With all the hype around Santa Claus, we need to stay focused on the true religious meaning of Christmas. And, that is the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a time for coming home and being with family. The church family also comes home during the Advent season as we reflect upon the reason and true meaning of Christmas. More people go to church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day than at any other time of the year. (Although Easter is a close second) Christians come home to their church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and to wonder over his miraculous birth so long ago, Also, we rejoice for the hope he brings to the world.

Certainly, Heaven knows the world is not perfect. It is not at peace and there are people starving. Christ came into the world to save us and bring us hope. At Christmas time, we think thoughts of peace and hope. And, generosity abounds, too.

Brittain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand celebrate St. Stephans’s Day, or Boxing Day on December 26th. This is a day that the more fortunate give boxes filled with gifts to others who are less fortunate. More on Boxing Day.

The Christmas season for Christians is also called Advent it is a time of preparation and anticipation of the birth of Christ. The Advent wreath is a symbol of the season and holds much meaning. More on Advent and Advent Wreaths

When it comes to Christmas, there is no shortage of recipes. And, we have no shortage of Christmas holiday recipes for you. So whether it’s Christmas cookie recipes or a main dish, surf through to exactly what you need.

Our growing list of holiday recipes for all sorts of holidays and events can now be found at Holiday Insights Recipes.

Note: We hope you contribute a recipe. When you do, please make sure to include your name, city, and state, so we can give you credit for your contribution.

Going out in search of the perfect Christmas tree is a fun and memorable outing. Bring the whole family. You can make it simple and easy by going to your local Christmas tree lot for your tree this year. It sure would be quicker. But no, tradition calls on you to take a trek out to a Christmas tree farm or two. That’s where the perfect tree awaits your discovery. After all, Christmas is just not Christmas without this tradition. To learn how to find the perfect Christmas tree, simply read on….

Fresh or Pre-Cut

Many people are perfectly content to buy their trees from a tree lot. Although the tree will not be as fresh as a newly cut tree, you save time and effort. Frankly, some people just don’t have a lot of extra time during the holiday season, to be out in the cold in search of a tree. To many other people, going to a tree farm and searching for the perfect tree through the cold and snowy field, is a time-honored tradition not to be skipped.

You should also determine the variety of Christmas trees you want to get. See Varieties of Christmas trees.

Did You Know? Most trees bought at the local Christmas tree lot were cut down 3-4 weeks before arriving at the lot.

Here are the steps to finding the freshest and most beautiful tree your family has ever had.

What do you do when your wife is about to deliver a special child and there’s no room at the Inn? Why, you go around to the back of the Inn and settle into the manger with the animals. It’s a most humble beginning to the amazing life of Jesus Christ. The Christmas Nativity scene depicts the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas morning. Born in a manger, Jesus came to save humankind from sin. The nativity scene is truly the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate this day. Without it, none of Christmas and its traditions would have evolved into the special day that it has become.

Most Christians recreate the Nativity scene in their homes or front lawns during the holiday. Displays are created indoors, or out. The Nativity set is the last Christmas display to be put away each year. It is kept up until January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. This is also known as the Feast of the Nativity or “Little Christmas”. 

Jingle Bells was written and composed by James Pierpoint a minister, in 1857. He wrote it for children celebrating Thanksgiving at his Boston Sunday School. While it was originally written for Thanksgiving, the sleigh bells in the Jingle Bells music made it a popular Christmas song. It is one of the most popular Christmas carols.  Here are the Jingle Bells song lyrics.

This is another popular classic Christmas song. I Heard the Bells of Christmas is an absolutely lovely poem and song. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) wrote I Heard the Bells of Christmas on December 25, 1864. Originally, he wrote it as a poem. The song “Christmas Carol” comes from this poem. Two stanzas of the poem referring directly to the Civil War are omitted in the song. Below is the I Heard the Bells of Christmas song lyrics.

Fruitcake is associated with the Christmas holiday season. Years ago, this classic symbol of the holiday season was very popular. It is a cake consisting of dried fruits and nuts in a heavy, sugar-ladened batter. Not nearly as popular as it was in grandma’s day, it is the source of many jokes. Are you ready to bring bake a classic holiday cake? Here’s how to make a Christmas fruitcake recipe.

More about Christmas Fruitcake.

Yield: One loaf

Just what is this stuff? And, does anyone ever actually eat it? It weighs a ton. You only see it around Christmas. After it is baked, it is virtually indestructible. Christmas Fruitcake lasts forever. You wonder…If I eat it, what will it do to me? Err, make that …is it even edible? Older generations know it all too well. With but one glimpse of it, younger generations often quickly dismiss it as a holiday doorstop. If it fits this description, then it certainly must be a…..Fruitcake!!!

During Great Grandma’s day, fruitcakes were as popular during the Christmas season, as ribbon candy. Okay, you don’t know about ribbon candy either, huh!?! Well, as the Christmas holiday neared, Grandma went to work in the kitchen. She lovingly took out all the dried fruits and nuts that she had so painstakingly harvested and dried during the summer months. These precious and sought-after fruits and lord knows what other goodies, were carefully added (glued??) onto, and mixed into, a thick and heavy, sugar-ladened cake. Then, she added liqueurs. Artificial preservatives were not invented yet.

The resulting fruit-covered cake proved heavier and denser than anything else known to man in the entire universe. It was virtually indestructible. At this point, one must pause to appreciate the baker. It was made with love by Grandma. So, no one dared to turn it down when given it as a gift. And, no one dared not to eat a bit if offered by grandma.

The Christmas Classic song Frosty the Snowman was written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson. This popular Christmas song was first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950. Frosty the Snowman song lyrics are listed below. Certainly, you can’t go caroling without this song. After all, Frosty is one of the most lovable of all Christmas characters.

The song The First Noel dates back to the 16th to 18th century. This beautiful Christmas carol is believed to be of English origin. It is a true Christmas classic. The First Noel song lyrics are listed below. It is a “must-have” when you go caroling.