Christmas Wish
I think my Christmas Wish this year is to be the Christmas Tree Fairy. She definitely has the best job. Every year she is lovingly removed from her tissue wrap by excited children, her hair and sparkly dress are puffed and fluffed, and she is placed with great ceremony on top of the tree where she watches over the festive proceedings with her magic wand and an air of unseasonable calm! No frantic present lists, last-minute shopping, traveling, or marathon baking sessions for her. Oh no, she just gets to make a dramatic entrance, look fabulous, and make everyone smile.
I doubt I'll get to be the Fairy, though I do look good in sparkly accessories (note for my husband) and I can spread some Christmas cheer with these sites. Lets hope the magic of Christmas doesn't get lost in the madness.
Unusual Gifts
If you have ever wanted to raise money for a good cause but didn't want to do it alone and were not sure how you could get others involved PledgeBank has the answers. This website makes it possible for people to get together, usually to raise money for charity.
www.pledgebank.com
Kids love this - Sheep Poo paper. So environmentally friendly it would make Al Gore weep with joy! Learn how it is made or order some of the fun products such as I Love Ewe cards or Poo-Pourri air fresheners. They deliver internationally and a Reindeer Poo Paper Christmas product range will be available too.
www.creativepaperwales.co.uk
Staying with animals and gifts the fantastic charity Send A Cow has a team dedicated to helping poor families in Africa by giving them living things to help them out of poverty - goats, trees, beehives etc. Practical presents on a fun site.
www.cowforce.com
Charity gift sites are very popular offering a range of alternative present ideas and providing information about the organizations and countries that benefit from the funds raised. These two sites are established portals.
www.oxfam.org.uk
www.greatgifts.org
Writing notes to Santa Claus are a sweet way for children to reflect on their year and make some wishes. Letters sent from anywhere in Switzerland are guaranteed a reply from Swiss Post on behalf of the elusive one. A postal team based in Ticino has been busy with this annual task since 1950 and, whilst they are efficient and experienced, early posting and a return address would certainly make their job easier!
www.swisspost.ch
Santa's little helpers are also busy at his Greeting Cards Center in Lapland.
www.laplandfinland.com
A town in Czechoslovakia, Bozí Dar (the name means "God’s Gift"), is where children can send greetings and good thoughts to Baby Jesus. I read about his lovely idea on the blog and there is information on the Czech Post website (but not in English). The information was accurate for 2006. I hope it is an annual festive service.
http://blog.myczechrepublic.com
www.cpost.cz
Sanity Savers
Christmas can definitely have its stressful moments. My teenage niece delights in telling fraught adults to 'take a chill pill'. Her remark usually succeeds in raising tempers even more and is banned in her home at Christmas. Great photographs of clouds are much better therapy and can be found here.
www.cloudappreciationsociety.org
At the British Library site you can browse through the historical books online (high-speed connection and plug-in needed). The manuscripts have accompanying notes (so no need to be fluent in ancient Hebrew!) and include a 16th century bible and Gospels, along with Mozart's musical diary, and the original copy of Alice in Wonderland. Not quite the real thing, but with some tea and festive cookies a nice way to unwind.
www.bl.uk
Or if you are new to the Swiss traditions associated with Saint Nicholas or you are curious about the connection between Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus this link has both.
www.stnicholascenter.org
Food Glorious Food
The centerpiece of every Christmas family gathering. We all have our favourite recipes but if you are on the lookout for some new ideas dip into the Swiss, French, Italian and German Christmas dishes at these sites. They don’t look too inspiring but the recipes do.
www.about.ch/culture
www.virtualitalia.com
www.pastrywiz.com
This link is to a recipe database. For lots of delicious, international offerings search under Christmas.
www.nigella.com
Ho Ho a Go Go
Silly Santas for kids, big and small. Merry Christmas!
www.bartsoft.com/car_santadance.htm
www.boowakwala.com/santa/claus-santa-game.html
www.2dplay.com/go-santa/go-santa-play.htm |
