Personalize Your Holiday Table

Make your guests feel special with these tips.

Thanksgiving is just a couple days away, and Christmas will be here before we know it. Families and friends will gather to share stories, memories, and an abundance of food. How can you fill these special occasions with a personal touch? Whether you are planning and creating an extravagant holiday dinner or finding the best made-ahead deals or restaurants, below are a few tips to personalize your holiday table. Martha Stewart has a cornucopia of ideas that will dress your Thanksgiving table. How do you set those hot dishes down without ruining your dining room table? Corkboard leaf trivets save the day. Painted glass votives and fall foliage candleholders are also inexpensive and elegant ways to bring color to your table. Whole walnuts and…

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Christmas Tree Lighting, Old Fashioned Holiday Coming Soon

Hopkins lights its Christmas tree Friday. The Old Fashioned Holiday takes place next week.

Hopkins officially kicks off its Christmas season this week with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. The tree lighting takes place at 6 p.m. Friday in Downtown Park. Festivities continue the next week with An Old Fashioned Holiday in Hopkins. The event, which runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 6, fills Hopkins’ downtown with a holiday atmosphere. Santa arrives at the Hopkins Health and Wellness Center at 5 p.m. Visitors can continue to meet him for pictures and sleigh rides at the Eighth Avenue business. Downtown visitors can also get photos taken with Santa’s reindeer at the Clock Tower. Raspberry Royalty will be at the Wellness Center to greet visitors. There will be a gingerbread house contest and holiday concert at Albert Pike Lodge. And …

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Grand Gifts for Grandparents

Great ways to show grandmothers and grandfathers that you care.

Picking the perfect gift for grandparents can present unique challenges. Many grandparents have downsized and don’t have space for extras. And today’s mobile society means Grandma’s house may be much further than over the river and through the woods. How do you overcome these obstacles and give them a truly unique and personal gift? Here are a few suggestions to please any grandparent on your list. Personalized photo gifts are a sure winner As grandchildren grow, they change every day, especially for grandparents who can’t be there every day. Photo gifts capture those moments to share with loved ones. Ideas include calendars that track family events over the past year, shopping bags printed with grandkids’ photos or artwork, or photo books…

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12 Days of Hannukwanzaamas

Outlawing Christmas

Do you know when America began celebrating Christmas?

When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid the country of decadence. As part of the effort, they cancelled Christmas. The holiday was rekindled when Charles II was restored to the throne. However, the pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. For many years, the holiday was actually outlawed in Boston, and anyone exibiting Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. In what year was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the U.S.? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer …

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Caitlin Burgess

9:17 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Good job folks! Almost all of you got it: 1870.   more ›

12 Days of Hannukwanzaamas

The Colors of Kwanzaa

Do you know what the colors of the holiday represent?

The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. Black represents the people, while red represents their struggle. What does the green stand for? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. We'll post the correct answer later in the day.

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12 Days of Hannukwanzaamas

The Kwanzaa Tradition

How much do you know about one of the newest holiday celebrations?

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University-Long Beach. The name "Kwanzaa" is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits" in what language? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.

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Caitlin Burgess

12:27 pm on Sunday, December 25, 2011

The correct answer is Swahili.   more ›

Share Your Holiday Recipes With Patch

Have a dish that's to die for? Let other Patch readers know your secret.

The holiday season is upon us, which for many means a time of great meals with the ones we love. And great meals start with great recipes, passed down from generation to generation. These family cooking traditions bring people together during the holidays. Patch editors and readers from across Minnesota have rounded up a few of their favorite family recipes, which we are sharing with you. If you have a great holiday recipe of your own to share, please post it in the comments section below. You can also add a photo of your delicious dish by clicking on the "submit photo" button below. Happy holidays, from all of us at Patch. *** Pumpkin Pie Dip Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla and spices, blend well. Mix in yogurt. Fold in Cool Whip …

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Deb

6:26 am on Friday, November 25, 2011

Thank you Betsy. I will keep my eye out for them.   more ›

Where are the Best Christmas Lights in Hopkins?

Check out these festive homes on Hopkins streets and share your own recommendations.

Touring local streets for Christmas lights is a holiday tradition, and Hopkins has no shortage of brightly lit houses. These are a few of the homes that Hopkins Patch found. If you know of any other can't-miss displays, feel free to log in to the site and upload your own photos.  

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Christmas Service Schedules Help You Find a Place to Celebrate the Season

A list of Christmas Even and Christmas day worship times in Hopkins.

Attending church together is a valued holiday tradition for many families. There's the familiar Christmas music, the warm glow of candlelight and the closeness of crowding into the sanctuary to celebrate together. Here are several Hopkins churches where you can celebrate the season. Feel free to add further details about the services or let Hopkins Patch know of any other worship times by leaving a comment at the bottom of the story. St. Joseph Catholic Church Location: 1310 Mainstreet Services: Special holiday features: Children's pageant prior to the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass Church of the Cross Location: 209 Ninth Ave. N. Services: Cross of Glory Baptist Church Location: 4600 Shady Oak Road Services: Special holiday features: Christmas …

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