Christmas is one of the most beautiful holidays that smells cinnamon and tangerines. So, as the holiday season started, we decided to tell you the most interesting facts about Christmas. It is the most mysterious holiday as people celebrate Christmas as both a religious and a cultural occasion.

• The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.
• Did you know that Christmas ball was a symbol of Paradise apple? In Germany, the first Christmas Trees were decorated with edible things, such as gingerbread and gold covered apples. Then glass makers made special small ornaments similar to some of the decorations used today. The first Christmas ball appeared in Saxony in the 16th century.
• It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.
• In Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, finding a spider or a spider’s web on a Christmas tree is believed to be a harbinger of good luck.According to one legend, a spider wove a blanket for Baby Jesus, according to the other – a spider web on the Christmas tree turned silver and gold once the sunlight touched it. One way or another, decorating a Christmas tree with artificial spiders and spider webs will inevitably bring you luck and prosperity!
• Thethree traditional colors of most Christmas decorations are red, green and gold. Red symbolizes the color of Paradise apple, green symbolized life and rebirth, and gold represents light, royalty and wealth.
• The original red-suited Santa became popular in the US and Canada in the 19th century due to the influence of caricaturist and cartoonist Thomas Nast. Coca-Cola commissioned their depiction of Santa in 1931.
• The image of Santa Claus flying in a sleigh started in 1819, and it was dreamt up by Washington Irving.
• “Jingle Bells”– the popular Christmas song was composed by James Pierpont in Massachusetts, America. It was, however, written for thanksgiving and not Christmas. ‘Jingle Bells’ – was the first song sung by astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra in space, on December 16, 1965.
• Mistletoe kissing originated with fertility rites. Mistletoe was an ancient symbol of virility, so someone stood under it if they were available to the opposite sex.
• The tradition of giving presents for Christmas is also quite ancient. The tradition of giving beautiful boxes with bows came to us from the ancient Romans, who exchanged gifts on New Year’s Day.
• Christmas cards were send for the first time in 1843.  They rarely depicted winter and New Year’s holidays. The main subjects of the cards were flowers, fairies and the arrival of spring.

We hope you liked the article and learned something new.

The LoginLublin team wishes you the realization of ideas and  plans and may all your wishes come true!