Hi everyone. I hope you and your family are doing well.
In these days of tragedy around the world that we hear and see nightly on the news (or indeed experience them) - whether it be political unrest, cultural or religious persecution, violence within communities, or natural disasters - it can be overwhelming. This was brought home recently with the outpouring a grief following the tragic shootings at Bondi Beach in Australia during a Hanukkah celebration.
So I believe it is cultural traditions, like Christmas, which we must hang on to, to spread some light around the world. Bringing family and friends together, and to find peace and spread love in our troubled times, whatever culture you come from or beliefs you have. We all have rights and share this planet Earth.
But around Christmas we seem to get hooked up in the hype and tied up in the decorations, the gift giving, and the food. When Christmas really is a time for remembrance of the Christmas story, and a time for family and friends to come together.
I saw this the other day - and really liked the sentiment.
I believe family and cultural traditions are important. I found this link on the net that gives you links to Christmas traditions from different cultures around the world. It's fascinating reading. Christmas around the world
Do you put up a Christmas tree? Did you know that the first officially recorded Christmas tree was in the 1400s in Estonia and Latvia. It is thought that Christmas trees first came to the UK when Queen Charlotte, the German wife of Britain's King George III, first decorated a Yew branch in Kew Palace or Windsor Castle in the 1790s. You can find out more on the link.
Christmas Trees became very popular throughout the UK from the mid 1840s, when a drawing of the Queen Victoria, her German Husband Prince Albert and their young children around a Christmas tree was published in the Illustrated London News. (note the candles on the branches)
Benjamin Harrison was the first President of the USA to be documented having a Christmas tree in the White House in 1889, though it is thought other former Presidents also had them.
I heard something the other day that candles were used on the trees before the invention of electric Christmas lights in the late 1800s. Sounds rather dangerous! Christmas Tree decorations
There are lots of games and activities to keep children amused over the Christmas time, and of course lots of Christmas movies!
When I was a child we made paper Christmas decorations like chains and lanterns. In the early days of Australia, people would use decorations from nature around their house. Here is a door wreath I made from twisted grape vine branches and bush-land nuts... sprayed with gold paint and with a few ribbons thrown in.
Here in Western Australia we have the Western Australian Christmas Tree -Nuytsia floribunda - that flowers October to January. I have blogged about it before (please click on the link). Growing up to 10 metres tall, this tree is actually the world's tallest parasitic tree. It occurs naturally only in the south west of Western Australia. Named moojar or Kaanya Tree (kaanya, meaning recently departed soul) by the indigenous Noongar people, it has a powerful spiritual significance for the Noongar culture, who believed the spirits of ancestors rested in the branches.
As promised below is the recipe for the Mini Christmas Puddings. Honestly this recipe is so easy and so yummy!
All you need is 1 x 700-800gm fruit cake (any plain wrap supermarket brand is fine), 180gm dark chocolate - or use a mixture of light and dark chocolate, 1/4 cup brandy (or substitute with orange juice), white chocolate bits and glace cherries to decorate (or you could use jelly fruit lollies).
Crumble the cake, melt the chocolate, and mix with the cake, and add the brandy. Mix well and then form into balls with your hands. Place on a tray. Melt white chocolate bits and drizzle over the puddings. Use glace cherries cut to shape to look like cherries and leaves to decorate.
Tip - only pour white chocolate over a few at a time as it will set very quickly and you need to stick on the glace cherries before the chocolate sets. Store in the fridge.
Try not to eat them all before Christmas day!
You might also like -
- Western Australian Christmas Tree
- The Ghosts of Christmas Past - including a poem for you
- Christmas Baking When It is Baking Hot!
- Why Christmas.com - to find out everything you need to know about Christmas around the world.
- The 12 days of Aussie Christmas
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
