We celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day yet the Bible does not state that He was in fact born on December 25. Have you ever wondered why? One early Christian tradition attributes this to the Annunciation; when the angel Gabriel revealed to the Virgin Mary that she will conceive and give birth [...]
Every Christmas, not only do we hear bells ringing, we also see them as glistening ornaments for Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands. Have you ever wondered about the story behind Christmas bells? Bells are usually rung to announce the start of an activity or as a warning during difficult times. In church, they are [...]
Kids with a sweet tooth find Christmas exciting because of the abundance of candy canes during the holiday season. These cane-shaped peppermint treats help bring out the spirit of Christmas not only because they evoke happiness, but make great décor pieces as well! Did you know that the tradition of Christmas candy canes started [...]
In 1857, American songwriter James Lord Pierpont (1822 – 1893) wrote a song called “The One Horse Open Sleigh.” It was published in August of the same year and copyrighted on September 16, 185. The song was actually created for Thanksgiving and was originally performed at a Sunday school Thanksgiving program in Savannah, Georgia, where [...]
The warm embrace of the cold winter season, the aroma of freshly baked cookies, the exciting sight of presents under the Christmas tree and the stimulating spectacle of bright colors – these are just some of the exhilarating sensations we experience every Christmas. Another noteworthy scene is the influx of lush greeneries that come [...]
Although Christmas was originally a Christian tradition, it turned out to be one of the biggest and most popular events throughout the world. This is probably because Christianity accounts for about a third of the world population, with approximately 2.2 billion adherents who belong to various Christian denominations. This guide may come in handy if [...]
In Portugal, the family comes together on December 25th, not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but the passing of deceased friends and family members as well. The alminhas a pehar (“souls of the dead”) are given food and a place at the table to ensure good luck and fortune for the future. [...]
In America, children have Jolly Saint Nick, otherwise known as Santa Claus, who brings them presents on Christmas Eve. In Iceland, they have the Yule Lads, or Yulemen, thirteen men who each visit children in the days leading to Christmas. The Yulemen were first introduced in 1932 by Icelandic poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum in [...]
For children in Germany, Santa Claus (a.k.a Saint Nicholas, Jolly Ol’ St. Nick, etc.) isn’t the only man who visits during the holidays. Knecht Ruprecht, which translates to “Servant Rupert” or “Farmhand Rupert”, escorts Saint Nicholas on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day in deustchsprachigen Raum, or German-speaking Europe. There are two stories of Knecht Ruprecht’s origin: [...]
Look at the traditional nativity display of homes around Catalonia, Spain and its neighboring cities and you might find a strange and somewhat out of place character in the middle of all the familiar figures. The Caganer, a statuette of a man in the act of defacation, is a controversial yet traditional piece featured in [...]
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