The British Academy

During Advent, Christians make preparations for the commemoration of Jesus’ birth on December 25.

Each of the four weeks symbolizes a different way in which believers perceive Christ: through the flesh, the Holy Spirit, death, and Christ’s judgment of the dead.

The Advent wreath, which consists of four candles anchored in a circle of evergreen branches, originated with German Lutherans; the tradition has been adopted by many churches and families.

At the beginning of each of the four weeks preceding Christmas, Christians light an Advent candle as they say a prayer.

There are many varieties of evergreen trees around the world, and finding the first variety used is a matter of myth.

Some of the oldest legends include fir trees.

Some older, verifiable accounts include hemlocks, though hemlock branches are often too frail to support most ornaments.

There are approximately 50 different kinds of conifers sold to eager holiday shoppers.

Common types include pines, spruces and other firs.

The Significance of Christmas is known to men, all over the world.

Though it is true that Christmas is celebrated as the day of the Birth of Christ into this world, yet it also symbolizes a very deeply significant truth of the spiritual life.

Jesus Christ is the very personification of Divinity.

He was born at a time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed upon the land.
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The story goes that Mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, goddess of love and the mother of Balder, the god of the summer sun.

Balder had a dream of death, which greatly alarmed his mother, for should he die, all life on earth would end.

Balder could not be hurt by anything on earth or under the earth. But Balder had one enemy, Loki, god of evil and he knew of one plant that grew neither on the earth nor under the earth, but on apple and oak trees.

It was lowly mistletoe. So Loki made an arrow tip of the mistletoe, gave to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who shot it, striking Balder dead.

For three days each element of universe tried to bring Balder back to life. Frigga, the goddess and his mother finally restored him.

It is said the tears she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on the mistletoe plant and in her joy Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree on which it grew.

The story ends with a decree that who should ever stand under the humble mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a token of love.

Christmas observances have also assimilated remnants of ancient rituals such as the custom of burning Yule logs; the Yule log symbolizes the victory of light over the darkness of winter.

The tradition of lighting the Yule log is still observed, especially by Europeans.

Families light the log on Christmas Eve and keep it burning until Epiphany.

Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name ‘Santa Claus’ which comes from the Dutch ‘Sinterklaas’.

Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD.

He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it.

It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney.

It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children’s stockings.

Once the right kind of tree is secured, the next step is to source various ornamental items for its decorations.

It is up to the taste and preference of individual to decide the kind of look wanted to give to the tree.

This is true time to showcase the creativity with the help of color and style theme.

The Christmas tree is decorated with colorful ribbons, ornaments, glistening garland and blinking lights.

No matter how the tree is decorated it still symbolizes a timeless Christmas tradition of families gathered together exchanging presents and love.

‘Father Christmas’ (or ‘Santa Claus’) has become the human face of Christmas.

Pictures will be seen everywhere of the old man with long white beard, red coat, and bag of toys.

Children are taught that he brings them presents the night before Christmas (or in some countries on December 6th – St. Nicholas’ Day), and many children up to the age of 7 or 8 really believe this is true.

In most countries, it is said that he lives near the North Pole, and arrives through the sky on a sledge (snow-cart) pulled by reindeer.

He comes into houses down the chimney at midnight and places presents for the children in socks or bags by their beds or in front of the family Christmas tree.

In shops or at children’s parties, someone will dress up as Father Christmas and give small presents to children, or ask them what gifts they want for Christmas. Christmas can be a time of magic and excitement for children.

For families in North America, Germany and other parts of Europe, the Xmas Tree is the symbol of the Christmas season.

They played a symbolic part because they stayed green and alive when other plants appeared dead and bare.

They represented everlasting life and hope for the return of spring.

The use of evergreens was and is most widespread in England and Germany.

At least 500 years ago the religious meaning began to be associated with these plants.

This version of Santa has given the current myth its visual form and some very curious traditions.

A merry old man with red and white clothes, along with eight flying reindeer, which is later joined by Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

The home of Santa Clause is located on or near the North Pole and he is in habit of filling socks or stockings with presents on the night of December 24th. Santa Claus is also said to possess the habit of entering houses through the chimney