Christmas is recognized as a federal holiday in the United States. However, the term "national" holiday is often used mistakenly. The notion that Christmas is a national holiday in America may have resulted from the increasing popularity of some 19th-century customs such as sending Christmas cards, decorating Christmas trees, and teaching children about Santa Claus.

Americans were already known for celebrating Christmas even before the holiday was declared as both a legal and religious one. Because of its multicultural nature, there are many common Christmas customs in the United States. Many of these traditions may sound familiar to you since they resemble those found in other countries.

Most houses are adorned with colorful lights and Christmas figures, like Santa Claus, reindeer, and Christmas trees. At night, streets and neighborhoods light up magically. There are even holiday lights contests in countless locations!

Many business establishments offer special holiday sales starting in early November and extending through the end of the year. If you are looking to score some sweet deals, this is the best time to shop ‘till you drop.

This is also the perfect time to rest from work and get together with your family and friends. Visit some famous Christmas attractions like the stunning Rockefeller Center ice rink facing a magnificent and enormous Christmas tree and the life-size gingerbread house in San Francisco.

The holiday season is a special and enchanting time that often seems straight out of a movie. You can feel the festive season in the air no matter where you are and what you plan to do this holiday. Enjoy!

Learning to do yoga can be intimidating, especially considering the poses that seem to defy gravity and the wide variety of class options. However, you don't need fancy equipment or the flexibility of a gymnast to practice yoga. As long as you get the basics, you can start your yoga journey to fitness.

Yoga is a practice that combines physical and spiritual aspects and originates from Indian philosophy. It has been around for thousands of years and offers a wide range of forms, from gentle, contemplative practices to more challenging physical workouts. Mind-body exercises usually involve performing a series of physical poses while practicing deep breathing techniques.

To get started on yoga, you need to familiarize yourself with some basic poses, which are the building blocks of the practice. It is good to learn these as you build your yoga practice regularly. As you move through each pose, remember to breathe slowly and steadily. If a posture is challenging, take a break after completing it, especially if you're out of breath, and resume the pose once your breathing has returned to normal. The objective is to hold each pose for a few steady breaths before moving on to the next one.

The great thing about yoga is that it's accessible to everyone, regardless of age, weight, or fitness level. It's a powerful tool for calming the mind and strengthening the body. Don't be intimidated by yoga jargon, fancy studios, or difficult poses - anyone can practice yoga and reap its rewards.

Don't get discouraged if your first class does not go as planned. It may take a few classes to find a teacher who inspires and encourages you to practice regularly. Once you have chosen the right class structure and instructor, you will begin to feel more in control of your life.

Have you exhausted all your gift ideas for your loved ones? Then, you are probably looking for a place where you can get some out-of-the-box gift recommendations. Consider going for homemade gifts!

Handmade gifts have a personal touch. There is excitement in making it, and it is an excellent means to showcase your creativity and sincerity. Here are some homemade gift resources to get your project started:

1. The Spruce Crafts

This craft and hobby website is where you can find handmade projects perfect for all occasions. They include step-by-step instructions, in-depth explanations, and photos, making it easy for beginners. Search The Spruce Crafts’ vast library for gifting ideas.

2. Good Housekeeping

Good Housekeeping is a magazine brand that has been around for over a century. They have a wide variety of articles covering an array of topics. You can find one with 100 handmade gift ideas that are on a budget.

3. YouTube

If you are more of a visual learner, YouTube is the place for you. There are tutorials on how to make paper crafts, soap-making, woodworking, glass jar projects, and a lot more.

4. Local Library

Head to your local library and browse the shelves for a book about handmade projects from baking cookies to crocheting.

5. Observation

You will learn a lot about what your loved ones would like as a gift after observing them for a while. What are their hobbies? What do they do during their free time?

At the end of the day, it’s the thought and effort that counts. So, enjoy deciding on a homemade gift, the process, and the smiles you’ll see when they receive it.

It's that time of year again - the holiday season! While indulging in delicious holiday food can be enjoyable, it can also be difficult to maintain healthy habits. Although it can be challenging, it is possible to avoid going overboard. The key is to find a balance between enjoying yourself on special occasions and staying on track with your healthy lifestyle goals.

Keeping Healthy During The Holidays

The food that makes it to your plate is more likely to be consumed. Using a smaller plate will make the quantity of food on your plate appear greater and stop you from adding more to your plate than you actually want.

Choose to fill your plate with vegetables, fruits, green salads, and lean meats before anything else. If you come across a calorie-dense side dish that catches your eye, try a small portion first. If you still feel hungry later, you can always go back for more.

After finishing your small plate of nutritious food, wait for 10 minutes. This gives your brain enough time to signal your stomach if it's full. After that, our hunger is often fulfilled.

Overeating nutritious meals is a trap that is simple to fall into. You might believe that since the meal is healthy, you can consume more of it. But pay attention to serving portions. It can be just as harmful to consume unhealthy food as it is to consume too much of something nice.

When at a party, it's best to avoid chatting with other guests near the food. Instead, take a leisurely walk around or engage in fun activities such as playing board games or football in the backyard. By shifting the focus away from food, you can enjoy the company of others without feeling pressured to eat excessively.

Above all, keep in mind that the holiday is all about enjoying and spending time with the people you cherish. It's simpler to pay less attention to the food when you concentrate more on the fun.

Have you asked yourself what things you are thankful to have today? It might seem like an unimportant question you don’t have time to ponder in this fast-paced world. However, reflecting on what we have right now and feeling fortunate can change our lives for the better.

The impact of thankfulness is far-reaching, from improving our relationships with others to enhancing our mental health. It is gratitude that helps us appreciate the small victories in life, such as when the bus arrives on time, when we reach home before the heavy downpour, or when our favorite snack is back in stock. Each of these little things contributes to a pile of happiness that gradually enhances our ability to perceive good.

How To Practice Gratitude

The feeling of gratitude can manifest as a feeling, emotion, attitude, or behavior. But how can we feel grateful?

Keep a gratitude journal. Write all the blessings, grace, and positive aspects you experience every day. Reflect on moments of gratitude connected to commonplace happenings, your unique qualities, or important persons in your life.

Use gratitude to calm a temper. Focusing on the positive aspects of life is one of the easiest ways to diffuse a stormy mood's energy. Before you lash out at someone, stop and list five things for which you are currently thankful.

Look at the bright side. Even the most challenging obstacles in life have some good sides; you simply need to look for them. A mistake usually offers you a valuable lesson.

Spread gratitude. Showing gratitude could strengthen interpersonal connections. So, be sure to express your appreciation to your partner, friend, or family member the next time they accomplish something you value.

Remember, practicing gratitude differs from engaging in toxic positivity. The aim is to focus on the positive aspects while acknowledging unpleasant feelings and thoughts. The idea is to remind oneself that positive things can still happen even when faced with pressure and adversity.

Holiday shopping can be exhausting and stressful, especially when you're trying to stick to a budget and find thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. But holiday shopping doesn’t always have to be like this.

Shop Smart This Holiday Season

With some smart shopping advice, you can make this year's experience stress-free, affordable, and even enjoyable. Regardless of whether you love or hate holiday shopping, these will help you make the most of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holidays to come.

Set a budget

It's an effective strategy to have a fixed Christmas shopping budget to work with, even though you don't want to restrict your holiday spending. Remember to factor in the price of Secret Santa or group exchange gifts; you aren't required to spend the full amount.

Prepare a shopping list

Before you go shopping or exploring the web, be certain of who you need to buy gifts for. It won't just save you time; it'll also keep you and your bank account sane. Sort the people on your holiday shopping list into groups like close friends, family members, coworkers, acquaintances, and teachers.

Try reward stacking

Combine various rewards programs to receive maximum discounts, points, and cash back. For instance, you can make a purchase using a credit card that provides cash-back rewards and then use a browser extension to accumulate further rewards.

Avoid last-minute shopping

If you wait until the last minute to begin shopping, you will risk having to pay for expedited shipping and may be forced to purchase extremely expensive items simply to have a gift to give.

Make your own gifts

Crafting personalized presents could not only help you save money throughout the holidays, but the person who receives them will also feel much more connected to you. You’ll still have to buy the materials you need so apply all the previous tips!

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll surely have a great shopping experience. Just remember to stay focused, do your research, and have patience.