http://thesantareporter.com Ella the Elf Reports on Santa Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:25:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I have just heard the news that Santa and his elves are beginning to create their Naughty or Nice list. Now that fall is here, many preparations are being put in place to get ready for our upcoming Christmas day. Children are beginning to think about Christmas time and what ... http://thesantareporter.com/2009/09/22/santa-begins-the-naughty-or-nice-list/ These are great, simple crafts that are quick to make and require only four things on your materials list! To make these simple ornaments, you will need: * white pipecleaners (they’re thin, flexible fuzzy things—ask an adult) * red beads (these can be pony beads, faceted beads or tri-beads) * white or clear beads ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/beaded-christmas-wreath-and-beaded-candy-cane-ornaments/ The tradition of displaying Poinsettias around our homes was the brain child of none other than Joel Roberts Poinsett. Name sound familiar? If it were not for Joel R. Poinsett's love of botany, we may have never even known about this beautiful and festive flower at all. In 1825, Joel Robers ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/the-poinsettia/ Would you believe that the Candy Cane as we are familiar with it today, was actually invented as a tool to keep children quiet?! It's true. Back in the 1670's, a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, took a well known candy, a “sugar stick” and bent one end to resemble ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/candy-canes/ The actual invention of  Christmas caroling is not clear. Some claim that carols, derived from the French word carole, meaning “kind of dance”, began as far back as the 4th or 5th century A.D. Others report that carols, as we know them today, originated between the 12th and 13th centuries ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/christmas-caroling/ The Yule Log, as we have come to know it, is a rather large piece of wood, cylindrical in shape, that is placed inside the fireplace and burned on Christmas Eve (in preparation for Santa's arrival). Or, you may know it simply as a little cake that resembles a wooden log! Either ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/the-yule-log/ Besides a beautiful blanket of freshly fallen, glistening snow, Christmas Trees really make the holiday special. Each one has it's own personality. Much like snowflakes. This traditin began in Germany in about the 8th century. There was a missionary that went by the name of Winfred. Later this man attained Sainthood ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/the-christmas-tree/ This is a traditional card game you can play with a friend! First, get an adult to help you print the card designs (the front and the back of the cards) on a sheet of blank cardstock or heavy paper. With an adult’s help, use scissors to cut neatly along the ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/christmas-memory-card-game/ In Spain, Christmas is not just a holiday—it’s an event! The Christmas season is a very exciting time in Spain, and celebrations begin around December 22, when Spain’s national lottery (started more than 200 years ago) is held and some lucky person becomes very rich. Throughout the holiday season, cities and ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/christmas-in-spain/ Many people think the tradition of Boxing Day started in the Middle Ages, but there are so many different stories about the meaning of Boxing Day, it’s hard to be certain which tradition came first. Although opinions vary about when the Boxing Day tradition started and why, it is agreed ... http://thesantareporter.com/2008/07/08/boxing-day/