Craft Ideas for Christmas Gifts

You can create magical Christmas gifts, all by your own hands. Handmade crafts like Christmas pictures and Christmas greetings cards are a great way to wish Merry Christmas.

One can send Christmas greetings to friends or even girl friend and boyfriend by making the following crafts:

For Him:

•    Knit a trendy ribbed cardigan.

•    Sew a carrier for a water bottle.

•    Make packets of bouquet garni for cooking enthusiasts.

•    Make a tweed cushion to pair up with a sofa.

•    Make a retro style tie.

•    Sew a snazzy sports bag for the sporty person.

•    Sew a handy case to store his pens and pencils.

•     Create a comfortable bean bag.

•    Knit a warm pair of gloves.

•    Make smart scarves with old jumpers.

•     Make a cool padded case for his iPad.

•     Create a practical apron for the chef.

•    For keeping the Kindle safe, sew a fitting cover.

•     Knit a casual, crew neck sweater to keep warm.

•     Make a picture frame featuring family tree.

•    Present cool cufflinks to make him as well dressed man.

•    Make him a Christmas jumper.

•    Organize his life by making an attractive calendar or notice board.

•    Present a special hand painted mug.

•    Sew name or initials on a bath towel.

•    Personalize garden tools by painting them.

•     Make a picture frame of interesting images.

•    Knit a sleeveless sweater that is trendy currently.

•     Gift pots of planted bulbs for adorning windows.

•    Create a birdhouse for observing birds from the window.

For Her:

•    Add a lovely beaded collar for her cardigan.

•    Knit a shawl style scarf.

•    Sew a key ring that is heart shaped.

•    Sew an attractive watch strap.

•    Create a cute coat hanger.

•    Knit a warm and cosy snood.

•    Make natty Christmas letters.

•     Make handmade lavender soaps.

•     Sew spectacles cases to keep them safe.

•    Sew a stylish sleep mask.

•    Make a fabric bird brooch

•    Sew a clutch bag made of faux fur.

•    Make a button through skirt.

•    Make a leather hair clip or flower necklace

•    Knit a lacy summer top

•    Make your own jewellery

•     Create a bucket bag with draw string.

•     Knit a mono print, short sleeved jumper.

•    Knit a beach bag.

•    Make a heart brooch from buttons.

•    Personalize slippers with bows made of velvet.

•    Make a studded belt carrying the message of Love.

•    Create a simple gym bag.

•    Make a hair clip or brooch of a holly leaf.

•    Collect party accessories and make a special box to store them.

•    Knit a top made of cropped Angora.

•    Sew a trendy skater skirt.

For Children:

•     Knit a hooded baby jumper.

•     Sew them their first booties.

•    Sew a cosy cover for hot water bottle.

•    Crochet or knit a cute cardigan.

•    Sew an apron for the child as well as her teddy bear.

•    Knit a striped and colourful sweater for the teenager.

•    Crochet baby booties.

•     Knit cable socks and sweaters for baby and children.

•    Make a summer hat for the baby.

•    Knit a shrug for a little girl.

•    Knit a wrap over cardigan for a little girl.

These are some handmade Christmas gifts for the man, woman and child in your life. To enhance the Christmas experience, one can send text messages containing Christmas wishes and Christmas Greetings. One can organize Christmas get-together for friends and family where such handmade gifts can be exchanged. This will make for the best of Christmas celebrations.

Christmas Traditions around the World

Christmas is a festival celebrated world over. In some parts, the celebration is totally religious while, in others, it is relaxed and secular. In most regions, Christmas has a unique national and cultural flavour of celebrating the festival.

Also, there is no homogenous or common Christmas customs and traditions around the world, but there are a few common elements. Popular Christmas traditions are exchanging of gifts, preparing the Yule log, decorating the Christmas tree, kissing under the mistletoe, etc.

In predominantly Christian countries, Christmas is the most significant festival, in economic terms. For instance, in the UK, Christmas is celebrated for 12 days beginning with Christmas day. It is a huge celebration and feasting leading up to the Feast of the Epiphany or the 12^th Night.

The custom of elongating Christmas celebrations is growing in popularity. In some countries, the holiday season starts much before Christmas day to celebrate with family for a longer time. This is to stretch the shopping season.

The day before Christmas is commonly called as Christmas Eve and the days after Christmas by various names. In some Commonwealth countries, it is referred to as “Boxing Day,” while in Poland and Germany, it is called as Second Christmas Day. Romanians and the Irish call the day as St. Stephen’s Day.

Apart from such religious connotations, Christmas is associated with certain customs and traditions of a non-religious and secular nature. Some of them are:

• Exchange of gifts: Families and friends exchange gifts. Children hang stockings by the fireplace and keep empty shoe boxes on Christmas Eve to let Santa fill it with gifts or candy by X’MAS morning. Sometimes kids leave their shoes by the window sill for Santa to fill them up with goodies.

• Christmas cards: Sending Christmas cards is a popular way of celebrating Christmas. And all your friends and family will appreciate a card wishing them Merry Christmas if you are far away from them.

• Decorating home: Get your family together to deck up your home and Christmas tree. Festoon the home with balloons and streamers, as well as stars and mistletoe. Candy canes can also be used. People decorate insides as well as outside of their homes. Sometimes municipalities sponsor the X’MAS decorations.

•   Christmas parties: They are a great way to celebrate with family. Special Christmas dinner menu like Christmas pudding is served in most countries. Families in some East European countries fast for a few days before Christmas and break their fast on Christmas day with special Christmas feast. Some countries feature Christmas pageants and Christmas dances as part of the revelry and exchange famous Christmas quotes to mark the celebrations with joy and laughter.

• Charitable work: People go carol singing to spread the joy and cheer from house to house. Also, they visit the neighbourhood for good causes like raising donations for the infirm and the destitute.

• Religious celebration: As a religious celebration, the revelry of the festival is toned down. In homes and the Church, carols are sung, funds are raised for good causes and people do voluntary charitable work. It is a time for silent prayer, spiritual renewal and reading out quotes from the Holy Bible.

There are many customs and traditions for Christmas around the globe. But basically, it served to bring love, peace and joy to our homes and our lives.