Tag Archives: Christmas

I don’t know if you’re like me or not but at this time of year it’s always hard to think of what to get for Great Aunt Bertha or cousin Tilly for a Christmas present. Did you know that last year 34% of presents received were classified as ‘unwanted’ generally meaning that the good idea to get Uncle Eric that rotary soup maker wasn’t such a good idea.

Some people go for gift vouchers or cash but that seems too impersonal or shows a lack of thought, so what’s the alternative?

It’s a bit unusual, and personally I’ve thought it a bit unseasonal to do so, but why not send flowers. They last for a good while at this time of year, brighten up drab days and the everlasting message that flowers are sent with love fits in nicely with the season. Last year I sent my aunt a bouquet from Cosmea Gardens; red carnations and gold sprayed bracken and it looked beautiful. The carnations had a slight scent that pervaded the rooms of her house and the colours were in keeping with the season. Each time I spoke to her in the year she brought up that gift. So it shows that if you’re stuck for ideas, give flowers!

Although the weather is noticeably cooler, I can’t believe it’s nearly Christmas, so it’s time for some tips on how to make your home look effortlessly festive.

I love poinsettia plants and although there’s a myriad of colours to choose from these days, I still love the ones with the red bracts. You can spice them up by putting them in a festive looking container or simply get a terracotta pot, paint it green and then when dry, daub some wood glue in patterns such as bells, snowflakes or Christmas trees around it and press on some contrasting glitter. Don’t forget to bung up the drainage hole before putting the plant in it or you’ll have a soggy mess on your table!

If you want to keep the pot plain, then a quick squirt of spray-on glue over the leaves, followed by a dusting of silver glitter gives an instant effect.

If you can get hold of any evergreen foliage, it doesn’t have to be holly or ivy, make up a wreath by intertwining the stems and tie in red or gold ribbon in bows, add small Christmas decorations or small sprayed pine cones – there are hundreds in Cyprus at the moment – then hang it on your door or over a fireplace.

Finally, if you can’t afford one of the really expensive real Christmas trees this year which, to be honest, won’t survive long in the Cypriot climate, buy an Araucaria, otherwise known as a Norfolk Island Pine, which looks exotically similar and which will grace your garden afterwards. A 1.2 metre specimen in a pot can be bought for around 20 euros, less than half the equivalent for a Norwegian Spruce. Check out Cosmea Gardens for their range of festive plants and have a Plant-astic Christmas this year.

It’s very nearly Christmas, only three more shopping days to go so I hope you’ve bought all or most of your presents. Recent research shows that of the people still shopping on Christmas Eve, 74% of them are men! So what does that say about them? My wife began Christmas shopping back in October and had everything bought, wrapped and ready to go under the tree by the middle of November.

Me, I’m heading out tomorrow to buy my Christmas presents, as usual, leaving it very late, almost too late! As a man, I know what I’m going to buy, I know where to go to get it. My only problem will be, as in previous years, finding the parking space so I can get to the shop. I often advise friends and family to shop online, it’s quicker, more convenient and you don’t have to brave the high street. Only problem is that I’ve left it too late for deliveries before Christmas. So what am I going to do about presents? Tomorrow, I’ll have to bear the frustration of the Christmas shopping trip for my family and friends that live nearby. But there’s two people I need to buy for who are too far away for me to deliver and maybe not enough time for me to order online for their delivery. Thankfully Cosmea Gardens are still delivering so for them both it will be a beautiful arrangement in gold, red and green. And by leaving it late, they’ll get an amazing arrangement which will mean more to them than the toiletries pack I would have bought if I’d been more organised.

Merry Christmas to everyone and may 2011 bring you all your dreams come true.

You know when you long for a kiss from a special person but you aren’t forward enough to ask for one directly? Well it’s that time of year where good natured Christmas cheer and some help from handily placed mistletoe could be your salvation!

Mistletoe is a semi parasitic plant that takes root in the sap of a host tree where, left unchecked, it can eventually kill it.

It is an attractive plant with lime green smooth leaves and pearlescent white berries.

In pagan times it was seen to represent male fertility and was linked with romance. Since the 18th century, the romantic aspect has come to the fore and now mistletoe is commonly used as a Christmas decoration. According to custom, the mistletoe must not touch the ground between its cutting and its removal as the last of Christmas greens at Candlemas; it may remain hanging through the year, often to preserve the house from lightning or fire, until it was replaced the following Christmas Eve.

According to Christmas custom, any two people who meet under a hanging of mistletoe are obliged to kiss.

The writer, Washington Irving noted, “The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases.”

Mistletoe is found in many florists this Christmas but to be sure to get your Christmas kiss check out Cosmea Gardens

Last weekend I had to go to my local DIY centre for some wood and even before I’d got close to the door I was struck by the glorious carpet of colour stretching out ahead of me.

The store had just taken delivery of a huge expanse of Poinsettia plants in every shade through from cream to burgundy. The plants were so perfect I didn’t think they were real and they were very good value for money too!

It got me thinking about where such a plant came from and why we buy millions of them at Christmas.

They were originally from Mexico and were mentioned in ancient Aztec writing. They got their name from Joel Poinsett, the first US Minister to Mexico. The Spanish that conquered Mexico called them the Christmas Eve plant or Nocha Buena. Its association with Christmas comes from the shape of the leaf whorl which is in a star shape like the star of Bethlehem. The deep red is to represent Christ’s blood on the cross. Another tradition says the plant’s association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where a young girl was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson “blossoms” sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias from the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.

At the end of my road there’s a Poinsettia ‘tree’ that must have been a relic from years gone by. Now about five metres high it’s beginning to display its colourful bracts just in time for the Chrstmas season.

Bring a bright splash of colour into your home this Christmas with a beautiful poinsettia from Cosmea Gardens.