History of Traditions

Angels – Throughout history, these heavenly creatures have touched hearts and changed minds, they have caused people to reflect and reconsider, and they have represented the force of good in such profound ways that even evil seems to bow down before them.   From Gabriel announcing the birth of Christ to Mary and Joseph to the Angels that announced “good tidings of great joy” to the shepherds after his birth, angels have an integral part in the Christmas story.

Candy Canes – This sweet candy has been around for almost as long as people have craved sweets.  Due to the rareness of the ingredients, it was a special delicacy for children that only came during special occasions, such as Christmas.  In 1670. the choirmaster needed a way to quiet the children in the choir during long noisy services.  He doubted that parents would let children eat candy at church and so he came up with an inspired thought.  He had the candy maker curve the top of the candy sticks and as he gave them the candy sticks he told them a symbolic story of the meaning of the candy.  This served as both a way to settle the children and teach them at the same time.

Christmas Cards – Christmas cards are relatively young as a Christmas tradition.  In the mid nineteenth century Sir Henry Cole was a mover and a shaker.  With a busy schedule and a mailbox full of holiday letters, Cole could not find a moment to sit down and respond to the holiday greetings.  One day he picked up a piece of ragged paper and folded it into a little book.  He then continued to draw a Christmas scene on it.  He realized that he could make “Christmas cards” to send to his friends.  He took his idea to the printers and the idea behind Christmas cards was born.

Christmas Trees – The evergreen tree is a symbol of life and hope.  In the winter in Scandanavia, it used to be common that many people would die due to the effect of the dark, depressing season where the sun would disappear months and nights seemed to last forever.  People would bring an evergreen tree into the house to bring the gift of strength to live through the worst stretches of winter.  Much like the hope that the evergreen gives through the long hard winter, Christ can bring hope to men even in the bleakest of situations.

Colors of Christmas – The color of green was thought of by ancient cultures as a powerful symbol of life and mystery.  People would decorate their homes with evergreen wreaths during the bleakest days of the year to remind them of the life that would come with the “rebirth” of the sun and the return to warm weather.  The red was used by church leaders to balance the pagan myths that surrounded the plants and used the berries that came when everything else seemed dead to represent the atoning blood of the Savior.   Gold is associated with the gift that the wisemen brought to the savior and is often associated with royalty.  Certainly, the Son of God was worthy of a tribute of gold.

Ornaments – The tradition of ornaments started with the Germans and Italians.  They made wooden frames shaped like triangles with different levels of shelves.  These craftsmen would bring these frames out each Christmas to display candles, wooden carvings, tiny paintings, and small trinkets.  Eventually hand-carved manger scenes were placed on these frames with the baby Jesus lying on the top shelf.  As the tree became more important these and other objects were hung on the tree to decorate it.

Gifts – After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem bearing gifts for the newborn king.  Today gifts are exchanged as a symbol for the love and sacrifice that they gave to him and the love and sacrifice that he made for each of us.

Holly – Holly is often associated with the Druids.  The druids are often remembered as being wizards, but they were much more.  In ancient Celtic society of England, they were the judges, educators, historians, doctors, astronomer, and astrologers.  The druids believe that there was constant war between the oak king and the holly king.  Holly always won the winter as the oaks lost their leaves.  Because of its power to survive the winter when the other plants were dying, druids taught people that this was the most powerful plant in the forest and that it would protect them from evil.

Lights – The tradition of lights started with Martin Luther.  After strolling through the German woods one late night in December, he became enthralled with the way that the starlight shone through the evergreen tree covered in snow.  He felt that the magnificence of the image was made by the hand of God.  He wanted to recreate this beauty and so he attached candles to the tree in his home and wooed his friends and family. 

Mistletoe – In ancient times, mistletoe was viewed with awe.  It was considered a miracle plant.  During the hardest days of the winter’s fury, when most everything else had dies, the small flowering, seemingly rootless plant thrived in the treetops.  For hundreds of years, people of faith who kissed under mistletoe vowed to keep not only their love for each other strong, but their love for the Lord as well. 

Poinsettias – The poinsettias comes from Mexico.  Mexicans viewed the blooming of the poinsettia in October as a signal of the coming Christmas season.  It was a moment that children and adults looked forward to as much as today’s kids look forward to the first appearance of Santa Claus.

Santa Claus –Santa’s unselfish giving, loving nature, and devotion to duty are qualities that can and should be adopted by everyone that believes that Jesus is not just the reason for the season but the path to salvation.  There is nothing theological about Santa, but there is a great deal that makes him the perfect secular companion for the hold day when we stop and recognize Christ’s birth.