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The Tradition of Christmas

Thu, 27 Oct 2005

Very few homes in the 21st Century escape from the phenomenon of having decorations at Christmas time. In December many people decorate their homes, even those families who are not Christian still often adorn the home with a few ornaments, fairy lights, flowers or a holly wreath and put these up either inside the house or outside the entrance. People may blow up balloons and put up other decorations such as paper chains. Red, green and gold are the most common colours used for decorations.

The festival of Christmas is certainly the biggest shopping season of the year.

Holly, mistletoe and the Yule Log:

The use of holly and mistletoe was already in common usage before the celebration of Christmas was introduced. The Druids regarded the mistletoe as sacred, dedicating it to the Goddess of Love and preventing it from touching the ground. This belief was altered to accommodate Christianity by claiming the white berries symbolised the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Holly leaves symbolise the crown of thorns of Christ and his drops of blood are signified by the redness of the berries. Holly was also an integral part of early English folklore. The tradition of hanging a holly wreath on the door at Christmas began during the 17th Century and signified a home that celebrated the birth of Christ.

In the medieval period, the Yule log was ceremoniously carried into the house on Christmas Eve, and put in the fireplace of the main communal room. Often decorated with greenery and ribbon, it was lit with the saved end of the previous year’s log and then burnt continuously for the twelve days of Christmas, providing much needed lights and warmth.

The Christmas stocking:

The custom of hanging a stocking on the hearth or bed post on Christmas Eve in the hope that it will be filled with presents the next morning started about 400 years ago. In many countries, children leave empty containers on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill with small gifts such as toys, sweets, or fruit. In Britain, most of Europe and in North America, the tradition is to hang a Christmas stocking by the fireplace because Santa Claus, according to the story, comes down the chimney and the stockings will be waiting for him. In other countries, children place their empty shoes for Santa's visit.
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