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Everything's pointing to a
great season, but it just
wouldn't be Christmas if we
didn't get the chance to
express our gratitude
to all of our patrons and
friends. Merry Christmas
and sincere
thanks from all of us.
Blyth General Store
Blyth 519-523-9785
Season's greetings
from
McNEIL'S AUTO BODY
and STAFF
Thank you for your ongoing patronage.
Merry Christmas & have a safe New Year
Brussels 519-887-6833
1111
Howson &
Howson Ltd.
With glad tidings to all our clients and friends at this
joyous time of year. We truly value your business and
wish everyone all the best in the coming year.
Best Wishes from: Doug, Corrie, Michelle, Todd,
Marlene & Susan
holdice
INSURANCE LTD.
HURON INSURANCE
MANAGERS GROUP
holdice
FINANCIAL
SERVICES
May your faith be renewed and your spirits lifted as we
celebrate the birth of our Saviour. With best wishes to you
and yours for a truly memorable holiday season.
Blyth
Elevators 519-523-9624 Flour Mill 519-523-4241
PAGE B16 THE CITIZEN THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2006.
Poinsettia history dates back to 1300s
The holidays wouldn't be
complete without it — the classic
green-and-red poinsettia.
The plant has become such an icon
of North American holiday
celebrations — rivaled only by the
Christmas tree — that many people
are surprised to learn that the plant
actually, originated in ancient
Mexico.
As early as the 1300s, the Aztecs
cultivated the poinsettia, using the
deep scarlet leaves to make dye and
to represent blood sacrifices in
traditional rituals. They also used the
plant for its medicinal qualities, as it
Holidays are usually steeped in
traditions that are passed on
throughout the generations.
Chanukah is the oldest of the
December holidays when compared
to Christmas and Kwanzaa, and
therefore is very rich in history.
While you may hear about The
Festival if Lights, menorahs,
dreidels and more in association
with this holidays, perhaps, you
weren't aware of why cheese plays
an integral role.
Here's the story, based on the
history of Judith in religious
readings:
Judith lived in the Jewish town of
Bethulia, which was attacked by the
Syrians. One evening, Judith visited
the general of the Syrian army and
fed him a dinner with a lot of cheese
in it. This -made the general very
thirsty, so he drank a good quantity
of wine. In turn, he became quite
inebriated and sleepy. While he was
held in the clutches of slumber,
Judith cut off -his head. When they
found their murdered general the
next morning, the frightened Syrian
soldiers ran away. In this way, Judith
saved her town from further attack
by the Syrians. Today, Jews eat
cheese during Chanukah to
remember the story of Judith.
To incorporate cheese into your
Make merry
with
mojitos
(MS) — With the holidays and
New Year's Eve approaching, it's a
good idea to add some new drink
recipes to your catalog for the
purposes of entertaining. One drink
that has become quite popular as of
late'is the mojito.
A mojito is a blend of lime and
mint flavors in a refreshing
beverage. While it is traditionally
thought of as a warm-weather drink,
the hints of green from the mint and
lime make it a festive drink for this
time of year as well.
Whip up a batch of mojitos at
your next gathering, courtesy of
Bacardi®.
BACARDI MOJITO
1.5 oz BACARDI Rum
12 fresh spearmint leaves
1/2 lime
7 oz club soda
2 tbsp. simple syrup (or 4 tsp.
sugar)
Gently crush mint leaves and
lightly squeeze lime in a cool tall
glass. Pour sweet syrup to cover and
fill glass with ice. Add rum, club
soda, and stir your emerging mojito
well. Garnish with a lime wedge and
a few sprigs of mint.
was believed to stimulate
circulation, heal skin infections and
cure fevers.
Later, in the 17th century,
Franciscan priests noticed that the
poinsettia's flowers bloomed close
to Christmastime and began using
the flowers to decorate churches
during the "Fiesta of Santo Pesebre"
or Holy Manger procession. The
church also adopted the Aztec's
ritual use of the plant and began
using the poinsettia — or
Nochebuenas, as it is called in
Spanish — to symbolize the death of
Christ.
Chanukah celebration, try your hand
at this easy recipe, courtesy of A
Hanukkah Holiday Cookbook
(Power Kids Press), by Emily
Raabe.
BAKED CHEESE STICKS
Serves 4
8 ounces firm cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
Turn on the broiler of the oven.
Cut cheese into strips the same size
as frozen fish sticks. Crack the eggs
Joel Robert Poinsett, a botanist
and the first U.S. ambassador to
Mexico, saw the plant while visiting
Mexico in 1825. He sent several to
his home state of South Carolina and
later supplied them to a local
nursery. Today, almost two centuries
later, the poinsettia is widely
cultivated in North America and the
colourful plant has become a
mainstay of our Christmas holiday
decor.
Choosing and Caring for
Poinsettias
.Selecting a poinsettia: Look for
sturdy, shapely plants with an
over a large plate and beat well.
Spread bread crumbs on another
plate. Dip cheese sticks into the egg
mixture, one at a time. Then dip
them into the bread crumbs. Shake
off extra crumbs.
Place breaded cheese sticks onto a
lightly oiled baking sheet. Place
baking sheet onto broiler rack.
(Watch closely, because cheese
sticks can burn quickly.) Remove
pan once to turn sticks over. Remove
when crumbs turn nicely brown.
abundance of dark, rich green
foliage all the way down the stem.
Avoid plants with disease or insect
damage.
Light: Set your poinsettia in a
bright location so that it receives at
least six hours of bright, indirect
sunlight each day (direct sunlight
may fade the colour).
Water and Fertilizer: Poinsettias
require moderately moist soil. Water
them thoroughly when the soil feels
dry to the touch (never let the potting
mixture dry completely). Do not
fertilizer a poinsettia when it is in
bloom.
Toxicity: Poinsettias are not
poisonous. However, like all
ornamental plants, they are not
intended for human or pet
consumption.
Mexico is a country infused with
tradition and history. To learn more
about vacations that offer travellers
the chance to learn about Mexico's
ancient civilizations and colonial
legacy, call 1-800-44MEXICO or go
to www.visitmexico.com
Explore the traditions
of Chanukah celebrations