Many North American communities and towns celebrate the warmth and joy of the holidays by sharing a communal Christmas tree. Traditionally, a super-sized, evergreen tree is erected in a park or town square and decorated with colorful ornaments and lights. Often family, friends and neighbors gather at a special tree lighting ceremony to kick off the holiday season.
In the original version of the fairy tale we know as Little Red Riding Hood, a dear little girl was given a little cap of red velvet by her grandmother. It “suited her so well that she would never wear anything else, so she was always called ‘Little Red-Cap’.”
One of the joys of travel, whether it’s a local day trip or an extended international journey, is discovering local hidden gems. The true nature of a destination is far more likely to reveal itself off the beaten path away from major tourist attractions. That’s not to say must-see sights and popular attractions should be ignored―rather that a well-rounded itinerary, with a variety of sights and experiences, will result in a much richer travel adventure.
It’s that time of year―time to get serious about making gifts for the upcoming holidays! Judging from the activity on the FanningSparks Pinterest boards, it looks like a lot of makers have the same idea. I’ve pulled together my most popular pins to inspire your creativity and jumpstart your annual make-and-give projects.
Did you know carousels, aka merry-go-rounds, can be traced back to a skill-testing competition for knights and cavalry soldiers? A small ring would be suspended by a ribbon from a tree branch or pole. Then the competitors would ride their horses past the target at a full gallop while simultaneously attempting to pierce the ring with their lance.
In the old children’s chanting game, players stand in a circle holding their hands in fists to represent potatoes. The rhyme “One potato, two potato, three potato, four. Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more.” is recited while counting the potato-fists. The exact words and the specific rules seem to vary but, somehow, a winner is chosen.
