Starting tonight (Nov 16) @ 8PM, and every night this week, The Food Network offers their Thanksgiving holiday shows. There will also be rebroadcasts of some of their holiday favorites each afternoon as well.

It looks like all the Food Network Stars are serving up their own version of the holiday classics.

Some of the highlights I’ll be to look forward to -

Giada at Home “Thanksgiving” (Mon 11/16 4:30PM)
Barefoot Contessa “Thanksgiving 2.0″ (Mon 11/16 5PM)
Rachael Ray’s Thanksgiving in 60 #2 (Tue 11/17 8PM)
Paula’s Southern Thanksgiving (Thur 11/19@8PM)
There will also be a different show in the “Dear Food Network: Thanksgiving” series each night, including the Dear Food Network “Giada’s Thanksgiving” (Tues 11/17).

You can find more info for the Food Network’s Thanksgiving shows, as well as other holiday and early Christmas shows, over at TV Tango.

The US Postal Service has issued the new stamps for 2009 Holiday season. Among the holidays celebrated with new stamps this year are Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa as well as the Winter Holidays.

The 2009 Christmas Stamp.
From the USPS website -

Since 1978, the theme of each “traditional” Christmas stamp has been the Madonna and Child.

The 2009 Christmas stamp features Madonna and Sleeping Child, a painting by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, (1609-1685), more commonly known as Sassoferrato.

The 2009 Winter Holiday Stamps
From the USPS website -

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the winter holiday season with stamps featuring a reindeer, snowman, gingerbread man, and a toy soldier.

The 2009 Holiday stamps are available at your local Post Office or can be ordered online at the USPS website – Christmas Stamp, Winter Holidays Stamps.

More info: Christmas/Winter Holidays Stamps

Christmas in July

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Its hot, its muggy, and we’re sweaty. So join us as we start preparing for “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!”

‘Cause its never too soon to start thinking about the joy, the fun, and those sweet, sweet gifts.

And we won’t be the only ones with holiday stars in our eyes – some retailers begin their Christmas promotions this month! YaHOHOHO!!!

photo credit: via flickr

Three Kings Day (Little Christmas, Epiphany, Twelfth Day, Greek Christmas, La Befana, and the 12th Day of Christmas)
January 6th is the traditional day the Magi, or the Three Kings, visited the Christ Child. They came bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

Today is also known as Little Christmas, Epiphany, Twelfth Day, Greek or Orthodox Christmas, La Befana (Italy) and the 12th Day of Christmas.

And yes, however you celebrate today, its time to take the tree down because Christmas is officially over!

Photo credit: via flickr

New Years Day
The world’s most widely celebrated holiday, New Year’s Day marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar. New Year’s Day is a national holiday in the United States and most other countries.

Visit our New Year’s celebration : New Year on the Net

Happy New Year!

Holidays on the Net is delighted to invite you to countdown the days, hours and minutes with us until the start of the new year. We’ll bring the champagne if you bring the merry singing of Auld Lang Syne.

Did you know that not all cultures celebrate New Year’s on January 1st? Or that the original New Year’s was celebrated in March, not January? Come learn more about the history behind New Year’s celebrations and other fun New Year’s facts.

And while you are busy making out your list of New Year’s resolutions, take a few moments to learn about where this — and many other — New Year’s traditions began. If you are hosting a party this New Year’s Eve, you may also be interested in our article about traditional New Year’s food. We cover cuisine across the globe, including an American favorite: Black Eyed Peas.

Whatever your plans and wherever you will be, we look forward to toasting in a healthy, happy New Year together with our favorite readers!

*Cheers!*

Holidays on the Net

Christmas Eve
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even that louse…y brother-in-law.

Well that’s not quite how the story goes. And since it’s Christmas Eve – here are the real words to A Visit from Saint Nicholas by Clement Clark Moore.

A Visit from Saint Nicholas
Clement Clark Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winters nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

Join us as we celebrate Christmas

photo credit: via flickr

You can check out a new holiday video each day right here or check out our Advent Calendar each day.

link: Advent Calendar on the Net

Merry Christmas! Holidays on the Net is delighted to invite you to share in our festive, winter-time celebration of Christmas.

Start your yuletide preparations by reading our beautiful story of Christmas and the birth of the Christ child. Or you can kick-start your holiday spirit by reconnecting with the traditions of Christmas and Christmas Eve. Learn all about the Christmas tree, mistletoe, the poinsettia, Santa and his reindeer, Christmas cards, the Advent calendar, and more.

Do you know why Oregon is called the Christmas Tree state? Learn the answer to this and many other Christmas tidbits in our Did You Know? The Christmas Version. Also be sure to check out our extensive collection of Christmas crafts, coloring pages, and holiday recipes. And finally, take a moment to send a Christmas e-card — it’s the perfect way to share some holiday cheer with your far-away friends and family.

Christmas Eve will be celebrated Wednesday December 24. Christmas Day is Thursday December 25.

We look forward to seeing you this Christmas at Holidays on the Net.

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Holidays on the Net