Product Description
A tour of the customs and traditions of Christmas, from Christmas Cards to Present-Giving — with everything in between! Full of insightful scholarship and fun facts. The Origin and Purpose of Festivals–Ideas suggested by Christmas–Pagan and Christian Elements–The Names of the Festival–Foundation of the Feast of the Nativity–Its Relation to the Epiphany–December 25 and the _Natalis Invicti_–The Kalends of January–Yule and Teutonic Festivals–The Church and Pagan Survivals–Two Conflicting Types of Festival–Their Interaction–Plan of the Book.

Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan

Christmas stories have been told since Christmas began.  When families gather together during the holidays, it is always important to include personal traditions that involve everyone.  Having a reading of a Christmas story can be a great tradition to incorporate into your family’s holiday events. 

There are several ways you can integrate a reading of a Christmas story or Christmas stories into your repertoire.    Think about your family’s personality when decided what is best.  Perhaps you may ask the oldest member of the family to pick a story and have everyone gather around for a peaceful reading.  If that seems to calm and normal for your family, perhaps you can ask each member to pick a Christmas story they would like to share and have them even act it out or include some audience participation.  The means in which the story is presented should be unique to your family to make it a truly special memory.

The theme of the Christmas story can also vary.  Some families may find that funny Christmas stories fit well.  Other families may want to really relay a deep or spiritual message and may prefer an inspirational Christmas story.  If you think that you would like to have multiple stories presented, you may want to use many styles of Christmas stories.  The important thing is that you pick something that everyone in the family will appreciate and enjoy.

There are many classic Christmas stories available online, as well as wonderful stories you may have never heard before.  Read through several stories on the Internet and pick one or more that you think would resonate best with your family.  Creating simple traditions that get everyone together makes Christmas memories that are priceless.  You can almost guarantee that your family will continue the tradition for generations to come.

Nice opportunity to select the perfect Phillies theme accessories with our “Xmas decors” online. With a lucrative selection of Phillies themed Xmas Decors and Xmas present ideas, we strive to please. With hundreds of exciting new products on the website this Christmas, consumers are spoilt for choice.

By offering a wide range of Xmas decors in out online Shoppe, consumers will not be disappointed this Christmas.

Our best selling product in the Phillies theme Xmas Decors range is the Santa lawn figure. The product comes dressed in a variety of football jerseys, from Giants, to Raiders and even the Eagles. Who ever you support, we have it covered. Fitted with 150 individual lights, the ornament serves to accentuate its hologram display. Santa will pose on your lawn throughout the festive period, proudly adorning the jersey of your choice, making a perfect Xmas gift for a football crazy husband or son, or equally any Phillies sports fan.

Complete with helmet and football, Santa showcases the “official football logo” of your choice. Once secured to the lawn with the wires included in the package, he or she will become the envy of the neighbor-hood. This particular product retails at just under $78.

However if you are seeking slightly cheaper, quirky Xmas present ideas, we are offering a jolly range of Xmas presents online. Why not let Santa Clause ‘touch down’ your chimney tonight. You can rock around the Christmas tree this year, with a ‘Rock and Roll Santa’, retailing at under $30. Jolly old St Nick will kick off the holiday period, kitted out in the football jersey of your choice, from the New York Nicks, to the Pittsburg Steelers, boogying to the song ‘Shout’, and really getting to work on the dance floor, or in this case a small black polymer base.

This product will have friends and relatives laughing, and poses the perfect sports themed Christmas present idea.

Decorated evergreen trees are a beloved symbol of the Christian holiday of Christmas.  However, history tells us that conifer trees were worshipped by various societies long before Christians caught on to the idea.

Ancient Egyptians were one of the first known civilizations to treasure the conifer.  When the winter solstice arrived, the Egyptians used to move green date palm leaves inside to symbolize life over death.  When Romans celebrated their winter solstice festival, Saturnalia, they decorated their homes with greenery and lights as a way of giving thanks for a good season and praying for another upcoming season of plenty.  It is also said that the Druids used evergreens in their winter solstice rituals.  They positioned evergreen branches over doors to ward off evil spirits and prevent them from entering their homes.

The evergreen tree’s association with Christianity dates back about 500 years ago to the early 16th century.  As the story goes, St. Boniface was traveling through the woods of what is today northern Germany, when he came across a group of pagans that were worshipping an oak tree.  St. Boniface was so angered by this that he cut the oak tree down.  It is said that in the oak tree’s place, a conifer tree grew almost immediately.  In amazement, St. Bonifice declared that this was a divine symbol of the Christian faith, and from that time forward, conifer trees began to be associated with Christianity.  Eventually, German people began to bring coniferous trees indoors at Christmastime and decorate them with candles to celebrate the holiday.

When Prince Albert of Germany married Queen Victoria of England, he brought his German tradition of the Christmas tree to England.  The first year he was in England, he obtained a fir tree and had it decorated for his family.  The people of England were so impressed by this, that the idea caught on rapidly, and soon everyone in England wanted their own “Christmas tree” in their homes.

This custom slowly spread to the new world.  Originally, the Puritans who founded our country banned Christmas worldly celebrations.  In 1851, a Cleveland minister allowed a Christmas tree in his church and nearly lost his job because of it.  During that same year, the tradition became part of the free market economy when a farmer named Mark Carr harvested and hauled two sleds of evergreen trees to New York City.  In spite of the Puritans’ early resistance to the tradition, the idea of Christmas trees flourished in the United States.  By 1900, one in five American homes had a Christmas tree.  Christmas tree farms sprang up and farmers could barley meet the demand.

In 1890, a man by the name of F.W. Woolworth introduced to the United States the idea of decorating a tree with glass ornaments.  Blown glass ornaments had long been a tradition in Europe.  From 1870 to the 1930s, Germans made the finest glass ornaments of that time.  German glass blowers were reported to have had nearly 5,000 different molds for variations and different styles of Christmas ornaments.  At the turn of the century, there were over one hundred small glass blowing shops in Europe that were all producing Christmas ornaments.  Today there are only two German glass-blowing factories that are capable of producing the precision required for popular ornament collections such as Christopher Radko.

The popularity of the Christmas tree continues to grow.  The National Christmas Tree Association reports that in 2006, over 28 million live Christmas trees were sold in the United States.  The use of an evergreen tree has become such a traditional symbol of the holiday season that it sometimes transcends religious boundaries.  Today, many non-Christians choose to display decorated evergreen tree in their homes during the month of December.  Today, artificial Christmas trees have also become a popular choice for many families, which has even spawned a debate over which is better: real versus artificial.  Whatever your choice, decorate it well and enjoy it; you are taking part in a tradition that dates back hundreds of years.

As legend has it, in Germany parents decorate their Tannenbaums on Christmas Eve. The last ornament hung is die Weinachtsgurke—a delicate glass ornament in the shape of a pickle. This is a significant ornament, for the next morning the children will rush in to open their gifts from St. Nicholas. But the festivities can not begin until one of the children locates the elusive gherkin. The one who finds it gets to open the first gift, and may even receive an extra treat for his or her effort. So the story is told here in America. Glass Christmas Pickles are a popular ornament, and usually come with the curious legend tucked or printed on the box.

The oddest part about this legend is that it is virtually unknown in Germany. Nobody knows where it came from, or who started it. Well known is the fact that the decorating of Christmas Trees with lights, ornaments, and tinsel originated in Germany, but unless the Pickle Tradition was practiced in a remote region of the fatherland, it is likely that the legend was created at least in part by Americans, perhaps of German descent. There are several stories floating around about how the tradition may have started.

One rumor tells of a Bavarian-born Union soldier fighting in the Civil War named John Lower (or perhaps Hans Lauer) who was captured and sent to prison in Georgia. In poor health and starving, the prisoner begged for just one pickle before he died. A merciful guard took pity and found him a pickle. Miraculously, John lived, and after he returned home he began the tradition of the Christmas Pickle, promising good fortune to the one who found the special ornament on Christmas Day.

If this story seems a bit stretched, there is a second story being perpetuated in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where 24% of the population report German ancestry. Residents claim that hundreds of years ago two young Spanish boys, when traveling home from boarding school one Christmas Eve, sought refuge for the night at an inn. Here they encountered a cantankerous inn-keeper who trapped them in a pickle barrel. When St. Nicholas stopped at the inn that evening he sensed their distress and tapped the barrel with his staff, magically freeing them. Whether this story is true or not, Berrien Springs calls itself The Christmas Pickle Capital of the World.

The first ornaments used by Germans to decorate Christmas Trees were fruits, particularly apples, and nuts. These, along with the evergreen tree itself, represented the certainty that life would return in the spring. In the mid-eighteen hundreds, a few enterprising individuals living in the village of Lauscha (in the present-day state of Thuringen) began selling glass ornaments. Using fruit and nut molds at first, they eventually branched out, adding thousands of molds to their repertoire: angels, bells, saints, hearts, stars, and so on. Still, there is no evidence of their having made a pickle, or of the pickle tradition ever being practiced in Lauscha or any other German village.

Wherever the legend came from, the Christmas Pickle Tradition is here to stay. Several German glass ornament makers have capitalized on the story and offer a variety of gherkins, dills and cucumbers (some even donning cheery Santa caps!), perpetuating the myth even as their German neighbors vehemently deny having ever heard of it. Whatever the origin, the tradition is sure to bring a hearty dose of Christmas cheer. And isn’t that the point?

Ornamented evergreen trees are a favorite symbol of Christians during Christmas. On the other hand, history reveals that conifer trees were worshiped by different societies long before Christians got the idea.

The earliest Egyptians were one of the first known civilizations to value the conifers. During winter solstice, the Egyptians used to move green date palm leaves inside to represent life over death. When Romans celebrated their winter solstice festival, Saturnalia, they festooned their homes with greenery and lights as a way of giving thanks for a bountiful season and keeps on praying for another upcoming abundant season. It has been said that the Druids used evergreens in their winter solstice ceremonies. They placed evergreen branches over doors to fend off evil spirits and stop them from entering their homes.

The evergreen tree’s connection with Christianity dates back about 500 years ago to the early 16th century. As the story goes, St. Boniface was wandering through the woods, which today is northern Germany, when he stumbled across a group of pagans that were devoting an oak tree. Seeing this, St. Boniface was so angered that he cut the oak tree down. It is said that in the oak tree’s place, a conifer tree grew in a little while. Astonished, St. Bonifice acknowledged this to be a holy sign of the Christian faith, and since then on, conifer trees began to be linked with Christianity. In due course, German people began to take coniferous trees indoors at Christmastime and adorn them with candles to observe the holiday.

When Prince Albert of Germany married Queen Victoria of England, he transported his German practice of the Christmas tree to England. The first year he was in England, he got hold of a fir tree and had it ornamented for his family. The people of England were so overwhelmed, that the idea caught on quickly, and before long everyone in England wanted their own “Christmas tree” in their homes.

This practice slowly extended to the new world. Initially, the Puritans who instituted our country barred Christmas worldly celebrations. In 1851, a Cleveland minister allowed a Christmas tree in his church and almost lost his job because of it. During that same year, the practice became part of the free market economy when a farmer named Mark Carr produced and dragged two sleds of evergreen trees to New York City. In spite of the Puritans’ early struggle to the tradition, the idea of Christmas trees grew in the United States. At the turn of 1900, one in five American homes had a Christmas tree. Christmas tree farms started to sprang up and farmers could barley meet the demand.

During 1890, a man by the name of F.W. Woolworth initiated to the United States the thought of decorating a tree with glass knick-knacks. Blown glass decorations had long been a custom in Europe. From 1870 to the 1930s, Germans created the finest glass ornaments of that time. German glass blowers were accounted to have had nearly 5,000 different molds for variations and different styles of Christmas ornaments. At the turn of the century, there were over one hundred small glass blowing shops in Europe that were all producing Christmas stuff. These days there are only two German glass-blowing factories that are capable of making the accuracy required for fashionable ornament collections such as Christopher Radko.

The reputation of the Christmas tree continues to develop. The National Christmas Tree Association reports that in 2006, over 28 million live Christmas trees were put up for sale in the United States. The use of an evergreen tree has developed into such a conventional symbol of the holiday season that it sometimes go beyond religious boundaries. Today, many non-Christians prefer to exhibit decorated evergreen tree in their homes during the month of December. At the moment, synthetic Christmas trees have also become a well-liked choice for many families, which has even initiated a debate over which is superior: real versus artificial. Whatever your choice, adorn it well and enjoy it; you are taking part in a tradition that dates back hundreds of years.

Have you ever thought of why we even bother to put up a christmas tree for christmas? well, thats what im wondering, so help me ! its for a school essay!

When we talk about the history of Christmas trees, there are really several issues to address.  First, there is the association of the evergreen tree with Christianity.  When and where did this begin?  Next, how did the evergreen tree come to be associated with the Christian holiday of Christmas?  And last, how did this association manifest itself into our modern day tradition of a decorated tree at the holiday season?  We will examine each of these questions one by one.

Evergreen trees and Christianity:

There is some debate about when and how the evergreen tree first became associated with Christianity.  Some historians tell us that a monk named Boniface happened upon a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree in the woods (and possibly also performing animal and human sacrifices there).  Boniface was angered by this, and he cut the oak tree down.  As the legend goes, an evergreen tree sprang up where the oak had been.  Boniface and the pagans believed this to be a sign of Christianity, and thus, the association of the evergreen tree with Christianity first begin.  There is also some debate about where exactly this happened.  Some historians claim it happened in Riga, Latvia.  However, some others argue that this occurred in Germany, which might make more sense given that Boniface was a German monk.

Evergreen trees and Christmas:

Some other historians claim that the monk Boniface actually used the evergreen tree as a teaching tool to preach Christian beliefs to pagan populations.  He took the triangular shape of the tree as a symbol of the Christian trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  According to this legend, sometime around the 12th century A.D., Christian people brought evergreen trees indoors at Christmastime and hung them upside down from their ceilings as a symbol of the Christian faith.

Others claim that the earliest recorded reference to evergreen trees being used at Christmas celebrations was documented by 16th century German craft guilds.  One such reference tells of a fir tree that was decorated and displayed in the guild’s main shop, and that the guildmen’s children were allowed to take the small gifts that decorated the tree for the holiday.  Still other references suggest that perhaps the guild apprentices were charged with carrying the decorated evergreen through the streets in celebration.

Martin Luther is another individual credited with the early association between the evergreen tree and Christmas.  As the story goes, Luther was out for a walk one winter evening, admiring the beauty of the twinkling stars in the clear night sky.  He was thus inspired to cut down an evergreen tree, bring it indoors, and attempt to re-create the starlight effect by decorating the tree with candles.

Transition to the Modern Day Christmas Tree:

Traditionally, Germans decorated their Christmas trees with fruits, nuts, small gifts, and other trinkets.  Glass ornaments also got their start in the famous glassblowing shops of Germany.  For this reason, our modern day tradition of decorated Christmas trees is usually traced back to a German heritage.

There was a period of time when Christmas trees were shunned by conservative Christians as idolatry.  In Puritan America, Christmas trees were not welcome in Christmas celebrations.  In England, decorated trees and Christmas carols were banned completely.  Fortunately, these days didn’t last for too long.  In the mid-1800’s, Queen Victoria of England and her royal family were photographed in front of their decorated family Christmas tree and the picture appeared in the London News.  From then on, decorated Christmas trees became widely popular in England and the United States.

The tradition of decorating evergreen trees at Christmastime has certainly evolved from the early historical accounts, but one thing remains the same.  A beautifully decorated Christmas tree is still an inspiring sight enjoyed by all that puts us in the holiday spirit each year.

When we talk about the history of Christmas trees, there are really several issues to address.  First, there is the association of the evergreen tree with Christianity.  When and where did this begin?  Next, how did the evergreen tree come to be associated with the Christian holiday of Christmas?  And last, how did this association manifest itself into our modern day tradition of a decorated tree at the holiday season?  We will examine each of these questions one by one.

Evergreen trees and Christianity:

There is some debate about when and how the evergreen tree first became associated with Christianity.  Some historians tell us that a monk named Boniface happened upon a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree in the woods (and possibly also performing animal and human sacrifices there).  Boniface was angered by this, and he cut the oak tree down.  As the legend goes, an evergreen tree sprang up where the oak had been.  Boniface and the pagans believed this to be a sign of Christianity, and thus, the association of the evergreen tree with Christianity first begin.  There is also some debate about where exactly this happened.  Some historians claim it happened in Riga, Latvia.  However, some others argue that this occurred in Germany, which might make more sense given that Boniface was a German monk.

Evergreen trees and Christmas:

Some other historians claim that the monk Boniface actually used the evergreen tree as a teaching tool to preach Christian beliefs to pagan populations.  He took the triangular shape of the tree as a symbol of the Christian trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  According to this legend, sometime around the 12th century A.D., Christian people brought evergreen trees indoors at Christmastime and hung them upside down from their ceilings as a symbol of the Christian faith.

Others claim that the earliest recorded reference to evergreen trees being used at Christmas celebrations was documented by 16th century German craft guilds.  One such reference tells of a fir tree that was decorated and displayed in the guild’s main shop, and that the guildmen’s children were allowed to take the small gifts that decorated the tree for the holiday.  Still other references suggest that perhaps the guild apprentices were charged with carrying the decorated evergreen through the streets in celebration.

Martin Luther is another individual credited with the early association between the evergreen tree and Christmas.  As the story goes, Luther was out for a walk one winter evening, admiring the beauty of the twinkling stars in the clear night sky.  He was thus inspired to cut down an evergreen tree, bring it indoors, and attempt to re-create the starlight effect by decorating the tree with candles.

Transition to the Modern Day Christmas Tree:

Traditionally, Germans decorated their Christmas trees with fruits, nuts, small gifts, and other trinkets.  Glass ornaments also got their start in the famous glassblowing shops of Germany.  For this reason, our modern day tradition of decorated Christmas trees is usually traced back to a German heritage.

There was a period of time when Christmas trees were shunned by conservative Christians as idolatry.  In Puritan America, Christmas trees were not welcome in Christmas celebrations.  In England, decorated trees and Christmas carols were banned completely.  Fortunately, these days didn’t last for too long.  In the mid-1800’s, Queen Victoria of England and her royal family were photographed in front of their decorated family Christmas tree and the picture appeared in the London News.  From then on, decorated Christmas trees became widely popular in England and the United States.

The tradition of decorating evergreen trees at Christmastime has certainly evolved from the early historical accounts, but one thing remains the same.  A beautifully decorated Christmas tree is still an inspiring sight enjoyed by all that puts us in the holiday spirit each year.

Almost all of us have, at one time or another, sent or received a Christmas card.  These printed holiday greetings are a mainstay of the Christmas season in the United States and many other countries around the world.  But did you ever stop to wonder how this tradition got started?  Who sent the first Christmas card?

Most historians trace the origins of Christmas cards back to the year 1843 in London, England.  During the mid-19th century in Britain, it was customary to send hand written greetings to one’s friends and relatives, wishing them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  In 1843, one Englishman, Sir Henry Cole, decided he was far too busy to take the time to personally write these notes.  So instead, he commissioned his friend, John Callcott Horsley, also an artist, to paint some cards with a Christmas scene of merriment and a banner with a holiday greeting.  Sir Henry’s idea was to save time by just signing and sending the cards.  However, as the story goes, Mr. Horsley may have depicted too much merriment, as it appeared a number of children were enjoying a glass of wine in the painted scene.  Sir Henry Cole, embarrassed by the resulting scandal and controversy, only sent out a few Christmas cards in subsequent years.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kate Greenaway, a children’s writer and illustrator in London, developed the idea of preprinted Christmas cards.  Ms. Greenway was much more sensitive to the “appropriate content” of the day, and her cards quickly grew in popularity.

Up until this time, all Christmas cards sent in the U.S. were imported from England.  In 1874, an American lithograph printer, Louis Prang, began printing Christmas cards to sell in the U.S.  Because of this, Mr. Prang is sometimes referred to as the “father of the American Christmas card.”  Mr. Prang’s cards featured snow scenes, flowers, birds, burning fireplaces, and most of all children playing with toys.  Today some of his intricate designs are favored by collectors.

The business of printing Christmas cards soon became the mainstay of stationary manufacturers and specialty printers.  Designs often followed the historical times.  During both World War I and World War II the themes became very patriotic.  The 1950’s brought a mix of nostalgic, sentimental, and religious themes.  Some other, more risque cards produced during that time suggest the changing of attitudes during that decade.

In the last decade, the United States has begun to see a decline in the volume of cards being sent.  To some extent, this is blamed on improvements in technology and instant communication.  With the advent of the internet, many people now choose to send free e-cards instead of mailing a paper greeting card.  Better telephone communication has also played a roll, as most people now have cell phones that offer them very inexpensive rates and free long distance.

Even with the decline in recent years, the U.S. Census Bureau still estimates that nearly 2 billion Christmas cards are sent in the United States each year.  Little did Sir Henry Cole know, he was on to something great.  From its humble beginnings in mid-19th century London, the Christmas card industry has blossomed into a multi-billion dollar giant that will surely continue to grow and evolve in the future.