Christmas traditions make the holiday special for families. D is for Dashing through the Snow is the fourth post at a look of Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

May this A to Z  list, one letter per post, inspire a new tradition for you! 

is for Dashing through the Snow.

Dreaming of a white Christmas is high on many people's Christmas wish lists regardless of where one lives. And, regardless of age! We dream of dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh, laughing and singing all the way. 

C is for Cookies

This is the third post, C is for Cookies, in a series of posts about Christmas traditions that make the holiday special. Similar to an Advent Calendar, but with 26 days, each post is a look at Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

is for Cookies. 

Whether making cookies with children, baking cookies to leave for Santa, baking a special recipe for a cookie exchange, or for gifting cookies to friends, cookies at Christmas are a tradition in many homes. 

B is for Books

Christmas traditions make the holiday special for families. This is the second post, B is for Books, in a series of posts similar to an Advent Calendar, but has 26 days for a look at Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

May this A to Z  list, one letter per post, add some joy to your Christmas.

is for Books. 

Christmas books are the sources for many of our Christmas traditions. Foremost for many people is the Bible that tells the story of the birth of Christ with Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem. Angels, Wisemen, shepherds, the manger, stars, and gifts are parts of our Christmas traditions from the biblical stories. 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in 1843 is considered the first in a new literary genre of Christmas books. His descriptions of Christmas parties, singing carols, giving presents, Christmas trees, and the spirit of Christmas are the origins for many of our holiday traditions. 

A is for Angel

Christmas traditions make the holiday special for families. Today is the beginning of a series of posts, beginning with A is for Angel. Similar to an Advent Calendar, but one which has 26 days, the series is a look at Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

Different families celebrate Christmas with traditions for different reasons. For some the meaning of the season is built around their religious faith, for some the meaning is the focus on family gatherings, and for some the meaning of the season stems from the heritage of their community. 

May this A to Z list, one letter per post, add some joy to your Christmas. And, perhaps inspire a new tradition for you!

is for ANGEL. 

What better way to begin Christmas celebrations than with angels, messengers from God, who were the first to announce the coming birth of the Savior to his mother. 

Christmas A to Z

Christmas Traditions A to Z is on its way to you beginning November 1. Christmas blog series require quite a bit of planning long before Christmas Day. Especially when the series contains 26 days of new posts. And, such a long series requires it to begin early. 

New posts will be published every other day, November 1 to December 21, full of traditions, history, and inspiring holiday photos.   

Watch for the new series coming your way. 

To insure you see every tradition, A to Z, use the blue box in the right-hand column to sign up to get every post delivered to your email inbox. 

Oh, what joy is coming!

Coke Case Advent Calendar and a Winner!

When I first started traveling to France

in the early 1980s,

waiters would shake their heads, and

utter, "tsk, tsk," whenever I ordered 

Coca-Cola

with my meal.
I've always loved Coke.

Getting glaçon (ice) was a real feat
in the '80s and into the '90s!

Now, getting Coke and lots of ice in France

are relatively easy.

Restaurant in Sarlat, France