Michael G. Schurmann Sr. Webdesign

Today’s Christmas Short Story

[last-posts nb="1" cont="excerpt"]

Advent Calendars

Born in Germany, I grew up with the age-old tradition of Advent Calendars. December 1st my mother always put up an Advent Calendar on the wall for my sister and I. Adding to the excitement of the Christmas holidays, the calendars were a part of our childhood that was much anticipated as we opened each and every door counting the days until Christmas would arrive. We knew that with each door we opened Christmas was one day closer. On December 24th when we opened the double doors, we knew Christmas Eve was finally here.please click here to see

Draw Like Me

What a terrific book for teaching children or even for adults who want to draw their own Christmas-themed characters. Have you ever wanted to draw a snowman or Santa and just could not figure out how to start? Now it is easy with Draw Like Me. This first in a series of e-books will teach you how to draw using the techniques that professional artists use. The great thing is it is so simple that even children can use the step by step instructions to draw their own characters… MORE

Sale $3.99

Lil’s Travel in Santa Claus Land

Lill’s Travels in Santa Claus LandFrom the 1878 book comes the story of Lill’s adventures when she visits Santa Claus land. Where dishes grow in caves, silk doll dresses grow on trees, toys grow in flower beds and greenhouses grow wax dolls, this is a charming tale that every child will love. A marble fountain where tumbling bon-bons and sugar plums are gathered up by elves is a sight to behold…. MORE

Sale $11.97

History of American Christmas Tradition

Have you ever heard of the “Winter Solstice”? Do you know that this was celebrated around the same time as Christmas yet many years before the birth of Christ? In Germany, a pagan god called Oden was worshipped during this time of the year. However, the people were terrified of him and believed he made nightly rounds to decide who would be allowed to live and who would die…MORE

Sale $4.69

Classic Christmas Tales

If Christmas is one of your favorite times of the year and curling up in your cozy chair with an afghan and a book on a cold blustery, winter night sounds like bliss to you, choose the Big Book of Classic Christmas Tales. It can be printed out for your enjoyment while sipping your hot chocolate. You will be enthralled with ‘The Little Girl’s Christmas’ or ‘Christmas under the Snow’ or ‘The Voyage of the Wee Red Cap.’ This is a must-have for any household during the Christmas season….MORE

Sale $13.97

The Traditional Christmas Holiday is not the Same for Everyone

The Christmas holidays are celebrated by Christians as the day of the birth of Jesus. The holiday season is a time for gift giving and receiving among friends and family.The traditional day of celebration is December 25th.

Holiday customs will include baking, visiting St. Nicholas, sending Christmas greeting cards and the Christmas feast. Adding twinkling lights, garlands and a decorated tree making homes festive and filled with the holiday spirit as part of the tradition.Everyone is filled with the good feelings of this time of the year.

Christmas Eve is celebrated in many countries; in others Christmas day and Christmas Eve and still others, December 26th is celebrated with Boxing Day. The 6th of January is the day the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas and Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates this day on January 7th. Each faith has their own tradition rather than being based on the actual day that Jesus was born.

The two words, Christ and mass are the origin of the word Christmas. Many of the traditional ornaments are age-old coming from the manger and the giving of gifts to the baby Jesus and the star that led the three wise men.

During the Middle Ages, Christmas was celebrated as a festival. Christmas Day was chosen by King William I in 800 as the day he was crowned King of England.

Reformation era Protestants condemned Christmas and did not believe in the religious aspect of this holiday.

From 1659 to 1681, Christmas celebrations were banned in Colonial America as the Puritan did not approve of celebrating this holiday. The residents of the states of New York and Virginia did not adhere to this ban and continued to celebrate Christmas.

In 1843 a book by Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol” was published which had much to do with the recovery of compassion and goodwill for the season. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was written by Clement Clark and many short stories were written by Washington Irving restoring the Christmas spirit.

Controversial issues surrounded Christmas during the 20th century as people tried to decide if it was a religious or non-religious holiday. Trying to determine if Christmas being a federal holiday violated church and state laws, this issue was brought to trial many times. Ganulin vs. United States in 1999 was rendered a verdict that said Christmas as a legal public holiday did not violate this law because it had a non-religious purpose. Abiding by the original ruling in 2000 was the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2000.The belief among many Christians is that Christmas is becoming too commercialized rather than staying with the true meaning and this is heard quite a lot around this holiday.