The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, December 07, 1995, Page 3, Image 3
Howtoba
Staff Reports "Christm;
OK, once again, if s that time of year stress
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wnen you grit yuur teem, pasie uu a
smile and head home for the holidays. F
This year, you say, things will be perfect A pet 1
Elvis Presley croons "White Jikeaswe
Christmas" in your head, and you have ^ a ^raW(
dreams of a sickly sweet family gathering, "If you
complete with hugs and festive red giving an
sweaters. Perfect. be brought
But just in case you fall into bed Dec. have been
25 with your naive little heart broken, 4. Wa:
read on and find comfort. After all, when get the b
anticipating the holidays, we're subject used to co
to images that build false expectations, until the ]
Here are 12 myths of the holiday season, but not an
1. A white Christmas season is director o:
normal in most parts of the United "Retail
States. Sony folks, but South Carolina year with
just isn't Antarctica. YouH have to keep waiting m
dreaming for a white Christmas because y?u no
there's only a 5 percent chance people more a^r:
here will have one and only a 40 percent ^
chance for people in the mid-section of ^ enhcir
the country, said Greg Carbone, a gifts ]
climatologist and geography professor People
at USC. to shop al
"People have images of snowy ^ 1
Christmases from paintings of a colder settle for1
Europe a centuiy ago, but in reality most 5. Ch
of the United States won't see snow," he purchase
said. "Unless you're at a high elevation, Ifs more s
live in the northern tier states or live cheaper if
downstream from large lakes, such as of strugglii
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see white on Christmas." USC finai
He said Christmas is relatively early "The g
in the winter season, so conditions for credit card
snowfall and for snow to stick have to afford wh<
be correct. "But peop
2. The suicide rate is highest at ^ forget
Christmas. While depression is high January,
during the Christmas season, the suicide car n
rate is low during that time said Ron Manr
Maris, a USC professor and suicidologist. Christma
"Christmas has ceremonies, rituals, Put away
church services and is more likely to before Ch
have uplifting themes," Maris said, interest a
"However, when there is a prolonged during Nc
holiday, many people miss their work 6. C h
and become isolated and depressed if Christm
they don t have family and mends to letter C,
interact with." commemc
3. Pets make good Christmas gifts, giftsaree
Despite the cute pictures of a puppy But that's
peeping out of a stocking, Christmas is Christma
not the best time to introduce a pet to Cham
the family. and Han
"Bringing a pet into the household Christmas
requires a lot of preparation," said professor
veterinarian Dr. Robert Beattie, director studies at
of USC's Animal Resource Facility. "Whil<
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tile false ex
as means additional activity
3 in most families, making it
ir children and adults to bond
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equires commitment, it s not
ater or a tie that you can put
sr if you don't like it.
i want to give a pet, I suggest
TOLP for a dog or cat that can
into a home when preparations fl
i made," he said.
it until Christmas Eve to
test buy on gifts. Retailers
ndition the consumer to wait I
last minute for the best buy,
ymore, said James Overstreet, fl
f USC's Center for Retailing.
ers are coming out earlier each H
big sales to keep people from
ntil the last minute," he said. H
tice, retailers keep making it ^fl
active to spend early." mm
lat includes cataloguers, who I
ig people to order early for free
postage.
who wait until the last minute
so find that the merchandise
picked over, and they have to
what's left.
targe your Christmas
ss. YouH pay them off later.
ensible, a lot less stressful and
you save for Christmas instead
ig to pay bills, plus the interest,
loliday, said Steven Mann, a 1
ice professor.
general rule is don't use your
I to pay for something you can't j
sn the bill comes," Mann said. 1 '
le get caught up in gift giving |
; they'll have other bills during mmmmmmmmMfr
such as mortgage payments
;pairs." the birth of Jesus, Ci
t said the best way to buy celebrate the birth of (
s presents is with money you he said. "Christmas is
each month during the year day for Christians, j
aistmas. 1 he money collects considered a minor 1
ind it's there for you to enjoy Chanukah is the
ivember and December. "rededication" and c(
anukah is the Jewish victory of the Maccah
as. They both start with the Jewish brothers and tl
' are celebrated in December, Syrians in 164 B.
rate an historical occurrence, 7. Buying a live
xchanged and candles are lit. environment Buyinj
where the similarities between tree actually is more
s and Chanukah end. friendly, said Chris
lkah, also spelled Hanukah environmental quality
ukkah, is not the Jewish Office of Waste Redud
, said Dr. Caii Evans, associate "Artificial trees
and chairman of religious factories, and with any
USC. comes pollution and
s Christmas commemorates said. "Meanwhile, n
u
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hanukah does not constantly cleaning the air supply by
Christ in any way," replenishing oxygen."
i a major red-letter Thomas said it's important if you do
and Chanukah is buy a live tree to dispose of it in a
aoliday for Jews." responsible way.
Hebrew word for "Have it mulched into chips and
)mmemorates the landscape materials, so there isn't any
ees, a group of five waste," said Thomas. "Please don't put ;
heir followers, over it in the landfill."
C- 8. Poinsettias are poisonous. It's i
i tree hurts the true that poinsettias come from the toxic ;
g a real Christmas euphorbia family, but you'd have to eat ]
environmentally 50 to 75 plants for them to be toxic, said
topher Thomas, Dr. Brooks Metts, director of the Palmetto i
manager of USCs Poison Center at USC. s
ion and Recycling. He said the poinsettia got a bad rap
are produced in at the turn of the century when the death
production process of a child in Hawaii was blamed on the s
waste," Thomas plant. However, about 15 years ago ^
atural trees are researchers found it to be relatively safe, f
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Other plants to be concerned about ^al
during Christmas are holly, mistletoe ^
and English Ivy. But Metts says you
have to eat more than a few berries or
leaves to have any problems. ^
9. You have to have turkey or ^
ham for Christmas dinner. There is ne
no written rule that you have to center ^
/our holiday meal around a meat dish,
said Dr. Roger Sargent, a nutritionist
and professor in the USC School of Public ,
Health. be>
"It may be tradition, but if s one that retj
;s not in our best health interest," he be,
said. "Go for creativity, not tradition. Be ^
a change agent." ^
Sargent suggests having a beautiful
sweet potato dish as the centerpiece,
vith plenty of grains, pastas and lowat
sauces.
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season
"Sometimes changing behavior may
m dull at first, but if people made
ler rhniees nn these festive davs. well
re more festive days to enjoy."
10. You have to have a drink to
ebrate. Thirty-eight percent of adults
ok one or no alcoholic drinks a year,
d Rick Gant, coordinator of Student
e programs at USC.
"I think that shows that obviously
pie don't have to have alcohol in social
lationshe said. "You can still have
[nog or punch, but it doesn't have to
re alcohol in it."
He said many people are already
iressed during the holidays, and adding
)hol to that can make them even more
iressed.
11. Give children what they want,
d they'll be happy. So you gave in
i reached deep into your pocket to
e Bobby the battery-powered car he
nted and Molly the doll that cries,
t chances are after a few days these
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"Many newfangled toys don't stimulate
tiild's creativity," said Dr. Irma Van
ly, a USC child development expert,
le toys do the work, and there's no
m for imagination and make-believe."
She recommends classic toys, such
balls, bikes, puzzles, building blocks
1 plain dolls.
"When in doubt about choosing a
Id's toy, parents should look back to
ir own childhood and recall the toys
it they enjoyed," she said.
12. You have to spend the holidays
th family. While Christmas is a
oderful time to spend with relatives,
a't do it at the expense of your
Dpiness, said Dr. Clyde Flanagan, a
ohiatrist and professor at the USC
100I of Medicine.
"When visiting the in-laws,
indparents and cousins becomes a
jssful traveling marathon, it may be
e to make a change," he said. "As the
ids of a growing family change, don't
locked into thinking only routine is
sible."
He suggests inviting family members
our home on alternate years. It may
easier for many relatives, such as
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said, ifs important for your immediate
lily to establish its own traditions, so
H build your own memories at home.
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