Five Free Christmas Countdown Banners

Each year I am asked about the countdown banner (shown above) I use here at 365 Days of Christmas.  I love the countdowns; they're festive, fun, and oh so christmas-y.  Here are my Top Five Favorite Christmas Countdown Banners and, best of all, they are free.

These countdowns are not listed in any particular order.

1. 57 different Christmas banner themes can be found at Ult-Tex.net.
2. Noella Designs offers a variety of Christmas banner themes.
3. You will be satisfied with the choices of Christmas banners at Satisfaction.comSatisfaction.com.
4. The variety of countdowns found here are for Halloween and Christmas.
5. Magical Christmas images at FoundMyself.com act as a countdown.

Countdown to Christmas, Part Two

There are so many good ideas for making the most of the month of December, so here is part two of Countdown to Christmas.

Here are different versions and adaptations of Countdown Down to Christmas:

• 25 Days of Christmas Count Down by Blue Cricket Design
• A Simpler Season Countdown to Christmas by Life As Mom
• 25 Holiday Activities for Kids by Sheri Reed at The Stir (Toddler-aged activities)
• Advent Calendar Activities at Family Fun
• Advent Countdown Calendar by Design Dazzle.

Years ago, I started a family advent tradition at our house consisting of activities, good deeds, crafts, outings, and more to be done each day in December.  I wanted to focus on family, the spirit of giving, and, of course, Jesus.  I hoped to take the focus off all the commercialism and marketing schemes.  Thankfully, it worked.  Our family enjoys the activities as much -- or more -- than the gifts of Christmas morning.  Our advent tradition is a favorite of both mine and the kids. 

Some activity ideas:

1. Go Christmas caroling.
2. Have a hot chocolate bar for the kids and the neighborhood kids after a fun day of sled riding.
3. Visit Santa Claus and have photos taken.
4. Introduce the Elves for the Christmas season.*  Elf on the Shelf is a great tradition that we have done in our home for over five years. More information about the Elves in a later post.
5. Host a family game night and invite another family.
6. Bake cookies and other desserts for gifts (and the annual open house).
7. Deliver cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc., to local fire fighters, police officers, and senior citizen centers.*
8. Go to a Christmas tree farm to pick out the traditional family Christmas tree.
9. Have a Christmas tree decorating party.  Invite the aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  Take lots of photographs.
10. Go shopping for the annual Christmas ornament based on the children's likes and interests for this past year.  Each child gets to pick out a new ornament.
11. Build a gingerbread house and gingerbread family.*
12. Take the annual family Christmas photos.
13. Write letters to Santa and take them to the post office.*
14. Make a birthday cake for Jesus.*
15. Have a Christmas movie marathon.*
16. Decorate the house with the help from the children.
17. Let the kids create some Christmas cards for their teachers and grandparents.*
18. Have a picnic dinner by the light of the Christmas tree.*
19. Let the children decorate their own Christmas tree.*
20. Host a Christmas craft party for your children and their friends.
21. Have a Christmas wrapping party for the kids.
22. Snuggle up and read Christmas stories.
23. Have a Christmas scavenger hunt.
24. Talk about Jesus and his birth and the true reason of Christmas.*
25. Have kids go through their old toys to donate to a local charity. My kids love this part of Christmas.*
26. Sleep under the Christmas tree.
27. Go dollar store shopping with cousins.* 
28. Help a family in need by shopping for food, necessities, and one gift for each member of the family.*
29. Take a drive around town to see all the beautiful Christmas lights and outside decorations.*
30. Make Christmas gifts, such as gifts in a jar, cross-stitch, ornaments.*
31. Make What Are We Thankful For paper chain garland.*
32. Learn about Christmas traditions in other countries.*
33. Learn about Kwanzaa.* (My daughter wants to learn more about her heritage.)
34. Read the Christmas story from the Bible (usually done on Christmas day).*
35. Make Magic Reindeer Food.*
36. Snowman making contest.
37. Play a Christmas trivia game. Make your own game.  Many facts can be found online and at your local library.
38. Attend Christmas Eve service at a local church.*
39. See the awesome lights at Hartwood Acres.*
40. Play Christmas games.
41. Make and eat a red and green dinner.
42. Go to the local Christmas parade.
43. See the fabulous Christmas tree display at Kraynak's.*
44. Participate in Operation Christmas Card.*
45. Make Christmas gift tags from last year's Christmas cards.*
46. Participate in Operation Shoebox.
47. Participate in Operation Christmas Child.*
48. Journal - Top 10 Christmas Carols, Top 5 Gifts of All Time, Most Favorite Christmas, What Does Christmas Mean to You.
49. Let the kids decorate their rooms.
50. Track Santa online.*
51. Make a Christmas wish list.
52. Offer to babysit for a single mother so she can go Christmas shopping without the kids.
53. Make Christmas ornaments.*
54. Make Christmas Countdown Tree.
55. Scrapbook all the activities and chaos of the Christmas season.*

* denotes the traditions we do in our home.

Dollar Store Shopping
Each cousin draws a name from a hat and shops for that person. Then, we all gather at our house to wrap the gifts.  After a fun dinner of party foods, the kids open their gifts.

Magic Reindeer Food
Mix 1/4 cup oatmeal and sprinkle of red or green sugar crystals. Put in a small Ziploc bag or small baby food container.

Paper Chain Garland
Each day the kids write something they are thankful for and add the new "chain" to the garland.  Each person who visits during the holidays is asked to participate.

Wrapping Paper Party
The kids make their own wrapping paper.  Then, they wrap as many presents as possible.  They also create Christmas gift tags. Our wrapping has evolved over the years.

Add your own family traditions . . . and create new traditions.

You can choose to do only one activity a day or to do 3-4 activities each day.  For us, it depended on the mood of the kids.  The "extra" activities were listed on a piece of paper in my desk drawer.

Countdown to Christmas

Based on the last post I wrote -- about Advent -- this article continues the idea of a countdown to Christmas.

There are many ways to commemorate the Christmas spirit throughout the month of December.  These ideas are based on doing a countdown from the first of December through Christmas Eve (unless otherwise noted).  The activities are for the whole family to enjoy together.

Christmas Books - Put 25 books (wrapped in Christmas paper, if you wish) in a basket.  Read a book each night before bed. There are many books about Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and the holiday season.

Advent Calendar - Open the door (drawer, box, etc.) and find a small surprise.  There are many many many versions of this type of calendar in the stores and online.

Jesse Tree - The Jesse Tree represents the family of Jesse, father of King David.  Out of this family line, God would take flesh and live among the people of Earth. The genealogy of Jesus, Matthew 1:1-17, names a person from each generation before Jesus' birth.  Make or add an ornament each day that represents the ancestors of Jesus.

Daily Scripture Readings (4 weeks)

1. Luke 21:5-19
2. Matthew 21:1-11
3. Matthew 21:12-22
4. Matthew 21:23-32
5. Matthew 21:33-46
6. Matthew 22:1-14
7. Matthew 22:15-22
8. Luke 1:57-68
9. Matthew 22:23-33
10. Matthew 22:34-46
11. Matthew 23:1-12
12. Matthew 23:13-26
13. Matthew 23:27-39
14. Matthew 24:1-14
15. John 5:30-47
16. Matthew 24:15-31
17. Matthew 24:32-44
18. Matthew 24:45-51
19. Matthew 25:1-13
20. Matthew 25:14-30
21. Matthew 25:31-46
22. John 3:16-21
23. Luke 1:1-25
24. Luke 1:26-38
25. Luke 1:39-56
26. Luke 1:57-66
27. Luke 1:67-80
28. Matthew 1:18-25

Community Cares

1. Bake cookies, brownies, and other sweets, then deliver them to a local fire company &/or police station.
2. Go Christmas caroling at a local senior citizen center.
3. Do a Christmas craft with a local Head Start class.
4. Shovel the sidewalk/driveway for an elderly neighbor.
5. Help a local Boy Scout or Girl Scout group buy presents for a low-income family .
6. Provide babysitting for a single parent so they can go shopping without the kids.
7. Donate a Christmas tree to a local library.
8. Donate money to your favorite charity.
9. Help out at your local soup kitchen.
10. Provide mittens, hats, & scarves to less fortunate classmates.
11. Host a food drive for a local food bank.
12. Volunteer your time at a local pet shelter.
13. Host a Christmas book reading for kids at a local library.
14. Help low-income families by making a gift to the Dollar Energy Fund via your local gas or electric company.
15. Anonymously pay for the coffee/tea/pop/water for the next person in line.
16. Invite a homeless person over for a home-cooked meal.
17. Make ornaments with kids from your church to decorate the Christmas tree in the sanctuary.
18. Spend time - getting to know a person and talking about past Christmases - with a person from a senior citizens center.
19. Pamper a cancer patient with a stocking of beauty and health care products.
20. Create Christmas art with the kids to hang in the local veterans center.
21. Provide hot chocolate &/or mulled cider for local emergency room doctors, nurses, and staff.
22. Be an elf (or Santa) and deliver small gifts to a local children's hospital.
23. Donate a Bible to a youngster via the Angel Tree program.
24. Visit and pray with those incarcerated at a local jail.
25. Invite all the friends, neighbors, colleagues, etc.,  - who have no place to go - over for Christmas dinner.

 

 Of course, you can combine more than one idea to create your own unique countdown.

Advent

The month of December is filled with great anticipation so many families like to celebrate Christmas throughout the month of December instead of only on the 25th.

There are many ways to commerate Christmas beyond the one BIG day. Advent calendars -- or countdown to Christmas -- is a jolly and merry way to incorporate

The word advent means coming or arrival. The focus of the entire Christmas season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus and the anticipation of the return of Christ (second advent).

Advent is the season leading up to Christmas day.  It begins four Sundays before December 25th (sometimes the last weekend of November, sometimes the first Sunday in December).

Advent is one of the few Christian festivals that is observed at home as well as at church.  Advent is a natural time to involve children at home in activities that directly connect with worship at church.

The season of Advent represents the long years that the Israelites awaited the coming Savior.

At the heart of the Christian faith is the declaration that our Lord Jesus Christ became man for our salvation.  This affirmation is expressed succinctly in the term incarnation. This word is of Latin origin and simply means invested with flesh.  Simply put, Christmas is the celebration and observance of the incarnation. Such an event calls for rejoicing, bright lights, and happy gatherings. It also calls for reverence, reflection, and a deep sense of awe.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.

There are many different ways to observe the Advent time.  It is common in many homes to mark the days of Advent (or countdown to Christmas).

The next few days I will share various ways to celebrate Advent or -- like my family -- countdown to Christmas day.

Dear Mr. Santa Claus

Check out this adorable, fun animation for the whole family.  I think, it will easily become a Christmas classic. This animated song reminds of the ads and songs from my childhood.

Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dicixW23rwo.

If you like, please help us spread the word!

"New Tradition"

I was introduced to a new holiday song that I want to share with you.  Hey Romeo, a country group from Edmonton, Alberta, released a new song yesterday titled "New Tradition."

The group Hey Romeo are the 2011 Canadian Country Music Awards "Group of the Year."

I've included a sound clip here for you to check them out: http://soundcloud.com/heyromeo/new-tradition-hey-romeo.

Christmas Countdown Giveaway

Happy December!  Only 24 days until Christmas.

In between the hustle and bustle of the holidays, let's have some fun.  If you like surprises and prizes, HostelBookers has a thing or two in their Santa sack this year, just for you.

In the spirit of a traditional advent calendar, HostelBookers is getting fun, merry, and festive by giving away fantastic prizes every day between 1st through 24th of December.

We can't promise everyone a white Christmas, but we can offer prizes including iPad2, free accommodations, Kindle, InterRail tickets, Round-The-Word Expert Flights and much more.

Come play - and win - with us...

1.  Go to HostelBookers Facebook page.
2. Like Hostelbookers.
3. Click on the 'Christmas Giveaway' tab and answer a question.

• A new question will be posted daily at midnight 00:01 GMT up to and including December 24th.
• Winners will be notified by email and announced on the blog once they claim their prize.
• Answers will be posted on the Facebook wall and on the blog.

HostelBookers is the leading budget accommodation website in the travel industry not to apply a service charge and is, on average, 8.7% cheaper than its nearest competitor. It features over 20,000 hostels, cheap hotels and budget properties on its website in over 3,500 destinations across the world. Follow us on Twitter @hostelbookers.

Personalized Christmas Gifts

With the festive period fast approaching, the spectre of what gifts to buy family and friends is upon us, and with topping last year’s purchases and buying for those that seem to own everything already, the task is becoming more difficult every year. Tailored Christmas presents are one way to get round this conundrum.

·      An old favourite is simply to make something from scratch. This method is particularly nice when the present comes from a child.  The gift actually means something and will more than likely adorn the wall or mantelpiece of a loved one for years to come.

·      Personalised mugs, hats, t-shirts, etc. are a great way to make what is usually a pretty standard Christmas gift into a more enduring and meaningful offering. The process for arranging this sort of present is fairly easy and can be done in most cases simply by sending off a relevant photo. The end result will belie the actual effort put in!

·      If you want to really make a point with a personalized Christmas gift why not go for a private license plate? For a new motorist or a seasoned driver with a new car, a personalized plate would be a perfect gift.

·       A photo frame of the digital variety is a great modern take on a classic heartfelt present. By loading up the frame with snaps of friends and family, before wrapping up for Christmas morning, you can take the hassle out of the technology for a loved one and give them a gift that will always be fresh.

·      Lastly, everybody likes to let themselves 'go' over the Christmas period, so giving the gift of chocolate is always a winner. We all know about the selection box on Christmas morning but a more refined cocoa present, with a personalised message, from a good chocolatier is a great way to give a custom gift.

Written by Daniel Nicklin on behalf of Search Laboratory Ltd. and Storm Litz.

I'm a Favorite

Alexandra, the author of the blog ropcorn.com, informed me that my blog was chosen as one of her favorite Christmas blogs.  Each week she shares three new themes, three new blogs, three new favorites.  I am totally honored and amazed that she chose this blog.  Thank you, Alexandra!  

2010 Christmas Card

Check out my awesomely beautiful Christmas cards at my main blog, All Things Cherished. You can find the whole card here.

8 Holiday-Related Injuries

8 Holiday-Related Injuries That Are Surprisingly Common

The holidays are all fun and games until someone gets hurt. With all the hype and demands surrounding Christmas time, it’s no surprise that thousands of people are injured every year from falling off a ladder while stringing lights, cutting their finger while carving a turkey, or bumping their head in a fender bender outside of the mall. With a little more patience and a lot more caution, everyone could drastically reduce their chances of holiday-related injuries.

Ugly Sweater Store

The Ugly Sweater Store is the original online store to purchase "ugly" sweaters for Christmas, Halloween, and everything in between. Of course, what is considered "ugly" is really in the eye of the beholder, so they offer a variety of sweaters on their site.

The idea of the Ugly Sweater Store materialized in 2008 while spending too much time on the congested highways of Chicago. Ugly sweater parties are a growing trend and everyone wants to have that perfect ugly sweater, but who has time to scour stores for the right sweater? Ugly Sweater Store will do the shopping for you.

All of their sweaters are unique and hand-picked with an expert eye for "ugly." We know that the more beads, bells, and bling, the more likely you are to be the talk of the party.

Heinous stripes, reindeer, candy canes, bells, beads, applique galore (and so much more) go from the trash heap to Holiday Fashion Chic.

Gummibar's New Christmas Album

The Internet sensation, Gummibär has been hard at work this holiday season recording his new Christmas album called Christmas Jollies! The new five track album includes five Christmas favorites including Jingle Bells, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, and O Christmas Tree. This one is sure to ring in the holiday cheer with kids and adults alike. The album can be purchased on iTunes or the official Gummibär website (where you can also stream the full songs for free before purchasing).



Merry Christmas from your favorite animated gummy bear!

Christmas Tree for the Desktop

Go to my main blog, All Things Cherished, to get a Christmas Tree for your desktop.

Go Joy

‘Tis the season for giving and sharing. Visa’s theme for the holiday season is “Go Joy” which means spending time with friends and family and creating new traditions. To help create these joyful memories,  Visa is helping add joy to your holiday season.

Visa Signature cardholders will definitely want to check out Visa Signature’s Holiday Collection each day to see how you can get exclusive discounts on some of season’s most popular gift items. 

If you don’t have a Signature card, Visa is offering great holiday deals from merchants such as Brookstone, The Gap, Sears, The Banana Republic, and so much more. Check out the discounts and exciting deals.
Visa is also offering a weekly $5,000 giveaway on Amazon. When you purchase something on Amazon with your Visa card, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $5000 shopping spree so you can buy everything you’ll need for a cozy holiday shopping spree. You can find out more at Amazon.

Countdown to Christmas

Hey mom, how many days until Christmas? Dad, when is Santa coming? Have you heard this once or twice before? If you have kids I know you have heard this more than twice before! :)

Next time they ask, you can answer - Christmas is in 10 days, 12 hours, 15 minutes and 10 seconds. Better yet, hand them your iPhone and let them figure it out for themselves. A new iPhone application is ready for this Christmas season.  The name of the app is called Holiday-3-2-1.

Holiday 3-2-1 is much more than an image and a counter (like all the other countdown apps) - it is a complete children's activity application with true interaction for the kids to be entertained while they watch the seconds tick away towards their favorite holiday. Holiday 3-2-1 comes with interactive scenes for Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

This app is available right now. Holiday 3-2-1 is good clean family fun for all ages! More information can be found at JayPee Softworks.

I wish I had a cellular phone that has applications.

The Wreath Factory

Check out all the beautiful and striking wreaths, from traditional to modern, at The Wreath Factory at Otter Creek.

Letters By Santa

Letters by Santa offers parents, grandparents, and loved ones the opportunity to send a personally created letter to whomever they choose. The letters come postmarked from the North Pole (Alaska) with a write up of a few good deeds that the child or person has done in the past year. It's a great way to keep the spirit of believing in Santa alive and kicking. Come check out the site.

Letters by Santa is offering my readers a special coupon code -- STORM -- for $3.00 off the regular price.

The Real Magic of Santa Claus

Is Santa Real?  Eventually all kids will ask. This time need not be one of sadness and disappointment for the child or the adult.

The Real Magic of Santa Claus, will answer their questions honestly, but in a way that won’t leave them disappointed. The book is a lesson in love and sharing. Children come away realizing they are part of something special.

Not only does the author tell a bit of the history of the man (who lived over 1,000 years ago), but he offers fun statistics about Santa (like how much milk he must drink if he gets a glass at every child's house) that make it clear to children Santa can't be real.

Or can he? The author gently explains how Santa Claus is real.
This is an excellent resource to introduce children to the real meaning behind the magic of Santa Claus.  Anthony answers questions truthfully.  The book allows the reader to come to their own conclusion.  Readers soon discover that the answer opens up a new chapter in their lives. 

Santa is not a man in a red suit -- he's based on a true figure who has taught us to be generous and caring -- but readers do find that Santa is real.

The Real Magic of Santa Claus

Written and Illustrated by Anthony Canamucio

acanamucio@yahoo.com

Christmas Banner

How excting it was to receive my very own Christmas banner, personalized exactly the way I wanted!

You can personalize your sign by color, by type of material (vinyl banner, corrugated plastic, static cling, poster paper, PVC, matte vinyl banner), by size (12"x18" to 24"x48" to custom sizing), by template, and by adding your individual wording and graphics.

To order your own Christmas sign, go to Signazon.

Nicole, the SEO Manager of Signazon, was very patient and treated me like I was their number one customer.  My order took less than a week to arrive. 

The great thing about the vinyl banner is that it is a low cost decoration that is completely weatherproof and can be reused for many years.

The website is quite easy to navigate.

Some of my favorite banners/signs are:
Christmas Banner
Holiday Party
Holiday Wishes
Christmas Peace

The banner I chose: