This document contains 24 entries describing various Christmas traditions from around the world. It explains that holly represents Jesus' crown of thorns and blood, candy canes symbolize his purity and blood, and stockings holding presents date back to St. Nicholas leaving gifts. It also notes traditions such as decorating Christmas trees in Germany, singing carols in the 19th century, and figures like Santa Claus being called different names worldwide.
3. Holly is a popular decoration
at Christmas time and is often
used to make Christmas
wreaths. The thorns and
berries are said to represent
the thorny crown and blood
9. Fir trees have been decorated,
usually with apples and other
fruit, since the 16th century in
Germany. A picture of Queen
Victoria and her family
gathered around a tree made
them popular in Britain
11. Songs have been sung to
celebrate Christmas for many,
many years. In the 19th century
writing Christmas carols
became more popular and
some of the carols you sing at
school were written then.
17. Rudolph is the name of the
reindeer who leads Santa’s
sleigh. The story ‘Rudolph the
Red Nosed Reindeer’ was
written in 1939 by an American
called Robert L. May.
21. In Ireland candles have
religious significance at
Christmas time. Candles
burning in windows show that
the house has room for Mary
and Joseph, just like the
39. Decorating the tree with glass
baubles became popular about
1500 years ago. It was also
around this time that the first
electric tree lights were
made.
43. When the Christmas story was
first heard in Japan many
people were surprised that
Jesus slept in a cradle as most
Japanese babies slept in bed
with their parents!
49. We now call St. Nicholas Santa
or Father Christmas, but he has
many names around the world
including ‘Pere Noël (France),
Svaty Miklaus (Czechoslovakia)
and Sinterklaas (Holland).