As the days got closer to Christmas day this year I found more and more greetings and greeters who said "Happy Holidays."  I realize there are other holidays this month including Kwanza and Hanukkah.  I know some about each of these (and I intend to learn more).  But when I walk into a store and buy CHRISTMAS cards, instead of holiday cards, I feel I should be greeted with a "Merry Christmas" instead of a "Happy Holidays"....when I go to the office and folks there know that I go to a christian church every Sunday I should be told "Merry Christmas" not "Happy Holiday".....if someone does not know my 'religious' persuasion then it's fine to great me with a "Happy Holiday"....but let's don't take the word Christmas totally out of our volcabulary.  

Let us not forget what Christmas means.  It's not the presents, it's not the decorations, it's not family and friends "home" for the holiday but the real Reason for the season is JESUS.  Jesus, who was born a babe in Bethelem, over 2000 years ago; Jesus, who as a child was raised by his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph'; Jesus, who as a man, worked as a carpenter; Jesus, who as the Savior of the world, went to Calvary and died on the cross for each and everyone of us. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL WHO BELIEVE!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OTHERS!

There are many ways to say Merry Christmas.  The list below shows over 100 ways in different languages. Try them with some of your family/friends when you see them this year.  Remember, no matter how you say it or whatever your custom, we are all one  - Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays! or................... 

Afghanistan: Of Christmas to akhtar of bakhtawar au newai kal of mubarak Shah

Albania: Gézuar Krishlingdjet

Andorra: Bon Nadal

Armenia: Shnorhavor Sourp Dzunjcount

Aruba: Bon Pasco, Bon Anja

Australia: Happy Christmas

Austria: Frohlichi Wiehnacht

Azerbaijan: Tezze Lliniz Yahsi Olsn

Bahamas: Happy Christmas

Bangladesh: Shuvo Baro DIN

Belgium: Zalig Kerstfeest

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sretam Bozic, Hristos rodi

Brazil: Happy Birthday

Brunei Darussalam: Selamat Hari Natal

Bulgaria: Vessela Koleda

Burundi: Noeli Nziza, Joyeux Noel

Bután: Krist Yesu Ko Shuva Janbma Utsav Ko Upalaxhma Hardik Shuva

Canada: Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel

Cabo Verde: Festas boas

Congo, The: Joyeux Noel

Cook Islands: orana Kia and kia manuia rava i teia Kiritime

Croatia: Sretan Bozic

Cyprus: Eftihismena Christougenna, Noeliniz kutlu olsun sees yeni yili

Czech Republic: Vesele Vanoce

Denmark: Glaedelig Jul

Dutch Antilles: Bon Pasco, Bon Anjua

Egypt: Mboni Chrismen

Eritrea: Melkam Yelidet Beaal, Poket Kristmen

Estonia: Haid Joule, Roomsaid Joule

Ethiopia: Melkam Yelidet Beaal, Poket Kristmet

France: Joyeux Noel

French Polynesia: Joyeux Noel

Germany: Frohliche Weihnachten

Ghana: Afishapa

Greenland: Glaedelig Jul, Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit

Greece: Eftihismena Christougenna

Guam: Felis Pasgua

Guinea-Bissau: Festas boas

Haiti: Jwaye Nwel

Holland: Prettige Kerstdagen

Hong Kong: Sing gives fiy loc

Hungary: Boldog Karacsonyt

Iceland: Gleileg Jól

India: Shub Christu Jayanti

Indonesia: Salamet Hari Natal

Iran, Islamic Republic of: Christmas Mobarrak

Iraq: Idah Saidan Wasanah Jadidah

Ireland: Nollaig Shona dhuit

Israel: Mo `adim Lesimkha

Italy: Buon Natale

Japan: Merii Kurisumasu

Jordan: Mboni Chrismen

Latvia: Priecigus xiemassvetkus!

Lebanon: Milad Majeed

Lituania: Laimingu Kaledu

Luxembourg: Schei Kreschtdeeg

Madagascar: Joyeux Noel, Arahata traty ny Krismasy

Malaysia: Selamat Hari Krimas

Marianas Islands: Filis Pasgua

Malta: II-Milied it-Tajjeb

Marshall Islands: Monono ilo raaneoan Nejin

Mexico: Feliz Navidad

Moldavia, Repubic of: Craciun fericit if a An Nou fericit!

Monaco: Festusu Natale

Namibia: Geseende Kersfees

Nepal: Krist Yesu Ko Shuva Janma Utsav Ko Upalaxhma Hardik Shuva

New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas

Norway: Gledelig Jul

Pakistan: Bara DIN Mubarrak Ho

Philippines: Maligayang Pasko

Poland: Boze Narodzenie

Portugal: Festas boas

Puerto Rico: Happy Passovers

Rumania: Sarbatori vesele

Russian Federation: Hristos Razdajetsja, Rozdjestvom Hristovim

Rwanda: Noheli Nziza

Samoa: Manuia Him Kirisimasi

San Marino: Buon Natale

Saudi Arabia: Mboni Vhrismen

Singapore: Sheng Dan Kuai Him, Nathar Puthu Varuda Nalthukkal

South Africa: Geseende Kersfees

Sri Lanka: Subha nath thalak Vewa, Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal

Sudan: Wilukeng Natal

Surinam: Zalig Kersfeest, Wang swietie Kresnetie

Sweden: God Jul

Switzerland: Frohliche Wiehnacht, Joyeux Noel

Taiwan: Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen So

Tanzania, Republic of: Krismas Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka mpya

Thailand: Ewadee Pe-e Mai

Turkey: Mutlu Noeller

Uganda: Webale Krismasi

Ukraine: Veseloho Van Rizdva

United Kingdom: Happy Christmas, Nadolig Llawen (ales)

United States: Merry Christmas

Vatican, City of the: Buon Natale

Vietnam: Chuc mung Giang Sinh

Yemen: Mboni Chrismen

Yugoslavia: Cestitamo Bozic

Zimbabue: Happy Christmas

How to Reduce Your Stress this Christmas


In theory Christmas is a time that is filled with joy and celebration. A joyous holiday when you get together with loved ones and catch up, exchange gifts and generally have a good time.

Unfortunately in practice it can be a time of great stress and unhappiness. There is so much to do and so much to organise. And sometimes getting together with your extended family can be uncomfortable and even painful.

So here is a plan that will help you to relax a little more this Christmas and hopefully a good time will be had by all.

Christmas Shopping

Don't leave everything until the last moment. Rushing will just make you tired and more stressed. Get you Christmas shopping done early, so you don't have to spend hours fighting other shoppers for the last doll or Christmas turkey.

Don't over spend. It is very easy at Christmas time to spend too much and put yourself in a financial hole for a good part of the new year. Decide before you go shopping how much you can afford to spend and stick to your budget. Shopping early will help you stick to a budget as you will not be in a last minute panic, picking up anything that may be suitable regardless of the cost.

If money is a little tight for you or some of your family members there are a couple of ways you can reduce your spending costs. Together you could decide that all gifts should be handmade or second hand. Or you could all decide that each of you will only buy for one other person. This way instead of spending $5 on 10 people and getting them all little cute but junky things you spend $50 on one person and get them something that they will really appreciate. Decide between the family an amount that everyone is to spend and then draw names out of a hat to see who you will shop for.

Wrap the presents as soon as you can after buying them - that will leave one less thing to do on Christmas eve.

Christmas Cooking

Again planning is very important. You don't have to do it all yourself. Ask members of your family to bring something along. This way the chore is shared amongst many and everyone can feel like they have contributed.

See what preparations can be made a few days before hand. The plum pudding and mince tarts can be made weeks before hand. Do what you can, but make sure everything is stored at a safe temperature. You can wash the potatoes but they will go black if you peel them.

Dealing with the Unpleasant Relatives

At Christmas time we can be thrown together with people that we would really rather not have anything with. Do your best to be pleasant to them but if they cross the line and say something that is rude stay calm. Do not attack them back; let them know that you do not appreciate their comments and that you would rather hear positive comments about yourself and other members of your family.

Do your best not to let the comments of one person spoil your day. Try not to dwell on any negativity. Instead think about the things you are enjoying about the day and go and find someone you do get along well with and talk to them.

Alcohol can increase your emotional reactions to any situation so only drink in moderation.

One final word

Make sure that you look after yourself with appropriate exercise, relaxation, sleep and a healthy diet on the days leading up to Christmas. When we are feeling fit and energetic we are able to cope so much more easily with the ups and downs of life. However if we are already feeling tired and stressed any little thing can overwhelm us and this can make Christmas day more tension and tiresome.

Have a great Christmas

Many of our men and women who have been serving in Iraq this year will return home, either on leave or because their tour of duty is over, and will spend Christmas at home with family and friends.  But a lot of them did not make it alive and these families will not spend Christmas with their loved ones.  They paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  Let us not forget not just our servicemen and women but their families as well. These deployments are hard on the whole family....wives, children, brothers, sisters, parents and friends.

For our servicepeople Xerox has a great feature - they will send care packages with cards that you can format online at www.LetsSayThanks.com.   You can visit this site every day and send cards to servicemen and women thanking them for
their service.