hmmm Some Christmas traditions or stories or something
The Germans started attaching significance to trees a millennium ago. Christian lore says the man who converted the Germans, St. Boniface, was angered by pagans worshipping an oak tree and felled the tree on the spot to show that their gods had no power. A fir tree grew in its place and it became custom to decorate the triangular-shaped evergreens. In the 16th century, Germans began bringing trees indoors and eventually the custom of decorating trees spread.
The Druids used mistletoe in many ceremonies, associating the kind found on oak trees with virility and good luck. But it was the Greeks who kissed under the mistletoe as part of their Saturnalia celebration. Ancient Scandinavians also revered this parasitic plant as a symbol of peace. Ancient Anglo-Saxons revered mistletoe for its mystical powers, believing the bird dung found near it had life-giving qualities. To them "mistletoe" was literally "dung-on-a-twig."
The sugary treat shaped like a shepherd's crook is said to have been created by a German choirmaster to keep children quiet during long services. Albany, Georgia, candy maker Bob McCormack started twisting the treats in the 1920s but mass production didn't come until McCormack's brother-in-law, Gregory Keller, a Catholic priest, invented a machine that automatically produced the candy. Later, McCormack's children improved packaging that allowed for large-scale delivery.
Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, was established by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor in the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, in 1966 amid the black nationalism movement. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits" and celebrates family, community and culture. Karenga added an extra "a" at the end of the spelling to differentiate between the Swahili word and the African-American celebration.
Wassailing is an ancient English tradition that sends people door-to-door singing Christmas carols and asking for some kind of refreshment in return. "Wassail" is an Old English toast which translates roughly to "be in good health." English peasants from the 16th century traveled to their feudal lords' houses asking for food and drink -- and in return the lords were blessed. Modern wassail refreshments are spiced punches, but in ancient England, the drink - akin to spiced beer -- was meant to bless the forthcoming spring crop.
i think the first one is most important. bc the pagan tree supposedly grew back again. interesting.
The Druids used mistletoe in many ceremonies, associating the kind found on oak trees with virility and good luck. But it was the Greeks who kissed under the mistletoe as part of their Saturnalia celebration. Ancient Scandinavians also revered this parasitic plant as a symbol of peace. Ancient Anglo-Saxons revered mistletoe for its mystical powers, believing the bird dung found near it had life-giving qualities. To them "mistletoe" was literally "dung-on-a-twig."
The sugary treat shaped like a shepherd's crook is said to have been created by a German choirmaster to keep children quiet during long services. Albany, Georgia, candy maker Bob McCormack started twisting the treats in the 1920s but mass production didn't come until McCormack's brother-in-law, Gregory Keller, a Catholic priest, invented a machine that automatically produced the candy. Later, McCormack's children improved packaging that allowed for large-scale delivery.
Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, was established by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor in the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, in 1966 amid the black nationalism movement. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits" and celebrates family, community and culture. Karenga added an extra "a" at the end of the spelling to differentiate between the Swahili word and the African-American celebration.
Wassailing is an ancient English tradition that sends people door-to-door singing Christmas carols and asking for some kind of refreshment in return. "Wassail" is an Old English toast which translates roughly to "be in good health." English peasants from the 16th century traveled to their feudal lords' houses asking for food and drink -- and in return the lords were blessed. Modern wassail refreshments are spiced punches, but in ancient England, the drink - akin to spiced beer -- was meant to bless the forthcoming spring crop.
i think the first one is most important. bc the pagan tree supposedly grew back again. interesting.