Merry Christmas » Christmas Shopping

Yuletide Days of Old – Ancient and other Customs of Christmas

Admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:30:22 +0000

Christmas as a holiday period was instituted and celebrated at about the same time as other winter solstice festivities because church leaders at the time believed that would make more people participate in the new holiday period. That objective was achieved, but people also carried over some pagan celebrations and traditions into the religious Christmas celebrations.

As an example, people would attend church and then take part in a raucous, drunken and carnival-like celebration, that has some similarities to Mardi Gras. During this celebration every year, there would be a crowning of a beggar or student as the ‘lord of misrule.’ Those taking part in the activities would pretend to be loyal subjects to the ‘lord of misrule,’ During this time some of the poor would also visit the rich in their houses and ask for some of their best food and drink. Those among the rich who didn’t cooperate would be subject to rowdy behavior and mischief by the poor. For their part, the rich used Christmas as the time when they would reach out to the poorer members of society by tolerating them in such visits or by leaving out food and clothing for them.

For many centuries before the birth of Christ and the recognition of Christmas, there had always been celebrations in many countries during the middle of winter. During the darkest days of winter for example, the early Europeans were said to celebrate light and birth. The winter solstice was a period of rejoicing for many people because it meant that the worst part of winter was over and they could therefore look forward to having days that were longer with more hours of sunlight.

In that tradition, the Norse peoples in Scandinavia would celebrate a period of Yule from Dec. 21, which was the winter solstice or start of winter, through January. To recognize the re-emergence of the sun, fathers and their sons would take large logs home and set them on fire. There would then be a big feast until the log was completely burned out. That could take as much as 12 days to happen. The custom also was one of hope for the Norse because there was the belief among them that every spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born in the New Year.

Many parts of Europe also thought that the end of December was a perfect time to celebrate because during that time, a lot of cattle would be killed to avoid having to feed them during winter. For many people, the end of December was the only time during the year when they had a significant amount of fresh meat. By that time of year also, wine and beer that was made earlier in the year would have fermented and be finally ready for drinking.

The tradition of Santa Claus has also been an ancient legend with slight differences or variations in olden days from the 1700s in some countries. In German and Switzerland, children who were well behaved would receive a Christmas present from Christkind or Kris Kringle. Christkind, which means Christ child, was believed to be an angel-like figure that went along with St. Nicholas on his holiday journeys to deliver gifts. A jolly elf by the name of Jultomten was believed to deliver presents in Scandinavia in a sleigh that was pulled by goats. And in France, Pere Noel is the one who fills the shoes of French children with Christmas gifts, sweets or treats at Christmas time.

In Russia, there’s a legend that Babouschka was an elderly woman who gave incorrect directions to Bethlehem to the three Wise Men so that they wouldn’t find Jesus. She later felt sorry for doing so but couldn’t find the Wise Men to tell them about the error. Today in Russia, it is believed that on Jan. 5, the day before the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, Babouschka visits Russian children and leaves presents by their bedsides in the hope that one of the children will be Baby Jesus and will forgive her.

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Christmas Shopping For Close Relatives

Admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Christmas shopping for close relatives can be extremely easy in some aspects but it can also be extremely difficult in other aspects. One the one hand shopping for close relatives is simple and a great deal of fun because they are people you really care about and people you know really well. However, on the other hand shopping for close relatives can also be extremely difficult and stressful because there is the added pressure to select Christmas gifts your relatives will really cherish and enjoy. This article will discuss some of the aspects of this Christmas shopping situation to help shoppers find the perfect gift for their loved ones.

Most people really look forward to Christmas shopping for their close relatives. For them this is an opportunity to purchase a gift for a loved one that he or she is sure to enjoy and appreciate. They also look forward to shopping for these close relatives because they know them well and likely have a number of great ideas for what to buy. However, all of these great ideas may turn out to be a source of stress. For example, you may immediately think of five or six great gift ideas for a particular relative. The problem you may encounter is that you think each of the gifts would be absolutely perfect and therefore have a great deal of trouble deciding which gift to select. Purchasing all of the items may not be feasible in terms of your budget and you may be disappointed that you can only select one item from the list of ideas. This can create stress because you may worry about selecting the best possible choice.

Another problem which may stem from having a lot of great ideas about what to get a particular relative is you may not be able to find the exact item for which you are searching. This can be particularly stressful and frustrating especially if you know a particular item would make the perfect gift for your loved one but are simply unable to find the exact item you are seeking during any of your shopping trips. In this case you may become obsessed with finding this particular item. Not being able to find this item can be incredibly frustrating. This frustration can make the shopping a great deal less fun. It can also cause you to not see other items which would also be great gifts because you are so focused on finding this one particular item. If you are shopping early, ie at least two weeks before Christmas, and you cannot find the item you may be able to source it from an online retailer and still have time to have it delivered to you. This may also be a preferable way of shopping inasmuch as you can often find greater discounts online than you can in the local mall which will help you keep within your budget. Some online retailers offer free shipping and bonus items along with the product.

Even when you don’t have a list of gift ideas for a particular relative, you may experience a great deal of frustration during your Christmas shopping. This frustration may stem from being too concerned about finding a gift which your close relative will really cherish and appreciate. The pressure of finding a great Christmas gift for a loved one is so important because you do not want someone you care so much about to be disappointed by the Christmas gift you give them. Although this should not really be a concern because it is most likely your close relatives will all be thrilled with the gifts you select for them but it still caused stress for many people.

Another problem associated with shopping for close relatives is it may be difficult to select appropriate gifts for multiple relatives without worrying that the relatives will compare the gifts. Again, this is not a likely scenario as most people would not go out of their way to discuss the gifts they were given but it is something that causes concern for many. Some individuals will feel that it is not appropriate to purchase an expensive gift for one relative but not for others. One way to deal with this is to select one item and give similar items to all of the relatives. Although the gifts will not be unique or selected for each individual it is one way to deal with the possibility of the recipients sharing information about the gifts they received. One example of how to do this is to give an item such as a sweater to each relative but to personalize the gift by selecting different styles or colors for each relative.

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Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:33:50 +0000

If you are like most people you do the majority of your Christmas shopping at the last minute. Visit any mall or shopping center in the final days before Christmas and you are likely to find parking lots that are filled to capacity and stores that are literally filled with shoppers who are still searching for the perfect Christmas gift for their friends or family members. As it gets closer and closer to Christmas the crowds tend to get more and more restless and the search for the perfect gift becomes a search for an acceptable gift. Although Christmas falls at the end of the year and people have a whole year to prepare for this joyous occasion, most people leave their shopping until the last minute every year despite New Year’s resolutions to get the Christmas shopping done early. This article will discuss a few different types of last minute Christmas shoppers. There are those who do their Christmas shopping at the last minute out of necessity, those who do it because they have procrastinated and those who do it because they find it to be exciting.

People become last minute Christmas shoppers for a number of reasons. Perhaps the most innocent last minute shoppers are those who shop at the last minute out of necessity. Consider college students who typically end the semester around mid to late December. Many of these students are living on campus without access to a car to carry their purchases. This can make Christmas shopping quite difficult but when you combine this living situation with the fact that they have finals to take at the end of semester, Christmas shopping becomes downright impossible. Finals often account for as much as 50% of a college student’s grade and it is understandable that they would have to spend the early part of December studying, the middle of the month taking their finals and then wind up last minute Christmas shopping almost immediately after their last final.

Shopping online and having the presents delivered cuts down on time spent going to the mall and gives a wider choice of gifts from which to make their selection. It can also help with the Christmas budget. Online stores can offer bigger discounts than bricks and mortar stores and it is easier to fix a dollar figure in your mind and keep to it without sales staff or emotional pressure being exerted! There is a huge selection of gift certificates, gift cards and store vouchers available online which between them cover every interest, hobby, lifestyle, service and product possible. The gift cards can also be redeemed online which helps your gift recipient make the right gift choice for themselves. Some gift cards and store vouchers can even be purchased at last moment and printed off to give directly to your gift recipient, others can be sent directly to your gift receipient’s address or if they are sent to the gift giver they can be added to a special card, wrapped in a fancy box or given along with a small gift or gift basket.

Other last minute Christmas shoppers include those who are just born procrastinators. They may go to stores every weekend in October or November. This could be an excellent opportunity for them to get their Christmas shopping done early but instead they wind up window shopping or purchasing items for themselves. While they are aware the Christmas season is approaching, they don’t feel compelled to start shopping until the absolute last minute. When this happens they find themselves in the unfortunate position of fighting the crowds in a last minute Christmas shopping frenzy

People who fall into this category need to have a Christmas plan for organizing the event (food, decorations, christmas trees and such) and a Christmas List of presents to buy. The basic plan can be repeated each year with just variations on the exact details, like the actual present to be given or type of food to be brought.

Finally, there are others who are last minute Christmas shoppers simply because this is when they prefer to do their Christmas shopping. Some of these shoppers see shopping at the last minute as a challenge. They know they are short on time but are confident they will be able to find great gifts for everyone on their Christmas list this year. Last minute Christmas Sales offer can offer great bargains but they know they might not get exactly what they want. Other shoppers who intentionally wait until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping may do so because they enjoy the excitement of the crowds. Although last minute Christmas shopping can be stressful it is often exciting. Those who enjoy this excitement love shopping at the last minute because it gives them a sense of energy they wouldn’t feel if they were shopping for Christmas presents in October.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Lee – Santa’s Helper

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Significance of Christmas Eve

Admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:26:45 +0000

The day before Christmas is one that is filled with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. There’s anxiety at putting all the final plans and finishing decoration touches in place and getting all the necessary shopping done. There’s also much anticipation about all the merriment and excitement of Christmas day. Children are usually hardly able to control themselves as they think about the Christmas gifts they hope to get the next day. They may try to stay up through the night to catch Santa Claus, or they may just be too excited to sleep.

Christmas Eve is also important for the simple reason that in ancient custom, and among some cultures today, a holiday or other celebrated day really starts from sundown of the day before the actual day that is celebrated. Therefore, festivities and observances for Christmas Day would really begin on Christmas Eve.

One of the most significant aspects of Christmas Eve however, is related to religion. Attending Midnight Mass or earlier church services is mandatory for many people whose religion is Christianity. This is so even for people who aren’t regular churchgoers during the year. Evidence of the importance of these church services can be seen in the overflow of congregations at the churches.

Many churches will also have an added service earlier in the evening to accommodate the above normal attendance, and also for individuals like the elderly who would prefer a service that is earlier than Midnight Mass.

Another important aspect of Christmas Eve celebrations is related to retail operations. On the day before Christmas, stores make a last ditch effort to push sales of Christmas and other merchandise. There often are special promotions last-minute advertised to capitalize on late, desperate Christmas shoppers and other impulse buyers. This last effort is also aimed at increasing sales for the Christmas period.

Some stores will remain open late, even up to midnight or just before midnight. Macy’s department store in New York City, which bills that particular store branch as the world’s largest, stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve of 1867 for the first time. Christmas Eve culminates the single biggest shopping season, which started the day after Thanksgiving, for retailers.

Christmas Eve is also important for the traditions associated with it. It is the night when parents have to play the role of Santa Claus and sneak toys and other Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree to the absolute delight and surprise of children who awake on Christmas morning to find the presents.

The idea of Santa Claus coming descending chimneys on Christmas Eve to leave gifts for good boys and girls was made popular by a poem, attributed to Clement Clarke Moore. In that poem titled ‘An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, ‘which Moore wrote in 1822 and which is now popularly known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,’ Moore described Santa Claus s ‘a right jolly old elf’ who went from house to house with his sleigh pulled by reindeers flying through the air to deliver Christmas presents to all the girls and boys who had been well behaved.

Food plays a big role in making Christmas Day special and much of its preparation often begins on Christmas Eve. Poultry and other meats are often prepared by letting them stand in a mixture of various herbs and spices, puddings and pies are baked on Christmas Eve, as well as a fresh batch of gingerbread and other cookies and treats.

The scents and flurry of activity related to all these preparations also help to make Christmas Eve a memorable day on its own.

David’s Cookies Monthly Selection

Gift Cards, Gift Vouchers and Gift Coupons

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Gift Cards and Gift Baskets

Admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:17:30 +0000

Christmas is a time of hustle and bustle. There’s so much to do and organize. If there is anyway you can cut down on what you have to do and relieve your stress without the quality of your Christmas suffering you want to at least look into it.

And what about that person for whom you have forgotten to buy a Christmas Gift?

These are just a few useful times to give Gift Cards (sometimes known as Gift or Store vouchers or certificates.) You can save a trip to the mall and the crowds and sit comfortably at your computer and browse through gift cards to suit your gift recipient. There are thousands to choose from and they cover just about every product or service you might want. Plus they help you stay within your Christmas budget.

Click on the gift cards below that you’d like to know more about and the information will open in a new tab so that you can compare several.

The great thing about Gift Cards is that all you have to do is select a card based on the your gift recipients likes, hobbies, interests, and lifestyle. You don’t even have to know them very well so if you are looking for something for, say, your hairdresser or pool cleaner or a relative that lives out of town, you will find a gift card that suits. Gift cards are also great for children and teens who like to feel they can control their buying and have very definate likes and dislikes and demand the very ‘in’ thing to be ”cool.’ No more wrong gift, wrong size, wrong colour, wrong make or doubling up on things they already have. The gift they get is their choice so you are not going to wear any criticism!

And, if you are getting ready to go to a Christmas Party and realise that someone has been forgotten in all the hullabaloo, there are many gift cards or store vouchers that you can print out and take with you. They generally have an account or receipt number on them. Another option is to email your gift card direct to your gift recipient.

Your gift recipient need not wait to choose their Christmas gift. They too can go online and redeem their gift card at eStores which are open for business 24/7/365. Most goods will have arrived between 1-7 days wherever they live.

You can make the gift card even more special to your gift recipient by packaging it in a nice box or with a special card. Alternatively you could give the gift card with a Christmas Hamper, Christmas Gift Basket, with A Box of Chocolates, a bottle of wine or small toy or book. Or, you could theme your gift card, such as if the card is yellow make everything you wrap it with and card yellow. One idea I heard about was a gift card for a young teen who it was thought would want to buy a Transformer for Christmas but the gift giver did not know which one was wanted and he had so many in his collection so didn’t dare take a guess. The gift card given was for a toy store. The card was popped into a small $5 Transformer action figure box and the entire thing was wrapped in Transformer gift wrapping and accompanied by a Transformer designed card. The gift giver now has a reputation for being the best gift giver ever.

Relax and Enjoy Christmas – it’s a crazy season but full of love if you can take time to feel it!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours – Lee, Santa’s Helper

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Unusual Christmas Gifts

Admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:10:59 +0000

Woodstock Chimes Feng Shui Amber

When you find yourself with someone on your holiday gift list who is difficult to buy for, sometimes your best bet is to go for something out of the ordinary. Gifts that work to bring about harmony and peace in the environment are sure to please. From simple gifts of candles, crystals, and CD’s that play the soothing sounds of wind, rain and babbling brooks, to salt lamps, singing bowls and Zen sand gardens, the choices are plentiful.

You can choose jewelry made of amber, an organic gemstone that is professed to draw negative energy and turn it to positive energy leading to health and well being. Most people, when they think of amber think of the honey colored or the milky white but amber can also be found in brown, red, blue, black and green. You can also buy gifts of jewelry made out of the crystals for your astrological sign. Chlorite quartz is another healing mineral said to cleanse ones aura and makes a gift that is beautiful to look at.

On the more unusual side would be a gift of a negative ion producing lamp made of salt crystal rock. This rock naturally ionizes the air by releasing negative ions (electronically charged molecules of oxygen) thereby removing things like pollen, dust and animal dander from the air. The core of the piece of salt crystal is hollowed out then a light bulb is placed inside. The resulting heat from the light bulb starts the ions flowing into the air. Even if you aren’t interested in the healing qualities of the lamp, you end up with very pretty pieces to display on your dresser or end table.

We all know our moods and our health can be greatly affected by sound. Dissonant , loud sounds cause tension and if too prolonged can cause ill health. Other sounds energize the body and relax the mind. Singing bowls fall into this category. They are made from a mix of metals from the Himalayas, Tibet and India. When you strike and/or rub the bowl with a wooden mallet the multi-octave tones that are produced will relax and heal your mind as well as your body. Hand made bells called Rustic Noah Bells are believed to scare off bad spirits. Hang them near your home for good energy. The beautiful deep tone of the larger bells provides a superb sound to accompany your meditation.

In the Feng Shui shops you will also find a large selection of clothing to wear when meditating, books, videos, prayer flags and lots of different oils to energize the body mind and spirit. You might also be interested in the Chakra Bears. Legend says that when the sun shines through the mist in the Smokey Mountains it forms a beautiful rainbow. Every twenty years this rainbow touches the earth and rainbow Chakra bears are born. Each color has a different purpose. For instance the blue bear will listen with endless patience while the yellow bear’s purpose is to make you successful.

Click Here for Feng Shui products and you will find gifts of aromatherapy, incense, table top fountains, mirrors and plenty of books to explain the theories behind everything.

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Fun Office Gift Exchange Games

Admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:53:05 +0000

There are dozens of fun office gift exchange games people can play during the Christmas season. Officemates might have a “secret Santa” gift exchange or a popular “white elephant” gift exchange. All are popular and always fun, provided the rules are clear and everyone understands them.

One of the most popular office games involving Christmas gifts is the “white elephant” gift exchange. The rules can vary depending on the office and participants, but generally it works something like this. Each person participating purchases a gift not to exceed a certain dollar amount (determined in advance and might range from $5 to $20, again depending on the group). The object here is a fun gift, so anything particularly practical is not welcome. You’re looking for unusual and interesting, perhaps funny, and something other people will want.

Everyone who’s participating in the exchange gets a number (the number should be the same as the number of presents). The numbers should be they drawn out of a hat or something else (perhaps a Santa hat, in recognition of the season?). So, the person who draws number “1″ goes first and picks a present. They open it and keep it. The second person can either pick a different present or they can “steal” the first present. They can’t open a present until they are sure they are keeping their choice and not picking the first gift. This continues until everyone has a present. Any present that’s been opened can be subject to stealing, but a gift can only be stolen three times.

At the end of the game, the person who was the first to open a present can steal a gift if they choose, since they didn’t have an opportunity earlier.

In this game there’s always one gift that everyone wants and will steal over and over again. What makes it fun is trying to figure out who is going to get the most coveted gift. In some cases, people can end up with the gift they brought.

Originally the “white elephant” gift exchange was a way for people to “regift” or give someone a gift they themselves received and don’t want. For a fun twist, you could ask people to bring something from their home like that, or you can require they purchase something (with the aforementioned limit on spending).

There are many varieties of the Secret Santa game, which is so popular in offices, but one option that’s fun involves putting a dollar limit on the purchase and having participants actually make “Santa lists”. Here’s how it works: Those participating create a little list for “Santa”. There should also be a dollar limit placed on this gift exchange, so if that is $10, then people should only list items on their Santa list that can be purchased for $10 or less.

Everyone who is participating draws a list out of a hat, or some other object, and sets about shopping for that person. They know who they are shopping for, but the recipient doesn’t. On exchange day, the Secret Santas must deliver the gifts to their officemates’ desks without being seen. Those participating can decide if they want people to sign the cards attached to the gifts, or if the secret should stay a secret. If they choose the latter, gift giving can be interesting, since it’s anonymous, but many people choose to have cards signed so in the end, people who to thank for their gifts.

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Selecting Christmas Gifts With ‘Wow’ Value

Admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:26:44 +0000

Many people adore Santa Claus because he brings them the perfect that often produces squeals of joy. Individuals, especially children, are often thrilled to get what they want and need from Santa. To bring joy to others, you also need to not only give a Christmas gift but to also try to get an item that will be a good match for the individual by selecting a gift that suits the person.

It is possible to find the right Christmas gift without having to fall for the easy way out by giving a ‘sweater.’ To find the right gift for Christmas for anyone means a gift has to capture one or both of the following qualities – something that you know the person will like or desire, or something with useful purpose that will captivate the person. A Christmas gift that captivates the receiver will produce a ‘wow’ reaction or comments of ‘that’s cool’ from others, who will be wishing silently that they had gotten such a gift.

The key to selecting a wonderful Christmas gift that will produce a ‘wow’ reaction is to make sure the item is one that will appear interesting to others. The gift itself may have limits to its use. That means it may not be something that will be used frequently, such as a sweater or other clothing. The ‘wow’ factor or coolness of the gift must however overshadow it’s possible limited usefulness.

Selecting a Christmas gift that is desired can prove to be difficult if you think you don’t know what the person wants or needs. But when we think that we don’t really know what someone wants for a Christmas gift, our real thought is that we haven’t really heard the person specifically say they want or desire a particular item. That however is not an obstacle to truly knowing what someone may desire for a Christmas gift.

To help to identify an item that will make a perfect Christmas gift, you need to focus on what you know about the person – various qualities, what leisure activity the person likes, what type of books, art and music for example, do they like. To focus on what you know about the person, think about conversations you have engaged in with the individual. Conversations in general can often give splendid ideas of good gifts to give for Christmas because oftentimes people will say ‘I wish for …..’ when talking with someone else.

The character of the person is also a good indicator of items that will make wonderful Christmas gifts. Remember, a gift for Christmas is a token to show love, fondness or appreciation or some combination of those qualities. An item that captures a quality of a person is therefore likely to be much appreciated. So, for example, books make good gifts for someone who likes to read. But if the person also has a humorous persona, a book on jokes would be a desirable Christmas gift.

For someone who likes to drive, a travel book on scenic routes is likely to create a large amount of interest. A Christmas gift like that also could stir some ‘wow’ remarks as it could easily cause others to want become engrossed in browsing it. A Christmas gift like that also is an example of something that is very useful but which may not get a lot of frequent use.

Another strategy for selecting a perfect Christmas gift is to think of how something will fit into someone’s lifestyle. A friend once recalled that wish another friend often expressed in conversation was for a Playstation PS3. But knowing that the friend also didn’t have much leisure time to actually sit and use a Playstation PS3, a hand-held game console PSP Go was given instead that could be used during commute on public transportation or in 10-15 minutes of short downtime.

Selecting Christmas gifts for friends, acquaintances and loved ones that will be remembered and treasured is therefore not too much of a difficult task if the strategies previously mentioned are kept in mind.

Selecting a Quality Smoked Christmas Ham

Admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:09:38 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Sliced Christmas Leg of Ham looks scrumptious on the table an tastes even better when its a naturally smoked ham. Where smoked goods of any kind are concerned, it is well worth insisting on naturally smoked produce.

When choosing a leg of ham, buy a small leg which will provide the best quality and tasting meat. A large leg of ham comes from a mature pig and has drier, darker meat whilst boar meat will also have a very strong testosterone stench.

The method used to cure, smoke and cook the ham will also greatly impact on the flavour of the meat. Many butchers prepare their hams, sausages, bacon and corned silverside with nitrates which is a man-made chemical that preserves and enhances the colour of cured and salted meat. The “smoking” of meat is produced by using an artificial ingredient known as ‘liquid’ smoke during the cooking process which also greatly reduces cooking time.

Cancer Councils around the world are warning people against the use of cancer-forming nitrates found in some dried and cured meats, sausages, hams, bacons, and other smoke flavoured meat goods.

Traditional preparation of cured, smoked meats is an exacting, precise and relatively long process but does not use nitrates. A precise ratio of four naturally occurring elements is combined to form a brine mixture which is injected into the meat in a precise ratio to salt the meat. The meat is then smoked to produce a rich golden colour and give it a distinctive flavour depending on the blend of wood chips and saw dust burned, i.e. hickory wood, pine saw dust, plum wood, etc. The meat is then slowly steamed to retain all the moisture and flavour. The smoking and cooking stages take approximately ten hours.

Traditionally produced hams may take some time to track down and cost a little more but your health and taste buds will love you forever!

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Avoiding Recalled Christmas Toys

Admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:03:10 +0000

Kids love getting gifts at Christmas. They dream about what they will find under the tree or in their stockings. They leave hints about what they would like to see under the gaily-wrapped paper. They whisper about their gift desires in jolly St. Nick’s ear and make lists months in advance. As a parent, we want our kids to be happy and when appropriate we give them what they want. Knowing if a toy is safe to give a child is more than knowing if it is age appropriate. It seems that there are more toy recalls each year. Toys are recalled when there is something dangerous about the toy, or toxic in how it is made. The gift giver needs to be aware of toy recalls and what to look out for when purchasing toys so that the gift is received with joy instead of disaster. How do toy recalls work?

Understanding the anatomy of a toy recall:

The usual route of a recall starts with an investigation into incidents of injury or from tests run in quality control labs. Unfortunately usually an incident means that the dangerous toy has already injured a child or perhaps several children.

Currently on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission Website there are a whole page of recalls, most involving Violations of Lead Paint Standards. The most recent recalls on the list include Gymboree Corp’s recall of Toy Swords due to breakage and laceration hazard, Dunkin’ Donuts Recalls of Glow Sticks due to choking and strangulation hazards, and Lan Enterprises Recall of a doll stroller after a child’s finger tip was severed. The same product also is stated to pose an entrapment hazard. These are just from the first 10 recalls from that long list of recalls.

The best scenario would be if the company’s quality control department discovered the dangerous situation before toys reached the shelves, so that no innocent children would be injured or made ill due to playing with a toy.

Safety standards are obviously an important part of any product manufacturing process. Obeying these standards should be expected especially when the products are made to be used by children. Monitoring, and enforcing these regulations should be of the highest level of ability of the US government. There should be a hefty price to pay for violating these safety standards.

Lately China has been cited as the manufacturing country in several recent toy recalls for lead paint infractions. Part of the problem is that so many of the US products are manufactured globally and not in the US. It is the responsibility of the US government and the US companies to expect compliance from those countries they deal with and to be able to regulate obedience and enforcement.

Finding Out About Toy Recalls:

Consumers can find out about a toy recall directly from toy companies or from the US government by way of Websites like the Consumer Product Safety Commission site located at:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html

When a determination has been made by a company to recall a toy, they usually set up a hotline and information on the company Website that addresses the recall issue including the particulars about what toy is being recalled and what consumers are to do if they have the toy in their possession.

Many news agencies make toy recalls public by making announcements and by giving information about the toy to the public using their media coverage ability.

One good reason to fill out that product questionnaire you received in the box is that if you register the product with the company, the company then has the ability to update you on issues with that product including any recalls.

There is a blog that has a comprehensive list of recalls including the latest toy recalls due to lead paint. The blog can be accessed at:

http://www.usrecallnews.com/2007/10/complete-list-of-recalled-toys-for-lead.html

The best thing any concerned individual can do regarding giving toys at Christmas or anytime of the year is to stay informed and pay attention to any news reports regarding recalls.

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