2025
Christmas Traditions
Newport Christmas Parade
The Cocke County Partnership Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Newport Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 5.
This year’s theme is “Lights, Camera, Christmas.” Participants are asked to bring the magic of the movies to life, complete with bright lights, holiday sparkle and festive creativity.
Floats, vehicles and groups are encouraged to showcase their best Hollywood-style Christmas spirit for the entire community to enjoy.
Staging for the parade will be held in the parking lot of Cocke County High School starting at 4 p.m. Parade participants must enter the high school from Hedrick Drive.
Participants will be lined up first come, first served.
The parade will pass through downtown Newport.
JOHN SUDBRINK
Santa Claus waves to the crowds lined along East Broadway ending the 2024 Annual Newport Christmas Parade in Newport, Tennessee Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
JOHN SUDBRINK
The Faith Hope & Love Family Church float playing music travels down East Broadway at the 2024 Annual Newport Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
JOHN SUDBRINK
The Cocke County SWAT truck travels down East Broadway at the 2024 Annual Newport Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
Parrottsville Christmas Parade
The Parrottsville Ruritan Club once again hosts the Parrottsville Christmas Parade. The parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m.
Santa will be on hand at Parrott-LaRue-Myers Park, off Old Parrottsville Highway, starting at 4 p.m. and will stay for photo opportunities until almost time for the parade to begin.
Lineup will take place at Parrottsville Elementary School starting at 4 p.m. All parade participants should be in the lineup at the school by 5 p.m.
Kathy Barnes
Santa welcomed visitors at Parrott-Larue-Myers Park then rode in the Christmas parade.
Kathy Barnes
Jimmy Hensley is shown riding his 1956 Allis Chalmers WD45 in a past Parrottsville Christmas Parade.
White Pine Christmas Parade
The annual White Pine Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street. Attendees can enjoy a full day of free fun and festivities.
A Christmas Village and Santa will be at White Pine Library from noon until 3 p.m.
The Christmas Village has fun for the entire family so you can get pictures with Santa, complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and cookies.
A brief history of Christmas trees
Towering evergreen trees adorned in lights and other trinkets are a focal point of the holiday season. Christmas trees are placed in prominent locations in homes, typically in front of a large picture window or in the corners of large entryways. These awe-inspiring trees beckon people to inspect all of the ornaments and often are the first thing people envision when thinking of holiday decor.
The tradition of the Christmas tree is believed to have begun in Germany in the sixteenth century. However, the National Christmas Tree Association says there may be earlier references to Christmas trees in other parts of the world as well.
There will also be various crafts and children’s activities.
The parade lineup will get underway at 3 p.m. at White Pine School off Roy Messer Highway. The parade begins at 4 p.m. and lasts until 5 p.m.
The day will conclude with a community Christmas movie at Legion Park featuring the live action movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
early Christian calendar.
The first written record of a decorated Christmas tree comes from Riga, Latvia, in 1510. Men of a local merchant’s guild decorated the tree with roses and then set fire to it. The rose was considered a symbol of the Virgin Mary. In the sixteenth century in Alsace, France, trees were sold in the marketplace and brought home and set up undecorated. Laws limited the size to “eight shoe lengths” or slightly more than four feet. Early German Christmas trees were adorned with apples, a holdover from earlier traditions when evergreen boughs hung with apples were used as props in miracle plays. These plays took place in churches on December 24, which was Adam & Eve’s Day in the
Evergreens have long been symbolic of life during the cold months of winter, calling to mind the promise of spring to come. Various cultures, including early Christians, featured trees during winter solstice celebrations. Some historians believe Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer who might have been inspired by stars in the night, was responsible for adding lighted candles to the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was introduced to the United States by German settlers in the 1800s. Soon after those settlers’ arrival, trees began to be sold commercially. President Franklin Pierce is credited with having the first Christmas tree at the White House. Today, Christmas trees are wildly popular, with the American Christmas Tree Association reporting that 94% of U.S. consumers plan to display one.
Celebrating the Epiphany
The holiday season is full of faith and celebration. Even though people may believe this important time begins at the start of December, for millions of the Christians, the Twelve Days of Christmas begin with the birth of Baby Jesus on December 25 and continue through the Epiphany on January 6.
The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, is a Christian feast day that “celebrates the revelation of God in His Son as human in Jesus Christ,” says The National Shrine of Saint Jude. The Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 each year and gets its name from the Greek word meaning “to reveal, or manifestation,” a nod to the idea that this was the day Jesus was revealed to the world.
On the Epiphany, three Magi visited the Christ child to pay homage. These wise men were the first to greet Jesus after his parents. The Magi followed a star to Bethlehem, having faith that the Child’s location would be accurate. The unlikely royal visitors bestowed gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These herbs are typically used in burial ceremonies, and their offering may have potentially foreshadowed Jesus’ destiny.
According to Father Hezekias Carnazzo, a Melkite Catholic priest and founding executive director of the Virginia-based Institute of Catholic Culture, the Feast of the Epiphany is one
of the earliest feasts and actually predates the celebration of Christmas.
Although the Epiphany is an important date for Christians and many celebrate it, celebrants in Spain and Latin America consider it as important as Christmas Day. Within these nations Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) is a time for serving Rosca de Reyes, an oval-shaped treat that has a small doll inside to represent Baby Jesus. The figurine symbolizes the hiding of the infant Jesus from King Herod’s troops. Children also receive the majority of their gifts on Three Kings Day. It is customary for kids to place their old shoes with a wish list on them for the Three Kings. On the morning of January 6, the shoes are filled with toys and gifts.
The Epiphany is celebrated in various ways around the world. In the Czech Republic, people swim in the freezing cold Vltava River and men dress up as the Magi before riding camels through Prague’s city center. Three Kings Bread, similar to the Rosca de Reyes and called Dreikönigskuchen, is prepared and consumed in Germany and Switzerland.
Christmas fanfare does not cease when the calendar turns from December 25 to 26. The Epiphany on January 6 also is an important day of celebration.
A beginner’s guide to wreath-making
Wreaths are popular decorative items that can be customized for any season or occasion. Wreaths are particularly popular during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially when adorned with evergreen boughs and berries. Learning how to make a wreath can be a handy skill.
Those new to wreath-making need not worry, as it’s relatively easy to learn the technique. Here are the basics to crafting a wreath, which can then be adorned as desired.
Materials needed
The first step to making a wreath is having the right tools and materials on hand.
• Wreath form: This is the frame upon which the materials will be attached. Choose a form diameter that matches the desired size for the center ring of the wreath, as longer flowers or branches can be attached to create a larger finished wreath. A 10-inch wreath form is good for getting started. The form can be made from metal or grapevine. For a foam form, you’ll be poking wire into the form instead of wrapping it around it to secure your greenery and decorations.
• Paddle wire: Choose 22- to 24-gauge paddle wire to attach greenery and additional items onto the form.
• Clippers and wire cutters
• Craft scissors
• Foliage, flowers and boughs
• Decorative items and accessories
• Floral tape
• Door hanger
Prepare your work station
Once you have collected your supplies, it’s time to begin. Place all materials on a protected surface. Trim foliage into workable sizes that will fit neatly on the frame, and set aside.
Build bundles
The first step to making a wreath is to make small bouquets or bundles of greenery that look good in small bunches, suggests Homesteading Family. Hold the bundle tightly and use floral tape around the stems to keep each bundle together. Repeat this process until you have several bundles to attach to the wreath form.
Start attaching the greenery
Begin by laying a bundle onto the form and using a piece of paddle wire to first wrap around the form, and then wrap around the bundle stems to hold in place. Experts suggest pointing the stems inward and arranging the leaves and greenery to point outwards to create a fan shape. Always place the next bundle slightly overlapping and on top of the previous bundle to cover the stems. Repeat this process all around the wreath form until you reach the starting point.
Add your embellishments
Fill in any sparse areas with some decorations, such as small ornaments, bows, pinecones, ribbons, or plastic gems. Simply wrap a piece of wire around the decoration and attach it to the form as you did the bundles. When adding embellishments, work in odd-numbered groupings, as they look more aesthetically appealing on a circle, say the floral experts at Team Flower. Twist all wire ends tightly to avoid scratching your door or wall when the wreath is ready to hang.
Hang the wreath
Place the wreath holder on your door or in another spot. Determine what is the top of the wreath and twist two pieces of your paddle wire together to thicken it. Fashion the wire into a loop shape so you will have a “hook” for hanging the wreath onto the holder, which makes it more secure.
Making a homemade wreath is inexpensive and a perfect craft project for the holiday season.
Did you know?
Advent calendars are a common sight in many households each December, and some historians believe this unique tradition can be traced to a creative 19th century German housewife. Though Britannica notes the precise origins of Advent calendars are still debated, one theory behind the popular tradition suggests a woman in Munich created the Advent calendar as a way for her young and impatient yet excited son to count down the days to December 25. Though details are fuzzy and difficult if not impossible to confirm, this legend suggests the crafty German mother filled 24 different small boxes with a baked treat, allowing her son to open one each day during Advent, the nearly monthlong period of preparation for Christmas that begins on the fourth Sunday before the holiday and ends by Christmas Eve. While this origin story connects Advent calendars with Christianity, and many Christians still make it part of their Christmas celebrations, many modern people with no such affiliation also incorporate the calendars into their holiday season routines.
A dessert to satisfy your holiday season sweet tooth
Baking is a popular activity come the holiday season. Families may designate entire weekend afternoons to baking holiday goodies, and those efforts are much appreciated by the beneficiaries of all that time spent in the kitchen elbows deep in flour and confectioners’ sugar.
Cookies tend to be a go-to holiday treat, particularly in households with young children who want to leave out something homemade for the jolly old elf on Christmas Eve.
But there’s also plenty of room to expand your horizons during holiday baking sessions with the family. A finished product like these “Toffee Cheesecake Bars” from “Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Cookbook” (RDA Enthusiast Brands) by the Taste of Home/Reader’s Digest Kitchens can delight guests and might even compel the man in the red suit to smile even wider come the night before Christmas.
Makes 2 ½ dozen
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
1⁄3 cup baking cocoa
½ cup cold butter
1 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1¼ cups milk chocolate English toffee bits, divided
1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press in the bottom of an ungreased 13-inch x 9-inch baking dish. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes or until set.
2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add the milk, eggs and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in 3⁄4 cup toffee bits. Pour over crust. Bake 18 to 22 minutes longer or until center is almost set.
3. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits; cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours overnight.
Christmas Eve fun for families
The day and evening before Christmas is a time of much anticipation for young children, particularly those awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. What children do not realize is that their parents have been working hard behind the scenes for many weeks to help maximize the holiday magic, and Christmas Eve often is the final push to get everything done before the big day (and man in red) arrives.
Keeping children happy and entertained on Christmas Eve can free up time for adults to check off their to-do lists and savor some of the holiday spirit themselves. Here are some traditions to explore on Christmas Eve that are entertaining for kids and adults.
• Bake some cookies. Santa is going to want a fresh batch of cookies to refuel for a long night of delivering presents. Therefore, having children prepare and bake some cookies can be a Christmas Eve tradition that keeps little ones occupied. When cooled, and after sampling one or two themselves, kids can feel pride placing a dish of cookies out for the jolly old elf.
• Decorate gingerbread houses. Christmas Eve is a great night to decorate gingerbread houses. Families who do not freshly bake the panels for the gingerbread houses can rely on pre-made kits available at various stores. It’s a smart idea to have some extra icing available, especially if kids are anxious to “glue” on extra candy embellishments.
wrapping them in a different patterned paper. Then everyone opens the pajamas at the same time for the big reveal.
• Attend evening services. Most churches hold Christmas Eve services, with some offering a Midnight service for parishioners. Spending time at these services enables families to slow down and celebrate their faith.
• Do a Christmas pajama reveal. It’s traditional in some families to buy matching PJs to wear to bed on Christmas Eve and then lounge around in them on Christmas morning. Whoever is in charge of wrapping gifts can set apart the Christmas PJs by
• Leave out reindeer food. Kids can have a fun time putting together a batch of special reindeer food. After all, Santa isn’t the only one doing the heavy lifting delivering gifts; his reindeer probably get hungry, too. Reindeer food can be made using a few different ingredients, namely oatmeal, shredded carrots and glitter. Children can decide where to toss this reindeer food, with some opting to make a path along the front lawn leading toward the house.
• Watch a holiday classic. Choose a Christmas movie and gather the family around to watch it. Some options include “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Elf,” or “A Christmas Story.” Set up a popcorn bar nearby where everyone can customize their popcorn with different add-ins, like chocolate candies, cheese or seasonings.
Christmas Eve traditions can be fun for kids and families as they anticipate all the festivities to come on Christmas morning.
A less traditional take on a family dinner staple
Roast Beef
Makes 4 to 6 servings
1 2-pound beef roast, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Flaked sea salt
Freshly ground mixed peppercorns
Fried foods are often characterized as guilty pleasures. Though frying might not be the healthiest way to make a meal, it’s hard to argue against the flavor profile of fried foods.
Air frying can produce meals that call to mind the familiar flavors of fried foods and do so in a far healthier way. This holiday season, hosts can look to air frying as a means to crafting flavorful meals without a lot of the negatives of traditional frying. That’s even possible with traditional family staples like roast beef. With that in mind, hosts can try their hands at this recipe for air-fried “Roast Beef” courtesy of Lines+Angles.
1. Preheat air fryer to 360 F. Rub beef roast with olive oil and liberally season with salt and mixed peppercorns.
2. Tie at intervals with kitchen twine to secure.
3. Spritz air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place beef roast in basket and cook for 45 minutes for medium-rare; cook for additional 5-minute intervals for more well-done meat.
4. Remove beef roast from air fryer and cover loosely with aluminum foil, letting it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Christian holiday season traditions
Many adjectives can be used to describe the holiday season, including festive, jolly and religious. Another word that may come to mind is tradition. Traditions factor heavily into holiday celebrations of faith and family.
According to The Public Religion Research Institute’s “2020 Census of American Religion,” 70% of Americans identify as Christian. Millions of Christians will be celebrating Christmas this year, and many of those celebrations will feature cherished traditions. Here are some popular Christian traditions during the holiday season.
Advent calendars and wreaths
The word “Advent” is derived from Latin and means “coming forward.” Advent is the four-week period preceding the Christmas celebration. Advent wreaths and calendars typically are part of Christmas in Christian households. Advent calendars
are sold in stores or can be made as craft projects. Most of them contain small prizes like chocolate treats or other trinkets behind each date on the calendar. Advent wreaths have four candles (three purple and one pink). One is lit each Sunday of Advent. The evergreen wreath signifies continuous life.
Nativity scene
Another popular religious tradition is setting up a nativity scene. A nativity scene places the focus on Jesus Christ. One tradition involves moving nativity figurines closer to the manger leading up to Christmas, and placing the infant Jesus in the manger on Christmas Day.
Some churches and towns also put on living nativity scenes, in which adults and children dress up, and together with live
Christmas caroling
Caroling has a long history and was originally tied to winter solstice celebrations. Christians started singing carols to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many of the songs carolers sing are traditional religious hymns. During Advent, carols will herald the coming of Jesus. After Christmas, carols are even more joyous in nature.
The three masses
Midnight Mass is a special celebration that takes place in the late hours of the evening on Christmas Eve. It is the first liturgy of Christmas that begins at midnight. It originated in 430 AD under Pope Sixtus III in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The popularity of Midnight Mass grew by the 12th century, when the celebration of three Masses on Christmas day was granted to all priests. Midnight Mass is treated as a solemn High Mass, which involves singing and praying by the light of candles. A Mass at dawn is the second Christmas mass, followed by Mass of the Day, which is the midmorning Mass of the Christmas celebration.
Christmas is steeped in tradition. While the secular traditions are well known, Christians also embrace various religious traditions at this time of year.
Kid-crafted holiday decor ideas
a rubberized adhesive or another glue that will hold up to wet conditions. When dry, replace the lid, invert the jar and watch the snow fall.
Salt dough ornaments
Getting children in on the fun of decorating for the holiday season makes this time of year that much more special. Children who make their own ornaments and other items can proudly display them all season long.
There are plenty of handmade holiday crafts to keep little fingers occupied. Here are some ideas to spark imagination and hours of creative fun.
Easy snow globes
A visit to the craft store will uncover various items that can be turned into snow globes. Look for a plastic cookie jar-like container with a lid that screws on tightly; otherwise, choose glass mason jars. Use a general ratio of one cup of water, three teaspoons of glycerine or an oil like baby oil or mineral oil, and a few teaspoons of glitter. Glue a plastic Christmas tree or snowman figurine to the underside of the lid of the jar with
Salt dough is a modeling dough made from two cups of allpurpose flour, one cup of salt, and about 3⁄4 cup of water. Mix the ingredients together and knead until the dough is smooth and easy to work with. Add more flour if it’s too sticky; more water if it’s too dry. Kids can use cookie cutters to cut shapes from the rolled-out dough, or sculpt freehand. Remember to poke a hole through the top of the ornament to thread through string or ribbon later on. While the dough can be dried out by air in about a week, a faster method is to bake in an oven at 250 F for 11⁄2 to two hours, or until the dough is dry and hard. Kids can then paint the dried creations.
Paper gingerbread figures
Children may delight in making life-sized gingerbread girls and boys they can decorate and then hang up on the wall. A roll of brown postal paper will work, as will other embellishments
These decorative items add a lot to holiday
It’s easy to recognize the holiday season has arrived. Holidaycentric sights and sounds abound this time of year. In fact, the arrival of decorations in stores seemingly comes earlier and earlier each year, perhaps to accommodate people’s undying enthusiasm for the holiday season.
Decorating a home or business for the holidays involves some familiar items, but this is a time of year when people can truly make the holidays their own. With that in mind, here are some considerations for decorations and other trinkets that can add a lot of cheer to this already festive time of year.
• Wreaths: Wreaths are one of the simplest ways to dress up windows, doors or other areas of a home. These decorative items can be made from various materials. Evergreen boughs are
festivities
one of the more traditional, but there’s also colorful garlands, flowers or even ribbon that can be wrapped to make a wreath.
• Lights: Lights are integral parts of both Christian and Jewish holiday celebrations. Lights adorn homes to represent Christ being the Light of the World. In Judaism, the lighting of eight candles for Chanukah represents how a small amount of Temple oil miraculously burned for eight days and nights. Filling a home with artificial lights or candles adds a festive touch to dark winter evenings.
• Advent calendar: While it is called an advent calendar and traditionally ties into the time preceding Christmas, anyone can utilize an advent “countdown” calendar as they anticipate the
like markers, paints, crayons, or ribbon. Kids take turns being traced while lying down on a piece of rolled-out paper. Then the general shape is cut out and decorated. Children can raise their arms, bend their legs, or vary their positions to give life to the gingerbread figures.
Winter wonderland
It can be fun to create a diorama or small winter landscape that can be set out with other decorations. Craft stores will likely sell small, plastic evergreen trees this time of year, or they may be available in the model train aisle of a local hobby shop. The trees can be given snowy boughs with a little acrylic paint. Include figures of bunnies, deer and whatever else kids can dream up. A thin strand of LED, battery-operated lights can add some illumination to the scene. Secure all items to a piece of cardboard or foam board for ease.
Children can make the most of their time crafting items for holiday decorating.
Christmas is steeped in tradition. While the secular traditions are well known, Christians also embrace various religious traditions at this time of year.
arrival of Christmas Day. There are different iterations of advent calendars, from chocolate calendars to decorative ones featuring doors behind which there are whimsical figurines. Kids may even want to get involved in making homemade calendars.
• Poinsettias: Poinsettias come in a variety of colors, but red is the hue of choice for holiday decorating. Perhaps surprisingly. poinsettias are tropical plants. The “flowers” you see on the plants aren’t flowers at all. They’re modified leaves called bracts. If you take good care of poinsettias, they can even be planted outdoors for the summer.
• Boughs and branches: One of the easiest ways to add a festive touch to a home for the holidays is with items that likely can be scavenged from outdoors. Take a hike and gather some evergreen boughs, tree branches, pine cones, and holly sprigs, which can be turned into garlands, wreaths or centerpieces. With a little white speckle paint, you can give them a snow-covered look.
Decorating for the holidays is a popular tradition and one that can make spaces even more festive to enjoy. Various items can enhance the ambiance and set the scene for the joyous weeks to come.
Sending warm wishes your way!
A roast turkey to serve as the centerpiece of a holiday meal
Turkey might only be prepared on the rarest of occasions, but it certainly takes center stage come the holiday season. As families prepare to spend time together during this special time of year, hosts undoubtedly recognize turkey as a potential centerpiece of the holiday meal. With that in mind, hosts can utilize the following recipe for “Whole Roast Turkey With Cranberries and Bay Leaves” from Lines+Angles.
Whole Roast Turkey With Cranberries and Bay Leaves
Serves 15
1 whole fresh turkey, approximately 15 pounds, rinsed and patted dry
10 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
4 bay leaves, plus extra to serve
2 large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 small onions, quartered
4 cups chicken stock, kept warm on stove over very low heat
10 ounces fresh cranberries, washed (optional)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black peppercorns
1. Remove turkey from fridge 1 hour prior to preparation.
2. Mash together butter, chopped herbs, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1⁄2 teaspoon
black pepper in a bowl; alternatively, pulse together in a food processor.
3. Preheat oven to 450 F. Season main cavity of the turkey with plenty of salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with bay leaves and vegetables.
4. Place turkey on a trivet or wire rack set inside a large roasting pan. Rub herb butter all over outside of turkey and season with more salt and pepper.
5. Roast in oven until lightly brown, about 45 minutes. Reduce oven to 350 F and continue to roast until thickest part of thighs register at least 160 F on an instant-read thermometer, 2 to 21⁄2 hours; baste turkey every 15 to 20 minutes with warm chicken stock.
6. Remove from oven and let rest, loosely tented with aluminum foil, for at least 30 minutes before serving on a bed of cranberries and bay leaves.
Great Christmas stories for children
December is filled with opportunities to make magical memories, particularly for families with young children. Christmas commands a lot of thought and attention, and parents know such efforts are worth it to see smiles on children’s faces. Stories help set the holiday scene and enable children to hold tight to all of the magic. Whether they are read together as a family or children read them on their own, these literary works can enhance special holiday moments.
• “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry: This story tells the tale of a young married couple who have to sacrifice in order to buy Christmas presents for one another.
• “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens: No Christmas season would be complete without reading (or watching) “A Christmas Carol.” When three ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge, he learns an important lesson about charity, friends and family.
• “The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear: A Christmas Book for Kids” by Stan and Jan Berenstain: Kids of all generations have grown up reading Berenstain Bears books. This volume has Mama and Papa showing Sister and Brother that the true meaning of the holiday is about giving.
• “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” by Robert Barry: When Mr.
Willowby’s tree arrives for Christmas, it is too tall for his parlor. He must cut off the top so it will fit, and that top is passed along again and again to spread holiday cheer.
• “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern: Written in 1943, this story is about a man named George who is contemplating his life while standing on a bridge on Christmas Eve. This tale became the basis for the classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
• “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss: Famed children’s writer Dr. Seuss was a master of imbuing life lessons in his stories and this book is no different. Isolated and angry, the Grinch learns to appreciate his neighbors in Whoville and comes to realize that Christmas is about being with loved ones and not material gifts.
• Gospels of Matthew (1 and 2) and Luke (1 and 2): Families can read about the birth of Jesus Christ, whose birth is primarily narrated in these passages. Matthew focuses on the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, while Luke speaks to the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, Christ’s birth and visits from shepherds.
Serve up this classic Christmas cocktail
The holiday season is often characterized as the most festive time of year, and for good reason. Social schedules tend to be especially busy come the holiday season, when friends gather for nights out on the town and families reunite in the homes of welcoming hosts.
Celebrations are certainly on the mind between late November and early January, and many people like to toast this festive time of year with a cocktail. Perhaps no cocktail is a bigger part of holiday celebrations than eggnog, which is quite popular come December but not typically consumed throughout the rest of the year. This season’s celebrations might not be the same without eggnog, and amateur mixologists can keep that in mind and whip up this recipe for “Eggnog Christmas Milk Cocktail With Cinnamon” courtesy of Lines+Angles.
Eggnog Christmas Milk Cocktail With Cinnamon
Makes 2 servings
2 ounces dark rum
2 ounces brandy
1 cup eggnog
1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
1⁄8 teaspoon cinnamon
1⁄8 teaspoon ground star anise
1⁄2 teaspoon demerara sugar
2 sticks cinnamon, for garnish
2 pods star anise, for garnish
Shortbread cookies, for garnish and to serve (optional)
1. Mix the rum, brandy and eggnog in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add the nutmeg, cinnamon, ground star anise and sugar to a small plate. Wet the rim of a glass with rum. Roll the rim of the glass in the spices.
3. Strain the eggnog mixture between the two glasses. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, star anise pods and festive shortbread cookies if desired.
Kid-friendly holiday traditions
Tradition is a big part of the holiday season. Families lean into tradition each December, and perhaps no people participate in holiday customs with more enthusiasm than children. Whether it’s decorating the family Christmas tree or baking cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, children look forward to various holiday season traditions once the calendar turns from November to December.
Parents of young children can make this unique time of year even more special by engaging in various kidfriendly traditions that are sure to produce lots of fun and even more lasting memories.
• Advent calendars: The precise origins of Advent calendars are unknown, but historians believe the tradition was started by German Lutherans in the nineteenth century. More than a century later, roughly 50 million Advent calendars are sold across the globe each year, according to
Marketplace.org. Advent is a nearly monthlong period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. Each day during Advent, children open a flap,
window or door and find a small gift, poem, candy, or another item that adds to the excitement of the season.
• Matching pajamas: Though the tradition of wearing matching holiday pajamas may not have the same lengthy history as Advent calendars, it’s nonetheless a very fun custom for families. Parents can decide how frequently their families dress up in matching pajamas at bedtime during the holiday season, but doing so on Christmas Eve is a popular way to make a fun day even more special. Another idea is to host weekly holiday movie nights during the season, which presents a perfect opportunity to don matching PJs.
• Holiday lights tour: Holiday lighting displays have come a long way in recent decades. Whereas it might once have been popular to string a few strands of lights around the exterior of a house, many holiday celebrants now beckon their inner Clark Griswold and turn their properties into areas with enough illumination to land a small plane. Holiday inflatables for the yard add to the awe of such displays. Kids tend to be especially fond of these types of displays, so parents can make a point to pick a night each holiday season to go on a tour of their neighborhoods and towns to see this year’s offerings.
• Christmas dance party: Sweets are another staple of the holiday season, and what better way for kids to burn off some of that extra sugar than to dance it away to a holiday music playlist curated by Mom and Dad? Cue up some holiday classics but let kids dance to a few of their own favorites as well.
Holiday traditions help to make the season a special time of year. Families can embrace various kid-friendly traditions to ensure children have even more fun this December.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Looking t o a shining star, wise men t raveling from afar... All o f heaven, all o f ear t h, c elebrat e His hol bir t h.
Tips to engage your faith more during the holiday season
Shopping is a big part of the holiday season, and data regarding retail sales bears that out. According to the National Retail Federation, roughly 19% of total retail sales during a fiveyear period beginning in 2019 occurred between November and December.
NRF data is a testament to how much shopping now factors into the holiday season. But millions aspire to more fully engage their faith over the final month of the year. Indeed, religious holidays like Chanukah and Christmas mark a perfect time for the faithful to place a greater emphasis on their faith. That goal can be accomplished in a number of ways.
• Read scripture each day. Many adults’ first interactions with their faith as youngsters were reading stories about the foundations of their religions with their parents, religious instructors or even on their own. Those stories might have been kid-friendly adaptations of notable stories found in the sacred writings of various faiths. This holiday season adults can engage their faith more fully by committing time each day to reading
scripture. If time is short, commuters can even listen to audio versions of sacred writings on their way to and from work.
• Volunteer at your local house of worship. Houses of worship recognize the holiday season is a special time of year. But they also recognize that the less fortunate might be particularly needy during this time of year, and many churches, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship host holiday season food, clothing and toy drives, as well as additional events, in an effort to ensure everyone gets what they need. Volunteering to lend a hand during such events can be a great way to engage more fully with your faith.
• Attend services. The hectic pace of the holiday season is well-known, and it can be hard to make it to daily or weekly services. But such services can be just what people need to reconnect with their faith during the holiday season. If it’s been awhile since you were a regular attendee at church services, commit to regular attendance throughout the month of December.
The holiday season is an undeniably commercial time of year. But it also marks a great time to reconnect with one’s faith.
Learn to decorate like a holiday pro
The sights and sounds of the holiday season help to make this a special time of year that people look forward to. With its magical moments and opportunities to gather with family and friends, the holiday season is a period to celebrate and, of course, decorate. According to an informal poll from the decorating, culture and travel experts at Veranda, 65% of respondents said that the time to decorate for Christmas is right after Thanksgiving or the first week of December.
Many stores now display holiday decorations and other wares concurrently with Halloween and fall items, so people can plan their decorating early if they expect to be adding to their holiday collections. These tips can help with decorating and make anyone deck the halls like a professional.
• Choose your theme and color palette. Consider a specific
style of decorating, whether it’s traditional, minimalist, country, or even winter wonderland. Then select a few coordinating colors to complement the theme and existing items in your home. Pick up these items as they become available in stores, as holiday merchandise often goes quickly.
• Focus on a few key areas. While it’s tempting to decorate an entire home, pros know to focus on key areas like tables, doorways and mantles to create the most visual interest. This also makes decorating more manageable.
• Rely on the rule of thirds. Create balanced and visually pleasing arrangements by dividing the space visually into nine equal parts, symbolically drawing two equally spaced
A simple roast ham affords hosts more time to mingle with guests
Hosting for the holidays is a time-consuming responsibility. Hosts welcome all that comes with inviting loved ones over for the holidays, but many might admit cooking for a crowd is a chore that takes up most of their time.
The time-consuming nature of holiday cooking leaves many hosts looking for less complicated meals that would afford them more time to spend with loved ones. The following recipe for “Roast Ham” from Lines+Angles is a straightforward dish that will let hosts spend more time with guests and still ensure everyone enjoys a delicious home cooked meal this holiday season.
Roast Ham
Makes 6 to 8 servings
1 cup honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 apples, cored and quartered
1 8-pound cooked ham, trimmed Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
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horizontal and two equally spaced vertical lines. Designers often place important elements along these lines or at their intersections to create a more visually balanced and appealing composition. When grouping decorative items together on shelves and tables, threes often look best.
• Remove clutter. It’s important to declutter a space prior to introducing holiday elements in order to create a clean and organized look. Store additional decorations and knickknacks until after the
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Warm the honey with the mustard in a heavy-based saucepan, stirring until smooth and starting to bubble at the edges of the pan. Set off the heat.
3. Arrange the apple quarters in a large roasting pan and place the ham on top. Score a diamond pattern on the outside fat; brush with some of the honey-mustard glaze, seasoning with salt and pepper at the same time.
4. Bake the ham until the thickest part of the ham registers at least 160 F, about 1 hour 20 minutes; brush with more of the glaze from time to time.
5. Once the ham has reached 160 F, increase the oven temperature to 450 F and cook for a further 5 to 10 minutes until the top is golden brown and starting to caramelize.
6. Remove from the oven and let cool before slicing and serving. Can also be chilled and served cold.
holiday season.
• Start with lights. It’s often easier to decorate by beginning with lights first, and then weaving additional decorations into the mix. Build on lights with garlands and accent items.
• Less is often more. Keep the decorating simple. A few elements here and there can have a much more effective impact than several things that draw attention away from one another. When taking out holiday decorations this year, use it as an opportunity to assess and cull the collection, which will make things easier next year.
Scented crafts capture the season
The holiday season is a glorious time of year when many people are itching to transform their homes and businesses into winter wonderlands. Decorations certainly catch the eye and do much to establish that festive holiday feeling. Savvy individuals know that scents also can convey messages and elicit strong memories.
Scents can bring back memories and have a stronger link to emotions than the other senses, according to Discovery. Neuroscientists say scents bypass the thalamus, which acts as the relay station in the brain, and go directly to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is directly connected to the amygdala and the hippocampus, which is why aromas can trigger intense emotion and detailed memory, as these components are vital to processing memories and emotions.
paraffin wax or beeswax widely available. Crafters can customize the scents as they desire, but for the holidays, the fresh scent of pine can trigger fond memories of the season. Line the mold or fill a vessel with a few sprigs of evergreen branches collected for a decorative effect, and use drops of pine-scented essential oil to mix into the wax. When lit, the candles will make it seem like a fir tree is inside your home.
This holiday season, crafters can explore the various ways to capitalize on the scents of the season to make the experience more immersive for everyone involved. These projects showcase inviting aromas.
Stovetop potpourri
Set a simmering pot of warming scents to give your home an inviting aroma. Dried orange or lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise will smell wonderful together. Turn this into a gift by packaging the ingredients inside of a mason jar with a festive ribbon attached to it.
Cocoa-scented soaps
Crafters need only visit their local craft stores to find inspiration for various projects. Many retailers have an entire aisle dedicated to soap-making. Kits often have reusable molds, colorants and essential oils. Look for add-ins that can mimic the inviting scent of a warm mug of hot cocoa with cinnamon. Every time the soap is used it can elicit memories of sipping hot chocolate while snow falls outside.
Evergreen candles
Making candles is another fun craft project, with soy wax,
Peppermint bath bombs
Candy canes are displayed and enjoyed during the holiday season. Mimic the effect of candy canes with peppermint bath bombs that can revitalize and sooth whenever a spa experience is needed. Bath bombs can be made with a few simple ingredients pressed into a mold. They can be tossed into the bath water or allowed to dissolve during a shower to release a rich aroma into the steamy environment.
DIY reed diffusers
Reed diffusers are a flame and heat-free way to fragrance a space, which is perfect for those with pets or small children. They are easy to make and can be great gifts. One will need a glass or glazed ceramic container with a narrow opening at the top. Then add a solvent or oil to the container as the base. Some people use sweet almond oil or even vodka and water. Then add a fragrance of choice. Vanilla-scented essential oils can create a “Christmas cookie” scent. Then fill the container with a few reed diffuser sticks or bamboo skewers and wait for the scent to permeate the room.
Scented crafts can enhance the holiday experience by eliciting strong, happy memories.
Sponsors: Jefferson CockeCountyUtilityDistrict,Sonoco, Bush’s,RuralMedical Services, LimitlessDumpster, AmericanAppliance, OleSmoky,McSpadden Inc., NewportPaving& ReadyMix, TennovaNewport Medical Center,CommercialBank, Demcor, US Bank,SonocoMetal Packaging, First Horizon, andCocke County Partnership.
ABlessed Christmas to you and your family.
May the bir th of our Savior,Jesus Christ bring youendless prosperit y, blessings and peaceofmind youtruly deser ve
Merry Christmas Sheriff CJ Ball and Staff
S t e v e L o v e d a y a n d P a u l W i l l i a m s
