America's First Christmas (and Christmas Floral Paintings)

Some historians believe the first Christmas in the United States was celebrated in 1539 by Hernando de Soto, a dozen Catholic priests, and around 600 Spanish explorers. The settlers held a Christmas Mass in Anhaica, an Indigenous village now known as Tallahassee, Florida.

The first clearly recorded Christmas in the South was in 1607 at Jamestown, Virginia. This is if you exclude a celebration in 1604 by French settlers when they tried to establish a colony on St. Croix Island off the coast of Maine.

Some call 1776 the first "American" Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer.

Alabama was the first state to officially recognize Christmas as a legal holiday in 1836. Oklahoma was the last state to recognize Christmas as a legal holiday in 1907.

By 1860, 14 states, including several in New England, had adopted Christmas as a legal holiday.

Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston. It wasn't until the 1800s that Americans began to embrace Christmas.

In the United States, Christmas was established as a federal holiday on June 26, 1870.

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(Content generated using Google develop generative AI in Search)

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In the holiday spirit? ~ Lift your spirits!
Floral paintings always lift my spirit.
Adorn any room with these art prints!

'Christmas Roses' Giclee Print - William Jabez Muckley | @AllPosters https://t.co/qcoZq8o9xR #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/T5DzMls2tA

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'A Flower that Makes You Imagine Christmas' Giclee Print - Hiroyuki Izutsu | @AllPosters https://t.co/0xSh6CRRyx #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/edQSL2fthE

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'Still-Life of Christmas Roses' Giclee Print - Charles Etienne Guerin | @AllPosters https://t.co/bi8OZkJfUZ #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/heIHmMBWtc

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'A Christmas Arrangement with Holly, Mistletoe and Other Winter Flowers' Giclee Print - Albert Williams | @AllPosters https://t.co/KJgzb8wM7C #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/PsMCEpElxc

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

'Bear and Christmas Flowers' Giclee Print - Makiko | @AllPosters https://t.co/zHOXvs17tn #Christmas #flowers #floral #art #gifts #giftideas for #home or #office #HappyHolidays pic.twitter.com/szN1bGe62B

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 19, 2023

REFERENCES:

Contreras, Russell. “Hispanics Led First U.S. Christmas Celebrations.” Axios. Axios, December 21, 2021. https://www.axios.com/2021/12/21/hispanics-first-christmas-celebrations-us.

‌Celebrating Holidays. “History of Christmas in America,” 2023. https://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=1046.

‌billpetro. “History of the First American Christmas: 1776.” Bill Petro. The BPC Group, November 29, 2023. https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-first-american-christmas-1776/.

‌Bhagat, Dhruti. “Boston Public Library.” Bpl.org, December 21, 2018. https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-holidays-christmas/.

‌HISTORY. “History of Christmas - Origins, Traditions & Facts | HISTORY,” October 27, 2009. https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas.

‌Dallascitynews.net. “Ten Interesting Facts about Christmas - Dallas City News,” 2023. https://www.dallascitynews.net/ten-interesting-facts-about-christmas.

‌Wikipedia Contributors. “Christmas.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, December 19, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas.

Home and Garden: Ideas For Improving Your Quality of Life

Your home is your castle and you should make it a living space that you would be willing to live in for forever!  But how do you do that?  Below are a few ideas.  I recommend:  bath salts, aromatherapy, feng shui, and pomegranates.

The combination use of bath salts with aromatherapy can change a mood from anxiety and distress to an experience of comfort and serenity. ...

• Dead Sea Bath Salts (and Other Relaxation Products)

The principles of Feng Shui worked 6000 years ago and still work today! Feng shui products are designed to create a truly calm, stress-free, relaxing environment and bring serenity, i.e. harmony and balance into any environment - be it your home or where you work. ...

• Feng Shui Products Make Great Gifts For the Home or Office

The invincible pomegranate has earned its distinction as a super fruit. But there's more! ...

• Exotic Fruit: Pomegranates

Asian-American Legend ~ Bruce Lee (Nov 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973)

God bless the Internet and especially social networks, bloggers, and online writing communities. So there’s this really cool guy – Nathan Bernardo, aka NateB11 – and he is a loyal and devoted martial arts disciple. He knows a lot about MA and writes articles on the topic. Of course, in America, we know that the reason we know about kung fu, karate, and all that stuff is because the one and only Bruce Lee told US it exists and proved it by teaching US how it’s done! 

Bruce Lee departed this world in 1973 leaving behind a legion of adoring fans, some of whom would give birth to future admirers.  Legion!  Some of his fans – like my kids – hadn’t even been born yet!!  To this day, whenever information is published about this legendary martial artist, people just can’t resist taking a peek, to see if it reveals anything more about Mr. Lee that we did not know.

Check out this HUB by NateB311.

16 Interesting Facts About Bruce Lee

* * *

 

“If you truly love life, don't waste time …” by Eduardo Tuma

https://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardotuma/

Bruce Lee – The Evolution of A Master Art Legend by Advance Martial Arts

https://www.flickr.com/photos/advancemartialartsconnect/

http://www.advancemartialartsconnect.com/find-a-school

More Related articles ~ Indulge your Bruce Lee mania!

• 10 More Reasons We Love Bruce Lee
• Getting to know Bruce Lee
• How Bruce Lee Predicted the Future of Fighting
• Leadership By Virtue: The Economy and a ‘cultural noise in the background … (Reblog)
• Bruce Lee and Batman appeared on the same screen in 1966
• Donnie Yen vs Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Dream
• Bruce Lee Estate Sues to Block 'Ip Man 3′ Producers From Recreating the Dragon
• 
  

* *  SIDE NOTE – Home and Garden Design Tip:
If you have ever seen the popular film “Enter the Dragon” starring Bruce Lee, then you probably remember the scene where the old British gentleman meets with Mr. Lee in a garden to discuss recruiting him for a mission to catch a bad guy.  Did you know that the design of the garden where they had the meeting was based on principles of feng shui?

It's Springtime! Let's Keep It Rosy!

Who doesn't love the spring?  Particularly for the flowers.  My late mother loved gardening.  She especially loved planting roses.  So it's not just the season.  It's for this reason, roses have a sentimental value for me.  In addition, my research for this short blog post disclosed many interesting facts about roses that makes me appreciate these lovely flowers even more.

Did you know?

🌹  Most roses bloom in spring but not all roses bloom in spring.  

🌹  Some roses such as the Rosa "Peace" and the Rosa "Radrazz" Knock Out are repeat bloomers or continuous bloomers and bloom at various times throughout the year.  Not just during the spring.

🌹  Do you know how to care for your roses in spring?  Protecting, pruning, etc.?  Do you know how to mix your own rose food?  Learn how.  Rose gardening tips.

🌹  Did you know that every rose color has a special meaning or symbolism?  For example:  The blue rose symbolizes hope and complexity.  Curious to know about the white, the red, the pink, the purple, the black and the green?  Yes, there are green roses.  In fact, there's one green rose that's called St. Patrick's Rose.  (Top 10 Most Beautiful Green Roses.)

🌹  About roses, their colors, symbolism and secret meanings

🌹  Did you know roses could be eaten?  Yes, there are many edible flowers.  But I never thought about eating a rose.  Have you?

“Roses have been used in cooking for thousands of years and they continue to be a staple in Bulgaria, Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Iran, and northern India.”

Who knew?  
Quote source:  "Roses in the Kitchen" - WikiNut
(Apologies.  Content has been unpublished.)

• Replacement Link:  Stop and eat the roses? How to select & use edible roses in your garden. - Tyrant Farms

Hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it.  ❤

Gift Giving? Need Ideas? Candles Are Gifts That Are Seldom RE-Gifted

Candles have always been a great gift idea. Right?

Candles are seldom refused and rarely, if ever, re-gifted.

• Your child needs a gift for their teachers. Candle!
• Can’t think of what to get your mom for Mother's Day or her birthday? Candle!
• A boss needs to think of an inexpensive corporate gift for his or her employees – which, of course, he or she can write off as a business expense for tax purposes. Candles!

Image credit:  Amazon.com

(Pssst … Paperweights are also a good idea. If interested, click here. If not, let’s stay focused and stick with the candles.)

I have heard that the Yankee Candles have become an extremely popular gift item? No surprise. They are uber wonderful because they come in so many fragrances. Spiced pumpkin, cinnamon, roses, vanilla, jasmine, lilac blossoms, etc. They even come in votives.

Ask me which scent would be my favorite? Balsam & Cedar.

Why? A personal affinity towards anything that lends itself to biblical times.

Cedar trees were utilized by King Solomon in the building of the temple and are a symbol of strength and beauty.

As for balsam? Well! Balsam is for priests, kings, and … everyday people, like you and me.

Source: Webnuggetz.com

Odor Eliminating Soy Candle From Angry Orange – Eliminates Odors Leaving a Clean Citrus Scent – Perfect Gift for Smokers and Pet Owners – All Natural Soy Odor Eliminator Candle Is Made in USA – 18oz

Floral Diversity: i-Flowers For Your Garden: Indian Blanket, Indian Pink, and the Iris

Indian Blanket, Indian Pink, and the Iris are three (3) flowers that you will love. 

You will love the Indian Blanket and Indian Pink because of their glorious colors.

The scientific name for Indian Blanket is Gaillardia pulchella and the scientific name for Indian Pink is Spigelia marilandica. Both are spectacular red and yellow. I can see why the common name includes the word “Indian” because the bright colors do remind me of clothing worn by Native American Indians.

The Indian Blanket flower is a wildflower that grows all over North and South America. If you live on either of these 2 continents, chances are you've seen this flower but you didn't know the name. Other names for this flower are Fire Wheel and Sundance. Native Americans dry them and use it for medicinal teas. Here is a cool fun fact: Gaillardia is the official flower of the state of Oklahoma. I've never been to Oklahoma. But I live in Texas and the folks here like the flower so much that they chose the colors as the official school colors for the Texas State University.

*

The Indian Pink is a wildflower that grows in the greater southeastern United States (from Florida up to New Jersey and over as far as Texas). It has other names like Little Redhead or Pinkroot. Newbie gardeners probably like them because they are perennials, grow in the shade, and are pollinated by hummingbirds. However, there have been many complaints that the flower is disappearing due to overharvesting. Like most wildflowers, this flower has medicinal properties. People use it to get rid of the roundworm and tapeworm. But it also contains tannin which can be used for what seems like “anti” everything! Antibacterial, anticancer, antihypertensive, antioxidant, antitumor, antiulcer, antiviral, etc. It's even anti-HIV. Some Native American tribes use it in ceremonies to induce visions and foretell the future because it has hallucinogenic properties. Experienced herbalists warn that an incorrect dosage of medicines made from Indian Pink could have deadly consequences.

*

When I say Iris, you say Which color? This is a beautiful spring flower and it grows in pale blue, mauve, pink, yellow, and blue-violet (what I call purple). All are gorgeous! But I fancy the purple ones.

Irises in Mythology: “According to Greek mythology, when the gods wanted to communicate with mortals on earth they sent a messenger. The messenger was a goddess who, with golden wings, traveled to earth on a rainbow. Legend has it that wherever this goddess set foot on earth, colorful flowers sprung up. The goddess in question was Iris, and the flowers that were said to grow where she set foot bear her name.” (Quote Source: “Iris: A Brief History”)

Irises in Art: Vincent Van Gogh loved painting Irises. Guess what! He started painting them while he was in an asylum. Van Gogh had problems. But at least he did try to get help for himself. After all, he committed himself to the asylum. While he was there, could there be any better mental therapy than painting Irises? I wonder. Did he need a psychiatrist or did he just need a place to getaway? Only Van Gogh knows for sure. 

*

Irises have been used for both health and beauty purposes. It was used to cure dropsy and also to remove freckles. 

I'll conclude with these 2 fun facts.

(1) In America, the iris is the state flower of Tennessee.

(2) In France, the iris is the national emblem and it is known as the "fleur-de-lis" or flower of Louis, in honor of the kings of France.

Original source

Idiot’s Guide to Power Tools (Great Gift Idea!)

Thinking of buying a power tool as a gift?  Only … can’t tell a jigsaw from a drill, can you?  If you picked up a grinder you’d probably saw your own arm off.  Right?  But you know a “Bob Vila wanna be” and want to get the perfect gift for them.  This guide for the absolute beginner outlines the various tools available, their capabilities and what to buy.

 

An Idiot’s Guide to Buying Power Tools

White Elephant Gift Shopping : Pomander, Potpourri, and Paperweights

Holiday gift shopping?  Looking for white elephant gift ideas that don't come across as cheap and tacky?

Pomander comes from the French word "pomamber" and from Old French, "pomme d'embre" (apple of amber). Pomanders started out as small cloth bags that people either wore to hide body odor, or hung in a room to mask unpleasant smells. ...

The cloth bags are still around, though people generally don’t wear them any more. ( – Too obvious?) ...

Paperweights used to be kept in kings’ treasure vaults. They are hardly ever returned or re-gifted. Some are even valuable collectibles. They make the perfect gift for a loyal employee or favorite teacher, etc.

Link to the original blog post:  

Pomanders and Potpourri

Fun Fact:
A white elephant is a possession which its owner cannot dispose of and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness. The term derives from the story that the kings of Siam, now Thailand, were accustomed to make a present of one of these animals to courtiers who had rendered themselves obnoxious, in order to ruin the recipient by the cost of its maintenance. In modern usage, it is an object, building project, scheme, business venture, facility, etc., considered expensive but without use or value.^{[Wikipedia Note 1]}


Here's a thought. Why not buy a white elephant as a white elephant gift Nobody has ever given me a white elephant. :)

Top 10 Ways To Recycle Leftover Perfume (Reblog)

Odd fact about perfume: Did you know the famous philosopher Socrates did not approve of perfumes? But do you know why? He thought the smells blurred the lines between slaves and freedmen.

"History: Perfume was first used by the Egyptians as part of their religious rituals. ... Perfumed oils were applied to the skin for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes." (Source)

"During the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid (c. 2700 bc), papyrus manuscripts recorded the use of fragrant herbs, choice oils, perfumes, and temple incense, and told of healing salves made of fragrant resins. Throughout the African continent, people coated their skin with fragrant oils to protect themselves from the hot, dry sun."  (Source)

There are many ways to recycle leftover perfume.   For example, you can use perfume to make artificial flowers. Learn more.

Top 10 Ways To Recycle Leftover Perfume

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• How to smell like a movie star(scotsman.com)

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• 20 DIY Beauty Gifts That Are So Much Better Than Anything You Can Buy (Photos)(elitedaily.com)

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Gift Shopping? Shop for Gifts in My Gold Mine

If you enjoy online shopping, this site might be of interest to you.  The site is Webnuggetz.com. The site owners describe their site as a place where you can find “gold”. This is a statement from their “About” tab:

“Nuggetz are tidbits of gold you find on the internet.”

The members or web page publishers are mainly of home-based business sellers who have their own stores on Zazzle, Etsy, eBay, etc. and affiliate advertisers or marketers like me.  Feel free to visit my Nuggetz. I have been an active member since 2014 and have published 50+ web pages.  Below is a sampling of some of my suggested gift ideas and a link for you to subscribe to my web page updates. Hope you like what you see in “my gold mine”. :)

All I Got For Christmas Was a Lousy Christmas Stocking! :(
Kits to make your own Christmas stockings. Isn’t that fabulous idea? 
The product manufacturer contributes to various organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Gwinnett County Women’s Shelter, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the United Way.

• Gretta Curran Browne believes she was touched by angel.  She was raised in an orphanage and one of her caretakers, a nun, was certainly her guardian angel.  She gives her credit for becoming a writer because the sister taught here the art of telling a story.  She started her career writing short stories.   Dark Days, Dark Nights : Intro to the Writings of Gretta Curran Browne

• Don't know many people who don't enjoy the writings of Charles Dickens.  But these two books are murder mysteries that are quick reads which follow the Dickens tradition.  In other words, if you like Dickens you can't help but like these books!   Dickens Junction Mystery Series

• Gourmet food gifts are on my wishlist every year.  No matter what the event:  birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day.  Give me a food gift to make me happy.  Especially gourmet cheese.  Gourmet Food Gifts : Specialty Cheeses

• In my house there need not be a season to be a reason to drink tea.  But according to a designated "tea aficionado", he seems to think that one should drink their tea according to the season of the year.   Hmmm?  He might be on to something!   Is a Season Your Reason to Drink Tea?

Home and Garden Decorating Tips: Wishing Well in Your Own Backyard?

The tradition of the wishing well started in Europe.

Continue reading:  Wishing Well Traditions - Webnuggetz.com

Home Sweet Home : Fancy a Wishing Well in Your Own Backyard?

REF: Wishing Well Tradition - History, Origins, Rituals Water being viewed as the giver of life, the early Celts and Germanic people attached a sacredness to water. A belief developed that any wish made over a source of water would come true.

glitter-graphics.com

Cool Down Up North - Dee's Dialogue - maa organics (Reblog)

Shared this lovely image (below) via Pinterest years back. Was reviewing some of my pins to my board for general healthcare and came across this one. The link had changed which sent me into full blown panic mode!  (Right.  A shared pin on how to relieve stress and I'm freaking out!) Searched for this diligently and found it. Corrected the original source link for my pin but as an added step and blogged this post. Don't want to lose it again! Australia is on my bucket list of Places I'd to Go and if I ever get there, will have to visit Tropical North Queensland. :)
 

FYI. The link that had changed led me to this nice lady's new blog maa organics. Fortunately her posts from her old blog were still available to the public. Love both blogs!! They're absolutely fabulous!

*  January 26th is  AUSTRALIA DAY!! *

Cool Down Up North - Dee's Dialogue

 

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My Blop Stop! will Auto-Share Posts to My Shopping Channel on G+ for Nov-Dec

Starting TODAY after this post, My Blog Stop! will automatically share published posts to the Google+ page for My Shopping Channel for the remainder of the year 2014 (November and December). 

Since it's that time of the year when most people are gift shopping, the majority of the posts will likely be product suggestions or gift ideas in a wide range of categories (see listing below).  Many of the recommended items have been previously shared elsewhere around the web (Pinterest, Twitter, etc.), but if don't follow my homebiz activity in those networks, but you do follow this blog, then for your convenience they will shared here too. :)


My Shopping Channel comes under the scope of Cmoneyspinner's Home Business Projects. The G+ page was created during the early part of this year, 2014, and shared its first post January 13, 2014. (See below.) The Facebook page was launched October 23, 2014.


Both business pages support two affiliate marketing websites;

• My Shopping Channel
• Webnuggetz ~ The Other Shopping Channel

MSC Product Category Listing:
(Click on appropriate link to view sampling of selected products at the My Shopping Channel Featured Products Blog for specific category.  Similar items will be posted at My Blog Stop! for Nov-Dec.)

• Bath and Beauty
  
• Clothing and Apparel
  
• Consumer Electronics
  
• Grocery and Gourmet
  
• Health Care
• Home and Garden
• Jewelry and Accessories
• Kitchen and Dining
• Movies Music Books
• Toys and Games
• Unique Gift Ideas
  

My Shopping Channel ~ Featured Products Google Plus Collection

Warm wishes for winter to carry you through

into the New Year!  :)

glitter-graphics.com

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