There’s a tradition of sorts every Christmas Eve/Day, in which TBS airs the classic comedy A Christmas Story starting at 8/7c on Christmas Eve and then back to back for 24 hours straight.

The film, which is celebrating 25 years since its release in 1983, stars Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin and Ian Petrella as the Parker family, and is an adaptation of the Jean Shepherd story about a little boy’s efforts to receive a Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas.

Who can forget classic lines like, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” and “You used up all the glue on purpose!” and “He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny!”

So sit back, relax and catch the flick. Whether it’s your first time seeing A Christmas Story, or your fiftieth, laughs and good times are virtually guaranteed.

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I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. – Charles Dickens.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring-not even a mouse:
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. – Clement C. Moore

At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year. – Thomas Tusser

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Tune in to NBC tonight, December 3, from 8-9 p.m. ET/PT for a dazzling display of musical talent and the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree during the 11th annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” telecast.

Hosted by Al Roker (“Today”), the star-studded annual tree lighting extravaganza features Beyoncé, Tony Bennett, Neil Boyd, Jonas Brothers, Harry Connick Jr., David Cook, Rosie O’Donnell and The Broadway Kids, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, and Solange Knowles performing current hits and holiday classics from Rockefeller Center in New York City.

NBC’s New York flagship station WNBC, and the NBC Hartford station WVIT, will both broadcast an additional live hour of the special locally from 7-8 p.m. prior to the start of the network broadcast.

The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to the Great Depression in 1933, when the first tree was decked with 700 lights and placed in front of the then eight-month-old RCA Building, now the GE Building. The Christmas tree gathering was enhanced in 1936 with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor ice-skating pond. NBC-TV televised the first tree lighting in 1951 on “The Kate Smith Show” and as part of the nationwide “Howdy Doody” television show from 1953-55.

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While perhaps the most eco-friendly way to go would be a good old sock, there are plenty of other materials that can be turned into stylish, fun and festive Christmas stockings.

Here are some Christmas stockings trimmed with parts of coats. And here’s a crafty way someone turned all American blue jeans into a Christmas stocking.Taking it to another level, this crafter used plastic bottles turned eco-friendly material to make the ultimate recycled Christmas stockings.

Or, if you prefer to DIY, here is a way to turn pretty much any pair of pants into a Christmas stocking.

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This year, we’re going green at my house, with LED lights, which use up to 88 percent less energy than standard bulb lights. We bought our at Target, but you can find these types of lights at many retailers this time of year.

And don’t throw away your old holiday lights. Here’s a place that recycles them, here are some other ideas for reuse, or FreeCycle, give them to a friend or neighbor.

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To tap into the traditions of Christmas past, visit Germanfoods.org, the Web site of the German Agricultural Marketing Board (CMA). The site’s homepage will be filled with a variety of holiday tips and recipes during December.

To keep with this traditional approach to holiday entertaining, Germanfoods.org suggests the following ideas for Christmas dinner and breakfast.

• Feast on a gemütlich (that’s “cozy”) dinner. Try roasted duck, goose or rabbit on Christmas Eve, following German Christmas tradition. Serve it with potato dumplings, either made from scratch or from a German-imported mix. Or, try spätzle on the side, a German version of pasta. Top it off with some traditional tangy pickled red cabbage.

• Lay out an easy Christmas breakfast: Christmas is a busy morning – but with extended family often around, a company-suitable breakfast is necessary. What to do? Try the Germans’ take on breakfast by laying out an assortment of German deli meats, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, muesli, yogurt and pastries. This can all be prepared on platters in advance, wrapped and refrigerated until needed – so all you need to do on Christmas morning is make coffee and tea.

If you’d like to add a new twist to the old traditions, while still emphasizing the German attributes of your celebration this year, here are some ways to spice things up:

• For the holiday sweet tooth, find a new fix in Dark Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Kirsch Frosting. This delicate dessert, made with German dark chocolate and German kirschwasser (cherry brandy), is an out-of-the-ordinary treat that your family will want to turn into a new tradition.

• Gingerbread, a German staple, is spiced up a bit in Dunkel Gingerbread with Chocolate Chunks.

For more ideas on how to make your holiday entertaining more traditionally German or for recipes, visit Germanfoods.org. You’ll find recipes, entertaining ideas and a list of retailers in your area that sell authentic German foods and beverages.

- News Canada

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Whether it’s buying a new ornament each year or gathering for a large family feast, drawing on old world holiday traditions is a great way to bring people together to celebrate all the season has to offer. A good way to start, and a great family activity, is to research your heritage and the holiday traditions that your ancestors practiced.

A few traditions you may wish to draw on include:

Austria
On December 24, presents are placed under the tree for the children. Kids wait in another room until they hear a bell then enter to see the tree decorated with candles, ornaments and candies. Everyone sings carols while wishing each other happy holidays.

Denmark
Each family has a special plate, used only during the holidays, that becomes a family heirloom. Families take pride in making their own decorations with bright paper and natural objects.

Italy
During holiday week, children go from house to house playing pipes, singing and reciting holiday poems. Their delighted listeners give them small amounts of money so the children can purchase gifts.

Scandinavia
Many people in Scandinavian countries celebrate Lucia Day on December 13. At dawn, the youngest child dons a white robe and a crown of (battery operated) candles. The other children accompany “Lucia” dressed as “star boys” and “hand maidens”. The children wake their parents and serve coffee and special Lucia buns.

USA
Modern holiday decorations can be just about anything. Get back to basics with traditional holly, mistletoe, Poinsettia flowers and evergreen boughs. Hang strings of popcorn, bells and candy canes from the tree. Start a new tradition and purchase a collectible ornament each year to pass down through generations.

The Glitteratzzi Gemstone Elite Collection from Jewelry Television (www.JTV.com) incorporates sparkling gemstones on luxurious, durable glass ornaments handmade in Europe. Each piece is created by artisans and takes seven days to make. Choose one featuring a loved one’s birthstone for a gift that will endure.

This holiday season, take some time to create a new tradition taking cues from the old world. The memories will make you smile all year round.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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