CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY AND ALL ITS FESTIVITIES, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS, MANY OF WHICH START ON DECEMBER 1ST. CONCERTS, TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONIES, CHRISTMAS CAROLERS, SANTA AND HIS ELVES IN SHOPPING MALLS ARE JUST A FEW OF THE EVENTS THAT MAKE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON FESTIVE.
MANY TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS THAT WE HOLD DEAR ORIGINATED YEARS AGO. OUR MODERN CHRISTMAS TREE ORIGINATED WITH GERMAN LUTHERANS IN THE 17TH CENTURY. THEY BROUGHT THIS CUSTOM WITH THEM WHEN THEY IMMIGRATED TO PENNSYLVANIA IN THE 1820's.
THE TRADITION OF HANGING CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS IS SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED WITH A POOR WIDOWER AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS. HE COULD NOT AFFORD A DOWRY TO MARRY THEM OFF. EVERY NIGHT THEY WOULD WASH THEIR STOCKINGS AND HANG THEM ON THE FIREPLACE TO DRY. ST. NICHOLAS, WHO TOOK PITY ON THEM, DROPPED GOLD COINS DOWN THE CHIMNEY WHICH LANDED IN THEIR STOCKINGS. THUS THE TRADITION BEGAN.
CANDLES ARE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS CUSTOM THAT DATE BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES. A LARGE CANDLE WAS LIT TO REPRESENT THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. THE CUSTOM OF ADVENT CANDLES AND THE ADVENT CROWN IS USED TO SYMBOLIZE JESUS, SINCE CHRISTIANS REFER TO HIM AS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
THERE ARE MANY MORE CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD RELEVANT TO ONE'S HERITAGE. AS WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE FESTIVITIES, LET'S REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON, THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US. THEY LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS. MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED AND VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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