LADYBUG SAYS ... CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH MANY CUSTOMS, LEGENDS

Ladybug says...

There are many customs and legends, activities and beliefs that make our Christmas what it is today. Many of them are centuries old, but cherished anew each year. Today some of the legends are being repeated here. Sources are varied, with some of them coming with Christmas greetings.

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

THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Today, the Christmas tree is a center of our festivities. Topped with a star, and glittering with lights and ornaments, it is part of the beauty and meaning of the Christmas season.

How did the Christmas tree come to play such an important part in the observance of Christmas?

There is a legend that comes down to us from the early days of Christianity in England. One of those helping to spread Christianity among the Druids was a monk named Wilfred (later saint Wilfred).

One day, surrounded by a group of his converts, he struck down a huge oak tree, which, in the Druid religion, was the object of worship. As the oak tree fell to the earth, it split into four pieces, and from its center there grew a young fir tree, pointing a green spire toward the sky. The crowd gazed in amazement. Wilfred let his axe drop, and turned to speak.

"This little tree shall be your Holy Tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for your houses are built of the fir. It is the sign of an endless life, or its leaves are evergreen. See how it points toward the heavens. Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child. Gather about it, not in the wilderness, but in your homes. There it will be surrounded with loving gifts and rites of kindness."

And to this day, that is why the fir tree is one of our loveliest symbols of Christmas.

THE LEGEND OF THE HOLLY

The night the Holy family fled out of Bethlehem, they heard King Herod's soldiers coming close to them. So Mary took her Little One and laid him on the ground beneath a lovely holly bush where He would not be found.

King Herod's soldiers hurried past, and all were unaware the Infant whom they sought was safe within the holly's care. The Christ Child blessed the holly then so it would always be forever green--a sign of hope and immortality.

THE LEGEND OF MISTLETOE

In ancient Britain mistletoe was the sacred plant of the Druids, who performed elaborate ceremonies around it at the winter solstice, the time when most pagan rites were dedicated to the sun's movement closer to the earth. Because of these pagan associations, mistletoe has seldom been used in church decorations, but it is commonly found in the home where it is essential for a unique and most agreeable Christmas-time custom.

In a Scandinavian myth, Baldur, god of light and spring, believed his life was in danger. His mother, Frigga, goddess of love, traveled over the world asking the things of earth--air, fire and water to promise not to hurt her son. She forgot to ask the mistletoe, a parasitic plant which attaches itself to trees and does not grow from the four elements that promised no harm to Baldur.

Loki, the god of fire, was jealous of Baldur and killed him with a dart of mistletoe. Frigga's tears became the white berries of the plant, and she decreed that mistletoe would never again be used as a weapon. She promised to place a kiss on anyone who passed under it.

ANOTHER LEGEND OF HOLLY

Some people believe that the word "holly" is a form of "holy", but many do not believe that this is the true derivation. The misconception may have started because of the association of these greens with Christmas and the early Christians did refer to it as the Christ-thorn. Actually, holly is a variation of Holin, Hollin or Holm, the latter now used for a specie of oak.

Some believe that the Crown of Thorns was made of holly and that the berries were originally white but after the Crucifixion turned red like drops of blood.

The Druids of ancient Briton believed that the evergreen leaves meant that the sun never deserted it and it was therefore sacred. From time immemorial it has been a symbol of peace, good will and good fortune.

CHRISTMAS WREATHS

The wreath, a complete circle, symbolizes both the love of God, which is without beginning or end and the eternal joys of heaven. It is the symbol of everlasting love.

There are many types and variations of wreaths. The plant material all may be fresh and include berries, fruit, flowers and evergreens. Many times both fresh and dried plant materials are used. Perhaps the most popular wreaths are those made of dried cones, nut, pods and other Christmas decorations. Almost every home has a wreath as it one of the favorite symbols of Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS