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Just in case you have arrived at this page after we have changed the theme again then the Christmas Theme looks like the below image.

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Holidays like Christmas usually produce the biggest bulk of garbage, especially after the celebration. In fact, solid waste disposal agencies have always been having a hard time cleaning up after the holidays.

Aside from the usual garbage output produced daily, a bigger chunk of waste is added to what is normally collected from industries, streets and households.

There are some things we could actually do to help keep the volume of post-holiday waste at a tolerable level. We play crucial roles in contributing and promotion of what could best be branded as “Green Christmas”.

Using less or no paper at all

Demand for greeting and invitation cards, boxes and wrapping papers peak during holidays. Instead of Christmas cards, we could consider simple letters containing sincere thoughts in time for the holiday season.

Instead of throwing old paper and cardboard stocks (which will in fact just add up to the tons of garbage), we can actually still make use of them. Or better yet, do away with them. Have you heard of the internet and electronic mailing system (e-mail)?

Sending letters instead of greeting cards brings out the best in us — so as what we actually feel. Recipients are bound to see more sincerity in personalized messages instead of those quotations printed on mass produced folded cardboards. There is however another option. Consider E-Cards via online greetings. An email will also be fine. Aside from the assurance of it promptly reaching its destination, it is also free.

We could also make use of old invitation cards. All we have to do is cut off the back portion of the card and jot down the important information on the back portion what is left of the card. In the absence of old invitation cards, brown paper pouch is a good alternative. Aside from being cost-friendly, it also makes it distinct. Inviting people using electronic mailing system is also a viable alternative.

Of Boxes and Gift Wrappers

Cardboard boxes are also in demand during the holiday season. It is used in tightly or properly securing a gift. We need not buy boxes for our gifts. We could use old boxes or better yet make boxes ourselves from old cardboards stored at home. Making boxes isn’t really that hard.

More importantly are wrapping papers. We can make use of old wrappers from the gifts we received in the past.

Green Presents

Going green during the holiday season however does not stop with using less or no paper at all in sending seasons greetings, invitations, wrapping up presents, among others.

We could actually go green from the greetings, invitations, boxes and gift wrappers down to the gift itself. There is actually a long list of green gift suggestions that makes the entire gift package pro-environment.

Giving a green present will not only make you stand out, it would also promote environmental awareness among people who’d come to see what you have for a gift. Recycled papers, soy-based ink, novelty items derived from the waste, trees among others beef up a long list of the suggested green gifts.

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The scene of elbows literally bruising on somebody else’s arms would probably be how a typical last minute shopping would be seen via closed-circuit security cameras.

Awful and Annoying

Imagine spending hours shopping for presents for special people or buying stuffs for a special menu on the family’s dining table.

Agony starts with a journey along the snow-filled roads leading to the downtown. As the downtown approaches, heavy traffic would keep you snail-paced, at least for an hour as more families (perhaps, just like the one you have), fill the streets for a “buzzer beating last minute shopping”.

Upon reaching the shopping mall or arcade, where you intend to get the best buys on your shopping list, comes another burden — parking space. What’s even more disappointing and annoying is the idea of having to go somewhere else as those in your shopping list are no longer available there.

Assuming shopping is consummated, comes the burden of the heavy and bulky shopping bags. Again, the traffic, notwithstanding the ire and hunger, would hound your way home — that is if you’ve got your own car. What if you’d take the cab? How long will it take you to get one, considering that it’s a shopping rush?

Today, most of us would opt for the wonders of the modern technology insofar as Christmas shopping is concerned.

Modern-day Alternative

Gone are these days as modern day technologies have already put in place provisions to comfort of the shopping population. The old thought of hopping from one shop to another for bargain hunting should be out of our checklist, so as the agony of heavy traffic at the snow-filled downtown roads leading to malls and bargain centers, much less sweat (or freeze to death) it out while trying to squeezing into a crowd of fellow last minute shoppers.

There is also no more need to bring home the huge, bulky and heavy shopping bags.

Internet Shopping

Internet shopping is the fine art (or should it be more appropriate to be considered as science) of shopping sans the burdens of holiday rush. One can actually do all the shopping right inside the comfort of our home, via online shopping.

Online or Internet shopping has made life a lot easier for most of us as most of shopping transactions (notwithstanding the holiday season) may now be consummated with just a click of the mouse. Browsing through various websites offering the best buys, discounts and promos, moms and dads have may now enjoy the luxury of dating as they save time, effort and even the limited family resources through the Internet shopping experience.

Most of the shops posted on the Internet offer free deliveries. There are some other probabilities like shopper picking it up on his way to office or before one goes home after a busy day in office

Now what would you opt? The agony of doing the actual shopping with your family or the comfort of doing the shopping via the Internet, where you’d still be able to get the best buys on your budget cap and many more.

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Don’t fancy wearing a full fancy dress outfit or don’t have the time to put one together here are a few accessories that will give you a Halloween edge without to much effort!

Be a bit naughty and wear some devil horns. Not over the top but puts you in the Halloween spirit. You could even add a horny tail!

Cat ears are a purrfect accessory, a simple addition to a black outfit. Even better if you add whiskers and a tail. 

Do a Bridget Jones and dress up like a bunny! Get some ears, a bunny tail, cuffs and collar wear a pink, white or black outfit. Simple!

A bobbed black wig, a white shirt and a pair of black leggings an instant Uma Thurman from Pulp Fiction.

Go a little angelic and wear a Halo. Wings will make this outfit more authentic!

A Witches hat. Team it with a witches nose and broomstick and your an instant Halloween classic!

Not quite batman but go as a bat,wear a bat mask or even dress as bat girl!!

                                     HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

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The origin of trick or treating dates back to the middle ages. The tradition of going form door to door for food (treats) already existed in the form of souling. Souling is where children and poor people would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for food on November 1st (Hallowmas). This was manly concentrated in Britain and Ireland although similar practices of praying for the dead spread as far south as Italy. There was also guising which is similar  because of the disguises or costumes worn by the children.  Although traditions of seasonal guising stretches back to the Middle Ages, they became an exclusively Halloween practice only in the twentieth century. although this was slightly different to trick or treating as the children only received a treat if they performed. They often sang, danced, recited poems/ rhymes, played card tricks or instruments.  However, guising is not so common today being replaced with the more American tradition of trick or treating. 

The tradition of wearing costumes and masks at Halloween dates back to Celtic traditions. In those days they were attempting to resemble or placate the evil spirits. However, there is no evidence of souling in North America where trick or treating is most popular. It is believed that is developed independently of any Irish or British antecedents as the first recorded reference to trick or treating in English speaking North America is 1911 and the British and Irish immigration peaked in America between the 1770’s and 1880.

Before the 1980s, the North American phrase "trick-or-treat" was not common or well known  in the UK and when introduced was often regarded as an unusual and even an unwelcome import, because "trick or treat" isn’t a tradition, with Halloween an authentically ancient festival, about the links between life and death, the struggle between light and dark.

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Christopher Golden is an American author of horror, fantasy, and suspense novels

Terry Pratchett is an English novelist and is best known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre

J.R.R. Tolkien was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote popular science fiction and fantasy stories involving Earthly adventurers transported to various planets although he produced works in many genres

Jules Verne was a French author who helped pioneer the science-fiction genre

Anne McCaffrey is a science fiction author, McCaffrey’s most famous works are the Dragon riders of Pern series

H.G. Wells was an English author, best known for his work in the science fiction genre

Eric Flint majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures

David Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author

Bram Stoker was an Irish novelist, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula

James Herbert is a best-selling English horror writer

Richard Laymon an American Horror writer his works include more than sixty short stories and more than thirty novels

Dean Koontz is an American author who regularly incorporates elements of horror, science fiction, mystery, and satire

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic

Anne Rice is a best-selling American author of gothic and religious-themed books best known for her vampire chronicles including interview with a vampire

William Hope Hodgson was an English author his works spanned several overlapping genres including horror, fantastic fiction and science fiction

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Chillingham Castle is in Northumberland it is easy to imagine ghostly apparitions in this scenic and sparsely populated area of England. And as it on the border between Scotland and England this Castle has seen a fair share of war and bloodshed.  The castles most famous ghost is called ‘The Grey Lady’ this is believed to originate from the fact that the castle has been home to the Grey family and relations for nearly half a millennia. Mary Berkeley was the Lady Grey and wife of an early Lord Grey. She is said to mourn her husband who scandalized society by seducing her younger sister and running away with her in the late 1600s. Visitors have had encounters with The Grey Lady for years. She haunts the entire castle, but her presence is more pronounced in the room where her portrait hangs, rumour has it that she ‘exits’ the portrait in search of her missing husband. Another famous ghost who appears in Chillingham is the ‘Blue Boy’ . This ghost is often seen as a blue light or glow and strange screams and cries are heard. There is a chilling aspect to this tale. In the early 1900’s renovations were being done on the wall where many of the Blue Boy’s visits were witnessed. One day, when workers tore out part of the wall, a boys skeleton and remnants of blue cloth were found walled up inside. To this day, nobody has been able to shed light on who the boy was. The ghost in the pantry, often called the ‘White Ghost‘, is said to be a pale drawn woman who once asked a guard for water then simply vanished. There have been other sightings of this sad figure over the years. The chamber ghost is a dark presence in what once was a bedroom. The stories say a chef once resided in the room, committed suicide. People don’t often stay in the chamber for long.

Haunted House: Borwick Hall

Borwick Hall in Lancashire has a rich and colourful history, in 1066 the Manor of Borwick was part of Earl  Tostig’s lordship and was recorded in the Domesday Book, 1086 as Bereunic, being one of seven manors grouped round Beetham held by Count Roger of Poitou. At one time the plough lands were recorded as being held by the Countess of Pembroke, but the immediate owners were the de Berwick family.The Ghost of Borwick, there are suggestions that the Ghost of Borwick, The White Lady, could be Elizabeth Whittington, one of the infant daughters of the last Thomas Whittington. Margaret Whittington took a husband from her mother’s family of Redmayne and her life and death are recorded. No such records have been found for Elizabeth and a young death in sinister circumstances is suspected.

Haunted Library: Blackheath library

Blackheath Library, St. John’s Park, London. The library in this former vicarage is inhabited by the ghost of Elsie Marshall (1869–1895), who grew up in the house. Lights come on when the building is empty, and an unseen presence brushes past people at the door.

Haunted Hall: Felbrigg Hall

Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk. William Windham III, an 18th-century scholar and close friend of lexicographer Samuel Johnson, haunts the library at this old estate. David Muffon was in charge of putting the estate in order after it was acquired by the National Trust. In November 1972, he was working at a desk in the library when he noticed a “gentleman sitting in the armchair by the fireplace reading books. It was so natural I thought nothing about it. After about 15 seconds he put the book down beside him on the table and faded away.” Muffon asked the old family butler if the house had any ghosts and was told, “Oh yes, there’s the ghost of William Windham who sits on the armchair on the far side of the fireplace.” For many years the butler had set out books, specifically those given to Windham by Samuel Johnson, on the table for the ghost to read. “Rather more interesting,” Muffon revealed, “the next year we actually found in a trunk in the attic clothing very similar to the clothing I saw the ghost wearing from the 1780 period.”

Haunted Village: Pluckley

Pluckley is known to be the most haunted village in England where it is suggested they have 13 ghosts these ghosts are; The spectre of the highwayman Robert Du Bois speared to a tree at Fright Corner (Even though the tree is now gone). A phantom coach and horses, allegedly manifesting in the vicinity of Maltman’s Hill. The ghost of a Gypsy woman who burned to death in her sleep. The black ghost of a miller haunting the ruins of a windmill near "The Pinnocks". The hanging body of a schoolmaster in Dicky Buss’s Lane. A colonel who hanged himself in Park Wood. The screaming ghost of a man being smothered by a wall of clay at the brickworks. The Lady of Rose Court, who is said to have eaten poisoned berries in despair over a love triangle. The Phantom Monk of "Greystones", a house built in 1863. There is a suggestion he may have been the unrequited love object of the Lady of Rose Court. The White Lady of Dering, a young woman apparently buried inside 7 coffins and an oak sarcophagus who haunts the chuchyard of St. Nicholas’s Church. The Red Lady, reputedly an earlier member of the same ancient Dering family who also haunts St Nicholas’. A third ghost has apparently also been reported in the same place. The Screaming Woods, an area of forest outside of town supposedly haunted by the ghosts of many who became lost in the woods. It was given its name because you can supposedly still hear their screams from inside the forest at night.

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Famous People born on Halloween:

*Interesting fact, those born on Halloween are said to have powers of divination

Peter Robert Jackson was born 31 October 1961 and is a New Zealand filmmaker, producer and screenwriter, best known for the Lord of The Rings trilogy adapted from Tolkien’s novel. He is also known for his 2005 remake of King Kong and also the producer of the critically acclaimed film District 9.

Vanilla Ice, better known as Robert Matthew Van Winkle and born October 31, 1967, is an American rapper. Born in Texas Van Winkle released his debut album, Hooked, in 1989 before signing a contract with SBK Records, which released a reformatted version of the album under the title To the Extreme. Van Winkle’s single "Ice Ice Baby" was the first hip hop single to top the Billboard Charts and has been credited with helping to diversify hip hop by introducing it to a mainstream white audience.

John Keats (31 October 1795-23 February 1821) was an English poet who became one of the key figures of the Romantic movement.  Keats was one of the second generation Romantic poets along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

John Candy (October 31, 1950-March 4, 1994) was a well-loved American comedy actor who was on the groundbreaking show SCTV with Martin Short, and went on to star in many great 80’s and 90’s comedies including Spaceballs, Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, Home Alone and many others.

Helmut Newton (Born Helmut Neustädter (31 October 1920, Berlin – 23 January 2004, California) was a controversial German-Australian fashion photographer noted for his nude studies of women. He died at the age of 83 on 23 January 2004 in Los Angeles in a car accident.

Famous people who died on Halloween:

River Phoenix (23rd August 1970-31st October 1993) was an incredible talent who was critically acclaimed for his work in Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast, and My Own Private Idaho. His alleged cause of death was a drug overdose.

Frederico Fellini  (20th January 1920-31st October 1993) was a famous and ground-breaking Italian film director, most widely known for his work on the classic movie La Dolce Vita. He died of a stroke.

Harry Houdini (24th March 1874-31st October 1926) was a Hungarian-American magician and escapologist, actor and stunt performer. He died at 52 from peritonitis caused by a burst appendix.

Famous People who married on Halloween:

Rob Zombie married Sheri Moon in 2002. With names like Moon and Zombie could they have been married on any other day??

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