The New Year gift-giving tradition has a pre-historic root. Despite the 'Christmas presents' culture, 'gift giving' at New Year is still practiced in many parts of Europe, including France, Switzerland, Russia and Greece. In Europe it was prevalent even before Christ was born.

Today here in USA we are more used to gift-giving at Christmas, rather than the New Year's Day. Historically this owes its origin to the old customs of the German and Dutch settlers. The English and French dominated states though continued with the tradition of gift-giving on the New Year's Day for a long while. However, the combined German and Dutch influences, in time, caused this old tradition to be wiped out giving way to the present custom across America.

Long before the world came to accept January 1 as the secular New Year different people from different parts of the world would have different New Year timings. Yet there were some broad areas of convergence in their diverging customs. And gifts on this occasion is among them as are feast, and community revelry. The idea behind all this was, probably, to greet each other with something auspicious on the wake of the new year .

From the Celts to the Romans:
The Celtic-Teutonic Druids used to make a gift of their holy plant mistletoe at the beginning of the Year. Among the Romans such gifts were called 'strenae', a word said to be derived from the goddess of luck, Strenia. At first the gifts were branches from sacred trees meant for wishing recipients an auspicious New Year. Later objects like gilded nuts and coins bearing the imprint of Janus, the god with two faces to whom January was sacred.

Rome had also developed a custom of presenting gifts to the emperor. But later the spirit ceased to exist and a 'forced payment' replaced the 'gifts'. Courtesy, the power wielding Roman despots. It went on for some couple of centuries until the practice was forbidden by Pope Leo I the Great in 458.


The English and the Scotts:
English royalty, also began to force their subjects in the matter of New Year's gifts as early as the time of Henry III (1216-72). Queen Elizabeth was very watchful of the "who's and what's" of the giving and received great amounts in jewels and gold on New Year's Day. She systematized the practice to the extent of keeping descriptive lists of the gifts presented to her from all walks of life. However, following the splendor of Queen Elizabeth's reign, the practice declined. Finally, when Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came into power, the custom stopped.

The New Year gift exchange was also a common practice among the ordinary English people until the Victorian regime. Gloves were a usual gift. Also popular were oranges stuck with clove, used to preserve and flavor wine. When the English had settled in America they brought in the tradition and continued to exchange gifts and presents at the New Years. So did the French. Thus we find, the predominantly French, New Orleans continued with the New Year's practice for a long time. And in France even today gifts and greeting cards are presented on New Year's Day.

In Scotland, where New Year's is the biggest feast of the year, gifts were solicited by bands of boys who went from door to door begging for money and food and singing the ditty:

" I wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year,
A pocketful of money
And a cellar full of beer,
And a good fat pig
To serve you all the year."

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Wise Men
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
gifts
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
Fleeing to Egypt
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

--Matthew 1:18 - 2:23 New International Version

It's Thanksgiving and I would like to personally express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your continued support. I like to also thank you for spreading the word and inviting other professionals to join and enjoy our growing network.

I wish you and your families and friends a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

There are 30 days in November - the 11th month of the year.
November's Birthstone is the Topaz or Citrine.

Holidays & Observances - November 16, 2008 (Sunday):

* Start of American Education Week - November 16 - 22, 2008
o American Education Week is always held the full week prior to Thanksgiving.
* Oklahoma becomes the 46th US State, admitted to the Union on Nov
* November 16, 1952 - Lucy first holds a football for Charlie Brown in the Peanuts cartoon strip.

Celebrity Birthdays November 16th:
* Ray Coniff
* Dwight Gooden, 1964 - Gift Suggestion
* Marg Helgenberger, 1958
* Burgess Meredith

Holidays & Observances - November 17, 2008 (Monday):

* First session of the US Congress was held at the US Capital building in Washington DC on November 17, 1800.
* Dulles International Airport was dedicated in Washington DC by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962.
* The most watched event in TV Soap Opera history: General Hospital's Luke & Laura's wedding ceremony aired November 17, 1981.
* K-Mart announced it was buying Sears, Roebuck & Co. on November 17, 2004.
* NBC pre-empts the last minute of a very close NFL game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders with the movie Heidi on November 17, 1968. Sports fans were outraged.
* Former President Richard Nixon claims "I am not a crook" (Watergate Scandal) in a press conference on November 17, 1973.
* Arnold Schwarzenegger was inaugurated Governor of California on November 17, 2003.
* World Peace Day (Observed November 17 every year)

Celebrity Birthdays November 17th:
* Gene Clark, Musician - Byrd's, , etc. - Born Harold Eugene Clark on November 17, 1944 in Tipton, Missouri.
* Howard Dean - Politician, former governor of Vermont. Born Howard Brush Dean III on November 17, 1948.
* Danny Devito, 1944
* Daisy Fuentes, 1966 - Gift Suggestion
* Rock Hudson, 1925 (Died 1985.)
* Lauren Hutton, 1943
* Gordon Lightfoot, 1938
* Lorne Michaels, 1944
* Martin Scorsese, 1942
* Tom Seaver, 1944
* Lee Strasberg, Director. Born November 17, 1901. (Died 1982.)

Holidays & Observances - November 18, 2008 (Tuesday):

* Mickey Mouse debuted in Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theater in New York on Nov. 18, 1928.
o History of Mickey Mouse

Celebrity Birthdays November 18th:
* Imogene Coca, 1908. Actress, comedienne. Born in Philadelphia, PA. Died June 2, 2001.
* Linda Evans, 1942. Actress - The Big Valley, Dynasty and more. Born Linda Evanstad in Hartford, Connecticut. Gift Suggestion
* Mickey Mouse, 1928
* Minnie Mouse, 1928
* Alan Shephard, 1923-1998 - Astronaut - first American in space, played golf on moon.
* Sinbad, 1956. Comedian, born David Adkins in Benton Harbor, Michigan - Gift Suggestion
* Brenda Vaccaro, 1939. Actress. Born in Brooklyn, NY but raised in Dallas, TX.

Veteran’s Day is a day designated to honor the men and women who have fought and died for our country.

Americans give thanks for peace on Veterans’ Day. There are ceremonies and speeches and at 11:00 in the morning most Americans observe a moment of silence, remembering those who fought for peace.

How to celebrate Veterans’ Day:

-Fly an American Flag from your flag pole at your home or business.
-Observe a moment of silence. Concentrate on remembering those who have died defending the cause of freedom.
-Wear a poppy.
-Go to a cemetery and pay respect to a fallen soldier.
-Locate an American Legion near you and listen to the stories of men who have served for our country.
-Write a letter to a soldier who is currently serving our country and give thanks to them.

November marks the shift from fall weather to the beginning of winter weather, and the end of "back to school" days to the beginning of the holiday season.

U.S. holidays and observations in November 2009 include Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and some unusual celebrations like National Cashew Day.

FOR FUN AND EXCITING GIFT IDEAS

So what else is going on in November 2009?
• Forget-Me-Not Day: November 10
• World Kindness Day: November 13
• Operating Room Nurse Day: November 14
• Clean Your Refrigerator Day: November 15
• Button Day: November 16

THIS DAY:
Happy Birthday US Marine Corp
Area Code Day

THIS WEEK:

Pursuit of Happiness Week -- What does it take to be truly happy and have feelings of joy permeate your everyday life?

10 simple steps we can all take to make our lives happy:
1. Plant something and nurture it.
2. Count your blessings -- at least five -- at the end of each day.
3. Take time to talk. Have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week.
4. Phone a friend with whom you have not spoken for a while and arrange
to meet up.
5. Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it.
6. Have a good laugh at least once a day.
7. Get physical. Exercise for half an hour three times a week.
8. Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day.
9. Cut your TV viewing by half.
10. Spread kindness. Do a good turn for someone everyday
By: Frank McGwire

THIS MONTH:
American Indian Heritage Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
National Pomegranate Month

That somewhere, someone is celebrating something?

Today is November 3rd: General Election Day – Don’t forget to VOTE

Today is also: National Cliché Day

…a phrase, expression, or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty…*

Cliché: "Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today", ”every cloud has a silver lining”

What’s your favorate Cliché

* source: wikipedia – Cliché

Holidays in November

Today:
Cliché' Day
General Election Day (US)
Sandwich Day
Culture Day (Japan)
National Day (Dominica)
Independence Day (Micronesia)
Independence Day (Panama)

This week:
Dear Santa Letter Week

This month:
American Diabetes Month
Aviation History Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Family Stories Month

A Time to Remember October 19, 1814

The Star-Spangled Banner Was First Sung


    O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
    What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
    Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
    O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
    And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
    Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
    O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

    On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
    Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
    What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
    As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
    Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
    In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
    'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

    And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
    That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
    A home and a country should leave us no more?
    Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
    No refuge could save the hireling and slave
    From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

    O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
    Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
    Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
    Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
    Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
    And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
    

On Sept. 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the burning of Washington, DC. The release was secured, but Key was detained on ship overnight during the shelling of Fort McHenry, one of the forts defending Baltimore. In the morning, he was so delighted to see the American flag still flying over the fort that he began a poem to commemorate the occasion. First published under the title “Defense of Fort M'Henry,” the poem soon attained wide popularity as sung to the tune “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The origin of this tune is obscure, but it may have been written by John Stafford Smith, a British composer born in 1750. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was officially made the national anthem by Congress in 1931, although it already had been adopted as such by the army and the navy.

Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA Weekend Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. In 2008 more than three million people served.  Make A Difference Day connects people with opportunities to serve, increases the strength of communities and promotes civic engagement.

Anyone young and old, individuals and groups, can carry out a volunteer project that helps others. It might be as ambitious as collecting truckloads of clothing for the homeless, or as personal as spending an afternoon helping an elderly neighbor or relative. Your project can be as large or as small as you wish! Look around your community and see what needs to be done. 

You can Make a Difference by:

• Helping the needy or homeless
• Assist a disabled person
• Mentoring a Child
• Making a friendly visit to someone who needs cheering

Millions of people across the country will spend Saturday, October 24, 2009 making our world a better place -- one person at a time.

Every Day should be Make a Difference Day

Everyone loves to receive gifts, especially if you are an employee or that special client. Corporate gift giving is customary as it leads to good will, shows appreciation and rewards for a job well done. The holiday season is not the only occasion to send a gift. 

There are other occasions for gift giving:

• Promotes your company's products or services.

• Shows appreciation to a hard-working employee, a client for new or continued business, someone who has referred business to you.

• Motivate or Encourage employees, a get well gift for a client or employee, to say thank you for a job well done.

• Celebrate or Congratulate a business anniversary or grand opening, the birth of a baby, a birthday, a retirement, a new job or promotion, completion of an important project.