Walt Disney World hosts one of the world's most popular Christmas traditions

From Mickey's Christmas Carol to the reading of the Christmas Story with full choral accompaniment, Disney hosts a pile of Christmas traditions -- but none are quite as spectacular, or have quite as moving a story, as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

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Posted by Laura at 3:00 AM | Permalink

The best Christmas movies come from the most inspiring stories, and It's a Wonderful Life has been inspiring the best of us for years.

From its humble origins to its place as one of the best Christmas movies ever, the tale of It's a Wonderful Life is a story in its own right. The film focuses on a man named George Bailey. He is in the midst of a powerful depression and attempts to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. Annually this story touches the hearts of many, and has been rated not only as one of the best Christmas movies ever made but simply one of the best movies ever.

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Posted by Laura at 3:00 AM | Permalink

The Grinch takes high honors on our list of the best Christmas movies ever.

It's impossible to talk about the best Christmas movies without mentioning How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There are two well known versions of this classic Dr. Seuss tale. The first, and according to many, the only reliable version, is the 1966 animated television version (which is technically a short movie, with a running time of less than an hour). The other is the 2000 live action feature film starring Jim Carrey.

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Posted by Laura at 9:37 PM | Permalink

If you love historical Christmas stories -- or even if you don't -- you can probably finish this sentence: Yes, Virginia, there is a....

The most famous of all historical Christmas stories has to be Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. And better still, the story is true.

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Posted by Laura at 3:00 AM | Permalink

A true Christmas miracle born from the horror of world war and the unifying music of Christmas

In any conversation about Christmas miracles, someone usually refers to the true story of a Silent Night during 1914 when an unlikely truce between opposing German and British forces demonstrated the true spirit of Christmas in a way unlikely to be forgotten.

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Posted by Laura at 3:00 AM | Permalink

How did A Christmas Carol evolve into a classic -- and why does it still emotionally touch thousands every year?

Of all the Christmas stories, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is undoubtedly second only to the Nativity story in terms of historical and literary significance. Ever since its publication, readers have returned to this story in droves, finding comfort and joy in the story of the miser Ebenezer Scrooge and his conversion to the fullness of Christmas joy through the Christmas spirits of the Past, Present, and Future.

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Posted by Laura at 8:00 AM | Permalink

From the Very New to the Very Old, Christmas Traditions in Italy are Steeped in Tradition and Artistic Flair!

If you're as fascinated by Christmas traditions as I am, you can't miss out on Italy. Of course, many of us would love to spend our Christmas vacation in Rome, but failing that, you can at least adopt a few Italian Christmas customs to share with your family. Here are 4 Christmas traditions unique to Italian culture that provide thoughtful insights into Christmas origin and history.

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Posted by Laura at 8:00 AM | Permalink

Why I launched this website about Christmas traditions... and what you'll discover here

Around Christmastime, I'm always telling stories about Christmas traditions around the world. My husband says I can't walk by a Christmas decoration without telling everyone the history, origin and cultural significance of it.

My friends love to hear about Christmas traditions and customs and I'm frequently asked to take the floor at a Christmas party to liven up the crowd with some tales of Christmas lore. At the prompting of my friends and family, I have launched this website that is filled with stories, tales and myths about Christmas and Christmas traditions.

If what all my friends, family, in-laws and acquaintances say about me is right, you'll find extremely interesting and entertaining stories about Christmas traditions right here on this website.

Here's what you'll find at Christmas Lore...

You'll learn the origin of many of the Christmas traditions we practice today, as well as the significance of the tradition. You'll even get some great ideas for making your very own family Christmas traditions that will make each and every Christmas fun, special, and most importantly, memorable!

Throughout Christmas Lore you'll find Fun Facts, Did You Know?, Factoids, and other interesting and enlightening tales about Christmas lore and Christmas traditions.

You'll also find occasional posts from my friend, Noel Jameson. Noel has her own blog called Christmas Rants (which is great!), and I've asked her to stop by here occasionally to share here Christmas wisdom as well. Enjoy!