| There are many traditions and symbols that we | | | | in everyone's home.Santa Claus is a lively, jolly |
| associate with Christmas including the Christmas | | | | and fat old fellow who tours the whole world on |
| tree, leaving cookies out for Santa Claus, and | | | | Christmas Eve delivering presents to deserving |
| sending Christmas cards and Christmas presents. | | | | children. The modern-day Santa Claus finds his |
| If you're like most, you observe all of the | | | | origins in Saint Nicholas. This patron saint was |
| traditions which are sacred to your family without | | | | shown in paintings to look like the ordinary person |
| a thought about where they originated or why | | | | that he was, but was given a makeover by the |
| they became so popular in the first place.While | | | | Coca-Cola Company in the 1930's. That's right; our |
| you don't need to know why you celebrate the | | | | beloved Santa Claus is nothing more than a clever |
| Christmas holiday the way you do, it makes for | | | | marketing ploy. And you thought it was hard |
| interesting conversation when you're sipping egg | | | | when the kids on the playground told you Santa |
| nog in front of the fireplace. So, if you're ready to | | | | Claus didn't exist.Christmas cards were introduced |
| wow your family and friends with your knowledge | | | | during the 1840s in Britain with the introduction of |
| of the Christmas holiday, bring up these | | | | the postal service and the penny stamp. While a |
| interesting facts about the most widely celebrated | | | | penny was a lot of money during those days, |
| holiday.The modern term Christmas originates | | | | sending Christmas cards still became very |
| form the Olde English "cristes masse," which | | | | common by the 1860s.Holly and mistletoe are also |
| means "Christ's mass." The name Christ finds its | | | | attributed to the Druids. The ancient Druids were |
| origins in the Greek tongue, which was the | | | | the first society known to have worn sprigs of |
| language spoken by Christ himself. The Greek | | | | holly and mistletoe. The druid priests believed that |
| form of the work was Khristos, which means | | | | holly was able to remain green and vibrant the |
| "anointed one."The origins of the Christmas tree | | | | entire year because it possessed magical |
| actually predate Christ and the history of | | | | properties. We may have also picked up some |
| Christianity by thousands of years. The tree finds | | | | other significant traditions from the Druids. Do you |
| its beginning during the time of the Druids, a | | | | think that it's a coincidence that the colors of |
| society made up of sorcerers, prophets and | | | | holly, green and red, are the colors associated |
| priests. During the time of the Druid winter | | | | with Christmas today? Mistletoe, on the other |
| solstice, which fell on December 21, the Druid | | | | hand, represented fertility and was looked down |
| priests decorated outdoor trees with apples and lit | | | | upon by the Christian church for its association |
| candles to show their appreciation to their god | | | | with non-virginity.Gift giving came to us from the |
| Odin. The candles represented the eternal light of | | | | Romans. The Romans exchanged holly wreaths |
| their sun god Balter. Christians later adopted the | | | | as gifts during their Saturnalia festival, which |
| practice widely and decorated their fir trees with | | | | coincided with the Druid's winter solstice. The |
| apples to represent Adam and Eve's gall from | | | | wreaths were a symbol of eternal life. Later, |
| grace.The first Christmas tree has been credited | | | | many Christians would take to adorning their |
| to a warrior of the Crusades, Winfried of England, | | | | homes with holly during the Saturnalia festival to |
| who had traveled to the Northern forests to | | | | avoid persecution from the Romans. Eventually |
| covert the Pagans, according to legend. When | | | | adornment with holly was absorbed into Christian |
| Winfried came upon an unruly mob getting ready | | | | practices as well.So, now that you know a little |
| to conduct a human sacrifice before the sacred | | | | more about why you do the things you do during |
| Oak of Geismar, he chopped down the detestable | | | | the Christmas season, why don't you see what |
| tree and a fir tree immediately sprang from | | | | other tidbits of historical knowledge that you can |
| where the Oak tree formerly stood. Winfried | | | | uncover to share during your next holiday |
| claimed the tree was the three of Christ which | | | | gathering. |
| represented the love and kindness that should be | | | | |