All Entries in the "Christmas Traditions" Category
The Tradition of Santa Claus
The tradition of Santa Claus goes back centuries and is one of the reasons why we give gifts today. That’s because the tradition of Santa Claus is a story that deserves a little longer article all by itself, so please bear with me. Santa Claus, as we know and love him today didn’t start out [...]
The Poinsettia Tradition
You would think, after reading that most of our American holiday traditions stemmed from Europe, that it would only stand to reason that the tradition of placing Poinsettia flowers around our homes would also come from that region. Well, if you thought that, you would be 100%. . . . .Wrong! Actually, the Poinsettia tradition [...]
Christmas Caroling Tradition
The actual invention of Christmas caroling is not clear. Some claim that carols, derived from the French word carole, meaning “kind of dance”, began as far back as the 4th or 5th century A.D. Others report that carols, as we know them today, originated between the 12th and 13th centuries with St. Francis of Assisi, [...]
The Candy Cane Tradition
Are you wondering how the candy cane tradition started? Would you believe that the Candy Cane as we are familiar with it today was actually invented as a tool to keep children quiet?! It’s true. Back in the 1670′s, a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany took a well known candy, a “sugar stick” [...]
The Yule Log Tradition
The Yule Log, as we have come to know it, is a rather large piece of wood, cylindrical in shape that is placed inside the fireplace and burned on Christmas Eve. Or, you may know it simply as a little cake that resembles a wooden log! Either way, they both originated from the same place. [...]
Why Did The Tradition of Gift Giving Start?
Logically, for most Christians, the act of gift giving would be symbolic of the first Christmas Eve and the Three Wise Men bestowing gifts upon the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus to celebrate his birth. And indeed, this is where the tradition of gift-giving began. Of course, throughout the ages, and throughout countless civilizations such [...]
Where Did The Tradition Of Putting Up Christmas Trees Begin?
Besides a beautiful blanket of freshly fallen, glistening snow, Christmas Trees really make the holiday special. Each one has its own personality. Much like snowflakes. But, did the tradition of putting up Christmas trees begin in America? Certainly not! This tale actually began in Germany. In about the 8th century, there was a missionary that [...]
The Origin Of Christmas Cards – How It All Began
Buying and sending cards to your family and friends on the eve of Christmas is an age-old tradition, but have you ever wondered how this tradition started? In this article I will tell you an interesting tale regarding the origin of Christmas cards! It all started with Sir Henry Cole, the reason why he is [...]
Why Do We Eat Turkey On Christmas Day?
Ask most Westerners which meat they will be eating on Christmas Day and the vast majority will tell you that they will be choosing turkey. Ask them why and an equally large number will tell you that it’s because it is traditional. But is it? Surprisingly Turkey has only really made it as the nations [...]
Christmas Traditions: Not Essential, But Often Worthwhile
There is no right and no wrong way to celebrate Christmas. At least, where Christmas is concerned you do not have to stay with the traditional ways. After all, one of the major messages of Christmas is peace and goodwill. It would be absolutely wrong to start introducing rules as to what constitutes an acceptable [...]
