Sharing My Passion For Christmas With You!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! Wait, is this greeting correct these days? Is it even historically accurate? While Merry Christmas is a widely accepted phrase, not many of us know how it appeared and what it means. Centuries ago, there was no widely accepted Christmas greeting. Instead, people tended to […]

What does Boxing Day mean to you? Boxing day traditions go back 2000 years to the ancient Roman pagan celebrations, have been incorporated loosely into our Christian traditions – and now there are many fun facts about the day after Christmas. As Christmas Day is a time for indulgence, most of us need a chance […]

Every December 25th, Catholics worldwide celebrate the day of Jesus’ birth. However, not every Christian is familiar with the nativity story. The story of Jesus’ birth is much more complicated and obscure than it appears. In the Bible, the nativity story isn’t presented in a well-structured manner but scattered across two Gospels which have many […]

While most children in the US are busy with nativity plays and gift shopping, children in the UK are excited about Christingle services. This jolly tradition may seem a bit childish at first, but it carries profound metaphor and practical importance. The look of a Christingle, indeed, is playful and bright. But every part of […]

Winter festivals have been celebrated in every region around the world since the early times. They typically marked the winter solstice, anticipating the soon arrival of spring. People would worship gods and perform rituals to ward off evil spirits or ensure a good harvest. Some ancient pagan winter solstice festivals share traditions with Christmas and […]

Is calling Christmas “Xmas” a blasphemy? Today, this term is mainly associated with commerce. Sometimes, it’s even viewed as an attempt to remove religion from Christmas. But is the term “Xmas” actually insulting for Christians? The answer to this question lies in the term history While the word is commonly considered modern, it has been […]

Christmas in Chile is a grand occasion since the country is predominantly Catholic, so everyone is involved in the festivities. The country’s culture was primarily influenced by Spaniards, so Chilean Christmas traditions often resemble southern European. However, Chile also neighbors the U.S. and respects its indigenous heritage, so local Christmas celebrations blend various customs. Like […]

Christmas in Argentina has a unique appeal, so different from the snowy wonderland we imagine when thinking of winter holidays. For Argentinians, Christmas is a summer holiday. Hot weather was bound to influence the festive atmosphere and activities. Argentinians are predominantly Catholic, so Christmas is an important cultural affair. The celebrations are always vibrant and […]

Christmas in Botswana is very much like Christmas in the U.S., despite the obvious difference in climate and culture. Batswana have been celebrating Christmas since the late 19th century and have borrowed many traditions from Europeans. Of course, Christmas traditions in Botswana were adapted to local cultural peculiarities. Still, the general atmosphere is equally merry […]

The most popular Christmas decorations are lights, garlands, wreaths, Christmas tree ornaments, and the Nativity set. These are the decorations each of us imagines as soon as we hear “Christmas.” But how did the tradition to use these items originate? Why do all people celebrating Christmas use the same decorations, regardless of the region? What […]

Christmas candles have been one of the leading holiday symbols for centuries. They can be seen in windows and on festive tables, in Advent wreaths and Christingles. But not everyone knows the symbolism Christmas candles hold and the origins of these traditions. Candles have been used in religious rituals for so long that the roots […]

The time to search for Christmas decoration ideas has come. Some may consider a Christmas tree and a wreath on the door to be sufficient, but why go for less in the most wonderful time of the year? Of course, the wide variety of Christmas decorations available in stores may be overwhelming. That’s where a […]

Some call Grandfather Frost the Russian Santa Claus, but he would likely be offended by such a title. Grandfather Frost or Morozko indeed is a Christmas gift-bringer in Russia, but he has more distinctions than similarities with Saint Nicholas. Grandfather Frost has withstood church criticism, Russian Revolution, and Soviet Era bans but remained the most […]

Arguments regarding Santa Claus’s original suit color seem to be never-ending. Today, Christmas Spirit is typically portrayed in a red and white suit with a buckled belt, but it wasn’t always the case. Or was it? A common theory is that Coca-Cola first created Santa’s red suit. However, that’s only partially true, as earlier depictions […]

Some children seem to catch on quickly, while others reach the double digits in age and still believe. So you might wonder at what age do you finally tell your children about the Santa Claus truth. Some children seem to catch on quickly, while others reach the double digits in age and still believe. So […]

A question that boggles the minds of thousands of Americans right now is whether you can put up your Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. That’s a justifiable concern, as Thanksgiving is a national holiday, and many consider such a practice disrespectful and stealing attention from it. The truth is, there is no rule regarding when to […]

The tree of Jesse is an old religious Christmas tradition widely observed in Europe and the US. In fact, the custom is many centuries older than decorating a Christmas tree or eating plum pudding. The tree of Jesse is, essentially, Jesus’ family tree. It’s the depiction of Christ’s ancestry in the form of a tree, […]

The Star of Bethlehem is among the best-known Biblical symbols. It appears in the nativity story narrating about the Magi arriving from the East to worship newborn Jesus. But while nearly every Christian has heard the Star of Bethlehem story, not everyone is familiar with its interpretations. The Star of Bethlehem phenomenon is a never-ending […]

Candlemas is a lesser-known Christian holiday compared to Christmas or Epiphany. However, in a religious context, it’s no less important. Candlemas is one of the oldest Christian holidays and is considered one of the twelve Great Feasts. Unfortunately, not many Americans today know the meaning of Candlemas as it isn’t as commercialized as Christmas or […]

The 12 Days of Christmas is among the earliest and best-known Christmas songs. Today, it’s known as a cumulative children’s carol with a cheerful tone. However, scholars believe the 12 Days of Christmas carries a much deeper significance than memory training. The carol consists of 12 verses, with each subsequent verse repeating the previous verses […]

I Saw Three Ships is one of the most confusing British Christmas songs. It may seem like a simple children’s carol, but only at first. The reason for this is historical and geographical discrepancies along with numerous lyric versions and ambiguous meaning. The origin of I Saw Three Ships is widely debated, though we know […]

Good King Wenceslas is one of the most famous Christmas carols of all time, commonly sung by carolers and referenced in popular culture. However, not many know the gruesome story behind this popular Christmas carol with a cheerful motif. Wenceslas was a real person, though he never was a King during his lifetime. He was […]