HOLIDAY TRADITIONS FOCUS ON FESTIVE PLANTS, TREES

Since the early years of Christianity, followers have formally and informally been celebrating the birth of Christ.

Time has changed some of the methods and has added new customs, but the original intention remains the same the symbolic representation of the birth of Christ.

Christmas is still a day of caring, of giving, of peals of laughter, of good food, fun and fellowship of families together again, and also, a solemn reflection on the true meaning of this most unusual and significant day in all history.

Few celebrations retain as many symbols with their true significance as Christmas.

Christmas is called "Noel" by the French, "Navidad" by the Spanish, "Natale," by Italians and "Weihnachten" by the Germans. Christmas, in our part of the world, is derived from the Old England term "Christes maesse" (Christ's Mass), a term first used in the 11th Century.

Possibly the oldest symbol of Christmas is the evergreen tree. It started in the 10th Century, when an Arabian geographer told this story On the night Christ was born, trees in the forest bloomed and bore fruit. To recreate the tale, people began to decorate trees around their homes.

The Germans were the first to decorate trees indoors. They used apples, sacramental wafers, candles, gold foil, paper roses and sweets. Through the years, the apple ornaments were replaced with oranges, then by decorative balls. Cookies cut into a variety of shapes replaced the wafers.

The use of tinsel began with this lovely story Late one Christmas Eve, a mother decorated a tree to surprise her poor family. During the night, a spider wove a web around the tree. The web turned to silver in approval of the mother's goodness.

One legend says that Martin Luther was the first man inspired to have decorated trees indoors. It is said that he saw a snow-laden evergreen gleaming in the moonlight while walking in the woods on Christmas Eve and tried to simulate it in his home with a small fir and candles.

The first decorated tree in the White House was during the administration of President Franklin Pierce in 1856. Since that time it has become a holiday custom.

Many legends have surrounded holly with religious implications. The early French and English hung a piece of holly over a door to indicate a home where Christ was welcome.

The crown of thorns is believed to have been wound with holly, whose berries turned from white to red after the Crucifixion.

An ancient superstition has made holly so powerful that whichever person first brings holly into the house at Christmas will be the one to rule the house in the next year.

The lighting of candles symbolizes for all of us the religious meaning of Christmas, the birthday of Christ and the enlightenment of the world.

According to the legend, the Holy Child wanders along the streets of the world on Christmas Eve looking for shelter. Lighted candles in the windows will bring Him to a house where He is welcome.

Another legend created the belief that the Virgin Mary and a host of angels passed over the world on Christmas Eve. A window shining with candlelight tells them to come in and be comfortable. This is the basis for our custom of welcoming friends on their rounds on Christmas Eve.

Mistletoe has not always been known as the "kissing plant." The Druids of early Great Britain held mistletoe sacred and considered it a symbol of peace. If enemies met under mistletoe, they would greet one another and remain at peace for a day. It is said that should one be kissed under the mistletoe, a berry should be removed, and when all the berries are gone, the twig has lost its power.

People of long ago also believed that burning a big log drove away evil spirits. Through the years a custom grew to cut down a big tree several weeks before Christmas. There was a belief that anyone who helped would have good luck. Today, some families burn a special big log at Christmas, called a "yule" log.

We hear very little of the Christmas rose, but there is a legend regarding this flower. According to the legend, a little girl followed the shepherds to Bethlehem on the first Christmas. When the child realized everyone had a gift to give the newborn King except herself, she began to weep. An angel took pity on her and turned each of her fallen tears into a beautiful rose. The girl joyfully gathered the roses in her arms and laid them before the Christ Child.

Gifts of the Magi for the Christ Child were gold, frankincense and myrrh. Both of the latter are resins from trees. The solidified resin from the frankincense tree is ground and burned as incense, giving off a fresh pine scent. Myrrh is from a low, cedar-like tree, and is used in making perfumes and incense.

These are some of the things of Christmas the legends and customs that make our Christmas is a collection of all the happiest celebrations of all our ancestors.