“Christmas Traditions”

There are many different types of Christmas traditions. There is the familiar Christmas tree, the mistletoe, and also carolling. The most common and the most longed lived is the Christmas tree.

The Christmas tree is known as the most decorative object in the celebration of Christmas. There are many types of trees, such as Evergreens, Douglas firs, and Balsam firs. The evergreen tree had been a symbol for eternal life back in the ancient times of the Egyptian, Hebrew, and the Chinese cultures. During the Middle ages, Christianity became widespread in Europe but the Pagans continued to worship trees, especially, in Northern Europe.

During the Medieval drama the Germans took the tradition and placed trees decorated with apples, and wafers to symbolize the Eucharist in their homes. The Germans called this tree the paradise tree and it was meant to celebrate Adam and Eve. The German settlers introduced this tree to the North Americans in the 17th Century. They also brought it to England in the 19th Century where it was made popular in the mid-century by Prince Consort Albert, the German husband of Queen Victoria.

The Christmas tree tradition has not stopped. In fact, it is the main focus point of Christmas today. During Christmas, now, electric lights, candy canes, shiny ornaments and other objects are hung on trees in people’s homes and have even spread to trees and shrubs on lawns. The tradition lives on still today and will continue to be popular every year at Christmas time.

Another common tradition around Christmas time is the hanging of Mistle Toe in people’s homes. A mistle toe is a small green leaved shrub. They are mainly used as a decorative ornament for Christmas. A mistle toe is used in homes at Christmas time to symbolize love. They are usually hung over a door so that when a person enters a room and stands under the Mistle toe they receive a kiss from another member of the opposite sex.

The singing of Christmas Carols is another one of the big traditions tied into Christmas. The word carol comes from the word Carole which means a round dance accompanied by unison singing and is currently applied to a song or a hymn on a Christmas theme. Christmas carolling has been around for a long time. It began in the 14th and 15th Centuries as a chorus sung with refrains. Most Carols are of English origin and are connected greatly with the Church. The Carol was associated with Christmas in the 19th Century and Christmas carols from other countries began to get involved in the category of carols.

So you see, at Christmas, there are many types of traditions. Maybe, you have some of your own. But whatever the tradition, they play a big part in bringing families and friends together for Christmas.