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Christmas Card

The practice of sending a Christmas greeting card to friends was initiated by Sir Henry Cole in England. The year was 1843 and the first card was designed by J.C. Horsley. 1000 copies were sold in London. An English artist, William Eagley, produced a popular card in 1849.

Christmas Candle

Light was an important part of the pagan midwinter festivals, since this was the time when the sun ceased to wane and began to grow stronger and brighter. In imitation candles and bonfires helped to drive away the forces of the cold and darkness. ax tapers were given as gifts at the Roman festival of Saturnalia. To the Christian community, the lighting of the candles took on the additional symbolic significance of Jesus as the Light of the World.

Blowing In The Yule

One of the delightfully noisy traditions of Christmas, this custom probably originated in Pagan times to ward off evil spirits. Today it is found in areas of Germany and Scandinavian countries.

Advent Wreath

The Advent Calendar originated in Germany and Scandinavia, but it has become very popular in America as well. Sometimes it is a picture of a house with windows that can be opened to reveal the tiny pictures behind them.

Christmas Bells

The ringing of the bells at Christmas time is a holdover from pagan mid-winter celebrations. They believed that when the earth was so cold and the sun was dying, evil spirits were very powerful. One of the ways to ward them off was by making a great deal of noise. Since its was also rather fun, the noisemaking ceremonies brought much good will.

Christmas In Armenia

Christmas is celebrated on January 19 in Armenia. This is because they believe that Christ’s birthday should be celebrated on the same day as his baptism. Present day January 19, used to be January 6 in the old Julian calendar. The Armenians prepare for Christmas with a fast. They eat no animal food for a week and no food at all on the last day before Christmas. The fast is broken only after the Christmas Eve service, when they return home to a dinner of rice pilaf. The children then go onto the roofs with handkerchiefs and sing carols. Adults fill up the handkerchiefs with presents of raisins or fried wheat or sometimes money. There are also morning services on Christmas Day.

Christmas In Australia

Australia was settled by the British, so Christmas customs are the descendants of the traditional British Christmas. As the weather is warm & no snow there are no sleigh rides, or Yule logs, or any other comforts against the cold. The main articles of decoration are the Christmas bell and the Christmas bush. After a hearty afternoon feast, supper may be a picnic in the countryside or at the beach. One tradition that is purely Australian began in 1937 by a radio announcer, Norman Banks who saw a lonely old woman listening to Christmas carols on the radio while a lone candle burned forlornly in her window. The following Christmas Eve he broadcast a great carol sing by all who want to join in , from the Alexandra Gardens along the banks of Melbourne’s main river. “Carols by Candlelight” became a joyous annual event and was eventually broadcast in many other countries around the world. Each year, more than a quarter of a million people gather to sing carols and join hands at midnight for “Auld Lang Syne.” It is a great showing of community and Christmas spirit that is almost unequaled anywhere else in the world.

Charles Dickens

Who can be insensible to the outpourings of good feeling, and the honest interchange of affection- ate attachment, which abound at this season of the year? A Christmas family-party! We know nothing in nature more delightful! There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas. Petty jealousies and discords are forgotten…Kindly hearts that have yearned towards each other, but have been withheld by false notions of pride and self-dignity, are again reunited, and all is kind- ness and benevolence! Would that Christmas lasted the whole year through (as it ought), and that the prejudices and passions which deform our better nature, were never called into action among those to whom they should ever be strangers.
Charles Dickens

Christmas in Belgium

In Belgium, St. Nicholas pays two visits to each house. On December 4 he comes to check into the behavior of each child, to find out if they have been naughty or nice. Then on December 6 he returns with just rewards for all, either presents or switches, which he leaves in the shoes or small baskets that have been placed inside near the doorway, where he will easily find them. Just to get on his good side there are snacks of hay, water and carrots left for his horse or donkey. Christmas Day is reserved for religious celebrations & Nativity plays sponsored by the churches. They are often performed in 16 th century costumes. In small villages, there are often three virtuous men chosen to portray the three Wise Men and go throughout the town, caroling at each doors and receiving small gifts of food.

Bird Tree

This is a Scandinavian custom at Christmas time. It is the spirit of sharing the festivities with all animals and plant life so that the coming year will be a prosperous one. A sheaf of wheat or some other grain, or even just seed and bread, is placed on a pole and set outside where the birds are know to congregate. This is done on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.