Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas Tree oh Christmas Tree! 

Now that the holiday season is in full swing those who celebrate Christmas are trimming their trees and homes with festive decorations.  Here are a few fun facts about the history of the Christmas tree tradition:

• The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.
• The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
• The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
• Every year since 1947, the people of Oslo, Norway have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster, England. The gift is an expression of good will and gratitude for Britain’s help to Norway during World War II.
• 98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms, while only 2% are cut from the wild.
• Artificial Christmas trees made largely from aluminum were manufactured in the United States, first in Chicago in 1958.
• Helicopters help to lift harvested Christmas trees from farms.
• 24.5 million farm-grown Christmas trees were purchased in the United States in 2012, with a real market value of $1.01 billion.
• In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lit except for the top ornament. This was done to honor the American hostages in Iran.

           Holiday Recipe Spectacular – Desserts – Brownie Christmas Trees

Ingredients:

• 1 box brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch) (Betty Crocker Supreme mix is suggested)
  Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box
• 2 or 3 drops green food color
• 1 cup Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 1-lb container)
• Decorating Decors red and green candy sprinkles or miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits
  Miniature candy canes (2 inch), unwrapped

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2 inches over short sides of pan. Grease bottom only of foil with cooking spray or shortening.
• Make and bake brownie mix as directed on box for 13×9-inch pan, using water, oil and eggs. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Remove brownie from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. To cut brownie into triangles, cut lengthwise into 3 rows. Cut each row into 7 triangles, see diagram. Save smaller pieces for snacking.
• Stir food color into frosting. Spoon frosting into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut off tiny bottom corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe frosting over brownies. Sprinkle with decors.
• Break off curved end of candy cane; insert straight piece into bottoms of triangles to make tree trunks.

Check out these fun activities in the area this week!

• 10th Annual “A Christmas Carol” will be performed by Center Stage Theatre Dec 8th and 9th at 7:30pm and Dec 10th a 3:pm at the Paramount Theater. Tickets are $15 and $18. 919-583-8432
• Saturday 9th Afternoon Teen Snack and A movie event will be held at the Goldsboro Library from 2pm to 7pm for ages 13 through 18. The Nightmare Before Christmas will be shown. Free. 919-735-1824
• Swan Days Festival will take place at Lake Mattamuskeet from 9am to 4pm. 252-926-4021
• December 9 “A tale of Two Scrooges”, will be performed Dec 9 at 7:30pm and Dec 10 at 3:00pm in the Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall at the University of Mount Olive. Free!
• December 12th Pokemon Tournament for all ages will be held at the Goldsboro Library from 6 to 8pm. Free. 919-735-1824
• December 10th at 4:00pm III Century Singers Christmas Concert presents Handel’s Messiah in Concert at the First Baptist Church in Goldsboro. Free admission, donations appreciated. 919-736-3300
• Free Trolly Rides Downtown Goldsboro Decmber 12th 6:00pm – 8:00pm. 130 N Center street.
• Jingle in the park December 8th and 9th 4-8pm. Santa Claus, ice skating, music, outdoor movies, lights, hay rides funnel cakes and more. Herman Park. 919-739-7480