The legend of Santa Claus originated with Saint Nicholas in the 4th century. Nicholas was perhaps best known for having secretly supplied a poor man with three purses of gold coins to pay for his three daughters’ weddings. In one version of the story, he dropped the purses down the chimney and one purse landed in a stocking hung out to dry from washing. The name Santa Claus evolved from Sinterklaas, the Dutch name for St. Nicholas.
The Christmas afterglow. When Christmas Day has passed, it’s time to transition to the New Year.
- Take inventory of decorations. Purge those you never seem to use and dispose of any broken items. Store in heavy duty plastic tubs that stack.
- Purchase new LED holiday lights during after-Christmas sales. They use far less energy than the old incandescents and will last much longer. Plastic reels such as those used for extension cords are great for wrapping strings of lights to avoid tangled messes next year.
- Prepare your New Year’s Eve grocery list and shop early in the week to avoid the last-minute rush.
