Its All About Christmas

Most of the Christmas home decorations we see in Christmas stores today have evolved from many other cultures. Charles D. Warner wrote about the Christmas holiday season in 1884. He quotes “We have saved out of the past nearly all that was good in it”. There is no doubt that Christmas as we know it today is better than the holidays celebrated in the past. At the mere mention of ivy, mistletoe or holly the visions of the Christmas holidays with all its wonderful memories comes rushing back into our minds. We see visions of snow covered hills, Christmas tree decorations, carolers singing with ringing brass bells and lighted outdoor Christmas decorations, lighting up the night sky. In the winter when most native plants lose their leaves, flowers and fruits, mistletoe, evergreens, holly and ivy are winter wonders for us to admire. No wonder these winter delights were used as decorations to brighten up the cold days of winter.

Native Plants Become Christmas Decorations.

Mistletoe has a special meaning for the Christmas holiday season. The hanging mistletoe in the doorways creates many diversions and plots from friends to receive a special kiss under a mistletoe ball. The mistletoe kissing tradition comes from a Norse myth. Frigga who was one of the gods gave her son Balder a charm of mistletoe so he would be protect from the elements. Since mistletoe grows on trees and does not grow from the water, the earth, from the fire or the air it held the power to harm him. An arrow made of mistletoe from one of the other struck Balder down, and his mother cried tears of white berries. The tears brought her son back to life and she vowed to kiss anyone who rested beneath the mistletoe plant. So this is how the mistletoe kissing tradition began. In the early days mistletoe was called the all-healer in Celtic speech. There are traces in Britain of the sacredness of mistletoe as well as holly. In other European countries mistletoe is believed to possess marvelous healing powers for sickness. Mistletoe is even recognized as a power for averting misfortune. It was also believed to be the remedy against poisons. Mistletoe is also believed to make barren animals fruitful.

Holly was also believed to have magical powers and even have the ability to drive demons away. In German many considered holly to be a good luck charm against the hostile forces of nature. A Shropshire custom chose to leave the holly and ivy up until Candlemas, the mistletoe was left up and preserved until the next holiday season. The hanging mistletoe remained so that good fortune would follow the household till the next holiday season. In the early days food was also central for holiday decorations. As the Christmas season grew near huge batches of candies, cookies and sweet fruits were prepared for both food and as Christmas Decorations. Not all the early Christmas decorations in the home came from the kitchen. Surrounding woods and fields provided an abundance of flowers, pods, straw and foliage for Christmas Decorations to.

Holiday Decorations Become Popular Outside the Home.

As early as the fifteenth century, Stow’s of London noted that the Christmas custom in every household, parish and church was to be decked with items of ivy, bays, holm and other seasonal greens. Many of the elders in England will recall the old English mode of church decor of sprigs of holly and yew stuck into the high pews making the churches a miniature forest during the holiday season. In London the Christmas decor extended outside as well when the city light poles, standards were decorated with holiday decorations. Christmas trimming evolved next into homemade trimmings of knots of bright ribbon, beads, lace and paper stars. Lace decorated bags were filled with candies. Seeds, berries, nuts, popcorn and other homemade materials civilized the wild beauty of the holidays past. The stringing of popcorn and cranberries can still be seen on Christmas trees today. Even artificial popcorn and cranberries can be purchased in Christmas stores today. Tree decor has grown by great strides in the past century, making the creative and inspirational holiday decorating more delightful.

Christmas gift baskets have now become one of the most famous gifts people get to give and receive. Because of its flexibility, it is the easiest gift one could wrap up and give to their family, friends, relatives, co-workers, business contacts, clients, and just about anybody. The gift baskets which are packed with goodies suitable for the celebrated season are usually customized and fitted to the recipient they are intended for.

Origin of Christmas Gift Baskets

Christmas gift baskets were originally food gift baskets which were already a popular presentation of food and other presents packed in an elegant basket usually made of wicker. Christmas was traditionally the time of the year that people handed out these food gift baskets, so it was later termed as Christmas gift baskets being the time anticipated for the gift giving tradition. It has now become a well-liked gift for all-year round. A selection of Christmas gift baskets may come in the form of:

 Fruits

 Books

 Wine

 Pictures or Posters

 CDs, VCDs, or DVDs

 Gourmet Foods packed with snack items like candies and nuts

 Chocolates

Tips in Making Your Very Own Christmas Gift Baskets

A Christmas gift basket is more intimate when personalized or customized. Planning ahead on the items to be included in your gift basket would help. Here are some helpful tips that may be useful in making the ideal Christmas gift baskets:

 Think of a theme. Find out the recipient’s interests. If unsure, choose neutral items but adding a touch of femininity or masculinity to add a bit of intimacy to the recipient.

 It is best to consider the recipient’s hobbies. You can choose items that are helpful to what interests him/her.

 Mix and match items so you can save. Buying them in bulk may minimize your costs for the items you put in your gift basket. You may split those items for different recipients. And you may also pair expensive items with those that are least costly and mix and match them, too.

 You can also minimize costs if you can be resourceful on some of the items you use in your gift basket, such as the basket. You may just redecorate them and voila, it is as good as new. Or you may get them from garage sales or thrift stores.

It is important to make your Christmas gift baskets simple and personal. You don’t have to overdo the decorations. When it is all done, although elegantly made, you will find out that they are even less expensive than the other gifts. And if you run short of time, you may find a variety of these Christmas gift baskets online.

For your ultimate needs in Christmas gift baskets, rush to Tanner’s Pecan and Candies. You have a selection of a wide array of items you can pack your gift baskets. Or you can do them online. All you have to do is choose the items you want in them and have them delivered, too.

Christmas in United States

The United States of America integrates different elements from different places in its Christmas celebrations. The Christmas tree tradition comes from Germany, parades from Latin America, carols from the English and Australians, Santa Claus from the Europeans and more. Apart from the general celebration with feasting, caroling, decorating and gift-giving, each family in the US has their individual christmas celebrations. And even the traditions vary from one place to another within the US. In Washington DC for instance, there’s this central celebration with lighting of the tree on the Ellipse. Here you’ll find one big tree (which represents the nation) and other smaller trees (standing for other states). In New Orleans, caroling is the focus of thousands throng the Jackson Square each year on Christmas to have a huge group/ community caroling around big bonfires lit along the river Mississippi. The oldest city in the US, St. Augustine, Florida, has the whole of the city lit up in white lights on .No lights except white are allowed on

Then again, many Americans love to hit Hollywood, California to treat their eyes to the annual Parade of Stars, while others entertain themselves at Christmas concerts or caroling festivities in and around the cities.

Christmas in France

Joyeux No?l ! For all the curious, that’s ‘Merry Christmas’ in French. In France, Christmas is called No?l and Father Christmas is known as P?re No?l. Christmas trees are decorated with red ribbons and candles. Fir trees are also lighted on Christmas. People gather together and feast on meat and fine wine. The French kids put shoes and boots by the hearth for Santa to keep Christmas goodies in them. And nearly every family sets up a Nativity scene at home on Christmas.

Christmas in Spain

Feliz Navidad! Now that’s ‘Merry Christmas’ for the Spanish-speaking population. Spanish Christmas is essentially religious in spirit and celebration. Virgin Mary is the country’s patron saint and hence, Spain observes a pious Christmas festivity. Here, Christmas officially begins from December 8, the day of the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Each year, the Spanish celebrate Christmas in front of Seville’s Gothic cathedral with a ceremony known as ‘los Seises’ or the ‘dance of six’.

Christmas in Portugal

Portuguese Christmas is much in the same street as Christmas in Spain. Whatever gifts Father Christmas brings to the kids, are kept at the base of the Christmas evergreen or in shoes by the fireplace. At midnight on Christmas Eve, the Portuguese have a special Christmas meal of dry and salted cod-fish and boiled potatoes. And in the early morning of the Christmas day, they have a meal called ‘consoada’, where seats are left empty at the table for the ‘alminhas a penar’ or the ‘souls of the dead’. This comes from the ancient practice of leaving seeds to the dead ancestors in hopes of getting rewarded with a more bountiful harvest. So boas festas ! Have a great party this Christmas and New Year !

Christmas in England

England holds claim to the origin of hanging stockings on Christmas. It’s believed that Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming down a chimney and the coins landed on one stocking hanging out to dry. Since then, the idea of hanging stockings on Christmas held ground and children today, make it a point to hang their stockings for Santa Claus to fill these up with Christmas goodies. In some parts, ‘pantomime’ is also a popular Christmas tradition. And the wishing ‘Merry Christmas’ and gift-giving is of course there in England.

Christmas in Germany

In Germany, the St. Nicholas Day celebration of December 6 is similar to the Christmas celebrations of the English. Apart from wishing each other a ‘Froehliche Weihnachten’ or ‘Merry Christmas’, the Christmas customs and traditions of Christmas vary from one region to another in Germany. The St. Nicholas Day is primarily a day reserved for the young ones to have fun and get pampered in gifts. After this, the actual Christmas gift-giving kicks off at the Christmas Eve night. Gifts are usually kept under the Christmas tree and people enjoy a traditional roast goose in their Christmas meal. The Weihnachtsmann (a look-alike of St. Nicholas) brings gifts on Christmas and sometimes these are brought by the Christkind (a fairy child often like baby Jesus).

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In Poland, Christmas Eve is a day first of fasting, then of feasting. The feast begins with the appearance of the first star; there is no meat in the feast, and it is followed by the exchange of gifts.

The following day is often spent visiting friends. In Polish tradition, people combine religion and family closeness at Christmas time. Although gift giving plays a major role in the rituals, emphasis is placed more on making special foods and decorations.

Special tasks carried out during Advent are the baking of the Christmas piernik (gingerbread), and the making of Christmas decorations. Pierniki are made in a variety of shapes, including hearts, animals and St. Nicholas figures. Traditional decorations include the pajaki, which are handmade stars and decorated eggshells.

Lit Christmas trees are placed in most public areas, outside churches and in homes. Traditionally the trees are decorated with shiny apples, walnuts, wrapped chocolate shapes, hand blown glass baubles, and many homemade ornaments and candles. On the top of the tree is a star or a glittering top piece. In many homes, sparklers are hung on the branches of the trees for ambiance. Sometimes the trees are left standing until February 2, the feast day of St. Mary of the Candle of Lightning.

During Advent, the “Gwiazdory” or star carriers, wander through the towns and villages and this continues until Epiphany. Some of the Gwiazdory sing carols; others recite verses or put on “Szopki” (puppet shows), or “herody” (nativity scenes). The last two customs are developments from traditional manger scenes or “Jaselka” (crib). One tradition unique to Poland is the sharing of the “op?atek”, a thin wafer into which is pressed a holy picture. People once carried these op?atki from house to house wishing their neighbors a Merry Christmas. Nowadays, the bread is mostly shared with members of the family and immediate neighbors. As each person shares pieces of the wafer with another person, they are supposed to forgive any hurts that have occurred over the past year and to wish the other person all the happiness in the coming year.

On Christmas Eve, so important is the first star of the night that it has been given the affectionate name of “little star” or Gwiazdka, in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem. On that night, all watch the sky anxiously, hoping to be the first to cry out, “The star!” The moment the star appears, people start eating. Families unite for the most carefully planned meal of the year, Wigilia, the Christmas supper. The Wigilia derives its name from the Latin word vigilare, which means “to watch” or keep vigil.

According to tradition, bits of hay are spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger. An even number of people must be seated around the table or, tradition states, someone may die in the coming year. Wigilia is a family feast. In some places an empty place setting is symbolically left at the table for the Baby Jesus or for a wanderer who may be in need, or if a deceased relative should come and would like to share in the meal. The meal begins with the breaking of the op?atek. Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their unity with Christ. They then share a piece with each family member giving good wishes for the following year. There should be twelve dishes, as a symbol of the Twelve Apostles, or an odd number of dishes for good luck (usually five, seven, or nine). Poppy seed cake, beet soup, prune dumplings, carp, herring and noodles with poppy seed are universal Polish Christmas foods. Traditionally, there is no meat eaten on Christmas Eve. Often there is compote of dry fruits. The remainder of the evening is given to stories and songs around the Christmas tree. In some areas of the country, children are taught that “The Little Star” brings the gifts. As presents are wrapped, carolers may walk from house to house, receiving treats along the way.

See also

B si? rodzi 

Krak szopka 

Wigilia the Christmas Eve vigil supper 

Christmas worldwide 

External links

Christmas in Poland – Polish Tradition 

Polish Christmas. 

How to celebrate Christmas in Poland 

v?d?eChristmas

Main

Christmas Eve Christmas Day History The Nativity Bringers of gifts Decorations Economics Customs

Christianity

Nativity of Jesus Nativity of Jesus in art Nativity scene Nativity of Jesus in later culture Jesus Christ Mary Joseph Angel Gabriel Adoration of the Shepherds Three Wise Men Star of…(and so on) To get More information , you can visit some products about animal skin rugs, esd table mat, . The L Abner/wall Picture Shelf products should be show more here!