Christmas Tree Pictures

A Christmas tree, Yule tree or Tannenbaum (German: fir tree) is one of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas. It is normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colorful ornaments during the days around Christmas. An angel or star is often placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity story.

Christmas Tree Pictures

Christmas Tree Pictures

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Christmas Fun

Christmas Fun

Xmas Fun is dedicated to the child in all of us. Fun for all ages. Christmas songs, jokes, games, stories, downloads, etc. Lots of Christmas fun!

Christmas Fun

Christmas Fun

Christmas Fun

Christmas Fun

Christmas Fun

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Christmas Recipes

Christmas Recipes

Chestnut and Hazelnut Cake Recipe

The recipe for this beautifully moist Chestnut and Hazelnut Cake appears exclusively (with permission) from A Year of Family Recipes (pub. Bettys and Taylors, RRP £25) by Lesley Wild. The book (read review) is the first produced by Bettys, the famous Yorkshire tea shop. This cake comes from Switzerland where sweet chestnut trees grow in profusion, particularly in the south of the country around the lakes of Maggiore and Lugano – where Switzerland meets Italy. It would make a perfect treat for Christmas supper.

Chestnuts, in both countries, are often dried and ground into flour which is then used in baking during the winter months. Chestnuts are not only low in fat and calories, but high in vitamin C and potassium. They also contain significant amounts of vitamin B. Because it is so rich, Lesley Wild says that she prefers not to decorate it with icing – a light dusting of cocoa powder just finishes it off.

The texture of the cake improves if it is kept for a day or two to mature before being eaten – it also keeps well in the freezer for several weeks. For a gluten free version, substitute the flour with the equivalent weight of extra ground almonds.

Ingredients - Makes a 20cm diameter cake

* 4 large eggs
* 280g caster sugar, divided into 2 halves
* 200g chestnut purée
* 100g plain white flour
* 100g ground hazelnuts
* 50g chopped hazelnuts
* 50g ground almonds
* cocoa powder for dusting

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 175ºC (gas mark 3½). Line the base and sides of a 20cm diameter cake tin (preferably springform or loose-bottomed) with baking parchment, using a little melted butter to keep it in place.
2. Separate the eggs, putting the whites to one side. Put the yolks and one half of the caster sugar in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until pale and creamy and doubled in volume. Mix in the chestnut purée, then fold in the flour, sifting it through a sieve. Finally, gently stir in the ground and chopped hazelnuts followed by the ground almonds.
3. Place the egg whites in a clean bowl and whisk thoroughly until they form soft peaks. Add the remaining sugar and continue to beat until thick and glossy. With a large metal spoon, stir a little of the egg-white mixture into the nut mixture to slacken it, then gently fold in the remainder of the egg-white mixture.
4. Spoon into the prepared cake tin and place in the preheated oven for approximately 50 - 55 minutes until firm to the touch and golden brown. To test, pierce with a clean skewer – if it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Allow to cool completely before sprinkling with cocoa powder. Delicious with a dollop of whipped cream or crème fraîche.

Christmas Snow Scenes

Christmas Snow Scenes
Snow, Ice and Christmas often go together, although why it should is a bit strange! There is no snow or ice in the Christmas story told in the Bible. However, snow does fall in Israel. Bethlehem and Jerusalem are on a range of hills that go north to south between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan valley. The top of these hills are about 1600 ft (500 m) high. The hills often have very cold weather from November to April and snow can often fall. So, although the Bible story may not have snow in it, Jesus may well have seen some snow in his life!

Christmas Snow Scenes

Christmas Snow Scenes
Christmas Snow Scenes
Christmas Snow Scenes
Christmas Snow Scenes
Christmas Snow Scenes

Christmas Snow Scenes

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Christmas Quiz

Christmas Quiz

Christmas Quiz

Christmas Quiz

Christmas Quiz Question

1. On Christmas Day 1977, Charlie Chaplin died in
a) Switzerland, b) England, c) USA or d) Canada?

2. On 26th December of what year was the USSR officially dissolved?

3. The Shrine of the Three Kings, a reliquary said to contain the bones of the Three Wise Men, can be visited in the cathedral in
a) Canterbury, b) Cologne, c) Vienna or d) Rome?

4. Every year in November Sinterklaas, the Dutch Father Christmas, arrives in Holland. Where does he come from and how does he get to Holland? (1 point per correct answer)

5. For which football club has Christmas come early when they won the Intertoto Cup 2006, the first silverware since 1969?

6. In what year did NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, start tracking Santa's flight path around the world? (+/- 5 years)

7. In what year were the first electric Christmas lights used? (+/-20 years)

8. Which of Santa's other 8 reindeer was the father of Rudolph the red-nosed one?

9. Kwanzaa, a cultural holiday celebrated from 26th December till 1st January, originated from
a) Sudan, b) Indonesia, c) USA or d) Kenya?

10. Which city is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth?

11. If a Norwegian uses a bakken, what sport is he into? (*)

12. In what year did Coca Cola begin featuring Santa in their advertising at Christmas? (+/- 10 years)

13. In the 1930's, the Addis Brush Company produced the first artificial-brush trees, using the same machinery that made their
a) toilet brushes, b) hair brushes, c) tooth brushes or d) paint brushes?

14. Similar to the tradition of putting out cookies & milk out for Santa, the children in Sweden try please the Swedish Santa, Tomte, by leaving out
a) a bowl of rice pudding, b) a glass of vodka, c) a plate of dried herrings or d) a bottle of glogg (mulled wine)?

15. On 26th December 1898, Marie and Pierre Curie announced the discovery of which element?

16. Which European football league does not take a winter break:
a) Italy, b) Netherlands, c) Portugal or d) Austria?

17. Bandy is an ancestor of which winter sport?

18. In which country was the city of Natal ("Christmas") founded on 25th December 1599?

19. True or False: The man who founded the Buddhist Society in London in 1924 was a barrister called Christmas Humphreys?

20. In what century was Saint Nicholas of Myra born?

21. In what year did Band Aid release their record "Do They Know It's Christmas?"? (+/- 1 year)

22. George Frederick Handel's Christmas oratorio, The Messiah, was first performed in 1742 in
a) London, b) Dublin, c) Vienna, or d) Jerusalem?

23. The music to 'Silent Night' was originally written for a
a) guitar, b) piano, c) harpsichord or d) pipe organ?

24. In Dickens '"Christmas Carol", how many children does Bob Cratchit have? (BQ: what's the name of the youngest?)

25. True or False: Dr. Seuss, the creator of the Christmas hating Grinch, was a psychiatrist?

26. In order to make their geese happier, fatter & tastier for the coming Christmas season, farmers in Cheshire have begun to
a) dress them in woolly hats & scarves, b) feed them mulled wine, c) put up heaters in the coops or d) let them live in their houses?

27. Four of the top five teams at the 2006 ClauWau, the Santa Claus World Championships, came from the host country, Switzerland. The other team was from
a) Japan, b) Holland, c) Jamaica or d) Kenya?

28. In what year did John Calcott Horsley invent and design the first Christmas card? (+/- 50 years)

29. Which artist was famous for his many paintings of the Madonna with Baby Jesus:
a) Raphael, b) Michelangelo, c) Leonardo da Vinci or d) Marc Chagall?

30. What was the exact title of John Lennon & Yoko Ono's 1971 Christmas single?

31. The mistletoe grows
a) only on conifers, b) only on deciduous trees or c) on both?

32. True or False: only male reindeer have antlers?

33. The Christmas Star (Poinsettia) originated from
a) Cuba, b) China, c) Mexico, or d) Brazil?

34. In which country does Joulupukki, the Yul Goat, bring the presents?

35. Which Wallace & Gromit movie, set at Christmas and first aired on 24 December, won the 1995 Oscar for best Animated Short Film? (BQ: Which recurring character was introduced in the movie?)

Christmas Quiz Answer
1. a) Switzerland
2. 1991
3. b) Cologne
4. from Spain (he lives in a palace in Madrid) - (by steamboat)
5. Newcastle United
6. 1955
7. 1882
8. Donner
9. c) USA
10. Bethlehem
11. Ski jumping
12. 1931
13. a) toilet brushes
14. a) a bowl of rice pudding
15. Radium
16. c) Portugal
17. ice hockey
18. Brazil
19. true
20. 3rd century AD
21. 1984
22. b) Dublin
23. a) guitar
24. 6 (Tiny Tim)
25. False
26. a) dress them in wooly hats & scarves
27. c) Jamaica (Team High 5)
28. 1843
29. a) Raphael
30. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
31. c) on both
32. False
33. c) Mexico
34. Finland
35. A Close Shave (Shaun the Sheep)

Christmas Quiz

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Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

Funny Christmas songs are common and fairly popular, especially with the younger generation. However, it was not always like this. Christmas songs have a history going back centuries. In fact, back in 129 AD, a song called "Angel Hymn" was recommended by a roman Bishop to be sung at Christmas services. It was, arguably, the first "Christmas song." Other songs were written soon afterwards, but most of them were written in Latin, something that common people couldn't understand. Thus the songs went fairly unappreciated and sank into oblivion.

Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

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I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus T. Connor (c) 1952
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked
up in my bedroom fast asleep.
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.

I'll Be Home For Christmas Kim Gannon, Walter Kent (c) 1943

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
and presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
It's the most wonderful time of the year Eddie Pola, George Wyle 1963

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
With the kids jingle belling,
and everyone telling you,
"Be of good cheer,"
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

There'll be parties for hosting,
marshmallows for toasting and
caroling out in the snow.
there'll be scary ghost stories and
tales of the glories of Christmases
long, long ago.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
There'll be much mistletoeing
and hearts will be glowing,
when loved ones are near.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Jingle Bell Rock
Bobby Helms

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell rock.
Jingle Bells James Lord Pierpont publ. 1857

Dashing through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

A day or two ago,
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank;
Misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got upsot.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago,
the story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there
I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay
two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! you'll take the lead.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.


Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul
what I'm going to say:
Christmas Eve is coming soon;
now, you dear old man
Whisper what you'll bring to me;
tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve,
when I'm fast asleep
Down the chimney, broad and black,
with your pack you'll creep
All the stockings you will find
hanging in a row
Mine will be the shortest one,
you'll be sure to know

Bobby wants a pair of skates,
Suzy wants a sled
Nellie wants a picture book,
yellow, blue, and red
Now I think I'll leave to you
what to give the rest
Choose for me, dear Santa Claus;
you will know the best.

Let It Snow! Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne (c) 1945

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

When we finally say good night,
How I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Mary, Did You Know? c. 1991 Word Music ( a division of Word, Inc.) and Rufus Music (admin. by Keeling & Company, Inc, Nashville, TN) Words: Mark Lowry Music: Buddy Greene
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am

Oh Mary did you know?

Chapter 53.33: Earworms

This morning I woke up with an odd earworm digging through my brain. You know what an earworm is: that song that keeps playing in your mind. You can't shake it easily, and like the old fable about ridding the city of mice, anything you use to change songs immediately becomes a new problem.

This morning, I awoke with a song by Tom Lehrer -- the 1960s musical satirist and math professor -- called "The Folk Song Army." Only, it wasn't the entire song; I could only remember lines. It was bad enough to have a song in my head, but worse still to not remember it properly. So I tried to push it out with Christmas tunes. Bad idea! I soon was whistling "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas." It wouldn't stop.

Of course, now that I've brought this topic back up, I have songs running through my head. This is not what I intended.