Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.

We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38  How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person.  Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …

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White Christmas May Be Seen in the Region

A weak storm front expected to bring up to two inches of snow starting Monday night.

Cross your fingers. As of Sunday, weather projections indicate a storm front entering the region that could give us—gasp—a white Christmas. According to the National Weather Service, there is a 20 percent chance of snow on Tuesday, with a temperature ultimately reaching 38 degrees. Stephen Pellettiere, with Ion Weather based at the Morristown Municipal Airport, said current projections appear to have the small storm begin producing at about 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, tapering off at the latest 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. "A little storm is passing to our south," he said. "There's a tenth of an inch of moisture, which translates to about an inch of snow." Some areas, including southern Morris County, could see as much as two inches of the white …

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Top Kid Toy Picks for 2012 Holiday Season: Gift Guide

A look at the hot toys for tots this holiday season.

Every holiday season, the mailbox fills with the latest toy catalogs. Children peruse the pages as they scribble their lists, daydreaming about what they will find under the tree come Christmas morning. Parents pull out their pocketbooks, spending hard-earned cash as they anticipate the joy on those little faces. What will be the runaway favorites this year is always a guess, but here are some of the latest trends, mixed with tried-and-true perennial favorites.  jChews Smartphone teether by Jellystone No tears for parents or babies. Babies love nothing more than to gum Mom and Dad’s cell phone, but now they’ll be too intrigued with their own smartphone to chew on. The Jellystone smartphone teether comes in seven funky colors and is BPA …

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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Warm wishes for peace and happiness.

'Twas the night before Christmas … Throughout town, children are trimming trees, gifts are being wrapped, final gifts purchased, cookies baked, and families coming together to share in the warmth of the season. It has been a joy to be here in Millburn and to share in the many activities you have long been a part of. On this Christmas Eve, from Millburn Patch, best wishes for peace and happiness in the new year.

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Mixing Holiday Traditions — Old and New

My family celebrates both Christmas and Chanukah with some fun family traditions.

  Family traditions. We all have them for a variety of occasions. At this time of year, of course, the traditions are everywhere. Some are religiously-based, some community-based, and then there are other family traditions that are simply that – family traditions. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s, I didn’t know too many other families that celebrated both Chanukah and Christmas the way my family did. Most of my friends were definitively Christian (and therefore their traditions revolved around Christmas) or definitely Jewish (and therefore their traditions revolved around Chanukah). It felt odd back then to admit to my friends that my family celebrated both holidays. “Ooh, you’re so lucky” was the response I typically got. I didn’t…

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Holiday Season 2010

St. Rose Church Celebrates Epiphany

The church holds a celebration honoring the arrival of the three wisemen.

Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, isn't until Thursday, but St. Rose of Lima Church celebrated the day early on Sunday. The church hosted a family event that included music, scripture, dance and pageantry. It also included a live nativity pageant, which included animals like a camel. The Mascarina family portrayed the Holy Family (baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph), and over 350 people attended the event. Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the three wisemen in the Christmas nativity.

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Holiday Season 2010

The Nativity Lives at Wyoming Church

It was among the churches that celebrated Christmas Eve with a family-oriented service.

Most churches around Millburn-Short Hills had family-oriented services for Christmas Eve with pageants and music. At Wyoming Church, they also had a living nativity scene to celebrate the holiday. Church services continue on Saturday for Christmas (and through the weekend). Check our listing of services by clicking here. Do you have photos from Christmas Eve? Click "add" to add them to the photo gallery or send them to jen@patch.com.

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Motherhood in Millburn

Motherhood in Millburn: Gifts and Christmas

Christmas should be more about connecting with each other than the presents under the tree.

My mother-in-law called a few weeks ago wanting to know what the kids wanted for Christmas. "A toy monster, cars and a metal slinky," my son said. "I'd like an Xbox, an iPad or a new laptop," my daughter said nonchalantly.   That's nice, honey. I want a few million dollars and to be 29 again. Guess we're both not getting what we want this year. In fact, this year the kids are getting farm animals and mosquito netting for Christmas. I am not kidding. Well, they'll actually be getting cards saying that in their honor a family has been given mosquito nets and small farm animals to help them survive and hopefully thrive.    They will find other gifts under the tree.  No iPad or new laptop this year—sorry. I know my daughter understands to some…

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Holiday Season 2010

Holiday Concerts, Christmas Pageants and More Planned

A look at events happening around Millburn-Short Hills to celebrate Christmas and the holidays.

Christmas is a little more than a week away, and there's still plenty of music to be heard and other holiday-related activities to get you ready. Millburn Middle School holds its winter chorus concert on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The program will feature holiday favorites, folk songs, Broadway tunes and music from around the world. Millburn High School plays host to its winter concert on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Among the groups performing are Cantica Nova, the Millburn Chorale, the Chamber String Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra and the Miller Chorus. The chorus and orchestra will combine forces to present the Hallelujah Chorus from Beethoven's "Christ On The …

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Jennifer Connic

2:39 pm on Friday, December 17, 2010

Thanks, Ed.   more ›