Christmas Spider Legends and Reality
Ranked #4,503 in Holidays & Celebrations, #74,067 overall
Australian Christmas Spiders and Christmas Spider Gifts
The Legend of the Christmas Spider has been retold all over the world. Have you ever seen a Christmas Spider? That's the real name of a colorful spider in Australia that has what looks like little Christmas trees on it's back. However there are many stories of Christmas Spiders that aren't based in fact, but are legends passed down through generations. These legends and stories vary by county- Finland, Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, Germany, but they all have the same Christmas Spider theme.Heartwarming stories of blessings during hard times.
Learn about the Australian Christmas Spider and how it got it's name. Books and Gifts of the Christmas Spider and other spider gifts and fun things are also included here. You will also learn about the legend of why because of Spiders we put tinsel on the Christmas Trees..
Contents at a Glance
Christmas Spider from Australia
AKA Jewel Spiders or Spiny Spiders
Facts About the Australian Christmas Spider
Christmas or Jewel Spiders are found in Australia
The Christmas Spider is also known as the jewel spider, six spined spider or spiny spider. It is found throughout most of Australia. The Christmas Spider appears to prefer to live in shrubby woodlands, and is often found in colonies where large numbers of these spiders gather to construct their webs.. Each spider makes its own individual web, and they overlap each other. The size of these interlocking webs is something to see, usually built on fence posts or bushes a few inches from the ground.
The six spikes on the back of the Christmas Spider and the time they are found, in the summer months and up to Christmas give these spiders their name. They are said to be timid and aren't aggressive towards humans. If they do happen to bite someone the bite is said to sting but isn't harmful.
Beautiful Photos of the Christmas Spider.
This is a real Spider, however there are many legends and stories of Christmas Spiders throughout the World. Stories that have nothing to do with this spider, but with the fact that the stories are centered around Christmas Trees and Spiders.
Department 56 Christmas Spider Ornament
Collectible Spider Ornament
Spider Ornaments are as unique as a real spider and it's web. This Unique Department 56 Glitterville Spin Me To The Moon Spider Ornament is a fun collectible. Department 56 is known for Snow babies and other Christmas Collectibles.
Department 56 Glitterville Spin Me To The Moon Spider Ornament
Legend of the Christmas Spider
Several countries have legends of a spider that wove beautiful webs in a Christmas Tree. In Germany the legend is that the Christ Child touched the strands of webs spiders wove in the Christmas Tree, turning them to gold and silver. This is the German legend of how tinsel came to be put on the Christmas Trees.
Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel
Story of Christmas Spiders and Tinsel for the Christmas Tree
Cute story about Spiders and a Christmas Tree that was decorated for the Animals, but that the spiders weren't allowed to visit because no one liked spiders. Until this year....
Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel
Amazon Price: $7.61 (as of 05/31/2012)
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy, bitsy spider, climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
So the itsy, bitsy spider went up the spout again.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Paperback Childrens Book
"Young children will have a blast with this lively and well-illustrated rendition of an old favorite." Fingerplay and Singing little kids love this.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Amazon Price: $3.89 (as of 05/31/2012)
Spiders Gift Ukrainian Christmas Story
Folktale of Spider and Christmas
Atrusya is upset that there won't be a Christmas this year. Who wouldn't be upset! "No Christmas!" she overhears her grandfather say. Grandfather explains that the harvest was poor. There's money for food, but not for presents.
This story is one that blends Cultural elements of a traditional Ukrainian Christmas with the fable of an unexpected gift from a Spider.
The Spider's Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Story
Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 05/31/2012)
A Christmas Spiders Wish
Little Miss Spider a Bright Colorful Rhyming Story for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Little Children love stories read to them. If the pages are colorful they like it even better. This Spider loves Christmas and her Christmas Wish came true this year after she made a new friend. Story is appropriate for toddlers and Preschoolers, the Kindergartners can read it themselves. Rhyming story and colorful illustrations make this a fun book that they will want to read over and over.
Little Miss Spider: A Christmas Wish
The Legend of the Christmas Spider
Nancy Valois wrote this Scandanavian Story
The Legend of the Christmas Spider A Wondrous Tale: A Magical Christmas Tale from Finland
Amazon Price: $10.95 (as of 05/31/2012)
Spiders Web Face Paint..
Beautiful Spider Web Face Paint Directions from Face Paint Heaven
Face Paint Heaven is a website that has many different face painting designs for anyone from beginner to advanced. Her designs come with directions and this Sylvia Ji Sugar Skull has the typical spiders web as part of the design. Very unique ....
Face Paint Heaven Sylvia Ji Skull with Spider Web
Charlotte's Web
Another Spider Story of Giving
E.B White is famous for his story of Charlotte's Web. I think all American Baby Boomers know this story. Mr. White also wrote 2 other stories that are classics - Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan. Charlotte's Web is not a Christmas Story per se, but it is one of a Spiders Gift to her friend. Just as The Christmas Spider repaid kindness, so does Charlotte repay her friend Wilbur the Pig.
Charlotte's Web,can be purchased here in this E. B. White Box Set 
If you have younger children this is perfect the Charlotte's Web Read-Aloud Edition
Ananasi The Spider
A Caldacott Award Winning Spider Story from Africa
Ananasi The Spider and his 6 sons . When Anansi tries to determine which of his six sons to reward for saving his life, he becomes responsible for putting the moon in the sky. Beautifully illustrated with bold colors this book is a winner for sure!
Anansi the Spider get your own book here
Fun Spider Activities and Resources for Kids
Christmas Spiders and other Activities
- Christmas Spider Connect the Dots
- Printable Spider page of connecting the dots to make a Spider Web
- Spider Online Jigsaw Puzzle | Preschool Activities and Crafts
- Spider online jigsaw puzzle and preschool activities and crafts. Let your little one practice eye hand coordination with this cute Spider Jigsaw Puzzle.
- Christmas Spider Ornament Craft - How to Make a Beaded Spider Ornament
- Instructions to make a Christmas Spider tree ornament and read the story behind it.
- Candy Spiders Recipe - Halloween Candy Recipes - How to Make Candy Spiders of Halloween
- Candy Spiders are a fun, easy recipe. Marshmallows, rice cereal, and chocolate form delicious spiders that kids and adults will love to gobble!
- Spiderwebs Candy Recipe - How to Make Spiderwebs Halloween Candy - Halloween Candy Recipes
- These Spiderwebs are an incredibly easy Halloween candy, and everyone will love the great taste of salty, crunchy pretzels and smooth, sweet white chocolate.
The Very Busy Spider
Excellent Childrens Spider Book
The Very Busy Spider
Amazon Price: $0.80 (as of 05/31/2012)
The Very Busy Spider was written by Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. If you have ever read that classic you will appreciate how The Very Busy Spider will be. Colorful illustrations, simple repetitive text make this perfect for little ones.
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,
eating her curds and whey,
along came a spider who sat down beside her,
and frightened Miss Muffet away.
New Moon Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatchers are made like a Spiders Web
There are several Spider Gifts and Spider inspired items that make great gifts including this highly collectible Twilight New Moon Dreamcatcher. For the Jacob Team lovers this is sure to please.
Twilight New Moon Dreamcatcher Replica
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Christmas Spiders Guestbook
Would you give a Christmas Spider as a Gift?
Christmas Spiders and Spider Ornaments ~ Tell us what you think of them.
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Greekgeek
Dec 18, 2011 @ 1:52 am | delete
- Oh, fascinating! I adore spiders (oddly enough), but I had not heard of this species. It looks like a cousin of my very favorite spider, Spiny Micrathena, which I grew up with in the woods of Pennsylvania. (Pretty little orb weaver, looks like a Minbari from Babylon 5). I wonder if they're actually related, or if it's just a coincidence.
I also see you've got one of my favorite childhood memories, that illustrated retelling of Anansi the Spider. It's one of the books from which I learned to read!
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LizMac60 Dec 3, 2011 @ 11:05 am | delete
- Charming lens. blessed.
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MagnoliaTree
Nov 29, 2011 @ 4:40 pm | delete
- I've known that spiders are considered good luck, but I had never heard to the Christmas spider!
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TheLittleCardShop
Nov 26, 2011 @ 12:26 pm | delete
- Have never read any Christmas spider books but they look like very sweet stories. Charlotte's Web was one my fav when I was a kid :)
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aesta1
Nov 16, 2011 @ 4:54 am | delete
- My first time to hear of the Christmas spider. Have to read one of these stories.
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wetravel4less
Nov 3, 2011 @ 2:05 pm | delete
- ayoye, freaky. love the lens.
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ErHawkns7100
Oct 23, 2011 @ 11:51 pm | delete
- Wow, that is a creepy looking spider. But it almost looks like a crab or a scorpion.
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OldStones
Sep 3, 2011 @ 3:27 pm | delete
- Ooo! I don't generally like spiders, but I will have to make an exception for the Christmas spider. What a great read.
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YayasHome
Sep 3, 2011 @ 2:49 pm | delete
- Oh, this is so interesting. A friend once made a Christmas Spider for me; I think, outta' gold safety pins. She included the story from Germany about why the spider is so highly regarded at Christmas. Christmas Spider Legends and Reality is a truly fun page an' I loved learning that there is a real, live an' incredible Christmas Spider. What a marvelous planet we live on! Thank you for sharing such interesting information.
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Tipi
Jan 17, 2011 @ 10:23 am | delete
- I just smiled through a lens about spiders! I had never heard of the Christmas Spider before and you held me in fascination! I'm so glad this interesting little being is not a danger to humans. Get this, I actually have the book Ananasi The Spider on my granddaughter's book shelf and we have enjoyed it together many times. Well done, my friend!
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Photo Credits
by KathyMcGraw
I loved learning about the Christmas Spider.The Christmas Spider is both real and legend, or folk tale. Best selling Christmas Spider books are Cowbe... more »
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