Christmas Traditions – The Snow Globe

From Santa Claus to reindeer, trees to baubles, there are many traditions we have associated with Christmas.  One of the most heart-warming and varied is the snow globe, that tiny world within a globe that instantly has a perfect snow covering with just the shake of a hand.  Yet compared to other traditions, the snow globe is a relative newcomer to the Christmas list.

History of the snow globe

The man credited with coming up with the idea of a snow globe was an Austrian man named Erwin Perzy.  Back in 1900 he lived in Vienna and came up with the concept with production starting five years later.  His company was called the Original Vienna Snow Globes and over a century later, the company still produces snow globes and is run by the grandson of the man, also called Erwin.

The idea for the snow globe came about in a total unexpected way – Perzy was trying to improve the brightness of the newly invented light bulb.  Looking to shoemakers of the time, who used a candle mounted inside a glass globe and got more light that way, his idea was to make a light bulb in the same way.  Unfortunately the idea wasn’t successful but he took his globe and one day added some semolina powder into it.  When he turned it around, the movement of the powder reminded him of snow falling.

After this, a miniature scene was added and for the first four decades of production, these were always including a tiny church.  After the Second World War, Perzy II took over production and widened the range.  Along came Christmas trees, Father Christmas and snowmen inside the tiny globes.  He also created a new material for their artificial snow – a family secret to this day!

Modern globes

Erwin Perzy III has been running his company since the 1980s and produces some 200,000 snow globes a year – though it only employs 30 people and half of these work from their own homes.  These snow globes are still made from glass as was the original design back in the 1900s and has produced globes for some of the most notable figures in the world, most recently for the children of US President Barack Obama.  Other famous snow globes that the company have made include the one used (and smashed) at the beginning of the film Citizen Kane in 1941. 

Currently, the company produce around 350 designs with around 20% of their orders being made up from customised designs that people order specifically.  There are even four different sized globes and the factory has a museum within it that allows kids to visit and see the history of one of their Christmas favourites.

Christmas Present

The world quickly grabbed the idea of the snow globe and many more companies now produce variations.  As well as the Christmas traditional scenes and trees, there are also now many modern versions including fairies and teddy bears, often with the facility to have personalised messages added to them.  All have that magical floating snow effect that Mr Perzy would recognise over 100 years since he first came up with the idea.

Helping Pets Deal with Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night can be great fun with the fireworks, the bonfires, the food and parties.  But for our pets, it can be a time of complete terror as the noises and sights of the even scare them badly.  So what can we do to help our pets on Bonfire Night?

General advice

According to the RSPCA, the first step in helping them deal with Bonfire Night is to make sure they have somewhere to hide.  Most cats and dogs will have a hidey hole that they use if something spooks them, such as behind the sofa or under the bed.  On Bonfire Night, ensure they have easy access to it so if it gets too much, they can go somewhere that makes them feel safe.

Make sure you keep animals in the house on the night as they are more likely to panic and get injured if they are outside when fireworks go off.  If the dog needs to go outside to the toilet, keep them on a leash so if they do bolt, you can control them.  For cats, make sure there is a cat litter box ready for their use and keep them inside.

Ensure that microchip and collar information is up to date in case they do get out and run off.  That way when a vet or animal shelter find them, they can reunite you with them as quickly as possible.

Try to act normal and not make too big a fuss during the fireworks.  Give them their favourite treats in their special bowl or make some time to sit with them if they want to do this but don’t try to force anything on them.  Scared animals are more likely to lash out and this can lead to a nasty injury.  Only interfere with them if they are going to hurt themselves, such as trying to jam themselves into a space too small to hold them.

Other animals

Cats and dogs aren’t the only animals effected by fear of fireworks.  If you have small pets such as rabbits or guinea pigs who live in hutches outside, it is worth covering the hutches to help reduce the impact of the noise and lights.  Make sure they have plenty of bedding so they can dig under it and hide to feel safe.

For those who have birds outside, a bright light is a crucial measure.  This means that if they become frightened and leave their roost, or perch where they sleep, they are able to find their way back again.  Background music can also lessen the impact of the noise from the fireworks and help them remain calm.

Just for dogs

If a dog is particularly affected by fireworks, then it may be worth looking at an animal behaviourist for some help.  Therapies such as Sounds Scary are recommended to help dogs that are very severely frightened by the noise from fireworks but also from other loud sounds that occur during the year.  Therapy such as this can help them cope with the noises and make both yours and their lives less stressful.

Top Halloween Cocktail Recipes

Halloween is one of those events that seems to be a lot about the kids – what, with trick or treating and costumes, baking scary cupcakes and having their friends around for a party.  But if you don’t have kids or yours have gone to someone else’s party, then there’s no reason that a few Halloween cocktails can’t be made up to celebrate the event for the adults!

Simple combinations

Cocktails can be as complicated or as simple as you like – depends on how much you feel like imitating Tom Cruise!  For those who want simple options, the Black Devil Martini is a great starter.  All you need is two ounces of dark rum to half an ounce of dry vermouth for a deep red coloured martini that looks a lot like blood.  Frost the edge of the glass with orange sugar crystals and pop a black olive or two on a stick to garnish.

The Witches Brew is another must-have cocktail recipe for Halloween and makes a longer drink.  Take that personalised tumbler that the kids got you for your birthday and add in one ounce of pineapple juice and another of cranberry juice.  Add the same amount again of 7UP or another lemon and lime fizzy pop then put one and a quarter ounces of coconut rum, such as Malibu, by tipping along the side of the glass so it pools into the bottom.

Punch

An easy option for self-service drinks at a party is a punch and for Halloween, there has to be plenty of red involved.  Take your large punch bowl and put ice in the bottom.  Next up add ten ounces of vodka, five ounces of triple sec, two ounces of bitters and about ten ounces of freshly squeezed blood orange juice (or use the stuff from the carton if you prefer!) before finishing with around twenty ounces of black cherry soda.  Stir everything together.  Take the punch glasses and rim them with grenadine for that fresh blood look then use a ladle to add the punch.

Sangria is great drink to serve at parties in the same way as punch and with a little preparation, the Severed Hand Sangria will get a few shrieks as well as complements!  The night before the party, take a few latex gloves and fill them with filtered water.  Tie them up and pop them in the freezer overnight.  In the punch bowl, combine two bottles of red wine, around thirty ounces of sparking water and the same amount of freshly squeezed orange juice.  Also add three ounces of brandy or Cointreau depending on your preference and three tablespoons of brown sugar.  The fruit element comes from two thinly sliced oranges, two pink grapefruit cut similarly, two lemons and two limes, all thinly sliced and finally a cup full of natural sour cherries.  Once the ingredients are mixed, take out the latex gloves, remove it and pop the hand shaped ice cubes into the bowl – spooky!

Armed with your creepy cupcakes and spooky sandwiches, you will be ready for the perfect adults-only Halloween party!

Why Swimming is Good for Kids

As the weather turns more temperamental with cooler evenings and less sunshine, kids can spend less and less time outdoors.  But the need for exercise remains strong and one of the best ways to get this exercise and have great fun at the same time is in the swimming pool.  We all hear that swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for both kids and adults – but why?

Swimming benefits

According to Livestrong, swimming offers health benefits for all ages.  Primarily this is because it involves cardiovascular activity that strengthens both the heart and the lungs.  It also increases strength in the body, building muscle tone and endurance.  Swimming can lead to greater flexibility in the body and a better sense of balance, due to the actual motion of swimming.  While all these may sound more important to adults than to kids, it is important to start early to help stave off problems such as obesity and diabetes.

As well as the physical benefits of swimming, it is also a crucial life skill.  According to the CDC in the US, one out of every five people that die from drowning are under the age of 14.  By learning kids to swim from a young age, there is a far lower risk that they will be one of these kids.  It doesn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t run into trouble and should always be supervised in water no matter how proficient but does supply them with skills that may save their life.

If your kids enjoy swimming, then entering them into lessons and even swimming competitions or teams is a possible outcome.  Kids who take part in competitions learn about sportsmanship, team work and build their self-esteem.

Even mental health can be aided by time in the swimming pool.  The activity itself improves mood and decreases anxiety, an ever growing problem for modern children.  Swimming together with siblings and parents is a great way to spend time while getting exercise too.

The reluctant swimmer

Some kids take up swimming as if they were born in water but others aren’t so keen.  This is often the case when kids don’t get introduced to the swimming pool until they are of school age or older.  Lessons are a great way to encourage kids but even taking them to a quiet session in the pool to help them overcome their anxiety is a good starting point. 

Make the visit to the pool a big, fun event – get them their own personalised swimming bag and a new swimming costume, arrange to go for a pizza afterwards.  When you arrive at the pool, let them go into the water at their own pace and stay close so they don’t feel panicked.  Most pools have a shallow end or a learning pool that are ideal to try out the water and watch out for wave machines – those sudden waves can frighten the kids.  Alternatively, find a beginners swimming class and let a professional take on teaching them as they will have proven methods to help overcome their caution.