#Christmas Chocolate Gifts Australia

[brezzegiftsseo]

The Symphony of Flavors: Elevating Festive Gatherings with Wine & Cheese Hampers

The holiday season is a time for celebration, a period when we gather with loved ones to share joy, laughter, and, of course, delectable food and drinks. While the festive table is often brimming with various treats, there’s one combination that consistently stands out for its sophistication, versatility, and pure indulgence: wine and cheese. When paired thoughtfully, these two culinary delights create a symphony of flavors that can elevate any gathering, transforming a simple meal into an extraordinary experience. This year, instead of searching for individual gifts, consider the art of gifting an experience through curated wine and cheese hampers, perfect for creating a truly memorable festive feast. These hampers offer a curated selection that tantalizes the taste buds and sparks moments of joy.

Finding the perfect present for loved ones during the holiday season can be a daunting task. However, Christmas Gift Baskets Australia that focus on wine and cheese pairings offer an elegant and universally appreciated option. These hampers transcend the ordinary, presenting a curated selection that is designed to delight the recipient’s senses. Whether you’re catering to a wine connoisseur, a cheese aficionado, or someone who simply enjoys the finer things in life, a thoughtfully assembled wine and cheese basket delivers on all fronts. You can curate these baskets with various themes, from rustic to elegant, or to suit the individual tastes of your recipients. They provide more than a gift; they provide an experience.

The festive season isn’t complete without a touch of sweetness, which is where Christmas Chocolates and Gifts Australia become the perfect addition to these pairings. Think of these additions as the finale of your tasting experience. You could include artisan chocolates that enhance the wine's flavors or a selection of chocolate-covered fruits that complement the cheeses. Adding these treats provides an additional layer of sophistication and pure indulgence to the hampers. They also provide a wonderful balance and contrast to the savory flavors of the wine and cheese. Such a combination makes the entire hamper a gourmet experience.

When the occasion calls for an extra touch of indulgence, Luxury Chocolate Hampers Australia paired with fine wines and gourmet cheeses, create a truly unforgettable experience. These are designed to be a step above your usual offerings, incorporating top-shelf wines, artisanal cheeses, and high-quality chocolates. They also include exquisite presentation, from elegant boxes to beautifully arranged interiors. When gifting these hampers, you’re not just giving items, you are offering a full sensory experience of sophistication. These hampers make a very memorable impression, showing your care and attention.

For businesses seeking to express gratitude or build relationships during the holiday season, Corporate Christmas Gift Baskets Australia featuring wine and cheese pairings offer a sophisticated solution. These are much more impactful than standard corporate gifts, and create a memorable impression that clients and employees will truly appreciate. These hampers can be tailored to suit different tastes and budgets. You can choose to include branding or specific corporate messages to give it an extra touch. A well-presented corporate basket is a powerful way to show appreciation. It's a present that perfectly captures the generosity of the holiday season.

The magic of wine and cheese pairings lies in the art of choosing complementary flavors. Rich, full-bodied red wines, such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon, go well with aged Gouda or cheddar, with the wine's strong qualities bringing out the savory and nutty flavors of the cheese.  On the other hand, a crisp, dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, complements the fresh and tangy flavors of goat cheese or brie. You can also experiment with sweet wines, like Port or Sauternes, which make an excellent pairing with rich blue cheeses. This is what makes pairing exciting and adds another layer of depth to the overall experience.

The beauty of curating your own wine and cheese hamper is in the personalization. Consider the tastes and preferences of the recipient, and choose items that cater to their specific liking. Include some locally sourced artisan cheeses, paired with wines from reputable vineyards. You can also include a selection of crackers, olives, fruits, and chutneys that enhance the flavors of both the wine and the cheese. Add a cheese knife or a wine opener to elevate the whole experience. The options for customization are vast, enabling you to create a truly unique and thoughtful gift.

Beyond the delights that wine and cheese offer, these pairings provide a unique opportunity for shared experiences. The act of tasting and discussing various flavors fosters conversation and connection. When you receive a hamper that includes such an element, you are also receiving an opportunity to share a moment with your loved ones. This makes the gifting more than just a transaction, but an avenue for bringing people together. These kinds of hampers enhance the entire occasion.

When you are creating a hamper, pay close attention to the presentation. The sensory experience is improved by the overall beauty of the appearance. Opt for a beautifully crafted box or basket and arrange the items in an appealing manner, using decorative elements such as ribbons, bows or natural elements like dried flowers to add to the charm. The present is enhanced by this attention to detail, which gives it a hint of elegance and class. The initial visual impact also enhances the perception of the gift.

This festive season, let Breeze Gifts help you elevate your gifting with our carefully curated wine and cheese hampers. Whether you're looking for sophisticated Christmas Gift Baskets Australia, a touch of sweetness with Christmas Chocolates and Gifts Australia, a luxurious experience with our Luxury Chocolate Hampers Australia, or an impressive Corporate Christmas Gift Baskets Australia, we have the perfect selection to make this holiday truly special. Our hampers are designed to delight, inspire, and create lasting memories. Choose a gift that is not just something you give but an experience you share.

[noelkowald]

On what occasions are chocolate gifts important?

Introduction

Chocolates are purchased either for personal consumption or for giving to someone else as gifts. Occasions like weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays are often used for giving chocolates as gifts to people who are celebrating their birthday, anniversary, or getting married. Chocolates can be given away as gifts to someone we love as a symbol of the love and care that we have. Chocolates have a unique taste that appeals to people of all ages across the world and people love to receive chocolates as gifts. Chocolates are categorized into two types based on the way they are made: these are machine-made chocolates and handmade chocolates.

Different types of chocolates

Both handmade and machine-made chocolates can have many categories within them like dark chocolates, milk chocolates, nut chocolates, Ginger chocolates, fruit cream-centered chocolates, and many more. Chocolates these days are mostly made from natural ingredients like cocoa powder and cocoa butter mixed with different natural ingredients to make different flavors and types of chocolate. Chocolates are among the most loved confectionaries when it comes to children who would never settle for anything less than chocolates. On birthdays and other parties, children often demand chocolates and consume them with delight.

Occasions for chocolate gifts

Chocolate gifts are given on many occasions apart from personal occasions like weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. On festivals like Easter and Christmas, there is a tradition in Australia that people give chocolates to each other to celebrate the tradition of giving something sweet to their loved ones. It is not just individuals who give chocolate gifts to each other but even in corporate circles, clients are entertained by giving them a variety of chocolate gifts with savor before conducting any business. Some deals that are negotiated are also celebrated using chocolate gifts between the parties concerned. Giving chocolates as gifts is a tradition as old as chocolates.

Conclusion

Giving away chocolate gifts is a part of Australian culture and tradition as chocolates are quite popular among all segments of Australian society. All kinds of chocolate makers whether those be machine-making chocolate companies or companies that make chocolates with hands ensure that chocolate gifts are wrapped in attractive packages. Chocolate gifts have custom messages and attractive graphics that make them appeal to viewers and receivers alike. On many occasions, chocolate gifts are often given away to strangers who may be homeless or destitute by generous people.

[mountsmase]

Christmas Markets

a/n: This one’s a little shorter than the first but I still hope you all enjoy it 🫶🏻 This was also scheduled so fingers crossed it posted on time

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Visiting a Christmas market with Mason is something I think about every year, walking around together with hot chocolates

whilst taking the time to look at all the various stalls and pop up shops, stopping every now and then to buy something or grab a bite to eat…

Maybe he even surprises you with it, like he knows you’ve wanted to go to one for ages since you didn’t get a chance to last year so he picks an evening that you’re both free and sets aside the time to take you

He gets home from training a couple of hours before you’re due to finish work and gets started on some house work that he knows you were planning on doing tonight, not wanting you to worry about still needing to do the chores when you get home and he’s waiting in the living room when you walk through the front door.

He doesn’t do anything extravagant to tell you where you’re going, instead just greeting you with a kiss and requesting that you go and get changed into some warm clothes. You do so without question, assuming that maybe you’re just taking Ace out for a walk like you do most evenings anyway, but then you get in the car, without Ace, and suddenly you’re not so sure.

You’re even more confused when he parks close to the city centre but the excitement takes over as soon as you turn the corner and realise where you’re going.

Going later in the evening as meant that the atmosphere is perfect. Twinkling lights cast a glow over the pathways and stools, the smell of cinnamon and mulled wine spills from the food stands and the crowds are a little quieter with it being later in the day, making it the perfect time to explore.

You walk hand in hand, stopping every couple of metres to look at the different products that the stalls are selling and you can’t help but pick up some dinner from one of the food ones, finding a bench to sit and have some food before getting some churros and a hot chocolate each to eat on the walk around the rest of the market.

We know Mason probably buys loads of little gifts and presents for his nieces and nephew, especially in the build up to Christmas, so when you pass a stand making personalised baubles he of course has to stop and get some made for them. He makes one for each of them, printing their names onto ones that match their different personalities, planning to send them over to Australia for Stacey’s kids and keep the others so that the girls can add them to the tree when they come up to visit for Christmas. You also get one personalised for the two of you to add to your tree in celebration of your first Christmas living together. The tree only went up a couple of days ago, but you’ve already brought multiple new decorations to add with it, and this one will definitely get its space front and centre.

You do a little more Christmas shopping, some jewellery for his mum and sister as well as a few other random pieces that you know people will like and it makes you so excited to get everything wrapped up ready to open with everyone on Christmas morning.

Maybe you even stop at a few stands that have games like ‘hook a duck’ set up, and Mason encourages you to keep going until you win a prize, happily paying for all your goes as well as his own until he finally wins you the giant teddy bear that you had you eye on. You feel a bit ridiculous as a grown adult going home with a giant teddy bear, but you love that you can take it home and keep it as a reminder of the night.

You even have a go on the ice skating rink, seeing if you’re still good from when you skated as a child, but you end up clinging the wall the whole session. Both of you are in fits of laughter as you struggle to even stay up right, only getting away from the wall during the last 5 minuets but it’s the thought that counts right?

You’d probably end up staying until the market closes with how much there is to see and do, neither of you checking your phones or allowing other distractions, just enjoying the quality time together before everyone comes up to Manchester to spend the Christmas period with you. It’s just the loveliest evening and one you’ll remember forever.

On the way home you might end up getting a cheeky McDonald’s if you’re still hungry (and you’re always craving chicken nuggets) and then you unpack all of the things you brought, adding your new bauble to the Christmas tree before running through your night time routines and heading to bed, cuddled up and content after a special evening.

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Day 4 Concept tomorrow 🎄

[the-offside-rule]

Jack Doohan (Alpine) - Timezone

Day 15 of Christmas

Prompt: Christmas in Different time zones

25 Days of Christmas

Christmas morning was quiet in Switzerland, soft snow covering the ground outside as Y/n woke up, stretching beneath the warm blankets. Her phone buzzed beside her, lighting up with a notification. She reached for it, her heart fluttering as she saw the familiar name.

Jack: Happy Christmas, love! Couldn’t wait to open the present you got me, but I held strong. Hope you’re having the best morning!

She could picture him back home on the Gold Coast, the sunshine spilling through the windows, a world away from the frosty air outside her window. A smile spread across her face as she typed out a response.

Y/n: Happy Christmas, Jack! Just woke up to your message. I’m about to head downstairs to the family for presents. Talk soon!

Putting her phone down, she threw on a cozy jumper and headed downstairs, where her family was gathered around the tree, mugs of hot chocolate and coffee in hand. The house was filled with warmth radiating off the fireplace, laughter, and anticipation. They began opening presents, passing gifts around the room one by one. Amid the cheerful chaos, Y/n noticed the neatly wrapped gift with her name on it, resting at the foot of the tree where she left it when she got to Switzerland. Before the couple parted ways for Christmas, they switched gifts, both promising not to open them until they were both awake on Christmas Day, which for Jack was tortue considering he was ahead in time. She picked it up, her eyes catching a small note on top in Jack's familiar handwriting: Call me first.

Excited, she slipped away from the bustle, stepping onto the balcony for a little privacy, and dialed Jack’s number. He picked up almost immediately, grinning wide with a Santa hat perched on his head, the bright Australian sun glowing behind him. "Good morning, gorgeous!" He beamed. "I’m calling you live from sunny Australia, where we’re getting the Christmas barbecue ready. Mum insisted on the Santa hat." He said, leaning the phone onto a glass. "Good evening to you then!" She laughed, savoring the warm familiarity of his voice. "Alright, I’ve got your gift here. Opening it now?"

"Yes, ma’am! Go on, I’m dying to see if you like it." She unwrapped the package carefully, her heart racing as the paper fell away to reveal a stunning collection of delicate jewelry; dainty earrings, a silver bracelet with tiny charms, and her favorite chocolates nestled between each piece. She gasped, speechless. Jack’s face softened as he watched her reaction. "I wanted my girl to feel like a princess, especially when you’re back in the paddock next season. You deserve it all." Her eyes sparkled as she looked back at him. "Jack, this is perfect. Thank you. Now, you better open yours!"

Jack chuckled, carefully unwrapping the gift he had stashed under the tree for the last two weeks. Inside, he found the watch he’d been eyeing for months, now engraved with his initials. This particular watch caught his fancy as it had two clocks on it that you could adjust to whatever time you wanted, so he figured if he were to ever get it, he would put Gold Coast's tome and Y/n's Timezone, just so he knew when to check in eith everyone when he was away. Beside it lay his favourite cologne, a scent she’d always loved on him. He shook his head in disbelief, letting out a low whistle. "Y/n, this is unreal!" His voice was filled with surprise. "You didn’t have to do this; this is way too much."

"Just a little something to keep you on time for once." He smiled warmly. "Well, I think I’ll be wearing this every single day now." He held the watch up to his wrist, grinning before looking back at her. "Alright, Santa, are you coming with me to start breakfast?"

"For you? Always." He laughed, switching the camera as she brought him into the kitchen, setting up her phone so they could chat while she made breakfast alongside him. They laughed and swapped stories of past Christmas mornings, his voice a soothing presence as she cracked eggs and flipped pancakes, the sound of sizzling meat drifting over from his side of the world. He talked about the barbecue his family was setting up and promised to save her a spot for next year.

Eventually, with plates ready and family members starting to call him over, Jack sighed. "Guess it’s time I head back to them, huh?" She nodded, the pang of missing him catching up to her again. "Alright, I’ll let you get to your barbecue." She said, blowing him one last kiss. His face softened, eyes warm. "Merry Christmas, Y/n. I love you."

"Merry Christmas, Jack. Love you, too." They ended the call, both hearts full despite the miles between them. Throughout the day, their phones buzzed with updates and photos, each small moment bridging the distance and bringing them closer as they shared their Christmases across time.

[verspia]

—𝐢 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭

You frown in thought as you cradle a warm cup of hot chocolate in your hands, huddling a little close to the heat emanating from the fire place, which you’re seated in front of.

Christmas is one of your favorite holidays of, and this year, you celebrate it with your boyfriend, Oscar. Normally, with the end of the season, he would be in Australia with his family, spending the holiday under the blazing sun, not under frosted snowflakes and the biting cold of London with you.

The thought makes you pout a little, guilt eating at you for keeping him away from his family during the holidays, as if he isn’t apart from them for most of the year anyway.

Originally, you both were meant to go together, but with christmas being near, the visa application process had taken a lot longer than you’d both expected and that meant that you were only eligible to travel to down under after New Years.

You had insisted that Oscar leave without you, urging him to spend the christmas holiday with his parents and sisters, but he had resisted, arguing that he would make it up to them and it was far too late to book a flight, what with the rush that came during winter break, and you had reluctantly agreed.

That didn’t stop you from feeling guilty though, but you refrained from thinking about it more, knowing that there wasn’t much you could do about it.

Instead you wondered what you could gift your boyfriend for your first christmas together.

You knew that Oscar wasn’t much of a material person, and that he was happy with anything you would give him, but you wanted to do something meaningful.

Given the fact that gifts were your love language, both giving and receiving, it was important to you that you find the perfect gift for Oscar.

You worried your lip between your teeth as you pondered, when your eyes lit up with an epiphany, and you stood up abruptly, abandoning your hot chocolate on the kitchen top, grabbing your keys and heading out to the store immediately.

You payed no mind to the snow that nipped at your face, staining your cheeks a rosy red as you hurried out, charged with excitement for the gift that you had in mind.

When Oscar awakes on Christmas morning, you are not where you’re supposed to be, cuddled up in his arms, and the loss of your presence next to him startles him awake.

He steps into the living room, rubbing away any trace of bleariness from his eyes and finds you there, still in your pyjamas and with one of his hoodies on, Home Alone playing on the tv screen.

Your smile is radiant, and your zealousness for christmas is almost childlike. His heart warms at the sight of you and he smiles widely, trudging over to you.

“Why aren’t you in bed, love”

You turn around at the his voice, beaming impossibly wider, and your eyes sparkle with delight as you spot him.

“Oscar!” His name on your lips always makes him giddy, but the exhilaration in your tone today is tremendous, and vastly contagious, to the extent that Oscar begins to wear the same excitement you do.

“It’s Christmas! I was waiting for you,” You grab Oscar, pulling him on to couch with you, “We gotta open the gifts, Oh you’ll love what i’ve gotten you!”

Oscar stares fondly at you, “I’m happy with anything you give me, baby, you know that.”

You nod at him, not really paying attention, as you stand up and pull him along towards the direction of the christmas tree that you both had decorated together, weeks prior.

He happily lets you drag him along, and soon, both of you have unraveled the presents from your friends and family.

You open the gift that Oscar has gotten you, and gasp in elation, throwing yourself at Oscar, Thank you’s and I love you’s falling from your mouth as you pepper his face with kisses.

He laughs as he holds on to your waist, and then finally, both of you turn to the last present, that is inside a conspicuous bag, glittered golden.

You move over a little, eyes fixed on Oscar as he opens the bag, pulling out a cardboard box that is too, shimmering golden, with a red ribbon holding it together.

He unwraps it, and the sides of the box fall flat in five sections, each have attached a packet of Tim Tams on it, and another box stands proud in the middle.

Oscar uncovers the lid, and another lid appears, the words Merry Christmas on it and much like the first time, the sides fall into sections, each holding polaroids of you and Oscar.

The pictures are of monumental moments of your relationship, His first sprint win and you congratulating him with a kiss, his first podium as he smiles brightly, you wrapped up in his arms, smiling equally as bright. There’s photos of Oscar surprising you at your graduation ceremony, and kissing you when you win a debate’s competition, as well as a few pictures of your first date, and first kiss.

He pulls away the last lid, and finds a heart shaped letter inside, which he picks up and discovers a keychain for his car.

The keychain is shaped as a heart, and he examines it closely, accidentally clicking it open and finds both his and your initials together in a smaller heart inside.

He breathes softly, a little baffled at the thoughtfulness of the gift, and looks up at you, adoration clear in his eyes.

He’s a little breathless as he whispers I love you to you, and you smile shyly at him.

“Do you like it?”

Your eyes glimmer with hope and a little uncertainty, and Oscar pulls you into his lap, kissing you softly.

He’s not good with words, so he hopes to show to you just how happy you make him, pulling you closer than you’d ever thought possible, kissing you deeper to convey his appreciation to you.

You both are enveloped in a warmth that contrasts the dreary weather outside, but it’s clear that you both have a jolly christmas, under the shimmering pine tree.

This was inspired by this

didn’t proofread so pls don’t mind any errors

[popcorngirl85]

Downtown abbey 1970

Edith and mary as old people

After 28 years of dodging the Crawley family gatherings. Edith is coming home for Christmas. Maybe she is a glutton for punishment.But it feels like the right thing to do. Even though Bertie her husband and all of her girlfriends back home in Australia think she has gone bananas.

She has always been the black sheep. The chubby girl in a family full of Disney princesses and incredibly charming women. Of which she is neither.

The Last time she went home for Granny's 100th birthday palooza in 1942, it was an absolute disaster. She smeared blueberry pie all over Mary, her dragon lady older sister.The look on the skinny gargoyle's face when Mary realized her white silk dress was ruined was priceless.

Mary wouldn't shut up about what a fat, hopeless cow Edith was as a mother.Edith deserved some of it, for writing that embarrassing story about her sister all those years ago when she was a teenager. And a million other awful things she had said in the heat of the moment. But Mary should have left Bertie out of it.

Luckily,granny and her friends were pretty tipsy and completely deaf. Thank God, nobody heard what Mary said about Bertie's strong feminine side.It would have ruined both of their lives.People were really funny about that sort of thing now.Even with all this talk about free love.It was true he liked to crossdress and sometimes very discreetly meet with men. He had told her before they got engaged and she hadn't cared.As long he never left her and she didn't have to meet or hear about them.Bertie helped cover up her daughter being born out of wedlock. Very few men would have done that back then. He was good to both of them and helped her make the big decisions in the marriage which made her rather panicky. And he bought her flowers just because.

Which no man had ever did before.Edith is not making this trip for herself.Honestly, she would rather stay put surrounded by fans and friends who adore her.The great neices and nephews only knew her as the old lady who writes mystery novels and plays that sent them bizarre gifts from all the places she and Bertie had traveled to.

Marigold, her daughter is hosting the Christmas party at her house in Beverly Hills, California this year. She has had a rough year with that divorce and that jealous crackpot trying to discredit her work.He was proven wrong and settled out of court ,but still. It has been all about Edith for a long time,which isn't right. Rose said that last year,When they were on a trip to India when Edith struggled to make excuses yet again for Christmas.

Rose didn't understand what the fight was about and thought Edith hated her.Even though Rose is in her early sixties, Edith will always think of her as the silly energetic kid who kind of looked like Tinkerbelle and always thought when people where fighting it must have somehow been her fault.Even if things should go bad , she will have fun checking out the Hollywood walk of fame with her daughter and Rose.Also she found a muumuu that makes her look 20 pounds lighter,That is something.

Edith had an extra bullet in her arsonel. She has been reading this new self help book called " I am ok ,your okay". which is really beneficial in healing yourself and dealing with difficult people.She was keeping that and a barrage of snappy comebacks handy , just in case , Mary started on how fake Edith's red hair looks when she waddled through the front door. Edith arrived in L.A. all safe in sound thanks in part to the exceptionally kind bearded gentleman in the fuzzy lavender trousers.

Who aided her in finding a bakery in which to buy a Chocolate yule log and a pumpkin pie that was open Christmas eve. He also aided her in getting unstuck from the backseat of that cab.Marigold was surprised and showered her mother with kisses the moment she came in.Suprisingly, she wasn't too irritated about Edith being a little late.But then,Edith is always late.This time it wasn't her fault.She was chasing the damned luggage all around the airport.

Marigold did roll her eyes when Edith said she wanted to make a dramatic entrance and that is why she didn't call first and ask for a lift from the airport.Maybe later Edith could hint about her making a trip to Melbourne.

The handsome widower down the block from them liked quiet women.They both liked to ride horses.Marigold looked like a younger version of Katherine Hepburn.She even wore the office shirts with the popped up collar,everywhere.Rose is passing out Father Christmas hats and showing off her engagement ring Garesh had given her.They had known each other when Rose was growing up in India and reconnected on that trip to India. And had been writing letters to each other every day every since.Everyone is present except George, Mary's eldest son.Who couldn't face his mother with his latest much younger wife and baby girl.Edith offered to accompany them as acting president of the black sheep club.

But he was afraid of what people would say about his abandonment of his mother and the house. Even though his brother Reggie.The one that came back from the war years later with the most insane story of why he had been away so long. Had major success with the beer garden and'' no shrinkin' violet beer label. And took good care of his mother.

Mary sitting on the neon orange couch next to the aluminum Christmas tree. Thin as a rail and Regal as the queen she was named after.Her older sister still dressed like it was the 40's. complete with white gloves and a blue and white polka dot dress with a stiff lace collar.Their was something decidedly different about Mary.The arrogant smirk has been replaced by a vacant look.Mary is muttering something to the aluminum Christmas tree who she thinks is a copper. Something about the beach and finding henry and her boys. My God she thinks it 1928 , not 1970, Edith shakes her head.

Mary is the only one not in line getting food.They used to play pranks on each other all the time.But she really looks terrified and lost maybe.Reggie needs a break , he looks so worn down.So Edith gets kid -sized portions of everything.(Mary never did eat much: you can't when you wear a corset all the time) And Edith gets her to eat and they talk while watching Charlie Brown.

The whole time Mary thinks Edith is granny.Which is irritating because she didn't think she looked quite THAT old.Even bringing up that dinner and medal of honor she received for saving all those jews during the war (it was way more than the handful ,mary had always said) didn't ring a bell.But watching Charlie Brown and listening to the cartoon kid with the blankie talk about the real meaning of Christmas. Nothing matters but right now ,even if you are thirty years too late

[mask131]

Green spring: The Easter Bunny

THE EASTER BUNNY

Category: Easter folklore

When people think of Easter, they usually consider that there are two sides to the celebration – the religious Easter, about the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Christian religion, and the secular Easter, which is all about finding chocolate eggs. But it might surprise you to learn that the Easter eggs – and the Easter bunny – are not as “cut-off” from the religious celebrations as one might think…

You see, the very tradition of the Easter eggs comes from a Christian custom of sharing eggs dyed red – dyed red to symbolize the blood shed during the crucifixion of Jesus, the death of the Messiah, but eggs to symbolize the resurrection of the Christ upon Easter day. While in most of the “Western world”, the religiousness of the eggs kind of disappeared – as they became plastic eggs and chocolate eggs hunted down by children in gardens and parks, they kept all of their religiousness in Eastern Christianity (Orthodox Christianity), where they are still blessed by a priest. In fact, the very reason the Easter eggs are chocolate eggs now was cause of the practice of Lent – forty days of fasting before Easter during which Christians were forbidden to eat rich foods, such as meat, eggs or sweets. Since Lent ended with Easter, people started to create chocolate eggs to have the pleasure to eat back two of the forbidden “Lent foods” (eggs and chocolate) at once. And similarly, it might surprise you, the Easter Bunny started out as a religious figure…

The Easter Bunny first appeared as the “Easter Hare” among the Lutherans of Germany in the second half of the 17th century – he was a moral figure very similar to what Santa Claus was for Christmas, that is to say that the Easter Hare was supposed to watch over and decide which children were naughty and which children were nice during Eastertide (the Easter season). Nice children would then receive gifts from the Easter Hare – colored eggs, candies and/or toys. The Easter Hare was especially supposed to place the eggs in special nets children had to make in their bonnets, caps or hats on Easter Eve. It was truly a figure of Protestant moralism, the same way Saint Nicholas was tied to Catholic morals for children. It was in the 18th century that the tradition left Germany: as German Protestants arrived in the USA, they brought over with them the “Osterhase”, Easter Hare, which quickly became there the “Easter Rabbit” or “Easter Bunny” – a magical rabbit supposed to hid decorated eggs and/or chocolate eggs in gardens, houses and parks on Easter Eve, eggs that children had then to hunt down and collect on Easter Day.

As you know, nowadays the Easter Bunny is a fully secular creature, part of a “modern folklore” and not being tied to religion anymore. He is a secular symbol of the holiday, especially used by toy-makers and chocolate-makers, who love to distribute Easter Rabbit dolls and chocolate statues on Easter day. Due to this secular nature, there are also many local and regional variations of the creature: for example in Australia, where rabbits are considered a dangerous pest, the mascot of Easter is rather the Easter Bilby – named after an endangered species in an effort to raise awareness and gather funds for the protection of this little marsupial. While the Easter Bunny imposed itself in American-influenced and English-speaking regions, the Germanic countries still hold on to their Easter Hare. And in French-speaking countries (plus Italy) there is a very different custom… The ones supposed to bring the Easter eggs are actually the “Easter bells”. Like, church bells. I’ll explain: in Catholicism it is strictly forbidden to ring the church bells during the “Holy Week” that precedes Easter, to honor the death of Christ. As a result, a legend/story arose, told to children – the story claims that the reason the bells do not ring is because they are gone, they (yes, they are sentient) went on their way to Rome, on a pilgrimage to be blessed by the Pope himself! And they only return to their rightful place on Easter – but not without bringing back eggs they drop in gardens everywhere… This is why in France, Belgium and Italy there is a custom of saying “The Easter bells brought you some eggs!”, “The bells are back from Rome”, or to sell chocolate-bells. But, and as a Frenchman I can attest, this very Christian-focused custom becomes less and less practiced in France, where laicism and the American influence pushed forward the widespread use of the Easter Rabbit instead of the Easter Bells.

You might wonder why a hare out of all was originally chosen for this holiday – and why even the hare was tied to the eggs. Unlike what many people will want you to believe, people “back in the days” did not think that rabbits or hares could lay eggs, no… But the hare had a specific religious connotation which explains why the Lutherans associated it with the “egg of resurrection” of the Christ. You see, it was believed that hares were hermaphrodite creatures, that could reproduce all on their own, without need of a partner. As such, they were considered to be able to reproduce without “losing their virginity”… You see where I’m coming with that? Hares became, especially in northern medieval Europe, a symbol for the Virgin Mary. And thus, the hare (symbolizing Mary) brings the egg (symbolizing Jesus)…

What is also fascinating with the Easter Bunny is that, unlike Santa Claus which has a very precise “canon”, the Easter Bunny doesn’t have any truly settled image in popular culture. Everyone depicts him differently. For some he speaks, for others he doesn’t. For some he is white, for other he is brown – when not blue. For some he is anthropomorphized, dressed with human clothes ; for others he just looks like a regular good old rabbit… There is absolutely no specifically formed image. Everybody pictures a different rabbit in their own head. Though, with the success of Easter Bunny-centered movies this last decade, such as the “Hop” movie or the “Rise of the Guardians” one, things might change in the future… Who knows?

- - - - - -

Since I won’t be able to make much Green Spring post this month, I made an additional one just for Easter. A bit late, I know, but hey, we do as we can.

Speaking of the Easter Bunny, there is something else I should mention: the Eostre theory. Now… As I said, the Easter Rabbit originally was a German figure, a German invention. Well, the Germans have a specific thing with the Easter holiday thanks to the 19th century folklorists, who decided, and tried to prove, that the German celebrations of Easter, were actually tied to the ancient pagan celebrations of a Germanic goddess known as “Eostre” or “Ostara”, a divinity of springtime and the dawn, whose festival got replaced by the Christian Easter. The very name “Eostre” had supposedly turned into “Eastre”, then “Easter”. This theory was notably made EXTREMELY popular by the Brothers Grimm (if you only know them for their fairytales, you should learn that they also studied a lot Germanic paganism, German gods and the German religion as a whole). [To be precise, Eostre was thought to have been originally a Saxon goddess, whose existence and worship then spread to ancient England, thus making her an Anglo-Saxon goddess, and explaining the supposed similarities between the “pagan Easters” of both Germany and England]

In this theory and interpretation, people perceived the “invention” of the Easter Hare as not an “invention”, but a resurgence and return of an ancient pagan symbol – they theorized that the hare was the sacred animal, or animal companion, of Eostre. But despite this very enthusiastic theory, nowadays experts agree that there is no actual substance tying the Easter Bunny/Hare or even the Easter Eggs to the ancient goddess Ostara – and many people even doubt the true existence of Ostara in the first place, with many elements and attributes seemingly being made up.

A bit more Easter eggs trivia for the road: the first chocolate eggs of Easter were invented in France, at the royal court of king Louis XIV, in 1725 to be exact, at Versailles, created by filling empty eggshells with molten chocolate (the first hollow chocolate egg was created in England in 1875). Beyond the red (which was the original dye color for the Easter eggs, reflection of Christ’s blood), the other most popular color for the eggs in the “olden days” was green, to symbolize the renewed foliage and reborn nature of this springtime celebration – the same spring ambiance of Easter also led to the custom of painting leaves over the eggs. The opening of Easter eggs in Christianity is supposed to symbolize the opening of the tomb of the Christ, only to find that it is empty (since he resurrected after being entombed). Between the primitive “let’s dye chicken eggs red” and the modern “plastic eggs filled with candies”, there was a whole tradition of carving Easter eggs out of wood, or making them out of porcelain, and the most famous example of these artificial eggs is without a doubt the Fabergé eggs – a series of wonderful, jeweled Easter eggs made out of precious materials with exquisite decorations, created by the Fabergé jewelry for the two last Russian Tsars… Beyond the traditional “egg hunt” of Easter, found in a lot of countries nowadays, England and Germany have a lot of other Easter games involving eggs – such as the “egg dance” (dancing around eggs on the floor without cracking them), “egg taping” (two people fight by taping each other’s hard boiled egg until one cracks) and the “egg rolling” (an egg race where eggs are throw by the side of a hill, rolling from the top to the bottom).

And finally, the tradition of sharing red eggs ended up creating folk-legends tying this custom to the Biblical times (these legends are found among Orthodox folk-Christianity, again Easter is a VERY BIG deal among Eastern Christians). One of those stories claims that Mary Magdalene had brought boiled eggs in a basket to the other women who went to the tomb of the Christ – and that the eggs turned bright red when the women discovered that the corpse was gone. Another story rather claims that Mary Magdalene, in her effort to spread the news that Jesus was resurrected, went to the emperor of Rome (which one? We don’t know) to tell him “Christ has risen!” (a very common sentence that Orthodox Christians typically pronounce at the blessing or opening of Easter eggs). The emperor mocked her by pointing at an egg and saying “The Christ has no more risen than this egg is red!”, and lo and behold! The egg turned red…

EDIT: @skyprowler pointed out to me that the “blessing of the eggs/blessing of the food” isn’t an exclusively Orthodox rite - it actually is a shared ritual between Western and Eastern Christianity - and while it was never something big in France (at least to my knowledge), it is still very strong today in Germany, Poland, Finland and Slovakia (in fact, skyprowler suggested that it might have been a Central/Eastern European rite that survived in the canon of the Orthodox Church, while kept existing only regionally in the Catholic Church)

[gacmediadaily]

Worst Timing 

It took three Christmases for traveling doctor James (Trevor Donovan) and chiropractor Addie (Merritt Patterson) to finally be available at the same time in Great American Family’s ‘Twas the Text Before Christmas. The real crime, however: James bought this adorable house in Vermont right before they decided to move to Australia together! If he’s selling, we’ll put in a bid to sip hot chocolate and wish on a shooting star from that picturesque porch.

Most Thoughtful Present

Would we prefer the noise-canceling headphones Addie got her dad for his long flight to Australia in Twas the Text Before Christmas? Yes. But you can’t top the angel-wing birthstone James gifted Addie, showing that he remembered a joke she made on the day they met and her birthday. 

[miidnighters]

TAG PEOPLE YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW BETTER!

favorite color(s): I'm such a hoe for a pastel. soft yellow especially, but blue; pink, anything in that sort of range. Plus teal, which has been deemed as my colour by anybody buying me Christmas gifts.

favorite flavor(s): I love strawberry flavoured stuff- strawberry ice cream is one of my faves. Unless it's a drink, in which case chocolate is king.

favorite music: what a loaded question uh. I don't have a particular genre i listen to but I'll always either circle back to something i can move to or something i can sing in the car

favorite movie(s): i have answered this question so often lately it feels lmao but Howls Moving Castle, Tangled, Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away (I actually can;t overstate how much I love this movie. Isaw it in cinema in 3D and it just. Blew my mind).

favorite series: Leverage

last song: The Blue by ISHAN (an Aussie!)

last series: my husband just made me watch the office for the first time and, contriversial opinion on main, i don't like it

last movie: uh. actually it was Fast n Furious: Tokyo Drift and my husband sat there and quoted almost the entire thing word for word inc the background music

currently reading: Inheritance by Nora Roberts (which like. i am not loving for the most stupid reason but will finish)

currently watching: i don't watch a lot of ongoing series tbh. i am waiting for the new season of Bridgerton. We do make sure to catch Dash Cams Australia on YT every week tho (which, if you want prime examples of our accent and reckless disregard for swearing i cannot recommend it enough)

currently working on: client emails tbh and some website updates for a client who is "ready to go live in the next two months" vs our dev who was ready to go live like, yesterday lmao.

tagged by @fangmother <3

tagging: @draconisa | @starlyht | @fuckedcowboy | @hidefire | @soulmissed |

[illadvisedselfships]

Merry Christmas in Australia!!!!

I have something to offer you on this holly holiday. F/O Christmas imagines!

Imagine celebrating Christmas with Callahan. He's pretty loaded, so you're definitely getting high end gifts. Buuuuuttt that's not all! You know those Christmasy fun things you see on YouTube or TikTok that you want to do, but you know it's out of your pay grade? Like a hot chocolate bar, or more fancy baked desserts that require specific ingredients? Well, sure Callahan is a jerk... But, for you, I'm certain he'll accommodate whatever you want to try... As long as you return the favor with whatever he wants to do with you 😏

Imagine trying to pull Cruella away from work. Before you, she probably worked through Christmas if she wasn't invited to any masquerades or parties. This year, nothing of the sort happened, so your mean wife is trying to get a head start on her spring fashion line. But you know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a nice, at-home Christmas with your high class Cruella. Cruella may not be so easily swayed by your femine wiles like Callahan, though you are the only one on the planet who has a smidgen of a chance at getting Cruella out of her office and in her furs with a mug of cocoa. Do you succeed?

Imagine a cozy little Christmas with Jim!! He is a tad upset he didn't get a good poaching job before; he really wanted to treat you this year his inner sugar daddy shines through on your birthday and Christmas I bet. But you know how to take his mind off of it ^^ you tell him you don't need some fancy present or anything like that. All you need is your favorite outdoors man, some Christmas movies and snacks, and a blanket big enough for you two to share- or better yet, one of his flannels 😏

Imagine that since Otis celebrates Christmas early for you, you don't have to worry about fitting him in your Christmas Visits schedule so much. You can see him first! I.... Can't guarantee that the way the Fireflies celebrate Christmas is very family friendly. But I can say that Otis is definitely gonna try to be gross about the mistletoe tradition with you. Also, you can get away with putting a Santa hat on him this year. He'll be a grump about it, act like he doesn't want it, but note how he doesn't take it off (if it were Baby, he would have. But it came from you ^^)

I hope these put a smile on your face! Even if they are a little OOC I bet 😅 Merry Christmas!

Merry (belated) Christmas Eve In America!!!

SARAH!!

I completely wasn't expecting this- thank you so so much!! As you know I accidentally woke up way too early but it was completely completely worth it to read this and thank you before all the Christmas craziness began!!

Ahhh! These are so perfect, my heart is feeling all squirmy!! XDD They fueled me all day XD No really, whenever I got tired 💤💤💤 I started thinking about them and felt better XD

And- of course- I couldn't help it and had to write lil x reader excerpts for each of these ideas below the cut XDD I wanted to write them all, but the Christmas vibes are slipping away from me- so I just did Callahan and Otis! (Truly couldn't resist XD) XD I LOVED THEM ALL, THOUGH, I ASSURE YOU! XD

(Professor) Callahan x reader:

You weren't sure about staying over Christmas eve and spending Christmas morning with Aaron- it seemed pretty close. Intimate. Sentimental, for him. Sure, you were becoming closer but he didn't seem the type to do Christmas.

Definitely a Scrooge type, you thought.

But you're surprised to see him put in some effort this morning! Sure, he's just sitting there at the kitchen table with bedhead in his pyjamas (An oddly casual navy blue t-shirt and sweatpants combo that always makes you feel a little hot. Or a lot depending on how close he stood to you) drinking a black coffee while you open up expensive presents he shouldn't have got you and peer excitedly into a box of beautiful Christmas breakfast pastries he ordered this morning for you both, but its nice. Its... conventional, except for the fanciness of his townhouse and the gifts he got you. Its just the two of you, not flirting not fucking not arguing, just spending an almost domestic Moment together. It would almost be traditional, if it weren't for the nature of your relationship hanging over your heads- though you don't really mind that. Its cosy!

Finally after thanking him profusely for the gifts, and telling him he really didn't need to get you that much!!, you go get him his present; setting it in front of him with a childish Christmas eagerness. "This one's for you! Go ahead, open it."

"I can see you wrapped it yourself," He teases, picking it up with one hand and silently laughing at the crazy bad wrapping. Sighing and rolling your eyes with a grin, you shake your head at him and urge him to go on then- go on- stop harassing me about my sad gift wrapping skills and open it!

While he opens it, telling you he was looking for one of these when he realises what it is, you go and pick out a pastry for yourself and a Christmas tree donut for him, and sit down in the chair beside him; angling your knees towards him and resting your own feet on top of his under the table. He picks up the donut and gives it a good assessment, smirking in amusement at the silly food.

Meanwhile you wait a moment, thinking about it (About how unexpectedly good this morning has been with him so far. How warm you feel inside spending it with him. You really never expected it to be good like this, you expected him to ignore the holiday, but he did all this for you... ), before leaning over and gifting him a sweet kiss on the cheek. You couldn't help it. "Thank you, Cal, Merry Christmas."

"As much as I like my gift Y/N, you can pay me back in bed later." He tells you offhandedly, not even looking up from his curious silly breakfast. You almost laugh.

"Of course." You grin instead, shaking your head.

Otis B Driftwood x reader:

After the kiss under the mistletoe that leaves your lips bruised, your mouth tasting of all the shit that Otis puts in his (An amalgamation of bad alcohol, smokes, some cum, some blood, and bad - sometimes off, - food tasting something like rot and battery acid), and your ass in need of an ice pack from the way he squeezed it, he tries to just give you a dirty filthy smirk and leave you there- but you dig your fingers into the front of his tight shiur before he can and draw him back to you. "Not so fast."

"Wh- "

"Hold on." Giving him a mischievous look, you reach with one hand into your deep coat pockets (Your other hand still holding him there) and pull out something red and white, and fluffy. Immediately a groan rolls out of your feral boyfriend, his head actually falling back a moment. Your eyes widen at him with that cheeky smile, and you nod. "Uhuh, yes."

"Fuck. no."

"Fuck yes." You don't wait for him to agree, you know he never will; you just reach up onto your tip toes against him and pull the santa hat on over his hair. When you settle back down onto the heels of your feet and take in the full picture, his cranky unamused, bearded frown and stormy blue eyes and that innocent-looking santas hat on his head!!, you cant help but laugh. "You look so good!!"

"Aghh,"

"Really!" You laugh, covering your mouth. "I think I'm hot."

"Right." He rolls his eyes, setting his strong scarred hands on his hips- but not taking it off. That really just shows how good a mood he's in; allowing you your little joke. There's even a ghost of a smirk on his mouth. "Sure. I believe that crap."

Spurred on by his almost pleasant demeanour, you give him mommy finger and add; "You gotta keep it on the rest of the night.", a teasing grin on your lips to match his.

Giving a sigh and a shake of his head, Otis just shrugs at you, like- fucking fine! whatever~, walking off towards the drinks table. You watch him go, tucking your thumbs into your back pockets, the softest look on your face. If he was always like this... well, its not a thought even worth thinking about. But- its nice, when he is.

[thegiftportal-1]

Send Gifts to Australia for Every Occasion from TheGiftPortal

Do you want to send gifts to Australia online from TheGiftPortal? Find thoughtful gifts for any occasion, including birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and more. You can choose the best gifts for your loved ones & surprise them with our unique gifts like personalized gifts, chocolates, custom cakes, and gift hampers. Online order now & get same-day delivery options.

[brezzegiftsseo]

Beyond the Bush: Curating an Authentic Australian Christmas Hamper with Native Ingredients

Christmas in Australia is a unique blend of tradition and the vibrant landscape of the continent. While many embraces classic Christmas fare, there's a growing trend towards incorporating native Australian ingredients to create a truly unique and memorable experience. This year, ditch the generic hamper and create a stunning, authentically Australian gift basket filled with the flavours and aromas of the land. This guide delves into the exciting world of native Australian ingredients, inspiring you to craft a truly special Hamper for Christmas Australia.

The traditional Christmas hamper often features imported goods, lacking the distinctive character of the Australian landscape. By incorporating native Australian ingredients, you can create a hamper that’s both delicious and deeply meaningful. This approach celebrates the unique biodiversity of the country, showcasing its rich culinary heritage in a beautiful and thoughtful gift. Think beyond the usual suspects and discover the potential of native ingredients to transform your Christmas hamper into something truly special and uniquely Australian. This is not just about creating a gift; it’s about creating a connection to the land and its rich culture.

For corporate gifting, finding the perfect present to represent your brand is key. Using native Australian ingredients to craft a Christmas Chocolate Gifts Australia hamper is a smart and sophisticated way to showcase your appreciation for clients and employees while simultaneously supporting local businesses and highlighting Australian culture. This innovative approach shows thoughtfulness, representing both high-quality gifts and a commitment to sustainability. This unique touch helps your gift stand out in a sea of generic corporate presents, creating a more memorable and lasting impression on recipients.

Elevating your corporate gifting strategy to a premium level requires a thoughtful approach. Creating Luxury Chocolate Hampers Australia that incorporate native ingredients is an impressive and sophisticated strategy. Consider premium native chocolates infused with wattle seed or lemon myrtle, alongside gourmet foods like bush tomato chutney or quandong jam. These high-quality products demonstrate that you value your clients and employees, showing you appreciate both quality and the unique aspects of Australian culture. This sophisticated touch sets your corporate gifting apart, presenting a refined and memorable impression.

For businesses looking to send gifts across Australia or even internationally, the option to Send Corporate Gifts Australia provides unparalleled convenience. This is particularly valuable during the peak holiday season when time is of the essence. Carefully choosing a reliable delivery service ensures that your uniquely Australian hampers arrive safely and on time, maximizing their impact and demonstrating professional attention to detail. The capability of selecting a delivery service is a crucial element when weighing the practicality of creating a hamper yourself versus ordering from a curated gift company.

Let's explore some fantastic native Australian ingredients perfect for a unique Christmas hamper:

Quandong: This vibrant red fruit boasts a sweet and tart flavour reminiscent of a cherry-apricot blend. It's delicious in jams, chutneys, and even as a unique addition to baked goods.

Bush Tomatoes: These small, intensely flavoured berries add a burst of umami and a slight spice to any dish. They’re wonderful in chutneys, sauces, or even sprinkled over meats.

Lemon Myrtle: This fragrant leaf offers a zesty, lemon-like aroma and flavour, perfect for teas, desserts, or even incorporated into marinades.

Macadamia Nuts: A true Australian staple, macadamia nuts offer a rich, creamy texture and subtly sweet flavour, making them a popular choice for snacking or adding to sweet treats.

Wattle Seed: Ground wattle seed adds a unique coffee-like aroma and a subtly nutty flavour to baked goods, coffee blends, and even ice cream.

Finger Limes: These fascinating citrus fruits have small, caviar-like pearls with a burst of citrus flavour. They're excellent as a garnish or added to cocktails.

Native Australian Honey: The unique floral varieties found in Australia produce honey with distinctly different flavours and aromas, adding a touch of local flavour to your hamper.

Creating Your Authentic Australian Hamper:

Choose your basket: Select a sturdy basket or container that reflects the Australian aesthetic. Think natural materials like woven baskets or timber boxes.

Select your ingredients: Choose a mix of sweet and savoury items, balancing familiar favourites with exciting native ingredients.

Presentation is key: Arrange the items beautifully, using natural materials like eucalyptus leaves or native flowers for decoration.

Personalize your hamper: Add a handwritten card or a small, personalized touch to make your gift truly special.

Consider packaging: Use eco-friendly packaging to reflect the natural theme of your hamper.

Beyond the ingredients themselves, consider including items that reflect Australian culture. Think locally made beeswax candles, handcrafted soaps with native botanicals, or a selection of Australian-made teas. The key is to create a hamper that is not only delicious but also tells a story of Australia’s rich culinary heritage and unique landscape.

Crafting an authentic Australian Christmas hamper is a wonderful way to celebrate the country's unique flavours and culture. By incorporating native ingredients and thoughtful presentation, you can create a gift that is both delicious and deeply meaningful. Whether you're gifting to friends, family, or colleagues, choosing native Australian products creates a memorable and impactful gift. For a wide range of high-quality Australian-made products and expertly curated hampers, explore the beautiful collections offered by Brezze Gifts. They offer a range of options to help you celebrate the spirit of Australia this Christmas.

[helenfletcher]

With cookie season just in sight, I've compiled a list of some really great cookies in this Cookie Roundup. Whether you're looking for a new cookie, cookies for a cookie swap or preparing to ship cookies as gifts, you're sure to find old favorites as well as new cookies. American cookies and bars as well as European cookies from Germany, France, Italy, England, Croatia, Poland, Russia and Australia are perfect for the holidays or anytime and you will find them all here. Many of these can be made ahead. Any of the bars or brownies can be cut smaller to use on an assorted tray presentation. [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="30425" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="Langue de Chat is a French cookie that translates to cat's tongue because of its shape. It is a crisp, sweet, long, wafer thin cookie and a snap to make with only five ingredients. It's particularly good sandwiched with chocolate - think Milano's."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="30971" template="plp---roundup-summary"] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="30668" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="A favorite Italian cookie, Cuccidati (coo-cha-dah-tee) is actually easy to make and can be done over a number of days.   The pasta frolla, an Italian pastry, encloses a filling of black mission figs, dates and raisins highlighted with orange and lemon zest finished with rum.  The cookies are glazed and sprinkled with colored nonpareils."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="28115" summary="Spritz Bars are a faster way to make the beloved Spritz cookies all dressed up with Swedish Pearl Sugar and drizzled in chocolate."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="33164" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="These Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies are loaded with peanuts used three ways for the most peanuty cookie ever and are the perfect cookie for a peanut lover. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="24378" summary="You will love this concept because it is a no bake cookie bar and the layering adds a sophistication not often seen in this type of cookie. But the real surprise is that it is not too sweet, but intensely flavored.  "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="12678" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="The brownie itself is of the fudgy variety with a deep, intense chocolate flavor highlighted with coffee undertones. Mocha Kahlua Brownies couldn't be easier to make with a sophisticated taste."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="31212" summary="Zimtsterne star shaped cookies are one of Germany's favorite Christmas cookies. Naturally gluten free with few ingredients, these cookies are fat free and go together in minutes."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="7996" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="These Tropical Shortbread Cookies are the perfect way to say "I love you" to that someone special. While cut out cookies can be a challenge, my post on Cut Out Cookies Using the Wax Paper Technique makes is so much easier - just perfect cookies cut out cookies every time without the drama. The cookies don't spread and cut out cleanly with sharp edges. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="24296" summary="These French Butter Cookies are barely sweet, simple little butter cookies that come from France where they are a much-loved cookie with tea, coffee or as a snack.  They are particularly good in recipes calling for crushed cookies.  "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="19748" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="These are a simple butter cookie that goes together without effort and is easy to shape.  The dough itself is a breeze to work with right out of the mixer.  You can vary the flavors by substituting other powders for the cocoa and strawberry."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="18677" summary="These bars are an easier, faster version of the Rugelach cookie that can be filled in a variety of ways according to your taste. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="13857" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="Honey Diamonds are a rare cookie with no shortening.

These soft pillows of spiced chocolate are actually more like little cakes packed with flavor that only get better when they sit. Its quick preparation is a boon to busy bakers and as a bonus they make the house smell wonderful while baking."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="30739" summary="Haselnussmakronen! What a mouthful. This German Hazelnut Macaroon is the simplest of recipes with a really big reward that you don't want to miss. Six ingredients whipped up in a matter of minutes, baked in practically no time and filled with jam or chocolate will take a cookie tray to new heights.As an added plus, these cookies are naturally gluten free."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="30593" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="You don't want to miss this easy, classic, buttery cookie from the Bretagne region (Britanny) in North-West France. Best ever butter cookie!"] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="22622" summary="Hello Dolly Cookies are quickly made and require no mixer or involved ingredients.  Just stir together, scoop, bake, cool and eat.  A perfect project with kids.  "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="19523" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="An almond macaroon, topped with a chocolate truffle, dipped in chocolate and decorated with gold leaf for a cookie beyond compare."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="18796" summary="This recipe for Spice Bars is one of those fantastic treasures where you make the base, press it into a pan, add a few more ingredients to the reserved amount, pour it on top, and bake.  It couldn't be easier. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="7842" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="These shell shaped Madeleines petit fours are a stunning and flavor packed addition to any cookie collection. They are easy to make and easier to eat. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="9244" summary="The Oatmeal cookies are sure to please with a whole pound of add ins of your choice. If oatmeal cookies are your thing, then be sure to give these a go."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="4643" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="Biscotti are twice baked cookies and come to us from Italy.  They are not too sweet and are simply addictive.  To make things better they are really easy to make. Make them large or make them small, this spicy version is highlighted with black pepper and cayenne for a surprising after taste. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="16981" summary="These fantastic looking Baci di Dama cookies consist of two hemispheres of buttery hazelnut cookies sandwiched with a rich gianduja filling.  The recipe for this Italian cookie is as easy to remember as your name.  It is equal parts, by weight, of four ingredients for the cookie.  Forming the cookies is just as easy."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="16718" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="The black cocoa used in this recipe makes an Oreo type cookie which is black indeed. Originally make for Halloween, change out the colors in the filling and it is perfect for anytime. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="9658" summary="This basic pastry is German or Viennese depending upon what book you are reading.  It is extremely easy to put together and just as versatile. These cookies literally melt in your mouth."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="4537" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="This post of Holiday Cookies includes Sienna Lace, Chocolate Dipped Cappuccino Rounds, and Anise Swirls. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="7431" summary="These traditional cookies come from the German repertoire. The word pfeffernusse translates to  “pepper nut”.   While everyone seems to agree they have molasses, pepper and spices, just which spices seem to vary. These cookies are like fine wine - they need to develop their flavor so they are a great make ahead cookie. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="12972" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars fall into the ridiculously easy category and are great for something to do with the kids.

A chocolatey crust, insanely delicious, smooth, and creamy filling and a just right chocolate top, make these one of the best bars around."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="32199" summary="I used two techniques - the first is painted cookies, either solid colors or the very simple swirly, marbelized ones. The second is even easier since you simply cover the unbaked cookie with colored sugar and bake. That's it."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="30507" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="Pryaniki (pre-ah-nee-kee) are honey and spice Russian cookies traditionally served at teas and holidays. These cookies are more cake-like than their German cousins, Pfeffernusse and are finished with a white or chocolate glaze."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="15781" summary="These special French Macarons are filled with the same chocolate raspberry truffle filling we sold at the bakery. This deeply chocolate, deeply raspberry filling is sandwiched between two pink macaroons."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="14152" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="Spice filled Hermit Bars are really easy to make, packed with flavor and finished with a lemon glaze. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="31129" summary="With no shortening in Springerle Cookies, it is a combination of a cookie and a cake. The drying time before baking is to dry the top of the cookie so the design becomes prominent. This anise flavored German cookie is great to eat as well as to use for tree ornaments."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="24528" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="The dulce de leche filling is as easy as pouring a can of condensed milk in a bowl and baking it for a couple of hours. I've provided several ways to finish the cookies, from simple to extravagant - all elegant and looking like they came from a bakery.  While this recipe looks like it might be a challenge, it is really quite easy and very much worthwhile."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="12877" summary="Almond Macaroons are simplicity itself and one of the easiest, fastest, most delicious cookies you can make. They are naturally gluten free. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="14303" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="This is a perfect base recipe for cookies as it can be adapted endlessly and can be put together in a matter of minutes. This post lists 8 variations to get you started. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="9775" summary="These Pecan Bars are one of the most used recipes from the Culinary Institute of America. I have seen various versions of these Pecan Bars but this one is the one we used in the bakery. Cut them in half for the perfect bar on a cookie tray"] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="19362" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="Everything you need for breakfast. Oats, Wheaties or Total, fruits and nuts, spices, and applesauce all come together for a great breakfast treat. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="17620" summary="Soft chewy cookies such as this Fudgey Chocolate Cookie are not synonymous with under-baked cookies.  Altering the way the cookie is normally put together and changing one ingredient makes the difference."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="11048" summary="These Amaretti cookies which are Italy's version of a macaroon are a perfect example. Crunchy, gluten free and low in fat, these are the perfect accompaniment to lightly sweetened or macerated fresh fruit or ice cream or just eat them by themselves. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="10830" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="Years ago when I owned my bakery glazed cookies started showing up everywhere. Fancy and fanciful, I was not skilled at that time with a pastry bag so I came up with this marbelized version that is so, so easy anyone can do it. It is used commonly now by many - even those that can pipe. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="11683" summary="Hazelnut Crunch Bars are a fantasy dessert.  Milk chocolate, rice krispies and toasted hazelnuts form the crunch base for these bars which are topped with a layer of caramel.

  A light as air marshmallow tops the caramel and the dark satin ganache finishes the Hazelnut Crunch Bars elegantly."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="13783" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="While shortbreads are usually thought of as sweet, these Cheddar Pecan Shortbreads are definitely on the savory, snacky side. When I had my take out shop, we sold these Cheddar Pecan Shortbreads and they were always a winner with wine, beer, lemonade or nothing at all. Warning: these are really addictive."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="10585" summary="While it is good by itself, it is better if you sandwich them together with raspberry jam and sprinkle them with powdered sugar. These Flourless Chocolate Raspberry Cookies are amazingly fudgy and moist and have quickly become a favorite."] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="7331" template="plp---roundup-summary---green" summary="These Chocolate Dipped Sweet and Salty Butter Cookies are one of the simplest cookies to be found. Salt and sanding sugar are mixed to top the chocolate covered cookie. To speed up the process, logs of dough are rolled and sliced so there is no rolling and cutting out the cookies. "] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id="362" summary="What could me more fun than a cookie pop - a peanut butter cookie on a stick?  How about a peanut butter cookie with a snicker’s bar inside on a stick?"]

[mkohmapers]

Christmas Hamper Ideas and Secret Santa for Work Colleagues

Christmas is a joyous time of year when we come together to celebrate and spread cheer. In many workplaces, the tradition of exchanging gifts among colleagues during the holiday season is a way to foster friendship and express respect. One popular gift option that includes the spirit of giving is the Christmas gift hamper or Corporate Christmas Gift Basket Online in Australia. In this blog, we will explore innovative ideas for Christmas hampers and discuss the benefits of incorporating a Secret Santa gift exchange for fellowship. Christmas Hamper Ideas:

A. Gourmet Delights

1. Indulgent Treats: Include a selection of premium chocolates, artisanal cookies, gourmet popcorn, and other yummy sweets.

2. Savoury Delights: Incorporate high-quality snacks like nuts, pretzels, cheese straws, or flavoured popcorn for a savoury twist.

3. Fine Beverages: Include a bottle of fine wine, craft beer, speciality coffee, or exotic teas to add a touch of luxury to the hamper.

B. Wellness and Relaxation

1. Spa Essentials: As the holiday season can be hectic, consider including items such as scented candles, bath bombs, essential oils, and luxurious bath products for a soft experience.

2. Mindfulness Kit: Encourage relaxation with items like a mindfulness journal, an adult colouring book, soothing teas, and meditation aids.

3. Wellness Snacks: Add healthy snacks like granola bars, herbal teas, dried fruits, and nuts to improve well-being.

II. Secret Santa for Colleagues

A. Fostering Team Spirit

1. Anonymous Giving: Secret Santa allows colleagues to exchange gifts anonymously, adding an element of surprise and adventure.

2. Team Bonding: The anticipation of receiving and guessing who their Secret Santa is can foster a sense of togetherness and strengthen team dynamics.

B. Setting Gift Guidelines

1. Budget: Establish a reasonable spending limit to ensure fairness and inclusion for all participants.

2. Personalization: Encourage colleagues to consider each other’s interests and hobbies to select meaningful and personalised gifts.

C. Unveiling the Secret

1. Revealing the Secret Santa: Organise a team gathering or virtual event where colleagues can unveil their Secret Santa gifts, share their appreciation, and celebrate the holiday spirit together.

2. Optional Clues: To add an extra layer of fun, participants can provide subtle hints or clues leading up to the gift exchange, making the guessing game even more exciting.

Conclusion

Christmas hampers are an excellent choice for corporate gifting, offering a wide range of possibilities to suit various preferences and occasions. From Gourmet Treats to Wellness Essentials and home decor, there are countless ways to curate thoughtful and memorable Christmas Gift Hampers Online in Australia. Additionally, incorporating a Secret Santa gift exchange among colleagues adds an element of surprise, fun, and team bonding during the festive season. By embracing these ideas, you can make the holiday season more joyful and memorable for everyone in your workplace a Secret Santa gift exchange among colleagues adds an element of surprise, fun, and team bonding during the festive season. By embracing these ideas, you can make the holiday season more joyful and memorable for everyone in your workplace.

[warningsine]

Australian freshwater turtles are facing an alarming trend. Almost half of these species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.

The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is one of Australia’s largest freshwater turtles, weighing up to 8kg. You might know it as the bum-breathing punk turtle – it can stay underwater for days, extracting oxygen through its cloaca, and algae growing on its head can look like a mohawk. It’s also one of the most threatened. This species is found only in the Mary River in south-east Queensland, which empties into the sea near K'Gari/Fraser Island.

Despite its highly restricted range, many Australians would have seen this turtle. In the 1960s and ’70s, thousands of turtle eggs were harvested from the banks of the Mary River and hatched in captivity. The hatchlings were sold as “penny turtles” throughout the country.

Back then, no one knew these turtles belonged to a unique species restricted to a single river. Neither did anyone know that their sale – often as Christmas gifts due to their hatching time – was pushing the species towards extinction.

Intense egg harvesting, habitat changes and introduced predators such as foxes have drastically reduced the Mary River turtle population. Breeding female numbers fell 95% between 1970 and 2000. Even more worrisome is that the population consists mainly of older adults. That’s often a warning sign of a species’ imminent extinction.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the Mary River turtle. In 2001, the people of the Tiaro district bordering the river launched a conservation program. A recent review of this community-led program found things seem to be turning around for this iconic species.

A community-driven rescue

Tiaro is a small town with about 800 residents. Some of the most productive Mary River turtle nesting areas are close to the town. This inspired the Tiaro & District Landcare Group to take action.

Their work was mainly focused on protecting turtle nests. Tiaro is surrounded by farms, mainly for cattle. The group erected fences to stop cattle trampling the nests, placed covers over nests to shield them from predators and recorded nesting activities.

These efforts have resulted in thousands of young Mary River turtles entering the river every year.

Enlisting the help of experts

The community soon realised they needed scientific help to develop an effective management plan. They hit upon an inventive fundraiser, selling homemade chocolate turtles, to support research.

The money provided scholarships for several higher-degree research students. It also paid for research equipment.

And the support went beyond money. The people of Tiaro provided accommodation, transport, local knowledge, land access and enthusiasm.

To date, the joint efforts of the community and scientists have resulted in 16 peer-reviewed scientific articles and six higher-degree research theses. We now know much more about the turtles’ ecological requirements, population status and threats.

The published works have featured heavily in development, environmental management and natural resource planning throughout the catchment. As federal environment minister, Peter Garrett even cited information from this research program when he vetoed controversial state government plans for the Traveston Crossing Dam in 2009.

This long-term research effort has raised the profile of the turtle and the community that supports its preservation. A bronze turtle statue now stands proudly in the middle of Tiaro.

The statue is testament to the community’s dedication and the turtle’s local significance. It’s both a symbol of successful conservation and a tourist attraction.

Our turtles still need protection

The Mary River turtle remains threatened, as do other Australian turtle species. A scientific assessment panel has recommended upgrading the species to critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

This is due to the knowledge gained through the community-led research program rather than an increased extinction risk.

We argue that the outlook for the Mary River turtle is brighter now than when it was first listed as endangered 22 years ago. This is because the research program has enabled national priorities to be set accurately. As a result, local water resource planning and strategic development throughout the catchment properly take the turtle’s ecology into account.

By playing to each other’s strengths, community members and scientists have given the Mary River turtle a much better outlook.

The Mary River turtle is unique in its appearance and evolutionary history. It stands out as the sole species in its genus, having diverged from all other living species about 50 million years ago. To put this into perspective, humans separated from our closest relatives, the chimpanzees and bonobos, less than 10 million years ago.

The species is listed at number 30 on the EDGE of Existence program, a global conservation initiative focusing on evolutionarily distinct threatened species.

Australia’s freshwater turtles play a vital role in maintaining freshwater ecosystems. They are also culturally important for First Nations people.

The advent of similar community-researcher conservation projects, such as 1 Million Turtles and Turtles Forever, suggests the future is looking brighter for Australia’s freshwater turtles.

[brookston]

Holidays 12.28

Holidays

BiCreators Day

Brobdingnagian Proboscis Day

Call a Friend Day

Congress Foundation Day (India)

Cross Day (Ireland)

Dysemas Day (Northhamptonshire, UK)

Eat a Vegetarian Day

Els Enfarinats (Flour Fight; Ibi & Valencia, Spain)

Endangered Species Act Day

End-of-Year Days (EU)

Fourth Day of Christmas

Gone-ta-Pott Day [every 28th]

Holiday Breather Day

International Cinema Day

Kashmiri Homestead Day

King Taskin Memorial Day (Thailand)

Kullubi (Ethiopia)

Manure Day (French Republic)

National Call a Friend Day

National Card Playing Day

National Download Day

National Short Film Day

National Stan Lee Day

National Tim Day

Pledge of Allegiance Day

Proclamation Day (South Australia)

Republic Day (South Sudan)

Return a Gift for Cold Hard Cash Day

Shaheed Sabha (Punjab, India)

Stanley Races begin (Falkland Islands)

Take a Drive and Enjoy the Christmas Lights Day

Throw Away Your Subliminal Motivation Tapes Today Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Yule Log Day (UK)

National Box of Chocolates Day

National Chocolate Candy Day

National Eat Chocolate Day

4th & Last Thursday in December

National Betty Day [4th Thursday]

Independence Days

Iowa Statehood Day (#29; 1846)

Lundenwic (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Mexico (Date Recognized, 1821)

Republic of Ut Pace (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Yusienia (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Abel (Coptic Church)

Bruma IV (Pagan)

Caterina Volpicelli (Christian; Saint)

Childermas (a.k.a. Feast of the Holy Innocents; Christian)

Day of the Holy Innocents (Spain)

Excelsior Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Fools, Day 3 (Holy Innocent's Day)

Feast of the Holy Innocents (a.k.a. Childermas; Christian)

Félix Vallotton (Artology)

Fool’s Day (Dis de los Inocentes; Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela)

Inocentes (Mexican December Fool’s Day)

Kwanzaa, Day 3: Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility)

Lamarck (Positivist; Saint)

Mike ’The Bike’ Hailwood Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Only 4 Pasta-eating Days Left This Year Day (Pastafarian)

Simon the Athonite (Christian; Saint)

Theodorus, Abbot of Tabenna (Christian; Saint)

Twelve Holy Days #3 (Gemini, the hands; Esoteric Christianity)

Twelvetide, Day #4; Feast of the Holy Innocents (a.k.a. the Twelve Days of Christmas or Christmastide) [until 1.5]

The Whispering Log (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Bairns' Day (Unluckiest Day of the Year; Scotland)

Dyzymas (Medieval Unlucky Day; Bad Day to Start Anything)

The Sexiest Day of All the Days (in Ted Lasso)

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 60 of 60)

Unluckiest Day of the Year

Premieres

Black Hawk Down (Film; 2001)

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (TV Special; 2018)

Bright Eyes (Film; 1934)

Cyrano de Bergerac (Play; 1897)

The Deep Six or It’s Tough to Fathom (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 331; 1964)

1st Commercial Film Screening (Lumber Brothers; 1895)

Gold Diggers of 1937 (Film; 1936)

The Gulag Archipelago, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Book; 1973)

I Am Sam (Film; 2001)

Match Point (Film; 2005)

Mother, by John Lennon (Song; 1970)

The New Delhi-Cateseen or Judgment at Bloombergs (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 332; 1964)

On the Town (Broadway Musical; 1944)

Poor Richard’s Almanack, by Benjamin Franklin (Magazine; 1732)

Portrait in Jazz, by Bill Evans (Album recorded; 1959)

Saint Joan, by George Bernard Shaw (Play; 1923)

To Beep or Not to Beep (WB MM Cartoon; 1963)

Treatise of Sexual Alchemy, by Samael Aun Weor (Spiritual Book; 1953)

Where the Boys Are (Film; 1960)

Today’s Name Days

Donna, Mattea, Unschuldige Kinder (Austria)

Mladen, Nevenka (Croatia)

Bohumila (Czech Republic)

Piia, Piiu (Estonia)

Piia (Finland)

Gaspard (France)

John, Unschuldige Kinder (Germany)

Domna, Mygdonios, Theofili (Greece)

Kamilla (Hungary)

Donna, Dorma, Innocenti Martiri (Italy)

Inga, Ivita, Jonatans, Mierins (Latvia)

Ema, Kamilė, Kantvilas, Vaidilutė (Lithuania)

Une, Unn, Unni (Norway)

Antoni, Dobrowiest, Emma, Godzisław, Teofila (Poland)

Ivana, Ivona (Slovakia)

Abel (Spain)

Benjamin (Sweden)

Aspen, Caspar, Gaspar, Innocent, Jasper, Kasper, Woodrow, Woody (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 362 of 2024; 3 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 52 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Beth (Birch) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 16 (Geng-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 16 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 15 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 2 Fest; Twosday [2 of 5]

Julian: 15 December 2023

Moon: 97%: Warning Gibbous

Positivist: 26 Bichat (13th Month) [Lamarck]

Runic Half Month: Eihwaz or Eoh (Yew Tree) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 8 of 89)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 7 of 31)