This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

I’m a plant seen at Christmas that people hang above.  And then they stand beneath me, and kiss someone they love.  What am I?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

With Christmas just around the corner, many Americans have followed familiar traditions of the season.

A few delightful sightings from Christmases past have included:

• Threading popcorn on a string
• Making gingerbread houses
• Drinking eggnog
• Writing Christmas cards to family and friends.

One of my cherished Christmas memories was from my childhood when our family was selected to fill in as characters for a live nativity scene at our church on Christmas Eve.  My three brothers and myself played the shepherds while our parents stood in for Mary and Joseph.  Perhaps some of you have a favorite Christmas memory.

Over the years, members of my family and yours truly have enjoyed these traditions:

• Decorating the tree (does anyone remember using tinsel?)
• Baking cookies (my mother turned her sons into expert kitchen assistants)
• Writing letters to Santa
• Touring streets filled with outdoor lights and decorations
• Watching Christmas films (“It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas”)
• Singing Christmas carols
• Spending time with family
• Exchanging gifts with family and close friends
• Wearing Christmas sweaters and ties

Nestled in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania, a small town was christened to be called Bethlehem on Christmas Eve in 1741.  Since 1937, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has been recognized as Christmas City USA.

Over the years, many families have hung Christmas stockings in their homes.  This practice has followed a long-standing tradition, first written about in the poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”  The poem was crafted by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863), and many have recognized its updated title of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  Initially, the poem was published anonymously in 1823 in a Troy, New York newspaper.  Finally in 1837, Moore stepped forward to take credit for writing this beloved poem.

You are invited to share some of your Christmas memories and traditions.  Merry Christmas to one and all.

starting left and clockwise: stockings hung from the mantel with care, live nativity scene, Christmas city usa, traditional christmas tree DECORATED with tinsel, and sheet music with a familiar christmas carol. (photographs courtesy of pinterest.)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Mistletoe