Christmas

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Christmas Season - Traditions and Gift Ideas

Christians celebrate Christmas to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, which is an event and not a tradition. But many other activities related to celebrating the Christmas season evolved from certain traditions, many of which are from other countries, particularly from peoples in Europe.



Among common items used in Christmas decorations are the holly and the mistletoe. Both are used primarily in wreaths and garlands. The Druids started the tradition of using the mistletoe as decorative items up to two hundred years before Christ. To celebrate the winter season, the Druids would gather the plants and use them to decorate their homes. The Druids believed the mistletoe would bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. They also believed that the mistletoe had a healing quality and could be used for everything from healing wounds to increase fertility.



In Scandinavia, the mistletoe was seen as a plant of peace and harmony and was associated with Frigga, the goddess of love. This association is probably what led to the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. In the Victorian period, the English also would hang mistletoe from ceilings and in doorways during holidays. The habit developed that if someone was standing under the mistletoe, someone else in the room would kiss that person. Such outright behavior was not generally seen in Victorian society.



The use of the mistletoe in Christmas celebrations was once banned by the church however because of its associations with pagan traditions, and the use of holly was suggested as a substitute.

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Brighten up your Freezer and keep tabs on the shopping list 

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Poinsettias 

Poinsettias are another traditional decorative flower used at Christmas. It is native to Mexico and is named after Joel Poinsett, who was the first U.S ambassador to Mexico and who brought the plants to America in 1828. Mexicans believe the plants were a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem and that's one reason they are associated with Christmas.There's also the story that a young boy was going to see the Nativity Play at a church but realized he didn't have a gift for Baby Jesus. The boy gathered some green branches, which others scoffed at. But as he placed them near the manger, a bright red poinsettia flower started to bloom on each branch, which gave rise to their traditional use at Christmas.

Poinsettia Christmas Cards 

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Fridge magnets for Christmas 

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Puffin Mugs 

Just right for the bird watcher or nature enthusiast.

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Cheerful Christmas labels for those wonderful Christmas Gifts 

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The Christmas Tree 

Like most of our holiday traditions, the origin of the Christmas tree isn't exactly clear, but it's probably rooted in ancient times, and probably connected to religious rituals. Many ancient cultures revered evergreen trees, which stayed green in the winter while other trees were bare. The evergreens served as a reminder that winter would pass, and the land would once again be fruitful.



As far back as ancient Rome, evergreens were used as a part of the Saturnalia festival-the New Year celebration. Romans exchanged branches and twigs of evergreens as a good-luck blessing.



Many historians believe that pagans of Scandinavia were the first people to bring actual trees indoors-a mid-winter symbol of the promise of the coming warmth of spring.



The German Saxons may have been the first to light their trees with candles, and to adorn them with decorations-trinkets of good fortune. The tradition of the indoor evergreen was so strong in Germany, it's believed that the first use of Christmas trees by Christians developed there, with some experts placing its origin as far back as the eighth century.



The first recorded Christmas tree in England was in 1841, when Queen Victoria's husband, German-born Prince Albert, set up a tree in Windsor Castle. In America, German immigrants were using Christmas trees as far back as the 1830's. The custom took several decades to catch on in the U.S., as most people correctly assumed its pagan origins, but by the 1890's the indoor decorated Christmas tree was a staple in most American homes.



Today we tend to decorate our trees with ornaments which have significant meaning to our lives. Early ornaments, particularly in Europe, included even food-delicacies intended to satisfy the spirits of good luck.

Christmas Tree Cards 

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Wild Bird Mugs 

Nature is all around us - share the moment with these beautifully photographed nature mugs.

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On-Line Christmas Shopping Mousepads 

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The History of Christmas Cards. 

Sending greeting cards during Christmas and the holidays is as prevalent today as the custom of giving gifts. The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in 1840 in Britain with the start of public postal delivery service of the 'Penny Post.' Then from about 1860, large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started to be produced. The popularity of the cards increased in Britain when they could be sent by the postal service for one half-penny, which was half the price to post a standard letter at the time, if they were in an unsealed envelope. Religious pictures of Mary, Joseph , Baby Jesus, the angels, shepherds and Wise Men were traditionally placed on Christmas cards. Some cards today include scenes from the Nativity, but pictures of Santa Claus, winter scenery, Christmas trees, gift packages and others are also depicted on contemporary Christmas greeting cards.

Nativity Christmas Cards 

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Flower Mugs 

Ideal for the keen gardener - put your own message on to make them truely unique

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How long has it been an official Holiday? 

As important as Christmas is to us, today, it's only been in the past 150 years or so that the day has been an official holiday, in America. Thanksgiving was a much more important secular holiday to early Americans. In fact, Alabama was the first state in America to recognize Christmas as a holiday, officially, in 1836-and it wasn't until 1905 that Christmas became officially recognized by Oklahoma.

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Flower Decorated Bags 

These bags are so useful and they make fabulous gifts too.

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Who lit up our Christmas Trees? 

Electric lights for Christmas trees were first invented by The Edison Company in 1882. Up until then, if trees were lit, candles were used-and then, usually only on Christmas Eve night.

Flower Keds 

Brighten up your feet with these wonderful floral photographs

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Where does the abbreviation Xmas come from? 

The Christmas abbreviation-Xmas-is thought by some to be sacreligious, but in fact the first letter of the Greek word for Christ is chi, which is X. Before the invention of the printing press, "Xmas" was often used, in print, to save time and ink.


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A Small Christmas Gift - but appreciated by bird enthusiasts. 

Lots more to choose from

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Cute Customizeable Christmas Cards 

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Festive Birds 

Our Feathered Friends at Christmas

Birds are all around us at Christmas from the robin on your Christmas card to the turkey on the table. A lens with interesting facts about our festive birds.
featured lens Festive Birds

Robins, turkeys, geese etc all play a part in our Christmas Festivities, whether they're on your Christmas Cards or on the table ready to eat. This lens gathers together a few interesting facts I've found on our feathered friends. Oooo, there...

Candy Canes 

Candy canes became a Christmas tradition not because their red and white stripes matched the colors of the season, but for the most unusual reason of discipline. that's because they were first used as treats that were give to German children to keep them well-behaved for the duration of church sermons. Over time, the legend of candy canes at Christmas came to be associated with some of the strongest symbols and beliefs of Christianity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost known as the Trinity, the Blood of the Son of God, Jesus as the embodiment of holiness, purity and without sin and the Son of God as the shepherd of man. The candy cane represents these symbols respectively with its three stripes, its red and white color and its shape.

Candy Cane Christmas Cards 

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Calendars for 2010 

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Stockings on the Mantle Piece 

We get our custom of hanging stockings by the mantle from the Dutch, though their custom is to leave wooden shoes by the fireplace-they fill the shoes with fruits for the donkey St. Nicholas uses to carry his gifts for children.

Hanging Stockings by the Chimney 

I wonder what Santa will leave!

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Landscapes From Wales Mugs 

The Lleyn Peninsular and the "Waterfall Country" of South Wales

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Christmas Pudding 

Once Made with Beer and Only on 'Stir-Up Sunday'!

Traditional Christmas pudding has a long and fascinating history. It is a much loved favorite Christmas sweet for many countries, in particular England and Ireland.



The once traditional time to make your Christmas pudding was on the Sunday five weeks prior to Christmas day. It was known as "Stir-Up Sunday". This Sunday pudding making day was looked forward to by all the members of the family and especially the children. Everyone took it in turns to stir the pudding as they made a wish.



Christmas pudding is also known as 'Plum Pudding' and is traditionally eaten in Britain and Ireland as a dessert on Christmas day. Recipes vary from family to family and often are guarded as they handed down their prized recipes through the generations.



Christmas pudding generally has a dark appearance and is often black, thick in texture and full of nuts, raisins and suet and moistened with brandy while some recipes call for dark beers such as stout! Today it is common practice to make Christmas pudding boiled in a cloth. At the beginning of the 12th century puddings were prepared in basins to produce the traditional round shape on top that we know today. Once prepared, holly was placed around the pudding, it was drenched in more brandy or other alcohol and set alit as it was delivered to the Christmas table after the main meal. The entrance of the pudding was a most exciting event. Everyone would applaud or sing as it was delivered to the table. Later people added caster sugar sprinkled on top to resemble snow which is often associated with a winter Christmas. Astoundingly, is believed that left-over pudding can keep for up to a year!



Once upon a time a silver coin was placed in the mixture while stirring and it was commonly a sixpence. Once cooked and served, whoever found the coin was believed to have good fortune the following year especially in relation to wealth and money! The practice of placing coins in the pudding ceased once the production of 'silver' coins ceased. No-one wanted to risk ruining the pudding with the new alloy coins. Later various types of trinkets were added for fun such as a wishbone for good luck! Due to concerns of health and safety it is not a practice that is commonly taken up today and for most families this practice of placing coins has now ceased.

Christmas Pudding Christmas Cards 

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Mistletoe 

Mistletoe is a plant that grows on willow and apple trees (and in garden centres!). The practice of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and ward off evil spirits. It was also used as a sign of love and friendship in Norse mythology and that's where the custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from. The custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from England! The original custom was that a berry was picked from the sprig of Mistletoe before the person could be kissed and when all the berries had gone, there could be no more kissing!!

The name mistletoe comes from two Anglo Saxon words 'Mistel' (which means dung) and 'tan' (which means) twig or stick! So you could translate Mistletoe as 'poo on a stick'!!! Not exactly romantic is it!

Mistletoe Christmas Card 

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Christmas Music 

What's the most popular Christmas song of all time? Bing Crosby's version of "White Christmas". And "Silent Night"-arguably the most recognizable Christmas hymn-was written in 1818, by an Austrian pastor, Joseph Mohr. As Christmas Eve came, that year, the organ in his church was broken, so together with his friend, Franz Gruber, he wrote this new tune for the service that night, and played it on his guitar for his congregation. And "Jingle Bells" was originally written for a Thanksgiving celebration, in 1857.

Carol Singing 

Caroling (singing carols in the street) is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain, going back to the Middle Ages when beggars, seeking food, money, or drink, would wander the streets singing holiday songs. In the Middle Ages, carols were dances accompanied by singing. It is thought that they were introduced to England from France.

Over the years, the word 'carol' changed its meaning, referring only to certain kinds of songs, the word carol became known as Christmas songs.

Christmas carols were banned between 1647 and 1660 in England by Oliver Cromwell who thought that Christmas should be a solemn day.

The tradition of carol singers going from door to door came about because they were banned from churches in the Middle Ages.The traditional period to sing carols was from St Thomas's Day (December 21) until the morning of Christmas Day.

The earliest carol was written in 1410. Sadly only a very small fragment of it still exists. The carol was about Mary and Jesus meeting different people in Bethlehem. Most Carols from this time and the Elizabethan period are untrue stories, very loosely based on the Christmas story, about the holy family and were seen as entertaining rather than religious songs. They were usually sung in homes rather than in churches! Traveling singers or Minstrels started singing these carols and the words were changed for the local people wherever they were traveling. One carols that changed like this is 'I Saw Three Ships'.

Before carol singing in public became popular, there were sometimes official carol singers called 'Waits'. These were bands of people led by important local leaders (such as council leaders) who had the only power in the towns and villages to take money from the public (If others did this, they were sometimes charged as beggars!). They were called 'Waits' because they only sang on Christmas Eve (This was sometimes known as 'watchnight' or 'waitnight' because of the shepherds were watching their sheep when the angels appeared to them.), when the Christmas celebrations began.

Carol Singer Christmas Cards 

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Don't Lose your Key this Christmas 

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Buttons for Christmas 

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