James Barbato's Blog

Inspired by a real holiday tradition James Barbato started with his own family about 25 years ago, The Magic Christmas Ornament is a book about an enchanted Christmas Eve when three children gather around the fireplace to hear their father tell a story about his favorite Christmas ornament. After their parents go to bed, the…

As you might have guessed, it’s been an extra-special Christmas season for the Barbato Family. isn’t just another Christmas story—it’s a deeply personal tale that has been for years. 

Family Christmas

“When our children were much younger, we would gather around the Christmas tree after it was decorated almost every night to listen to Christmas music and look at the lights. Once in a while, that came directly from Santa’s own Christmas tree that I found in a knothole in a mysterious old tree in the woods,” Jim said.

Jim and his daughter, Victoria, developed the concept into a longer story to publish. 

Christmas is for Giving

Since publishing the book, they’ve been busy doing interviews, donating books to Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital, and enjoying reading the reviews about how much children love the story.

“I decided to read this book with my 4-year-old and she really enjoyed the twist of the ornament being magic. It was different from many of the typical Christmas stories and we enjoyed the journey it took us on. It says that the book will come with an ornament and I think it will be a nice touch. Thank you for allowing us to read this book.” – Abby B., NetGalley 

The Barbato Family would love to thank each and every one of you who have supported the book through sharing posts, reading the blog, watching interviews—and of course, buying the book to read to your children or grandchildren. 

Happy Holidays

“I’ve seen some people buy three books at a time! Someone bought five books and so they must be giving them to all of their grandchildren,” Jim explained. “There are people all over the United States from Utah to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio. We are touching people across the United States and we are very thankful for that.”

Jim is also thankful for “my family and the happiness that they bring me. I’m thankful for my parents who are no longer with me, but taught me the spirit, magic, and hope of Christmas. I’m also thankful for the good health that I’m blessed to have.” 

This holiday season, we wish nothing but the best for your family and hope you have a very Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Purchase  The Magic Christmas Ornament  Book Collection (book plus ornament) in hardcover here, or ebook here. A portion of all sales proceeds goes to Toys For Tots. Follow them on , , , Goodreads, or , and sign up for their newsletter here.

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The First Christmas Ornament

Decorating Christmas trees with various ornaments is a long-standing tradition around the world, dating back to 16th-century Germany when evergreens were frequently decorated with berries, apples, and other fruit. Legend has it that Martin Luther, the religious reformer, was the first person to put lighted candles on a Christmas tree.

No one is really sure if the first ornament came about in the 16th century or mid-1800s, but most agree that German glassblower Hans Greiner created the first actual Christmas ornament—a glass apple.

While the idea of a Christmas tree and ornaments were brought to America by Hessian soldiers during the Revolutionary War, the colonists thought it was all a bit odd.

The tradition didn’t catch on in the United States until the late 1800s when Queen Victoria and her family were drawn next to their Christmas tree. After people saw the illustration, Christmas trees started popping up in every home in America.

In the 1880s, F.W. Woolworth visited Germany and saw ornaments in the shops. He was intrigued by the idea and decided to import them to sell in his own stores. Most ornaments continued to be made in Germany until after World War II and then Hallmark started making their keepsake ornaments in 1973, officially cementing ornaments as a holiday tradition. 

The Magic Christmas Ornament

Ornaments Are More Than Just Decoration

For James Barbato, author of , sees ornaments as much more than a decoration you hang on your tree each year. “They’re keepsakes,” he said. “Ornaments share cherished moments and memories in your life. They remind me of when I was a little boy and they remind me of my parents, and many times remind you about people that are no longer with us. But at Christmas time, ornaments allow you to reminisce and bring back those memories.”

Quite often, ornaments are handing down through generations. “We do have some family favorite ornaments that my kids love that I had when I was a little boy—ornaments from the 1950s that are over 60 years old, that I have on my tree right now. I’m so happy they’re there when I see them.” He continued, “They’re old-style ornaments that have hand-painted glitter on them—some have bells or wreaths or snowflake designs in glitter.”

Ornaments Are Historical

And then, of course, there are the one-of-a-kind ornaments. “We have an ornament from the year we first got married and one that my children made for me when they were in school. Those cannot be replaced because they capture a moment in time,” said James. 

This is what he hopes the keepsake ornament that goes along with book will be for your family. “You give the ornament to your child or grandchild and you read the story that goes with it. They’ll remember that for their whole life. The ornament will become important to them,” he said. “Our granddaughter is six months old and I can’t wait to tell her stories and read her The Magic Christmas Ornament.”

 

Purchase  The Magic Christmas Ornament  Book Collection (book plus ornament) in hardcover here, or ebook here. A portion of all sales proceeds goes to Toys For Tots. Follow them on , , , Goodreads, or , and sign up for their newsletter here.

 

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Christmas is the time of year when we look forward to spending time with our family, and what better way to celebrate that than by experiencing the holidays in a new place? Whether it’s starting a or just making this year extra-special, experiencing the magic of Christmas in another country or state will create memories that are sure to last a lifetime. 

Need a few ideas? Here are five of the best places around the world to celebrate Christmas with your loved ones. 

Santa Claus Village, Finland

The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland, is technically open year-round but is even better during the holidays. Open since 1985, visitors can meet Santa Claus at his post office, take a ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, got on a snowmobile safari, or see the famous Northern Lights dancing across the sky.

Stay in a glass igloo or the snow hotel for a true winter experience.

 

New York City, NY

No holiday list is complete without including the Big Apple. There’s almost nothing more festive than seeing the Christmas tree lighting or ice skating at Rockefeller Center. And those aren’t the only must-do activities in NYC during the holidays—tourists come from around the world to see the Rockettes perform in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular or the New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker, take pictures of the displays in storefronts along 5th Avenue, and be captivated by the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show. 

It’s also a wonderful opportunity to ice skate in Central Park or meet Santa at Macy’s. If you need a last-minute gift, head to the Union Square Holiday Market for a unique present to top off a memorable trip. 

 

Christkindlesmarkt, Germany

Germany is known for having some of the best Christmas markets in the world and if we had to pick one, it would be the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg. The scent of mulled wine and gingerbread fill the air as Christmas takes over the city. These markets date back to the Late Middle Ages, and opening night is always the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent.

The market is filled with delicious foods (try the Nuremberg sausages!), beautiful handmade ornaments, and other unique gifts. Stop by the Children’s Christmas Market to ride the merry-go-round, get a sweet treat from the bakery, and see the Santa Claus House. Take a stagecoach tour around the city and take home a Nuremberg Prune Man, a funny little keepsake made from dried prunes and figs.

 

Santa Claus, Indiana

It may not be an exotic locale, but Santa Claus, Indiana, goes all-in when it comes to holiday spirit. There’s the Santa Claus Museum & Village, where kids can write a letter to Santa a receive a personalized response.

Take your picture next to the 22-foot tall 1935 Santa Claus statue, play an arcade game at Frosty’s Fun Center, and take the 1.2-mile drive through Santa Claus Land of Lights. The town hosts several holiday-themed events, like roasting chestnuts on an open fire, reindeer petting, Christmas dinner with Santa, Christmas festivals, and more.

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Who says you have to spend your Christmas in the snow? Head south to Puerto Rico for an island vacation that isn’t even that far away. Take a walk on the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan to see the beautiful buildings draped in Christmas lights, don a “pava,” or straw hat, and if you get woken up in the middle of the night by carolers, it’s just a tradition called “parranda.”

The idea is to sneak up to a family or friend’s house and then burst into song, complete with instruments. There are many holiday dishes and “coquito” is similar to eggnog, but made with coconut (rum optional).

If you can stay into the new year, Three Kings Day is when the real celebration starts. Children in Puerto Rico grow up learning that Santa isn’t real and the gifts are actually brought by the Three Wise Men. The three-day festival held every year on January 6, 7, and 8 honors the biblical Magi.

 

 No matter where you go, as long as you’re with family, it will be wonderful. If you aren’t able to travel, take a trip of the imagination with “The Magic Christmas Ornament,” the story of one enchanted Christmas Eve when Victoria, Joseph, and John gather around the fireplace to hear their father’s story about this favorite Christmas ornament. After their parents go to bed, the children discover the true magic of the ornament as it sweeps them from their home and directly into Santa’s workshop!

Purchase  The Magic Christmas Ornament  Book Collection (book plus ornament) in hardcover here, or ebook here. A portion of all sales proceeds goes to Toys For Tots.
Follow them on , , , Goodreads, or , and sign up for their newsletter here.

 

 

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Christmas is a magical time of year. There’s nothing like spending time with family around the fire as the snow falls outside or driving around town looking at the twinkling lights. Even as an adult, there’s something special about the holidays and we all want to create memories that our family will cherish for years to come.

If you’re looking for a Christmas tradition to start with your family, this list is for you! It includes ideas that you’re probably familiar with, but hopefully, you’ll find some that are new. Either way, they are all sure to get you into the holiday spirit!

Set aside a day for Christmas decorating.

It’s one thing to decorate the Christmas tree, but it’s a whole other thing to make a day out it. Bring the whole family together to go through the ornaments, hang up the stockings, decorate the house, bake cookies, drive around and look at Christmas lights, and then top it all off with a Christmas movie (we recommend The Polar Express) and a mug of hot chocolate! 

Tell a story.

If you don’t feel creative enough to come up with a story of your own, pick up a copy of  to read to your children. James, the coauthor of the book, told the story to his children when they were younger. The tradition started nearly 25 years ago. “Almost every night we’d sit under the tree and play Christmas music and look at the lights and then once in a while I’d tell a story,” James said. “This story was that came directly from Santa’s own tree that I found in a mysterious old tree.”

Use an Advent calendar to keep track of the holidays.

These calendars traditionally countdown the four weeks until Christmas Day, with a special candy or treat for each day. The tradition started in Germany in the 1800s and was originally a wooden box with a little door for each day. Now, you can find cardboard versions with everything from small toys to chocolates to even beauty products.

Host a neighborhood Christmas or holiday party.

Christmas is about gathering with family and friends and there’s no better way than by getting everyone together for some fun. Turn the annual Christmas cookie exchange into a whole event, complete with caroling, a gingerbread house contest, and—if you have a big backyard—a Christmas bonfire to roast marshmallows and make s’ mores!

Visit Santa.

Most children think about visiting Santa at their local mall, but if you like to travel for the holidays, consider a trip to see a “real” Santa. The Santa Claus House in the North Pole, Alaska, has been around since 1952 and is home to unique ornaments, gifts, and real reindeer.

If Christmas is your absolute favorite time of year, add Santa Claus Village in the Finnish Lapland to your wish list. Located in the Arctic Circle, kids can meet Santa, his elves, and his reindeer! 

Write a letter to Santa (and get one back!)

If you can’t take your kids to Santa, bring Santa to them. The complete directions can be found on the USPS website, but the gist of it is that your child writes their letter to Santa and before mailing, you add another letter “From Santa,” and the post office will postmark it from the North Pole in Anchorage, Alaska, and mail it back!

Another option is to order an Original Letter from Santa from the Santa Claus House mentioned above for a special gift they’ll never forget.

Give back to your community.

Many of us are blessed with abundance during the holidays, but others aren’t so fortunate. Teach your children about giving back by donating a gift from an Angel Tree. Many department stores and places like Starbucks have trees with tags that have a gift on them for a child in need. Purchase the gift and bring it back to the store and they will deliver it for you! Another wonderful option is to donate canned goods or volunteer your time at a food bank.

Give each other a book on Christmas Eve.

Called Jolabokaflod, or “Yule book flood,” this Icelandic tradition started during World War II. Everyone is gifted a book and then you spend a quiet night reading. 

Need a few more quick ideas?

Wear matching pajamas.
Make ornaments or decorate stockings together.
Give handmade gifts.
Take a family photo (and maybe even turn it into an ornament for the next year!).
Make Christmas cards. 

Whatever you decide to do this Christmas, it can’t help but be special if it’s with the ones you love!

Do you have more ideas to add? Please share them below!

***

Purchase  The Magic Christmas Ornament  Book Collection (book plus ornament) in hardcover here, or ebook here. A portion of all sales proceeds goes to Toys For Tots.
Follow them on , , , Goodreads, or , and sign up for their newsletter here.

 

The post 12 Wonderful Christmas Traditions Your Family Will Love appeared first on THE Magic Christmas Ornament.

Released just in time for the 2019 holiday season, The Magic Christmas Ornament is a book about an enchanted Christmas Eve when three children gather around the fireplace to hear their father tell a story about his favorite Christmas ornament. After their parents go to bed, the children discover the true magic of the ornament as it sweeps them from their home and directly into Santa’s workshop.

While the story may be fiction, James Barbato and Victoria Barbato were inspired to write by a real holiday tradition James started with his own family nearly 25 years ago.

About The Magic Christmas Ornament Book

“We would gather around the Christmas tree after it was all decorated because that’s the fun—decorating the tree together is so much fun having the kids involved,” James said. “And then almost every night we’d sit under the tree and play Christmas music and look at the lights and then once in a while I’d tell a story.”

James learned the skill of storytelling from his father, Sylvester “Ziggy” Barbato. “He would always tell me stories as a little boy,” James explained. “I loved to hear his stories. I think some of them were from books that he may have read or that he changed into his own stories—he was just was a great storyteller. His stories made you believe…believe in yourself and imagine that anything could come true.”

James continued, “I remember my father telling me stories, not just at Christmastime, but other times. When somebody tells you stories as a little boy or a little girl, you start to realize that it’s fun to tell stories because people pay attention. Especially if you’re telling a story to a  young child, you have their full attention and you can see the look in their eyes, their imagination working.

My father didn’t directly inspire the story itself, but he did inspire the Christmas spirit very much and the art of storytelling. This story was an original idea I had about an ornament that came directly from Santa’s own tree that I found in a mysterious old tree.”

Family Christmas Fun

James’ father grew up in an immigrant family with his parents and eight siblings. As you can imagine, money was tight and they didn’t have the money for toys or presents. Ziggy vowed that his children would always have a great Christmas. When Ziggy became a father, “he started what he called Santa’s Elves, which is tied to the story indirectly.

He used to make little fingerprints and footprints in the snow and he would leave a toy for us outside the front door and ring the doorbell, or he would hide something in the house and would tell us that even though Christmas isn’t here yet, Santa’s elves are around.

It really created a wonderment and excitement and it was almost better than Christmas—waiting for Christmas to come and wondering if the elves might show up today with a little present if you’ve been good .”

The Magic of Storytelling

Many years had passed since James told the story of The Christmas Magic Ornament to his children, who were now adults themselves, and they asked, “Do you remember that story about the magic ornament that was found in the tree hole?” They reminded James about the story and each of his children remembered a different part of the story.

“Somehow it made such an impression upon them that it became a part of their Christmas and their Christmas spirit that it stuck with them through the years. And it has come full circle. We just recently had our first grandchild. She’s five months old, so I can’t wait to tell her stories and read her The Magic Christmas Ornament, he said.

“So it’s a simple idea and that’s how the story came to be. Working with my daughter, Victoria, who was part of the storytelling at that time. We’ve taken the basic concept of the story, developed the story and enhanced it to make it an even better journey for the three kids. My daughter deserves a lot of credit because she’s a great writer and she made the story a complete magical adventure and journey with hidden themes throughout the book.”

 

Purchase The Magic Christmas Ornament Book Collection (book plus ornament) in hardcover here, or ebook here. A portion of all sales proceeds goes to Toys For Tots.
Follow them on , , , Goodreads, or , and sign up for their newsletter here.

The post appeared first on THE Magic Christmas Ornament.