In Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico, those with hopes of traveling in the New Year carry a suitcase around the house at midnight
In China on New Year they burn crackers to scare the evil spirits
The doors and windows of every home in China are sealed with paper to keep the evil demons out
The Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune.
The hog, and its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity.
Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed on New Year’s Day by many.
Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency.
The ancient Persians gave New Year’s gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness
Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle.
In China, many people wear in the new year a new pair of slippers that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people who gossip about you
Did you know that a raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top
In Burma there is a three day New Year festival called Maha Thingyan, which is celebrated with prayers, fasting and fun.
In Denmark old dishes are saved year around to throw at the homes where their friends live on New Years Eve ~ many dishes = many friends
In Northern Portugal children go caroling from home to home and are given treats and coins
In Switzerland people believe good luck comes from letting a drop of cream land on the floor New Years Day.
Ditch New Years Resolutions Day is January 17th, generally when most people abandon theirs
Check out http://www.fathertimes.net/recipes.htm for great New Years Recipes
Check out New Year Songs http://www.fathertimes.net/songs.htm
To order flowers for New Years, visit: www.EdenFlorist.com today!
December 31st, 2009
The first New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square happened in 1907
The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hoshana
Auld Lang Syne means time gone by
The largest annual New Year’s Eve celebrations happens in Sydney Australia
More than 80,000 fireworks are set off from the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Hogmanay is the celebration of the new years Scottish style
The centenary clock is lowered at 23:59:48 on new years eve in Madrid Spain
Tournament of Roses it the most popular New Year’s Day parade
Pasadena’s Valley hunt clubs first tournament of roses parade took place in 1890
New York’s Waterford crystal ball weighs 1,070 pounds
In Flagstaff Arizona a pine cone dropped on New Year’s eve
Bangor Main drops a purple beach ball decorated with Christmas lights
In Seattle, the New Years countdown done with an elevator
The Chinese New Year is known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival
Apples and Honey are eaten to symbolize a sweet new year in Rosh Hashanah
Thailand celebrates from April 13 to 15 by throwing water
In the ancient Roman calendar the new year began on March 1st
The first new year holiday observed was celebrated in Babylon about 4000 years ago
The baby was first used to symbolize the New Year in Greece around 600 BC
In Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico families stuff a life-size male doll with things that have bad memories or sadness associated with them, and then dress it up in old clothes from each family member. At the stroke of midnight, ‘Mr. Old Year’ is set on fire.
In Spain people eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight (one each time the clock chimes) on New Year’s Eve
In Japan, Buddhist temple bells are rung 108 times at midnight
In Brazil people wear white clothes on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck and peace for the year to follow
In Greece children leave their shoes by the fireside on New Year’s Day in hopes that Saint Basil will come and fill their shoes with gifts.
Want to send Flowers on New Years Day? Visit: www.EdenFlorist.com today!
December 31st, 2009
Pantone has just announced PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.
In many cultures, Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that to many people, Turquoise represents an escape, taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting – even if it is only a fantasy.
Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.
For more information read the Panetone press release here: http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20706&ca=10
To view the archives for Past Colors of the Year visit the News page and click on the TRENDS Section: http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20707&ca=10
December 28th, 2009
~When words escape, flowers speak.~
Bruce W. Currie
Can you guess the flowers in the following verses?
This is a multiple choice Trivia Contest. Leave your replies in the comments section. We will have a random drawing on January 10th and announce the “winner” via linkedin, facebook and twitter. The winner will receive a copy of your choice of one of three books. Really Imporatnt Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me by Cynthia Copeland Lewis, Witty Words from Wise Women by BJ Gallagher or Hugs from Heaven ~ The Christmas Story
#1
Goddess of the rainbow, I;
Am graceful in the spring;
My petals droop like butterflies;
I lend the colour to your eyes;
My praises poets sing.
Lilac
Lily
Iris
Pansy
#2
My name means “star”; my flowers bright;
Are shaggy as a lion;
Like daisy and chrysanthemum;
My blossoms thrive in gentle sun;
I am the cheerful kind.
aster
dandelion
tulip
hostia
#3
I am treasure of the Mother;
Spicy scents I hold;
My blossoms cheer you, every one;
I smile to see my merry sun;
I’m decked in shades of gold.
mallow
black eyed susan
marigold
sunflower
#4
My name will speak of cleanliness;
I never flaunt my hues;
My scent redolent of an age;
When blooms in linen chests were laid;
Then I was always used.
lily
lavender
pansy
boronia
#5
Wear me in your next corsage;
Expensive and exotic;
Sophisticated colour scheme;
My spots and streaks may sometimes seem;
Amazingly quixotic.
rose
carnation
hollyhock
orchid
#6
I am shy; I live in shade;
My blooms are fine and small;
My name’s a colour, loved by most;
Of tiny blooms I am the toast;
My scent enchanting all.
anemone
violet
daisy
poppy
#7
I’m sometimes called a poppy;
But my name is hard to spell;
I wear a pointed hood of green;
To hide my orange petals’ sheen;
Yet I am bold as well.
rhododendrum
convolvulous
larkspur
Escholtzia
(source: FunTrivia.com)
December 27th, 2009
Christmas, celebrated the world over has a long and interesting history. Here are a few more facts about Christmas from wence it began
• The story of Jesus Christ’s birth is told in New Testament’s gospel of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew.
• Some Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s coming on January 6, the Epiphany, when they believe he was baptized.
• Church officials, “impressed with the ritual’s symbolic bringing back of light into the world,” claimed the date of December 25. Roman Emperor Constantine officially recognized it as the celebration of Jesus’ birth in the 4th century A.D.
• The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” refers to the 12 days between Christmas and the Epiphany.
• The word Christmas comes from the Old English Cristes maesse, which means Christ’s mass.
• The Middle Ages marked the origin of many traditional Christmas symbols such as the Yule log, holly, and caroling. The burning Yule log (Yule comes from the Scandinavian jol or jul which means “jolly”) symbolized the time in which bonfires raged to “beckon the reappearance of winter’s holy light.”
• The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ’s name.
• In the early 19th century, German and Dutch Protestant immigrants resurrected the Christmas holiday to its original status. St. Nicholas also gained prominence during the Victorian era.
• In 1969, the Roman Catholic church dropped St. Nicholas’ Feast Day from its calendar because his life is so unreliably documented.
• The German word Christkindl, which means Christ child, eventually turned into Kriss Kringle.
• Santa Claus generally was depicted as an elf until 1931, when Coca-Cola ads portrayed him as human-sized.
• Rudolph didn’t become Santa’s ninth reindeer until 1939 when an advertising writer for the department store Montgomery Ward created him.
Sources: Encarta 96 Encyclopedia, World Book, Encyclopedia Britanica
Check out the Holiday Tips and Ideas for the History of Santa Claus, Origins of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and more here: http://www.edenflorist.com/articles.php?tPath=7
Order your holiday flowers at Eden Florist & Gift Baskets Online or by phone 954-981-5515
December 15th, 2009
Here’s some more Christmas Facts, Symbols and History
Xmas
This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ’s name, “X” in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ’s name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook “Xmas” as a sign of disrespect.
Read the Origins of Christmas here: http://www.edenflorist.com/article_info.php?articles_id=14
The Candy Cane
Candy canes have been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until around 1900 that they were decorated with red stripes and bent into the shape of a cane. They were sometimes handed out during church services to keep the children quiet. One story (almost certainly false) that is often told about the origin of the candy cane is as follows:
In the late 1800′s a candy maker in Indiana wanted to express the meaning of Christmas through a symbol made of candy. He came up with the idea of bending one of his white candy sticks into the shape of a Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols of Christ’s love and sacrifice through the Candy Cane. First, he used a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, he added three small stripes to symbolize the pain inflicted upon Jesus before His death on the cross. There are three of them to represent the Holy Trinity. He added a bold stripe to represent the blood Jesus shed for mankind. When looked at with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd’s staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. If you turn it upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus’ name. The candy maker made these candy canes for Christmas, so everyone would remember what Christmas is all about.
Santa Claus
The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century. He was very pious from an early age, devoting his life to Christianity. He became widely known for his generosity for the poor. But the Romans held him in contempt. He was imprisoned and tortured. But when Constantine became emperor of Rome, he allowed Nicholas to go free. Constantine became a Christian and convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicholas was a delegate to the council. He is especially noted for his love of children and for his generosity. He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. He is also, of course, the patron saint of children. The Dutch kept the legend of St. Nicholas alive. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, in Anglican, to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, “A Visit from St. Nick,” which was later published as “The Night Before Christmas.” Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit.
Read the History of Santa Claus here: http://www.edenflorist.com/article_info.php?articles_id=16
(source: http://wilstar.net/xmas/xmassymb.htm)
Order your holiday flowers at Eden Florist & Gift Baskets Online or by phone 954-981-5515 or 800-966-3336.
December 13th, 2009
Mistletoe and Holly
Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.
Poinsettias
Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America’s first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.
The Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter’s night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820′s.
Is there someone in your family that you just have trouble getting the right gift for? If so, check out Heidi’s Top Ten Gifts for the Hard to Please ~ http://www.edenflorist.com/article_info.php?articles_id=22
December 11th, 2009
It seems to me that because we have become such an “informal” society, oftentimes etiquette goes right out the window.
If you are like me you have parties galore to attend this time of year. They may be dinner parties, office parties, cocktail parties or holiday open houses. In fact, I did a very informal survey of my customers and most people said they had at least 5 events to go to between now and New Years! And oftentimes we are not sure what to bring the host or hostess as a thank you.
That’s where Eden Florist can help! We help you find the perfect centerpiece or cut flowers or holiday plant to add a touch of class to your arrival.
Need other ideas for a hostess gift? How about a nice bottle of wine or champagne, or scented candles, the latest best-seller or perhaps a little trinket or holiday keepsake such as a bell or wine glass?
The gift does not have to be extravagant or elaborate or even expensive. It just needs to be in good taste and something you think your host will appreciate. Believe me the host will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
The important thing is to never arrive empty-handed.
If you’d like more ideas for holiday gifting, read these articles:
A Gift in Hand for the Holidays ~ http://wemagazineforwomen.com/a-gift-in-hand-for-the-holidays/
Etiquette Everyday ~ Holiday Etiquette http://www.emilypost.com/everyday/holiday_FAQs_giving.htm
Ps. If you don’t have time to get a little something, give Eden Florist a call (800-966-3336) and let us take care of the delivery for you. And if you forget to bring something, send them the next day! That always works and you will be remembered.
Pss. I’d love to know what types of gifts you bring to parties. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments section below.
December 5th, 2009
This year for Thanksgiving I am doing something just a little different. I got these great little blue overall party favors from Lillian Verson company and am personalizing them for all our guests.
These will serve as the placecard for everyone on Thanksgiving Day.
In addition to being pretty placecards, they will hold notes from each of the guests.
I have designed a note card for everyone with everyone’s name on it. Each guest will get a complete set of names in an envelope with a pen. On the top of each card is a pretty turkey and pumpkin clip art and each card says:
Dear (fill in the guest’s name)
I am thankful for you because: (and the guest fills this out and puts in each person’s overall).
During desert we will ask everyone to read one or two from their favor and they can take the rest home.
You can get great Thanksgiving clip-art here: http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/thanksgiving-clipart-gallery.html
This is one of my all-time favorites and because my family likes it so much, we do it every year!
Thanksgiving Activities that Rock!
http://www.tulipstalk.com/thanksgiving-activities-that-rock/
If you have children in the house, be sure and download the Thanksgiving Coloring Book for their entertainment. You can find it here:
Thank you for your love and support of Eden Florist. May your Thanksgiving be all you hope for … and then some!
November 26th, 2009
The Thanksgiving Table Cloth
My mom has purchased a plastic Thanksgiving table cloth that we use to write with a permanent marker what we’re thankful for each year with our signature and the year. She has it out on the table and then we can look back and see what our family/friends wrote and have memories of spending time with different people on Thanksgiving. (Contributed by Brittany)
This is one of my all-time favorites and because my family likes it so much, we do it every year!
The Thanksgiving Box
http://www.tulipstalk.com/a-box-of-thanks/
There’s still time to order flowers for your Thanksgiving table from Eden Florist. Visit our Website www.EDENFLORIST.com or call 800-966-3336 (EDEN) today!
November 25th, 2009
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