Its All About Christmas

Edward Grey asked:

If you and your family are thinking of another place to spend Christmas, you may consider spending Christmas in Amsterdam.

During the Christmas season, you may want to enjoy the outdoors as well and see other beautiful sites and the rich culture of the people of Amsterdam. In other places, you can’t really stay outside for long because of the cold weather. All the snow and the cold wind will just make you come back inside of the house.

In Amsterdam, it is also cold during Christmas, but a bit milder. In this type of weather, you will feel like it is winter because of the cool breeze. The best thing is, you can enjoy the outdoors. You can still walk around and tour the city. You can still visit the beautiful attractions during Christmas in Amsterdam.

Christmas in the City

Part of the Christmas spirit is visiting the church. There are plenty of churches around this city. You can visit one that is affiliated to your religion. Aside from churches, there are shrines and monuments that you may want to consider visiting while you’re there.

While touring the city, you will realize that the people in Amsterdam are very friendly and will try their best to welcome you. People in Amsterdam like most countries also do Christmas carolling. You will see a lot of carollers singing on almost every home they pass by. There are also a lot of celebrations and events around the city during the Christmas season like pageants and parties. The good thing is you can enjoy these events even if you’re not a local.

A Few Places You May Want to Visit

If you really want to feel Christmas in Amsterdam, you have to check out the Museum Quarter, or what most people call the Museumplein. This place has become a Christmas square each and every year. With a brightly-lit Christmas tree and the cool weather, this is one place that will really make you feel the Christmas spirit. There are a lot of unique shops as well as cafes that surround the area. An ice rink is also open in the evening.

If you’re in the mood to try something different, you can visit the Comedy Café on Christmas day. They usually serve special meals only during the Christmas season, at the same time; you can enjoy some entertainment offered by stand up comedians.

Popular and Historic Places

While you’re enjoying Christmas in Amsterdam, why not visit historic places. You can take a stroll along the Amsterdam canal ring. You can take a walk or rent a boat. You can also join a tourist cruise. If you decide to walk, you can also check out some monuments that you may pass by.

How about visiting museums like the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum. These museums are visited by millions of people every year and it will be worth your time if you visit these places.

The house of Anne Frank is also found in Amsterdam. During World War II, Anne Frank wrote her diary at this place. If you visit this place, you can actually see the diary on display.

Mandy Chagger asked:

Locating and booking a perfect place for your Christmas party can be a nightmare. First, you have to take into account the number of people that will be coming, and whether or not they will be bringing guests. Secondly, you want to make sure that the location you choose is large enough, yet at the same time comfortable enough to keep all those people in the Christmas spirit. Someone’s home is often much too small, although comfortable, and a large corporate centre just is not comfortable, although it may be big enough. An excellent compromise would be Christmas party hotels.

At Christmas party hotels, you can book a room, a series of rooms, or a larger area such as a conference centre for your Christmas party. Christmas party hotels are a perfect match for several reasons. First, they have the space. Secondly, they have the comfort. Thirdly, you can pick and choose the amenities that you would like to have. Finally, you can take advantage of catering, maid service, and decorating from the hotel directly.

They Have The Space

Christmas party hotels will have the space you are looking for during the Christmas season. Whether you are doing a small party that can be contained in a large suite, or whether you are doing a larger party that will need a bigger area, Christmas party hotels have all these areas available for you. Not only do the hotels have enough space, but they also come with that space furnished. When you book a party at a hotel, you will be able to tell them what you need. You can customize the type of furniture that is found in those rooms, so your party will be comfortable, as well.

Comfortable

It is the comfort that drives many people to book Christmas party hotels for their parties. Many people enjoy parties where they feel like they are at home. With a hotel, you can take advantage of good seating arrangements with couches and chairs, beautiful decorations, and an overall warm ambience for your party. Your guests will feel well taken care of and very special when attending your event at Christmas party hotels.

Choosing Amenities

Most Christmas party hotels also let you pick and choose the things that you would like to have at your party. Do you want several couches to sit on in the room, or would you like small tables and chairs? Do you need a head table for people to sit at, or would you prefer that everyone sit at the same table? Also, the hotel can take care of the extra touches such as audio or visual equipment to add to the party and the ease of communication with them.

Taking Advantage Of What A Hotel Has To Offer

However, perhaps the most important reason that many people choose to book their events at Christmas party hotels is that you can take advantage of the things that are right there waiting for you. If you would like to serve food at your party, the catering staff will provide you with the food and serve it to you, as well. The hotel can provide a pay-as-you go bar for your guests’ enjoyment, if you decide to have one. If you would like to have music, the hotel staff will provide you with the sound system and the set up. For parties that need a lot of set up or clean up beforehand, the maid staff at the hotel will do this too. There is a decorating staff that will help you with the set up and decorating of the area for your party. If the hotel is a rather fancy one, there is also going to be a parking service for you and your guests.

It is important to celebrate this time of year with your family and staff in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable and have a good time. With Christmas party hotels, you can afford to do this because the price is usually going to be right. It is suggested that you book well ahead of time, however. Many corporations book their Christmas party hotels in the off season, as soon as the hotel will let you make reservations. Doing so will help ensure that you have a quality place at a fair price for your Christmas party.

Imagine your guests in a place where they feel warm, comfortable, and jolly. With Christmas party hotels, this is the atmosphere they will get. There is no better way to ring in the holiday season than with a party put on in a place where you don’t have to worry about doing the cooking, the decorating, or the clean up. Christmas party hotels take care of all this for you. If you book in advance, you can be sure that your Christmas party is one that will be looked forward to all year.

Mandy Chagger asked:

Working hard all through the year is something that most employers expect of those that work beneath them. Chances are that you are the same way. So, when it comes time to plan your corporate Christmas party, you want to reward your employees for the year of hard work that they have put in for you. Corporate Christmas parties can be a way of celebrating the holiday season with your employees and your coworkers alike, and it can be a way of unwinding from a stressful year. Having the perfect corporate Christmas party can also lighten spirits and get everyone pumped up for the New Year to come.

Planning

The first stage to the perfect corporate Christmas party is the amount of planning that you will put into it. Many people plan theirs months ahead of time, which allows them to have enough time to order things that they need, reserve the right type of space, and send out invitations. This is a crucial stage of your corporate Christmas party, so you should make sure that you are involved in this all year round.

Venue

The location is one of the most important parts of your corporate Christmas party. You want to have a place for your party that is big enough to hold all of the people who will be coming. However, you also want to be sure that you have a space that is comfortable enough to make people feel at home and enjoy the party. Therefore, when you decide where you want to have your corporate Christmas party, size and comfort should be the two main factors you consider. You also might want to consider the location of the venue, because you do not want people to have to travel too far for the party. If you can find a place that is near the office, that would be the best because people would be spending the same amount of time to get there than they would to come to work.

Day and Time

Of course, a corporate Christmas party should be near the Christmas season, so you already have a rough idea of the day for the party. However, you should remember that often people have many gatherings with family and friends near this season, and do not wish to have to choose which one to attend. Therefore, you might consider having your corporate Christmas party close to Christmas, but a few weeks beforehand. This will help you make sure that all of the invited guests can attend the party without having to choose between it and other obligations.

The time is another important factor when planning a corporate Christmas party. If you have it on the weekend you can allow the party to start later and therefore go later. However, if you wish to have it during the week, you might want to consider doing an early party so people can get home in plenty of time to get good rest for the next day.

Food and Entertainment

A corporate Christmas party should be about fun and fellowship with the people you work alongside. However, remember that you must have something for the guests to do at the party. Many parties serve either finger food or a full dinner to thank their guests for their hard work. Most will have drinks of some kind. Be sure to include drinks with alcohol as well as those without alcohol so that people may choose what they would like to drink. If you do provide alcohol, be sure that you are following the local guidelines for who you may serve, and be sure to provide transportation for those who have had too much to drink.

Entertainment is another important part of your corporate Christmas party. At the very least, there should be music for your guests to listen to. Many planners will hire someone to perform, get a Karaoke machine, or even show a slide show or film of the previous year. You can get very creative with your forms of entertainment, but be sure that you have something for your guests to enjoy.

Making Reservations

How good or bad a party is will depend on many factors, such as where and when it is, what there is to eat, and what the entertainment is like. You cannot provide your guests with the ultimate corporate Christmas party event unless you have planned ahead accordingly and made reservations. Making reservations for locations, food service, and entertainment is something that is often done well in advance of a corporate Christmas party. Do not be afraid to do these things as soon as you are able to, because they will help make sure that your corporate Christmas party is as wonderful as it can be. Many people will make reservations early, so be sure that you have a leg up on them by doing yours early as well.

Dave Poon asked:

Christmas is one of the most awaited holidays in each calendar year. It is the most enjoyable yet stressful holiday that you get to spend with your loved ones. You can never truly immerse your self in the holiday spirit if you are all stressed out thinking about the gifts that you have not bought yet, how to set the dinner table, what food you have not yet prepared and

family members who might give you even more stress.

If you decide to spend Christmas away from home to do away with all of the stress, what better way is there to spend the Holidays than by spending it on vacation, with your family?

You can create some wonderful memories that you can look back on if you will spend a family Christmas vacation with your family. Here are some tips on how you can get the most out of a Christmas vacation:

1. Have a family meeting and decide where you will go for your Christmas vacation.

List down all of the options of where you would like to spend the holidays. Have each family member suggest a place where he or she would enjoy the most, and decide for yourselves which of the options would be the best way to go. This compromise will give each family member one less thing to complain or worry about.

Decide together how long you plan to stay on the place of your choice, and make sure that nobody has a previous commitment so that you can all spend the entire vacation together.

2. Make a to-do list so that you will not forget anything during the trip.

Do your Christmas shopping early and wrap your Christmas presents in advance. Assign a particular item or activity to family members and have everyone participate so that nobody will miss out on all the fun.

3. Plan your Christmas dinner.

Your vacation will never be complete without the entire family sitting down for a Christmas dinner. If you planned your Christmas vacation on a remote place, pack a cooler and make sure that you have all the food items with you so that you can have a bountiful feast for Christmas dinner.

4. Let it all out and enjoy!

Aside from the gift giving, the food and the holiday rush, the most important thing that you need to do while celebrating Christmas on vacation is: be together. With the busy year behind you where you hardly ever get to see each other, now is the time to finally enjoy each other’s company at leisure. You might constantly bicker with your siblings, or argue a lot with your parents, but when your family is all together, that is when you know that at the end of the day, your family is all you have and they are the

only ones who will stick with you no matter what. Enjoy these precious moments that make all the stress caused by the holidays worthwhile.

Mandy Chagger asked:

er way to celebrate Christmas than by throwing a Christmas party. Better yet, throw a themed Christmas party! Not only will your guests have a blast, they will be talking about your party for years! It is easy to have a Christmas party, so spice it up with something memorable and different.

Hawaiian Theme

Having a Hawaiian-themed Christmas party is a great idea, especially if you live in a warmer climate and can have it outside. Guests can come decked out in aloha and beach clothing while enjoying a terrific Christmas party. There are many decorating tips that can help make your Hawaiian Themed Christmas party an event to remember. First, find a Hawaii-themed Christmas invitation to send out to your guests. These can easily be found online or in specialty stores. Use silk flower leis to decorate your Christmas tree, and decorate your house or garden the same way. Make Christmas cookies using cookie cutters with a Hawaiian theme. You can find cookie cutters in the shape of pineapples, coconut palm trees, and much more. When guests arrive, throw some fresh leis or silk flower leis on them. There are many ways to make Christmas parties with a Hawaiian theme a huge success.

Medieval Theme

Another option for having a themed Christmas party is to have a medieval theme. There are many great ideas that can be used to make your Christmas party interesting and memorable. You can first find medieval-themed Christmas invitations online to send out to your guests. Use flickering lights to create a dungeon-like room. Use plywood to create a makeshift drawbridge, and a small wading pool full of water for a moat. Use fake weapons to decorate around your house to create a more medieval theme. Of course, you and your guests will have love dressing up as your favorite medieval maidens and knights. There are many websites dedicated to selling the party supplies and costumes you will need to make your medieval party a success!

Movie Themed Christmas Party

There are many Christmas movies that have become classics. You can base a whole themed Christmas party on any famous Christmas movie that you like. Some examples would be “The Grinch,” “Nightmare before Christmas,” or “A Christmas Story.” Pick a favorite and start decorating! Study the movie to find out what kind of clothing or costumes you and your guests should wear. Make sure you inform guests of the theme in your Christmas party invitations. Play the music of the movie – you can almost always buy the soundtrack of the movie online or in a music store. Dress up and decorate your home in the style of your favorite Christmas movie, and your guests will have a ball.

Christmas Tree Decorating Party

For a fun Themed Christmas Party idea, put up your Christmas tree, whether it is an artificial one or a real one. String it up with lights, if a real one, and use lots of ornaments, bows, ribbons, and fake snow. This is a great themed Christmas party for a party that involves a lot of children. Give them the decorations and let them have at the tree. They will have a lot of fun, and you will get a uniquely decorated Christmas tree in the process! Make sure to have lots of cookies and hot chocolate on hand for all the hungry people that will be there. When you are done, make sure to take a picture of everyone in front of the tree.

White Christmas Theme

It is not always possible to have a White Christmas, although most of us dream of one. You can make your own Christmas party theme by decorating everything in your house white. Make a white Christmas tree, string white lights, put up white streamers, white decorations, and prepare white drinks and white food. Ask your guests to dress all in white. If you’re bold, sprinkle lots of fake snow around the house. Your guests will be dreaming of your white Christmas party for a long time!

Christmas Costume Party

It is always fun to dress up. Christmas parties don’t have to be an exception! Ask your party guests to dress up in their favorite costumes. Some popular favorites would be Santa Claus, an elf, Christmas tree, Angel, Snowman, Mrs. Claus, or a candy cane. Hold a costume party, and give out prizes for the best costume. Couples may dress up in themes themselves.

Humorous Christmas Theme

Let your Christmas party be a very merry event and have the place decked out. This is a great party idea for a kid’s Christmas party. The room can look like a circus, with red and green streamers and balloons strewn about. Guests can dress as clowns to make the atmosphere more humorous! Kids and adults alike will have a great time at this themed Christmas party.

waldorf asked:

In the tropical islands of the Caribbean, the temperature is above 75 degrees all year long, which means at Christmastime the weather is warm and pleasant .The Christmas season in the Caribbean is also pleasant because it is far removed from the rainy season, which usually occurs from late March to May. During Christmas time in the Caribbean, the temperature is also more temperate and tolerable compared to the searing hot days of the summer months.

As in many parts of the world, family, merriment, gift-giving are among the many activities that the people of the Caribbean enjoy during Christmas. Families often live in fairly close proximity to each other however. But what makes getting together at Christmas so special is that it often involves intense and laborious preparations that are not done at any other time of the year.

In many homes, an intense cleaning is done in the two or three weeks before Christmas Day. All furniture is moved and may even be rearranged and new and fancy curtains put up for the season. The best bed linens, tablecloths, cutlery and dinnerware are also used in entertaining any visitors during the season. It is a common occurrence for visitors, including people from the neighborhood, to stop for short visits during the season.

During those visits, guests are entertained with certain food and drinks, many of which are made only at Christmas time. These include fermented drinks such as sorrel and mauby, as well as the alcoholic drink rum punch. A special type of cake, called Black cake or fruitcake, is also made at Christmas. It is made with raisins and other dried fruit that are minced and placed in wine for several weeks. This cake is the traditional dessert for Christmas dinner. The main menu of a traditional Caribbean Christmas dinner includes baked poultry, roast beef ham, boiled and steamed root vegetables, rice with peas, seasoned rice or rice pilaf, with sorrel, rum punch or mauby as the beverage.

Caroling has also been a tradition, although its practiced has been declining in recent years. Small groups from churches or schools will walk through neighborhoods singing Christmas carols or, will drive from house to house to sing carols in neighborhoods primarily in rural areas where houses are not always found in close proximity.

Two Christmas traditions that are unique to the Caribbean are the practice of Jonkonoo and having a grand market. Jonkonoo consists of a group of masked revelers who take part in a parade dancing to the beats of drums, shaking tambourines and improvised instruments. The group also include stilt walkers who appear as tall as some trees and single-story buildings. Jonkonoos perform various antics to amuse onlookers and to give candies and treats to children, especially younger children who may seem scared of any of the Jonkonoo participants.

Grand market is the big outdoor market that takes place the week before Christmas up to Christmas Eve. Outdoor markets, found in the central points of regional towns, are common in the Caribbean as a place to get fresh fruits, vegetables and produce that are grown by local farmers. But at Christmas time, they also become filled with assorted items that can be given as gifts and they bustle with activity even after nightfall. It is a special treat for children to accompany parents to grand market during the Christmas season.

Since Christmas falls during the high winter tourist season in the Caribbean, Christmas is also an opportunity for many school children to perform for tourists. Many hotels take advantage of the fact that most schools and churches will have singing and dramatic groups that perform the Christmas story and sing carols and Christmas songs. These groups are often invited to provide local entertainment at hotels and guesthouses during Christmas.

Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about Christmas into just one article. But you can’t deny that you’ve just added to your understanding about Christmas, and that’s time well spent.

Frank Dalotto asked:

Visiting a Christmas tree farm and buying a live tree grown in New Jersey can be a memorable holiday experience for the entire family? The process can be any where from an hour to a good part of the day, depending on what you and your family wants to gain from the experience.

The choices for selecting a New Jersey grown live tree are many. You can choose to cut your own tree, or pick a live tree and have it cut for you, or buy a live tree already cut, or buy a living tree you can plant.

To extend the experience to a family fun event, you can venture off to a Christmas tree farm that offers sleigh rides, hay rides and related winter events and fun.

A fresh-cut Christmas tree not only will bring warmth, beauty and the rich scents of the season to your home, but also will last throughout the holidays if given proper care.

Christmas trees are a renewable resource. They are grown as a crop; planted, sheared, and cultivated to be harvested for your enjoyment! Where each tree is cut, a new seedling will be planted. Christmas tree farms not only provide beautiful greenbelts throughout New Jersey, they also are environmentally sound. They consume huge amounts of carbon dioxide and reintroduce large quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, thus cleansing the air that we breathe. One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people.

The selection of a live Christmas tree.

When choosing a tree, select one that best suits your needs. Determine where will it be located in the home, and what type of ornaments you have – are they heavy or light? These considerations will help you select the species, the height, shape and density. Amongst the variety of species of Christmas trees grown in New Jersey, the best choices for needle retention are all the pines; Austrian, Scotch, White and Mexican Border. The Douglas-fir, Concolor, and Fraser Fir are also excellent. The Colorado Blue Spruce is very good, and the Norway and White Spruces are fair.

It is difficult to gauge the height of trees in the field. Check with the Christmas tree farm, they usually have measuring sticks available. Even though you cannot cut your tree exactly even with the ground and you will need to cut an additional bit off the bottom of your tree when you get home, your stand will add about four inches and your top piece another four inches to the final height of your tree. Therefore, it is recommended that you choose a tree that is somewhat shorter than the height of your ceiling.

The Care of the live Christmas tree

With a few simple steps, you can enjoy your tree throughout the holiday season!

A fresh cut tree, brought home in advance of bringing it indoors for decorating, should be placed in a container of water, in a cool shaded area, sheltered from the wind. If kept outside, make sure the water supply does not freeze. Before bringing it indoors, cut off an inch from the butt end. This fresh cut will enable the tree to soak up water. Put the tree in a stand, which can hold one to two gallons of water. Since fresh cut trees absorb a pint to a quart of water each day, check water level at least once daily and always keep water level above the cut end. Always keep the butt of the tree in water. If it has been out of water for more than a few hours, the sap will seal the cut trunk and it will no longer absorb water. Keeping a tree stand filled with water will prevent needle drop and prolong the tree’s freshness and color.

Select a location inside your home that is not too close to a fireplace, heat duct or radiator. Place tree in tree stand with plastic netting on. This makes it easier to move and straighten tree. Netting can be removed once the tree is set up.

The tree will take a couple of hours to return to its natural shape once the netting is removed. Fill the stand with water. On the initial fill, warm or hot water is beneficial.

The care and planting of a balled & burlapped tree.

If you have selected a balled & burlapped (dug) Christmas tree, several days prior to being brought indoors, it needs to be placed in an unheated, protected enclosure (utility building, garage, carport, basement) or on the northeast side of the house. This conditioning process adjusts the tree to the effects of rapid temperature and humidity changes that occur indoors. Before bringing the tree indoors, place it in a washtub or similar waterproof container. To help stabilize it, sand or gravel may be filled in around the root ball. Keep root ball moist; approximately a pint to a quart of water, daily, will sustain a 5 to 6 ft. tree. Ideally, it’s best to keep a dug tree in a 65 to 68 degree indoor environment and for no longer than seven days.

After tree is dismantled, do not bring it directly outdoors. If possible, gradually introduce it to the colder temperature by first placing it in a sheltered area, for several days. The hole, where the tree is to be planted, should be dug to an approximate depth of 18 inches, prior to the ground freezing and the soil from within placed where it cannot freeze. Fill the hole with leaves and cover it with plastic. Do not remove the burlap and strapping, before planting. After tree has been positioned (top of root ball should be even with original soil grade), fill hole halfway – with saved soil, cut strapping, roll down burlap and complete filling hole. A plastic covered root ball is handled in the same manner, except that before planting, slits should be cut in the plastic’s bottom half – this facilitates water drainage and root penetration. Water thoroughly and mulch.

Disposal and recycling your Christmas tree.

The disposal and recycling of Christmas trees can be coordinated with your local Municipal Government, who usually offer recycling programs. The trees are chipped into mulch and made available free of charge to homeowners. These trees may also be placed in your yard, where birds can make use of them either as a winter shelter or as a feeding station, if food is hung from the branches.

A Christmas tree is biodegradable, it’s branches may be removed and used as mulch in the garden. For proper Christmas tree disposal, check with your local municipality.

Listing of New Jersey Christmas tree farms

Provided below is a listing of popular Christmas tree farms in New Jersey. While this listing is reasonably up to date as of this writing, last minute weather and business conditions at a tree farm may change and it is strongly recommended that you call the farm in advance to confirm their supply, their hours of operation, and whether they are continuing to allow choose-and-cut or just precut trees. Do not drive out there if you can’t reach them by phone!

Augusta

Holiday Tree Farm, Augusta

973-948-7488… 44 Augusta Hill Rd…Route 80 West to Exit 34B. Rte. 15 North to intersection with Rte. 206 at Ross’ Corner/Skyland Park. Straight on Rte. 206N to first left onto Augusta Hill Road. Farm is ½ mi. on left.

Species…2,500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir

Belvidere

Wyckoff’s Tree Farm, Belvidere

908-475-4508…249 County Route 519…I-80, exit 12 to Rte 521S to 519S (10 miles from Rte 80), I-78, exit 17 to Rte 31N to Rte 46W to Rte 519S (mile marker 39).Species…600 trees; Douglas-fir

Open…8:30-4 (daily), Nov. 24 – To be determined

Blairstown

Glenview Farm, Blairstown

908-362-6904…2 Glenview Lane…I-80 Exit 12 N. – Rte. 521 – 4 mi. to Blairstown, left on Rte. 94 – 1 mi. to Mohican Rd.; From Newton – Rte. 94 S. 12 mi. to Mohican Rd. 4 mi. – rt. on Gaisler Rd. – farm 1 mi.

Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir Open…9-5 (daily), Nov. 24 – Dec. 17

Jolly Holly Christmas Tree Farm, Blairstown

908-362-6327… 56 Maple Lane…Exit 12 on Rte. 80 W to Blairstown. At traffic light, take Millbrook Rd up hill to Maple Lane. Left on Maple Lane. Farm is on left.

Species…200 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir

Open…12-4 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 17

Califon

Alger Tree Farm, Califon

908-832-2298… 7 Beacon Light Rd…From Rte. 78 exit 24 (Oldwick) 7 mi. N or Rte. 517. Turn left on Beacon Light Rd. to first house on left.

Species…400 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir

Open…8:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Dec. 2 – 24

Chesterfield (near Bordentown)

Spruce Goose Christmas Tree Farm, Chesterfield

609-298-2498…194 Bordentown-Georgetown Rd.(Rte. 545 S)…NJ Tpk. Exit 7 or I-295N Exit 57A, take Rte. 206 N. or Rte. 130 N towards Bordentown, 1st right onto Rte. 545 S. Proceed 4 mi. Farm on right. Or from intersection of Rtes. 537 & 545, take Rte. 545 N 3.5 mi. Farm on left. From McGuire AFB, take Rte. 680 W.

Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir, Serbian Spruce, all Fraser Fir are pre-cut.

Open…9-5 (daily), Nov. 24 – Dec. 24

Cranbury

Barclay’s Tree Farm

35 Orchardside Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-799-1855; Hours: Weekends 9am-5pm, Nov 27 – Dec 19

Directions: NJTpke Exit 8A, Rt 32 W to Rt 130, So on Rt 130 for 1.5 mi to light at Dey Rd. Right on Dey Rd. 1.5 mi to 1st right – Orchardside Dr. From Rt 1 , East on Scudders Mill Rd 2 mi to left at 5th light onto Dey Rd. 2.3 mi to left onto Orchardside Dr.

Choose & Harvest: Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce

Features: One low price. Saws, netting, rope and assistance provided free.

Simonson Farms

Dey Road and George Davison Road, Cranbury, 609-799-0140

Hours: M-F 12-7, Sat & Sun 9-6.

Directions: From NJ Tpk to Exit 8A. Bear right out of the tolls toward Rte. 535. At traffic light, turn left onto Rte. 535 S. Follow to third traffic light, and turn right onto Rte. 614 ( Dey Rd.) west. Straight on 614W 1.9 mi. to U-cut field or 3 miles to retail lot.

Species: 3,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir

They currently have harvestable Douglas-fir, blue spruce, Norway spruce, white pine, Concolor fir, and Canaan fir. We have two farms where you can cut your own tree. One is located on George Davison road in Cranbury and the other on Dey Road in Cranbury. Trees in these fields are U-cut… that means you have the pleasure of cutting down your own tree. Saws are available if needed. They supply twine and trees can be wrapped for ease of transport.

Cream Ridge

Bullock Farms, Cream Ridge

609-758-8726… 83 Emleys Hill Rd…From I-195, Exit 16, take Rte. 537 W past Great Adventure. Make 2nd right onto Emleys Hill Rd. Approx. 1 ½ mi., farm on right.

Species…250 trees; Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir

Open…9-5 (Wed – Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23

East Brunswick

Giamarese Farms, East Brunswick

732-821-9494… 155 Fresh Pond Rd…From the New Brunswick Area – take Rte. 1 S to 2nd Milltown exit, which will be Main St. Exit will loop over Rte. 1. Once on Main St., Milltown, count 3 traffic lights from Rte. 1. Make right onto Khulthau Ave, which is 3rd light. Go ¼ mi to split in road. Bear rt. onto Fresh Pond Rd. Go about 2 mi. Farm on right on top of hill at #155. Large sign in front.

Species…300 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir

Open…10-5:00 (Tue – Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 24 (closed Mondays

Farmingdale

Meadowview Farm, Farmingdale

732-938-7181… 60 Birdsall Rd…½ mi. south of Farmingdale on Rte. 524. Left on Birdsall Road. First farm on left.

Species…200 trees; Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir

Open…9-4:00 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 24

Flemington

Cherryville Farms

14 Joe Ent Road , Flemington, NJ 08822 , 908-806-4580

Hours: Open 9:00 AM until dark, Saturdays & Sundays – starting Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Directions: Located one mile east of Quakertown on Route 616 ( Quakertown Road) Franklin Township, Hunterdon County.

Species: Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir, Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce & Norway Spruce

Features: Tagging, saws & treewheelers available. Wreaths, Crafts & Refreshments Cut your own, or they’ll cut it for you. —–Tagging, saws & treewheelers available Wreaths, Crafts & Refreshments.

Hillsdale

Demarest Farms

244 Werimus Road , Hillsdale 201-666-0472

Christmas trees, wreaths, all Christmas related items, featuring Santa’s Enchanted Woods as featured on Good Day New York

Lebanon

The Evergreen Farm, Lebanon

908-236-9550… 4 Bass Lane…Rte. 78 W to Exit 20A ( Lebanon). Turn right at first light onto Rte. 22 W. Turn left (jughandle) at first light ( Round Valley). Go 3.3 mi. on Rte. 629 to Bass Lane OR Rte. 31 N from Flemington to Molasses Hill Rd. Take to end. Turn right onto Rte. 629 to Bass Lane.

Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir

Open…10-5 (Fri, Sat, Sun), Nov. 18 – Dec. 17. Closed Thanksgiving, but open for tagging by appt. Nov 1

Manalapan

Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, Manalapan Twp.

732-786-9277… 114 Daum Rd. Manalapan…Garden State Pkwy Exit 123, Rte. 9 S. to Gordon Corner Rd. exit. Right on Tennent (5.4 mi.) to Daum Rd. NJ Tpk Exit 8, Rte. 33 E (7.9 mi.) left on Woodward Rd. (.4 mi.). First left onto Daum Rd.

Species…3,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir. Open…9-8 (daily), Nov. 20 – Dec. 23

Robbinsville

McLaughlin Tree Farm, Robbinsville

609-259-8122… 1312 Old York Road…Located on Rte. 539, 2.1 mi. north of Route I-195 (Exit 8). Across from Herbert Road. 3.5 mi north of Allentown and 4 mi. south of Hightstown. Easily accessible from Rtes. 195, 130 & NJ Turnpike via Exit 8.

Species…1,000 trees; Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine

Open…8-5 (Sat & Sun & by appt.) Nov. 25 – Dec. 24

Rosemont

Rosemont Tree Farm, Rosemont

609-397-1809…Route 519…From Flemington – Rte. 12 W to Rte. 523 right onto Rte. 604 to Rte. 519. Turn right onto Rte. 519. Farm 300 yards. From Trenton – Rte. 29N thru Lambertville and Stockton. Right onto Rte. 519 1.5 mi. to farm.

Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine Open…9-4:30 (Thu – Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23

Sussex

Shale Hills Farm

98 Pond School Road, Sussex , 973-875-4231

Directions: At intersection of Rtes. 23 or 94 N.-take Rte. 23 N. – 1 1/2 mi. to Double S Diner on left – turn behind Diner on Pond School Rd. – 1.2 mi. to farm – sign.

Species: 700 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine, Douglas-fir

Hours: Open Weekends after Thanksgiving from 9:30 am until dark.

Trenton

Willard Christmas Tree Farms, Trenton

609-587-1776… 300 Basin Rd…Rte. 1 to Bakers Basin Rd. (.5 mi. South of I-295 overpass), 1 mi. to Basin Rd. on right. Farm 1 mi. on left.

Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir

Open…12-5 (Mon – Fri), 8-6 (Sat & Sun) Nov. 24 – Dec. 23 Enjoy a Hay wagon ride as you select your tree from our fields and cut it down yourself. We have available pre-cut trees that have been freshly cut from our fields. Christmas Trees we have available are Scotch Pine, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Norway, Colorado Blue and White Spruce. Also available are fresh dug balled and burlapped trees from our fields. You can enjoy indoors during the Holiday season and then plant outdoors to enjoy for a lifetime. All farms carry roping, wreaths and greens for all your Holiday Decorating needs.

Whitehouse Station

Holly Bough Plantation, Whitehouse Station

908-534-2622… 88 Cole Rd…I-78 or Rte. 22 to Rte. 523, two miles south to Rte. 620 (Dreahook Rd.), ¼ mi. to Holland Brook Rd. – Turn right, continue 1.5 mi. to split in road, turn right onto Cole Rd.

Species…200 trees; Blue Spruce, Canaan Fir, Black Hills Spruce

Open…9:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23.

Wrightstown

Edwards Christmas Tree Farm, Wrightstown

609-758-7729… 338 Jacobstown-Cookstown Rd…From Mt. Holly, take Rte. 537 E. to right at light at Jacobstown-Cookstown Rd. Farm is one mile on right. From Freehold, take Rte. 537 W. to left at light at Jacobstown-Cookstown Rd. Farm is one mile on right. Species…200 trees; White Pine, Douglas-fir, Scotch Pine

Open…9-4:30 (daily), Dec. 1 – Dec. 24

Suie Roberts asked:

There are not Christmas queues and the weather is dry fine and warm, making your Christmas shopping a more enjoyable experience.

? Leave it until Christmas Eve! The shops are desperate by this time and slash they prices incredibly. It is a bit of mad dash but all the Christmas stress is confined to a single 24 hours.

? Buy online. Quick and convenient, no queuing, no trying to find car parking, no terrible weather. Plus many retailers offer discounts for online orders, which means you save money too!

Many people are worried about security and credit card fraud when buying online. Of course this is a worry, nobody wants to be the victim of credit card fraud. However, there are some steps you can take to keep your online shopping experience as safer transaction as possible.

When buying online, only use reputable retailers. This maybe a high street retailer who have an online shopping facilities or a large online store. Maybe a friend has recommended a particular website that they have purchased goods from in the past. Some online shops state how long they have been trading. If a store has been trading online for a number of years, and is well established, this is a good indicator of a reputable store.

When shopping online you inevitably end up at the ‘check out’. This is the point where the store will ask you for your name, postal address and credit or debit card details. This is the time when credit card fraud is a danger.

To protect yourself look for a padlock icon in the status bar at the bottom of the window on the actual ‘check out’ page, where the website is asking you to submit your details. This padlock mean that this page of the website has a secure connection, so any information that you submit on this page will not be decipherable to anyone else, it will be encrypted. If there is not a padlock, it is not a secure connection despite what the actual web page content may say.

You can still submit your details, However, you do significantly increase the risk of becoming a victim of credit card fraud.

Our advice would be to contact the website and ask them to provide you with a secure payment page, or shop elsewhere.

However you do your Christmas shopping this year, Enjoy your experience and keep your card details safe.

Joshua Spaulding asked:

The Christmas holiday begins December 24th and ends on the 26th. On the 24th (Christmas Eve), most Germans work a half day and shops are open until the early afternoon. Gifts are usually opened on the evening of the 24th. Christmas day is a little different. Unlike the U.S., Germany celebrates two Christmas days, the 25th and the 26th.

Christmas weather in Germany is usually around 28-40 degrees fahrenheit. Snow is not very common during this time. You may get lucky if you are visiting a town which is located at a higher elevation. On average Germany probably gets snow one out of five years in lower areas.

Christmas in Germany may be one of the most unique experiences you ever have. With the famous Christmas markets in almost every town you come across, you are sure to have a time of your life. Whether you visit Germany during the Holidays Season for business or pleasure, you will have a lot to talk about when you return home. The way Germans celebrate this holiday is not much different than the way Americans do. The tradition of the Christmas tree with the presents underneath is of course the main tradition. You will find lights all over the place as you will in the U.S. Stockings are traditional as well as they are hung and filled with goodies for the kids. Santa Claus (Weihnachtsmann) is no different. The big, bearded man dressed in red who rides in a slay pulled by raindeer. Children are always excited to see what Santa left them under the tree. Lets talk about some of the things you will experience during the Christmas holiday in Germany.

Christmas Fests (Weihnachtsfest) – Possibly the number one attraction during Christmas time in Germany. These exciting functions usually start toward the end of November and end on the 22nd or 23rd of December in bigger cities like Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich. In smaller cities they are normally held on one weekend in December. Each town holds their own fest so it is not uncommon for the fests to be held on different weekends. Traditionally the Mayor of the town opens the Christmas fest by lighting an enormous tree.

Christmas fests are a place you can go with your family to enjoy the Christmas season and take in every wonderful thing this season brings. Fests are usually held at the city center in a public, open area. You just walk up to the area and enjoy. You may not want to drive to the fests. Germany has very limited parking spots during normal months and it is almost impossible to get a parking spot anywhere close to a Christmas market. There is one option if you wish to drive, you can park in a garage and pay approximatly two euro an hour but I will warn you, the Gluehwein tends to sneak up on you. There are several things to experience during these fests. Below are just a few of the more traditional ones.

Gluehwein (Glow Wine) This is a very popular alcoholic drink during the Christmas holiday in Germany. Gluehwein is a warm red wine that is served out of small shacks at these fests. Gluewein is normally only served during the Christmas season but you can purchase it year-round at a German liquor store.

Gingerbread (Lebkuchen) The traditional gingerbread that you will see is covered in chocolate. You will see several shapes and sizes, decorated or not as you wonder through the fest. The city of Nuremberg provides the most famous gingerbread that can be found all over Germany during the holiday season.

Nutcracker Soldiers and Drummers, These famous figurines can be found throughout any fest you visit as well. They range from miniature sizes to extremely large and there are several different styles to choose from.

Chestnuts (Maronen) Just like the famous song, chestnuts are ,roasted on an open fire, and served to you very warm. You will notice many people munching on these goodies throughout the fests as well.

Christmas Food, Some of the tradional Christmas dishes are:

Christmas Goose (Weihnachtsgans) This dish traditionally consists of a stuffed goose, potatoe dumplings, red cabage and a wine flavored sauce. There is no special technique in fixing this dish but the sauce consists of wine, the juices produced while cooking the goose and a gravy. You can find this at many German restaurants during the Christmas season and many German family make it as well.

Weihnachtsstollen, There is no English translation that we know of but this German bread consists of raisins, almond paste, candied orange peel and many other ingredients. The bread is topped with powdered sugar. You can find this bread in any supermarket in Germany during the Christmas season.

Candy Apples (Bratapfel) These flavorfull caramel covered apples are very popular during the Christmas season in Germany as well as America and many other Countries. You can find these treats mainly at the Christmas fests.

Christmas Cookies (Weihnachtsgebaeck) Christmas cookies are made in many different variations and flavors throughout Germany. You are sure to find some that suite your taste buds. There is no single traditional Christmas cookie made in particular but you will find Christmas cookies throughout Germany during Christmas.

Dev Aziz asked:

Having splashed and sloshed our way through the wettest summer in living memory, many of us Brits are severely in need of a bit of light relief. Recent statistics reveal a desperate rush to leave the country over Christmas and head to the gloriously sunny climes of Tenerife. The statistics, from a survey by TravelRepublic, show a massive increase in winter sun holidays in general and Christmas holidays to Tenerife are the most popular of all.

There has been a drop in Tenerife holiday prices this season with many one-week package holidays to Tenerife coming in at under £300. Cheap holidays to Tenerife are clearly a big draw to those of us keen to escape the grim British weather, but could there be more to it than this? Christmas is getting bigger every year and the pressure to get it right is immense. A Tenerife Christmas can remove such hassles, and more. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of ten aspects of Christmas hell and how jetting off on a sunny holiday to Tenerife will turn them all around!

1) In the UK: Presents and shopping

Us Brits spend an average of £384 on 18 Christmas presents. Significantly more than you might be spending on your whole Tenerife holiday!

In Tenerife: Spanish souvenirs

It’s impossible to list all the Spanish souvenirs you could find for your loved ones, but here are five of the most popular items you could pick up whilst on holiday in Tenerife:

Abanico – hand held fans elaborately decorated or carved from wood make a great Tenerife Christmas present.

Football Souvenirs – items brandishing the Real Madrid crest or a miniature replica of the stadium are ideal gifts for footie fans!

Bullfighting Souvenirs – you can buy a representation of the three matadors or even a replica matador’s jacket.

Toro – these miniature Spanish bulls vary in quality from moulded plastic to elaborate pieces hand made in leather.

Art & Paintings – from the country that gave birth to Salvador Dali and Picasso there is a large selection of cheap scenes of everyday Spain.

2) In the UK: Enforced jollity

At Christmas there is no greater sin then appearing to be grumpy. Never mind if it’s raining again when it ought to be snowing. Never mind the awkward family tensions. If your mood isn’t up you’re in trouble – you’re ‘ruining Christmas’.

In Tenerife: Real jollity

Waking up to the bliss of no responsibilities and a day of sunbathing will put you in a naturally good mood, so there’s no need to fake it!

3) In the UK: Inappropriate outfits

Christmas seems to inspire the oddest outfits: fluorescent antlers, hair tinsel, ‘fun’ paper crowns, ridiculous knitted festively themed woolly jumpers – the list is endless and another example of that enforced jollity.

In Tenerife: A good tan

Developing a healthy glow on holiday in Tenerife will make you the envy of all your friends when the glitter of Christmas has died down to a dull fizzle and everyone’s feeling pale and miserable. Ha-ha!

4) In the UK: Guzzling excessive cheap alcohol

To get through the emotional rollercoaster of another family Christmas, many of us, despite our best intentions, will turn to the bottle to ease the pain. The following day’s hangover only makes it that much worse.

In Tenerife: Sipping cocktails by the pool

There are so many fabulous bars in Tenerife that you’ll be spoilt for choice, and there’s no need to overdo it when you’re already having so much fun!

5) In the UK: Office parties

You can already picture the scene: watching what you drink in case you say exactly what you think about your unbearable boss or colleague, whilst pretending not to be disgusted by the cringeworthy advances of the office letch. Finally, you end up dancing wildly with said letch in a mad drunken stupor. The Facebook photos won’t make it any easier to forget.

In Tenerife: Beach parties!

A beach party in Tenerife will really blow away the winter cobwebs. For daytime fun, the main beach of Playa de las Americas is where the party people go to recharge their batteries before the next clubland assault and when the sun goes down you can head to Enramada Beach near La Caleta, where Chiringuito Beach Club hosts parties at the weekend. Many revellers choose to camp on the beach at Las Galletas, bringing their own food and drinks and listening to music into the small hours. Christmas in Tenerife is such fun!

6) In the UK: Christmas lunch

First of all, whoever’s cooking is incredibly stressed, and claims you have no idea how much work there is to do (if you try and help then you’re inevitably doing it all wrong). This leads to petty arguments and numerous kitchen disasters. Meanwhile one member of the family has suddenly decided to become a vegan without telling anyone and refuses to eat a thing, glaring grumpily while everyone else tucks into their turkey.

In Tenerife: Tapas & fresh tropical fruit

Food in Tenerife is very tasty and a lot less stressful than Christmas dinner. Tapas are Spain’s appetizers, scrummy little dishes which are often flavoured with garlic, chillies or paprika, cumin, salt, pepper or saffron. It often comes with seafood such as anchovies, sardines or mackerel in olive oil with tomatoes and sometimes peppers or olives. On your Tenerife holiday you can also sample many delicious tropical fruits like mangoes, paw paw and ‘platanos fritos’ – fried bananas.

7) In the UK: Christmas television

Saccharine Coca Cola adverts, endless repeats of ‘Only Fools and Horses’, soap extravaganzas and ‘Celebrity’ Christmas specials.

In Tenerife: singles – Find a winter romance

For goodness sake, forget TV and get out there onto the lively Tenerife singles scene. If anything’s going to boost your sprits at Christmas it’s a sizzling holiday romance!

In the UK: Christmas number ones

Slade’s ‘So here it is Merry Christmas’, Band Aid’s ‘Do they know it’s Christmas’ and Aled Jones’ ‘Walking in the air’. Haven’t you heard them all enough?

In Tenerife: iPod

Forget the naffness – when you set off for your holiday in Tenerife you make sure you’ve got all your favourite tunes at your fingertips so you can sunbathe in peace.

9) In the UK: Carol singers

Expecting you to give them money for one chorus of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ when half of them don’t know the words and the other half are miming.

In Tenerife: iPod

See above.

10) In the UK: Unrelentingly grim weather

Grrr. Grrr. Grrr.

In Tenerife: Sunshine

Mmm – what a relief!