The Old Farmer's Almanac Companion Newsletter

Winter is good—his Hoar Delights
Italic flavor yield—
To Intellects inebriate
With Summer, or the World—
–Emily Dickinson (1830–86)

Tuesday, December 19, 2017
353rd day of the year
Winter begins in 2 days

Marla Sokoloff (actress) was born on this day in 1980.
Hope Lange (actress) died on this day in 2003.

Question of the Day
What is the difference between a spice and an herb? Answer

Meaning of Christmas

When is Christmas Day 2017?
What is the real meaning of Christmas? Enjoy our Everything Christmas page with Christmas dates, customs, folklore, and beautiful quotes—perfect for a Christmas card!

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Rustic Gears Rotating Kinetic Wind Stake

Bring the popular industrial, repurposed look to your landscape with this 26-inch Rustic Gears Rotating Kinetic Stake. The double blades spin in opposite directions, creating a mesmerizing effect. What’s more, the kinetic sculpture will turn to face into the wind! Hand-painted, with a multicolor rustic patina finish. Watch the wind stake in action—video available.

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$119.99

Christmas Dinner Ideas

Christmas Dinner Recipes
Browse our top Christmas dinner recipes, from ham and rib roast to goose and lasagna. We’ve also added Christmas side dishes and soups to round out the meal!

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Almanac Berry Basket

This super-strong 4-quart basket was designed with blueberry- and strawberry-picking in mind. It will hold four 1-quart berry containers. Comes in handy for farmers’ market shopping. Great for kitchen or craft storage, too.

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$39.95

A Delicious Fruitcake!

Best Fruitcake Ever

A modern twist on the traditional holiday confection, this Fruitcake recipe uses a mixture of dried fruit instead of the standard candied and glacéed fruit.

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The Old Farmer's Almanac Trinket Box

This small, clever box was designed to resemble a footed hope chest. It’s great for storing keepsakes, jewelry, and found treasures. It is made entirely out of wood—without any nails, screws, or glue! The box’s lid features an etched copy of an illustration from the Almanac. The image is a wood engraving depicting spring and has been part of our cover since 1851.

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$19.95

Homemade Cinnamon Ornaments

How to Make Cinnamon Ornaments
These homemade cinnamon ornaments are super-easy, with only three ingredients! They’re a lovely way to decorate the Christmas tree—and a fun craft for all ages.

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Vegetable Kingdom Kitchen Canister Set

Practical has never looked so pretty. Fill our graduated canisters with flour, sugar, tea, cookies, doggie treats, or whatever you like to keep handy. Then put them on display on a countertop or open shelf. They are made of powder-coated carbon steel and have snug-fitting lids and chrome-plated handles.

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$49.99

DIY Soap and Shampoo

Recipes for Homemade Toiletries: Soaps, Shampoos, and More
Explore our easy recipes for soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and other toiletries. Our bath and body recipes are very basic, relying on pantry ingredients, nothing fancy. They’re easy, fun, cheap, and natural!

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