The History of Christmas Traditions

Christians celebrate Christmas to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, which is an event and not a tradition; but many other activities related to celebrating the Christmas season evolved from certain traditions, many of which are from other countries, particularly from Europe.

Among common items used in Christmas decorations are holly and mistletoe. Both are used primarily in wreaths and garlands. The Druids started the tradition of using mistletoe as a decorative item two hundred years before Christ. To celebrate the winter season, the Druids would gather the plants and use them to decorate their homes. The Druids believed mistletoe would bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. They also believed that mistletoe had a healing quality and could be used for everything from healing wounds to increasing fertility.

In Scandinavia, mistletoe was seen as a plant of peace and harmony and was associated with Frigga, the goddess of love. This association is probably what led to the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. In the Victorian period, the English would also hang mistletoe from ceilings and in doorways during the holidays. The habit developed that if someone was standing under the mistletoe, someone else in the room would kiss that person. Such outright behavior was not generally seen in Victorian society.

The use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations was once banned by the church because of its associations with pagan traditions and the use of holly was suggested as a substitute.

Poinsettias are another traditional decorative flower used at Christmas. It is native to Mexico and is named after Joel Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, and who brought the plants to America in 1828. Mexicans believe the plants were a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem and that's one reason they are associated with Christmas. There's also the story that a young boy was going to see the Nativity Play at a church but realized he didn't have a gift for Baby Jesus. The boy gathered some green branches, which others scoffed at, but as he placed them near the manger, a bright red poinsettia flower started to bloom on each branch, which gave rise to their traditional use at Christmas.

Candy canes became a Christmas tradition not because their red and white stripes matched the colors of the season, but for the most unusual reason of discipline. They were first used as treats that were give to German children to keep them well-behaved for the duration of church sermons. Over time, the legend of candy canes at Christmas came to be associated with some of the strongest symbols and beliefs of Christianity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, known as the Trinity: the Blood of the son of God; Jesus, as the embodiment of holiness, purity, and without sin; and the son of God as the shepherd of man. The candy cane represents these symbols respectively with its three stripes, its red and white color, and its shape.

Sending greeting cards during Christmas and the holidays is as prevalent today as the custom of giving gifts. The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in 1840 in Britain with the start of public postal delivery service of the “Penny Post.” Then, from about 1860, large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started being produced. The popularity of the cards increased in Britain when they could be sent by the postal service for one half-penny, which was half the price to post a standard letter at the time, if they were in an unsealed envelope. Religious pictures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the angels, shepherds, and Wise Men were traditionally placed on Christmas cards. Some cards today include scenes from the Nativity, but pictures of Santa Claus, winter scenery, Christmas trees, and gift packages are also depicted on contemporary Christmas greeting cards.

Decorating Hints for Christmas

With so many decorative choices at Christmas, a strategy is needed to ensure that whatever is done looks organized, well-arranged, and beautiful, rather than haphazard and disorganized. By doing some basic or traditional decoration, along with trying creative and different ideas, a beautiful and pleasing decorative environment can be created in every home.

Traditional decorating ideas include using wreaths for doors or entranceways and on walls with unobstructed views. Garlands can be placed along surfaces where they can be hung vertically or horizontally. Christmas lights can be used by themselves or with garlands, in shrubs and, of course, on Christmas Trees.

Using Christmas lights outdoors has become very popular. Icicle lights are just as easy as regular lights to put in place and they create a very pleasing display for the holiday season. Adding color to these outdoor light displays can also make houses and lighting displays look more spectacular.

For indoor lighting, candles have become an attractive Christmas decorative item as they can light up the night in a subdued, but beautiful, manner. Candles create a pleasing look when displayed at windows if there are at least two sets of two or three windows directly above each other, in a vertical pattern. New technologies with candles have also made them safer to use. There are electrical candles, but there are also battery-operated types that can be used safely instead of the electrical ones, or in places where there aren't any electrical outlets.

There are creative ways to use and incorporate various items around the home to make Christmas decorations. Christmas or holiday ribbons can be used to make bows that are pinned onto curtains to provide a festive look. Like curtains, houseplants can also be dressed up for the holidays. Small Christmas ornaments can be gently placed on houseplants to give porches, patios, and front lawns a wonderful Christmas look.

Although many people don't use Christmas stockings anymore for Christmas gifts, they can still be used to create perfect Christmas decorations. A collection of Christmas stockings can be hung on the mantle, shelf, or on walls, with or without anything inside them. They will look just as beautiful as those that are often seen in stores.

Christmas lights can also be wrapped along with garlands on a banister or stair railing to add a twinkling Christmas look. Mistletoe can be hung just about anywhere, with or without Christmas lights. If the tale about mistletoe is believed, however, then it should be hung somewhere with room underneath for two people to have a friendly holiday kiss or even a hug. Fake snow can be sprinkled on garlands, mistletoess and wreaths to further enhance their appearance with something from the Christmas season.

Borrowing a decoration often seen in department stores, several boxes of various sizes can be wrapped, piled in a haphazard manner, and placed in a corner from floor to ceiling to make a gift pillar decoration. Old Christmas cards can be used for decorations by cutting pictures from them to make a collage. The pictures are glued onto a poster board that can be hung on a wall. Even Christmas cookie cutters can be put to an easy and creative use by stringing two or three of them together with Christmas ribbon.

With all of these wonderful ideas, any home can be festively decorated for Christmas and the holidays.