| Christmas decorations have evolved from various | | | | up through the winter season to protect the |
| cultures. No matter where you live, the mention | | | | home from illness, bad fortune, and other |
| of holly, mistletoe, or ivy conjures up visions of | | | | dilemmas that may have struck during the dark |
| Christmas Sugar Plums, flying reindeer, and fat | | | | days of winter. |
| little elves in red suits. These winter treasures fill | | | | Foods - |
| up the dark days of winter with light and wonder. | | | | Also popular for decorating, foods such as |
| But you probably wonder where these traditions | | | | cookies, candies and sugared fruits adorn kitchens, |
| come from? | | | | doorways, and other public rooms of homes in |
| Mistletoe - | | | | the early centuries. Many decorations came from |
| Hanging the Mistletoe over the doorway invites | | | | the fields, implying abundance and wealth to those |
| lovers and passersby to stop for a kiss, spawning | | | | who used them for holiday decorations. As far |
| many a romance. How could one resist a moment | | | | back as the 1500's the custom of decorating |
| of bliss under the mistletoe? This tradition comes | | | | households, churches, and communities with holly, |
| from the Norse Myths. Frigga, one of the gods, | | | | ivy, bays and affordable seasonal greens was |
| gave her son Balder mistletoe to protect him | | | | popular. When city light poles became standard, |
| from the elements. Mistletoe, grown only on | | | | decorations began to extend outside. |
| trees, held the power to harm him. Another god | | | | Beads & Ribbon - |
| struck Balder down with an arrow made of | | | | Knotted ribbons and beads became popular. |
| Mistletoe. Balder's mother cried tears of white | | | | Homemade ornaments followed quickly with nuts, |
| berries and brought her son back to life. She | | | | seeds, berries, and popcorn being strung late in |
| vowed to kiss anyone resting beneath the | | | | the 1800's. Christmas decorations of glass and |
| Mistletoe, a parasite plant the grows in trees and | | | | silver tinsel became popular in the early 1900's |
| ultimately kills the tree. The Mistletoe kissing | | | | when German Christmas Ornaments began being |
| tradition was thus begun. | | | | shipped to the United States. Paper decorator |
| Holly - | | | | items and homemade decorations have always |
| Believed to have magical powers that drove | | | | been a popular addition to American Folklore. |
| away demons was considered good luck by the | | | | Decking the halls can be an extremely comforting |
| Germans against the hostile forces of nature. | | | | part of home and family traditions. |
| Wreaths and garlands of ivy and holly were left | | | | |