Haft2Know

Thanks to the internet, nearly anything can be found quickly now - including a black Christmas tree. (They call it 'Tuxedo Black', to reconcile any hesitation you may have in buying one for your surly 16-year-old.) Treetopia.com might not be able to get your 'In the Navy' blue tree to you by Friday, but they're sure a great resource to check out for Boxing Day sales. The array of colours is staggering, and they come lit, or not. A nice way to mix a little extra brilliance into your tree next year.

This one below is the Stephen J. Colbert Tree. For real.

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This holiday season, your tailor is being replaced by a robot. Alton Lane is a custom suit retailer in New York's Flatiron Building. In the shop, they've a black booth to step into - not unlike the security booth at the airport - only this one requires you be in just your underwear. Once inside, lights and lasers and 'the future' will then scan your entire body and record your exact measurements. Then, after selecting style and fabric for your custom duds, someone, somewhere on the other side of the world will fashion a suit made specifically for your body.

Three weeks and less than $500 later, your suit will arrive to your home. And shortly afterward, you'll no doubt be planning your next visit to Alton Lane.

AltonLane.com

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While a fruit cake renaissance may be yet to come, poinsettias are becoming cool again.

The plant originally came from Mexico and while revered by the Aztecs, eventually became a symbol of Christmas to the Mexican culture. It became tradition to decorate them around Christmas time. Then in 1824, the American Ambassador to Mexico - Joel Poinsett (see where this is going?) was so impressed with the red plants that he brought them up to the U.S. and thus began their Americanization.

In the late 19th Century, a California farming family named the Eckes started selling them widely. Back then they were three feet tall. They've since been cultivated to grow smaller, and brighter. Oh, and they've never been poisonous. That's only ever been a rumour, viciously started no doubt, by another, less fortunate California farming family.

Martha Stewart wants to show you a few things to do with poinsettias.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Haft2.

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