Family Gift Traditions on Christmas Day

Does your family open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

I have a sister who is 12-years younger than me, so in my family we have always exchanged presents bright and early on Christmas morning.  As soon as our baby sister was awake, so was the rest of the family. Down the stairs we went to see what Santa had in store.  Some families wait until Christmas morning to exchange gifts, while for others, it's tradition to open one present on Christmas Eve.  Over the past month, some Patch readers have shared their Christmas traditions, worst gifts and best gifts with us. Now we want to know, what is your family Christmas gift tradition? Do you draw names or participate in a white elephant gift? Do you pile presents under the tree throughout the month of December, or do you wait of Jolly St. Nick to …

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10 Things to Do in St. Charles County This Weekend

As we head into the weekend, Patch rounds up a list of events going on in St. Charles County.

As you make your weekend plans, check this round-up of events in  St. Charles County.

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Local Charities Release Holiday Cards for a Cause

Buy your annual holiday cards from a local charity this year.

Every holiday season, families across the country send cards to their loved ones, filling them in on the last year and wishing them a happy new one.  For families planning to buy holiday cards this year, nonprofit organizations around the area are offering unique cards that benefit their missions. That way, each card sends holiday cheer while supporting a worthy cause. Here is our round-up of holiday cards for charity. Operation Food Search Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Our Little Haven Saint Louis Zoo Is your non-profit organization selling cards this holiday season? Add your photo and information to the story by clicking the Upload Pictures and Video button. 

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Buying Christmas Gifts for the Hard-to-Buy-For: What Do You Do?

Yes, it's still a little early to think about Christmas shopping. I understand. But it's coming up soon. And we all know that one person who is extremely hard to buy for. What do you do?

I will make no apology for this edition of our weekly "Conversation Starter." I'm selfishly motivated by the need for your help. And I don't care that Halloween is still three days away. Or that Christmas is still nearly two months off. We need all the time we can get. See, here's the problem: My father is in his early 70s; my father-in-law is in his early 80s. If anything, they're trying to get rid of things. What do you buy for the hard-to-buy-for? What do you do to make the Christmas merry for the folks who seem to have everything, don't need anything or who won't let themselves get pinned down? Here's another stumper for you: My son is 17. He's a drama kid, a singer, a World of Warcraft fanatic. He is every bit as hard to buy for as my…

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Immanuel Lutheran Celebrates Boar's Head Festival 25th Anniversary

This year's festival will have several special features to honor the historic anniversary.

Over the past 25 years, many St. Charles residents have made the Boar’s Head Festival at Immanuel Lutheran Church a part of their Christmas traditions. Al Loesel, the church’s music director, said that hundreds of church members participate in the grand event each year. “We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary this year,” Loesel said. “In addition to our regular festival, we’ll have displays of costumes that w e have in reserve from years ago and some that we acquired from other places.” Loesel said there will also be a special extended program in honor of the event’s 25th anniversary, and the church had a Boar’s Head Festival anniversary Christmas ornament made featuring a scene in which the king is worshipping the Christ child. “We also …

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Share Your Favorite Christmas Ornaments and Holiday Memories

What's the story behind your favorite Christmas ornament? Whether you made it in kindergarten or it's been handed down through generations, share it on Patch.

I remember a seventh-grade classmate who complained loudly when her mother decided to make a magazine-inspired fashion statement out of the Christmas tree. Instead of hauling out boxes of old ornaments, the snow-flocked tree was covered with red bows, tiny apples and naked cherubs. That classmate believed, as I do, that a Christmas tree is meant to tell a family's history, and she missed the handmade ornaments, the mementos of family milestones and other odd bits that find themselves tied to an evergreen branch each December. We'd like to know what ornaments are special to you and your family. Is it a precious heirloom blown-glass figurine? A gift from a teacher? A souvenir of a vacation or other important event in your life? Post a …

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Black Friday Shopping Guide in St. Louis

The stores, sales and strategies you need to optimize your all-night shopping blow-out.

Here’s a new holiday tradition to try: Say grace, eat turkey, head to the mall. Black Friday sales start at midnight this year at some of the regions biggest stores, including Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Best Buy. We’ve read through the ads and compiled everything you need for the best all-night holiday shopping blow-out possible. And for each sale, we've highlighted the items we think would make the best gifts (at the best prices!) Check back on Black Friday for updates and tips, and if you hit the sales, tag your tweets with #BlackFridaySTL or mention @StLouisLindsay. And don't forget: Black Friday sales are already starting online at popular big box stores. Best Buy said they've already sold out of popular $80 TVs and $150 laptops, but …

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Local Charities Release Holiday Cards for a Cause

Buy your annual holiday cards from a local charity this year.

Every holiday season, families across the country send cards to their loved ones, filling them in on the last year and wishing them a happy new one.  For families planning to buy holiday cards this year, nonprofit organizations around the area are offering unique cards that benefit their missions. That way, each card sends holiday cheer while supporting a worthy cause. Here is our round-up of holiday cards for charity. The Salvation Army – St. Louis Smiling bell-ringers in front of Downtown St. Louis’ Peabody Opera House greet recipients of this 2011 holiday card. Pick up yours at The Salvation Army office near Forest Park and support youth programming and homeless assistance throughout Missouri and southern Illinois.  Cost: $10 for 10 …

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Kemery Baldwin

8:02 am on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

I buy Emmaus Homes Christmas Cards every year. The art is delightful, cards well made, and packaged by residents. Thanks for this article about all these wonderful cards and this opportunity to help these great organizations.   more ›

How to Help

How to Help: Toys for Tots

Collection sites are springing up for toy donations.

On this Veterans Day weekend, Patch wanted to highlight the humanitarian work of the military, specifically the work of the U.S. Marines. The Toys for Tots campaign is organized by local Marines and provides toys to children that may not have a Christmas holiday. According to Toys for Tots, since 1947, the campaign has provided toys to more than 200 million needy children. In the past three years alone, the St. Louis area Toys for Tots campaign - which includes St. Charles County - has steadily increased toy collections and monetary donations each year by eight to nine percent. In 2010, toys were distributed to more than 195,000 area children and the campaign collected over $225,000 to purchase additional toys. The Toys for Tots campaign …

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Aja J. Junior

12:20 pm on Monday, November 14, 2011

I remember my local Boys and Girls Club helping with this cause each year when I was growing up. I believe that I gave two or three Barbie dolls to the collection, and it made me feel good to be a kid helping another kid. It's a really good cause.   more ›

Main Street Shop Owners Report Successful Holiday Season

The tourism department plans to conduct a second survey of local business owners in January.

Often people ask Cindy Wood, the co-owner of Cobblestone Cottage, the early American furnishings shop on South Main Street, if she's worried about the unstable economy. She's always ready with a quick answer. "I would say, 'No, we're not participating in the recession,'" she said. Much of St. Charles' historic district seems to be in the same situation. Although figures are still scarce, as shopkeepers along Main Street count up holiday receipts many are reporting better sales than last Christmas, in some cases even posting record numbers. Wood said her shop had its best performance in its 17 years in existence. Not that things were ever a certainty. "It didn't start out that way," she said. "January was really harsh weatherwise, but we …

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