The Psychology of Gift Giving

Anne Arundel Community College professor Matt Patton explains why we feel the way we do about presents.

Exchanging gifts is a major part of celebrating the holiday season, but it can also be the source of major stress. Annapolis Patch spoke with Matt Patton, an Annapolis resident and psychology professor at Anne Arundel Community College, about the social science behind gift giving. It's the thought that counts An expensive gadget like an iPad or new cellphone may make a person jump for joy on Christmas morning, but Patton said that high wears off quick. Everyone has an emotional baseline or "set point." While we can feel happier or sadder in the short-term, Patton said most people return to their baseline within a few weeks. "In that sense, we are very resilient," Patton said. "Things that move that set point are having a socially connected…

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Hanukkah: Not Christmas for Jews

While the two holidays fall in close proximity to each other and are celebrated in popular culture together, Hanukkah does not hold the religious significance for Jews that Christmas holds for Christians.

Each year, Hanukkah falls in close proximity or during Christmas according to the Hebrew calendar. Because of that, the two are celebrated side by side under the “Happy Holidays” moniker. But in terms of religious significance, Hanukkah doesn’t rank as high for Jews as Christmas ranks for Christians. “It’s hard to not make a big deal of out Hanukkah living in America, and I’m not sure it’s a bad thing,” said Rabbi Rhoda Silverman of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown. “That’s not a problem for me as long as we don’t forget about everything else that makes us Jewish.” Jonathan Schwartz, senior aide to Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond and a member of Temple Emanuel, sees Hanukkah as having two roles in the lives of American Jews…

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Would Your Child Like a Letter From Santa?

Thanks to a very special U.S. Postal Service program, "Santa" will reply to children who mail him their Christmas wish lists this holiday season.

Every year, millions of children sit down to make a wish list for Santa, hoping he will make all of their Christmas dreams come true. But what if Santa actually wrote back? The U.S. Postal Service is now accepting "Letters From Santa," a program that allows any person to play Santa by sending a letter signed by St. Nick to any child. According to a postal service news release, "The 'Letters From Santa' program helps parents fulfill the dreams of their own children." Instructions to send a letter from Santa: Letters to Santa can be dropped off at any post office location. Click here to find the nearest location in Annapolis. TELL US: Do your children plan on writing a letter to Santa this year?

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Annapolis Gift Guide: Brown Eyed Girl

A look at potential gifts from a local business for someone on your holiday list.

As the holiday season approaches, Patch will be visiting area businesses to get a sense of what they have to offer for holiday shoppers looking to save, spend or splurge on gifts.    Today's gift ideas come from Brown Eyed Girl, a downtown Annapolis shop located at near Church Circle on 234 Main St. The store has a beachy vibe and carries women's clothing, accessories, and home decor items. It's run by GeorgiAnna King Schurr and Kathy Stanfield. The two provide decorative gift bags for items and accept returns for store credit or exchange only. SAVE (Items $25 or less): SPEND (Items $50 or less): SPLURGE (Items around $100):   Want your business highlighted in the gift guide? Email:Anna.Staver@patch.com Editor's Note: The price points for …

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Hillsmere House Definitely Ready for Easter

Homeowner Leslie Donaldson enjoys decorating for holidays and says, "I think the Easter display gets more response than the Christmas [display]."

For those who regularly travel Hillsmere Drive, the holidays of Easter and Christmas take on the added treat of seeing what Leslie Donaldson has done to her house. For her house is like none other. It is a showcase of creativity and exuberance. "I've been doing the tree for about 15 years," Donaldson said about the tree in her front yard decorated with a lot—seriously—of Easter eggs. How many Easter eggs? Let's just say a lot, because it's top secret. "The community is very supportive. They do the contest every year," Donaldson said.  "Just for Hillsmere residents, 12 and under, how many Easter eggs are on the tree." How much time it takes to put all those eggs on the tree is not top secret. "The tree usually takes about five days," …

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The Athletic Annapolitan

Getting a Handle on Christmas Stress

Patch offers a plan for avoiding the stresses of the big day.

At this time of year, life is stressful. Even after the presents are laid neatly under the tree and the turkey is in the oven, we still have to juggle family commitments and expectations. Tensions are high and family members often end up in the dreaded holiday confrontation. This is when I am most thankful for being a runner.  Over the years, I have learned that the easiest way to go from stressed out to being able to cope is to exercise. It is that simple. However, it is easy to forget when you are in the middle of a holiday hurricane of emotions. So, before you head over to the grandparents or in-laws (or welcome the whole brood into your home), arm yourself with this five-step plan. There is a lot of pressure in our lives to make …

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Santa Cow Has Come to Town

Patch chronicles the monthly costume changes of the cow statues on Truman Parkway.

Some time over the weekend, pilgrim cows were transformed into "Santa and Mrs. Claus" on Harry S. Truman Parkway just outside the headquarters of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The mystery stylist strikes again to "dress" the cow statues for the holiday season. For more holiday stories on Greater Annapolis Patch, click here.

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Scene Around Town: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

We're testing your visual knowledge of Greater Annapolis with a little photo quiz.

Every Sunday, we will feature a photo taken somewhere in the Greater Annapolis area. We'd like you to guess where the scene is! Submit your responses in the comments section on this page. (Note: You must sign up to be a Patch user before you can post comments). We'll post a new clue each day until someone guesses the correct location. If you would like to submit a photo to be considered for this feature, send it to susan@patch.com. For more holiday stories on Greater Annapolis Patch, click here.

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John Frenaye

9:27 am on Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Yay, did I win the iPad? :)   more ›

A Time to Give

Shoe Boxes Filled with Christmas Spirit

When you get your kids involved in helping others, you make community service a family affair.

For what seemed like hours, I stood in the middle of a toy aisle with my son and two daughters. They were each holding up school supplies, books, trinkets and puzzles. We were trying to determine which ones would fit in a shoe box. When I had to put a puzzle back on the shelf because it was too wide, my son looked defeated. "I thought a boy would really like that one as a gift," he said. "I wish we could send a bigger box." My family and I participated in packing shoe boxes full of tiny gifts as part of Operation Christmas Child (OCC) through Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis. More than 50 boxes were collected at Heritage and will be delivered to boys and girls around the world. According to the OCC website, 8 million children …

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