Christmas Season

The final word on the critically important Christmas season came in yesterday: Retailers generally suffered through a mediocre season.Only the high-end retailers and discounters exceeded expectations, while most department stores and clothing chains saw slight increases in sales, according to figures released by retailers.Analysts saw the same numbers differently. Some said a 3 percent increase was a success, while others viewed it as a failure."This is a bonanza of a Christmas," said Alan Mill-stein of Fashion Network Report.

Wedding date: Dec. 29, 2012 Her story: Elizabeth "Beth" Passapae Sauer, 28, grew up in Baltimore. She is an associate attorney for Semmes, Bowen & Semmes in Baltimore. Her father, Francis A. Sauer, is an attorney in Towson, and her mother, Janet Passapae Sauer, is a social worker at William Paca Elementary School in Baltimore. His story: Carroll Francis "Frank" Hopkins III, 28, grew up in Bel Air. He works in medical device sales as a video sales associate for Karl Storz.

I have four words to say to you and, in a better world, I wouldn't have to resort to this.But here goes: "It's a Wonderful Life."Now, your reaction says everything about you.If you're a good, sensitive, kind person, you start to get just a wee bit sniffly and maybe talk about Jimmy Stewart and about how darn decent he is and how you even like his poetry and, by the way, isn't Clarence just the cutest little guardian angel-guy.On the other hand, if you're like me, you hit the remote faster than you can say "Bonanza" reunion show.

Thanks to more generous donations between last Wednesday and Saturday, The Aegis Empty Stocking Fund moved well past its 2012 fundraising goal before Christmas. As of Sunday morning, the Empty Stocking Fund had received $84,064 in monetary donations from Harford County residents, businesses, organizations, churches and schools. This year's fundraising goal was set at $80,000. In addition to the money received, the Empty Stocking Fund also received thousands of dollars worth of donated news toys and books.

'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 Moore wrote these words to begin his poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas," which he penned to entertain his children on Christmas Eve. But long before the poem was written, families from cultures all over the world have tapped into legends and customs of their native countries and towns during the holiday season.

Concerned that the sacred in the Christmas season is being lost amid the commercial, more churches and families are turning to a simple symbol, the Advent wreath, to keep Christ at the center of their holiday.As the monthlong Advent season begins today, Christian congregations will light the first of four candles and recite prayers as they anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth.Lighting an Advent wreath is a tradition many families are discovering as a way of reinforcing the religious meaning of the season as Christmas approaches.

Christmastime is the most joyous music festival season of the year, so it comes as no surprise that Howard County's two premier ensembles will be springing into artistic action this weekend. On Saturday, conductor Jason Love and his Columbia Orchestra will present "Holiday Pops" at Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts at Wilde Lake High School. The concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will survey the yuletide musical landscape from several directions. Selections will be played from Georg Frederick Handel's "Messiah" as the orchestra pays homage to the best-loved Christmas oratorio of them all. Other seasonal goodies are the delightful "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson and Randol A. Bass' feisty setting of Clement Moore's immortal poem " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Construction workers, grateful for steady work in the midst of the Great Depression, spontaneously planted a Christmas tree in the middle of their muddy building site in New York City. They gathered around the branches to receive their paychecks on Christmas eve. That was in 1931, when Rockefeller Center was being built. Ever since, its Christmas tree has been a holiday tradition venerated by generations of New Yorkers and recognized around the world.This is also one tradition every family visiting New York can share, regardless of budget.

Modesto, Calif. -- Most youngsters nearly burst wit excitement this time of the year as Christmas approaches. But in the midst of classroom celebrations, non-Christian kids may be feeling alienated.In a recent survey on self-concept and classroom environment, non-Christian kids scored significantly lower than Christian children during the Christmas season. Non-Christian kids included children following Baha'i, Buddhist, Jewish and Sikh faiths.Nina Rosenthal, professor of education, and Todd Russell, associate professor of education, both at Stanislaus State University in California, conducted a control test in October and a final test in December 1991.

Thanks to more generous donations between last Wednesday and Saturday, The Aegis Empty Stocking Fund moved well past its 2012 fundraising goal before Christmas. As of Sunday morning, the Empty Stocking Fund had received $84,064 in monetary donations from Harford County residents, businesses, organizations, churches and schools. This year's fundraising goal was set at $80,000. In addition to the money received, the Empty Stocking Fund also received thousands of dollars worth of donated news toys and books.

When Harford County changed from farmlands to enclaves for suburban communities, it left an impact on many old families, and subsequently the way we spend our Christmases has changed. Long ago, candy and oranges, seldom eaten during the rest of the year for many families, were plentiful for Christmas. There was always an orange in the Christmas stocking. Even in larger families, parents usually manage to scrape enough together to buy new clothes for the children, and maybe a special toy. Jimmy Eustace, who is not around anymore to tell his stories, always remembered the hard candy in barrels at Crooks' Grocery Store on West Bel Air Avenue in Aberdeen - 9 cents per pound!

Christmas season comes early for The Aegis Empty Stocking Fund, and the elves are busy working to get toys packed for the 831 Harford County children who will receive gifts of toys this holiday season. Time is running short, and the shelves in Santa's workshop are empty, especially for girls and boys, ages 11 to 13. Anything people can do to help fill their stockings will be appreciated, committee members said. The Empty Stocking Fund's all-volunteer committee offers special thanks to the Wagner Family for the wonderful gifts of toys and bikes that were delivered to Santa's workshop this week.

We're officially into Christmas buying season -- when American consumers determine the fate of American retailers and, indirectly, the American economy. What's often forgotten is that consumers are also workers, and if their pay doesn't keep up, they can't keep the economy going. A half-century ago, America's largest private-sector employer was General Motors, whose full-time workers earned an average hourly wage of around $50, in today's dollars, including health and pension benefits.

Holiday Decorations Contest - The Bent Twig Garden Club will present an award this year for a beautifully and naturally decorated home in Catonsville. In accordance with The Federated Garden Club of Maryland, decorations should include natural materials in some part of the display. Call Dollye at 240-319-0052 to nominate your home or a neighbor or friend's home by Dec. 14. Photographing Christmas and Hanukkah in Baltimore - Dec. 8, 12:45 p.m. at Catonsville Senior Center, 501 N. Rolling Road, Catonsville, 410-887-0900.

The Twelve Days of Christmas, which begin on the 25th of December and end Jan. 6 with the Feast of the Epiphany, hold special meaning for Willa Boze and her daughter, Sharon Williams. In addition to an entire tree decorated with Wedgewood ornaments depicting a partridge in a pear tree, three French hens, two turtle doves and so forth, the home is a showplace of decorative art collections celebrating the season of peace and goodwill. Just as the task of trimming the home began months before Christmas Day, the festive atmosphere the women have created is enjoyed long after presents are opened and carols are sung.

T he Twelve Days of Christmas, which begin on the 25th of December and end Jan. 6 with the Feast of the Epiphany, hold special meaning for Willa Boze and her daughter, Sharon Williams. In addition to an entire tree decorated with Wedgewood ornaments depicting a partridge in a pear tree, three French hens, two turtle doves and so forth, the home is a showplace of decorative art collections celebrating the season of peace and goodwill. Just as the task of trimming the home began months before Christmas Day, the festive atmosphere the women have created is enjoyed long after presents are opened and carols are sung.

Wedding date: Dec. 29, 2012 Her story: Elizabeth "Beth" Passapae Sauer, 28, grew up in Baltimore. She is an associate attorney for Semmes, Bowen & Semmes in Baltimore. Her father, Francis A. Sauer, is an attorney in Towson, and her mother, Janet Passapae Sauer, is a social worker at William Paca Elementary School in Baltimore. His story: Carroll Francis "Frank" Hopkins III, 28, grew up in Bel Air. He works in medical device sales as a video sales associate for Karl Storz.

The day before Christmas, all through Harborplace, few creatures were stirring, save in the gift-wrapping place.Deyoni Black, one of three gift-wrappers at Harborplace, saw few dull moments, as last-minute shoppers waited patiently for some last-minute wrapping paper.Still, Ms. Black said, the lines were much longer last year. "I had lines going around the steps last year," she said. "This year, it's not like that."That was pretty much the sentiment throughout the mall, although the few shoppers seemed to be more than willing to buy yesterday.