Judaica

Suriname is a small country in the North American region. This quaint little country is popularly referred to as the beating Heart of the Amazon. The oldest landmark in Suriname is indisputably the ancient Cathedral. The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul now have exceeded one hundred and twenty seven years of existence. The original structure which stood in place of the present cathedral was a theatre. This theater was under the owner ship of La Parra. This theater was initially built in 1809, but later on had to be demolished after it was burnt down after 11 years in 1820. The construction of the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul was flagged off in the beginning of the year 1833. Another famous...

Originally, Bar Mitzvah (translated: man of the commandment) signified the coming of age of Jewish males, in which they had gained the age of accountability, a time when he was responsible for his own actions. In Biblical times, the age of twenty signified the coming of age, but in Talmudic times, the age changed to thirteen, and in recognition of the son's change in status, instead of the modern celebratory bar mitzvah, the father said a simple blessing praising God, because he was no longer responsible for anything his son might do. At bar mitzvah, the Jewish male can participate fully in his religion, and be held responsible for following the dictates of the Jewish faith. Bar Mitzvah is the...

There are three mainstream Jewish sects - Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Each sect has its own rules for the funeral or memorial service.The most formal and conservative is the Orthodox Jewish Burial ritual, while the Reform sect is considered to be the most liberal of the three. Usually the funeral service is considered to be the beginning of ceremonies rather than the end. The funeral burial customs vary for the three Jewish sects. The Orthodox sect uses more of the Hebrew language, Conservative uses only half while the Reform uses no Hebrew at all with the except of saying the Kaddish. The underlying funeral format however, is the same for each sect. The funeral ceremony affirms the life...

Jewish weddings are joyous, often elaborate, events filled with great tradition, ceremony and ritual. However, the Jewish rabbis who wrote the Jewish law made it very simple for a Jewish man and a Jewish woman to wed. Much of the ceremonial splendor that we associate with the Jewish wedding, developed as a reflection of the heritage of the Jews to whom the practices belong. Jewish naming customs and ritual such as Jewish baby naming ceremony has developed similarly. Jewish wedding customs are as diverse as the heritage and histories of the people who celebrate them. American Jews, for instance, have developed marriage customs that their European brethren do not celebrate. Ashkenazi Jews, who are...

I have a standing agreement with the airlines. If I'm not there by departure time, they are supposed to go ahead and leave without me. So far, I've never missed a departure. I missed a connection over 30 years ago (and they left without me), but I didn't miss my initial departure! How many times have you come upon a situation when it was too late? You were too late to enroll in a class or too late to avoid a parking ticket? Have you ever been too late to a concert, game or event and you weren't allowed in because the doors were closed? In Matthew 9:23-26; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:49-56, Jairus has come to Jesus to ask Him to heal his dying daughter. Jesus has agreed to come, but is interrupted by the...

The very popular three artists / furniture designers I have studied are all unique in their own, creative ways. Examining the life and spirit of anyone, you will find specific distinctions - especially in the life and work of artists. Nonetheless, we are all alike in our dissimilarities. Just as anyone else who loves his or her job is driven by the process of it (in this case, the process of discovery and design) the artist: any artist: will be unique in his or her similarities to other artists. Kendall LeCompte, Ivan McLean, and Jason Mclean are all creative furniture designers that use some of the same kinds of artistic processes. But between all artists, however diminutive, you will find that...

After engaging in the seventies township to do, engage in joint venture eighties, nineties engage in private three stages of development, the city's sweater industry is developing rapidly, and formed a fan-centered cross-regional cluster development trend, the success of building sweater industry, the economy of the plate. First, sweater status of cluster development (A) "swarming" development, begun to take shape. Wujiang City, sweater industry began in the last century, 70's, mid-and late 90's large-scale development, the recent three years, surging wave of private capital investment to further accelerate the accumulation and development of the industry. Wujiang sweater industry has now a...

p>Are the holidays a blur of cookies, cards, presents, wrapping, tree, menorah candles, decorations, new clothes, visitors, travel, and parties? You get overloaded and exhausted just thinking about it--even if you adore the celebrations, family, and friends. When the rush and worry get to you, these ten tips will energize and relax your holiday season. With a balance of energy and calm, you'll get things done and enjoy your cherished memories. 1. Drink more water. It cleans out your body, fills you up, and provides extra oxygen for your busy brain (that's why there's an "O" in H2O). Keep a mug nearby, or if you don't like water, try tea, a spritzer with lemon or eat a tangerine. 2. Smell your tree...

Let the countdown begin for fun food with this menu. Each winter, after the children's Christmas presents have all been unwrapped and the Menorah has been put away, there's a chance for adults and parents to party. New Year's Eve is a great time to catch up with friends, blow off some of the stress the holidays can cause and just have a great time. In fact, many look forward to New Year's Eve all through the year. So, why not make your next New Year's Eve party theme "Let the Countdown Begin"? Start your planning off with some Let the Countdown Begin invitations and a menu to ensure your guests keep the date open. The evening of the party, you'll need plenty of snacks and hors d'ouerves to keep...

Beautiful Jewish gifts are a keepsake gift for Christian Jews and Born Again Christian believers alike. The Jewish heritage is something that is dear to the hearts of those of Jewish heritage through the bloodline of their parents and it is also dear to those who are Jewish through the adopted blood line of Jesus Christ. There is long line of original crafted Holy Land gifts available. These items make perfect gift selections for Christian and Jewish loved ones. These Jewish gifts are crafted in Jerusalem and Bethlehem and will last a lifetime as a memorable keepsake. Jewish gifts can be purchased through a website where there are beautiful and authentic lines of Jewish gifts available. As...

The Holiday season is filled with good times with friends and family, good food, timeless traditions, and amazing music. Traditional holiday music has the power to bring back memories from family generations and bring together the old and young. Two holidays during the winter that have timeless, classic, and century old music is Christmas and Hanukkah. These holidays have songs that make our all time favorite music lists. Here are some traditional holiday songs from winter holidays. There are so many classic Christmas songs that have been around for many years. A lot of artists today make modern renditions of some of our favorites. It seems like every top rock, country, or pop artist has a Christmas...

Throughout history candles have figured prominently in religious ceremonies. This becomes especially apparent in December with St. Lucia's Day, Advent, Hanukkah, Christmas all falling within the month and relying heavily on the symbolic use of candles. People in Scandinavian countries light candles on St. Lucia's Day, December 13th, in honor of Saint Lucy of Syracuse, a Fourth Century Christian martyr who brought hope during the dark winter months by carrying food to Christians who had fled into tunnels to escape persecution. St. Lucy (whose name means "light") wore a crown of candles to light her way. Advent, which celebrates the coming of the Messiah, begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas...

As a society, we follow certain seasonal traditions. Spring brings Easter, complete with bunnies, eggs and candy. In the summer, we highlight July 4 in the United States, while other countries have similar mid-summer events. Fall brings the changing of the leaves and Halloween with its spooky graveyards, witches and black cats. In winter, we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States with turkey dinners, pilgrims and cornucopias. This is followed by Christmas, Hanukkah or another mid-winter celebration. Then comes New Year’s, and the cycle of the year begins anew. As we decorate and redecorate our homes for the changing traditions throughout the year, many dollhouse enthusiasts have discovered...

The Jews have prayed for 2,000 years to again see the Temple upon the Temple Mount. It's past time for prayers alone: ACTION is necessary to put faith into practice! Let the Muslims submit to the Word and Will of God concerning the Temple Mount. Its sole purpose is to House the Temple of the God of Jacob-Israel: that all nations may come to know, love and obey the God of Abraham. May they agree the Rock of Abraham has been preserved by the "Dome of the Rock," and that it was created for the Jews to continue their worship upon the site of Israel's Temple. It has served its purpose and now it's past time to restore spiritual sovereignty to the Jews upon the Temple Mount that they may build the House...

It does not take a genius for one to realize that tattoos are becoming indelible in our society today. People from all walks of life are getting themselves inked for various reasons. For some, the reasons are merely skin-deep: to increase their "level of sexiness" up a few notches, to identify themselves with a group of tattooed individuals, or to exercise their freedom and be cool. But for some, it involves a deeper, religious meaning. Religious tattoos are quite common nowadays. We see cross tattoos or religious symbols and images being sported by different individuals around. And, in all truthfulness, a few of these individuals do not fit into the bill of what a religious person should be. But...

Boasting a reputation as a young, exciting city, there is so much to do in Berlin no matter what your interests and budget are. Indeed, there is so much history associated with Berlin that it's no surprise there are plenty of museums to visit to learn more about the German past and culture. Some of the most popular and well-known museums include The German Historical Museum and the Jewish Museum. In recent years the city has drawn a large following for its new Holocaust Memorial structure, which is a sculpture and memorial that visitors can walk through. The architecture has been widely praised, and the structure itself is a sight to be seen. In fact when it comes to architecture, there is plenty to...

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic and is situated in Central Bohemia by the Vltava River. It is in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites and as a result thousands of tourists gather here every year. Historically, Prague is one of the important cities in the world, since it was the centre of power for two prominent rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. Transport: The most important airport in the city is the Ruzyne International Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the whole of Central Europe. You can fly in by the Czech Airlines or the Smart Wings which connects this city to most of the important cities. There is also the Kbely airport, which was the original, though smaller...

Known as the "city of spires", Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic (once Czechoslovakia). Freed from the Soviet empire and renamed the Czech Republic in 1993, Prague has thrived under capitalism and is now considered one of the premier destinations for tourists in Eastern Europe. Unlike a time several decades ago, when you simply couldn't get into Prague, there are now cheap flights to Prague from most large cities in the United States. Over 1.2 million people live in Prague, and over three times that many visit the city each year, and for good reason. Prague, in addition to being a historical mecca, has some of the most extraordinary architecture to be found anywhere in Europe. There are a...

Germany is one of the most visited countries in Europe, and for 30 percent of Germans it is also their destination of choice for their own holidays. The most frequent reason for visiting is its culture, according to the many that flock there - and the city of Berlin is very much the cultural hub for the country. So for those looking for deals on city breaks this winter, Berlin is an excellent destination to sample one of the richest cultures available in Europe. Politics have been key to the shape and appearance of Berlin and its architecture over the years. Since the German Empire of the 1800s, the city has seen another four significant political powers assert their powers in the city, and today...

As one of the largest cities in the United Kingdom (about a half million residents) Manchester is located in what is considered the North West part of England, it has the Pennine hills to the North and East as well as the River Irwell, River Medlock and Irk. In the winter you can see the snow capped Pennines making for quite a pretty picture as well as nearby winter activities such as skiing. If you are looking for flats to rent in Manchester you should try to look for the view, there are many beautiful ones out there. Red brick is a primary architectural look around the city. Some of the most classic sites to see in Manchester include Manchester Town Hall. There are also many parts with monuments...

It is true that deep pockets are required for many things when visiting Dublin however don't let that put you off as there are still plenty of tourist attractions which can be seen for free within the city. The home of the president of Ireland can be visited on Saturdays only. Free tickets can be obtained from the Visitor Centre in the Phoenix Park. The official title of the home is Áras an Uachtaráin. Visiting times are between 10.15 and 4pm on Saturdays. Dublin is a city with no shortage of historical churches to visit. Whitefriar Street Church is certainly one which is worth seeing. It was built in 1825 and is renowned for its altars as well as its shrines. The church is home to the...

The city's most famous landmark is probably the Little Mermaid which basks on a rock near the 17th century Star Fort Kastellet. Other major attractions worth visiting within the city include Amalienborg Palace, home of the royal family. It's not open to the public but you can observe the changing of the watch at noon everyday. The Carlsberg Brewery, probably the best brewery in Europe! and Slotsholmen which is home to a number of museums such as the Christiansborg Palace, The Danish Jewish Museum, The Royal Danish Arsenal Museum and The Black Diamond (main site of the Royal Danish Library) with the Museum of Danish Cartoon Art and the National Museum of Photography. What's to see in the Copenhagen...

Vorarlberg is the westernmost state of the country of Austria, touching the borders of three neighboring countries, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Next to Vienna, it is the smallest state of the country. Its capital is the beautiful city of Bregenz, situated on a plateau. It is located on the eastern shores of Lake Constance which is Central Europe's third largest lake. Vorarlberg is a popular holiday destination with families staying in self catering holiday accommodation. Many tourists like to rent ski chalets and self catering holiday apartments and use these holiday homes as a base to explore the local area. Vorarlberg's capital is well worth a visit as the city has a long history and...

Brooklyn, New York, Ch'i Contemporary Fine Art presents Times Composed, Sun K. Kwak's signature medium of expression masking tape drawings, are meditative studies of the surrounding environment, a dialog between the spiritual and natural forces that we struggle to reconcile culture-wide. On the surface, the installations are beautiful melodic drawings containing rhythms and momentum resembling improvisational works of art. Yet, recalling the psychic convolutions of surrealist automatism, each work is a reaction to the environment's qi (life force). Tapping into the architecture's history and former dwellers, Ms. Kwak provides a visual clue into the hidden yet apparent energy within each space. Born...

I was once listening to German tourists in Canada talk about the United States. They were explaining all the things that they didn't like about the U.S. They said New York was the exception. They said New York had culture. New York had a European feel to it. They said Europeans would always like New York because of its cultural element. Having traveled extensively in European cities, spending so much money to do very little, I was thinking to myself that they were flattering themselves. There is no European city that is anything like New York. Yes there are fascinating cities in Europe, old cities with so much culture and history, cities that can not be compared to anywhere else, but with a New York...

What's to see in Venice? While you are in the city you could visit such attractions as Saint Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Jewish Ghetto of Venice and the Jewish Museum, the Rialto market, the Rialto Bridge and don't forget to take one of the traditional gondolas for a ride. What's to see in the Venice Area? Venice has much to offer the curious tourist, both inside and outside of the city. As Venice is an entirely pedestrian city, you will not be allowed to bring your car into it. There are huge car parks located for cars just outside the city on the mainland in the town of Mestre. Here are some things to see in the Venice area with your car hire: Situated just to the north east of the...

Designed by world renowned architect Moshe Safdie, and funded by billionaire Alice Walton, the $50 million (that's just the cost of the facility and doesn't include the artworks) Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is scheduled to open in 2009, in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art, but oddly enough, this monumental task is not making everyone happy. The depth of the museum is indicated in a purchase from Christies America's auction house in New York City in 2004 of Charles Wilson Peale's portrait of George Washington for $6.1 million...

Around one out of every seven Berlin residents is an immigrant, so it's suffice to say that the capital city of Germany is a melting pot of different cultures and influences. The burgeoning dining scene in the city is a fine example of Berlin's diversity and you can eat your way around sampling everything from traditional Currywurst (curried sausage) to foods from the Far and Middle East, as well as tasty treats from other European dining dynasties like France and Italy. When you've had your food fill then how about a visit to one of the many Berlin museums, where you can ogle at an array of collections from the ancient to the ultra-modern? Berlin's Jewish Museum is a major destination for tourists...

> We tend to think of books in museum shops as only art books and monographs. A visit to Manhattan’s Miracle Mile on Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 105th Streets proves otherwise. The charming museum shop at el Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029 at 104th Street carries fiction and non-fiction by and about Latinos. The adult books are in English or Spanish and many of the children’s books are bi-lingual. Approximately 30% of merchandise is books under headings such as Latino Interest, Puerto Rico, Women’s Studies, Spirituality, Cookbooks, and Music. Museum shop manager Ilana Stollman accepts books from all publishers. She has little experience with self...

Berlin's hippest hotels How about a two-storey, five-bed room hotel, designed for rock groups and friends, for thousand dollars a night? Hotel Michel Berger is the gateway to Berlin Kreutzberg cool. - Living here must be like to live with your best friend. We are therefore not particularly concerned on the stereo type notions of luxury, "says the owner of the hotel, thirty-year-old Tom Michel Berger His goal is that the hotel will be a cosmopolitan hangout. A place where he would love to stay if he could choose freely. After opening in early spring, we think the energetic entrepreneur is well under way. Already in the check the hip groove that permeates throughout the hotel is noticed. The...

So you want to tour Emilia-Romagna on the Gulf of Venice coast. This region is large enough to border on six other Italian regions as well as the tiny country of San Marino. Emilia-Romagna is known for its food, not particularly its wine. Three of its local specialties are uncooked Prosciutto ham, balsamic vinegar, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. But there's a lot more great food; Emilia-Romagna is widely considered to be the capital of Italian gastronomy. Let's take a quick tour. Rimini is a popular coastal resort town, made famous in Fellini's 1973 movie Amaracord. Bologna, right in the center, is the birthplace of Tortellini and home to one of Europe's oldest Universities. Student or not, check...

American contemporary artist, Jasper Johns, Jr., was born on May 15, 1930, in Augusta, Georgia. He grew up in Allendale, South Carolina. A photographer and printmaker by profession, Jasper Johns is influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Dadaism, and Pop Art. Even as a child, the painter was clear in his mind that he would grow up to be an artist. The artist studied at the University of South Carolina from 1947-48. Jasper then moved to New York in 1948, where he attended the Parsons School of Design. Here, he met the likes of Robert Rauschenberg, an artist, Merce Cunningham, a choreographer, and John Cage, a composer, with whom Jasper had very fruitful and satisfying relationships. During the...

In 2005, the Today Program of Radio 4 and National Gallery summer scheme were in the search of Britain's greatest painting. Controversy loomed around this scheme, which was seen as a great way of celebrating art. At first, it was the competition for the famous painting and later it turned out to be for Britain's greatest painting. Artist Jack Vettriano, whose paintings adorned numerous greeting cards, was not in the top 10 list. An arts work by Rembrandt, voted for the most popular painting, was unable to find a spot in the top 10. A panel of three, including a critic, an artist, and a BBC Governor, decided the fate of these paintings in the list. The famous painters, Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso...

The lovely tree lined stretch down the side of Central Park is home to some of world's best museums and fine arts institutions. Known as the Museum Mile, this tree lined section of the Fifth Avenue is the best place to start exploring museums in New York. The section runs from the 82nd to the 104th, actually the Upper East Side, of the Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and with ten museums occupying this length it can be considered the best display of culture in the world One of the most visited and sought after museums along the Mile is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Simply referred to as the Met, it is home to a permanent collection of over two million works of art and one of the largest art galleries in...

Autograph collecting has gained popularity as one of the most avidly pursued hobbies. The collecting themes for signature collectors seems endless; from books authored by American presidents, to baseballs signed by Worlds Series homerun hitters. Jewish autographs from notable Jewish personalities are another keen area of interest to many collectors. But don't stop there. Subcategories of Jewish signatures are as diverse as the general themes of autograph collecting. For example, Jewish signatures may consist of Jewish leaders in Israel, Zionism, rabbinic leaders and notable figures in the diaspora. Signatures by David Ben-Gurion, Theodore Herzl, Rabbi Ksav Sofer, and Moses Montefiore are popular...

Are you looking for Hanukkah gift ideas? Consider this excerpt from a modern-day Hanukkah verse: …Hanukkah is the festival of lights. Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights. - Adam Sandler And that’s not the only difference between our gift-giving ways and those of our Christian neighbors, when it comes to celebrating the winter holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas.  Think about it:  not only do we have 8 nights on which we could give presents, but no single one of those nights is designated as “the night” for bestowing Hanukkah gifts.  Then, too, there’s no particularly firm custom governing who should be given a gift:  that is, a visitor who comes to your house on...

Kabbalah Red String Bracelet, Red String Kabbalah Bracelet, Kabbalah bracelets, Kabbalah Jewelry, Hebrew jewelry When God created human beings, He blessed each of us with unique powers and capabilities to help us fulfill our dreams and aspirations. But, only those who are able to identify their hidden powers are actually able to utilize the same for achieving their individual goals and objectives. Now, the obvious question is how to recognize one's hidden powers? The answer is Kabbalah jewelry. Created by Hebrews thousands of years ago, this jewelry has special mystical powers. It helps bring the positive forces of nature by your side. The positive forces make one realize his inner powers and...

Beit Guvrin caves, the amazing underground excavations of Israel, speak volumes about the human dwellings 3000 years ago. It was close to this place that a 1700-year-old menorah was recently found. So, if you're someone who wishes to discover the ancient civilization of Israel, then a visit to the Beit Guvrin National Park will fulfill your craving. Don't let the first sight of the park deceive you. If you get the impression that there is nothing unique here except for the beautiful view, then you'll certainly be taken by surprise once you descend underground and take a look at the breathtaking interiors of the numerous caves there. The Beit Guvrin caves provide travelers with several interesting...

The state Israel is normally associated with diverse religions globally. The country is significant to Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. It's situated at the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and is bounded by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Its most significant river, the Jordan River, flows via the Lake Hule, Lake Kinneret or Sea of Galilee all the method to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is 411 meters below the sea level. This really is the lowest land elevation globally. The land is frequently flocked by pilgrims, art lovers, and those who are curious about record. Israel has an extremely rich historical past that dates back even prior to the biblical times. The earliest identified records of...

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a Hebrew calendar year. It is a serious occasion, more akin to the first day of school than the first day of January. It is a time to see how much we have grown over the year, in a Jewish sense – a time for accounting for spiritual, ethical and religious growth. Hence, the shofar, the ram's horn: like the alarm clock on the morning of the first day of school, the piercing sounds of the shofar are a wake-up call, challenged to examine the lives led in the year just concluded, and to think about paths for the year ahead. The two-day celebration of Rosh Hashanah is referred to as ‘yoma arichta', meaning one day, as the forty-eight hour long observance of...

Make a Google search for Benchers and you will be surprised that people actually sell them. Why be surprised?! Take a Webster Dictionary and look up for the definition for the word Bencher, this is what you will get: "one who sits on or presides at a bench". So how in the world can people sell benchers online?? Nobody can actually sell people sitting on benches! This is where it needs to be explained that there are two types of benchers and it depends whom you ask. Upon searching for the meaning of benchers on Google, we were able to see that the first result was a Jewish Gift Shop and they had a good explanation on their benchers page as to what this bencher business is all about. According to that...

Dropshipping and Turnkey Dropship Websites At Cost: 00 plus $4. Are there people actually buying Remote Controlled Coffee Makers? One way to find out, is by going to eBay and looking at how many bids and clicks that those who are selling these coffee makers are getting. Of course there are many other ways to research this,such as market research software, and I will get into these in a later article. There must be a market to sell your products to, or you are just chasing your tail. This part is called "demand". Demand for the product that you are selling. This is why those home based businesses that are involved in "niche markets" seem to thrive. Before you should start selling these jumped up java...

((The Omaha Gambit) (November, 1967)) "Come on," Jerry Hino said, it was morning and we needed to get an apartment there was a light film of snow on the ground, it was November of 1967 and this was my second great trip. The anxiety and dilemma of the night driven through Milwaukee had passed, we had driven from Minnesota, to Milwaukee, onto Madison, Wisconsin, and here we were in Omaha, Nebraska. In Milwaukee we had almost got shot. Anyhow, we had hightailed it out of Milwaukee, onto Omaha. I was a little disappointed in the city; it didn't look like much, I spotted Dodge Street right away, and we drove up and down it looking for an apartment. Jerry was running away from his girlfriend Nancy, and I...

Kosher food has become the symbol of Jewish national culture, together with the Jewish holidays and Jewish music. Originating from Jewish religious beliefs, kosher food is perceived by non-Jewish communities as a tradition, which symbolizes the specifically Jewish foods and preferences. Jewish stores are found in every big European city: the signboard which says "Kosher", declares that in this store you can purchase kosher groceries and kosher deli, such as kosher meet, kosher fish, kosher pretzels and kosher snacks. Shopping for kosher food has become an art for Jewish religious women. For Jewish orthodoxies, it requires not only buying in specific supermarkets, but also checking all the foods for...

According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) scientists estimate that approximately 12 million Americans now suffer from true food allergies. More than 1/3 of these are estimated to be kids. A few small, but wise, manufacturers have recognized the needs of this four million plus market. Not only do they produce great allergen-friendly products year round, but several have also created special products just for the holiday season. For safe festivities, gifts, and stocking stuffers seek out these kid-approved treats: Divvies: We love the Divvies line of cookies year round, but the giant tubs of popcorn bring back a great holiday tradition. It comes in three flavors: kettle corn...

> Hanukkah Story and Party Ideas The word Hanukkah is Hebrew for dedication. Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the holy temple in Jerusalem in 165BCE after the Maccabees, a group of Jewish fighters, victory over the Hellenist Syrians. This was a big deal because Antiochus, the Greek King of Syria, had outlawed all Jewish rituals. Antiochus also made the Jewish people worship Greek Gods. When the Temple was being rededicated there was only enough oil to light the temple lamps for one evening. Instead there was a miracle and the temple lights stayed lit for eight nights until more oil was found. Because of this miracle Hanukkah is known as the festival of lights and...

As the holiday season quickly approaches, it's never too early to start thinking about decoration ideas. After the holiday dinner menus are completed, it's time to start thinking about ways to add holiday cheer to the home. While garland and blinking holiday lights tangled on the staircase are the norm for many families, what better way to be festive than with some new and unique holiday decoration ideas? The whole family can become involved in decorating the home, while sipping on hot cocoa and listening to the family's favorite holiday tunes. Holiday decorations can represent a personal aesthetic and doesn't have to be expensive either. Here are five holiday decoration ideas to add character to...

Holidays are hectic times and threats to animals can include seasonal decorations, ornamental lighting, ingestion of inappropriate or toxic items, excessive consumption of rich foods or harmful food, candle flames, to name a few. Although you might want to include your pets in celebrations it is important to remember that holiday dangers and seasonal threats really exist. Fortunately, anyone can take a few pet precautions and make the Hanukkah and Christmas festivities into safe and humane holiday celebrations. One simple but often overlooked step is to make sure that your pets are occupied with their own treats and activities. Good petiquette exhibited by pet owners means taking steps to make sure...

A unique and festive holiday tablescape can easily be created with someplanning, simple materials and your imagination. Just like dressing up forspecial occasions, little touches can make a big impact on how your tablelooks to your guests. One design trick to add height and visual interest to your tablescape is touse a pretty cake stand as a focal point, or several of varying heights ifyou have a large table. Cake stands are now readily available in manydifferent styles, shapes and price points. A cake stand will make whateveris placed on them seem more important -- and this need not be a cake! Hostesses now use cake stands to hold all types of foods -- hors d'oeurves,vegetables, cookies, pies or...