Merry Christmas / The Legend of Frau Holle

In some Scandinavian traditions, Frau Holle is known as the feminine spirit of the woods and plants, and was honored as the sacred embodiment of the earth and land itself. She is associated with many of the evergreen plants that appear during the Yule season, especially mistletoe and holly, and is sometimes seen as an aspect of Frigga, wife of Odin. In this theme, she is associated with fertility and rebirth. Typically, she is seen as a goddess of hearth and home, although in different areas she has clearly different purposes.

Interestingly, Frau Holle is mentioned in the story of Goldmary and Pitchmary, as compiled by the Grimm brothers. In this context -- that of a Germanic Cinderella-type tale -- she appears as an old woman who rewards an industrious girl with gold, and offers the girl's lazy sister an equally appropriate compensation. Legends in some parts of Germany portray her as a toothless hag who appears in the winter, much like the Cailleach of Scotland.

In the Norse Eddas, she is described as Hlodyn, and she gives gifts to women at the time of the Winter Solstice, or Jul. She is sometimes associated with winter snowfall as well -- it is said that when Frau Holle shakes out her mattresses, white feathers fall to the earth. A feast is held in her honor each winter by many people in the Germanic countries.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas everyone!

-The Crafty Witch

25 Best Movies of the Holidays - 24-25 of 25

In the last week of the 25 Best Movies of the Holidays I present to you the two top voted movies which also happen to be my favorite movies of the holidays, I can watch and rewatch them without getting bored. I hope you enjoy and have a happy holidays!

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

 Length: 104 min           Year: 2000

 

Cast: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor

Movie Description

Big budget remake of the classic cartoon about a creature intent on stealing Christmas. Based on the book by the famous Dr. Seuss. Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville. In Whoville, live the Whos, an almost mutated sort of munchkinlike people. All the Whos love Christmas, yet just outside of their beloved Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a nasty creature that hates Christmas, and plots to steal it away from the Whos which he equally abhors. Yet a small child, Cindy Lou Who, decides to try befriend the Grinch.

 

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Christmas with the Kranks

Length: 99 mins.               Year: 2004

Cast: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd

Movie Description

With their daughter away, her parents decide to skip Christmas altogether until she decides to come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate the holidays at the last minute. Luther Krank is fed up with the commerciality of Christmas; he decides to skip the holiday and go on a vacation with his wife instead. But when his daughter decides at the last minute to come home, he must put together a holiday celebration.

 

 

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-The Crafty Witch

 

 

25 Best Movies of the Holidays - 21-23 Of 25

This weeks best movies of the holidays features Christmas movies that need you to "Believe" all three movies are about the protagonist that lost their way or lost the true meaning of Christmas and need to just believe in the sprit that is Christmas. Love all three of these movies, get the popcorn and tissues ready because they are tearjerkers!


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Polar Express

 Length: 100 mins               Year: 2004

Cast: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis

Movie Description

On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home.This is the story of a young hero boy on Christmas Eve who boards on a powerful magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home. What unfolds is an an adventure which follows a doubting boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole; during this ride, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery which shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

 

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Arthur Christmas

  Length: 97 mins.               Year: 2011

Cast: James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy

Movie Description

On Christmas night at the North Pole, Santa's youngest son looks to use his father's high-tech operation for an urgent mission. Arthur Christmas reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the center of the film is a story about a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.

 

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Rise of the Guardians

Length: 97 mins.               Year: 2012

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher

Movie Description

When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imaginations of children all over the world.





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-The Crafty Witch

Adorable Holiday Finds (part 3 of 3)

We are always rushing around for the holidays whether its to see family, partake in festive activities or to get that last minute shopping in. Oh did I even mention the decorations, and the supplies you need to make your home the biggest with "holiday cheer" - one thing on everyone's mind is "How much is this all going to cost me?" Well what if I told you that you could get adorable holiday finds for a fraction of the cost - what if you could get these holiday finds for $1! Im here to save you some money during the holiday, because lets be honest, we could all use the extra dough. All these holiday finds can be found at your local Dollar Tree for yeah you guessed it, $1.

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Christmas Scene Glittery Wooden Yard Signs, 24"

Show off your Christmas cheer and let neighbors know that reindeers will be passing through with festive, glittery wooden yard signs. Each sign measures 8½x24"H. Case includes 36 – 24" Christmas Scene Glittery Wooden Yard Signs and assorted among the 3 designs shown.

 



 
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Candy-Themed Glittery Wooden Christmas Sentiment Signs, 15"

Greet your guests with merry greetings on these wooden wall signs! With bright colors and glitter embellishments, these festive signs are ideal for decorating, gifts, centerpieces, and so much more. Each sign measures approximately 15x6"H. Case includes 36 – 15½" Candy-Themed Glittery Wooden Christmas Sentiment Signs with ribbon hangers assorted among the 4 styles shown.

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Felt Christmas Character Stockings with Pom-Pom Embellishments, 18"

This collection of lovely stockings is sure to have something for everyone. Decorated with different Christmas characters and symbols, these stockings also have the added touch of small pom-poms that dangle from the jagged cuff. A beautiful addition to any holiday décor. Case includes 24 – 18" Felt Christmas Stockings with Pom-Pom Embellishments assorted among the 5 styles shown.

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-The Crafty Witch

25 Best Movies of the Holidays - 17-20 Of 25

In this weeks installment of the 25 Best Movies of the Holidays I bring you "Christmas Comedies" - All the funny movies of the holidays that have a touching backstory but all are very comical throughout.

 

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Trading Places

 

Length: 116 mins.     Year: 1983

 

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche

Movie Description

A snobbish investor and a wily street con artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires. Louis Winthorpe is a businessman who works for commodities brokerage firm of Duke and Duke owned by the brothers Mortimer and Randolph Duke. Now they bicker over the most trivial of matters and what they are bickering about is whether it's a person's environment or heredity that determines how well they will do in life. When Winthorpe bumps into Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler and assumes he is trying to rob him, he has him arrested. Upon seeing how different the two men are, the brothers decide to make a wager as to what would happen if Winthorpe loses his job, his home and is shunned by everyone he knows and if Valentine was given Winthorpe's job. So they proceed to have Winthorpe arrested and to be placed in a compromising position in front of his girlfriend. So all he has to rely on is the hooker who was hired to ruin him.

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Christmas Vacation

Length: 97 mins.               Year: 1989

Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki 

Movie Description

 

The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster. It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.

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Elf

Length: 97 mins.               Year: 2003

Cast: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel

Movie Description

After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa's sack and ended up at the North Pole. Later, as an adult human who happened to be raised by elves, Santa allows him to go to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs. Hobbs, on Santa's naughty list for being a heartless jerk, had no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy, meanwhile, experiences the delights of New York City (and human culture) as only an elf can. When Walter's relationship with Buddy interferes with his job, he is forced to reevaluate his priorities.

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Fred Claus

Length: 116 mins.               Year: 2007

Cast: Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin, Elizabeth Mitchell 

Movie Description

 

Fred Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole. During childhood, Fred Claus suffered his younger brother Nick's saintliness. Jump ahead: Fred is a fast-talking, genial but self-centered guy in Chicago looking for $50,000 to open an off-track-betting shop. When one scam goes awry, he calls Nick at the North Pole for a loan: Nick will give him the money only if Fred comes up to help a few days with the Christmas rush. After his girlfriend dumps him, Fred heads north. Santa's facing an audit from an efficiency expert, and it's not pleasant. Fred's job is to review charts and determine who's naughty and who's nice. Is there any fraternal feeling left, can either learn from the other, and what about Santa getting fired?

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- The Crafty Witch

 

 

 

Adorable Holiday Finds (part 2 of 3)

We are always rushing around for the holidays whether its to see family, partake in festive activities or to get that last minute shopping in. Oh did I even mention the decorations, and the supplies you need to make your home the biggest with "holiday cheer" - one thing on everyone's mind is "How much is this all going to cost me?" Well what if I told you that you could get adorable holiday finds for a fraction of the cost - what if you could get these holiday finds for $1! Im here to save you some money during the holiday, because lets be honest, we could all use the extra dough. All these holiday finds can be found at your local Dollar Tree for yeah you guessed it, $1.

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Christmas Plush Candy Jars

A cute way to deliver sweet treats! Soft felt Santas, reindeer and snowmen top these little plastic jars perfect for jelly beans, candied nuts or other treats! Standing 7" tall, these are excellent stocking stuffers, party favors or at party place settings. Also great for resale in gift shops and toy stores. Case includes 36 Christmas plush and plastic candy jars assorted among snowman, reindeer and Santa styles.



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Christmas House Tinsel Snowman & Santa Wall Decor, 12"


Merry little snowmen and Santas add a jolly sparkle to all your holiday décor! Metal frames are covered in colorful tinsel for simple decorations that make a big statement — a cheery greeting for your front door, walls, office doors, or store entrances. Also great for resale in holiday and gift shops. Case includes 48 Christmas House® 12" tinsel wall decorations assorted between snowmen and Santas.

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Felt Elf Hats with Ears, 13¾"


Play the part of Santa's helper with these fun felt elf hats with ears! Great for putting a smile on the faces of others, these felt hats come in green with a red bottom stripe and star, and red with a green bottom stripe and star, and all have 2 elf ears attached to the sides. A nice departure from the traditional Santa hats. These are fun for holiday parties, Christmas plays, and anyone trying to spread a little Christmas cheer. Case includes 24 – 13½" felt elf hats with ears assorted evenly among the 2 styles shown.

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-The Crafty Witch

25 Best Movies of the Holidays - 14-16 Of 25

In this weeks installment of the 25 Best Movies of the Holidays I bring you I holiday classic (well at least it is in my household) The Santa Clause trilogy featuring the always funny Tim Allen. This weeks category is, as you guessed it Tim Allen!

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The Santa Clause

Length: 97 mins.     Year: 1994

Cast: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd

Movie Description

When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. Divorcee Scott Calvin is disgusted to learn that his ex and her husband have tried - and failed - to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn't real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas... then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When he's startled by Scott's calling out and falls, the Santa impersonator disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he's involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he's taken to the North Pole and informed by a group who claim they're elves that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad's new job, though Scott's convinced it's a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food... Now he's accepted it, there's just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family?

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The Santa Clause 2

Length: 104 mins.               Year: 2002

Cast: Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin, Elizabeth Mitchell 

Movie Description

Scott Calvin has been a humble Santa Claus for nearly ten years, but it might come to an end if he doesn't find a Mrs. Claus. Scott Calvin has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best Santa ever. But Santa's got problems (he's even mysteriously losing weight) and things quickly go south when he finds out that his son, Charlie, has landed on this year's "naughty" list. Desperate to help his son, Scott heads back home, leaving a substitute Claus to watch over things at the Pole. But when the substitute institutes some strange redefinition of naughty and nice, putting Christmas at risk, it's up to Scott to return with a new bag of magic to try to save Christmas.

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The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Rating: NR           Length: 83 mins.               Year: 2006

Cast: Tim Allen, Martin Short, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd

Movie Description

Now that Santa/Scott Calvin and Mrs. Claus/Carol Calvin have the North Pole running smoothly, the Counsel of Legendary Figures has called an emergency meeting on Christmas Eve! The evil Jack Frost has been making trouble, looking to take over the holiday! So he launches a plan to sabotage the toy factory and compel Scott to invoke the little-known Escape Clause and wish he'd never become Santa! The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is a 2006 American fantasy comedy film directed by Michael Lembeck. It is the third and final installment in The Santa Clause trilogy

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-The Crafty Witch

25 Best Movies of the Holidays - 11-13 Of 25

This weeks best movies of the holidays features Kids Classics, all movies that we grew up on (maybe even your parents) and have come to know and love. I present you with movies 11 - 13. Enjoy!

 A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rating: NA           Length: NA mins.               Year: 1965

Cast: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus van Pelt, Lucy van Pelt, Schroeder, Sally Brown, Pig-Pen, Patty, Violet Gray, Frieda, Shermy

Movie Description

A Charlie Brown Christmas is the first prime-time animated TV special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz.

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rating: NA          Length: 85 mins.               Year: 1964

Cast: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hermey the Misfit Elf, Sam the Snowman

Movie Description

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass.

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The Muppet Christmas Carol 

Rating: NA          Length: 85 mins.               Year: 1992

Cast: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson

Movie Description

The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve.

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-The Crafty Witch