This Christmas tradition essentially means ringing the church bells.

Happy birthday to Richard Gere. Also celebrating birthdays today are singer Deborah Gibson and comedian and actor Chris Tucker.

Christmas is frequently identified as X-mas because the X in the Greek alphabet represents a “CH” sound, also representing Christ.

Celebrating her 36th birthday today is Hollywood starlet Cameron Diaz. Also celebrating birthdays are tennis champ Andy Roddick and Lisa Ling, former star of ABC’s The View.

Because of the correlation between cold weather and the holiday season, many winter-themed objects (like snowmen) become associated with the Christmas season and often appear on Christmas cards.

Today is Michael Jackson’s birthday. I wonder how old his nose is? Also celebrating birthdays today are Senator John McCain and Barbra Streisand’s former husband, Elliot Gould.

Wreaths commonly appear on Christmas cards because they represent a smaller version of the Christmas tree. Additionally, their round shape symbolizes never-ending love and peace.

You are right if you guessed Jason Priestley. Also celebrating birthdays today are singing sensation Shania Twain and Starsky and Hutch star David Soul.

Here’s a little story of business get well cards and a visit to my doctor…

If you are anything like me, you really have to be feeling pretty bad to call and make an appointment to go see a doctor.  Who wants to waste a vacation day or leave work early to go sit in the waiting room of a doctor’s office with a bunch of other people sneezing, coughing, and spreading their germs on you?  I am convinced that at this point you are actually getting sicker than you were when you walked in.

But there are three things I can always count on when I dial the phone number to make an appointment.  The first is that I know I will always be caught up on all my news and gossip, as my doctor subscribes to every magazine available.  The second is that I will go home with a great new recipe since we all watch the Food Network while sitting in the waiting area.  And the third is that I know in a couple of days my get well card will be arriving in the mail.

I had never even heard of such a thing…doctors sending get well cards?  I mean, can you imagine how many cards they must send out each year?   But when I’ve thanked my doctor in the past and expressed that I thought this was a great gesture to his patients, he always replies that this is his business, and just like any other company or organization who orders business get well cards for their employees or clients, he does the same.  I guess it’s not so bad after all to go and watch TV, read a magazine, and then get some mail a couple days later that isn’t a credit card offer or a bill!

The Christmas tree tradition was started in Germany; The Germans were the first to bring the tree into the house.