September 2013

Making your own Christmas crackers can be great fun! You can be as creative as you like and make the crackers as cost-effective or lavish as you please.Christmas crackers have been around since the 1840’s and are now a staple for Christmas day!Before you will start you will need to get your basic supplies – good quality wrapping paper, or alternatively, you can layer up a few sheets of crepe paper which will give a great effect, cracker snaps, cardboard rolls (toilet rolls are perfe

Despite the cultural and religious differences around the world, Christmas is still a large celebration in many different countries. Due to the cultural variations the festivities are displayed in widely varied ways. In more traditionally religious countries the focus remains on the birth of Christ and the symbols surrounding that idea. Elsewhere the concept of fun and giving is embraced with elaborate displays incorporating bright colours. Many countries put on spectacular display but here are

There are a multitude of different traditions that we associate with Christmas, and each of them represents an aspect of Christmas that would otherwise be forgotten – but in some cases the meaning is already forgotten yet we still celebrate the tradition. So, why are there traditions and what do each of them mean? Here are the top five traditions from UK Christmas World. #5 - PantomimesAll pantomimes have a few particular things in common – audience participation and cross dres

What better way to get ready for the festive season than by making your own wreath! Gather together all the things you will need in advance and settle down on a wintery night and get creative! To start you will need the right tools! Have to hand a pair of secateurs, floral wire and craft glue. You can make the frame for your Christmas wreath a number of ways, the most popular being a wire frame and to this you can attach all your goodies! Pop out in to the garden and see what hidden treasures y

Christmas decorations come in all shapes and sizes but have you ever wondered about the meaning behind them? How Christmas decorations actually came to be used?Religious symbolismThe Christian origins of some decorations aren’t always clear and over the years some meanings have been lost as fashions come and go but here are the fundamental points-Candles and lights- A standard religious symbol for Jesus as the Light in our lives, guiding the way through darkness and sin, showing the way w

The nativity scene or the manger scene is a scene that is traditionally used throughout the winter period to present and explain the birth of Jesus Christ. There are many different variations of this scene as some of them include different animals, characters and there are very few of them that follow the same script. This scene is also performed in a variety of different locations through a multitude of media. Starring RoleThe characters that are often present in the nativity scene are th

It may still seem like Christmas is a long way off but in fact it is just around the corner and now is the perfect time to be making your Christmas cake. The key to a truly scrumptious Christmas cake is making it well in advance and ‘feeding’ it regularly with brandy or rum if you prefer (if you are wanting to keep the cake alcohol free, freshly squeezed orange juice makes a lovely alternative!)First of all you should begin by placing all the fruit for your cake in a large bowl &nda

There are certain plants which we associate with Christmas – and it would seem crazy to hear of them or see them any other time of the year! Plants symbolise new life and hope, something which goes hand in hand with celebrating Christmas. However, there is more to the story behind these plants: where their traditions originated from and how they have ‘evolved’ to fit into modern day life.Poinsettia:The Poinsettia, otherwise known as Cuitlaxochitl, means ‘flower that grow

Just because you are the designated driver or have several children in the house at Christmas, doesn’t mean that you should miss out on enjoying a wonderful winter warmer.Gingerbread Latte:4 tablespoons espresso coffee2 tablespoons gingerbread flavoured syrup120ml steamed milk2 tablespoons whipped cream1 pinch ground nutmeg1 pinch ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon vanilla powderMix together the espresso coffee with the gingerbread syrup and then pour in the steamed milk. Generously top with whi

Christmas often turns out to be an incredibly expensive time of year; but not everything that you purchase has to be thrown away after the festivities. There are many different decorations and seasonal trimmings that can be used throughout the year for various different purposes. Here’s a guide on how to recycle your decorations and make the most of your trinkets and trimmings. Christmas Tree Coat RackIf you purchased a real Christmas tree rather than an artificial one; you shouldn&r