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A Christmas tree, Yule tree, holiday tree or Tannenbaum (German: fir tree) is one of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas. It is normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colorful ornaments during the days around Christmas. An angel or star is often placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity story. Almost every American child in the past 50 years has sung this favorite tribute to the Christmas tree, the symbol of the glories of the much anticipated celebration of Christmas. How fitting it is that the German word for Christmas tree (Tannenbaum - literally translated as fir tree) is known by all since the Christmas tree finds its earliest origins in Germany. By legend, Saint Boniface, a 7th century monk from England, used the triangular shape of a fir tree as a symbol to teach Germans about the Holy Trin...

Fake Christmas trees have a negative impact on the environment and pose significant health risks and hazards for both consumers and workers. Artificial Christmas trees are made with polyvinyl chloride (or PVC) which is a petroleum-derived plastic. The raw material for fake Christmas trees is both non-renewable and polluting. Furthermore, PVC production results in the unhealthy emission of a number of carcinogens, such as dioxin, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride. Production of artificial Christmas trees in China and elsewhere is done in sweatshop conditions without the health concern for workers. Many workers involved in the production are exposed to dangerous chemicals without adequate safety controls. In order to make the PVC needles on artificial trees more malleable, the manufacturers use lead and other additives which have been linked to liver, kidney, neurological and reproductive system damage in lab studies on animals. The Children's Health Environmental Coalition w...

It may sound like a slightly corny idea, but Christmas themed weddings can be magnificent. Instead of appearing tacky, you can design your wedding to be stylish, elegant and simple. Capture the spirit of Christmas with these simple hints and tips ... Wedding Attire: * Your dress does not necessarily have to make you look like Mrs. Claus unless you would like it too of course! A long velvet cape would be quite a subtle addition to a traditional dress, and you could use a decorated muff, rather than a bouquet. * Traditional Christmas fabrics include taffeta and plaid, so keep this in mind when you are selecting your dress. Christmas Themed Weddings Pictures Colors: * Use red, white and forest green, but also consider gold, silver and burgundy. Flowers: * Fire and ice roses are white with red-tipped petals. These would work perfectly for a Christmas themed wedding. * Instead of flowers you could use sprigs of holly, ivy and pine. * Otherwise, consider using poinsettias and baby’s breath i...

Giving is what makes Christmas such a heartwarming season. So much time and care is spent selecting the "perfect" gift for those on our list. But what about the packaging? How a package looks on the outside sets the tone for the gift inside, and a splendidly wrapped package illustrates the love and care that went into the selection of the gift. Christmas Gift Baskets W­ith just a few simple touches, you can wrap your special presents with style. After all, what could be more fun than giving a gift wrapped from the heart? In this article, we will show you how to make a variety of homemade Christmas gift packages, including: * Assembling a Christmas Gift Basket All the gift-wrapping in the world can't help a present that is sub-par. The art of assembling many small gifts for a gift basket takes planning and finesse. On this page, we will teach how to assemble the perfect gift basket every time. * Making Christmas Gift Bags Gift bags are a perfect way to present someone ...