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 Christmas ideas
Available from The Stapleford Centre
Born among us -
Age: Key Stage 2 - Key Stage 5
 An
excellent new pack . 16 full colour postcards and acetates
depicting scenes from the Nativity from around the world. Booklet on using the
pictures, notes from the different countries involved
with music and worship suggestions.
Christmas Activity pack
 Set of Christmas
cards telling the Christmas story together with a booklet with suggestions on
how to use it. All the cards are in full colour and are also reproduced in black
and white in the centre of the book for ease of photocopying.
Available from Lion
Publishing
 Saint Nicholas
- the story of the real Santa Claus - A beautifully illustrated retelling of the
story of St Nicholas...available from Lion Publishing
 Papa Panov's
Special day-
this classic folk tale has been retold by Mig Holder to enchant a new generation
of readers
 First
Festivals - Christmas,
a book to help celebrate Christmas though making and doing, giving and sharing.
Available from
Amazon
Easy-to-cut Christmas Silhouettes
by Betty Christy
Welcome Home for the Holidays:
From Harvest Through Christmas...a Treasury of Holiday Recipes, Decorating Tips,
Traditions & Easy-To-Make Gifts!
Christmas trees
Many Christian traditions in the home were borrowed from older pagan
celebrations. Pope Gregory I around 600 AD told churchmen to encourage
harmless folk customs, like the use of greenery and trees, where Christian
interpretations could be made. According to tradition,
Boniface (an Englishman who became the Patron saint of Germany) challenged some
tree worshippers. He chopped down Thor's Oak at Geismar, Germany with a couple
of swings of the axe. Boniface noticed a tiny fir tree growing in its roots and
said this was a new Christian symbol. He told the heathen tribes:
- "This humble tree's wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the
centre of your households.
- Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant
light.
- Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be
your comfort and your guide."
So the fir tree became a sign of Christ amongst the German peoples, and
eventually it became a world-wide symbol of Christmas.
Many say that Martin Luther began the lighted Christmas tree tradition in
Germany around 1500 AD. He was walking on a bright snow-covered, star-lit night
preparing a sermon. Luther was enthralled by the evergreen trees, the stars and
the landscape. He took a tree inside and put candles on it to try and
represent the majesty he felt about Jesus' birth.
Boxing day and Twelfth Night
The day
after Christmas is
Boxing
Day, a public
holiday in England and Wales. The name has nothing to do with the sport, but
refers to the tradition of giving a gift of money known as the 'Christmas
box' to servants and tradesmen. Many people
still give money to people such as postmen, milkmen, and dustmen who provide
domestic services throughout the year. On January 6th, the Twelfth Night after
Christmas, decorations should be taken down and put away until next year. This
day is also the feast of Epiphany, when Christians celebrate the visit of the
three Wise Men to the baby Jesus.
Christmas recipes
Mini 'Toads' with Cranberry
Gravy
| Children will love these puffy little
toads-in-the-hole as much as you will. The cocktail sausages can be found in
the chiller cabinet. Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30-35 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
3-4 tbsp sunflower oil
24 cocktail sausages (from a pack of Waitrose 36 Assorted Cocktail Sausages)
50g plain flour
1 medium egg, beaten
150ml milk
300g tub Joubčre Fresh Beef Gravy
2 tbsp cranberry sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 220°C, gas mark 7. Brush a shallow 12-hole muffin tin
liberally with oil. Place 2 sausages in each tin hole, then place the muffin
tin in the oven to cook the sausages for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the flour in a bowl with a little salt. Make a well in
the centre and add the egg. Beat the egg lightly, then gradually whisk in
the milk, drawing the flour into the centre to make a smooth batter.
Remove the tin from the oven. Pour a little batter into each hole and
return to the oven for 20-25 minutes until the batter has risen and is
golden and crisp.
Meanwhile, heat the gravy with the cranberry sauce in a small pan. Simmer
for 5 minutes, stirring until hot. Serve 3 'toads' per person with broccoli
and green beans, and the gravy.
Cook's tip
Freeze the remaining 12 sausages from the pack or make a cocktail nibble:
wrap each sausage in a thin slice of bacon and place in the oven at 200°C,
gas mark 6 for 10-12 minutes until the bacon is crisp.
This recipe was first published on Waitrose.com in October 2003. |
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Christmas is coming, the goose is
getting fat, please put a penny in the old man sack, if you haven't got a
penny a ha'penny will do, if you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless
you! |
Buy
Delia Smith's Christmas
Who was
St. Boniface?
Who
was
Martin Luther?
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