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Tradition at Christmas
Origins of Christmas tree
Originating from a number of religions and beliefs that existed before Christianity was born, Christmas has a close connection with the activity of celebrating the winter solstice on December 21 or 22, according to Ancient Origin. . This is the longest night time of the year, so the “light is coming” moment is praised and revered. After the winter solstice, more daylight will be seen, as a promise for the coming spring.
Traditional Western Christmas is rooted in ancient Celtic and Saxon culture. They celebrate “Yula” or “wheel of the year” festival on the winter solstice. This festival involves burning a new log and burning it for 12 hours before the winter solstice. Doing this symbolizes luck and prosperous new year.
Later, the burning of the log was replaced by the use of trees with small candle-shaped lamps, and thus the birth of the Christmas tree. Usually the Christmas tree is an evergreen tree, for example, pine trees, adorned with holly and mistletoe, two species of trees symbolizing reproduction.
The use of Christmas trees was popular in Germany in the 16th century, when Christians began to use them to decorate the house and decorate the tree with candles. Later, this tradition spread to other parts of Europe.
In 1841, the Christmas tree began to appear at Windsor Castle, England, covered with candles, berries and gingerbread. From the 1850s, Christmas tree decoration items also included small toys, jewelry, fairies, dolls, whistles and bells.
The tradition of hanging socks is popularized by a Christmas poem
According to the Smithsonian magazine, the tradition of hanging socks on the fireplace stems from the story of a widowed man who was always worried that he could not provide for his three daughters.
Saint Nicholas, knowing the circumstances of his family, helped by dropping a bag of gold coins into the chimney. However, the yellow bag fell on the socks that were being dried next to the fireplace. After that, hanging socks near the fireplace became a familiar custom on Christmas Eve.
However, according to some other information, the popularity of the tradition of hanging socks originates from the poem “Clement of St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823. The poem reads: “St. Nicholas is filled with socks, then turns around and places his finger on one side of the nose, and nods, dropping into the chimney. “
Since then, children have hung their socks next to the stove on Christmas Eve hoping that the snowman will drop presents into it.
The tradition of sending Christmas cards from England
Surely one of us has at least once sent Christmas cards to family and friends.
The Smithsonian Magazine said that during the Christmas season in England in 1843, Sir Henry Cole wanted to find a way to send cards to friends without writing individual letters to each person. Therefore, he printed 1,000 cards with the words “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” and the space to write more messages. This is the beginning of the Christmas card.
The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree originates from Germany and England
The tree is often used as a Christmas tree and has long been considered a symbol of good luck because it stays green during the cold winter.
According to TIME magazine, the idea of decorating the tree originated with the Protestant founder in the 17th century and by the 1820s, this tradition spread to the United States thanks to immigrants.
Queen Victoria and Prince of Germany, Albert helped to spread the tradition when the painting of their family sitting next to the beautifully decorated Christmas tree appeared in Illustrated London News in 1846.
The tradition of kissing under mistletoe is derived from the Celtic legend
According to Celtic legend, mistletoe can bring good luck and if couples kiss under this tree, they will move towards marriage in the near future. This tradition dates back to Queen Victoria.
Eat fruit cakes during the Christmas season starting in the 18th century
According to the New York Times, the fruit pie is made from an ancient Roman food called satura – a mixture of barley, pomegranate seeds, raisins and honey. Many people believe that this dish was invented as a way to preserve fruit.
The Smithsonian Magazine said fruit cakes became popular on special occasions in the 18th and 19th centuries when ingredients to make this dish were harder to buy and more expensive than before. Today, although not many people like fruit pie but it is still an indispensable classic dish on Christmas.
The Christmas phrase is from the Middle Ages
Gathering and singing famous Christmas songs has long been a tradition during the year-end holiday season in many places. Many songs originated in the Middle Ages, when people go to each other’s houses to wish them good health on the occasion of the New Year.
Hide salt cucumbers in Christmas trees originating from Germany
While this tradition is quite common in the US, according to some information, it originated in Germany in the late 1900s. Accordingly, parents often hide green cucumber camouflage items in the tree. Pine and the first child found the next morning will have good luck throughout the new year.
Decorating Christmas cookies is an ancient tradition to celebrate the winter solstice
Decorating Christmas-themed cookies and placing them near the fireplace is an act of gratitude to Santa.
Before today’s biscuits, ancient people used desserts to celebrate the winter solstice. By the Middle Ages, Europeans used dessert cakes made from cinnamon, nutmeg and dried fruits.
One of the most classic Christmas cakes is gingerbread cookies made by Queen Elizabeth I of England. She used molds to shape traditional gingerbread cakes.
Advent Calendar is based on Christian tradition
This is the type of calendar used to count down from the first day of December to Christmas. According to TIME magazine, they are rooted in a Christian tradition dating back more than 1,600 years ago.
The tradition of waiting for Santa to deliver presents around the world
Santa Claus is called by different names like Santa Clause in America, Père Noel in France or Santa Claus in Russia. There are many explanations of this special character across countries.
According to the oldest legend, Santa Claus is the incarnation of St. Nicholas in Mila, Turkey. He was a generous man who often gave gifts to the poor. Every year at the end of the year, children around the world eagerly await Santa to receive the Christmas gifts that they wish.
Origin and meaning of laurel wreath
Since ancient times, wreaths have been used as symbols of power and strength. In Rome and Greece, kings and emperors often wore wreaths like crowns because they often connected the laurel wreath to the sun god Apollo and regarded the crown as a symbol of power.
How the bracelet on the head turned into a door hanger, it is still unknown exactly. However, it is believed that an athlete installed his laurel wreath on the door as a trophy.
XIII century legend says that St. The German Boniface cut down an oak tree – the pagan symbol – and from there sprouted an ivy. He declares that the ivy is a joyous symbol of Catholics for eternal life because the tree is green all year round.
According to other information, many historians believe that the first laurel wreaths appeared during the time of the Persian Empire, when royalty and aristocrats wore laurels or wreaths. The head is decorated with jewels to signify power and nobility. Other cultures then adopted this and transformed it to suit them.
Around 800 years before the Lord’s birth, the Greeks began handing rings made from laurel branches to the winners.
During the Roman era, political and military leaders, such as Julius Caesar, also wore laurels on their heads. The fact that these laurel wreaths now become wall decorations is considered to have come from the time when these people returned home, they hung laurel wreaths on the walls or doors as spoils.
In Greek mythology, Apollo was shown wearing a laurel wreath on its head, and in ancient Greece, wreaths were used to reward winners, including in sports competitions, including the ancient Olympic Games and poetry competitions under the auspices of this god.
Some emperors also wore laurels. While ancient laurels were often described as horseshoe-shaped, modern laurels are often circular. The term for laureate (from Latin lаureatus ) means laureate in some foreign languages such as English.
In today’s common idiom, the laurel wreath refers to victory. The expression “Sleep on your laurels” refers to people who rely on past successes to conceal their incompetence in the present.
Christmas wreath.
After the birth of the Lord, the Christmas wreath made from the ivy branch became a symbol of the triumph of life throughout the winter months. The laurel wreath is used not only as a decoration on the wall, it is also used to count the time when 4 weeks is up until Christmas.
Purpose of using Laurel wreath
Laurel wreaths, also known as checkered loops, are known for the most common purpose of decorating houses, especially at Christmas. However, few people know that the laurel wreath is still a symbol of the ritual of celebrating Christmas in churches and religious families.
Laurel wreaths are also a symbol of ritual
celebrate Christmas at churches and religious families.
This ritual originated from Germany. Accordingly, the laurel wreath is placed with 4 white candles on it. Every Sunday since the 4th week before Christmas, people will light a candle on the laurel wreath.
The first candle symbolizes hope. The second candle is love. The third candle represents joy and the fourth candle symbolizes peace.
In addition, someone lit a fifth white candle, placed in the middle of the laurel wreath on the night before Christmas. This candle symbolizes the day Jesus was born.
This ritual is not only the way one waits for Christmas but also symbolizes hope for a bright future, a warm spring amid the dark, cold present of winter.
Material and shape of the Laurel wreath
Laurel wreaths in ancient times are depicted with horseshoe shapes.
The original laurel wreath is usually made from ivy branches or laurels, holly and other decorative accessories.
Laurel wreaths in ancient times are depicted with horseshoe shapes. However, the laurels we see today have a closed circle.
Later, the laurel wreath was created with more new and unique materials, colors, designs.
Laurel wreaths in Greek mythology
In Greek mythology, the image of Apollo always wore a laurel wreath on his head. In ancient Greece, the laurel wreath symbolizes strength and victory.
Laurel wreaths will be awarded to winners of sports and poetry competitions.
Ceasar wears a laurel wreath due to baldness
The image of Julius Caesar attached to the laurel wreath on his head.
During the Roman Empire, the laurel wreath was carried on its head by political and military leaders as a crown to show its noble social power and status. Therefore, we often see the image of Julius Caesar attached to the laurel wreath on the head.
There are also many sources of humor that Caesar’s reason for wearing a laurel wreath is to hide her bald head.
