leaves, eggshells, formerly fresh fruit, teabags, and you always want a good mix of “Greens and Browns.” Mr. Melvin Potts, our wonderful spouse and “Mr. Organic Gardening Compost Man,” has reminded yours truly to give a plug for the often neglected “Browns.” They are defined as plant matter that was formerly green and has dried and become desiccated and is now as its name implies, Brown. Dried leaves, plants, and dried grass clippings are excellent sources of brown material for your organic vegetable garden.

Please remember our 1st Rule, anything that comes out of the ground can go back into your compost and eventually back into the ground. And you know of course to never add meat, bones or items with oils, and never ever do we include dog or cat feces.

All of these things will be consumed by microorganisms, insects, nematodes and what Beatrix likes to refer to as the ‘most uncommon earthworm.’ These are the beasties that inhabit your organic compost and they will voraciously consume the vegetable matter and turn it into the nutrients that our plants need to grow. We always refer to the worms in our garden as, ‘most uncommon.’ You see my dears the earthworms in our garden are the epitome, the most wonderful of organic gardening compost machines, and for that reason we refer to them as being ‘most uncommon.’

Some would have you believe that compost requires a pit. Beatrix is here to tell you that a “pit” is not entirely necessary. All you need is a flat space of ground where you can put all of your compost materials, this space needs to be where you can provide water, turn the compost and provide a most essential ingredient, air.?You will then eventually put your compost through a screen to get rid of any sticks or extraneous matter.

It is an absolute fallacy that you need to dig a deep hole for your organic compost. You don’t need some kind of a “pit” to begin the exciting adventure that is making organic gardening compost. What you need is simply a small flat piece of ground to put your compost material on top of.?This is probably the singular and most efficient way to begin making organic garden fertilizer, the organic compost that is going to make your vegetable garden thrive and be absolutely wonderful.

Well, your faithful servant and gardening buddy, Beatrix Potter the “Organic Gardening Maven” has, unfortunately run out of space, much to your chagrin. In the next volume of, “Danger in the Vegetable Garden” we will be taking a look at, “Garden Tools-Dangerous Instruments that Maim or a Gardener’s Best Friend?”

1. Cuddles are the most important thing you can give your teething child to comfort and reassure them – tender loving care goes a long way when your little one’s teeth are hurting.

2. Cold foods, such as yogurt or fruit puree can help to numb the pain.

3. A cold drink can soothe the whole mouth so pop a bottle of boiled water, breast or formula milk into the fridge and offer it to your baby when it’s cold (though not too cold as you don’t want a tummy chill).

4. A weak chamomile infusion, or weak chamomile tea, is useful as a gentle sedative. Offer it to your baby from a bottle.

5. Plenty of water or heavily diluted juice should be given to your baby to replenish fluids when they are dribbling a lot.

6. A wet flannel which has been rung out and chilled can bring relief to a baby who is keen to chew on something – the rough texture really seems to help.

7. 2 drops of chamomile in 15ml of aloe vera gel can be used to massage the child’s jaw and neck area.

8. Lightly massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger the part that is sore will often feel hot to the touch and you will probably be able to feel the tooth coming through under the surface.

9. Dilute 1 drop of clove oil in 2 tablespoons of safflower oil and gently massage the affected area 2-3 times a day.

10. Rub your baby’s gums with a small gauze pad – not only will this bring relief, but it will get your child used to the sensation of what it’s like to have his or her

teeth cleaned.

11. Try a baby teething gel massaged across the gums for babies older than four months (recent articles expressing concern about using gels for this purpose referred to adult gels rather than those designed for babies.) Ensure you check the dosage and expiry date.

12. Crush a little ice and put it in a thin cotton cloth, then rub gently on the gums. Ensure ice doesn’t come into direct contact with the gum, and ensure you keep the wrapped ice moving (children who hold frozen items against their gums for too long can actually get frostbite).

13. Chill some pieces of fruit or vegetables, wrap them in muslin and give them to your baby to chew under supervision.

14. Sterilised teething rings can provide temporary relief for the baby and actually help the teeth to cut through. Try one that’s been chilled in the fridge for greater relief (or even gel-filled rings which can work well when they’ve been cooled in the fridge).

15. Chill a metal spoon in the fridge and allow your child to chew on it under supervision.

16. Allow your child to bite on the knuckle of your forefinger held sideways – it’ll bring them comfort an hurt a lot less than you think!

17. Homeopathic Teething Granules contain soothing chamomilla, a traditional homeopathic remedy for teething pain in an easy-to-use form. They are available in your High Street Chemist – always read the label.

18. Consult a Homeopath, who will who will be able to recommend a number of remedies to relieve the symptoms associated with teething.

19. An amber teething necklace can be worn against the skin to calm and relax a teething child – these necklaces have been worn for generations across Europe in countries like Germany and Switzerland, though it is quite a new concept in the UK.

20. Make teething biscuits by mixing 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of baby cereal and 1 cup of juice. Roll out, cut into shapes, then bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. Allow your baby to chew on them (when you are there, in case a small piece breaks off). These biscuits freeze well.

21. Chill carrot sticks, cucumber sticks or bread slices in the fridge and allow your baby to chew on them (only when you are there, in case a small piece breaks off). Avoid anything too hard as they could bruise the gums and make things more painful.

22. Distract your baby with something to play with or a change of scenery to divert their attention from the pain. There are a number of teething toys on the market with a dual purpose: your baby can chew on them and they are a distraction from their teeth. Examples include organic teething toys and rattles incorporating a ring and/or knots which can be rubbed against the gums. Sophie the Giraffe has been around for generations – she is made from natural Alpine rubber and non toxic paints and is designed for baby to chew as well as play with.

23. Keep a soft bib around your baby’s neck and change it often to soak up dribble, thereby keeping the skin dry and so avoiding a rash.

24. Apply a simple barrier cream to sore chins to keep the skin smooth and ease any chapped skin.

25. Consult a cranial osteopath. Cranial osteopathy is a subtle type of osteopathic treatment using gentle techniques to release strain and tension in the body. It is particularly effective for young babies suffering with teething and colic.

26. Medicine (analgesic) designed especially for babies, such as Calpol or Nurofen, can be given to babies who are three months old or more to help relieve the pain and bring down a raised temperature. Always read the label, and check with your doctor and/or health visitor if a raised temperature persists. Follow your doctor’s instructions and never give aspirin to a baby.

The wrong way to give an allowance.

My friend Lisa works hard. She gives her seven year old daughter five dollars a week. In return, she expects her child to keep her room clean and help around the house. I’ve never heard Lisa talk to her child about money. I have heard her berate her young daughter for mishandling money. This technique simply won’t work. Her child needs to be taught – not admonished.

An allowance can be a great way to teach discipline and responsibility.

Teach your kids how to count money before starting an allowance. Make it a game. Spend a few minutes each week. Maybe you can dump your change out onto the counter while you are cooking dinner and have your child count it. If they get it right, tell them they did a good job. If they have trouble counting your change, encourage them. Assure them that they tried hard, and soon they will be able to do it. Encouragement goes a long way to building the confidence your child needs. A child with confidence tends to work harder to meet their goals.

End the whining in the store.

I hate shopping with my friend Lisa and her daughter. Invariably, the daughter sees something she wants and demands it. Lisa says “no”, and a fight breaks out. The daughter ends up whining and crying and occasionally treating us to a full blown temper tantrum. We all end up miserable. I once suggested to Lisa that she teach her daughter money management. If she allowed her daughter to bring her allowance to the store, her daughter could learn how to spend her own money. Lisa just snorted and said that her daughter would never learn.

Lisa’s right. Her daughter won’t learn until someone takes the time to teach her – or until she grows up, moves out of the house and is forced to learn the hard way how to save and budget and understand how to make buying decisions. I would much rather have my child make wrong choices in spending a five or ten dollar allowance than have her grow up unable to resist spending simply because no one took the time to show her and encourage her.

Help Them Learn.

When my son was in high school, his allowance was enough to buy lunch at school and have spending money left over for other things. There were many Friday’s that he went hungry because he had spent his allowance and didn’t have enough left for Friday’s lunch. Occasionally he missed lunch on Thursdays too. The good news is: he didn’t starve to death. And he learned the value of money. He learned that if he didn’t pay attention to what he was spending, he would have to make a sacrifice. As much as it bothered me at the time to let him go hungry when he spent his money, I am now proud that he handles money better than I do.

Let Them Earn Extra Money.

I always found ways for my son to earn extra money. Snow needed to be shoveled in the winter; grass needed to be mowed in the summer. Either chore would earn him an extra $10. I also gave him incentives for saving. If he wanted a new bike, we would price it. Then I would tell him that if he saved 2/3 of the price, I would pay the balance. He became very conservative in his spending habits when he found that his goal was achievable and I was willing to help.

Let Them in on Family Budgeting.

As soon as they reach their teens, kids are able to understand and help with planning. A trip to the grocery store can involve them in making lists and shopping within a budget. The biggest lesson they can learn here is “avoiding impulse buying.” For new appliances, teenagers can do the research and read reviews. Let them watch you negotiate with salesmen on the price.

Watch Them Save.

When you take the time to teach your child financial awareness, they will show you how well they catch on. Don’t be surprised if you raise kids who manage their money better than you ever did.

During those early days after the U.S. Civil War, mother’s day gifts were not popular, and nobody was aware of the importance of coming up with mother’s day gift ideas ahead of the celebration. Although Mother’s day falls on different days of the year throughout the countries worldwide, most of them celebrate their moms by giving them mother’s day gifts.

Like what happens with other festivities where the heart is involved, chocolaty candy gifts are the most popular presents on this day, followed by any other type of sweet candy present, including but not limited to hearts and stuffed teddy bears as well. Mother’s day gift ideas are countless.

In the United States, the first Mother’s Day was celebrated on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia. The first national Mother’s Day was not declared until 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson, giving the date for the celebration to be on the second Sunday in May, although spreading eventually to other countries, which retained the date falling on May 10 even today.

Mother’s day gifts travel wherever a mother is, so this is usually one of the busiest times of year for mail, although sweet candy and chocolate candy gifts are not allowed to be sent by mail in many countries. In America, the U.S. Postal Service was held up for 8 days in 1973 due to the volume of letters and cards sent.

In the United Kingdom, Mother’s day is known as Mothering Sunday falling on the fourth Sunday of Lent, between March and April. Although Mother’s Day gifts are given, unlike in the United States, the British have been celebrating this day for hundreds of years. The celebration origin is uncertain, but is believed to be related to the ancient Celtic fertility rites.

Anticipate the date when planning, and analyze the large array of Mother’s day gift ideas to find the present that meets your criteria of finding the present your mother deserves. Mother’s day gifts include a world of possibilities ranging from flowers, chocolate candy or sweet candy boxes, perfumes and jewelry, to products that improve her health and well being.

However, a personalized Mother’s Day gift, coming from your heart and, when possible, made with your own hands, could double its value.

The story of Abhimanyu is well known in the Mahabharata. Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, learned how to enter the Chakravyuha (the strategic arrangement of warriors to entrap and defeat the enemy) when he was in his mother’s womb. He had heard and remembered the narration of the technique by Krishna to Subhadra during her pregnancy. certain specific rituals. Before the birth of Buddha, his mother, Mahamaya had followed In the month of Ashadha, she celebrated the seven-day festival and gave alms to the poor. She did penance by giving up some of her pleasures. After the festival, Mahamaya had a dream in which, Bodhisatva, by the name of Sumedh, asked permission to take birth in her womb. She happily consented. Later, a brilliant son was born to her in the pleasant environments of Lumbini. He became Lord Buddha.

Before Krishna was born, his mother, Devaki had a dream that Lord Vishnu had entered her body.

The mother of the freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar used to read the courageous stories from the Ramayana and Maharana Pratap to her son when he was in her womb.

Rishi Udalak was a great saint. He had an able disciple called Kahod. The Rishi gave his daughter, Sujata in marriage to Kahod. Once when Sujata was pregnant, Kahod was reciting some shlokas.

The baby in the womb realized the recitation was incorrect and asked him to correct it. Kahod was livid with rage. He put a curse on his son so that he would be born bent in eight places. The child, Ashtavakra was born bent in eight places. The father’s angry thoughts affected the baby.

When tabla maestro, Zakir Hussain was in his mother’s womb, his father, Ustad Allah Rakha used to beat lightly with his fingers on his mother’s abdomen.

Sister Lorna Zemke has found that the fetus will respond rhythmically to rhythms tapped on the mother’s belly.

As the mother is the first guru of the fetus, mother’s influence on the fetus is paramount. Mother’s self-concept – preferably positive- helps fetus to learn better in the womb. The fetus’s social environment base is its mother! Educating the fetus rightly begins with a healthy (in all respect) motherhood Sing or hum softly to your fetus; the sounds provide an introduction to rhythm and tone that will be important to later language development.

Avoid highly stressful situations which can expose your fetus to hormone levels that block pre-natal learning. Finally, pursue your own learning activities, whatever they are. While the fetus will not learn directly from these experiences, your own mental attitude will be a kind of comfort and security to her that will provide her with the basis for a positive attitude toward learning after she is born

The mothers have taken recourse to this spiritual way so that child with healthy mind, soul and body is born To authenticate this Jaspal kaur a computer professional at model town and recently blessed with a baby girl said “my mother asked me to recite gurbani, shabad, shlok to give god sanskars to the baby “Sharing the same views Kanta said “when my daughter- in-law was pregnant I listen to good things as what the mother listens is grasped by the child it can grasp the negative tones so I asked her to go to the kirtans recite or listen to ramayan as the baby can listen to it and keep postive thoughts of the child, the parents will be able to reduce tension in their lives.

When talked to Dr vineeta munjal gynecologist at Guru Tegh Bahadur hospital said” it is true she says” The six weeks roughly 40 days after fertilization the embryo is developed [from zygote-sperm and ovary to embryo then another six weeks it develops into fetus after which for about same period it develops into recognizable human form. Science has also verified that fetus can think There is a ultrasound evidence that about 23 weeks 161 days the fetus dreams dreaming is an indication of presence of mental capabilities required for thought [the thinking fetus] there are numerous things that fetus can do in this period expressing emotions [happiness fear disgust etc] through its facial expressions. It can show anxiety through the sucking of thumb, asserts itself and protest through kicking and it develops memory adds she the child is effected by outside environment. A child is disturbed by high pitched music.

She says that medically exposure to frequency sounds leads to increased foetal activities which leads to increased uterine irritability and pre – term labor pains. The same thing happens when mother takes spicy food that causes gastrointestinal disturbances. She informed The incidence of babies having distress in mothers womb is on the rise probably due to hectic lifestyles of the mothers and stress of the outside environment . A word of advice from the doc is that a would be mother should check on food intake which causes gastric disturbances and do light yoga postures as regular exercise can help them in easy delivery. The atmosphere around should be peaceful “

So great lessons are learnt before stepping in the outside world Educating in the womb.