Yahoo!7 Answers Blog Australia

If you’re feeling festive this season, download the Yamster avatar and dress him up for Christmas! Feel free to add hats, clothing, or whatever you’d like – just be sure to keep it friendly, clean, and compliant with the Answers Community Guidelines.

Sites like Picnik (which is built directly into Yahoo’s own Flickr) offer a full arsenal of Christmas items like snow, decorations, and gingerbread. Be sure to check them out here.

Or, you can use something like Microsoft Paint, Photoshop, SumoPaint, or any other paint program on the market to edit or enhance an image.

Not a fan of the Yamster? That’s ok too! You’re welcome to dress up your own personal Avatar in their finest Christmas looks for the competition.

Once you’re through dressing up your Yamster or Avatar, save the image (right click and “save as”) and upload it to your Flickr account. Then, add the image to the Answers Christmas pool — found here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/yahoo7answerschristmas/.

Submissions must be received by 11am AEDST on Sunday, December 27th (4pm PST on Saturday, December 26th). Winner(s) will be posted on the Yahoo!7 Answers Blog and will receive 100 bonus points on Yahoo!7 Answers.

The Rules

• Avatars and/or Yamsters must be submitted to Flickr by 11am AEDST on Sunday, December 27th (4pm PST on Saturday, December 26th).
• All images must be in compliance with Yahoo!7’s TOS, Yahoo!7 Answers Community Guidelines, Flickr’s Community Guidelines, and, must not contain mature or adult content.
• Submitted images may only be that of Avatar or of the Yamster – no actual photographs will be accepted or considered.
• No real value is given to this prize: winner(s) will receive 100 bonus points on Yahoo!7 Answers.

Good luck everyone!

Kate
Community Manager

If yours is anything like my family, Christmas is pretty much the same year in year out. Up early for tea and to see what’s in our stockings; the extended family arrives late morning and we all celebrate with brunch and champagne. Then into the kitchen for cooking and a sprinkling of petty family disputes over how the turkey dried out (again) and who forgot to add pumpkin to the baking tray. All arguments are forgotten when we sit down to a delicious lunch, charge our glasses and don our daggy Christmas hats. It’s a much loved tradition that is relished by all.

Once in a while this routine changes and some of us spend Christmas in a completely unique way. We asked the Answers community for the most unusual Christmas they’ve ever had…

Christmas Day, 1979, in what was then the Rhodesian bush, linking up with heavily armed `freedom fighters’ so they could move to staging camps prior to the country’s first `free and fair’ elections. The entire Christmas-New Year period was a strange mix of parties, peacekeeping, investigations, sightseeing, mine clearing and winning the confidence and trust of black and white Zimbabweans. Maybe the highlight was organising the repatriation of thousands of refugees from Botswana, Mozambique and Angola so they could return and take part in the rebuilding of their nation. I didn’t miss the Christmas pudding at home with the family, thousands of miles away; neither did my colleagues from 11 different countries. We all felt the job was too important. Pity it turned out the way it did.

– UbiqueMIB

Christmas Day Darwin 1974… Huddled in a bathroom with my 6 brothers and sisters, Mum and Dad and some neighbours while our house disintegrated around us in 250km/h winds. We didn’t get our Christmas presents that year….

- Sean K

Years ago – I had just moved to Adaminaby – small town in the Snowy Mountains – It was Xmas Eve, about 5pm. Suddenly I heard singing, we all went out the front door, and there was a small truck with the town’s business people in the back, singing Xmas carols. Then, out of the blue, it started to snow. What is amazing, is that it never snows in December in Australia (it’s summer), and I have never witnessed people in Australia driving around singing carols, as they do in other parts of the world. It was something special that I will always cherish.

– brubru

At a Christmas lunch up in the hills with family, my uncle came out and summoned us all in to the living room. There was a large adult Koala sitting there and wouldn’t move when we tried to shoo him out.

– shai m

First year I was married, we hiked the Grand Canyon on Christmas day, just the 2 of us. We saw reindeer in the canyon and a lot of wildlife. The lodge served a Christmas feast. It was quiet, romantic, and a great experience.

– cricket

Caitlin
Community Manager

Sometimes I think the lead up to Christmas is almost as good as the actual day. The weather’s warm and sunny, there are plenty of parties and celebrations to go to, the streets and shops are filled with pretty decorations and everyone is in a good mood as they prepare for their summer break.

I love the ritual of setting up the Christmas tree. Digging out those boxes from up the attic or the back of the garage then opening them up and remembering all the good times from Christmases past. I love looking at those tacky cardboard decorations you made in year 3 that Mum refuses to throw out (anyone else got a Christmas candle made from a toilet roll?) and the gorgeous angel that sits at the pinnacle of the tree every year, gazing at the festivities below. For many, putting the tree up is a great family tradition that symbolises the start of the festive season. For others, the warm glow from the tree makes them feel so good that they want to know how to recreate that ambiance all year round.

While the Christmas tree is seeped in tradition for many families, where were its original origins? There are many interpretations, but according to FairyF:

Many ancient cultures revered evergreen trees, which stayed green in the winter while other trees were bare. The evergreens served as a reminder that winter would pass, and the land would once again be fruitful.
The German Saxons may have been the first to light their trees with candles, and to adorn them with decorations-trinkets of good fortune. The tradition of the indoor evergreen was so strong in Germany, it’s believed that the first use of Christmas trees by Christians developed there, with some experts placing its origin as far back as the eighth century. More

The other great thing about early December is all the parties. What with office parties, street parties, carols by candlelight and other social engagements, your month is filled with revelry (and the occasional hangover). For those who are planning the local church or office parties, it’s probably not quite so joyous; although there’s always Answers to go to if you’ve run out of ideas!

Frida had that exact dilemma last month and asked how she could plan a great office Christmas party. Santa I’ll be good next year came to the rescue, recommending a party with a theme:

Christmas parties don’t have to stick to holiday-type themes. Getting a little creative with different themes can make for a great night. There are a number of great party themes that will set a fun and festive party mood without the old worn out red and green décor. Some super theme ideas are: Rio Carnival , Las Vegas Casino, Futuristic Fantasy, 20s Speakeasy, Murder Mystery, 60’s, 70’s or 80’s, Scavenger Hunt, Indoor Sports. More

Of course, with a theme comes the quandary of what to wear!

As for us, we’re wondering about your Christmas parties. What is the most memorable Christmas party you’ve ever been to?

Caitlin
Community Manager

Less than a week till Christmas Day! This is such a busy time, with everyone rushing around trying to buy each family member the perfect gift, acquiring ridiculous amounts of food, putting up decorations and heading off to end of year parties. I personally love the silly season because it means I can dust off my Christmas albums and sing along to my favourite carols.

Love it or hate it, Christmas comes every year. Most of us enjoy getting into the spirit and following yuletide traditions, but do we even know why we follow so many rituals at this time of year that aren’t linked to the original meaning of the holiday? For instance every family puts up a Christmas tree – but where did the practice originate? And when did we start pulling Christmas crackers at the table? I was also interested to hear about how Santa’s suit came to be the way we know it nowadays.

There are lots of Christmas themed questions being asked by the Answers community at the moment – and there is a lot of interest in what those who don’t celebrate Christmas do at this time of year. If you have any Christmas questions why not post them and wait for someone to help you out!

Clea