The fir is most commonly mentioned in accounts of the evolution of the Christmas tree. One reason may be that the balsam fir twigs, more than any other evergreen twigs, resemble crosses. Also, fir trees were abundant in the forest areas of western Germany where the custom apparently originated, as well as in New England and New York State here in the U.S. Then too, the word "fir" was widely used to designate several different kinds of cone-bearing trees long before botanical classification became standardized and well known. Even today most people are unable to identify various evergreens, frequently calling all of them "firs" or "pines."
Extracts from the fir, especially balsam fir, were long used for medicinal purposes probably further reason for its early popularity. Certainly the perfume of the balsam fir is one of its out-standing features.
A number of legends, poems, songs, and stories are based on the fir tree. "The Fir Tree" is one of the tales of the famous Danish writer of children's stories, Hans Christian Andersen. And a popular old German folk festival song, "O Tannenbaum," offers a hymn of praise to the fir tree, still favored today
At any rate, if the fir tree, did actually predominate as the early Christmas tree, then our forefathers selected wisely, for the fir is still one of the favorites of today. In this country for many years firs, spruces, and cedars were the common Christmas trees, with balsam fir the unchallenged leader until 1955. The somewhat similar favorite from the West, Douglas-fir, overtook balsam fir in the U.S. about that time.
And since then, the public taste has been shifting more to artificial trees, real firs and pines together account for about 20 percent of the U.S. Christmas trees used in American homes. The artificial copies of these tree types make up about eighty percent of trees displayed.
Scotch pines and Douglas firs and Fraser firs are the three favorite living trees sold in the United States. These three trees make up seventy percent of all living Christmas trees sold in this country today.
Some scholars trace the origin of Christmas trees to much earlier periods. Even before the Christian era, trees and boughs were widely used for religious ceremonials. Ancient Egyptians, in celebrating the winter solstice-shortest day of the year-brought green date palms into their homes. They were symbols of "life triumphant over death," just as the sun starts its annual "triumph over darkness" or "rebirth" at this time.
Ancient temple of saturn, columns stand in the midst of rubble in the forum Rumanum, Rome.
When the Romans observed the feast of saturn, also at the winter solstice to celebrate the return or "rebirth" of the sun, part of the ceremony was the raising of an evergreen bough. This feast, and the New Year which followed a few days after, featured eating, drinking, merry-making, expressions of goodwill, exchange of gifts, and decorating houses with greenery and lights. Church leaders in Rome replaced the feast of saturn by Christmas on December 25 in A.D. 354 after Christianity became the accepted religion in the Roman Empire. (The name saturn survives in our Saturday.)
The early Scandinavians or Norsemen are said to have offered homage to the fir tree. When they became Christians, Christians, they made evergreen trees part of their Christian festivals. The burning of fir boughs and the Yule log in late fall were old folk customs in western Europe.
To the Druids or Celts of ancient Gaul (today's France) and Britain, sprigs of evergreens (particularly mistletoe and holly) in the house meant eternal life, while to the Norsemen such sprigs symbolized the revival of the sun god, balder. The superstitious of these lands long believed that branches of evergreens placed over the door of their homes would keep out witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and the like.
So we see that our Christmas tree custom has evolved from pre-Christian as well as Christian traditions, like the present-day use of greenery in various religious rituals. In America the decorated Christmas tree has become such an accepted tradition that Christmas would seem barren to most people without it.
Luther amidst his family at Wittenberg, on Christmas Eve.
The decorated Christmas tree has been traced by several historians back to about the year 1500, in the province of Alsace along the upper Rhine River. Alsace was then a part of Germany. The earliest written record is dated 1521. Another reference is from Strasburg in 1605: "At Christmas, fir trees are set up in the rooms and hung with roses cut from paper of many colors, apples, wafers, spangle-gold, sugar, etc."
An early German legend tells how Winfrid (St. Boniface), an eighth century English missionary, got some tribes to set up fir trees at Christmas as a replacement for their traditional sacred oak.
Christmas trees have been decorated in some fashion since the custom began-starting apparently, as we have seen, with apples and wafers, paper or cloth roses, and sugar candy. Later, cookies in the shapes of flowers, bells, stars, angels, hearts, men and animals, replaced the wafers. Also added were candles, ribbons, a star for the tip, nuts and fruits gilded or covered with bright colored paper, toys, dolls, glittering strings of beads, and other ornaments.
One story credits the lighted Christmas tree to Martin Luther, the German Protestant reformer (1483-1546). It is said that he cut a small evergreen tree, brought it into his home, and attached lighted candles-to simulate the bright starlit sky of Christmas Eve.
Candles as a decoration on Christmas trees did not become accepted as part of the decorations in Germany until about 1700, when the Christmas tree custom spread from the Rhine River district to the rest of Germany and to Austria, particularly in the cities and towns. Candles on the cut trees, while beautiful, were also rather unsafe, so they were usually lighted only for a short time and carefully watched.
La Befana is an Epiphany character and her name means Epiphany (The "Ah Ha" moment of revelation). My version of this folkloric Christmas gift giver carries a rose mallow seed pod as a broom and a cotton batting 'cocoon-like' basket of coal. She was made in much the same way as a little Grecon Doll. Go here to read how I made Grandpa Eustace who has the same wire armiture body type.
Christian legend had it that the Befana was approached by the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men or the Three Kings, a few days before the birth of the Baby Jesus. They asked for directions to where the Son of God was, as they had seen his star in the sky, but she did not know. She provided them with shelter for a night as she was considered the best housekeeper in the village with the most pleasant home. The Magi invited her to join them on the journey to find the Baby Jesus, but she declined, stating she was too busy with her housework. Later, the Befana had a change of heart and tried to search out the Magi and Jesus. That night she was not able to find them, so to this day the Befana is still searching for the Baby Jesus. She leaves all the good children toys and candy (caramelle) or fruit while the bad children get coal or dark candy (carbone).
La Befana carries a basket of carbone for those children who have been naughty. She wears a black lace head covering like so many old Italian grandmothers many years ago. Her hair is long and grey, her dress a black and autumnal colored print. She wears a grey shawl and wears an "all-seeing-eye" broach, remember she is a 'seeker' or Epiphany character which means she is still searching for God.
The Befana comes by night
With her shoes all broken
With a dress in Roman Style
Up, up with the Bafana!
She brings ashes and coal To bad nasty children To the nice good child She brings candies and many gifts!
Another commonly heard Christian legend of the Befana starts at the time of the birth of the Baby Jesus. In this telling, Befana spent her days cleaning and sweeping. One day the Magi came to her door in search of the Baby Jesus. However, she turned them away because she was too busy cleaning. Feeling guilty, she eventually decides to find Jesus on her own by following a bright light, also known as the big star in the sky which she believes points the way. She brings along a bag filled with baked goods and gifts for Jesus and a broom to help the new mother clean. Unfortunately despite her best efforts she never finds him. According to this telling, the Befana is still searching after all these centuries for the newborn Messiah. On the eve of the Epiphany, the Befana comes to every house where there is a child and leaves a gift. Although she has been unsuccessful in her search, she still leaves gifts for children everywhere because the Christ Child can be found in all children.
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Luke 2:1
Sample of how the card will look.
Description: This Christmas card is so easy to put together. All you really need is a printer, some scraps of red ribbon, white glue and a pair of scissors. I had some printed papers of fir branches already but for those of you who do not, I’ve also included an image below for this purpose.
Supplies
scissors
glue
red or green ribbon
printed graphic of the antique glass bell by Kathy Grimm
decorative paper (photo of pine branches)
heavy white paper
Directions:
Cut a decorative paper of pine branches out to fit what ever envelopes you intend to mail for the holidays. If you don't have this type of paper and you can afford the printing, I have included a printable pine branch graphic below for this card.
Cut out my graphic of an antique, Christmas bell and hang it (glue it) to a branch on your card.
Then cut and tie a red ribbon to glue just above the bell for added dimension.
Cut, trim and mount the finished picture on top of a folded, heavier white paper to finish the final card.
What kinds of written things might I include along with the card? Quotes:
"Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority." by W. J. Cameron
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!" by Hamilton Wright Mabie
"Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man ? and then he will spoil his house." Matthew 12:29
This Christmas card only requires a bit of printing, folding and pasting. I chose a traditional red and green plaid paper for the card, printed out the graphic below and pasted a few little corners onto the edges of the graphic to hold it onto the front of my card.
Description: Nutcrackers in the form of wooden carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas time, a season of which they have long been a traditional symbol. The ballet The Nutcracker derives its name from this festive holiday decoration. The original nutcrackers were first seen in Germany and were thought to have guardian-like properties because of their strong appearance.
Supplies:
decorative red and green plaid paper
corner punch
graphic of two nutcrackers by Kathy Grimm
glue
scissors
heavier white cardstock
Directions:
Print the nutcracker graphic out to the size that you prefer.
Mount the graphic with glue on top of the decorative plaid paper.
Punch four embossed corners from either white, red, or green solid colored paper and then glue these at the four corners of your printed graphic.
Glue the picture on top of a folded sheet of heavier cardstock.
Below is one of many Christmas themed graphics I have produced in color pastel pencils, German nutcrackers are some of my favorite subjects to draw for holiday greetings. These two nutcrackers are very traditional, a soldier and a beer drinker dressed up in lederhosen.
Nutcrackers dressed as a soldier and one in lederhosen.
What kinds of written things might I include along with the card? Quotes:
"Of all the toys available, none is better designed than the owner himself. A large multipurpose plaything, its parts can be made to move in almost any direction. It comes completely assembled, and it make a sound when you jump on it." by Stephen Baker
"The creative process is like music which takes root with extraordinary force and rapidity" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Illustration: Playfulness is a more important consideration than play. The former is an attitude of mind; the latter is a passing outward manifestation if this attitude. When things are treated simply as vehicles of suggestion, what is suggested overrides the thing. Hence the playful attitude is one of freedom. The person is not bound to the physical traits of things, nor does he care whether a thing really means (as we say) what he takes it to represent. When the child plays horse with a broom and cars with chairs, the fact that the broom does not really represent a horse, or a chair a locomotive, is of no account. In order, then, that playfulness may not terminate in arbitrary fancifulness and in building up an imaginary world alongside the world of actual things, it is necessary that the play attitude should gradually pass into a work attitude. -- John Dewey, "How We Think."
"I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult."Numbers 24:17
An example card design for the clipart.
Description: Strange as though it may seem to some of you who live far away, stars and snowflakes are traditional decorations used by folks here, during Christmas in the Midwestern United States. This is because Christians celebrate the Savior's birth during the colder months, even though Christ was actually born sometime during our summer according to many bible scholars.
Supplies:
snowflake themed paper
snowflake paper punch
graphic of a Mexican folk nativity
pale blue, white and gold tissue papers
glue
scissors
Directions:
Cut the snowflake themed paper to match the size of any envelopes you may have on hand.
Then punch a selection of snowflakes from the white and gold tissue papers.
Print out the star graphic provided below.
Type and print inside of a WordDocument, "Star of Wonder" and then print this out in blue ink onto pale blue paper.
Glue the printed Mexican folk star on top of gold tissue paper and then cut a little fringe around the outside edge of the star.
Glue down these elements in a pleasing design on top of the fancy snowflake paper.
Glue this entire picture on top of an additional sheet of pale blue paper to make your finished Christmas card.
Printable Star of Bethlehem.
Quotes:
"Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love." by Lucinda Franks
"Selfishness makes Christmas a burden, love makes it a delight." Unknown
"Take Christ out of Christmas, and December becomes the bleakest and most colorless month of the year." by A. F. Wells
Illustration: There once lived a family in the South whose rigid rule sent the children to bed at sundown and made them rise after daylight. One of the boys grew to the age of seven years before he ever saw the stars, and when he was carried out one dark night and caught a glimpse of the glorious constellations, he exclaimed rapturously to his mother: "Look! Look! Did you ever see anything so beautiful?"
The return of Christmas brings into view the Star of Bethlehem. How many human eyes have never yet seen this Star!
A Letter from Denmark Christmas Eve in the Country Long Ago ERIK AND ELSE BY MARTHA C. MOLLER
"Oh, Christmas dear! thy starlight
Can reach the poorest place,
And the eyes of little children
Reflect its gentle rays!"
Mother was singing this verse behind that shut, mysterious door to the room where just now she had finished the decking of the Christmas tree; while the children were in the dining room in the twilight, listening and waiting. "Else, I say, it will really be Christmas Eve now, in a moment, won't it?" Erik said, and he added, "for-tu-nate-ly it will!" with a funny, emphatic stress on that long word, his byword at the time. Erik used it, differently accentuated, on all occasions, both when things were really all right as when he had got into some scrape or other and had barely managed to slink through. Boys are sure to get into a fix sometimes, are not they?
Darkness came on still more. The children, leaning against the window sill, were intently watching "Hans Cowman," the old herdsman, who passed the yard with his swinging lantern that seemed to jerk along the barns, disappearing at last through the stable door.
According to old customs all the cattle of the farm were to have an ample extra supply on Christmas Eve, so that every crib could be full on that holy night.
At length Hans and his lantern vanished into the groom's chamber, through the pane of which the children could see him stand before a broken bit of looking-glass water combing his hair energetically, as the most festive preparation he could think of.
The children's clear-sighted eyes could still discern the "bird's sheaf" on its high pole in the center of the yard. It was an old custom that the birdies should also have their feast during merry Christmas time; and the children were always eager to have that sheaf raised, so that they might run out in o the yard and sing a little verse they knew by heart, intending it to be a kind invitation to the birdies:
"Joy is a guest on earth to-day
With the new-born King from above!
Fly down from the roof, little Sparrow gray,
To a Christmas feast with the Dove!"
But no pressing was needed, for all day long one heard a twitter and a rush of busy, flapping wings, birds flying gladly to and fro. Also the children had been very busy all day long. They had to help their mother in dealing out goods to some poor women who were accustomed to come with their baskets on Christmas Eve and fetch their portions of pork, grits, coffee and white bread. And to the old and sick ones, lying in their beds at home, Else and Erik had taken good parcels and had been recompensed by small bits of sugar candy or some spice nuts, as nobody was allowed to go fasting or empty handed out of any house, lest he should carry Christmas itself out of the house."
Having come back from this round the children had found it most entertaining to stay for awhile in the kitchen, watching Ann, the cook, who was baking quantities of a sort of "apple dumplings," solid and roundish like little balls. Light brown and hot she piled them on earthenware dishes. Heaps of them were required, "for Christmas lasts long.' Besides, each of the servants was entitled to have plenty of his own, the more so as they used them as a sort of "play money," staking them when playing at cards. Nor were the men servants over-particular in the handling of these dear dumplings. For when they had "kept accounts," writing with a piece of chalk on the table top, they would simply wipe it out again with the dumplings, to put them gladly into their trousers' pockets at last.
But the children thought that the servants' hall was a "funny" place, where they liked to go and have a jolly time.
Then Ann began to prepare the festive supper. While the goose was roasting in the oven she cooked the rice pudding, and now came an exciting moment! For the children were allowed themselves to "plum the three almonds into the pudding," and the lucky one who found an almond in his portion while eating it would win the nicest of marcipan things, or even a real present! For last year Else had had a small cup and saucer.
The pudding being done Ann filled an earthen dish from the big pot and made a large butter hole in the center. That was to be supper for "the brownie, "- -on Christmas Eve he must not be forgotten. "And last year he ate up every bit of it!" Ann was most positive about that. Erik ran after Ann to see her place the dish at the hayloft; but, oh, look! what's that? A pair of yellow eyes are shining out from that dark nook near the chaff bin! Erik felt just a bit creepy, but he was comforted by seeing a stiff, gray tail sticking out near the eyes. Aha! it was only Pussy!
Indeed, there was no doubt about that porridge being eaten up, "every bit of it."
There was still another thing which on Christmas Eve ought never to be forgotten, the placing of a burning candle on the window sill of the lobby. For nobody must be out of doors, poor and forsaken, on this holy night; nobody must walk his lonely way home- less and sorrowful! Therefore lights are burning behind clear panes in the scattered houses; starlike they are shining out brightly into the darkness, as a kind welcome to every wanderer.
All these things came into the children's mind again, while waiting; but just when they were beginning to feel almost a little sad, a lamp was brought in and the maidservants entered, so nice and smart in their clean, white aprons. The coachman, Jens, and the water-combed Hans were following sedately.
At this very moment the doors to the big room flew open and there it stood, that wonderful Christmas tree! It was illuminated with lights, hung with tiny red apples, and its branches were covered with sparkling silver threads!
A joyful yet solemn feeling reigned in the room at first, while mother played the hymns and all the others sang them, walking around the tree.
Father then made the children look at the golden star at the top of the tree, which was to remind us, he said, of the Bethlehem star leading people to find the sweet Christ-child. And then the children's exultant joy broke forth irresistibly, and each ran to find his own gifts. Erik's eyes grew bigger and bigger at the sight of a veritable rocking-horse.
"Hurrah! fortunately I have got it!" he cried. Be sure he was in the saddle at once, and how glad he felt you will see from the picture! Little Else had the sweetest baby doll, with a cherry mouth, oh, such a dear! And so very convenient that the baby brought its own bottle and bag.
Also Hans Andersen's fairy tales with their funny pictures were there, and heaps of other lovely things. They laughed and chatted and made such a noise!
Baby sister only sat perfectly still, near mother; she stared incessantly at the tree, the lights of which were reflected in her big, blue eyes.
At last the Christmas candles burned down and the happiest night of all the year had come to an end.
The children were about to go to bed. The horse had been stabled for the night close to Erik's bed, so near that his hand could hold the rein. Else, on her bare feet, stole to the window once more to stare out into the darkness, a habit dear to her as to most true coun- try children. There was a star gleaming faintly above the big old lime tree, and Erik, from his bed, suggested it might even be "the Beth- lehem star itself." "No," Else said, "I think that one was greater and far more radiant, to guide the shepherds. Mind, father said one day that all children might come to see it!"
Yes, for-tu-nate-ly," it came in a sleepy voice from the trellis bed; and shortly after- wards Erik was sound asleep, his brown little fist squeezing the rein of the rocking-horse.
At daybreak on Christmas Day all the church bells were ringing, and the organ was playing while people sang the old hymn:
"All bells on Christmas morning blest
Are chiming for the Royal Guest,
Who would on men, so poor and low,
His gifts of peace and joy bestow!"
This is a DoJi Film: A Modern Christmas in Denmark.
Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.
A walnut goldfish swimming between the branches of a Christmas tree.
This sweet little goldfish was made by using a half walnut shell. Goldfish come in all shapes and colors so, naturally you may wish to customize your own version.
First you will need to break a walnut in half and this should be done in advance of making this ornament craft with little ones. Go here to read how it is done.
Trace around the half shell on top of a scrap piece of thin cardboard.
Remove the shell and draw the fins and tail for the fish directly on the tracing of the walnut half.
Cut out the drawing with it's fins and tail.
Glue the half shell back on top of the cardboard cut-out using tacky white glue. Let dry.
Paint on the colors you wish for your fish to have.
Glue on the white bead for it's eye.
Glue a black pupil on top of the bead.
Coat the entire fish with Mod Podge to preserve the painted surface.
You may wish to glue a layer of decorative paper on the backside of the fish to finish it neatly.
Children may tear a snowman, his broom, carrot nose and maybe even a few squirrel friends to play along with him from white paper. Then mount the snow scene on top of black paper with white school glue.
This torn snowman is having so much fun playing with his friends!
Now your child can write a story or even dictate it to you while you write it down for him or her. Ask questions to get your little author in the mood to make up this story. They will enjoy reading it years later after the picture and this story exercise become another childhood Christmas memory.
Questions to Inspire A Story:
Is this a funny picture or a sad one? Why?
Who do you see?
Think up a name for your snowman.
What are the squirrels doing?
Do you think the snowman can understand the squirrels talking?
These charming folk are still traditionally sold at Christmas markets in and around Nuremberg. However, our photos below where once made by immigrant children who brought the tradition to America and although the old things don't always become popular here - these ideas can morph into other things that we recognize today...
To make an edible prune figure for Christmas day, gather the following together first from the market: dried dates, figs, prunes, raisins and a walnut for your character's head. You will also need strong and very clean wire plus a wooden platform, scrap fabrics, hand held drill and acrylic paints.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
First cut a base from a clean log or purchase a wooden round from a dollar tree. Take time to refinish this wooden base in a way that you like it best, because you may wish to reused it year after year. Drill two holes into the base wherever your prune man or woman will stand just beneath their foot placement.
Now construct the prune man's body using food-grade stainless steel wire that is both non-toxic and rust-resistant. Give him legs made by poking one wire each into three prunes. Repeat the step for the second leg and firmly push the foot ends down into the holes made in the wooden display base.
Now twist the two legs at the top ends around a torso wire where the hip joints meet the main body.
Neatly poke four to five figs onto the single connecting wire, the size of your figure will dictate how many figs are needed. Some people prefer a torso made in the same way using dates instead of figs, this is dependent upon what you have available or what you may prefer to eat.
Now twist onto the torso wire a single long wire for the two arms, leaving a little wire at the top for attaching either a walnut head or a citrus fruit head.
The arms may be made of more prunes or even raisins or cranberries if you prefer.
Have an adult drill a small hole at the base of an English walnut so that the head may slip onto the end of the wire.
Paint a funny face on the walnut or orange using non-toxic acrylic paints. The head does not need to be 'cracked' open for eating if you would like to save it for another prune man in the future. Once you have decided to eat the dried fruit, simply store the head away inside of a recycled cookie tin for another year.
Use bits of trim and scrap fabric to make clothing and hats for your prune people; the more details you add, the cuter he or she will look. It has been said that keeping your prune man till Epiphany will bring good luck and wealth for the coming new year.
German immigrant children in America made these prune men to celebrate both the
Fall Harvest and Christmas in 1927. Top left, a german couple going to market, top
right, a man in his sleeping attire carries and candle and broom, Bottom left, is a
A game full of fun and excitement is "Holly Wreath Toss." Suspended in the doorway is a large holly wreath cut from green cardboard. The players, one at a time, are given a small ball of yarn or paper which they are told to throw through the holly wreath. Each player is allowed three throws; and if he or she succeeds the first time, they score fifteen points; the second time, 10 points; and the third time, five points. The player who has the highest. score wins. Depending upon the ages of the players, hang the wreath higher to increase the level of difficulty.
"Filling the Stockings" is a pleasant game and easy to play. The children are divided into two teams. At one end of the room are a bag of candies and a butter knife for each team, and at the other end of the room are two large stockings, one for each team. To start the game, the leader of each side picks up his butter knife, puts on as many candies as it will hold, and races to the goal at the opposite end of the room where he drops them into his team's stocking. Then he returns and gives the butter knife to the next player on his team to carries on the race in a similar manner. After every member of the team has opportunity to join in the race, the candies inside of each stocking are counted. The team with the most candy wins the race. If the team members drop candy during the race, this can not be included inside of their stockings.
"Blowing Out the Christmas Candle" is a jolly game and one that furnishes much amusement for a party. A Christmas candle, lighted, is placed on a sturdy table at it's center. The players are blindfolded one at a time and spun around three times before they must try to make their way to the table and blow out the candle with only one breath. The first person to successfully blow out the flame is the winner of this contest.
