Symbols and Origin of Christmas Celebration

Have you wondered where on earth all these Christmas traditions came from? At these times, gift exchange has been very much commercialized and people are being dragged towards spending way beyond what we can afford to stay with the Jones'. If we do what the early Christians did and offer presents to the poor or invite them over our Christmas meals, we will experience the real meaning of Christmas in our hearts.

The custom of gift giving started with families inviting the poor to have their Christmas meal shared with them. This act was meant to ensure that you receive a reward many times over on the next year.

A Christmas tree signifies the victory of life over death and now symbolizes the living Christ. The sparks shimmering from the tree represents the light that shone from heaven when Jesus Christ was born.

In America, the light from Christmas candles stand for the Star of Bethlehem. Because holly remains green (even during the harsh winter months) the Druids believed it to be favored by the sun and symbolizes the living Christ. The white flowers are for purity; the red berries, Christ's blood; the leaves, His crown of thorns; and the bitter bark, His sorrow.

The idea of hanging mistletoe came from Freyja, a Norse goddess. It was a promise to not harm anyone after her son was shot with a mistletoe arrow. The winter blossoms promise bounty for the years to come and are a symbol of peace and love.

Caroling, whereby people sing Christmas songs from door to door, represent the life of Christ. In Scandinavia a party was held to honor the god Thor who was symbolized by a goat. It pretended to be dead after much singing and dancing, and would then return to life.

In ancient Greece, Poseidon (god of sea) was referred to as the giver of all pleasant things due to his ability to cause storms or grant mariners a safe journey by the sea. Following the rise of Christianity, Nicholas of Myra, an Asian bishop, who wore a red clothing, rode a white horse which flew and delivered presents. He then became known to be the gift giver and eventually became Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus.

Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. In 1882, his associate Edward Johnson lighted Christmas tree with colored globes which were the size of a walnut. In 1890 Edison designed electrically powered Christmas lights. His brochure mentioned, "There are few forms of decoration more beautiful and pleasing than miniature incandescent lamps placed among flowers, or interwoven in garlands or festoons; for decorating Christmas trees or conservatories..."

The very first Christmas card was conferred by Sir Holly Cole from an artist, John Calcott in 1843.. It absolutely was a three-paneled-card that read ""A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you." Sir Henry had one thousand cards printed then.

Were you aware that the song "Twelve Days of Christmas" was originally crafted to help English kids remember the different articles of faith? 'True love' represented God and the following are the given gifts:

1. PARTRIDGE - Christ
2. TURTLE DOVES - the Old and New Testaments
3. FRENCH HENS - Faith, Hope, Charity (Theological Values)
4. CALLING BIRDS - the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5. GOLDEN RINGS - the Pentateuch or the first give books of the Old testaments
6. GEESE - six days of creation
7. SWANS - seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the 7 sacraments
8. MAIDS - the eight Beatitudes
9. LADIES DANCING - nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10. LORDS A-LEAPING - the Ten Commandments
11. PIPERS PIPING - the eleven faithful Apostles
12. DRUMMERS DRUMMING - the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed