Hegivespresents

He gives presents REPORTER: "How does he know what they want?" CHILD: massage table"Well he lives in the North Pole, I don't know if there's like a speaker or anything, for them to hear auto water pumpwhat children want."The children are all fourth-graders at a Washington-area elementary school.CHILDREN: "My name is Seth Montuori. I was adopted. I usually go up to my grandpa's and my grandma's house. It's one of my best holidays, and, because you get lots of presents and stuff. I'm just really glad that I could be with my family."ugg australia "Well, first we go to church, then we come home on Christmas Eve and then we open our presents.ugg on sale And then the next morning our stockings are full and we wake up, go downstairs and empty our socks. And that's the German way. My mom's German."Christmas was when Jesus was born, his birthday. They have Christmas trees, and you put ornaments. And it usually snows, and we also have like lots of lights."ugg boots womenNot all the children celebrate Christmas, though.CHILD: "I celebrate Hanukkah. Well, you have to light candles every night. And you get presents for eight days because -- I mean seven days, because God made the, created the earth in seven days and on the seventh day he rested." Well, sort of. Hanukkah -- the Jewish Festival of Lights -- really is eight days. custom labelsBut the history goes back more than two thousand years. Jewish rebels defeated a Greek-Syrian army and reclaimed their temple in Jerusalem. patch cordThe first night this year was December eleventh.After Christmas, black families in the United States might also celebrate Kwanzaa,custom signs which means "first fruits" in Swahili. This modern festival of African-American culture includes lighting candles each night from December twenty-sixth through New Year's Day. By now,mbt shoes the severe recession that began in December of two thousand seven may be technically over. But millions of American families are still hurting. For many, the best gift would be a job and freedom from worry about losing their home. Other families have different worries. For military families, the best gift would be a way to mbt shoesprotect loved ones getting ready to be sent to war, or already serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the United States, holiday gift giving is important not only for the usual reasons, like showing friendship and love. It also represents an important part of a national economy driven mainly by consumer spending. Last December, as the recession hit hard, Americans held on to their money. ghd hairThis year, stores and online sellers are seeing a little more willingness to spend.Reporter Caty Weaver talked to shoppers in theghd hair Tysons Corner area of Northern Virginia, outside Washington. Shoppers Tina and KevinTINA: "My name's Tina. I have two girl and one boy."Tina is shopping with Kevin, Electric winchand they say the difficult economy forced them to Christmas shop a little differently this year, to save money.KEVIN: "Instead of shopping in just the regular shopping mall we were kind of forced to go to these bargain type shops."And by the look of their shopping cart,Solvent dyes overflowing with boxes and bags, they must be finished.TINA: "For everybody. [Laughter]Coating pigment"But they still have one more purchase to make: their Christmas tree. Another couple out shopping,Floruescent pigment Duncan and Alexandra, look happy with their results. DUNCAN: "This year a lot of stores are cheap air maxtrying to reduce prices to help bring customers in during this time of recession. And we've had tremendous success in getting different things that we wanted for the holidays.football shoes"We asked Alexandra her favorite Christmas song. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.'"Johnnie Truesdale is shopping custom labelswith two other women -- who point to her to be the one to talk on the radio. She has a thing or twowholesale nfl jerseys to say about the prices.And the shopping conditions.JOHNNIE TRUESDALE: "The stores are very crowded. And I'm glad I'm finished shopping.But she has praise for the people who work at the stores.JOHNNIE TRUESDALE: "The lines were moving pretty fast. The salespersons were doing a good job.oil scooter spare parts"And her favorite Christmas song?JOHNNIE TRUESDALE: "'Silent Night.' It's the Temptations." Finally, there is Vincente Carbajal. He is shopping with his wife and little girl. But not Christmas shopping. He says his family does not celebrate Christmas, although they are Christian. VINCENTE CARBAJAL: "We think every single day is very valuable. We celebrate every single day with our family, with our community. We don't hate anyone. Every single day can be a Christmas."