Traditions Behind Christmas Trees / Santa Clause / Gift-Giving / Yule LogLet's learn a little history about the Christmas tree, Santa Clause, The practise of giving gifts and burning of the yule log. | ||||||
The Lore of the Christmas TreeThe Christmas tree has become one of the most beloved and well-known holiday symbols and it's been a staple in winter celebrations for centuries. Many pagan festivals used trees to honor their gods and spirits. In Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen a symbol and reminder that the darkness and cold of winter would end and the green of spring would return. The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and candles to honor their gods of harvests, and the ancient Romans decorated trees with candles and charms for Saturnalia in which they celebrated the winter solstice.There are many legends surrounding the lore of the Christmas tree. One story tells of an English monk, St. Boniface, who happened upon a group of pagans who were gathered around an oak tree preparing to sacrifice a child. Legend has it that St. Boniface destroyed the tree with one punch from his fist, and a small fir tree grew in its place. St. Boniface called it the Tree of Life and told the pagans it symbolized the life of Christ. But the use of a Christmas tree indoors appears to have begun in Germany. German Christians would bring trees into their homes to decorate. Sometimes evergreen trees were hard to find, so a large pyramid-like structure was erected and adorned with branches, candles and other knickknacks. When German immigrants came to America, they brought their Christmas tree tradition with them. Early Christmas trees were often decorated with apples, nuts, cookies, colored popcorn and candles. Later, electrical lights were invented for the Christmas tree, increasing its popularity even more. Now Christmas trees are everywhere. The National Christmas Tree in Washington is a White House tradition, and thousands flock to Rockefeller Center in New York City to view the thousands of lights and decorations that adorn it. From the simple to the ornate, Christmas trees are now the decorating centerpieces of many homes throughout the world. The Lore of the Christmas Tree The Christmas tree has become one of the most beloved and well-known holiday symbols and it's been a staple in winter celebrations for centuries. Many pagan festivals used trees to honor their gods and spirits. In Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen a symbol and reminder that the darkness and cold of winter would end and the green of spring would return. The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and candles to honor their gods of harvests, and the ancient Romans decorated trees with candles and charms for Saturnalia in which they celebrated the winter solstice. There are many legends surrounding the lore of the Christmas tree. One story tells of an English monk, St. Boniface, who happened upon a group of pagans who were gathered around an oak tree preparing to sacrifice a child. Legend has it that St. Boniface destroyed the tree with one punch from his fist, and a small fir tree grew in its place. St. Boniface called it the Tree of Life and told the pagans it symbolized the life of Christ. But the use of a Christmas tree indoors appears to have begun in Germany. German Christians would bring trees into their homes to decorate. Sometimes evergreen trees were hard to find, so a large pyramid-like structure was erected and adorned with branches, candles and other knickknacks. When German immigrants came to America, they brought their Christmas tree tradition with them. Early Christmas trees were often decorated with apples, nuts, cookies, colored popcorn and candles. Later, electrical lights were invented for the Christmas tree, increasing its popularity even more. Now Christmas trees are everywhere. The National Christmas Tree in Washington is a White House tradition, and thousands flock to Rockefeller Center in New York City to view the thousands of lights and decorations that adorn it. From the simple to the ornate, Christmas trees are now the decorating centerpieces of many homes throughout the world. The Legend of SantaSanta Claus hasn't always looked like the jolly old fellow we know today. Like so many other American traditions, he's a product of the great American melting pot - a blend of many different cultures and customs. But the most influential figure in the shaping of who we know now as Santa was a real man, known as St. Nicholas of Myra. He was a fourth century bishop, and is legendary for being generous and kind.According to one legend, St. Nicholas heard of a farmer who had three daughters of marrying age who could not afford to pay their dowries. Knowing the farmer was too proud to accept an offer of money, he climbed atop their home and tossed three bags of coins down their chimney, each of which landed in a stocking that each girl had washed and hung their by the fire to dry. The next morning when they woke, they found the gift and each went on to marry and live happily ever after. When word of St. Nicholas' generosity spread, families far and wide hung stockings by their fireplaces and hoped to also receive gifts. Because of his wisdom and sensitivity, many groups claimed St. Nicholas as their patron saint. Children, orphans, sailors, and even thieves often prayed to the compassionate saint for guidance and protection, and even entire countries including Russia and Greece, also adopted him as their patron saint, as have students and pawnbrokers. Eventually, the image of the stately saint was transformed onto an almost mystical being, one known for rewarding the good and punishing the bad. The date of his death, December 6th, was commemorated with an annual feast, which gradually came to mark the beginning of the medieval Christmas season. On St. Nicholas' Eve, youngsters would set out food for the saint, straw for his horses and schnapps for his attendant. The next morning, obedient children awoke to find their gifts replaced with sweets and toys, found their offering untouched, and might also find a bundle of firewood. When people came to America, they brought the legend of St. Nicholas with them, which evolved into excitedly awaiting his arrival on Christmas Eve. The Gift of the Christmas PresentThe practice of exchanging gifts at a winter celebration.It can be traced back before the birth of Christ to the Roman celebration Saturnalia. They would exchange lucky fruit gifts called Stenae, and would have a big feast, just as most people do today. But Christmas gift giving grew following the birth of Christ when the Three Wise Men traveled a long distance to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn baby Jesus. Since that time, gift giving has evolved into many seasonal stories and the stuff of Christmas legend. St. Nicholas and his associates were widely known for their charitable acts. In their honor, French nuns in the 1200s brought presents to the homes of poor children on the eve of St. Nicholas' feast day, December 6.But in 1700s England, gift giving wasn't as charitable an act. Groups of poor boys and men would simply march into the homes of the wealthy and demand gifts of food, drink and cash. Because their servants and peasants insisted their employers treat them as equals, they felt they had no choice but to comply with their demands. It was around this same time that in America, gift-giving custom had become popular. Friends and family often exchanged money and food, and at times, everyone in a community received apples, scarves or other handmade gifts for Christmas. When the Christmas tree became popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, small toys were tied to its branches, which led to the tradition of wrapping the gifts in colorful wrap and decorations. Before the Industrial Revolution, most children's toys were also homemade, but by the 1800s they were made quickly and affordably in factories and were readily available. It was after the Industrial Revolution that Christmas shopping evolved into a custom of its very own. Even back then, there were large crowds, long lines at the cashier, and traffic jams that consisted of carriages and pedestrians instead of cars. The Burning of the Yule Log Brings Good LuckIt's been a holiday tradition to burn a Yule log even before there was a Christmas. It signifies that it is time for friends and family to gather near for songs, stories and fun, and until the Yule log burns out, there's no more working.In its beginnings, the Yule log was burned as a celebration of the winter solstice. Yule ran from several weeks before the winter solstice to a couple weeks after in Scandinavia, as this was the coldest and darkest time of the year. And though the Yule log is named from this Scandinavian tradition, the practice of burning a special log during the winter months was a tradition in many countries across the world. When Pope Julius I decided to celebrate Christmas around the time of the Winter Solstice during the fourth century, the Yule log tradition continued, but the light from the burning log represented the light of the Savior instead of the light of the sun. Traditionally on or about Christmas Eve, a big log was brought into the home or a larger gathering place. People would sing and tell stories while children danced and played. The log was even decorated, and food and wine were placed upon it as offerings. It was also a way of starting the New Year with a fresh start as a person's mistakes and shortcomings were burned in the flame of the log. Songs were sung and stories told. Children danced. The log was never allowed to burn completely; leftover pieces of it were kept in the house to start next years log and also to bring good luck to the home. It was believed those pieces would protect the home from fire, lightning or other acts of nature. Ashes of the log would be placed in wells to keep the water good and spread at the roots of trees, vines and sprinkled upon gardens and crops to ensure a good harvest. | ||||||
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