Children have so many questions at Christmas. I used to call it being “why’d to death.”
“Why do we hang mistletoe?” “Why do we put up a tree?” “Why are there ornaments on the tree?”
Here are some answers to those little questions about the joy of Christmas.
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe originates in ancient Rome, where enemies reconciled under mistletoe.
Among Norsemen, it was sacred to Frigga, goddess of love. When her son Balder dreamed of his death, she turned to the elements air, fire, water, earth and every animal and extracted a promise for them not to harm her son. She overlooked the mistletoe, a parasite hanging in oak and apple trees. When Balder was killed by Loki, god of evil, Frigga’s tears turned into the berries on the mistletoe, and she kissed each person who passed beneath it.
Sacred to the Druids, mistletoe was considered pagan and forbidden in churches. Now, it’s considered a symbol of Christmas joy. Some of the superstitions surrounding it include that letting it fall to the ground is unlucky, that a girl standing under it cannot refuse to be kissed, and that one who goes unkissed cannot expect to be married the following year.
The Christmas tree is one of the most popular symbols of Christmas. Most modern trees are believed to have begun in the 16th century with Martin Luther, the German Protestant leader of church reform. On Christmas Eve, he saw evergreens glistening against the snow beneath a starry sky. He cut a fir tree, took it home and decorated it with lighted candles to represent the stars of Bethlehem. The first true record of a Christmas tree comes from a German book, dated 1604. Although Christmas celebrations were outlawed in England from 1642 to 1660, the first Christmas tree didn’t appear there until 1841, when Prince Albert and Queen Victoria celebrated the birth of their first son with a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle.
In the Puritan Massachusetts, a law in 1659 fined anyone found celebrating Christmas. But the custom of Christmas trees followed the immigrants that came to America and were homesick for their old ways. Before long, states made the holiday legal.
The first Christmas tree ornaments in Germany consisted of candles, fruits, nuts, gingerbread and paper decorations. Many years later, glass balls were manufactured in Germany. Horns and bells were used to scare off evil spirits, and some early trees featured fairies instead of angels. In America, most ornaments were homemade before modern transportation made access to manufactured ornaments easily available. Ornaments were strings of popcorn or cranberries, paper chains and stars, many of which are still used today. Apples, oranges and nuts were also used. Other traditions include hanging spiders, pickles and bees.
Curious or not, throughout the season, the “Why Mommy?” questions seldom stop. I hope you now have some answers your little one’s questions. Warmest wishes for a happy holiday season!
Gail Vanik can be reached at Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery at 565-8274 or by email at fourseasons@animas.net.