Page 2 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News
Page 3 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Tൺൻඅൾ ඈൿ Cඈඇඍൾඇඍඌ 04 Home for the Holidays A Season of Giving 06 Shop Local 16 Share your Christmas spirit with your neighbors through outdoor decorating 20 The History of Christmas Ornaments and Tree Toppers 24 How a Martyred Duke Became a Christmas King 28 Christmas Curmudgeon: Slow That Sleigh, Santa! 30 Remembering When….. One hundred years of Christmas past ൭4 Gifting 2024 – what is hot this holiday season? 38 This season, try your hand at homemade Christmas Gifts 40 “Drie Koningen:” An unusual European Christmas tradition 46 Our favorite Christmas memories
Page 4 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News I will admit that I don’t watch a lot of television, but when I do, I have a fondness for sit-coms that require very little brain power to absorb. I think a lot of people feel that way, after a long day or a long week of exercising the mind and body, the last thing we want is thought provoking entertainment where we have to fi gure out who the killer is or how the cake was made. Even when I’m striving for thoughtless entertainment, though, once in a while something creeps in and sticks in the brain. That’s not a bad thing because now as I work to write an introduction for this year’s Home for the Holiday’s online magazine, I am falling back on a life lesson that I found in the most unusual place, a little show called Big Bang Theory. I’m reminded of a show where Sheldon exclaims that he is anti-gift giving. He draws the analogy you give me $50, so I have to give you the equal value or $50, and the end result is that for years and years two people will exchange the $50 annually until one person dies, and the other one is in essence the winner. I get it. That happens a lot, especially in the workplace. You give your boss a gift card, he or she gives you a check, and the cycle begins and continues throughout your career. In the show I’m thinking of though, it doesn’t quite work out that way for Sheldon. You see he learns that Penny has gotten him a Christmas present, so he must return the favor. A season of giving But he doesn’t know what she has gotten him, and has no idea how to equal the value of her gift to one from himself. His answer. He goes to the store and buys a dozen gift baskets of varying dollar values. His theory, he will receive her gift, open it, feign a tummy ache, and head to his room to choose the appropriate valued gift basket. Here’s the problem. When he opens his gift, it is a dirty napkin signed by Leonard Nemoy, one of Sheldon’s personal heroes. Then in the course of conversation he learns that Nemoy wiped his mouth on the napkin before signing it for Penny. Sheldon is overwhelmed by the thought that he now owns Leonard Nemoy’s DNA. He rushes to his bedroom and grabs all the baskets he has bought and showers Penny with his gifts. She exclaims, “Sheldon what did you do?” and he replies, “I know, it isn’t enough!” In the end though what he gives her that is truly invaluable is a hug. She is so touched she nearly cries. Let’s face it, if we know Penny, we know that she didn’t pay Leonard Nemoy for his autograph, and more than likely she didn’t pay the restaurant for the napkin. The gift she gave cost only the paper she wrapped it in, yet to Sheldon, it was beyond priceless. And while he gave her a number of gifts that more than likely cost him a few hundred dollars, the gift of a hug for her was the most valuable. Surely the life lesson here is obvious, but just Home for the Holidays Continued --
Page 5 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News in case, let me spell it out for you. When you give from the heart, it doesn’t matter what the price tag says. This year the underlying theme of the Home for the Holiday magazine is “a season of giving.” But what do we give, and is it going to be as valuable as what we get, and does it really matter? Hopefully this year we will come to the realization that the heart of the gift is the heart in the gift not the price tag. So, while we are out shopping this year, we want to encourage you to do two things. First, always shop locally because what you pay for that special gift will stay in our community, supporting your neighbors. And secondly, before you look at the price tag, look in your heart and see if this is a gift that will hold special meaning between you and the recipient? Remember the best gift comes from the heart and if you are lucky, could earn you one of those magnifi cent hugs that make us all feel warm inside. Merry Christmas to all of our readers. We love you more than you can possibly know! Nila Smith, Karen Castelein and all the staff and stringers at Lincoln Daily News.
Page 6 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Christmas shopping is a big deal for almost everyone we know. It is a time to choose gifts that will show how much we care about the recipient and refl ect our giving spirit. But each year, it gets harder for a lot of us to come up with those truly unique gifts. Often times we turn to the internet to do that shopping because, let’s face it, the selection is unlimited when you are shopping online. But then again, there are drawbacks. You see the picture, you like the picture, you are BUYING the picture. But when you get the item, maybe it lives up to expectations, but then again maybe it doesn’t. That is why when people do choose to shop in a brick in mortar, they will say because it is the best way to see if they are getting the great gift they expected. While some may think they pay a little more when they shop local, consider the price of disappointment when your online order isn’t what you wanted, and perhaps even the expense of returning the item, and making another choice. This season, before you go online, go on a little trot through our local small businesses There is still another good reason for shopping in local brick and mortars, you are contributing to the local economy. For every dollar spent at a local business, about 70¢ will remain local. For every dollar spent at a local big box store, about 30¢ will stay here. For every dollar spent on online shopping, only about 1¢ stays here. This year, Lincoln and Logan County has seen an uptick in new retail businesses, and we hope that with the following guide, you will be more than tempted, but actually committed, to doing your shopping in your home community. Continued --
Page 7 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Little Barn Boutique Little Barn Boutique is located at 1103 Fifth Street in Lincoln. Jessica Goodman opened earlier this year and is enjoying being a business owner for the fi rst time. She has a steady stream of customers in her store who are looking for bright and beautiful from home décor to clothing and accessories. Goodman says that she enjoys off ering items for a wide range of age groups and features many items for infants and toddlers as well as great gifts for teens and adults. Among her favorites at the store is the holiday themed sleep sacks for infants that come in Christmas themed prints or prints that can be worn any time of year. Another favorite is the learning octopus that she says is so much fun to play with because there are a wide variety of interactive touches in the soft plus toy. Children can practice Velcro fasteners for example, or practice their colors using the underside of the toy. Little Barn will be participating in the December 7th Retail Therapy event in Lincoln. She is also planning to put together a “wish list” for customers, so that they can make out their list, then send their family members to Little Barn to shop the list, assuring a happy Christmas for the giver and the receiver. During the holidays Little Barn will be open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday (in December) Noon to 4 p.m., closed on Monday. The Bee The Bee at 121 S. Kickapoo in Lincoln has been around for a couple of years, but has relocated into the heart of the city, next door to Debbie’s Downtown Floral. Owned by Melanie Welch, the business began as a plant shop but has expanded into a wide variety of items. Asked about what Melanie found to be special or unique to her business she said that it is all unique because she curates her off erings based on her own taste. Among some of her favorite things are the ceramic cacti that can be used on a tabletop or mounted on the wall as a part of your home décor. She also likes the wide variety of plants and plant hangers that she off ers. In addition to those items, you fi nd clothing items, home décor, and holiday décor. The Bee will be participating in the Retail Continued --
Page 8 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Therapy event in Lincoln on December 7th and will be open for Small Business Saturday on November 30th. There will also be other specials throughout the shopping season. During the holiday season she will extend her hours on Thursday and Friday by closing at 6 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. Other hours at the store will be Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Monday. Prairie Threads Down the street from The Bee, at the corner of Pulaski and Kickapoo Streets is another new business, Prairie Threads. Owned by Melanie Welch’s husband, David this is the second family business to start up in one location then move into the heart of the city. Welch’s business focuses on the guys with a large selection of men’s clothing as well as other “gentleman’s gifts” such as cigars and brandy and scotch glasses and much more. Welch says that this year, thus far he has one fl annel shirt that is proving to be very popular with shoppers. He said the color, the style, and the warmth of a heavy fl annel are going to make this a hot item this year for shoppers. Welch said he will be participating in the December 7th Retail Therapy for downtown businesses and is going to be including drawings and giveaways as part of that day. He is also going to be a part of the Small Business Saturday activities. Welch’s business will also expand its hours in December staying open on Thursday and Friday until 6 p.m. In addition, he will open his business on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the holiday season. Tuesday through Friday as well as on Sunday he will open at 11 a.m. On Saturday he will open at 10 a.m. Closing times will be 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday, 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. The business will be closed on Monday’s. Continued --
Page 9 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Wild Petals & Jerzi Rae’s Lindsey McClough opened Wild Petals a while back on Woodlawn Road, but in October offi cially relocated to the heart of the city, taking the space at 604 Broadway Street, Suite 2. When she moved into the heart of the city she was joined by her friend Sommer Hendrickson who opened her new to Lincoln business, Jerzi Rae’s in the same space. Between the two the off ering there casts a wide net on what shoppers may be looking for this holiday season. Wild Petals off ers a wide variety of home décor and house plants that are lush and healthy. Shoppers will fi nd the plants perfect gifts for someone who is starting out in a new home and looking for a little living plant to brighten their day. Jerzi Rae’s off ers a wide variety of clothing tuned to the style conscious shopper. McClough says that since moving to the downtown area, business has picked up substantially, and she could not be happier with her decision. For Hendrickson, the Broadway location is an expansion of her business, with her starship store being in Williamsville. Both Wild Petals and Jerzi Rae’s are looking forward to the holiday season and being a part of the downtown Christmas experience. They will be participating in the December 7th Retail Therapy event and will also be on the punch card for this year’s Christmas express. McClough says they will be maintaining their regular store hours through the holiday season. Those hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday Continued --
Page 10 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday and Monday. Rose & Thorn Another new business in Lincoln is Rose & Thorn owned by Katie Simpson-Charron who also owns Highbrow Studio right next door. Rose & Thorn is located at 200 South Chicago Street on the corner of Chicago and Pulaski Streets. Typical store hours during the holiday season will be Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Sunday and Monday. On Saturday, November 30th, she will remain open until 6 p.m. for Small Business Saturday and will be hosting a drawing for a $50 gift card. She also plans to participate in the December 7th Retail Therapy event and will have a fun gift for each purchase made during that event. Simpson-Charron says that what makes her store special is that she carries inclusive sizes, meaning there are items available for the larger, more to love ladies. She pointed out one special off ering that she feels is unique to her business is she carries a line of women’s pajamas and sleepwear. In addition she carries a large selection of jewelry including quality gold items, and for sensitive ears, titanium earrings. While there are a lot of new businesses in Lincoln to entice you during the Christmas shopping season, there are also the many tried and true long time businesses in the heart of the city that have much to off er this holiday season. So, don’t forget to drop in on Abe’s, the Copper Penny, Debbie’s Downtown Floral, Mary Todd Hallmark (and more), Sir Renna Tea and Small Town Creations. Small Town Creations Kathie Williams has been open in Lincoln for a few years now and enjoys a constant fl ow of shoppers. Part of her secret to drawing so many is the fi ne selection of coff ee beans she carries that she will sell to you as whole-bean or ground to your specifi cations. But there is so much more in the store that shoppers enjoy, and Williams has a knack for constantly evolving her business and adapting to market demands. From coff ee to candles, and a fun hat bar, Continued --
Page 11 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News handbags, personalized products from travel mugs to cutting boards, and fun home décor items, there is something for just about anyone on your holiday gifting list. Williams is also delving into a new market with success and that is food products. She has an entire wall of top-notch olive oils and artisan pastas, along with several other great times like pre bagged gourmet popcorn. Here’s a great idea for a special gift basket. Start with a personalized Charcuterie or cutting board. Stack it with a couple of bottles of olive oil, a bag of pasta, a pound of special fl avored coff ee, a couple of pre packaged biscotti, a bag of pop corn, a nice scented candle, and maybe a little Christmas ornament. Wrap the whole thing in cellophane, tie a big red bow on it, and you have an amazing gift basket that you can be sure, the recipient will not receive three just like it! Small Town Creations will be participating in Small Business Saturday and also the retail therapy event on December 7th. Wear in your ugly sweater and enter a drawing for a great gift courtesy of Kathie Williams. The store will also have extended hours on Friday evenings for the convenience of working shoppers. While Lincoln is certainly the largest town in Logan County and has the most shopping options in a smaller radius, don’t rule out our smaller communities as being great places to go shopping. Artful Market, Atlanta Located at 122 S.W. First Street in Atlanta, Artful Market has been open for about one year. The owners are Debbie Armstrong and Kelly Byrd. The ladies off er a wide variety of locally made merchandise that will be sure to please gift recipients of any age. From festive earrings to decor this unique shop has it all! With all of their items being handmade by local Illinois artists you essentially can support two small businesses in one! Look for holiday wreathes and fl oral arrangements, home made jams and jellies, tea towels, stuff ed animals, blankets, body lotions and soaps and so much more in this lovely little shop that comes with the great personal touch of two lovely ladies anxious to help you choose the perfect gift. Continued --
Page 12 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News The shop is open Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and also on Sunday. On Saturday the hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the store is closed on Monday. Vickie’s Boutique, Atlanta Vickie’s Boutiqe in Atlanta is also located on S.W. First Street at 108. The shop is open Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday by appointment only. Vicky's Boutique has more than just clothes this holiday season! She is a one stop shop for all of your holiday decor needs as well. With a little something for everyone Vicky carries sizes ranging from small – 3-XL as well as having a kids section! A very popular seller this year is her Judy Blue Jeans. Johnson True Value Hardware, Mt. Pulaski Traveling down Illinois Route 121 from Lincoln, be sure to make a stop at Johnson’s True Value Hardware. Their entrance is right on the curve skirting town and they are located next door to Dollar General, another good place to shop. Some may wonder what you can fi nd in a hardware store. Well, you can fi nd plenty! The store which has been in this location about four years according to employee Karen Hummel, has expanded its off ering a great deal from the days when they were located down the hill just off the Mt. Pulaski Courthouse Square. With a wide variety of off erings, it may be hard to make a choice on your own, so here is a suggestion that will be good for any handy-person or for someone who is a new homeowner. Start with a very well-made Stanley toolbox, that is compact, carriable, and built of sturdy construction. That in itself will make a nice gift, but if you add to it a good hammer, a screwdriver set, a pair of pliers and a pipe wrench and you have a basic starter kit for the new homeowner. Continued --
Page 13 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News For the carpenter, choose from a nice selection of tool belts, and for the ones who like to have a little down time on the patio a new grill might be the perfect gift. Also, if you have gifts to ship, you can send your packages via UPS by dropping them off at Johnson’s True Value Hardware in Mt. Pulaski. Rohlf’s Implement, Hartsburg Next, take Illinois Route 121 north out of Lincoln and make a stop in the little town of Hartsburg. Some may fi nd it odd to visit a farm implement dealership while Christmas shopping, but if you have a little farmer in the family, Rohlfs off ers a great selection of farm toys. From individual implements to farm scene playsets these are great gifts for the little farmer (boy or girl) in your house. And, in the month of December the dealership will be off ering 15 percent off on their toy line. Rohlfs is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The store is located at 206 W. Front Street in Hartsburg. Village Vintage and Gifts, Emden Take the Hartsburg Emden blacktop out of Hartsburg and head on up to Village Vintage and Gifts one of these evenings. This is a brand new store, just opened by Becky Adams. It is located at 115 Lincoln Street and is open on Thursday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and other times by appointment. The store features vintage and antique items as well as a selection of great new gift items such as the hand-crafted charcuterie and bread boards. While Emden could be a stretch for some, lets stop and think about going on a nice little date night. Head up to Hartsburg in the evening, stop at Rohlfs before they close at 5 p.m., then cruise on over to Emden and enjoy some shopping at Village Vintage and Gifts,
Page 14 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News then, take a detour from shopping and enjoy a great meal at the Dovetail Inn in Emden. The Dovetail is open Tuesday through Thursday until 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday nights until 9 p.m. We’ve off ered up twelve great places to shop this season where you will fi nd as good a variety of items as anywhere, and remember, when you shop local, you support your friends and neighbors in the community, so share the joy by letting them have a happy Christmas season too! [Nila Smith, Angela Reiners & Chassidy White]
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Page 16 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Decorating for the holidays may sometimes seem like a chore, but there are some surefi re ways to spruce up the outside of your home or business without breaking the bank or your spirits. We’ve all been there, it’s hard to come up with a diff erent dazzling display every year. Hopefully this article will give you some inspiration. My Christmas gift to you! The fi rst thing you need to do is choose a theme, and I’m not talking about using whatever you fi nd in the garage. I’m talking about a particular color scheme, particular Share your Christmas spirit with your neighbors through outdoor decorating characters like the Grinch, Mickey Mouse, or Santa Claus or even vintage décor. You can decide to just decorate with lights, use infl atables, use props, or a combination of all those things. A traditional theme consists of red and green and maybe even some gold. Nativity scenes that are spotlighted or lit are also a traditional choice. Continued --
Page 17 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News You may prefer a rustic outdoor theme with elegant foliage, frosted greenery, deer, and lit birch branches. A contemporary look would include LED lights, large ornaments or lanterns, and possibly wire sculptures and/or wreaths. Let your imagination and your inner child determine your theme and soon you’ll be spreading holiday cheer to the whole neighborhood. From full size Christmas trees on the deck to Santa hanging from your gutter, get festive and show your holiday spirit. Keep it simple. You aren’t in competition with Clark Griswold and NASA doesn’t need to see your house from space. Simple Christmas lights make just as big of an impact. Secondly, you’ll need to know your budget. Inventory the decorations you already have on hand and decide what you’ll need to purchase. Consider re-vamping some of the items you already have. A fresh coat of paint or some glitter can transform last season’s decorations into something new and fresh with minimal eff ort and expense. Thrifting is another great idea. You know what they say….one man’s trash is another’s treasure. If you want a display that covers your entire yard it might also take up your whole budget. Infl atables are generally costly and often succumb to the elements. Projectors seem to be on the rise and can fi ll every inch of your home or business exterior with holiday magic. Consider only decorating the porch area or the mailbox. Effi ciency is another budget item to consider. LED lights are going to be brighter, more energy effi cient, and last longer than the incandescent bulbs of the past. The next thing you’ll need to consider is how much time you have to invest in the project. Here is where the problem with holiday decorating lies with most people. Commercials, magazines, and Hallmark movies depict actual winter wonderlands or candy cane lanes with life size animated Santas waving at you as you drive past. If you have just as much time as Christmas Spirit, then by all means go all out, but if you need to razzle dazzle in a fl ash, I’m pretty sure Santa will still stop. Pathway lights, net lights on the landscape bushes, or outlining the exterior of the building are all great ways to light up the night in the blink of an eye. Continued --
Page 18 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News In today’s busy society there are holiday decorating companies that will come string your outside lights for you. Hallelujah Holiday Lights was founded in Athens, IL by two brothers that had a passion for brightening up the holiday season. They serve Central Illinois helping make home and business owners’ holiday dreams a reality. Their crew has been helping to light up Lincoln. For more information you can visit their website at Hallelujah Holiday Lighting – We Brighten Your Holidays, One Bulb at a Time Finally, you need to consider the durability of your decorations. Outdoor decorations are subject to a variety of weather conditions that can damage or ruin them. Choose durable items that can withstand harsh weather conditions. Look for durable materials such as metal, plastic, or weather resistant material. Securing your decorations properly is important and will keep them from blowing away. Use of hooks, clips, or zip ties can help your decorations withstand even the strongest winds. This extra step will ensure that your decorations can be used for more than just one year. Safety should always be a top priority, and GFI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets should be used. These outlets are designed to protect against electrical shock. Using a GFI outlet gives you peace of mind and ensures the safety of your display. No matter what you decide, let the joy of the holidays transform you and lift the spirits of those around you. You can make decorating a family activity and create memories that your children will cherish for years to come. May the joy of the season touch your heart and enable the magic of Christmas to shine in your life and your home. [Lesleigh Bennett] Sources: 1. https://www.balsamhill.com 2. https://www.rd.com/list/outdoor-christmas- decoration-ideas/ 3. https://www.ollny.com/blogs/inspiration/5- ways-to-weatherproof-your-christmas- decorations
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Page 20 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Christmas is a religious holiday. Specifi cally, it is a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This is why many church services are held, Nativity scenes are set up, and everyone covers an evergreen tree in colorful plastic and glass baubles with some sort of larger decoration on top. One of these things is not like the other. If you have ever wondered where the tradition of ornaments and tree toppers comes from, you’re in good company. The traditions of giving deeper meaning and symbolism to evergreens goes back farther than ornaments, tree toppers, or even Jesus. According to History.com, early humans assigned deeper meaning to trees that remained green year-round. Seeing as how many early people believed that the sun was a god, when the winter solstice came around, the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, they believed this was a sign that their god was becoming ill. They would celebrate the solstice, as they knew their god would begin to recover and become strong again. Hanging evergreen boughs reminded them of months when the sun would stay out longer, like summer months. The Ancient Egyptians, who worshiped a sun god named Rah, had a similar belief, seeing green palms and papyrus reeds as a symbol of life over death. The early Romans celebrated the solstice for their god Saturn, decorating their homes with evergreen boughs as well. It is Germany, however, that is commonly credited with establishing the more modern Christmas tree. History.com states that some sources cite Christians bringing evergreen trees in their homes as early as the 16th century. The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) says this source is a record from Alsace, France, which was actually German territory at the time. According to the NCTA, trees were being sold in a marketplace to be taken home and set up without decorations. the history of christmas ornaments and tree toppers Continued --
Page 21 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News While it is not known exactly when, Christmas trees were fi rst introduced to the United States sometime in the 1800s by German immigrants. By 1851, “Christmas Trees began to be sold commercially in the United States,” according to the NCTA. It was later in this century that both ornaments (also from Germany) and artifi cial trees were introduced here as well. Sears was the fi rst company to begin selling these artifi cial Christmas trees. What about ornaments and other kinds of Christmas tree decorations? When and how did these come about? According to Britannica, this is another tradition that can be attributed to Germany. Apples were hung on the trees to symbolize Adam and Eve in the garden, wafers were sometimes added to symbolize the “eucharistic host,” and candles were added to symbolize Jesus as the light of the world. These decorations began to be replaced with a more recognizable glass ornament in the 1800s. Again, it was German immigrants that brought these ornaments to the United States. Many rejected these ornaments at fi rst, favoring decorations that held religious signifi cance rather than ones that simply looked pretty. It should be noted that, with the exception of certain immigrant groups and the wealthy, most Americans still did not decorate their Christmas trees even after German ornaments were introduced. In 1882, after the invention of electricity, Edward Hibbert Johnson had the idea to replace candles on his Christmas tree with electric lights. This was an immediate hit, with news of Johnson’s Christmas tree spreading across the country. By the mid 1890’s, President Grover Cleveland even had the fi rst electric Christmas tree installed in the White House. The popularity of these Christmas tree lights caused a fl urry of new Christmas decorations to be created and sold, including the humble German bulb-ornament. Over time, diff erent types of ornaments began to come about. In the 1940’s, when there was a shortage of glass, ornaments were made of cardboard. In the 1970s, Hallmark started selling their ever-popular ornaments. In the 1990s, these Hallmark ornaments started becoming more easily recognizable characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Batman & Robin. Continued --
Page 22 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News What about tree toppers, though? Where did they come into all of this? Would you be surprised to hear that Germany is largely responsible for the modern Christmas tree toppers too? The fi rst recorded use of these toppers was actually a baby Jesus tree topper that was used in the 16th century. By the 17th century, angel tree toppers were becoming popular in England. As for the notorious star atop the Christmas tree, it is not certain exactly where this tradition started. While some credit Martin Luther with the fi rst star atop the tree, other sources claim he had nothing to do with the tradition. What is not disputed, however, is that the star symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. According to the Bible, this is the star that led the three wise men to Jesus when he was born. It cannot be argued that the star is still the most popular Christmas tree topper today. While there are newer tree toppers, a simple Google search for tree toppers includes, among a few other things, many stars and quite a few angels. While much of the religious symbolism that early Christmas decorations had has been largely lost to time in the popular culture surrounding Christmas, tree toppers seem to be one where the religious tradition has stuck around. Remember some of the things that you learned here when you are decorating your tree this year, should that be a tradition your family celebrates. Hopefully some of these Christmas tree decorations, as well as the tree itself, will now hold just a little more meaning as you put them up this year. [Matt Boutcher] Sources: 1. https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees 2. https://realchristmastrees.org/education/history-of-christmas-trees/ 3. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Christmas-tree 4. https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2020/12/the-history-of-christmas- decorations-in-america/. 5. https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/life/2015/12/16/100-years- christmas-ornaments-reveal-history/77125432/ 6. https://treebuddees.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-christmas-tree- toppers
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Page 24 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News We know it (sort of), we hear it every Christmas, we’ve played it on a recorder: “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the something, something…uh, the feast of Stephen…the snow was crisp and even.” What is this song even about? And why do we sing it at Christmas time? First things fi rst, who is Wenceslas? Wenceslas is actually the latinized version of the Czech name Václav. Václav/Wenceslas was a real man who lived from approximately 907 until 935 A.D. in the duchy of Bohemia in what is present-day Czech Republic. He was the grandson of Duke Bořivoj I of Bohemia and Ludmila who were converted to Christianity by famous missionaries to the Slavic peoples, Cyril and Methodius. Cyril might be recognized by anyone familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet, an alphabet he developed that is still in use by a number of Slavic languages including Russian, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian. How a Martyred Duke Became a Christmas King Saint Wenceslas Catherdral - Photo by Kevin Andre on Unsplash Continued --
Page 25 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Wenceslas was the son of Vratislaus I, Duke of Bohemia, who was brought up in the Christian faith by his parents, and his wife Drahomira who, although baptized before their wedding, remained in alliance with the pagan religious traditions of her family. Wenceslas was primarily raised by his devout grandmother Ludmila, who was later canonized as a saint in her own right. At the death of his father Vratislaus, Wencelas was only 13 years old, so Ludmila became regent until her grandson reached majority. Before that could happen, Drahomira arranged for Ludmila’s assassination, so that Drahomira could wield power herself. She used her newfound infl uence to suppress Bohemia’s Christians. When Wenceslas reached age 18, the remaining Christian nobles supported Wenceslas in rebellion against his mother. Wenceslas became the rightful duke, exiled his mother, and, according to “The Real Story Behind Good King Wenceslas,” “sought to spread Christianity. He commissioned the building of several churches including part of what is now St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. He also developed a reputation as a wise and compassionate ruler, known for his deeds of mercy. Legend has it that he paid particular attention to caring for the poor, widows, orphans and even prisoners. He opposed the slave market and would buy slaves in order to set them free. He also is known for successfully negotiating peace with the Bavarians, who had been traditional enemies of Bohemians.” All was not well, however, as his younger brother Boleslav grew jealous and wanted to rule the duchy himself. With the support of their mother, Boleslav planned his brother’s overthrow. Taking advantage of Wenceslas' piety, Boleslav invited him to celebrate a Christian feast day and, on the way to church, Boleslav and his associates assassinated him. Almost immediately upon his death, Wenceslas was revered for his piety and good works. People began to make pilgrimages to his grave to honor him and attributed miracles to his intercession. Today Wenceslas is the patron saint of the Czech Republic, Bohemia, and Prague. His feast day, September 28, the day he was murdered, is a public holiday in the Czech Republic, celebrating Czech statehood. His statue has adorned Wenceslas Square in Prague for almost 100 years. Pilgrims may still visit his grave in St. Vitus cathedral at Prague Castle– one of the churches that he helped to build. Wenceslas died while a duke, so how did a deceased duke become a legendary king? A few years after his death, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I posthumously awarded Wenceslas the title of king. King Wenceslas became a model for the medieval vision of a “righteous king;” one who used his power and infl uence for God and for the good and service of his people. But what is the connection of a Bohemian saint to American Christmas? In 1849, John Mason Neale, an English scholar, hymn writer and Anglican priest, wrote the lyrics to “Good King Wenceslas” for the Feast of St. Stephen, which falls on the day after Christmas, the second day of Christmastide in the liturgical calendar. He published them fi rst in a children's book entitled “Deeds of Faith” and four years later in a book of carols. The Feast of St. Stephen honors the fi rst Christian martyr as recorded in the New Continued --
Page 26 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Testament book of Acts. Stephen was also known for his good works and described as “a man full of God’s grace and power” (Acts 6:8). He was a deacon in the early church, charged, along with six others, to fairly distribute assistance to widows after concerns about inequitable treatment. A vocal proponent of Christ, Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council in Jerusalem, and falsely accused of blasphemy. His outspoken preaching so incensed the council that he was dragged outside the city and stoned to death while Saul, later to become the Apostle Paul, looked on in approval. The Feast of St. Stephen on December 26 is known as Boxing Day in the United Kingdom, which is a public holiday in the UK and most of the Anglophone world. Traditionally Boxing Day was observed by giving gifts to servants, tradespeople, and the poor. John Mason Neale published “Good King Wenceslas” to encourage charitable deeds and gifts following the example of the “righteous king.” Good King Wenceslas, St. Stephen, Boxing Day… the connection should be clear: intentionally giving to those in need, even when the giving comes at personal cost. The second day of Christmas reminds us that after the joy of the birth of Christ, we recall the purpose of Christ’s birth: to give his own life to save humankind from their sins. “Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth,” as another favorite Christmas carol tells us. Saints like Stephen and Wenceslas encourage us to follow them as they follow Christ in the path of charity and sacrifi cial giving. Does sacrifi cial giving sound like too big of an ask? Consider the fi nal stanza of “Good King Wenceslas”: “Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves fi nd blessing.” In Jesus’ words, “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38). Have a blessed Christmas! [Stephanie Hall] Sources: 1. https://www.umnews.org/en/news/the-real- story-behind-good-king-wenceslas 2. https://hymnary.org/text/good_king_ wenceslas_looked_out
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Page 28 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Christmas Curmudgeon Slow that sleigh, Santa! Does someone fl ip a tinsel switch on the fi rst of November? I ask because it seems as though we go from spooky and creepy to shiny Christmas glitter distraction with the turn of the calendar page. Every commercial immediately becomes some store with some something that some, if not all of us, need to spend some of our money on. Seems like some kind of racket to me. Do we REALLY need gifts for Christmas? If holiday movies have taught me anything, it’s that presents aren’t the point. In fact, sometimes they are the problem. I can sense your eyes rolling. Let me prove it. All Ralphie wants for Christmas is an offi cial Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifl e with a compass in the stock. Spoiler alert! He gets it. Minutes later he shoots his eye out…well, close enough. His parents have spent money on gifts galore and now they’ll be forced to shell out even more for a new pair of glasses. Merry Christmas! Cut to a Chinese restaurant where the family is decking the halls and preparing for dinner. It’s here we see the real meaning of Christmas... family, love, laughter and duck heads. You can keep your bb gun. The older I get the more I realize I’d give back every gift I’ve ever received to sit around a dinner table with my grandparents one more time. When the holidays are here, I miss my brother who lives in Texas. I’ll trade any gift for a few rounds of darts with both of my brothers and my dad. That’s Christmas. Not convinced? You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You are also the character I most relate to in any Christmas story ever. I get it folks…you are thinking his heart grew three sizes and he came racing down the mountain to return everything, right? So what? The Grinch was right. All of the presents, and the decorations, and the “noise, noise, noise, NOISE” meant nothing. When the sun rises, Christmas comes and the Whos in Whoville “Fah-who foris, fah-who doris” their little hearts out. Those Whos all came together in the town center, held hands, and sang songs. When all seemed lost their community was where they turned. Nothing you fi nd in your stocking Continued --
Page 29 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News can ever replace the feeling of being a part of a community that cares for you. Personally, I think we’ve lost some of that as time has passed. Technology and divisiveness often drive wedges between us. We care too little for our neighbors’ needs. It’s easy to turn a blind eye or ignore the plea for help. To that, I say fah-who foris. The Grinch is the one who receives the REAL gift in the story. His heart grows and he storms down the mountain with all that was taken. In return he’s given acceptance and love. He’s made a part of their celebration and accepted within their community. You can’t be a bad banana when your heart is three times bigger. Still think you need the shiny new iPhone? My comrade in curmudgeonry (no, that’s not a real word) would like to speak with you. Ebenezer Scrooge might be the biggest curmudgeon of them all. At least, he was. We all know the story. Marley brings a warning and three ghosts of Christmas Insomnia wreck old Scrooge’s life. They also save his soul. It wasn’t a present that changed Scrooge, it was compassion. That old crank experienced empathy. Kevin McCallister is left Home Alone by his parents. He proceeds to torture a couple of thieves and learns a lesson about family from an old guy with a shovel. Then he wakes up alone on Christmas morning. Just when all hope seems lost, his mother walks in the door. She’s followed shortly thereafter by the rest of the family. A family he had wished would disappear. I doubt there could have been a single present under the tree that compared to a hug from his mom. In Elf the main character, Buddy, travels from the North Pole to New York City. Buddy comes from a place that quite literally makes gifts. Still, his story is not about a gift. It’s about fi nding and connecting with his father. It’s about those deep relationships that are formed with family, love and acceptance. A Charlie Brown Christmas has our pal Charlie depressed about the commercialism of the holiday. He sets out to fi nd the true meaning of Christmas and fi nds caring for one another to be a key. Charlie’s buddy Linus provides him with a deeper meaning as well… one of faith. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” Back to my question…Do we REALLY need gifts for Christmas? No. Of course not. I think I have been able to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, gifts don’t make Christmas. Christmas is family, love, laughter, community, compassion, acceptance and faith. Those aren’t gifts. Those are...wait a minute…huh! Maybe it is about gifts. Mom, if you’re reading this, I’d still like an air fryer. [Jeff Wyles]
Page 30 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News Very few people, if any will remember Christmas 100 years ago, but we would be wise to take a look at the simplicity of holidays back then. Not saying that we should go backwards for every sliver of time has its pros and cons and for good reason…..it’s in the past. Let’s take a brief look at what was the most popular Christmas toys for kids over the past 100 years, you might be surprised what you remember…….. 1924 Christmas morning in 1924, was on a Thursday and Calvin Coolidge was president making about $2,200.00 a year. The year before President Coolidge had the privilege of lighting the fi rst national 64-foot fi r Christmas tree at the White House. The average home cost was about $7,000 and the biggest entertainment was the radio that invaded most REMEMBERING WHEN….. ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF CHRISTMAS PAST American’s homes. The “Macy’s Christmas Parade,” or what is known today as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade had roughly 10,000 people lined up to see live animals from the Central Park Zoo. What was the most popular toy this year for youngsters? The Erector Set with a retail price of $1.00 to $10.00. This toy was conceived in 1911 by A.C. Gilbert during a train ride from Connecticut to New York City. Although this set mainly focused on skyscrapers and buildings, the most alluring part of this set was that it was motorized on some of its special units within the set. Another popular 1924 toy for little girls (and Mom’s) was the Flossie Flirt doll. This doll fl irted with her eyes, darted from side to side, winking and blinking and saying “Mama.” This was so popular that the newspapers would publish schedules of where and when dealers would be available. The dolls ranged from 14 to 23 inches high and cost from $1.98 - $4.98. Continued --
Page 31 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News 1945 You may still see versions of this toy around today in bright colors and made from diff erent materials. Slinky has been around for an exceedingly long time. Richard James, a mechanical engineer, was trying to build a spring that would steady equipment on a boat and stumbled onto a prototype spring that “walked” forward instead of toppling over, hence the beginning of the Slinky. In 1945, Slinky’s cost $1.00 a piece with over 250 million sold over seven decades. 1965 The price this next item sold for was $.79 each and it started with New England college students in the 19th century when they would toss pie plates to one another outside the Frisbie Baking Company. By the mid-60’s these frisbees were in all the backyards and on college campuses. 1974 This year’s most popular Christmas toy was the skateboard that ranged in price between $20.00 and $60.00 and had the popular urethane wheels which made for a much smoother ride than the earlier metal wheels from 1958 when people attached roller skate wheels to a board and called it ‘sidewalk surfi ng’. Another interesting event that happened in 1974 was with the fi lm industry. Many adults and parents like to reserve the holiday season for more heartwarming oriented fi lms and television programs that concentrate on the true meaning of Christmas, the art of giving and how to give back to others. However, back in 74’ many best remember this year as the fi rst slasher classic ‘Black Christmas’ that debuted and altered the horror genre culture. 1995 Although not quite as popular, the craze is still around for the small bead-fi lled animals that in the the mid nineties led to a huge collector’s frenzy! Beanie Babies could be seen everywhere from trading at school to large weekend conventions and garage sales. Even today, some of the most popular Beanies still can go for thousands of dollars to collectors. 2015 Shopkins are cute, collectible plastic fi gurines that have grown to include books, cards, and Continued --
Page 32 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News videos. This line of toys was so popular that copycat counterfeits were massed produced where police seized 150,000 from an overseas factory. Shopkins Toys were priced anywhere from $5.00 and up. 2024 If asked, most will say that the holidays are about family, friends, eating, and gift giving, but secretly or more importantly, gift receiving! Last year the holiday spending reached $955.6 billion according to the National Retail Federation’s holiday forecast. And you guessed it, this year’s forecast is going to surpass that number by 2.5 to 3.5-percent, putting the retails sales between $979.5 and $989 billion for 2024. So with the holiday getting closer every day, and it is expected that people will be shopping and spending even more this year, you better get started, because the window is shorter this year. The time period between Thanksgiving and Christmas will be a whopping fi ve days shorter this year, giving only 26 days of shopping!! And if you need a little extra money for gifts, it is predicted that retailers will hire between 400,000 and 500,000 seasonal workers this year, which is down a tad bit from last year’s approximate 509,000 seasonal workers. Christmas has defi nitely evolved over the years. Not too long ago, it was that one gift that your child wanted and waited all year for from Santa. It was prized, treasured and taken care of. Nowadays, adults and parents fi nd themselves having to purchase gifts for all sorts of reasons. The kids need a gift for the Girl Scout/Boy Scout party, church Sunday School or youth group party, Athletic club parties, not to mention the parents’ work gatherings or secret Santa’s or corporate giving trees in which they receive gifts for other programs like Angel Trees, or local gift giving programs like fruit baskets for the elderly. All kids want to take and get the best present at these parties, and it can put a real strain on parents, especially if the family is large or have suff ered recent fi nancial setbacks. All this giving, giving, giving, might start to get to you where you might get a little ‘Grinchy,’ but just remember, you do not have to let this get you down. If the cost of all these parties is straining your budget, talk with your family and set goals for the year such as a portion of their allowance goes toward the giving fund for these expected or unexpected parties. Or start early by talking to teachers or employers and making suggestions on how to give your time as a group instead of spending money on gifts, or plan ahead and make homemade gifts such as cookies, brownies and hot chocolate for kids and jams, candles, or ornaments for adults. We all know that it’s not the price of the gift that matters, that it should be the thought that counts. Right or wrong, we all know that Continued --
Page 33 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News realistically, people do pay attention to the price of gifts and there are those that judge because of it. Therefore, it is even more important to take yourself (and your children) out of that kind of situation and make those suggestions for giving your time and eff ort to help others rather than just buying gifts to be buying gifts. This will truly be the best present ever. In searching for the most popular gift of 2024, there wasn’t a simple list. There isn’t just one popular gift of the year anymore for kids, there are the favorite toddler gifts, the best outdoor play for kids, the educational value for kids, the cooperative play for kids, the best solo play for kids, the best sensory stimulation for kids, the best techy gifts for every age and even ones for adults and generic adults. Maybe this is why for some people it is just easier to give a gift card or money. Regardless of what gift you choose to give, how, when or to whom you decide to give a gift to, the hope is and always will be to remember those less fortunate, spread joy and kindness and remember the reason we are celebrating this year’s season. [JA Hodgdon-Ruppel] Sources: 1. A 1960s Christmas, Then and Now -- The Henry Ford Blog - Blog - The Henry Ford 2. Christmas in the United States (1946–1964) Facts for Kids 3. A Glimpse of Christmas 100 Years Ago | MyMerryChristmas 4. Holiday Gift Crazes and Fads of the Past Century | Stacker 5. NRF | Steady Sales Growth Expected for 2024 Holiday Season, According to NRF 6. Hottest Christmas toys of 2024: Toy expert shares 23 top gift picks 7. Top Holiday Toys From the Year You Were Born | Stacker 8. The 36 Most Popular Gifts of 2024
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