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At christmas......
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At christmas......
by hippy_chick Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:58 pm
Why do we hang mistletoe?
Hanging up mistletoe is a practice that dates as far back as the time of the ancient druids. Growing in the branches of willow & apple tree's, the parastitic plant was thought to possess mystical power's, so when inside the home, would bring good luck & ward off any evil spirit's. In scandinavia, warring enemies would call a truce if they found themselves underneath it in the forest. The act of kissing uner the mistletoe is thought to have started with an ancient greek festival called saturnalia, whichran for a week from dec 17th. Later, this tradition continued as part of primitive marriage rites & was thought to help bestow fertility.
Why do we believe in father christmas?
The story of father christmas begins with nicholas, a wealthy bishop who lived in the 4th century in asia minor (now turkey). He was spied dropping money down the chimney of a man whose daughters could not marry because he could not afford a drowry. After that, whenever anyone recieved a secret gift, it was thought to be from him. He was later made a saint & in the 16th century was regarded throughout europe as a christmas figure who believed gifts & filled children's stocking's. The original bishop's robes have been through a few colour changes over the yeras, but the red was introuduced by a famous fizzy drink advert in the 1950's -completing his modern day commercial image.
Why do we have christmas tree's?
For thousands of years fir trees have been used to celebrate winter festival's, both pagan & christian, because of thier evergreen branches signified eternal life. However, bringing them inside for christmas is believed to have stemmed from the tale of a german forester & his family. One christmas eve, they heard a knock at the door. They opened it to find a lost boy, they invited in. The next day, the angels declared that he was the son of god. The christ child broke off a fir branch as a thank-you & ever since poeple have rememberd that night by bringing a fir tree into thier homes. The first christmas tree came to england in 1841, when prince albert gave one to queen vicoria for windsor castle.
Why do we have christmas pudding?
The oringinal christmas pudding would probaly not have appealed to modern taste buds. It began as a 14th century porridge called frumenty, made of beef mutton dried fruit wine & spices & it was eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for the festivities. By the 17th century, the recipe had evolved into a baked plum pudding contaning eggs, breadcrums, beer & spirit's. In 1714 king george i's love of plum pudding established it as part of christmas celebration's, but it was the victorians who developed it into the desert eaten at the end of our christmas lunch. One tradition says that the pudding should be made of 13 different ingredients to represent jesus & his 12 disciples.
Why do we sing carol's?
Christmas carol's began life as pagan songs, which were sung at the winter solstice on 22nd december, the shortest day of the year. The word carol, means "song & dance of praise & joy" & at first these songs were performed throughout the seasons, but only the tradition of singing them in winter has survived. Early christians then adopted the custom, replacing the original pagan tunes with religious hymns, by the middles ages, the popularity of nativity plays increased the number of carol's that related the christmas story. However, many of the favourite carols that we know & enjoy today such as good king wenceslas, werent penned until victorian times.
Hanging up mistletoe is a practice that dates as far back as the time of the ancient druids. Growing in the branches of willow & apple tree's, the parastitic plant was thought to possess mystical power's, so when inside the home, would bring good luck & ward off any evil spirit's. In scandinavia, warring enemies would call a truce if they found themselves underneath it in the forest. The act of kissing uner the mistletoe is thought to have started with an ancient greek festival called saturnalia, whichran for a week from dec 17th. Later, this tradition continued as part of primitive marriage rites & was thought to help bestow fertility.
Why do we believe in father christmas?
The story of father christmas begins with nicholas, a wealthy bishop who lived in the 4th century in asia minor (now turkey). He was spied dropping money down the chimney of a man whose daughters could not marry because he could not afford a drowry. After that, whenever anyone recieved a secret gift, it was thought to be from him. He was later made a saint & in the 16th century was regarded throughout europe as a christmas figure who believed gifts & filled children's stocking's. The original bishop's robes have been through a few colour changes over the yeras, but the red was introuduced by a famous fizzy drink advert in the 1950's -completing his modern day commercial image.
Why do we have christmas tree's?
For thousands of years fir trees have been used to celebrate winter festival's, both pagan & christian, because of thier evergreen branches signified eternal life. However, bringing them inside for christmas is believed to have stemmed from the tale of a german forester & his family. One christmas eve, they heard a knock at the door. They opened it to find a lost boy, they invited in. The next day, the angels declared that he was the son of god. The christ child broke off a fir branch as a thank-you & ever since poeple have rememberd that night by bringing a fir tree into thier homes. The first christmas tree came to england in 1841, when prince albert gave one to queen vicoria for windsor castle.
Why do we have christmas pudding?
The oringinal christmas pudding would probaly not have appealed to modern taste buds. It began as a 14th century porridge called frumenty, made of beef mutton dried fruit wine & spices & it was eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for the festivities. By the 17th century, the recipe had evolved into a baked plum pudding contaning eggs, breadcrums, beer & spirit's. In 1714 king george i's love of plum pudding established it as part of christmas celebration's, but it was the victorians who developed it into the desert eaten at the end of our christmas lunch. One tradition says that the pudding should be made of 13 different ingredients to represent jesus & his 12 disciples.
Why do we sing carol's?
Christmas carol's began life as pagan songs, which were sung at the winter solstice on 22nd december, the shortest day of the year. The word carol, means "song & dance of praise & joy" & at first these songs were performed throughout the seasons, but only the tradition of singing them in winter has survived. Early christians then adopted the custom, replacing the original pagan tunes with religious hymns, by the middles ages, the popularity of nativity plays increased the number of carol's that related the christmas story. However, many of the favourite carols that we know & enjoy today such as good king wenceslas, werent penned until victorian times.
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