IS YOUR HOLIDAY HUSTLE & BUSTLE GETTING TO BE TOO MUCH? TRY SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BY REMEMBERING SOME OLD TRADITIONS !!!!!

The Holiday Season should be joyous and a time to build lifelong memories with your family. Traditions also help you to bond and reconnect with loved ones, friends and neighbors. Creating traditions can take a little time and energy to plan, so here is a list of a few traditions to inspire your own holiday plans and make the season a little more fun and brighter.

HOLIDAY FOOD TRADITIONS:

1. Make traditional dishes for your holiday meals and include foods from your own culture and foods you ate while growing up. Ask for recipes from relatives to keep your family food traditions alive.

NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY TRADITIONS:

1. See a local production of "The Nutcracker", "A Christmas Carol" or another holiday-themed show.

2. Get in your car, check out and privately judge, holiday lighting displays in your neighborhood.

3. Make a note of local holiday events on your calendar. Most cities/towns, produce concerts, festivals and plays to celebrate the season.

AROUND THE HOME HOLIDAY TRADITIONS:

1. Go to a tree farm and cut down the perfect tree (they last longer). Decorate it as a family, let the kids do their thing. Have some treats on hand.

2. Set aside at least one night to watch a holiday movie or TV special, like "Scrooge", "Miracle on 34th Street", "A Charlie Brown Christmas", etc.

3. Purchase or make a holiday ornament for each child every year. Helps to reminisce holiday decorating.

4. Sit down with your child and take the time to write a letter to Santa.

GIVING BACK HOLIDAY TRADITIONS:

1. Volunteer your time at a food bank to help families in need.

2. Go through your closets and donate gently used clothing to a local shelter. Coats are particularly useful at this time of year.

3. Deliver cookies and treats to those who must work during the holiday. i.e. local fire station, police department and your local hospital.

4. Volunteer a little time at a Senior Citizen Center.

HOLIDAY GIFT TRADITIONS:

1. If your extended family is large, consider making a deal among the adults to buy gifts only for the kids.

2. Start a "Gag Gift" tradition to a family member. Each year pass the gift on to another, unsuspecting family member.

CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONS:

1. Open one gift on Christmas Eve.

2. Track Santa's progress across the globe.

3. Read "the Night Before Christmas" at bedtime.

4. Get matching pajamas for the kids to wear on Christmas Eve for a great photo op in the morning.

CHRISTMAS MORNING:

1. Choose a family member at random to pass out the gifts to everyone.

2. Call or have a video chat with loved ones who are unable to be with your family

3. Go out for breakfast (if you can find a place open) let someone else besides Mom, do the cooking.

Most of all, remember to try to observe the religious purpose of the holiday you are celebrating. From the staff of Legacy Realty Group....have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

For all your Real Estate & Insurance needs and helpful hints, contact, LEGACY REALTY GROUP, "The New Star in Town",  1963 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ 08820. Tel: 732-744-0400.

THE HISTORY OF HANUKKAH (CHANUKAH)

Hanukkah or Chanukah (for anyone not aware) is the eight day festival celebrated by Jewish people around the world. The history of Hanukkah dates back to 165 BCE. The land of Judea was ruled by Antiochus, a Syrian King, who ordered the Jews to reject all their rituals and beliefs, forcing them to worship Greek Gods and eat the meat of a pig. Out of fear of the Greek Soldiers, some Jews obeyed, while the remaining Jewish people, would not comply to these orders, both of which were against Jewish law, and out of anger, decided to fight back.

A Jewish High Priest, Mattahias and his five sons, attacked and killed many of the Greek soldiers, then took asylum nearby. When Mattahias died a year later, his son Judah Maccabee took charge of the Jewish Army, committed to defeat the Greek Soldiers. The determined army fought fiercely and successfully defeated the Greek Soldiers. Judah and his men then traveled to the Holy Temple to attend to it's restoration. While they were cleaning and repairing the damages to the temple, which was in shambles, they discovered that many precious items were missing or had been destroyed. They repaired what was left, including the Menorah, a nine branched candelabrum. They discovered that the limited amount of purified oil, which could only light the Menorah for one night, miraculously burned for eight days, thus giving rise to the establishment of Hanukkah, "The Festival of Lights". This eight day festival is celebrated to commemorate the re-dedication of the Holy Temple and the victory of Judah Maccabee over the Greeks. During this eight day festival, Jews light one candle on the Menorah each night, preceded by Jewish blessings. According to the Hanukkah tradition, the candles should not be blown out.

This year, on Thursday, November 28, 2013, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving occur on the same day, an astronomical merging of the Holidays, that will not happen again for 77,000 years. Since this will be a "once in a lifetime" event, perhaps there could be a turkey shaped Menorah called a "Menurkey", or a "Thanksgivukka" to honor both Holidays. Pardon the humor.
Ironically, in 2016, Hanukkah begins on Christmas Eve. Not as spectacular an event as this year, but special nevertheless.

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS !!!!!!!

For all your Real Estate and Insurance needs and helpful hints, contact, LEGACY REALTY GROUP, Edison, NJ. 732.744.0400

THE COLORS OF CHRISTMAS

There are several colors which are traditionally  associated with Christmas. The most popular are Red, Green & Gold. But why....and what do all the colors represent? Most of the colors and their meanings have evolved from the Western/Northern European Christian traditions and customs, with Christmas in the middle of Winter where it is dark early and cold.

GREEN:

Evergreen plants like Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe have been used for thousands of years to decorate and brighten up buildings during the long, dark Winter. They also reminded people that Spring was around the corner, and Winter wouldn't last forever. The Romans would exchange evergreen branches during January as a sign of good luck. The ancient Egyptians would bring palm branches into their homes during the mid-winter festivals.

In many parts of Europe during the Middle Ages, Paradise Plays were performed, most often on Christmas Eve. Bible stories were acted out for people who couldn't read. The "Paradise Tree" in the Garden of Eden in the play, was normally a pine tree, adorned with red apples tied to it. Now the most common use of green at Christmas time, are Christmas trees.

RED:

As stated, the early use of red at Christmas, were the apples on the Paradise Tree, which, in the plays, represented the fall of Adam. Red is also the color of holly berries, which is said to represent the blood of Jesus when he died on the cross. Red is also the color of Bishops robes. These would have been worn by St. Nicholas, then became Santa's uniform.

GOLD:

Gold is the color of the Sun and light, both very important in the dark Winter and both red and gold are the colors of fire, needed to keep you warm. Gold was also one of the gifts presented to the baby Jesus by one of the wise men. Traditionally it's the color used to depict the star, followed by the wise men. (Silver is sometimes used, instead, but gold is the warmer color)

WHITE:

White is often associated with purity and peace in Western Cultures, as is the snow of Winter. White, paper thin, wafers were also sometimes used to decorate the Paradise Trees. The wafers represented the bread which is eaten during the Christian Communion or Mass, as a reminder that Jesus died for them. White is used by most churches as the color of Christmas, when the altar is covered by a white cloth. (In the Russian Orthodox Church, at Christmas, a Gold cloth is used to cover the altar)

BLUE:

The color blue is often associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Medieval times, blue dye and paint was more expensive than gold, therefore would only be worn by Royal families and people of wealth. Mary was often painted wearing blue to show that she was very important. Blue also represents the color of the sky and heaven. During Advent, the month of preparation leading to Christmas day, purple (occasionally blue) is used in most churches for the color of the altar cloth. (In the Russian Orthodox Church, during Advent, red is used as the color of the alter cloth)

some information excerpted from, www.whychristmas.com/customs/colors-of-christmas.

While the Christmas Holiday is arguably the most colorful of all holidays, it is celebrated by many cultures in many different ways. Have a safe and wonderful Holiday, and try to not let all the commercialism overshadow this meaningful time of year.

For all your Real Estate & Insurance needs and helpful hints, Contact, LEGACY REALTY GROUP, "The New Star in Town", 1963 Oak Tree Rd. Edison, N.J, 732-744-0400

WIFI HACKING

With Thanksgiving upon us, more people will be traveling by land or air, than at any other time of the year. Aside from weather predictions and driving hints here is another important precaution you may not have thought about. If your trip includes a stay at a hotel that provides WIFI service, take advantage of it, and when you are finished, shut it down, and remind your kids (if any) to do the same. Leaving your computer connected and on, provides great opportunities for Cyber attacks, which happen at hotels frequently. The last thing you want to discover is that your computer has been "hacked", and all your important data stolen. Be careful, so you can enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING DAY IS AROUND THE CORNER. HERE ARE A FEW TRADITIONS & CUSTOMS OLD AND NEW:

Every celebration is accompanied by some customs or rituals in which people enthusiastically participate with minor degrees of variation. Thanksgiving Day has it's own set of traditions, and pastimes. Here are just a few....

GOBBLING TURKEY:

Surveys conducted by the National Turkey Federation (NFT), projects that 91% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Southerners typically prefer deep-fried turkey as opposed to roasted turkey, however. Approximately 675 million pounds of turkey is consumed on Thanksgiving Day.... And how about those late night sandwiches.

CHARITY FOR THE NEEDY:

As Thanksgiving is a celebration of sharing thanks, blessings and prosperity, many people move to help their "not so lucky" fellow- beings. They supervise soup kitchens and many other activities to contribute to the less fortunate members of society.

FOOTBALL:

Americans are well known for their passion of football, which is relished on Thanksgiving Day and well into the evening. While some people play it, others prefer to watch it, either in stadiums or on TV. Usually you can find a minimum of four, nationally televised games of pro-football on this day.

ENJOYING THE LAVISH, FUN FILLED, THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE:

Before the football games, many Americans have the opportunity to watch the great parade, highlighted by the exquisite balloons, the amazing Radio City, Rockettes, and Santa, by visiting NYC personally. Many millions of others enjoy the extravaganza on TV. The arrival of Santa marks the end of the parade and the official start of the Christmas Season.

MAKING A WISH:

Following the footsteps of the Etruscans, Americans make a wish by breaking the forked breast bone (wish bone) removed from the turkey or chicken. The belief is the wish will be granted to the person holding the biggest piece of the "wish bone". The tradition started in Rome and was introduced to America by the British.

The evolution of Thanksgiving has certainly come a long way since the first American Thanksgiving festival was held in 1607, in Virginia. As for the official start of the Christmas Season, it keeps coming earlier each year. In fact there is a humorous story about a couple walking down the street observing Christmas lights and decorations. One says to the other, "Oh my gosh, I didn't realize it was September already".

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

For all your Real Estate and Insurance needs & helpful hints, contact LEGACY REALTY GROUP, "the new star in town", 1963 Oak Tree Rd. Edison, N.J . 732-744-0400