· 2 BYERS’ CHOICE LTD. 215-822-6700 3 Christmas in the northeastern part of the United States, where Byers’ Choice Ltd. is located, is associated with warm fires, marshmallows

www.byerschoice.com

www.byerschoice.com 1Girl with Christmas Cards – $70; English Mailbox (11”H) – $24; Woman Selling Christmas Cards – $75; Boy with Christmas Cards – $70

Cries of LondonThe 2016 Cries of London series features a Crier Selling Christmas Cards.

The tradition of sending Christmas cards began in Britain around 1840 when the first

Penny Post public postal delivery service began. Read more on p16.

featuresCHRISTMAS 2016

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2 Snow Time — Christmas in the Northeast

5 Christmas Memories — Making Candy Canes

6 Holiday Planning — Tips for Stress-free Holiday

22 Accessories – Make the most of your Caroler Christmas displays

26 Jolly Happy Souls Snowmen — Add some sparkle to your holiday

14 Greetings from the North Pole — Santa’s Winter Wonderland

16 Deliver Christmas Cheer – History of the Christmas Card

18 Christmas Mice — Stirring up some Christmas Eve Mischief

“Nativity” collection & “12 Days of Christmas” series — limited availability at www.byerschoice.com

OUR PRODUCT—HANDCRAFTED IN U.S.A.

Due to the handmade nature of the Carolers®, items may vary slightly in color and design from product pictured. Adult Caroler: 13” tall; Child Caroler: 10” tall

www.byerschoice.com 32 BYERS’ CHOICE LTD. 215-822-6700

Christmas in the northeastern part of the United States,

where Byers’ Choice Ltd. is located, is associated with

warm fires, marshmallows swimming in hot chocolate,

snow and sledding. For this reason, we have created a

series of Carolers participating in cold-weather activities.

Snow time

The Flexible FlyerIn 1889, Samuel Leeds Allen received a pattern for a new type of sled. Sales were slow going at first, but by 1915, approximately 120,000 were sold per year. The 1960s saw the “Flyer” being replaced by the saucer for speed and safety reasons. Today the Flexible Flyers are back! The rights to make the sled have been sold to Paricon, a business started in Maine.

Snow Day Kid with Sled – $73; Snow Day Mother with Skis – $73;Snow Day Kid with Toboggan – $73

Snow Day Kid with Snowballs – $71; Snow Day Kid Feeding Birds – $71; Snow Day Kid Holding Skates – $71

Toddler on Skates — $28

4 BYERS’ CHOICE LTD. 215-822-6700

From Medieval times to

the 1800s, town waites

were employed as

watchmen in English

towns. They played

musical instruments

during the night at certain

strategic positions to report

all was well and that

they had not fallen asleep.

In the morning, they

would play their noisy

instruments under windows

to awaken the town folk.

Waites often wore colorful

costumes and were invited

to entertain on auspicious

occasions. Over the

centuries their instruments

varied, but they were

usually loud, high

pitched, penetrating wind

instruments not meant for

pleasurable entertaining.

In 1835, a time of great

social change in England,

the cacophonous waites

were abolished in favor of

a more civilized means of

alerting the citizens.

The Town Watchmen

Fortunately, the tradition of street musicians lingered on and their music and

instruments became more refined. By the middle to end of the 1800s, groups of

waites could be hired to sing or play musical instruments under people’s windows

especially during the festive Christmas season.

Joyce Byers

Candy Cane Santa - $78

Christmas memories

”

“ I recall my Mother and I making candy

canes. So, I went online for directions.

As it turns out, candy cane

making requires great skill

and is not an easy project

for children.

The Food Network has a

recipe for real candy canes

by master pastry chef,

Jacques Torres. It begins,

“Before you begin this recipe,

please take a class from

a professional on working

with sugar.” Working with

300-degree sugar is required

and could burn your hands.

So maybe it is better to buy

candy canes!

Sweet Fact: The Spangler® Candy Company makes 2.7 million candy canes a day!

5

Waite with Tuba – $75; Waite with Cymbals – $71; Waite with French Horn – $76; Waite with Violin – $75;Door (19.5”H x 13”W x 3.5”D) – $69

6 BYERS’ CHOICE LTD. 215-822-6700 7

HOLIDAY PLANNINGFrom gifts, decor, food and parties, there is much to do in the weeks leading up to Christmas! We always think that there is plenty of time

but the holidays still sneak up on us. To avoid Christmas chaos, here’s a list of tips for a calm and enjoyable Christmas season.

Deck the HallsOne month before Christmas, take stock of your

holiday decorations — before you make the trek to

the tree farm for the perfect Christmas tree!

q Check Christmas light sets for broken

or missing bulbs

q Sort through your ornaments to see if any

need to be repaired, replaced or updated

q Save time and hang wreaths that you can enjoy

from Thanksgiving through Christmas

ShoppingBy early December, make your gift list and

check it twice.

q Print out a master Christmas gift list

(with budget) to help keep track of all

the gifts that you need to buy/make

for others

q Start shopping early — the more you buy

ahead the better, especially if you will

be mailing gifts. Try to have gifts in the

mail by mid-December.

q Wrap gifts as they are purchased to

prevent a late night on Christmas Eve

q Don’t forget to buy batteries for toys

and electronics! (continued p10)

Burgundy/Gold Family: Woman – $75; Man – $75;Girl – $75; Boy – $75

Red/Grey Family: Woman – $75; Man – $75;Girl – $75; Boy – $75

Starting on December 1st, count down the days until Christmas morning with an Advent calendar.See more wooden Advent calendars on our website, www.byerschoice.com

Woman Selling Evergreens – $74

Evergreen Boy – $74

Evergreen Market Stall – $85

Shopping Family – $75 ea

Evergreen Girl – $74


You better watch out; You better not cry

You better not pout; I’m telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He’s making a list; He’s checking it twice;

He’s gonna find out; Who’s naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

Ingredients:• One pre-made Pizza Crust

• Pizza Sauce

• Leftover Turkey Stuffing

• Leftover Turkey-shredded

• Mozzarella Cheese

• Basil or Sage leaves

• Olive Oil

Roll out the crust. Top with sauce. Scatter on a handful of stuffing and a handful of turkey. Top with cheese. Chop the basil or sage leaves and mix with oil. Drizzle on top and bake as crust directions instruct, or until brown. Enjoy!

Christmas Pizza

Here is a fun recipe to help use up Christmas dinner leftovers! It’s also great to snack on while you take the decorations off the tree!

BACK

Naughty Boy – $71

All children have good days and bad days. It’s part of being

a kid. As Christmas comes closer, it’s important for all children

to remember to be extra nice because Santa is watching. He

still delivers lumps of coal if a child is too naughty.

Written by John Frederick Coots and Haven GillespieLump of Coal (styles vary) – $17

Nice Girl – $71

Chef with Pizza – $75

www.byerschoice.com 11

Get CookingPre-cook, pre-plan and prepare . . . spend more time with your family on the big day and

less time in the kitchen!

q There are plenty of Christmas recipes that you can make and freeze weeks before the

day including cakes, breads and un-iced cookies; make sure they are wrapped well to

guarantee freshness.

q When baking a gingerbread house, use your best heavy-duty cookie sheets for even

pieces that are easier to put together.

Christmas FunDon’t forget to make some time for fun with the family!

q Help children write their letters to Santa

q Decorate the Christmas tree

q Watch a Christmas movie

CelebrateBe the hostess with the mostest!

q Set the date for your holiday

party as soon as possible as

calendars will start to fill up

q Music will make your party

festive so put together a

Christmas playlist

q As the party heats up, crack a

window open to circulate fresh,

cool air


HOLIDAY P

LANNIN

G

Caroler Condo Storage Box (Holds 12 Figures) – $40

Boy with Gingerbread – $74; Woman Selling Gingerbread – $74; Girl with Gingerbread – $74; Sweet Dreams Chalet Resin Gingerbread House (13”W x 15”H x 10.5”D) – $120

Black/Gold Family: Woman – $74; Man – $76;

Girl – $74; Boy – $76

StorageMake decorating easy next

year by neatly storing your

figures in a Caroler® Condo;

you’ll keep them safe and

will know exactly where

to find them!

Decorated Tree with Lights (18”H; Requires 3 “AA” Batteries) – $48

Ugly Christmas Sweater Family: Woman – $75; Man – $75; Girl – $75; Boy – $75

Toddler Girl with Package – $28Toddler Boy with Package – $28

Dog in Bed – $20 (4”H)

The late 1800s was the golden

age of Chocolate production and

consumption throughout Europe.

Many cities and towns had

competing chocolate shops with

wonderful window displays filled

with intricate, molded solid chocolate

figures to entice hungry passersby.

By this time, they had perfected the

art of molding chocolate by using

metal molds. The Anton Reiche

Company began manufacturing

these molds in Dresden, Germany

during the 1870’s. They even

designed and produced very large

“show case” molds upwards of 3

feet tall for chocolate shop windows.

Unfortunately, metal chocolate mold

production in Europe all but ceased

during WWII and was eventually

replaced by plastic molds which

became the material of choice by the

1960s. Our “Chocolate Santa” was

inspired by this tradition and we feel

he makes the perfect calorie-free gift

for someone with a sweet tooth.

Sweetinspiration

Chocolate Santa – $78


Need suggestions on the type of wine to serve with

Christmas dinner? Here are some pairings:

Santa and Mrs. Claus love to entertain during

the holiday season. Both are dressed in their

finest coats trimmed with fur.

Ham

Reds: Pinot Noir and Zinfandel

Whites: Riesling and Gewurztraminer

Turkey

Reds: Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Shiraz

Whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Viognier, Riesling

Red Meat

Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Zinfandel, Shiraz

Winesfor the holidays

Cordiallyinvited

13

Wine Santa 2016 – $78

Holiday Mrs. Claus $78 ; Holiday Santa – $80


Surely, his wonderland

compound is covered in

a blanket of glistening

white snow with icicles

hanging from every eve.

It’s decorated with brightly

illuminated Christmas

lights which give it a

warm and inviting glow.

As you enter the main

building through two tall

wooden doors, you find

a grand stone fireplace

and the sweet aroma of

fresh baked gingerbread

that brings you straight

back to your childhood.

There are surely many

similar buildings to

explore including the

stables where the reindeer

live and the enormous

workshop where the elves

are busy making toys.

Not much is known for

sure about Santa’s helpers,

but from stories passed

down through generations,

most people have started

to compile a pretty good

idea. At this point, we

accept as fact that these

North Pole elves are

smaller than humans,

extremely crafty and

tireless workers. They are

filled with childlike joy,

great singers of Christmas

carols, of course, and wear

pointed shoes to match

their ears. It is also fairly

well known that Santa’s

elves love to eat anything

sweet, especially candy

canes.

Greetings from the

At one time or another, we have all imagined what it would be like to visit Santa at the North Pole.

North Pole

Our new Bald Santa for 2016 is checking his

“nice list” while sorting through his stack of letter

requests for special toys and treats. The elves that

assist Santa are named after some of our favorite

classic Christmas vocalists. There is “Bing” with the

block letters and “Burl” with the toy horse on the

table. “Frankie” is holding a toy horn and “Dino” is

inspecting a toy train. Little “Mitzi” has just arrived

from the kitchen with Mrs. Claus to bring some

sweet refreshments for break time. We all know the

importance of keeping an elf’s sugar level up during

the holiday season.

Louisa May Alcott first wrote about

Christmas Elves in 1850. The first published

image of these elves working in the

workshop appeared on the cover of

Godey’s Lady Book in 1873. Godey’s was

a very influential publication at the time

and was also responsible for publishing the

first image of a decorated Christmas tree.

Bald Santa with Mailbag - $78; Mrs. Claus with Treats - $ 76; Burl: Elf on Workbench - $ 99; Frankie: Elf with Horn – $73; Dino: Elf with Train – $73; Bing: Elf with Blocks – $73; Mitzi: Girl Elf with Candy Canes – $73

“Mitzi”


A government worker by

the name of Sir Henry

Cole came up with the

idea and enlisted his artist

friend, John Horsley, to

design the first Christmas

card that was printed on

sturdy cardboard. The

outside images depict

people helping the less

fortunate. The main image

was of a family sitting

down to enjoy a Christmas

feast. If you look closely,

you’ll notice the family

raising glasses filled with

wine while the children

sip from the glasses. The

image was considered

quite controversial not only

because of the underage

drinking, but because

it was frowned on that

alcohol would be depicted

at all on a card with a

religious message. Roughly

1000 of these first cards

were printed and mailed.

Later images used on early

Christmas cards included

scenes of nativities and

snowy landscapes.

Prior to the 1840’s, sending

letters through the mail

was far too expensive

for ordinary people. The

railways allowed for a

more affordable system

to move the mail more

effectively. This new system

allowed prices to drop

significantly with trains

replacing the horse and

carriage used prior. As

the mail became more

affordable and popular,

bright red pillar post

boxes designed by Richard

Redgrave in the 1850s

began to spring up in

urban areas throughout

Britain. This affordable new

postal system designed for

the masses was nicknamed

the “Penny Post.”

Don’t you just love opening your mailbox in December to find it filled with cards and holiday greetings sent by friends and family during the weeks leading up to Christmas?

This tradition of sending notes of holiday cheer and well wishes

through the postal service dates back more than 170 years when the

first Christmas cards were printed and sold in the UK back in 1843.

Did you know? English mail carriers were sometimes called “Robin Postmen” because

of the red uniforms that they wore.

English painter, John Callcott Horsley designed the first known mass-produced Christmas card in London, 1843.

Deliver Christmas Cheer

Christmas GreetingsAnother Christmas means another chance to

catch up with the extended family. The questions

on everyone’s mind this year are not “What is in

that shiny package under the tree? Wonder if the

turkey will be dry as a bone this year?” They

are “Which new boyfriend will Auntie Esther

bring to dinner? Where did they meet? What

ever happened to the interesting guy that we all

found so charming last year?” It’s sure to be a

great story.

www.byerschoice.com 17

Auntie Esther – $76; Auntie Esther’s New Boyfriend – $76

Postman – $73 ; English Mailbox (11”H) – $24; Girl with Christmas Cards – $70; Woman Selling Christmas Cards – $75; Boy with Christmas Cards – $70


Twas the Night Before Christmas‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the

house . . . lead us to thinking about mice. What were

they doing when they were stirring about? Perhaps they

were finishing off the cheese from the Christmas Eve

party or soup noodles from dinner.

They could be doing last

minute decorating with

Santa’s snow and putting out

cookies for you-know-who.

Having turned out the light,

they probably curled up in a

cozy slipper to read before

wishing all a good night!

Mouse in Christmas Snow Box – $35

Mouse in Soup Can – $35

Mouse in Nightshirt with Candle – $45 Santa Mouse with Cookie – $45

Night Before Christmas Reading – $100; Nativity Table (8” H) – $24; Decorated Tree with Lights (18”H; requires 3 AA batteries) – $48;

Mouse with Swiss Cheese – $45

Bedtime Mouse – $40


Salvation Army: Woman with War Cry – $74; Man with Tuba – $75; Boy with Trombone – $75; Kettle with Tripod (13” High) – $17; Door (19.5” H x 13” W x 3.5” D) – $69 A portion of the proceeds from the Salvation Army figurines will go directly to The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army was founded in London,

England by one-time Methodist Reform Church

minister, William Booth.

Byers’ Choice Ltd. introduced the

Salvation Army line of Carolers in 1992.

There are 618 Salvation Army Shelters worldwide.

The annual Red Kettle Christmas fundraising

campaign started in 1891 when a Salvation Army

captain in San Francisco set up a crab pot and

began collecting money for the poor at Christmas.

The 1966 Beatles song “Strawberry Fields

Forever” is John Lennon’s nostalgic reference to a Salvation Army orphanage called Strawberry Field in Woolton, England.

The Salvation Army is referenced in over 140 films including “A Christmas Story”

and “Titanic.”

Did you know?

Making a DifferenceDoing the Most Good

Christmas is special for the Salvation

Army. They open their doors and their

hearts to those who would have no

Christmas without them. Their guests

are served a turkey dinner, treated to

entertainment, games, a family photo and

much more. Santa joins the festivities

with a gift for every child. Last Christmas,

the Salvation Army of Milwaukee was

prepared to feed 8,000 to 10,000 meals.

The Christmas season carries with it a deeper sense of purpose, of sharing our blessings, of giving

to those less fortunate.

Red Velvet Mrs. Claus – $74; Red Velvet Santa – $76; Glass Ornament Market Stall (11”W x 6”D x 18”H) – $85; Silver Hoop Tree (17.5”H) – $68; Magic Santa Key - $15

Silver & GoldOn every Christmas tree!

Burl Ives made this song a Christmas standard after it was featured in the

1964 animated television presentation of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”

It’s hard not to hum along!

Our “Red Velvet Santa” and “Red Velvet Mrs. Claus” couldn’t agree more

and are decorating an elegant Christmas tree this year with classic silver

and gold ornaments.

If you do not have a chimney, place this Magic Key outside on Christmas Eve for Santa to come through the front door!

22 215-822-6700 23

AccessoriesSet the stage for your Caroler

holiday displays!

Polar Bear Cub – $22 (5.5”High)

Walking Polar Bear Cub – $20 (3.5”High)

Seated Polar Bear Cub – $22

(4.5”H)

Caribou – $24 (11” High)

Large Penguin – $20 (6” High)

Penguin on Snow Saucer

– $20 (5.5” High)

Spotted Reindeer – $20 (8” High)

Fireplace with Candelabrum

– $35

(10”W x 8”H x 3.5”D)

Black Bear – $22 (6” High)

Seated Black Bear – $22

(5.5” High)

Door – $69 (19.5” H x 13” W x 3.5” D)

Caroler Condo Storage Box – $40

(17.5”L x 15.5”W x 14”H)

(18”H; Requires 3 “AA” Batteries)

Decorated Tree with Lights

– $48

Display Riser – $48 (11”H x 20”W x 10”D)

Mailbox with Stand – $20

(Metal; 7.5” High)

English Mailbox – $24 (11” High)

Requires one “N” battery

– not included (19” High)

Wrought Iron Fence – $36 (Plastic; 21.5”W x 6.5”H)

Candy Cane Cottage – $120 (Resin; 14”W x 13.5”H x 9”D)

Street Clock – $48

9” Snow Tree – $8




Dickensian Christmas

Mrs. Cratchit’s English Christmas Pudding

English Christmas Pudding is really best when made a full year in advance and

allowed to mellow. It was customary in many English homes to mix the pudding

early in Advent — the religious season before Christmas — and allow it to sit for

twelve full months before eating it the following year. Everyone in the family was

supposed to stir the pudding once for good luck. If you can’t make it the year

before, at least give it a few weeks to age.

It is fascinating to learn about these Christmas traditions and how they have evolved

through the years as they have been passed down through the generations. You can

learn about more unique celebrations and traditions including foods, decorations, and

customs on our website: www.byerschoice.com/christmas-traditions

Gerald Charles Dickens, great-great grandson of the famed author, returns to the United States in 2016 for his American tour of “A Christmas Carol.”Please visit our website’s calendar of events to find a venue near you!

www.byerschoice.com

©Ian Dickens

Mrs. Fezziwig – $70; Mr. Fezziwig – $70; Scrooge – $73; Mrs. Cratchit – $73; Spirit of Christmas Future – $68; Marley’s Ghost – $76; Bob Cratchit & Tiny Tim – $134

Irish Santa – $76

Polish Star Man – $77

Befana – $77

Baboushka – $77

Christmas around the World

In Italian folklore, Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany. She fills their shoes with candy and presents if they are good; a lump of coal or dark candy if they have been naughty.

The Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th) was celebrated in some towns in Ireland as ‘Nollaig na mBan’ or Women’s Christmas. Traditionally the women got the day off and the men did the housework and cooking! The women met in each other’s homes to sew and chat.

Baboushka is a traditional Russian Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. Legend is told that she declined to go with the Wise Men to see Jesus because of the cold weather. However, she regretted not going and set off to try and catch up, filling her basket with presents. She never found Jesus, and that is why she visits each house, leaving toys for good children.

At supper’s end on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas, known as The Star Man (often the parish priest in disguise), pays a visit to each home with rewards for all the good children. Koledy, or carols, are sung and presents are opened before the family heads off to the church for midnight mass.

Italy

Poland

Russia

Ireland


Bring the shine, shimmer and

magic of freshly fallen Christmas

snow inside! Our “Jolly Happy

Souls” are endearing snow

people that visit us each year

from the North Pole. Born from

the imagination of children,

these charming characters will

bring holiday smiles to faces for

many years to come.

Dressed in American-made

arctic polar fleece dusted

with glitter, each enchanted

Snowman is named and

comes with its own passport.

Add some sparkle to your holidays.

A. Floyd Flurries – $64; B. Simon Shivers – $64; C. Windy Northstar – $48; D. Bumpy Roundhead – $48; E. Crystal Diddums – $48; F. Buddy Dithers – $48; G. Celeste Hibernal – $64; H. Parson Brown – $64; I. Skipper McDrift – $48; Measure approximately 11” to 18” high

Let it Shine

A.

B.

D.

C.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.


Colonial Christmas

At Christmastime Colonial Williamsburg’s houses,

shops, and taverns are decorated inside and out with

imaginative arrangements of fruits and greenery.

Burning cressets illuminate pathways and lead the

way to celebrations. Once inside, one often finds an

elegant apple cone, a long-standing favorite decoration.

Dressed in vivid holiday colors and ready to entertain

their guests with the hospitality of the season, this

Colonial Caroler family is ready to share a traditional

Williamsburg Christmas.

Visit our website for the “Virginia Holiday Nut Cake”

recipe. www.byerschoice.com/christmas-traditions/

colonial-virginia

Original recipe and photo from the book, “Entertaining

Ideas from Williamsburg.”

Virginia Holiday Nut Cake

“Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.” – Seneca

“We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our

blessings count.” – Neal A. Maxwell

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting

something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” – Frederick Keonig

raise your glassesInspiring quotes for Thanksgiving Toasts

“Not what we say about our blessings,

but how we use them, is the true

measure of our Thanksgiving.”

– W.T. Purkiser

Pilgrim Man – $73; Pilgrim Girl – $73; Pilgrim Boy – $73 ; Pilgrim Woman – $73

Colonial Mrs. Claus – $75; Colonial Girl – $74; Colonial Santa – $78; Colonial Boy – $74; Colonial Man – $74; Colonial Woman – $75

“Forever on Thanksgiving Day,

the heart will find the pathway

home.” – Wilbur D. Nesbit

4355 County Line Road Chalfont, PA 18914

Customer #

$6.00 CHRISTMAS 2016

www.byerschoice.com

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Krampus 2016 - $78

Favorite German

Christmas Traditions

Nutcracker Vendor – $75; Nutcracker Boy – $73 Nutcracker Girl – $73; Nutcracker Woman – $75 Nutcracker Market Stall (11”W x 6”D x 18”H) – $85

Advent Calenders

Saint Nicholas Day

Nutcrackers

Krampus Night

Christmas Markets

Glühwein

Lebkuchen

Documents

· 2 BYERS’ CHOICE LTD. 215-822-6700 3 Christmas in the northeastern part of the United States, where Byers’ Choice Ltd. is located, is associated with warm fires, marshmallows