| Everyone enjoys the hustle and bustle of | | | | dangers. When he was shot with an arrow |
| Christmas shopping | | | | made from |
| | | | |
| and decorating. Children love to write | | | | mistletoe, Freyja made mistletoe promise |
| letters to Santa and | | | | never to harm |
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| get a reply with an envelope stamped "North | | | | anyone ever again. So today, mistletoe is a |
| Pole". But even | | | | symbol of peace |
| | | | |
| more fascinating is the origins of many of | | | | and love. It's winter blossoms bring |
| our beloved | | | | promise of bounty for |
| | | | |
| Christmas traditions.Exchanging Gifts: In | | | | the coming spring.Caroling: In Scandinavian |
| ancient times holiday meals were | | | | custom, every Christmas, a party |
| | | | |
| shared with family, friends, and the poor. | | | | was given to the god Thor, represented by a |
| It was believed | | | | goat. After |
| | | | |
| that in order to have a prosperous year, one | | | | much singing and dancing the goat would |
| must not be | | | | pretend to die and |
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| selfish for to hoard what they already had | | | | return to life. Today, carolers go from |
| would guarantee | | | | door to door |
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| that they would never be blessed with more. | | | | singing and this represents the life of |
| This is why we | | | | Christ.Santa Claus: Santa actually started |
| | | | out as a version of |
| exchange gifts today.Tree decorating: In | | | | |
| olden times trees represented life | | | | Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. Sailors |
| | | | feared him because |
| triumphant over death. The Romans trimmed | | | | |
| trees with | | | | he could bring terrible storms or grant them |
| | | | safe journeys. |
| trinkets, candles, and toys. The Druids | | | | |
| tied polished | | | | Because he could save them from angry |
| | | | waters, he became |
| apples and other offerings on tree branches. | | | | |
| In Munich, | | | | known as "giver of all good things". Due to |
| | | | the rise of |
| even trees in cemeteries were decked with | | | | |
| holly and | | | | Christianity, the old custom was changed to |
| | | | honor Nicholas |
| mistletoe. Therefore, the evergreen tree, | | | | |
| which decorates | | | | of Myra, an Asian bishop. Nicholas wore red |
| | | | clothing, rode |
| our homes today, has come to signify the | | | | |
| ever living Christ.Yule Logs: The ancient | | | | a white horse who could fly, and delivered |
| Druids and other cultures believed | | | | gifts |
| | | | |
| that the sparks from a burning log carried | | | | anonymously. Today, he is Santa with his |
| their wishes for | | | | flying reindeer!For more information on |
| | | | getting a letter from Santa for a |
| a prosperous New Year to the gods. Today, | | | | |
| fireplaces with | | | | child close to you visit: FOR REPRINT: You |
| | | | have permission to publish |
| burning logs recapture this ancient custom | | | | |
| with the belief | | | | this article free of charge in your e-zine, |
| | | | newsletter, |
| that the firelight is symbolic of the light | | | | |
| that came from | | | | ebook, print publication or on your website |
| | | | ONLY if it |
| Heaven when Christ was born.Candles: In | | | | |
| England, large candles were burned in | | | | remains unchanged and you include the |
| | | | copyright and author |
| conjunction with the yule log. In America | | | | |
| today, the | | | | information (Resource Box) at the end. You |
| | | | may not use |
| candles represent the Star of | | | | |
| Bethlehem.Holly: The Druids believed that | | | | this article in any unsolicited commercial |
| holly was favored by the | | | | email (spam).You may retrieve this article |
| | | | by:Autoresponder: Website: 2005 Marilyn |
| sun because it was always green. Today | | | | PokorneyPlease leave the resource box intact |
| holly represents the | | | | with an active link, |
| | | | |
| ever living Christ. The white flowers, | | | | and send a courtesy copy of the publication |
| purity; the red | | | | in which the |
| | | | |
| berries, his blood; the leaves, his crown of | | | | article appears to: Author: Marilyn |
| thorns, and the | | | | Pokorney |
| | | | |
| bitter bark, his sorrow.Mistletoe: Comes | | | | Freelance writer of science, nature, animals |
| from a Norse legend. Freyja, a goddess, | | | | and the |
| | | | |
| had arranged for her son to be protected | | | | environment. |
| from all earthly | | | | |
| | | | Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. |