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A Christmas tree inside a home, with the top of the tree containing a decoration symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. [18]The Christmas tree was first used by German Lutherans in the 16th century, with records indicating that a Christmas tree was placed in the Cathedral of Strassburg in 1539, under the leadership of the Protestant Reformer, Martin Bucer.
Neapolitan presepio at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London, it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green". [4]
Believe it or not, there is a special meaning behind each one of those traditional Christmas decorations and rituals—and many of the symbols associated with the Christmas holiday actually have ...
A Yule goat on a Christmas tree. 'Old Christmas', riding a yule goat; 1836 illustration by Robert Seymour. The Yule goat is a Scandinavian and Northern European Yule and Christmas symbol and tradition. Its origin is from Germanic paganism and has existed in many variants during Scandinavian history. Modern representations of the Yule goat are ...
Read on to learn more about the history behind symbols such as Christmas trees, lights and other Christmas decorations, and seasonal activities. Who knows—you might even be inspired to start ...
Wrapped Gifts. The Chinese have known how special wrapping is since the 2nd century, but the tradition of specifically wrapping Christmas presents began later with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
An image of the British royal family with their Christmas tree at Windsor Castle created a sensation when it was published in the Illustrated London News in 1848. A modified version of this image was published in Godey's Lady's Book, Philadelphia in 1850. [79] [80] By the 1870s, putting up a Christmas tree had become common in America. [79]
In northern and eastern Europe traditional candles were used to achieve this goal. The Christmas pyramid would eventually unify these two traditions and become a symbol of Christmas celebrations. The forerunner of the pyramid was a construction known as a Lichtergestelle (literally: 'light stand') which were very popular in the 18th century ...