Santa Claus actually started out as a version of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, known as Neptune by the Romans. Early Greek sailors feared him. He could bring terrible storms in the sea, or grant them safe journeys. Because he could save them from the angry waters, he because known as giver of all good things . The Romans and Greeks held a festival on December 6 in his honor. Many countries still celebrate Christmas on December 6 but due to the rise of Christianity, the day was changed to St. Nicholas Day in honor of an Asian bishop. Nicholas of Myra was a benevolent bishop who wore red clothing, rode a white horse who could fly, and delivered gifts anonymously. In America, we celebrate with Santa and his flying reindeer. But many countries still celebrate with their own unique version of Santa. In Sicily, it is the spirits of departed loved ones who bring gifts to children. Italian children wait for a kindly old witch named Befana who flies through the air on a broom. A Russian counterpart is known as Baboushka. Also called Grandfather Frost in some parts of the country. In Holland  Sintirk lass  arrives by boat on December 6th. Children leave a wooden shoe filled with hay and carrots for the donkey, which carries the pack of toys. In Sweden a gnome called  Juletomten  brings gifts in a sleigh driven by goats. In Germany and Switzerland the  Christ kindl , or Christ Child, brings the gifts. In some towns, Christ kindl is an angel who comes down from heaven to give gifts. In Australia Santa rides water skis, has a white beard, and red bathing suit. In China, Christmas Old Man, brings gifts to children. In England, Father Christmas wears a longer coat and has a longer beard. In France he’s known as Pere Noel. All of Latin America and Spain are predominantly Catholic so Baby Jesus, el Niño Jesus, brings the gifts. In Puerto Rico, children receive gifts from the Three Kings on January 6th, also called Epiphany. Every child puts grass under their bed for the camels. In the morning the grass is replaced with gifts. But since Puerto Rico is part of the United States, major gift giving is done on December 25 from Santa Claus. In Morocco he is known as Black Peter. In Japan, Santa Claus is called just  Santa  and many children still call him  Santa no ojisan,  which means Uncle Santa.  No matter what name a child calls Santa, it’s a thrill to write to, and get an answer from the North Pole. For more information on how to write to Santa Claus:

Christmas – it’s the most wonderful time of the year and that must be true if Andy Williams sang a song about it. But the lead up to Christmas is half the fun, (well that and the Gifts) and there are a variety of ways in which you can plan ahead to ensure that this Christmas is perfect. Goodwill to all men (and women and children) Christmas tends to bring out the joy in most of us and it can be a great excuse to get back in touch with those people who you don’t see for the rest of the year. Sending Christmas cards is often a good way of telling those distant relatives that you haven’t quite forgotton about them or a good way to butter someone up if you include them on your ‘popularity list’. Why not send your friends and family something a bit special in the way of cards this year and make your own? There are a number of card-making kits available for you to add your own design and signature, and their versatility means that they can also be sent as thank-you cards for those more generous friends and family. Don’t think of them just as cards but as a gift too. Deck the Halls Christmas is the ultimate party season and when you’ve put up the tree, hide the gifts below and plug in the fairy lights (and perhaps even an illuminous Santa Claus on the roof), don’t forget about the finer details that will help to crown you as king or queen of hosting. Choose from a selection of luxury Christmas tree decoration Gifts from the delicate and beautiful ‘3 Ornate Polished Glass keepsakes’, to the ‘Snowlace Christmas Decoration’ an intricate white snow lace ornament for the tree. There are even more personal decorations to choose from such as the ‘Shopaholic’ Christmas Baubles; not quite as festive perhaps, but ideal Christmas gifts for anyone who likes to spend, spend, spend. We all want some Figgy Pudding! The food at Christmas seems to play more of a vital role than the occasion and the gifts themselves these days, but then who could really blame us when there are just so many delicious seasonal things around and when Christmas is the only time of year we allow ourselves to just go with the flow and eat whatever might be nearby. For help on making your own delcious treats, then Mrs Manley’s recipe books can give you some top hints and tips. From traditional Christmas recipes to goodies that even the kids could help out with, these little books can make lovely Christmas gifts for yourself or someone special. Jingle Bell Rock – Christmas Game Gifts After all that food and mulled wine, you can expect a lull in energy later on in the day so if you find that your guests are starting to close their eyes a bit and you’re bored of watching re-runs on the television, simply give them a shake and let the games begin. The Christmas Game Tin is a perfect gift and contains over 400 cards of parlour games, Christmas trivia and ‘corny Christmas Cracker Jokes’. For the more intimate dinner party gift then the ‘After Dinner Trivia Tin’ may have more appeal. However, if you want to do something a little bit more extraordinary this Christmas, you could get your guests to dress up and indulge in: ‘The Brie, the Bullet and the Black cat’ a superb murder mystery dinner party game that is sure to keep everyone on their toes. Christmas Gifts don’t come more original than that. Don’t forget Rudolph Oh, to be young again! For those lucky enough to believe in the real magic of Christmas, then why not embrace it and make this Christmas a truly special occasion? The ‘Dear Santa Mince Pie and Carrots Plate’ makes an adorable feature for any family Christmas. As tradition states, children should leave out gifts such as a mince pie and sherry for Santa and some carrots for his reindeer on Christmas Eve, this silver aluminium dish leaves a little message for him too and is sure to get everyone in the mood. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Don’t forget to record your special day on camera for years to come. Despite new fashion trends for digital pictures, sometimes its nice to just sit and look through an album of memories, and so what better way to present them than in a Christmas Pudding Pocket Photo Album? An ideal Christmas gift, it comes covered in a faux suede colour for the Christmassy feel. It holds up to 40 photographs for you to look back and treasure…but don’t get too comfortable you’ve got next year’s Christmas to start planning for!

The Christmas videos for kids are the perfect examples of affection towards your child. It is a liberty given to your child to exercise their free will and enjoy to their heart’s content. Well, share your feelings with your child and say that you care for him or her. The best way to share your thoughts and feelings is the auspicious occasion of Christmas.

What the Christmas Videos would contain?

The Christmas Videos would consist of a huge number of things. They are the following:

a)    Slideshows: In the Christmas Video there are a number of slideshows. In the slideshows you will be able to see a number of interesting features.  For example, you can see Santa speaking to your child. There are a wide number of Santa features. In some, Santa speaks while in others he is seen to make fun and still in others he is seen to offer gifts. In each one of them, the features are interesting and made in the best possible manner to attract your child’s attention. Santa speaks in some of the videos. His task in to ask questions which your child will answer. The setting is made in such a way that in a group of few questions, you will have to choose some which you think your child is best able to answer. Those questions will be asked to your child by Santa. The main attraction of the video is the fact that you can see your child’s face when the shooting is complete. This will remain with you as a memento long after your child is grown up and matured. This is perhaps the best possible gift from a parent to the child. Since when he grows up he can also see the video and be amazed at the childhood memories which he or she might have forgotten.

b)    Games: In the Christmas Videos for kids there are a wide number of games. In the games, especially made in a children compatible manner, the child is made to play with the best of his abilities. There are games like racing and snooker. In racing, the car racing is perhaps the most exciting for your child. He or she would like it the best. There are also doll preparing sites in which the child is required to prepare a doll with a dress, pair of shoes, lipstick, makeup and others. Sometimes there are backgrounds to prepare.

Christmas Videos for kids has stolen the hearts of millions of people round the globe with its wide range of applications and made it possible to create some of the most precious moments of their lives for parents and children alike.

You don’t often think to play games on Christmas Eve, but playing a game or two can be a lot of fun.One fun game is ideally suited for anxious children, but could also be for adults, if you want to add some fun for gift giving. For children, this is a way to make that “open one gift on Christmas Eve” rule a little more exciting and make it last a little longer.You create a hunt with clues, so the children have to follow the clues to find their gift. Instead of the gift being under the tree, for example, you might put it somewhere else, but the children will follow clues to find it. For this game, you can use anything to write your clues on. You could use Christmas cards in their envelopes that you had extras of, you might cut out Christmas tree shapes for this, or you might want to use ornaments. Whichever method you choose, write a clue on each of your items and leave those around the house. You start by handing each child the first clue. It might say, “you sleep here every night” and the children will run to their beds. On their pillow you have placed another clue that might say, “mom’s eggs taste better with this” and the children head to the spice cabinet, where they find another clue on the salt. The final clue (and depending on the ages of your children and their tolerance, you might have only 5 clues for this game, or many more) will be the gift itself. To make it extra fun, have the gift be under the tree. Your children won’t see that coming!If you have a large gathering on Christmas Eve, try a circle game. Have everyone get in a circle and the first person will start with, “in my Christmas stocking there is an apple” and the next person will add, “in my Christmas stocking there is an apple and a boot”. Each person will continue on, remembering the previous items and the adding one of their own, and all in alphabetical order. If you miss an item, you’re out of the game and the winner is the person who successfully remembers all the stocking items over and over again each time they have to recite the items and add to the list.Looking for a little physical activity on Christmas Eve? How about a rousing game of musical chairs using Christmas music? This one can be particularly fun if you use upbeat and well-known Christmas music. Use songs everyone knows and require they sing along and dance while they run around the chairs. This adds a fun element because you are likely to have at least one person who gets so caught up in the music and dancing they don’t realize the music has stopped. This game is played like any traditional game of musical chairs with the loser being the one who doesn’t get a chair when the music stops.Since the big event on Christmas Eve is Santa’s arrival, play a game of “where’s Santa”? In this game, everyone sits in a circle and one person is chosen to be Rudolph. That person leaves the room for a minute. A Santa is chosen among those left in the room. Rudolph returns and begins hunting for Santa. Rudolph should stand in the center of the circle and try to figure out which person is Santa. Santa, meanwhile, winks at other people in the circle. If someone gets winked at, they yell, “ho ho ho”. Once Rudolph figures out where Santa is, another Rudolph and another Santa are chosen and the game continues.By Christmas Eve, your Christmas cards have been on display for a few weeks, so maybe it’s time to play a game with them. Have someone set up a laundry basket, or a gift box a few feet away (the distance depends on the age of your players and ability). Have them try to toss the cards into the box or basket. This sounds easy, but different cards of different weights and styles will react differently and can be harder than expected to get into the box or basket.

He sees you when you’re sleeping… He knows when you’re awake. But did you also know that St. Nick also knows great promotions?
Think about it for a moment. The jolly ol’ elf is one of the greatest marketers of all time — and none of us have even really seen him in the flesh!
So take some advise from the man who doesn’t fit the celebrity ideal (after all red suits and a belly like jelly aren’t exactly something the fashion police rave about), but each year consistently makes a great impression:
1. Santa uses a time-tested message that works. Each year, every year his message is consistent. Santa never changes his brand because he found one that works for him. All too often, business owners feel the need to jump on the ‘next big idea’ – even though what’s being done marketing-wise is working.
2. He uses his message to get free press. Yes, he’s selling the same thing year after year. But Kris Kringle also knows how to create great new angles to his service each an every year. Business owners need to always be thinking of new ways to create story ideas that appeal to the media, even if the message is the same.
3.He listens to his customers. Instead of bragging about how long he’s been in business or what his credentials are for supervising elves and reindeer, he focuses on what his customers want and need, and tries to deliver it. Entrepreneurs need to stop worrying about how they look on paper because frankly, no one cares. People want to know what you can do for them, not that you have years of experience or multiple degrees.
4. He’s imaginative. Santa knows what looks great in a photo op, and isn’t afraid to look silly. I mean, a sleigh and flying reindeer — now that’s a visual that everyone likes to see. We are a visual society. Start looking for great images that will appeal to your potential customers and use them, even if at first people think it’s crazy. Be different, but not just for the sake of being different. Be different with a specific benefit for your audience.
5. He is the epitome of give-to-get marketing. Why is Santa a household name? Because he has built his reputation on trust by giving, not getting. How can you not love someone who gives so many presents away each year and whose only expectation is a couple of cookies and a glass of milk? Stop thinking about how to get customers, and start thinking of what your customers’ needs are and give it to them. You become the recognized expert and people always want to do business with an expert.
So stop saying you don’t believe! Just because he’s old, overweight, long haired, unshaven and dresses funny, don’t overlook his marketing success.
Santa is a marketing expert and you can become one,
too, if you follow his marketing methods. After all, this icon has lasted hundreds of years and we’re still talking about him. And isn’t that what we all want for our businesses?

Christmas is usually a very busy time of year and for most businesses it is very important to get everything organised in advance in order to ensure that everything goes without a hitch. As a business owner or building manager it may fall to you to ensure that your office building, hotel or showroom are decorated to suit the season but with so much to get organised where do you start?

One of the most essential and recognisable decorations or symbols related to Christmas is the Christmas tree and for many centuries now the Christmas tree display has been the focal point of most Christmas celebrations. Many of us take a great deal of pride in our Christmas tree displays in our homes and the process of decorating the tree has become a regular Yule tide activity.

The history of Christmas trees and why we decorate them has a very long and varied history but most historians date the first Christmas tree displays back to Germany in the early 7th century. Over the years there have been many trends and crazes in relation to the types and themes of Christmas tree decorations.

One of the most popular decorations over time was Tinsel, which was invented in Germany in 1610 and at the time was made out of real silver threads. Whilst tinsel still remains popular today alongside electronic flashing lights, baubles, traditional wooden toys and the classic stars and angels which take pride of place on the top of the tree.

Decorating a Christmas tree display in the office however is often just hard work, with the run up to Christmas bringing mountains more paperwork and additional work to clear before the company shuts down for a Christmas break, there is not always enough time to get your Christmas tree display organised.

Getting your Christmas tree just right often takes longer than you might think not to mention having to take it all back down again when the office re-opens in the New Year. In circumstances such as this it is well worth considering hiring a Christmas tree display from a professional interior landscaping company.

Hiring your Christmas tree and other decorations may seem like another expense but in actual fact it can save you a great deal of time and will leave you with a beautiful display to rival the Christmas displays in the surrounding offices. It also means that you will have more time to concentrate on the important Christmas celebrations such as the office Christmas party and the eggnog.

A professional company will be able to supply a range of Christmas trees to suit all your requirements whether you are looking for an artificial or live tree of a particular size or require a specific themed tree. Your Christmas tree display will appear as if by magic on a date specified by you and will be whisked away after the festive season.

Most interior landscapers will also provide additional decorations such as decorative presents for under the tree that match the décor and colours of your chosen Christmas tree display. By choosing to rent a Christmas tree display you will also be able to change the theme of your tree every year without having to fork out for new decorations.

Renting a tree display from a professional company also means that you can rent Christmas tree displays for multiple areas across your premises too, with trees of all different shapes and sizes you will be able to find trees to suit your atrium areas as well as internal offices and reception areas. Displays and decorations such as wreaths and garlands are also available and can be made to suit any business environment whether you want contemporary chic or classic elegant styles.

A beautiful Christmas tree display can help to put a bit of the Christmas spirit into your office, showroom or hotel and bring a bit of colour to any room or space. By opting to rent a Christmas tree display or even other decorations such as garlands you are bound to put your staff and visitors in the festive spirit leaving you free to enjoy the season without getting covered in pine needles and glitter from the tinsel.

The long lasting custom of Santa coming and dispatching gifts has been the focal point of our Christmas when we were young. I have never felt the same thrill, excitement, and anticipation after growing up. The innocence that Santa REALLY exists and loves us is something very precious and to be cherished.
Christmas is almost here again. It is the time of the year when carols, mince pies, cakes, puddings and Santa prevail among children. Give the apple of you eye the best surprise of the season and enjoy the years of sweet innocence yet to pass by. We present a unique service to UK OnlineMarket members. Give your child the gift of the faith in Santa Claus through our esteemed Merchant partner Santa.co.uk. What better way than to have him receive a letter from the Old Man himself?? Haha, you need not arrange for a sledge and reindeers. We will make sure that your darling gets it by post, postmarked Greenland.
The letter is highly personalised. It mentions all the good and bad deeds of the year of your naughty child. It even mentions his best friend!! How can the kiddo NOT believe in Santa after such a revelation?!?
This service is available for a nominal fee and can be dispatched throughout UK. The delivery time is minimum 2 days. You can even specify the fixed date on which you want it to be delivered!
So what are you waiting for? Give your child the gift of innocence and treasure their delight on receiving such a fabulous souvenir this Christmas. What’s more, receive an amazing Cashback on your order too!!
Hot Tip: Suggest us to give some tantalising hint about this year’s Christmas Gift from Father Santa and we will mention it in the letter!!

Christmas- Most awaited festive season Christmas season is one such festive season that is most cherished and enjoyed by people all over the world. The very air spells warmth and excitement and there is an aura of sanctity and refreshment throughout Christmas festive season. People begin to plan months before where to spend the Christmas vacations so that they can have the best experiences of their lifetimes. Mainly, those Christmas celebration destinations are searched for that can offer zest, liveliness, Christmas activities, fun, enjoyment and the best of the Christmas parties so that people can spend some quality time with their loved ones. One place where increasing numbers of people prefer spending their Christmas vacations is London offering incredible Christmas events, parties in London and tons of enjoyment to its visitors. London- the best destination for Christmas parties When Christmas is being talked about then parties hold the prime importance among all the Christmas events and activities. London, that is all beautifully decked up during Christmas adds to the charm of the festival. Fully decorated Christmas trees seen all over bring the Christmas feel among the people. In fact, shopping under the festive lights of the incredibly decorated markets, ice skating in the run-ups to Christmas and watching the splendid theatre events with special Christmas productions can be an absolutely different experience all together. Throughout the city of London, various spectacular Christmas shows, music concerts and dance shows are organised that can add cherries to your Christmas celebrations. So, if you are yet deciding upon where to hit the Christmas party this time, then beyond doubt, Christmas parties in London are the best ones.Arranging Christmas parties in London If you want to arrange and host some good Christmas parties in London, it is going to be an incredible experience. London has incredible and the most spectacular of the Christmas party venues that can be booked for throwing and holding the most magnificent of the Christmas parties. These venues can be booked for both, the corporate parties which have very refined atmosphere and Christmas parties with more distinctive and diverse themes. The themes and styles of the Christmas parties range from classical to circus entertainment, Below Fahrenheit, Bespoke Christmas party, Underwater Noel, Victorian themes and simply magnificent and marvellous dance and dinner feasts. Some of the most sought after and most popular of the Christmas party venues in London include the Andaz, Late Night London, The HAC Grounds, El Faro, The Zetter Hotel, Parker McMillan and Delfina.

Looking For The Hottest Christmas Toys for your kids and loved ones? You came to the right place.

In our online store you’ll find new 2009 toys and presents as well as traditional toys and gifts you can offer to those little ones of your family who still believe in Santa Claus and his giant bag with toys and gifts. Make them happy and bring joy to their immaculate hearts with a wonderful Christmas Toy gift.

Turn your bedroom into a magical landscape with Uncle Milton Rainbow In My Room.

With a wave of your hand, a brilliant rainbow is projected across your walls and ceiling. It’s a sure way to make any room a happier place!Features auto shut-off and jack for optional AC adapter.

Your little angels will love the new rainbow multicolor lights in their room and probably won’t have any go-to-sleep problems from now on. Enjoy it yourself as well along with your kids in the long winter nights with a warm chocolate in your hand and a story book in the other reading fantastic stories to your little ones!

Imagine your favorite movies, TV shows and video games, super-sized and on the go. With the EyeClops Mini Projector, you can experience all of your media anywhere – indoors, outdoors and everywhere in between – with a screen size up to 60 inches. Works with DVD players, mp3 & multimedia players, video games and more. Power with the included DC adaptor or the portable battery pack. Get the big picture.

Kids can project movies, video games, and more with the Eyeclops Mini Projector. Designed for ages eight and older, this portable digital projector fits in the palm of your hand and projects a screen size of up to 60 inches! All you need for big-screen excitement is a dark room and standard RCA cables to connect the Eyeclops to your favorite media player or game console. With an optional battery pack for projection on-the-go, you’ll never lose sight of the big picture!

LEGO Star Wars Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser

Rule the galaxy with the ultimate Republic starship! Built for ship-to-ship combat and bristling with turbo laser batteries, the Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser is Grand Chancellor Palpatines personal flagship during the Clone Wars. Open the front panel to access the Chancellors quarters, reveal the hidden wing-cannons, and drop bombs on the Separatist forces below! Includes Chancellor Palpatine, 2 elite Senate commando bodyguards, 1 clone trooper pilot and 1 clone trooper gunner. Includes 5 minifigures: Chancellor Palpatine, 2 elite Senate commando bodyguards, 1 clone trooper pilot and 1 clone trooper gunner! Open the front hood to play inside Palpatine’s detailed command center! Lift rear wings to reveal hidden gunnar and storage area for extra bombs and missiles! Lift rear wings to reveal hidden gunnar and storage area for extra bombs and missiles.

It’s December, and you would think that Santa’s work is just getting started. But Santa, being the world’s greatest marketer, begins working on the upcoming year on December 26. I suppose he gets a good night’s sleep after he gets back from his ride around the world; he may even have slept in the next morning. But you can be sure that once he gets up, he gets right to work. And if he can’t take time off from his marketing efforts, how can anyone of us?

First of all, Santa has a brand, and everything he does enforces that brand. Could it be that you don’t think that there is a brand Santa? Well pull up an ice block, have a seat, and we’ll take a look. If I asked you to name who brings gifts to people, who would be at the top of your mind? Santa Claus, right? Of course there are others; FedEx and UPS make deliveries, too. But then again, how many five year olds are going to say FedEx?

Since Santa doesn’t have printed materials or similar collateral, he utilizes other features to differentiate between himself and his competition. Instead of a large box van, he drives a big, red sleigh. His uniform of choice is a red suit with white fur trim. And his trademark beard is equaled only by his hearty laugh. And his logo is his own image. (I wonder if that’s where Colonel Sanders got the idea.)

It’s All About Managing Relationships

Let’s take a look at everything he will have to accomplish this year. His most important asset is his contact list, and it’s forever evolving. He has to know who is to be added; who is to be deleted. Just as important as the contacts themselves is the knowledge he has about each of those contacts. This includes, but certainly isn’t limited to, such things as: interests, likes and dislikes, hobbies, accomplishments, family members, how his previous interactions with each one of them panned out. His success is based on a never-ending commitment to the fact that everything is about them … not him.

Similarly, you should be always be updating your contacts and the information you have about them. As with many things in life, the little things mean a lot. So, if at all possible, do what you can to learn about your contacts’ spouses, children, hobbies, and anything else you deem valuable. Did his business achieve its revenue goal for the year? Did she reduce her expenditures as she had planned? How is competition affecting his company?

Once you have this information, use it! The next time you are with a client who enjoys boats, ask him if he will be attending the upcoming boat shows. Better yet, buy tickets and drop them in the mail. If a customer loves to cruise the Caribbean, and you read an article about the world’s newest, largest ship, be sure to send it to her. And when she takes a cruise, make sure you ask her about it when she gets back.

Giving Leads To Receiving

To Santa, it’s all about giving, and to a great extent, that’s exactly how you should think … especially in business. The more you give to your clients, the more you’re likely to get back. Customers look for many different things when they determine the value of a product or service. Of course one of them is customer service. Yet many of us believe that extreme customer service – the kind that makes customers not only take notice but also tell others about it – is a myth. No it’s not, and those who want to take advantage of it have a tremendous opportunity.

Then again, extreme customer service is not easy. It’s planned, tracked, and redeveloped as needed. Santa knows this, and he spends what others would consider an inordinate amount of time working on it. He realizes that the results he reaps at the end of the year are based on the planning he sows at the beginning of it.

Just An Aside

We all know that Santa relies on many reindeer to get him around the globe in one night. And we can learn a lesson from this fact. Many of us can name the nine well-known reindeer, but when asked to name only one, the vast majority of us name Rudolph. Why? Because he has branded himself.

His unique value proposition – how he differs from his fellow reindeer – is known to all of us. He is the only one with a red nose that glows. The benefit of this is that he can lead Santa’s sleigh through stormy weather. He also has his own song and television show. And, although others, such as Olive the Other Reindeer, have tried to do the same, they just haven’t been able to capitalize the way Rudolph has. Who ever thought that Rudolph would be an example for businesses of all sizes?