Archive for January 2009
Home Fitness Routines: Convenient, Cost-Effective Workouts
January 27, 2009, 1:37 am
Exercising at home is a convenient, cost-effective means for achieving your health and weight management goals effectively. Working out in the comfort of your own home can save time and money, while allowing you to easily fit exercise into your daily routine.
Establishing a home fitness routine allows you to avoid costly gym memberships and the travel time and expense it takes to go to the gym each day. With many affordable options for home fitness tools and equipment, and the privacy, convenience and time savings offered, working out at home has become a popular option for folks working to improve their health and wellness.
Finding a home fitness routine that works for you is important to your overall success and there are a number of factors to consider when determining which home workout is best for you. First off, you need to have an understanding of your level of fitness and activity in order to best determine if you should start with beginner, intermediate or advanced workout routines. You will also want to consider which types of exercise appeal to you most, since this will influence how well you stick with the routine over time. For example, if you love intense, challenging cardiovascular exercise, you may not be satisfied with a low impact, beginner’s yoga routine.
Once you have determined the type of exercise that will work best for your home fitness routine, consider the tools and equipment you will need. If you’ve decided that exercise DVDs are your best option, make sure that you have enough quantity and variety to keep your home fitness routine fresh and invigorating in order to avoid boredom and to keep your body moving in new ways. Alternatively, if a treadmill or elliptical trainer is more your style, find ways to keep the workout interesting to ensure the long term success off your home fitness routine.
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(posted in the Gym + Fitness, Helpful Information category)
Easy Holiday Gift Ideas
January 26, 2009, 9:56 amEvery holiday I get surprised with extras added to my gift list, whether it is the mailman or a school teacher, it’s always nice to thank those who have helped you along the way every day of the year. Over the years I have come up with some great ideas on how to have those gifts around the house just for such an emergency or how to stretch a tight holiday budget.
One thing I like to do is when I see a clearance item on sale at a bath and body store I will purchase the kits then take them home and store them in either a closet or now a hope chest. You can find many wonderful trial bath products in beautiful gift bags under $3 once they are on clearance. I also look in the toy departments, I don’t know how many times my sons have in the morning just before the bus comes tells me they need a present for school.
Here are a few other inexpensive gift ideas:
*Freebies- Are you in direct sales? Do you go to meetings and receive freebies (I get full size products won through raffles at my AVON meetings), or receive good quality freebies in the mail but it’s just not for you? What about overstock items? Use those items to make up a small gift basket and add those freebies or trial size products to the basket, you never know you may receive a customer in the process.
*Gift jars- find a recipe that your friend/relative likes and buy all the dry ingredients for the recipe, layer them in a canning jar, on your computer make up a nice gift card filled with all the instructions for the recipe. Decorate the top of the gift jar with pretty fabric and ribbon and punch a hole in the recipe card and attach to the lid. Inexpensive! You can make several gift jars with one grocery trip for under $20 if you shop when there are sales.
*Coupon books- for the neighbors or your kids to make for grandparents. Use your handy clip art files and make out a coupon book filled with items you or your child is willing to do. Like cut the grass, 15 minutes helping out in the kitchen, no complaining, going to bed on time, retrieving the mail on a cold day etc.
*Soap making- It sounds harder than it really is. You can go to a craft store and buy a brick of glycerin clear soap for $6, look around your house for little additives to add to the glycerin soap. If you do not want to buy a scent look around your bedroom for a perfume that you can add to the soap as it is setting in the molds. I just used old fluted pie pans that were kid size for the ones I made this year and added some plastic flowers that I no longer used to decorate the house with. Scents are really inexpensive and they do last a long time, just be sure the person you are making the soap for is not allergic to any particular scent.
For Boys: add little plastic figures like frogs, cowboys, Indians, cars etc
For girls: add little ballerina objects to the soap as it is setting, or small shells from a trip that you made to the sea shore.
Just use your imagination and your soaps will be a hit!
*Tins filled with goodies: do you have a favorite cookie or treat recipe that everyone loves? Why not make up a couple batches and put them in a wonderful holiday tin, you can find these at Dollar stores sometimes for 2 for $1 or look around your house do you have any tins that you have been holding onto? Include the recipe with your goodies if its not a trade secret
*Make a Wreath-You can go to any craft store and buy simple wreaths and accessories for under $10! Why not decorate a wreath for the holiday, or to go with the recipient’s décor.
*Make up a month’s worth of menus including a shopping list with each item on the list. This is especially wonderful for those busy moms! Or better yet look for a company online that offers that as a service.
*Go to a resell shop for books- Do you have a reader in your family? Many resell bookstores have wonderful books that look brand new for under $2 find out what the person you are giving to likes to read, visit your local resellers bookstore and purchase a collection of their favorite books then go home and make up a couple bookmarks on your computer.
*Compile all the family favorites in a Family Cookbook and give it to everyone in your family.
There are so many things you can do on a tight budget all it takes is a little time and imagination.
Have fun being creative and have a Merry Christmas!
Rebecca White is a mom to 3 boys and has been married to her high school sweetheart for 14 years. During those 14 years she had many holidays that were so tight they barely could pay bills, so she learned to be frugal and creative when it came to gift giving. To find wonderful inexpensive e-books for gift jars, soap making and more ideas please visit her site at http://www.supportformoms.com
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Brilliant Dishwashers Online
January 25, 2009, 6:49 amWhen you are surveying the market-place for a good price on Dishwashers, perusing on the web can be a wonderful method to not waste treasured time & currency. If you’re tired of browsing all around high-street business after outlet searching for your brand new dishwasher then why do you not go on line and begin searching. Always shop with a retailer you trust when looking for dishwashers on the internet.
You certainly should consistently acquire your appliance from options you really trust, nonetheless, when and if you should be presented with a large array of unfamiliar firms on line this could be arduous. A tremendous practice to avoid buying from undependable retailers is to buy with web shops which additionally have a good quality high street location. You really should furthermore be sure to read the terms & conditions of any sites you’re really thinking about acquiring from.
Another method to tell apart a well respected web retailer when looking for quality dishwashers is to be sure to find out whether the web-site own an impartial and explanatory buyers guide. Consulting a shoppers guide could additionally throw up a large array of points you might well not have considered if you were merely buying on your own. The aforementioned include; energy usage, additional features and storage capacity among other considerations.
Be very wary of concealed costs – value added tax and delivery costs that are added on at the checkout may ofttimes metamorphose that initial unbelievable price you found for your families dishwasher into something wholly unremarkable.
a disturbing number of internet options are also quicker than others – if the speed at which you receive your families new dishwasher is not a concern then this will probably simply not bother you very much. But, if you’d rather not be manually scrubbing the knifes and forks and pans over Christmas then you will probably wish to select a retailer who gives you guaranteed home-delivery times.
Dishwashers can ofttimes look the part when they are in a display room or on a web-site but wind up disappointed when they reaches your house. So be doubbly sure to check the return policy of the web-site you’re ordering from.
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(posted in the Shopping Binge category)
10 Simple Ways to Pay Less & Get Free Upgrades for Any Hotel Room
January 25, 2009, 6:36 amBook Early & Be Flexible
Almost all hotels have a limited amount of rooms at the best rates and are usually available to the first few that reserve on a particular date. All hotels want a full house and strive for this every night. To get the best prices book early and try to be flexible with your dates.
Book for Off-Seasons
You’ll find the best rates for a hotel room during the off-season when the hotel tends to have empty rooms. Hotels generally have great prices during the week and business hotels in the downtown area during the weekends when their customers are at home.
Check for Combination Offers
You might be able to get even more by booking your room along with certain airlines or attraction tickets.
Ask if You’re Eligible for a Special Rate
Corporate rate: in general anyone with a personal business card with a company name and address on it could qualify. Most hotels are pretty lenient with this. You won’t know until you ask. Government rate – in most cases if you work for the military or federal government most hotels will give you a special rate if you ask for one. In most cases if you are a local or state employee hotels will also offer you the same discounts if you ask.
“Cash In” Your Points
See if you can redeem your accumulated frequent flyer points for a better hotel room. You might be surprised at what other perks they might offer you.
See What Consolidators Offer
See if your hotel room will be cheaper through a consolidator as they buy large blocks of rooms and often pass on the savings to you.
Look for Hidden Specials
Call the hotel chain’s national 1-800 number and also check with the hotel directly, since operators may be offering a special which either is aware of. Also surf to the hotels own website, sometime they offer hidden internet only specials that are not available anywhere else.
Complain
If you are unhappy with your accommodations, speak up and make it known that you would like to be compensated with a better room. If your hotel room is close to a noisy utility unit complain and demand to be compensated.
Schmooze
Schmoozing will ensure that you’re remembered by the hotel staff, which can come in handy in your pursuit for an upgrade, especially if you stay in at the same hotel regularly.
Don’t Get Stuck
Most hotels will keep a reservation until 6p.m., if you plan on arriving later ask to guarantee the room with a credit card. If you are delayed en route, call the hotel and ask to hold your reservation until you arrive. Get a card with the hotel’s name, address and telephone on it in case you get lost exploring. Also, most established hotels have checkout times ranging from 11a.m. to 2p.m. If you need additional time request it in advance as you may be charged an additional night.
Julie Summers is an ex-hotel manager who has worked in the industry most of her life. She now writes online sharing her insider secrets on how to get the best prices for your next stay in any hotel. http://www.HotelRecommender.com
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Visit California
January 24, 2009, 1:43 amAre you planning a vacation, but can’t decide where to go or what to do? If you are, then stop worrying, vacation in sunny California.
California has a land area of over 155,000 square miles with almost 850 miles of coastline and beaches, 25,000,000 acres of desert, mountains, including Mount Whitney which at 14,505 feet above sea level is the second tallest mountain in the continental United States, numerous lakes, rivers and creeks, forests of all types, thousands of campgrounds and RV parks, beautiful scenery with plants and flowers of almost every type, amusement and theme parks like Disneyland and it’s companion California Adventure Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum, Legoland, Sea World, Universal Studios and Magic Mountain, zoos like the San Diego Zoo And Wild Animal Park, museums of every type, numerous art galleries and antique shops, places of worship for every religion, restaurants to fit every ethnic and cultural taste, motels, inns and hotels to fit every pocketbook, from very inexpensive to extremely luxurious, gaming casinos, nightclubs and comedy clubs, some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, most of which are playable year round, some of the best wineries in the world and shopping centers and areas with almost every type and brand of merchandise you can think of.
Virtually year round, whether you like the climate hot, warm, cool or cold you can find a place to suite your taste.
California, with it’s huge culturally diverse population of over 37,000,000 people, has almost every type of activity, restaurant, museum, store and hotel you can think of and it’s people speak almost every modern language there is. Why go somewhere where you can not be understood, or you may not like the accomodations or food or the citizens may not like you when you can go to California and with a little bit of searching find people who understand whatever language you speak, who serve food you like, who know your customs and who value your patronage, in other words a place that suits you perfectly, a place where you are wanted.
California is such a large and diverse state that even most Californians have only seen or done a very small percentage of what is available to see and do there. If you vacationed in California every vacation for the next 50 years you still would not run out of things to see or do.
For more information about cities, counties and areas in the state of California see http://www.usacitydirectories.com/california.html, a directory of links to California state, county, city and area guides and directories listing hotels, restaurants, churches, physicians, attorneys, information, resources, services, things to do, places to go, art galleries, service organizations, auto dealers, nursing homes, convalescent hospitals, antique dealers and more.
David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and is currently the publisher of several internet directories, including www.usacitydirectories.com a directory of national, state, county and city guides and directories listing local guides, directories, web sites and web pages providing resources, services and information about things to do and places to go.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Considering Travel Insurance? Okanagan, B.C. Man Loses Kidney In Costa Rica Hospital!
January 23, 2009, 1:25 pmFor all the future travelers that have the opportunity to read this story, I would hope that after you finish this article, you would highly consider Travel Insurance!
As a former travel Agent, when I read sad stories about travelers that have bad medical experiences abroad, it starts to make my stomach turn because I would quickly check all my client files to make sure they have all purchased some form of medical and/or cancellation policies from me prior to their travel.
However, when he awoke in the Costa Rica hospital where he had admitted himself, he quickly found out that his kidney was removed! This young man’s jaw was never fixed and the medical doctor in Costa Rica claimed several of his internal organs were damaged, and out of all the organs that were injured, they had to remove one of his kidneys. Makes you go Hmmm!
Now in my professional opinion, I would classify Costa Rica as a popular destination that I would recommend to many of my past clients to visit for their ecotourism and exotic vacation appeal. The problem is that when we suggest these destinations that are glorified as paradises, we sometimes forget to tell them that these vacation destinations don’t have medical facilities that are comparable to North American standards, and also not all facilities operate in the best faith.
All the facts about this incident are not proven yet, but the truth of the matter is in this incident, having the proper travel medical insurance coverage could have been the difference in this gentleman coming home safely with a fixed jaw and his kidney intact.
How Does Medical Travel Protection Policies Eliminate Situations Like This, You Ask?
Keep this in perspective due to the nature of the incident. The facts are still coming in about this mans occurrence Costa Rican hospital, and I’m not totally certain he did not have travel coverage, but in my professional opinion, if he did have a reputable comprehensive travel medical policy, I truly believe this situation would not have happened.
Here is my explanation that you can apply to having quality medical coverage. When you visit your travel agent, or decide to book your vacation online, many of the agencies and online companies will offer you an insurance policy that is designed specifically for your travel protection while away from your originating country. Due to a large percentage of your medical costs that may not be covered by the country you live in, travel medical emergency policies are there to protect you from the additional costs that your country will not be covering.
Let’s take this one step further. While you’re away on vacation, the Travel Medical/Cancellation Company you purchased your policy from now has a vested interest in your physical and financial protection. However, they also have a reputation and a financial interest in their company! By saying this, they must make sure that claims that are paid out are legitimate, and are not abused by many of the un-regulated foreign medical facilities that treat patients for emergency situations.
To control these illegal practices, most, if not all, travel insurance providers (including online Insurance companies) establish worldwide relationships with a great number of medical facilities in the tourist areas, and in this relationship, the selected Travel Insurance Company regulates them with very strict rules and guidelines.
This is why it’s important to read the policy terms and conditions, and understand what is required as the policyholders must follow these terms for their own protection under emergency situations. What many conditions state are that the people who get injured due to an unexpected situation, must contact the insurer prior to admitting themselves to a hospital, or a large percentage of their claim may not be paid.
Now I know many of you may be saying that if you were not conscious at the time you were admitted to a hospital, that’s beyond your control, and you’re right! However, upon becoming aware, you must at your earliest opportunity advise the Insurance Company where you are, and if it’s not a regulated hospital on their list, they will make arrangements to remove you to their preferred medical facility.
Why Does A Travel Insurance Company Go To All This Trouble?
This is where we continue from the story about the young man that had his kidney removed. Again, I’m going by my own opinion and no one else, and like I mentioned prior I don’t have all the facts, but in my profession I strongly believe that if this person had coverage with a reputable Travel Insurance Company, he would have more than likely contacted their toll free worldwide number, and talked to professional staff that are trained in the medical field.
He would have been directed to the correct hospital, and when he arrived, upon the instructions of the Insurance staff, he would have passed this information on to the medical staff at the Costa Rican hospital. This does one of two things, it gives the Insurance Company the power to regulate and make sure that only the necessary surgeries are taking place, and because they’re paying the bill, they will ensure that every situation is medically documented for any future liability.
I can’t guarantee that having the medical coverage would have avoided this situation, but I have to say when you eliminate all the risks by working with the Medical Insurance provider, you have a better opportunity in walking out of that foreign hospital with the peace-of-mind that you’re not going back home without all your valuable functioning organs.
About the author: William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), and Certified Travel Counsellor(CTC) – William is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” available at http://www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com Not only a great source for Discount Caribbean Vacations, but also providing important Travel Insurance information to protect your vacation investment! We encourage you to visit our website to read many of our informative articles and tips on how you can make your vacation safe and worry free!
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Holiday Gift Buying: Rules of the Road
January 22, 2009, 6:36 pmFor some of us, we were born to shop and we have a true knack for always buying the right gift. Then there are the rest of us. Everyone has those people on the list who are just ‘impossible.’ But are they really? First of all you have to have a list. The biggest way to overspend is to not have a list of recipients and a budget before you hit the pavement. To get you thinking about gift ideas, here are a few rules of the road for that special someone in your life.
For Her:
- Do not buy her something practical unless she has specifically asked for it. However, if she did, make sure you know exactly what she wants. A blender is not a blender is not a blender.
- Clothing: You can go sooo wrong with this. Be careful. Know her size and know her style.
- Gift Certificates: While this is an easy fix to a big problem, it can scream I don’t know what else to buy you.
- Do not buy a gift certificate to the mall or department store.
- Use the same philosophy with gift certificates as with gifts. Know the person’s style. If she loves DIY, then try a gift certificate for lessons (pottery class, art lessons, even DIY home improvement if she is in to that). If she needs to relax and unwind, gift certificates to a spa are a great idea.
- Now, you have the gift certificate and you put a lot of thought into so don’t blow it on the packaging. A plain white or store envelope is not the way to go. Package it with a product from the store (i.e. aromatherapy if doing the spa idea) or her favorite wine, chocolates, etc.
Remember that just because it is a gift certificate, does not mean it should not be treated like any other gift.
- And here is the big one: Buy what she likes not what you like!
For Him:
- Practical works for men but only if it is something he wants, not something you think he should have to do a chore on the “to do” list.
- Clothing: Same rule applies for men as for women. Know his size and his style. Now some of you are reading this and saying but I don’t like what he wears. This is not the time to reform him. If you don’t like what he wears then don’t buy him clothing for the holidays OR buy him a gift certificate for a personal shopper that he can use in any manner he wants.
- Gift Certificates: For men, you need to be specific. Many women don’t mind shopping but most men do. Gift certificates to internet vendors that he frequents are good. Mall gift certificates are not. And again, follow the simple rules for packaging the gift certificate. Don’t use the plain white or store envelope.
- And now the big one: Sports/Hobby equipment or Electronics. If you are going to buy your guy something to accentuate his hobbies or activities then make sure that is what it actually does. If he is a sports enthusiast then he most likely has brands or styles of equipment that he prefers. Talk to his sports buddies or check out sports experts online before buying him something he doesn’t want or need. Use the same philosophy when buying electronics. Research what is best for his needs and buy the best you can afford in your price range. If you know he wants a specific product and it is out of your budget, do not buy second best. Choose another idea.
For the one who has it all:
The BusyB Herself will tell you that you have to work pretty hard to find her someone who truly has it all and for whom she can’t find a creative gift. However, if you have someone who does not need nor want, try something different. There are a multitude of charitable organizations out there who do want and need. Think about his/her passions. For example: if he/she is really into animals then make a donation to the local shelter on his/her behalf and then package it with the donation letter as well as something from the organization or a magazine/book on the subject.
Happy Shopping! Remember, if you can’t do it, don’t want to do it or don’t think you are going to get it right, call in a personal shopper.
Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles, is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The company’s creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net
© 2005 Indra A Books for ON THE GO 4 U
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
US Passport Application
January 19, 2009, 7:41 pmThe most important step in order to obtain a new U.S. passport is submitting a properly filled out U.S. passport application. The government uses this to not only gather the required information about the applicant, but also to assess his ‘intention’ of traveling.
Depending on the form of request, there are various application forms available. The most common one, the ‘DS-11′ form, is available when applying for a new U.S. passport. This form should be used only when you are applying for the first time. A certain criterion has to be met in order to fall into the ‘first-time applicant’ category. ‘DS-82′ forms are used when one has to apply by mail, in cases of renewal of an existing passport. For an amendment or validation of the passport, application form ‘DS-19′ should be presented. It is used when there is a modification in the printed information of one’s passport. In case of a lost or stolen passport, the form ‘DS-64′ is submitted, along with the DS-11 form. And to obtain a passport for a minor under the age of 14, the form ‘DS-3053′ along with the DS-11 application form is submitted.
The time taken to obtain a U.S. passport is normally two weeks. However, it may take a little longer during spring and summer, as they are the busiest periods. Also with the U.S. passport application, it is required for the applicant to submit proof of U.S. citizenship and identity, two passport-sized photos and the applicable fee to obtain a U.S. passport. The total fee charged is $97 for citizens above 16 years of age, and $82 for those who are under 16- a very low price indeed to obtain your right to travel.
US Passport provides detailed information on US Passport, US Passport Application, US Passport Renewal, US Passport Office and more. US Passport is affiliated with US Mint Web Sites.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Summer Tourism: School is Back in Session for Travel Agencies
January 19, 2009, 5:35 pmSummer Tourism: School is Back In Session for Travel Agencies
Hold on to your hammock: school is out, and Americans will be taking more than 325 million vacations in June, July and August. About 65 million of them were researched or booked on-line.
If that is not enough to suggest on-line opportunity for travel agencies, consider this:
The on-line travel market is estimated at $60 billion and growing fast;
On-line bookings average $750, versus $400 off-line;
In 2006, for the first time, more trips were booked on-line than by any other method;
The next most-common method, phone booking, plunged 16 percent from 2005, and
Travelers who use the Internet to plan and purchase trips almost always visit multiple sites.
Big players are cashing in. On-line travel agents like Orbitz® and Expedia® continue to thrive, but face competition from two new sources. Travel research sites, or “meta” sites, like Mobissimo®, use customer criteria to search hundreds of sites for the best option. Research-oriented sites include traditional guidebook publishers like Fodor’s® and new on-line-only firms like Realtravel.com®.
Is there room for smaller players? Yes. People shop around when planning travel, no matter how big or beautiful a particular Web site may be: if they can find your site, it appears they will come.
Therefore, a crucial step is boosting search-engine visibility. A savvy search-engine-optimization partner enables the travel agency’s Web site to attract a share of the enormous traffic by:
Creating and refreshing keyword/key phrase content;
Crafting an effective and ethical linking strategy;
Developing site elements search engines reward;
Cleaning up site elements search engines penalize, and
Discovering further enhancements by analyzing site date.
Of course, once the visitors start coming, the travel agency needs a compelling message to keep them there. Most importantly, its Web site must communicate the company’s position in the industry and its unique value, and provide the information its target customers want. The site should be easy to navigate, fast-loading and invite customer communication.
There seems to be little or no slowdown in leisure travel, despite an up-and-down economy and high fuel prices; one can only imagine the growth when conditions improve. But opportunity does not guarantee success in a changing market. The travel industry is quickly reaching the point where the Internet will dominate to the near exclusion of all other selling channels. Companies can take advantage by becoming Web-marketing stars or retire to the hammock.
Aaron Wittersheim is president of Whoast Inc., a suburban Chicago search marketing firm. For more information, visit http://www.whoast.com
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
The Twelve Songs of Christmas: Surprising Secrets of the Season’s Most Popular Tunes
January 18, 2009, 6:49 pmThe holidays are filled with joyful emotions and honored traditions, including the playing of songs about snowmen, St. Nick, evergreen trees, and presents wrapped up with big pretty bows. No matter how you celebrate the season, you’ll hear these songs on the radio, on TV, at the mall, in the office, and just about anywhere music is performed.
If you think the same songs are played over and over, you’re right, but if this bothers you, consider the alternative: Christmas carols were banned in England between 1649 and 1660. Oliver Cromwell, serving as Lord Protector of Britain, believed Christmas should be solemn and also banned parties, limiting celebrations to sermons and prayer services.
Lots of holiday songs are festive, many have spiritual overtones, and all are played so often that they are familiar no matter what your faith. But what do you know about how these songs were created and the people who wrote them?
There are some fascinating facts behind this memorable music. So, toss a log in the fireplace, pour yourself a hot toddy or some cold eggnog, and sit back as we reveal the secrets behind many of the tunes you are going to be hearing dozens of times during December.
“The Christmas Song,” Mel Torme and Bob Wells, 1944.
On a sweltering July day in Los Angeles, 19-year-old jazz singer Torme worked with 23-year-old Wells to create this beautiful tune. Full of wintry images and a charming wistfulness for all the delights of the season, the song became an enormous hit by Nat “King” Cole the following year. In Torme’s autobiography, he says Wells wasn’t trying to write lyrics but was simply jotting down ideas that would help him forget about the heat wave.
“The First Noel,” Traditional, 16th or 17th century.
Some say this is a song with a British background while others insist it has French origins. So far, no one has any definitive proof. Two thing are for certain: first, it’s very popular if two countries are claiming it; and second, counting the title, the word “Noel” appears in the song 30 times.
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” Felix Mendelssohn, Charles Wesley, and William Cummings, 1739-1855.
Wesley’s opening line was “Hark how all the welkin rings” and he protested when a colleague changed it. Wesley wanted a slow and solemn anthem for his song, but William Cummings set the lyrics to rousing music by Felix Mendolssohn (from a cantata about movable type inventor Johann Gutenberg). For his part, Mendolssohn specified that his composition only appear in a secular context, not spiritual. So both original authors’ wishes were thwarted in the creation of this glorious song.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, 1943.
The songwriting team of Martin (music) and Blane (lyrics) worked together for five decades, producing Oscar- and Tony-nominated songs. This hauntingly lovely tune was made famous by Judy Garland in the 1944 film, “Meet Me in St. Louis.” While the song is a bittersweet gem, the original lyrics were actually darker and not to Garland’s liking. Since she was a huge star at the time, and was dating the film’s director, Vincent Minnelli (she married him the following year), the changes were made.
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Kim Gannon and Walter Kent, 1942.
Gannon (lyrics) and Kent (composer) worked often together, but even with her three Academy Award nominations, nothing was as successful as this wartime song. By getting it to Bing Crosby, they were assured of big sales even though it competed with Crosby’s recording of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” The song is a perennial favorite, and appears often in films, including “Catch Me If You Can” and “The Polar Express.”
“Jingle Bells,” James Pierpont, 1850s.
Starting out as a lively celebration of the Salem Street sleigh races, the song called “One-Horse Open Sleigh” made a fast transition to the more sober atmosphere of the church social and became known as “Jingle Bells.” While there are four verses, only the first is usually sung because of the lyrics in the remaining three verses. A woman named Fannie Bright appears in verse two, which also features a sleigh crash. The third verse displays an anti-Samaritan laughing at a fallen sleigh driver and leaving him sprawled in a snow bank, while the final verse offers such lines as “Go it while you’re young” and “Take the girls tonight.” Ah yes, just good clean mid-nineteenth century fun.
“Joy to the World,” Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason, 1719 and 1822.
The words, inspired by the 98th Psalm, were written by Watts, a British pastor, preacher, and poet. More than a century later, banker and choral teacher Mason composed music for the piece but attributed it to Handel, presumably to make the hymn more popular. It took another century for the hoax to be uncovered.
“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Johnny Marks, 1949.
Beginning as a coloring book written by advertising copywriter Robert L. May in 1939, the story of an unloved caribou triumphing over adversity was a promotional item for Montgomery Ward department stores. May’s fairy-tale was enormously popular, and became even more so when May’s brother-in-law, songwriter Marks, composed music and lyrics and got the composition to singer Gene Autry. That version sold 2 million copies the first year alone. While most of the other reindeer names were invented by Clement Moore in his 1822 poem, “The Night Before Christmas,” the hero of the May story was called Rollo. Wait, that name was nixed by store executives, so he became Reginald. Oops, that was rejected, too. Finally, May’s daughter suggested Rudolf.
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots, 1932.
After countless versions by stars as varied as Bruce Springsteen and Perry Como, it’s hard to believe that Gillespie and Coots’ song was turned down all over town because it was “a kid’s song.” Even though Coots was a writer on the Eddie Cantor radio show, Cantor at first passed on the song, only agreeing to do it at the urging of his wife. Now it’s so successful there’s even a parody version by Bob Rivers (in the style of Springsteen) called “Santa Claus is Foolin’ Around.”
“Silent Night,” Joseph Mohr and Franz X. Gruber, 1816-1818.
There are numerous stories and fanciful speculations about the origin of this beautiful song. Tossing aside the more lurid stories, we are left with this: the poem, “Stille Nacht,” was written by Mohr, who became assistant pastor of the St. Nicholas Church (really!) in Oberndorf, Austria. Mohr gave the poem to Gruber, the church organist, reportedly on Christmas Eve, 1818, and was performed that same midnight. Oddly, the first version did not involve an organ, but was arranged for two voices, guitar and choir. Both Mohr and Gruber created manuscripts with different instrumentation at various times from 1820 to 1855. The tune first made its way around the world as a “Tyrolean Folk Song” before gaining enough fame to be instantly recognized with its first two words or first four notes. The Silent Night Web page (www.silentnight.web.za) claims there are more than 300 translations of the song and features links to 180 versions in 121 languages.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Traditional, 16th Century.
Okay, let’s get the two most popular myths out of the way: the dozen days are December 26 through January 6, and there is no hidden religious meaning to the lyrics. It’s simply a song that’s also a memory game. Little brother sings a line, you sing two lines, Aunt Lucy sings three lines, and so on around the room. This passed for a good time in 1590. The “four calling birds” are another popular misconception. It’s actually “four colley birds” (or blackbirds). Besides the seven swans a-swimming and six geese a-laying, there are more birds in the lyrics than you might think, as “five golden rings” actually refers to ring-necked birds, such as pheasants.
“White Christmas,” Irving Berlin, 1942.
Sometimes considered America’s most popular holiday song, Berlin composed it for a movie soundtrack (“Holiday Inn” starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire). With its quiet power and elegant longing for the simple pleasures of the past, it was the perfect song for the gloomy months during the middle of World War II. Composer Berlin was not positive about the song when he first presented it to Crosby, but Bing’s confidence was well-founded. Spawning a movie of its own (1954’s “White Christmas” with Crosby and Danny Kaye), the song hit the Top 30 nearly 20 times and has now sold more than 30 million copies. There are reportedly 500+ recorded versions of the tune in two dozen languages.
Scott G owns G-Man Music & Radical Radio (http://www.gmanmusic.com) where he makes radio commercials for Verizon Wireless, Goodrich, Micron, National Steel, the Auto Club, and many others. He also is recording artist The G-Man, with 4 albums on iTunes and Delvian Records.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
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