December 23, 2023 Issue, Page 20 of 24

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PG12 HOMETOWN TIDINGS bi; Christmas tidbits to put., LT) you in the, oliday/s pauls It’s that time» of year. = Quick and Easy Christmas Cookies + Santa Claus’ modern look was inspired by writings INGREDIENTS from The Knickerbockers of New York and imagery + 23/4 cups all-purpose flour from Clement Clarke Moore's “A Visit from St. Nicho- +1 teaspoon baking soda he holiday season has arrived, and mil- las.” Moore denied authoring the famous poem for 15 + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder lions of people across the globe will be cel- years after it was published anonymously, feeling the +1 cup butter, softened +1 1/2 cups white sugar ebrating Christmas with their families and poem was beneath his talents. +legg friends. The following are some interesting + Santa has his own official postal code. It’s HO HO HO. +1 teaspoon vanilla extract tidbits to share with your loved ones this holiday sea- + The song “Jingle Bells” was originally written for Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small son. Thanksgiving and not Christmas. People loved it so bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set + Each year, more than three billion Christmas cards much that the lyrics were changed to fit Christmas. aside, Ina large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar un- are sent in the United States alone. + Christmas trees typically grow for 15 years before til smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry + In 350 AD, Pope Julius |, bishop of Rome, pro- they're cut and sold. This means the trees sold today ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and claimed December 25 the official celebration date for were likely planted in 2002. place onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in + Christmas was not declared an official holiday in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie the birth of Jesus Christ. Many historians and theolo- sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks. gians have surmised that Christ really wasn’t born this the United States until June 26, 1870. time of year, thanks to imagery and information from «Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal served the Bible. in England was a pig's head and mustard. + Many people may be less inclined to stand under + Christmas carols began as an English custom called + Male reindeer tend to shed their antlers in the win- mistletoe waiting for a kiss if they knew what “mistle- “wassailing.” Individuals toasted neighbors to a long ter. This means Santa's reindeer are likely female. toe” means in the ancient Germanic language. It liter- and healthy life. + Christ may have been born in a cave rather than a ally means “dung on a twig,’ for the bird who eats the + Despite the common tale that three wise men paid manger. According to the gospel ofLuke, the shepherds berries and then leaves seeds in droppings to propa- homage to baby Jesus, the Bible never specifically that helped find shelter for Mary to give birth kept their gate new plants. calls out a number. Similarly, there’s no specific indica- flock in a cave. The Church ofthe Nativity in Bethlehem + Each holiday season, PNC Wealth Management cal- tion that they visited the infant Jesus, Their visit may is built over a cave called the Grotto of the Nativity, culates the costs of the gifts in the song, “The 12 Days have occurred when Jesus was older. where Jesus is believed to have been born. of Christmas.’ The price index for the gifts went from