Christmas Tree and it’s presents
December 25, 2006
Christmas Tree and it’s presents
The modern Christmas Tree dates back from the Germans, back in the late Middle Ages, when the tree was seen as a symbol of fertility. The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is first recorded in 1835 and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century. A little after that period, the custom was introduced England, via queen Charlotte. Around the same time, German immigrants introduced the custom into the United States. Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and decorations. Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, second name for Christmas star has been associated with Christmas. The display of Christmas villages has also become a tradition in many homes during this season.
Christmas is being seen as the time to forgive eachother, forgetting the bad things you’ve done, and spending time with your family. To amplify that moment for a small period of time (2 or 3 days), people give each other presents, going from small to massive, to indicate they care about eachother. Christmas presents have always been a huge economical stimulation. During this period of the year, products are being bought massively to donate to eachother. In the U.S., the "Christmas shopping season" generally begins on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, though many American stores begin selling Christmas items in October and early November.
- The reindeer probably came from stories of the Norse God Woden who rode through the sky with reindeer and 42 ghostly huntsmen. Clement Moore’s famous poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (T’was the Night Before Christmas) sealed the image of Santa Claus, his reindeer and the magical flying sleigh loaded with sacks of presents.
- Santa Claus has many different names around the world including Father Christmas in the UK, Pere Noel in France, Kriss Kringle in Germany, La Befana in Italy, Julinesse in Denmark, Dedushka Moroz (meaning Grandfather Frost) in Russia and the Three Kings in Spain and Mexico.
- The typical image we have of Santa Claus dressed in red clothes with white fur trim, is an amalgamation of cultural input over many years. Some people claim the image of Santa we know today is from Coca-cola advertising, but this simply isn’t true. The standard Santa garb was well established by the 1920s and it wasn’t until the 1930s that Coca-cola first used the Santa Claus design in their advertising.
- The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley
- The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, or "Christ’s Mass." There is no set date for his birth in scripture and it wasn’t celebrated on any particular day. However Christmas was first celebrated on the 25th of December in Rome in 336AD with an aim to replacing the popular pagan winter solstice celebration.
(CrimeBlocOnline.Com - CB Times 5th "Special Christmas Edition")
