Christmas Traditions and the meaning behind them by Joan Havelange

 

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Christmas Traditions and the meaning behind them by Joan Havelange.

Most of us have Christmas traditions. I took a little tour on Google. And here are some of the origins of some of our beloved Christmas traditions.

The Christmas tree.

The fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. The Romans used fir trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia, which in time became Christmas. The Christmas tree became popular in the UK when Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, brought one to England from Germany in 1841 and placed it in Windsor Castle. The royal couple posed in front of it with their children for a newspaper article. And it soon became fashionable all over the country.

Carol Singing

Carols were once folk songs sung at celebrations throughout the year. Not just at Christmas. Later, in medieval times, they were adopted and adapted by churchgoers, and many of these carols still make up our most beloved Christmas traditions. The Holly and The Ivy is a medieval carol, for instance.

 

The Christmas Wreath

Even before the birth of Christ and Christmas as we know it. The wreath ideas have been used as a symbol of honour and victory.  In the Middle Ages, it was adopted by those of the Christian faith as a representation of the start of Christmas.

 

Christmas Card

 

A Victorian Entrepreneur, Sir Henry Cole, commissioned the first Christmas card in the UK in 1843, as he was too busy to write individual greetings to friends. A thousand cards were printed, and Cole sold those left over. When the Royal family started sending Christmas cards, their popularity grew enormously.

Christmas Stocking

St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, was a 4th-century Christian bishop in what is now modern-day Turkey. Legend has it that he wanted to help a poor family who had three daughters; all the daughters needed a dowry before they could marry. To give charity without injuring their pride, he threw gold coins down their chimney on Christmas Eve, and the coins fell into a stocking that was hanging in the fireplace to dry.

Mistletoe

This hardy plant was revered by the Druids for its ability to survive and remain green without roots throughout the winter. They harvested it during the winter solstice and used it for medical purposes. The Romans saw it as a symbol of peace. The Scandinavians associated the mistletoe with their goddess of love. This led to the belief that a kiss underneath would lead to a year of good luck. And for young maidens. The possibility of marriage.

Thank you for allowing me to tell you some stories about the origins of a few of our beloved Christmas traditions. Merry Christmas from my house to yours. May peace and happiness be yours in the new year.

Joan Havelange is the author of six mysteries and has been writing fiction since her early twenties. She began with romance stories. But she discovered she’d rather have her protagonist pursue a killer than a romance. Always a fan of mysteries, she is an avid reader and writer of cozy mysteries. Her latest mystery is a thriller ‘Moving is Murder.’

Find her at: https://bwlpublishing.ca/havelange-joan/