Christmas Joys

Christmas is definitely the season when all people from different walks of life in various parts of the world are celebrating. While there are countries that are not recognizing this celebration, still, a bigger percentage of the religions across the globe are looking forward to this season of giving and rejoicing.

At any given occasion, especially Christmas, music plays a very important role in lighting up a room and keeping the spirit alive. It gives energy and an unexplainable happiness to every person listening to it. Whether it is a loud or soft music, with words or instrumental, the joy of listening to Christmas songs simply uplifts our spirit and gives us a good thought that there is something to look forward to.

In our lifetime, there are Christmas songs that were born and died. However, there are songs that have serenaded our ancestors and are continuously giving us the delight of its beautiful sound until today.

One of the most remarkable and undying classic Christmas songs is “The Christmas Song”. This classical music is commonly subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” or “Merry Christmas to You”. It was written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells in 1944. There have been various renditions of this song but just before the Carpenters and Christina Aguilera’s have popularized it with their versions, Nat King Cole Trio, the original performer of this song has made it really famous during the mid 1940s. Now, there are over a hundred artists who have made their own rendition of this song, in different languages and tunes.

When it comes to festive Christmas song, “Feliz Navidad” (Merry Christmas) takes the number one spot. This Spanish lyric song that has the beat of happy and festive mood was first recorded by Jose Feliciano in 1970. It has also become ever one of the most downloaded and aired song in the United States and have been version in various languages.

While today, there are hundreds to thousands of Christmas songs to choose from, many people still love to play old Christmas music simply because listening to these classical pieces takes them back to their childhood and brings back great memories of their past celebrations.

Truly, the celebration of any occasion is dull and lifeless without music. Christmas is an anticipated time of the year and playing music with its theme will certainly keep the spirit alive, giving every person hearing it an incomparable joy in their heart.

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One of the most important things that you must include in your company Christmas party planning without doubt are party games. And if you are looking for fun and enjoyable office Christmas party games ideas, here are some that are sure going to make your office Christmas party an event to remember.

Holiday Office Guess Games

This game is considered one of the most entertaining among the office Christmas party games, as it will tell how well each employee knows their co-workers.

Get childhood photos of each person who worked in the company from spouses, family members, significant others, etc. At the party, post each picture on a huge white poster board with a number under each. Each member of the company had to write down who they thought each person was.

Another great idea to create this game is to secretly go around and snatch one somewhat ‘personal’ item off of their desk. At the party, lay everything out on a table, each assigned with a number. Everyone had to figure out which item came from whose desk. It is interesting to see who knows what is on other peoples desks!

Association Game

Put the following on a table:

• A calendar
• The letter K
• A match in a bottle of water
• Jar of 16 candies
• Toothbrush
• Pitcher
• Candle
• Salt
• Fork
• Tacks
• Buttercup
• The letter N
• Stamp
• 2 dice on a dish of dirt
• An Iron

When the guests come, have the previous articles on a table. As they come, give them the following list. Match the statements on the list with the items on the table.

• End of pork (k)
• A bunch of dates (Calendar)
• A swimming match (match in the bottle)
• Sweet sixteen (Candies)
• Never borrowed, never lent (toothbrush)
• Seen at a ball game (pitcher)
• Out for the night (candle)
• The ending of a Biblical Character (Salt)
• Branching of a river (Fork)
• On of the causes of the American Revolution (Tacks)
• A spring flower (buttercup)
• The end of ambition (N)
• Ready to be licked (Stamp)
• A paradise on earth (dice)
• Birthplace of Burns (Iron)

Creepers and Slammers

This is another great game among the office Christmas party games as it is a good game for large groups. Sitting at a table, have people sitting on either side of you and across from you. Divide your group into two teams. One team at a time takes a turn passing a quarter under the table carefully so that the people across from you on the other team cannot see where the quarter is.

Then at any time the other team that does not have the quarter tells you to stop! They either yell CREEPERS, all the people on the team that has the quarter must bring both hands up on the table or slowly try to open their hands with their palms down trying not to allow the quarter to drop loudly.

The opposite team tries to guess where the quarter is. If the opposite team calls SLAMMERS then everyone on your team brings their hands up quickly slamming them down with palms down and opens. The other team tries to guess who has the quarter. Just take turns until you are tired of playing. It is a lot of fun and everyone can join in. The winner is the team with least number of guesses to find the quarter.

Andy Ilias is the chief editor for FNDmedia Publications and now co-writes for Perfect Party Planning Guide. To get more fun and enjoyable office Christmas party games ideas, you can find a great list here.

Many small businesses display Christmas trees in their offices or storefronts during the holiday season. For retail businesses, it’s a good way to get customers in the holiday shopping mood. For offices, it adds a touch of festive Christmas spirit for the office personnel. In any case, if you own or work in a business that displays a tree, and you’re stuck in a decorating rut with the same old ornaments and tinsel year after year, now is the perfect time to spice things up with a fun and unique Christmas tree decorating theme that is tailored to your business. We’ve got five fun ideas to get you started.

1. Retail Stores

For most retail stores, coming up with a Christmas tree decorating theme is easy; just use the products you sell as your inspiration. For example, an office supply store could use pencils, calculators, erasers, and small notepads as decorations. A health or beauty supply store could use combs, tooth brushes, empty medicine bottles, and cotton swabs. Shoe stores could use shoe laces, shoe inserts, shoe horns, and even a few children’s shoes to decorate a tree. Just remember to start with the items around you, and you can’t go wrong.

2. Restaurants

Just as with a retail store, restaurants should think about the type of product they sell. For example, a Chinese restaurant could decorate a Christmas tree with fortune cookies, chopsticks, and Asian memorabilia. Italian restaurants could have fun with dried pasta, empty wine bottles, and small Italian flags. Even a local restaurant with no particular theme for their food could still decorate a Christmas tree with local memorabilia that residents of their town would appreciate.

3. Movie Theaters

Christmas trees in movie theaters are among the easiest to decorate. Decorations can include empty popcorn containers, soda cups, and candy boxes. Movie ticket stubs, 3D glasses, and old movie reels also make fun decorating items. If your movie theater sells gift certificates, use some voided gift certificates on the tree as additional decorations. This is a great way to let patrons know that you offer gift certificates they can purchase as gifts for friends and family.

4. Hair Salons or Barbershops

Obvious decorations for a hair salon or barbershop include anything hair-related. Use combs and hairbrushes, velcro rollers or perm curlers, and empty sample-sized bottles of shampoo or hairspray. Other possible decorations might include hair clips and pins, scissors, and hair ribbons.

5. Dentist’s or Doctor’s Offices

Medical offices are a great place to display a Christmas tree, particularly if children are among your clientele, because it can help set them at ease about their visit. Fun decorating items for a dentist would include toothbrushes, dental floss, and small tubes of toothpaste. For a doctor’s office, consider toy stethoscopes, Ace bandages and wraps, thermometers, and lollipops or other treats offered to patients.

If your business or workplace doesn’t fall into any of these categories, just create your own Christmas tree decorating theme tailored to your company. An easy place to start is by using up some company memorabilia. Over the years, many businesses accumulate items such as pens, notepads, letter openers, hats, and other small items featuring the company logo. Round up these items and use them to decorate the tree, and then finish off with ornaments in the same colors as your company logo.

No matter what business you’re in, there is a way to customize a Christmas tree that will be unique and reflective of what you do. Just remember to have fun, use your imagination, and above all, make it a company project in which employees can participate and contribute. This is a great way to improve employee morale and get everyone into the holiday spirit!

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There is always a dilemma in our household about whether to dress up or go casual on Christmas day, over the years we’ve witnessed a variety of styles and fashions, from the hideous xmas jumper trend, through to grunge. My sister-in-laws always go for a glamorous look whereas I’ve always opted for comfortable but chic. But 2009 is a year of change, with the rise and rise of big and bold necklaces, I’ve decide to glam it up at the dinner table.

I love the idea of still sneaking in a bit of casual though, so will be doing this with a pair of gorgeous (but stretchy) leggings, paired with a cute little pair of knee length boots (obviously these will be swapped for wellies when we go out for our obligatory forest walk).

I will be teaming all of this with a gorgeous black tunic jumper and then topping it with a big, silver ball cluster necklace, a bit like the one off the ‘here come the girls Boots advert’ and with an oh-so-on-trend large Murano glass cocktail ring - I think I’ll feel glitzy but still in my comfort zone.

So with this in mind, I’ve also come up with some tips for styling over the Christmas holidays

Christmas eve drinks down the pub - a lovely black polar neck teamed with a silk shift dress with a sexy and modern patent leather belt, thick black tights, ever so high (almost can’t walk in them - but good if you are staying put in one place) patent leather shoes. Classic very long silver necklace and a lovely pussy bow hairband.

Boxing day at the relatives - now obviously this will depend on whether you have an annual table tennis competition in your house, or whether general drinks and a catch up is the usual. So for the former (our families choice), a lovely soft long black sweater/tunic with embellished beads around the neckline for added and easy glitz (it also ensures no necklace detachment during a vigorous backhand!), flat and chunky knee high boots. All the rest of the glamour can come in the form of a set of beautiful silver bangles - great for making a distracting noise whilst playing table tennis.

Trip to Panto - a British classic, to take the children and usually a few elderly relatives to shout ‘he’s behind you’ at oddly dressed men-folk in ladies frocks. But style is important wherever you go, so a lovely long military style coat, knee high boots (flat and chunky biker style) deep purple (this seasons hot colour) satin pussy bow shirt and black stretch skirt. A lovely very large amethyst cocktail ring, over-long silver charm necklace to drop at tummy-button level and a cute silver charm bracelet. Don’t forget you will need an over-sized handbag to carry everything in so go for Purple patent too.

Pearl and Butler are an online retailer, stocking Murano glass jewellery and other costume jewellery.

When it comes to your business, you must take every precaution to make sure you keep your clients and customers happy. There is no doubt that a business Christmas card offers you and your company an effective strategy to reach your existing clients and potential other ones. Unfortunately, some business do not make the most our if this excellent marketing tool. Here we list a few things you should not forget when sending your business Christmas Card this year.

Make them better every year. Christmas greetings help your business build up a relationship as well as trust with your customers.

When your customers receive personalized business Christmas cards they feel as if the card was sent “specially” to them, and that is the effect you are most definitely looking for.

Take your time to find the right cards. Sometimes you will have to go for two, three or even more designs. Your customers are all different and your cards should cater for each and every one of them.

Your business Christmas cards should be ordered in advance, by mid November you should start looking at several companies.

Search online for different business Christmas card greetings places. Look for offers and discounts and check if reviews are good in other websites. Ask them for samples of their work.

Once you have chosen a company, send them your corporate logo and branding colors. You want your card to match the look and feel of your business, and for your clients to recognize these elements straight away.

Create a list of existing clients and potential ones. Write down their details, and also if there is something in particular about a client (i.e. the death of a family member, promotion at work, etc) you should keep in mind when writing your cards.

Create personalized business Christmas cards. We do not want to be “like everybody else”. Every year hundreds of thousands of companies promote their business by using this marketing device to maximum effect.

Ask one or two of your employees to help with signing the cards. It will take some time but it will be well worth it in the end.

If you receive business Christmas cards from other companies make sure you display them around your office or the different offices in your place at work. It is courteous and it shows your company is thoughtful if they decide to come and visit you.

If you do not forget these basic few rules and implement them thoughtfully, you will most definitely create a very successful business Christmas card this year!

Many business owners do not pay enough attention when it comes to their printed Christmas cards. Marcia Robert will tell you everything you need to know to succeed this year with your business Christmas cards.