christmas

"As ye did it unto the least of these"

If you give a beggar something to eat on Christmas Eve, you will have good luck for an entire year, for on this night, all beggars are under the
special protection of Jesus Christ.

Caroling

The practice of going from house to house on Christmas Eve singing carols for the benefit of shut-ins originated in England where people of the
poorer classes did so for the pennies given to them by householders who were filled with Christmas cheer. As the years passed, more and more
people took part in the caroling, and although they were far more affluent than those who had initiated the practice, it became customary for
them to be given something to eat and drink at each home where they stopped.

Christmas Tree

As part of the Saturnalis, the Romans set up evergreen trees in their homes, which they decorated with candles, brightly colored objects, and
images of Bacchus, the god of wine, animal life, and vegetation. Gaily wrapped gifts, placed on the boughs, were later given out to friends and
relatives. Many of the early Christian leaders looked with disfavor on these pagan customs, but when they were unable to put a stop to them,
they wisely adopted them as a part of Christmas celebration, except, of course, that they substituted images of the Christ child for those of
Bacchus.

Greenery

The decoration of evergreens are the symbols of enduring and renewed life, is a direct descendant of a very ancient, pre-Christian, luck-bringing
custom. Long before the Christian era, men brought in green branches at the Winter Solstice as a magical rite to ensure the return of
vegetation. They not only hung holly, ivy, and mistletoe, they also used rosemary, bay, and laurel. It is considered to be unlucky to bring
evergreens in before Christmas Eve. To thrown them away too soon is to throw away life and prosperity, and may cause a death in the family.
The older tradition was that they must come down by Candlemas. Some believe that they must be burnt after taking them down, while others
consider it unlucky to burn them.

How Holly Berries Became Red

There was a time when all holly berries were white. When a visitor of Bethlehem brought a sprig of holly to the infant Jesus, he reached out to
touch it and cut his finger on one of the sharp leaves. Drops of his blood fell on the berries, and the berries of this particular kind of holly have
been a bright red since that time.

Laurel Wreaths

The Greeks and Romans used laurel as an emblem of both peace and victory. Later, the Christians adopted the laurel, using it during the
Christmas season to decorate the windows of their homes. For a short period of time, they fashioned large laurel wreaths, decorated with holly,
to place on the front doors of their houses so that passersby would know that those living in the house had accepted Jesus Christ as their
Savior.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe, the Golden Bough of classical legend, was a sacred and wonder-working plant alike for the Celtic Druids, by whom it was
ceremonially cut at the Winter and Summer solstice festivals. It was also the plant of peace in ancient Scandinavia. A bunch hung outside a
house denoted a safe welcome within, and if enemies happened to meet under a tree that bore it, they had to lay down their arms and fight no
more on that day. It also protects a house from thunder, lightening, witches, and evil spirits. In Britain, it was called All Heal, because it cured
many diseases, composed quarrels, and was an antidote to poison. It also bought good luck and fertility. It's strong Pagan association is
probably the reason of why it is now banned from churches. Kissing under mistletoe started as an English tradition. It is also believed if one
picks one of the berries and gives it to someone on Christmas, true love will grow. In Worcestershire England it is considered unlucky to cut it
any day other than Christmas. Some people keep the spring in their house all year, and then replace it the following Christmas. In some
districts, sprigs from such a bunch were given to the cow that calved first after New year's Day, to ensure the prosperity of the herd in the
following twelve months. To cut down a mistletoe tree is very unlucky. A sprig was also put in a baby's cradle to protect the child from being
stolen by the fairies and being replaced with a changeling.