Mistletoe history dates back to ancient times. Celtic Druids, Ancient Greeks, and Norse pagans believed that the plant had magic powers. As a result, it was commonly used in rituals and for medical purposes. But at that time, Christmas didn’t yet exist. Only centuries later, during the Victorian Era, has mistletoe acquired connection with Christmas.… […]
So when did they start? Candy canes have been around for so long that someone rarely asks the question of where they come from. Being a treat that seems as old as time, you might start to wonder where it all began. You might be wondering about the candy cane origin and believe that it… […]
It’s hard to find a place where people don’t exchange gifts or gather around the table with the family on Christmas Day. These traditions are the very core of Christmas celebrations, regardless of the regional influence. Many American Christmas Day customs were brought here from the UK during the colonization times. These include caroling, eating… […]
Centuries ago, there was no widely accepted Christmas greeting. Instead, people tended to use different phrases to wish others a joyful time during holidays. The most notable alternative to Merry Christmas is Happy Christmas. In fact, Happy Christmas has stuck with some to this day. That’s especially relevant for England and Ireland, as Queen Elisabeth… […]
Poinsettia’s connection with Christmas doesn’t arise from the Bible – it comes from a 17th-century Mexican legend. And it wasn’t until the 19th century that Joel Roberts Poinsett popularized the plant nationwide. Originally, poinsettias didn’t grow in pots – the indoor variety was cultivated by Paul Ecke, one of the fathers of poinsettia tradition. Over… […]
Candles have been used in religious rituals for so long that the roots of this practice are nearly impossible to track. However, since the pagan times, people associated candle warmth and light with sun, everlasting life, and stars. Religions have changed, but candle symbolism didn’t. To this day, Christians draw connotations between candles and joy,… […]
The truth is, the Secret Santa gift exchange didn’t start out just for fun. The man behind this tradition had deeply philanthropical intentions, aiming to help those in need. The real-life Secret Santa’s generosity was the very embodiment of the Christmas spirit. He didn’t ask for anything in return and didn’t want to disclose his… […]
The truth is, Christmas pudding has no religious context. Some symbolism was incorporated into the tradition centuries after it appeared. But initially, Christmas pudding was eaten solely because it was rich enough to keep people full during the pre-Christmas fast. That’s right, at first, Christmas pudding was consumed during Lent rather than on Christmas Eve.… […]
The truth is, none of the Christmas cake versions you see in American supermarkets were invented in America. That’s not a con but rather an advantage – you’re free to choose any treat you like without feeling guilt for betraying ancestor traditions. People in numerous regions consider some kind of fruitcake to be the traditional… […]
Such a significance of Christmas Eve stems from the fact that the day starts at sunset in the Catholic church. So, an important part of Catholics around the globe celebrate Jesus’ birth earlier than we’re used to, attending Midnight Masses and listening to religious choirs. Of course, Christmas Eve traditions aren’t limited to attending church.… […]
While eggnog fits flawlessly in modern bar interiors, the history of this drink is longer than you may imagine. The first records of a recipe similar to that of eggnog date to the 15th century, but historians believe that British monks used to drink it even earlier. At first, eggnog wasn’t considered a Christmas drink.… […]
The truth is, even historians don’t know for sure why Christmas is celebrated on December 25. Some managed to find convincing evidence in the Bible; others argue that Bible has never stated the exact date of Jesus’ birth. And that’s a valid point, as the Bible only indicates the day of Jesus’ conception. A common… […]
Other popular Christmas colors include gold, white, and blue. That’s not surprising, as these are the colors of the sky, stars, and snow. But the connection of these colors with Christmas is much deeper than that. Some Christmas colors can surprise people not closely familiar with religious aspects or the history of the holiday. So,… […]
Have you ever thought of how long the Christmas cracker tradition has been around? Likely longer than you imagine. The first Christmas crackers appeared nearly 200 years ago, earlier than electricity was invented. Original Christmas crackers were very different from their modern version. They were initially introduced as sweets with small notes inside the wrapping… […]
British and Scandinavian traditions largely influenced Christmas dinner customs in the US. As a result, we’ve adopted the glazed ham, turkey and stuffing, gingerbread, and eggnog. Over time, these dishes were tailored to our preferences and cultural specifics and have been established across all states. But people in different US regions have also invented their… […]
Over time, mumming morphed into several different practices, with only one fundamental detail being constant – disguising. Today, the term “mumming” has at least two definitions. In the US, mumming is nearly as popular as in the British Isles. The practice was popularized by George Washington himself, so it can justifiably be considered the core… […]
The tradition of using Chrismons is young, counting under 100 years. It’s widely observed in the US but is relatively uncommon in other world regions. However, the story and meaning behind these ornaments are profound and have deep religious roots. Each of the ornaments featured on Chrismons has a profound significance. These symbols were used… […]
While some parents see the Elf on a Shelf as a great helper in surveilling their kids’ behavior, others consider it creepy and sending a wrong message. Children, however, tend to like the cute smiling elves, pushing hundreds of thousands of parents to buy them every year. Only in four years, the Elf on a… […]
Despite such a strong association of snow with Christmas, many Americans haven’t experienced a white Christmas even once in their lives. Our perception of this holiday as a white wonderland was, for the most part, influenced by the culture of the 19th century. At that time, the entire world was going through a so-called Little… […]
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 around for centuries. And the truth is, “Xmas” was used by numerous famous and respected people who certainly had some knowledge of linguistics. But the perception… […]
Along with the traditions of decorating the Christmas tree and baking gingerbread, Christmas markets originated in Germany. Many Christmas traditions were brought to the U.S. by European immigrants throughout the 18th century. Christmas markets, however, remained reserved for Europe until the late 20th century. Despite the tradition’s late development outside of Europe, today, Christmas markets… […]
However, we can at least try to identify what causes us to feel the holiday cheer by looking at the most popular Christmas symbols, traditions, and their origins. Some great examples of Christmas spirit manifestation can be observed in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and legends about Saint Nicholas. Christmas spirit isn’t a physical being;… […]
Ginger was used as a medical treatment for centuries. Later, people discovered it was also an excellent preservative and started adding it to bread. While the real roots of gingerbread houses are hard to track, we know for sure that they originated in Germany. The tradition then spread across all of Europe and was brought… […]
Indeed, many Jews residing in America have adapted Christmas traditions for the Hanukkah festival. So why not take the best of both worlds? For instance, gift exchange never was a thing in Jerusalem but is popular here today. Hannukah and Christmas have some things in common that occurred naturally, too. The most apparent ones are… […]
While pantomime has established itself as a Christmas tradition in the UK, this form of performance didn’t originate there. Instead, pantomime stems from Ancient Roman times, even before Christianity took over paganism. Some historians believe that pantomimes were played during the pagan winter solstice festival Saturnalia. This may be true, but it wasn’t until the… […]
Bells have existed since the third millennium BC and first appeared in China. In Asian culture, they were used by the nobles and in religious rituals. Later, Germanic and Nordic pagans rang bells during winter solstice festivals. Bells have been mentioned in the Bible numerous times, but they were never seen as a symbol of… […]
Following the tradition, an ornament shaped like a pickle or, sometimes, a real pickle is hidden under the Christmas tree. Whoever finds it first is believed to receive good fortune for the upcoming year or an extra gift. Today, most Americans consider the tradition to have a German origin. But the issue is, nearly no… […]
Like many Christmas traditions, the history of holly and ivy has pagan roots. Over time, pagan celebrations and customs were replaced with Christian, but the symbolism of these plants remained unchanged. Holly and ivy aren’t the only plans closely linked to Christmas, though. Some lesser-known worldwide plants, such as Christmas cactus, Christmas rose, or Star… […]
Because greeting cards have become so widely available and practically inseparable from Christmas celebrations, we rarely think about how the custom appeared and what the first cards looked like. The truth is, the tradition of exchanging Christmas cards has only appeared under 200 years ago, which isn’t much by historical measures. Nevertheless, some of the… […]
Certainly, Christmas Eve is a time of celebration. It might be the ending of a pre-Christmas fast, it could be an opportunity to show off your culinary skills, but for many of us, it is a time to create a meatless Christmas Eve dinner. The tradition of a Catholic fasting and prayer goes back to… […]
The history of mince pies stems from the Middle Ages. At first, they had nothing to do with Christmas celebrations. Instead, mincemeat was seen merely as a way of preserving meat and an alternative to filling frumenty, dried fruit porridge that served as the origin of Christmas pudding. You may wonder, how did mince pies… […]
Funnily enough, wassailing originated in pagan times as a completely different custom. Like modern wassailers, pagan wassailers used to sing and drink, but with an entirely different purpose and rituals. As you may have already guessed, drinking played a crucial role in the wassailing process. The drink recipe didn’t change much since the pagan times… […]
The holiday season starts on the first Sunday of Advent, at the end of November or the start of December, and ends with Candlemas on February 2. So, the Christmas period lasts for over two months rather than for two days like many people think. Some Christmas dates aren’t widely observed in the US, though… […]
Like many other Christmas traditions, the history of the Yule Log stems from pagan times. The custom could have originated in the UK, Germany, or Scandinavia, as all these counties used to celebrate the Yule winter solstice festival. The modern Yule Log tradition involves burning down a log on Christmas Eve to attract good luck… […]
As Christmas Day is a time for indulgence, most of us need a chance to rest and recuperate. Boxing Day gives us the perfect excuse! And where Boxing Day is an official holiday – an official excuse. Although Boxing Day has changed over the centuries, the basic idea of giving continues. A chance to dress… […]
Unfortunately, the tradition slowly dies out due to the surging commercialization of Christmas. Some Christians don’t even know what a Midnight Mass is. Meanwhile, Midnight Mass, also known as Midnight Vigil, is the most important liturgy of Christmastide, held on December 24, Christmas Eve. Midnight Mass starts in the late evening, marking the birth of… […]
The look of a Christingle, indeed, is playful and bright. But every part of this fruity construction has a special meaning. Christingle symbolism combines our penance and Christ’s sacrifice with the joy of the Christmas celebration. The tradition is much older than many people think, but it only became popular outside of its home church… […]
Many of us have false ideas even about the very core of the Christmas holidays. For example, we tend to believe that Christ was born on December 25 and that Christmas is the most important religious holiday, but that can be argued. The origin of modern Santa Claus and his red suit is also widely… […]
Some ancient pagan winter solstice festivals share traditions with Christmas and are sometimes even considered to serve the origin of Christian winter holidays. For example, historians suggest Roman Emperor Constantin introduced Christmas to replace Roman winter festivals Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Indeed, the resemblance of modern customs with pagan observances can’t be denied – the… […]
Each of us has wondered at least once in our lifetime – why did Santa choose reindeer? And why is Rudolph’s nose glowing red? Surprisingly, the reason Santa’s sleigh is pulled by reindeer has pagan roots. Rudolph’s history, in turn, is much more recent. Today, Rudolph is a common character in TV specials, cartoons, movies,… […]
Surprisingly, despite how widespread turkeys are in America, the tradition of consuming these birds for Christmas is much younger than the customs of decorating Christmas trees or popping Christmas crackers. In fact, the British came up with the idea first. Like many English traditions, this one was influenced mainly by royalty, specifically King Henry VIII.… […]
This may be surprising, but the Kwanzaa tradition didn’t arrive in America from Africa. Instead, it originated here in the US not that long ago to preserve African culture integrity. Unfortunately, Kwanzaa is often called “African Christmas,” and it’s very wrong. The holiday has nothing to do with religion. Furthermore, many African Americans in the… […]
Today, most of us consider ugly Christmas sweaters funny, but it wasn’t always this way. In the 1980s, people viewed them as tacky and bizarre (this we can’t argue with), with Bill Cosby alone daring to wear them. A single movie managed to change the general public perception of ugly holiday sweaters forever, forcing people… […]
Christmas Lyn