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Christmas Traditions, Facts and Symbols


Christmas is a widely celebrated holiday around the world, and it comes with a variety of traditions, facts, and symbols. Here’s a brief overview:

Christmas Traditions:

  1. Decorating the Christmas Tree: One of the most iconic traditions is decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments, lights, and a tree topper.
  2. Gift-Giving: Exchanging gifts is a central part of Christmas celebrations. Many people exchange presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
  3. Christmas Dinner: Families often gather for a special meal on Christmas Day, which may include roast turkey, ham, or other festive dishes.
  4. Christmas Carols: Singing Christmas carols is a popular tradition, whether it’s going caroling door-to-door or attending Christmas church services.
  5. Advent Calendar: Many families use an Advent calendar to count down the days leading up to Christmas, often revealing a small treat or surprise each day.
  6. Santa Claus and Stockings: Children hang stockings for Santa Claus to fill with gifts. The legend of Santa Claus, a jolly man in a red suit, is based on the historical figure of St. Nicholas.
  7. Christmas Cards: Sending and receiving Christmas cards is a tradition that allows people to exchange warm wishes and updates with friends and family.

Christmas Facts:

  1. Date of Christmas: December 25th is widely celebrated as Christmas Day, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
  2. Origins of Christmas: Christmas has both Christian and pagan origins. The date was chosen to coincide with various winter solstice celebrations.
  3. Christmas Colors: Red and green are the traditional colors of Christmas. Red symbolizes the blood of Christ, while green represents eternal life.
  4. Mistletoe: Hanging mistletoe is a tradition that dates back to ancient times. It is often associated with romance, and it is customary for people to kiss under the mistletoe.
  5. Yule Log: The Yule log is a tradition that originated in medieval times. A large log is burned in the fireplace as a part of the Christmas festivities.
  6. Poinsettias: Poinsettias are popular Christmas plants. They are native to Mexico and were introduced to the U.S. by Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. Minister to Mexico.

Christmas Symbols:

  1. Christmas Tree: Symbolizes everlasting life and the promise of new life in the spring.
  2. Santa Claus: Represents the spirit of giving and generosity. The modern image of Santa Claus is based on various historical figures.
  3. Reindeer: Santa’s reindeer, particularly Rudolph, are popular symbols of Christmas. The story of Santa’s reindeer is derived from various cultural influences.
  4. Snowflakes: Represent the winter season and are often used as decorative elements during Christmas.
  5. Candles: Symbolize light overcoming darkness. Many Christmas traditions involve the lighting of candles.
  6. Nativity Scene: Depicts the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem and is a significant symbol in Christian celebrations.

It’s important to remember that Christmas traditions and symbols can vary across cultures and regions. These elements contribute to the festive atmosphere and the joyous spirit of the holiday season.

For more on Christmas Traditions read our section on Holidays and Flowers

The Symbolism and Significance of Christmas Flowers and Greenery


Christmas flowers and greenery play a significant role in the symbolism of the holiday season, often representing various themes such as renewal, hope, and the enduring spirit of life. Here are some common Christmas flowers and greenery along with their symbolism:

Christmas Flowers:

  1. Poinsettia:
    • Symbolism: The poinsettia is often associated with the Christmas season and is said to symbolize purity, joy, and the Star of Bethlehem. Its vibrant red color is reminiscent of the season’s festivities.
  2. Christmas Rose (Hellebore):
    • Symbolism: The Christmas rose symbolizes hope and love. Its winter bloom is seen as a sign of renewal and the promise of new beginnings.
  3. Amaryllis:
    • Symbolism: Amaryllis represents determination and beauty. The large, showy blooms are often associated with the holiday spirit, and the flower is considered a symbol of success and achievement.
  4. Paperwhites:
    • Symbolism: Paperwhites symbolize rebirth and renewal. Their delicate white flowers and sweet fragrance evoke a sense of purity and new beginnings.
  5. Christmas Cactus:
    • Symbolism: The Christmas cactus blooms during the holiday season and symbolizes endurance and longevity. Its ability to thrive and flower even in less-than-ideal conditions is seen as a metaphor for resilience.

Christmas Greenery:

  1. Christmas Tree:
    • Symbolism: The Christmas tree, adorned with lights and ornaments, symbolizes eternal life. The evergreen nature of the tree represents the promise of life continuing, even in the depths of winter.
  2. Holly:
    • Symbolism: Holly is associated with protection and goodwill. The sharp leaves and red berries are said to symbolize Christ’s crown of thorns and drops of blood, respectively, adding a deeper religious significance.
  3. Mistletoe:
    • Symbolism: Mistletoe is a symbol of love and fertility. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is said to bring good luck and is associated with love and friendship.
  4. Ivy:
    • Symbolism: Ivy is often used in Christmas decorations and is a symbol of faithfulness and eternal life. Its ability to cling and grow in challenging conditions represents the enduring nature of love and friendship.
  5. Evergreen Wreaths:
    • Symbolism: Wreaths made of evergreen branches symbolize eternity and the circle of life. They are often used as a sign of welcome and goodwill during the holiday season.

These symbols collectively contribute to the festive and meaningful atmosphere of Christmas, carrying traditions and messages of hope, love, and the enduring spirit of life into homes and communities around the world.

For more on Christmas Traditions read our section on Holidays and Flowers

More Christmas Facts and Symbols





Here’s some more Christmas Facts, Symbols and History
christmasornament
Xmas
This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ’s name, “X” in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ’s name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook “Xmas” as a sign of disrespect.

Read the Origins of Christmas here: http://www.edenflorist.com/article_info.php?articles_id=14

 

candycaneThe Candy Cane
Candy canes have been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until around 1900 that they were decorated with red stripes and bent into the shape of a cane. They were sometimes handed out during church services to keep the children quiet. One story (almost certainly false) that is often told about the origin of the candy cane is as follows:

In the late 1800’s a candy maker in Indiana wanted to express the meaning of Christmas through a symbol made of candy. He came up with the idea of bending one of his white candy sticks into the shape of a Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols of Christ’s love and sacrifice through the Candy Cane. First, he used a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, he added three small stripes to symbolize the pain inflicted upon Jesus before His death on the cross. There are three of them to represent the Holy Trinity. He added a bold stripe to represent the blood Jesus shed for mankind. When looked at with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd’s staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. If you turn it upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus’ name. The candy maker made these candy canes for Christmas, so everyone would remember what Christmas is all about.

Santa Claus
The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century. He was very pious from an early age, devoting his life to Christianity. He became widely known for his generosity for the poor. But the Romans held him in contempt. He was imprisoned and tortured. But when Constantine became emperor of Rome, he allowed Nicholas to go free. Constantine became a Christian and convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicholas was a delegate to the council. He is especially noted for his love of children and for his generosity. He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. He is also, of course, the patron saint of children. The Dutch kept the legend of St. Nicholas alive. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, in Anglican, to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, “A Visit from St. Nick,” which was later published as “The Night Before Christmas.” Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit.

Read the History of Santa Claus here: http://www.edenflorist.com/article_info.php?articles_id=16

(source: http://wilstar.net/xmas/xmassymb.htm)

Order your holiday flowers at Eden Florist & Gift Baskets Online or by phone 954-981-5515 or 800-966-3336.

Christmas Facts and Symbols





mistletoe

Mistletoe and Holly
Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.

Poinsettia

 

Poinsettias
Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America’s first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.

 

The Christmas Tree
christmastreeThe Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter’s night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820’s.

Is there someone in your family that you just have trouble getting the right gift for? If so, check out Heidi’s Top Ten Gifts for the Hard to Please ~ http://www.edenflorist.com/article_info.php?articles_id=22

Even More Christmas Facts





 Christmas, celebrated the world over has a long and interesting history. Here are a few more facts about Christmas from wence it began

NativityScene

• The story of Jesus Christ’s birth is told in New Testament’s gospel of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew.

• Some Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s coming on January 6, the Epiphany, when they believe he was baptized.

• Church officials, “impressed with the ritual’s symbolic bringing back of light into the world,” claimed the date of December 25. Roman Emperor Constantine officially recognized it as the celebration of Jesus’ birth in the 4th century A.D.

• The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” refers to the 12 days between Christmas and the Epiphany.

• The word Christmas comes from the Old English Cristes maesse, which means Christ’s mass.

• The Middle Ages marked the origin of many traditional Christmas symbols such as the Yule log, holly, and caroling. The burning Yule log (Yule comes from the Scandinavian jol or jul which means “jolly”) symbolized the time in which bonfires raged to “beckon the reappearance of winter’s holy light.”

• The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ’s name.

• In the early 19th century, German and Dutch Protestant immigrants resurrected the Christmas holiday to its original status. St. Nicholas also gained prominence during the Victorian era.

• In 1969, the Roman Catholic church dropped St. Nicholas’ Feast Day from its calendar because his life is so unreliably documented.

• The German word Christkindl, which means Christ child, eventually turned into Kriss Kringle.

• Santa Claus generally was depicted as an elf until 1931, when Coca-Cola ads portrayed him as human-sized.

• Rudolph didn’t become Santa’s ninth reindeer until 1939 when an advertising writer for the department store Montgomery Ward created him.

Sources: Encarta 96 Encyclopedia, World Book, Encyclopedia Britanica

Check out the Holiday Tips and Ideas for the History of Santa Claus, Origins of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and more here: http://www.edenflorist.com/articles.php?tPath=7

Order your holiday flowers at Eden Florist & Gift Baskets Online or by phone 954-981-5515