Christmas Traditions

Trees, Cards, Crackers and Carols 

Christmas traditions vary from nation to nation. In Ukraine you'll find that a spider or spider's web on the Christmas tree is a sign of good luck. In the USA, a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking means you've been naughty. In India, Christmas is known as 'Bada Din' (the Big Day), whereas in Iran it's known as 'Little Feast'.

So what are the origins of some of the things that we now take for granted at the Christmas season?

Well, the idea of decorating a Christmas tree came to the UK from Germany and was made popular by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Ever since 1947, Norway has donated a tree to London to say thank you for helping them during World War II. Each year this beautifully decorated tree bring thousands of people to Trafalgar Square.

Over the years, some have read spiritual significance in to the Christmas tree ... it's triangular shape representing the Trinity, the fact that it is an evergreen signifying eternal life.

Sir Cole, founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum, is renown to have created the first ever Christmas card, though the idea took several decades to really catch on. Sadly, with the growing cost of postage and the rise of online communication, the humble and often meaningful Christmas card is in decline.

In all the travelling I've done, I've discovered that the Christmas cracker is quintessentially British. They were first created by Tom Smith, a London sweet maker, around 1845. No British Christmas dinner would be the same without a cracker to pull with friends and family. Each one containing a paper hat, a small gift and a ridiculously cheesy joke. 

And finally, Christmas carolling.  The timing of Christmas came about from the winter solstice celebrations. As the shortest day of the year passed, people looked with hope towards the spring. The word 'carol' means a dance or song of praise and, as December 25th was adopted, early Christians began to write carols with a specifically Christian theme.

Whilst all of these things have come to shape and bring colour to our Christmas celebrations they are no replacement for the True message of Christmas which is the birth of Jesus Christ, Saviour and Redeemer of the World 😀😀😀