| Everyone enjoys the hustle and bustle of Christmas | | | | dangers. When he was shot with an arrow made |
| shopping | | | | from |
| and decorating. Children love to write letters to | | | | mistletoe, Freyja made mistletoe promise never to |
| Santa and | | | | harm |
| get a reply with an envelope stamped "North Pole". | | | | anyone ever again. So today, mistletoe is a symbol |
| But even | | | | of peace |
| more fascinating is the origins of many of our | | | | and love. It's winter blossoms bring promise of |
| beloved | | | | bounty for |
| Christmas traditions.Exchanging Gifts: In ancient times | | | | the coming spring.Caroling: In Scandinavian custom, |
| holiday meals were | | | | every Christmas, a party |
| shared with family, friends, and the poor. It was | | | | was given to the god Thor, represented by a goat. |
| believed | | | | After |
| that in order to have a prosperous year, one must | | | | much singing and dancing the goat would pretend to |
| not be | | | | die and |
| selfish for to hoard what they already had would | | | | return to life. Today, carolers go from door to door |
| guarantee | | | | singing and this represents the life of Christ.Santa |
| that they would never be blessed with more. This is | | | | Claus: Santa actually started out as a version of |
| why we | | | | Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. Sailors feared him |
| exchange gifts today.Tree decorating: In olden times | | | | because |
| trees represented life | | | | he could bring terrible storms or grant them safe |
| triumphant over death. The Romans trimmed trees | | | | journeys. |
| with | | | | Because he could save them from angry waters, he |
| trinkets, candles, and toys. The Druids tied polished | | | | became |
| apples and other offerings on tree branches. In | | | | known as "giver of all good things". Due to the rise |
| Munich, | | | | of |
| even trees in cemeteries were decked with holly | | | | Christianity, the old custom was changed to honor |
| and | | | | Nicholas |
| mistletoe. Therefore, the evergreen tree, which | | | | of Myra, an Asian bishop. Nicholas wore red clothing, |
| decorates | | | | rode |
| our homes today, has come to signify the ever living | | | | a white horse who could fly, and delivered gifts |
| Christ.Yule Logs: The ancient Druids and other | | | | anonymously. Today, he is Santa with his flying |
| cultures believed | | | | reindeer!For more information on getting a letter from |
| that the sparks from a burning log carried their | | | | Santa for a |
| wishes for | | | | child close to you visit: FOR REPRINT: You have |
| a prosperous New Year to the gods. Today, | | | | permission to publish |
| fireplaces with | | | | this article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter, |
| burning logs recapture this ancient custom with the | | | | ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if |
| belief | | | | it |
| that the firelight is symbolic of the light that came | | | | remains unchanged and you include the copyright |
| from | | | | and author |
| Heaven when Christ was born.Candles: In England, | | | | information (Resource Box) at the end. You may |
| large candles were burned in | | | | not use |
| conjunction with the yule log. In America today, the | | | | this article in any unsolicited commercial email |
| candles represent the Star of Bethlehem.Holly: The | | | | (spam).You may retrieve this article |
| Druids believed that holly was favored by the | | | | by:Autoresponder: Website: 2005 Marilyn |
| sun because it was always green. Today holly | | | | PokorneyPlease leave the resource box intact with |
| represents the | | | | an active link, |
| ever living Christ. The white flowers, purity; the red | | | | and send a courtesy copy of the publication in which |
| berries, his blood; the leaves, his crown of thorns, | | | | the |
| and the | | | | article appears to: Author: Marilyn Pokorney |
| bitter bark, his sorrow.Mistletoe: Comes from a | | | | Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the |
| Norse legend. Freyja, a goddess, | | | | environment. |
| had arranged for her son to be protected from all | | | | Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. |
| earthly | | | | |