CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

From Bronner's of Frankenmuth Michigan Catalog

Christmas ornaments are beautiful, and there is a story behind many of them. These pictures and descriptions are through the courtesy of Bronners of Frankenmuth Catalog.

Now, find these ornaments on the many beautifully decorated trees during "Christmas at Historic Trinity."

	Tradition of the Mushroom. Mushrooms are considered to be a good luck symbol. Associated with nature and the beauty of the forest, finding a mushroom is considered to be very lucky and to mean good fortune is at hand. Mushroom ornaments are displayed on Christmas trees in Germany in honor of the people's reverence for nature and in hope of good luck in the New Year.
	Legend of the Drummer Boy. Come, they told him to see the newborn King. But the little drummer boy had no gift to bring, so he played his drum - rum pum pum pum - for the Holy Child. The Child smiled at the simple gift, reminding us that the best gifts come from the heart.
	Legend of the Holly. The bright red and green of holly make it a natural symbol of rebirth. There are several legends regarding holly. According to one of these legends, holly branches were woven into Christ's crown of thorns. Therefore, the once white berries were stained red by the blood of Christ. Holly has also come to stand for peace and joy.
	Symbol of the Mistletoe. Mistletoe was for many centuries a symbol of healing and divine love. In Scandinavia, it was considered a plant of peace. When hung in a doorway or from the ceiling it became a sign of goodwill and harmony. The current custom of kissing beneath the mistletoe is based on Scandinavian mythology
	Tradition of the Nutcracker. Nutcracker figurines originated in the Erzebirge area of Germany as early as the 1700's. They were traditionally dressed as soldiers and kings. Villagers took satisfaction in having these authoritative figure perform the menial task of cracking nuts. Some may still crack nuts, but the real joy is their colorful presence decorating the home.
	Tradition of the Pickle Ornament. According to German tradition, the pickle brings good luck and was the last ornament placed on the tree. On Christmas morning the first child to find the gherkin was rewarded with an extra little gift by St. Nicholas. This tradition encouraged the children to appreciate all the ornaments on the tree, rather than hurrying to see what St. Nicholas had left for them.
	Tradition of the Pig. According to German tradition, partaking of a roast pork dinner on Christmas Eve will prevent evil and promote prosperity in the new year. Germans have a saying: "Wir haben Schwein" which means "we have good luck." Pigs are considered to be symbols of good fortune, thrift, and savings. Children are traditionally given piggy banks to encourage them to save.
	Tradition of the Christmas Tree. Because it stays green all through the year, the evergreen tree is symbolic of the eternal life offered to Christians through faith in Christ. The treetop points heavenward. A star signified the special star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem. Lights represent Christ, the "Light of the World." Gifts beneath the tree are representative of God's gift of His only begotten Son, who brings Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.
	Symbol of the Guardian Angel Feather. The guardian angel feather symbolizes God's care for his people throughthe presence of angels. It is written in Psalm 91:11...."For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
	Legend of the Apple. The apple played an important role in traditional European Christmas Eve celebrations. Following dinner, the head of the family would slice an apple crosswise. If there was the image of a perfect star inside and the seeds were plump, it was believed that a peaceful year of good fortune and health awaited the family. Each member of the family then ate a piece of the apple.
	Legend of the Christmas Bells. According to early legend, bells rang throughout the world announcing the birth of Christ. The ringing of bells during joyous holiday season still adds delightful accompaniment to favorite carols and is a significant part of the Christmas celebration. High in their towers, suspended between heaven and earth, church bells have called the faithful to worship for centuries.
	Our Lady of Czestochowa. Legend says that St. Luke painted the portrait of Mary and Jesus known as Our Lady of Czestochowa. It was brought to Poland in 1382 and kept at the shrine of Jasna Gora. In 1430 an attack on the shrine left the image with several gashes to the Madonna's face. Despite repeated attempts to repair them, they have always reappeared. Since that time there have been many miracles attributed to the painting. In 1656 King Jan Kazimierz proclaimed the shrine to be a spiritual capital for Poland. Through Poland's often painful history, it has been a symbol of hope in times of hardship. Today the shrine of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa continues to attract millions of visitors annually who honor its miraculous image.
	Legend of the Rooster. Legend states that the only time the rooster crowed at midnight was the night that Jesus was born. In Spanish and Latin American countries "Misa del Gallo" the Mass of the Rooster, is celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve. The crowing of the rooster at the dawn of each morning symbolizes the daily triumph of light over darkness and the victory of good over evil.
	Legend of the Christmas Spider. An old European Christmas legend tells of a poor woman unable to provide the traditional decorations for the special holiday. A spider made his home in her tree and began to spin beautiful webs. On Christmas morning, the first light of sun struck the cobwebs, turning them to silver. When the woman awoke, she found the tree was covered with silver treasure. The spider had brought good fortune!
	Symbol of the Acorn. The acorn has long been considered a symbol of good luck in Germany where oak trees are considered sacred. The rebirth of life in the coming of the Christ child is also represented in the acorn. Bearing a tiny seed that will produce a mighty oak, the acorn reminds us that great results can be born of humble beginnings.
	Legend of the Poinsettia. Mexican legend tells of a boy who had no gift to put by the figure of baby Jesus in church on Christmas Eve. On his way to church, he heard an angel tell him to pick some dried weeds for his gift. As he laid them beside the other gifts, the weeds turned into beautiful flowers. Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, brought the plant to the United States where it named "poinsettia."
	Symbol of the Bee. The bee is a symbol of industry, resourcefulness, and prosperity. These tiny creatures show us there is success and satisfaction in working together harmoniously while still enjoying the sweetness of life. British farmers believed the bees hummed in honor of the Christ child on the first Christmas.
	Tradition of the Painted Egg. The Eastern European tradition of painting eggs developed as a result of their exchange as Easter presents. In many countries eggs were a symbol of eternal life. The egg was likened to the tomb from which Christ arose. A desire to enhance the beauty of these Easter gifts led to the folk tradition of egg painting.
	Legend of Saint Patrick. St. Patrick, born around 385 in Scotland, is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. At age 14, Irish raiders seized Patrick to be a slave. He later escaped and reunited with his family. A dream called him back to Ireland, where until his death on March 17, 461, St. Patrick preached the Gospel and built churches throughout the country. A very important holiday to the Irish, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional time for spiritual renewal.
	St. Nicholas.....Santa Claus. The concept of the American Santa Claus originated with St. Nicholas, who was born in Asia Minor in 280 A.D. He was known as a kind, benevolent man; indeed made a saint because of his generosity. In honor of St. Nicholas, December 6 became the traditional day in Europe for the exchange of Christmas gifts and the beginning of the holiday season. Dutch immigrants to the United States brought with them their version of the gift-giving St. Nicholas, known as Sinter Klass. Americans, unaccustomed to Dutch pronunciation, turned this into "Santa Claus," who is beloved as a symbol of Christmas by children of all ages.
	Legend of the Christmas Rose. Rose ornaments on a Christmas tree are symbolic of beauty and are believed to be an expression of affection and love. Legend tells us that a lowly shepherdess knelt at the manger, weeping because she had no gift to offer the newborn King. As her tears fell to earth, a rosebush sprang into bloom. She picked a bouquet of roses and offered them to the baby Jesus as her gift of love.
	Guardian Angel. The role of the Guardian Angel is both to guide us to good thoughts and deeds and to protect us from evil. The presence of Guardian Angels here on earth is taught in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Psalm 91:11 reads, "For he shall give his angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways." They are portrayed as loving spirits who protect and guide us through life's many experiences.
	Tradition of the Candle. Before electric Christmas lights were invented, candles adorned the Christmas tree, sparkling like starlight against the dark green boughs. The candle reminds us that Christ is the light of the world. Many European families still decorate their Christmas tree with candles that are burned on Christmas Eve.
	Legend of the Candy Cane. The Candy Cane begins with a stick of white candy. The white symbolizes the purity of the Christmas season. Red stripes are for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we may have eternal life. The candy is formed into a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus. It can also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd. Its hard consistency represents the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God.