Year: 2012

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Fun Facts About Christmas In France

The Christmas season is a special time I look forward to throughout the year. I enjoy learning about traditions and beliefs from other countries. Every country has unique Christmas customs and beliefs. Let’s take a look at how the French celebrate Christmas.

Church

In France, Christmas is known as Noel, which comes from the French expression “les bonnes nouvelles” which means “the good news” and denotes The Gospel. One very important part of Christmas for many French families is attending Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. It is followed by a huge feast, called le Reveillon (which comes from the verb reveiller – to wake up), which is a symbolic awakening to the meaning of Christ’s birth. Many families go so far as to leave a candle burning in a window in case the Virgin Mary passes by.

Gifts

Christmas is primarily seen as a children’s holiday, and they open small gifts on Christmas Eve. The remaining main gifts and cards are exchanged on new Year’s Day. Adults can open their gifts on Christmas Day. Children place their shoes in front of the fireplace in the hope that Pere Noel will fill them with gifts. Just like children around the world, French children like to send gift requests to Santa. And they are sure to get a postcard in reply! You see, a law was passed in 1962 that all letters written to Santa would receive a postcard in reply.

Food

French cooking has a prominant place at Christmastime. There are many traditional dishes to be found in many of the houses. Each region has its own traditional menu, with dishes such as goose, chicken, capon, and boudin blanc (which is similar to a white pudding). It is thought to be good luck to eat oysters, but the main course is almost always turkey stuffed with chestnuts.

Another tradition is that meat should not be eaten on Christmas Eve. And it is said to be good luck to have 13 desserts during the Christmas Eve festivities. Yummy! This number represents the 12 apostles and Jesus at the Last Supper. The traditional dessert dishes may include raisins, dates, oranges, dried figs, nuts, and the Buche de Noel (Yule log). The Buche de Noel is usually made from chocolate, rolled with a butter cream or whipped cream filling, then covered in a chocolate icing. Can you say delicious!?!

Some regions of France serve a Three Kings Cake. This is supposed to be in honour of the three kings who play such a significant role in the Christmas story. This cake has a bean hidden inside it. Whoever is the lucky one to find the bean in their slice of cake is made King or Queen for a day.

Decorations

The Christmas tree, if displayed, is put up just a few days before Christmas. Nearly every home has a Nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus, along with the three Kings, shepherds, and even other French figures, such as local dignitaries or characters.

Although mistletoe is hung above the door during the Christmas season, it is more related to the New Year. It is thought to bring good fortune throughout the coming year. You might be lucky and receive a kiss. The French kiss under the mistletoe and offer their best wishes for the coming year as they hear the bells toll signaling the start of the New Year.

Some families burn a log in their homes from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day in the belief that if they do, they will have an abundant harvest the following year.

These are just some fun facts about Christmas customs in another part of the world. We at GlobalChristmas.com wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

 

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The Right Attitude Toward Christmas

Let me paint you a picture. There is a Bible laying on a table in the corner, a Nativity standing in another corner, and Silent Night is softly playing on the stereo. It is December 24th and the Jordan-St. Clair family is setting around the fireplace. The children, Karen, Keith, and Kelly, are talking about what they think they’re getting for Christmas. Mom is humming to herself while playing a game on the computer, and Dad is reading while quietly watching the children, chuckling to himself. Let’s go in closer and listen to this family’s conversations.

“I know what Kelly got you for Christmas, Keith, but I’m not gonna tell you! Ha! Ha! Ha!” says Karen.  “Aw, come on, Karen. Tell me!”  “Karen, don’t you dare tell him or I won’t take you shopping with me ever again” says Kelly. “Kelly, you know I promised not to tell, and you know I keep my promises. I’m not gonna tell.”

“Is it something I can wear, or is it something I can play with?” “I’m not gonna tell you, so you might as well stop asking.” “That’s alright – I know what I’m getting anyway. So there… you don’t have to tell me. And I know what Karen is getting too!”

Karen looks up and says, “Oooh! Tell me!” “I ain’t – unless you tell me what Kelly got me” “Don’t you…” “Don’t worry, I won’t. Keith, you’re just gonna have to wait until tomorrow to find out.”

“Alright kids,” says Dad. “That’s enough. Let’s sing a Christmas carol and have our Christmas Bible lesson. Now what do you want to sing? Karen?” “Aw Dad,” says Keith, “she always gets to pick what we sing.” “Well, Keith, what do you want to sing?” “I don’t know”, answers Keith, with a grimace and a shrug. Everyone laughs. “Well, since you don’t know, I guess Karen has the best choice. What do you want to sing this time, Karen?” “Let’s sing “O come All Ye Faithful.” “Mom, start us off.”

“O Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

“Dad,” says Mom, “instead of having our usual Bible reading, why don’t we each tell what Christmas means to us? Keith, why don’t we start with you?” Keith responds, “Well, it means a vacation from school and new games and lots of football on TV and lots of food.” “It means I get lots of toys to play with”, says Karen. “I get to sleep late and get new clothes”, says Kelly.

“Mom, your turn.” “Well, kids, Christmas means more than a lot of toys and gifts. Christmas is the time when people should be remembering that it is the time when the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, came into the world as a baby. Dad, why don’t you read that passage in Luke 2?”

“That’s a good idea. Hand me my tablet. This year, I’m going to read from the Message version.” Keith jumps up and gets Dad’s tablet and hands it to him. Dad quickly flips to Luke 2, and clears his throat.

“About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.”

“Hmmm,” says Karen, “then, we should not consider ourselves but think of Jesus Christ.” “That’s right”, says Keith. “I’m gonna try and remember that from now on” Kelly chimes in, “Me too. Im gonna tell all my friends about it too so they will know.”

I think that each of us should consider and remember the message that the Jordan-St. Clair family learned today and apply it to ourselves.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

 

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Ancient Celebrations of the Christmas Holiday

Before Christmas was celebrated, people were finding time to celebrate in Europe during the winter holiday before the birth of Jesus Christ ever even occurred! 

The Winter Solstice has always been a time to celebrate and rejoice; it is celebrated on December 21 in the northern hemisphere and it was after the Winter Solstice that the worst part of the year was behind them. 

It was at that point during the year that the days began to get longer, giving the people more time to spend outside on their crops and tending to their animals. 

In Scandinavia during the Winter Solstice, men and their sons used to go in to the woods to cut a tree down. After the tree had been felled, a nicely sized log was cut out of it, and the men would carry the log back to the home. This log was dubbed a Yule Log, and the Yule log was burned in the fireplace. The entire time the Yule log burned, the family would feast. 

Often times the Yule log might burn for a whole twelve days! Of course, as the Yule log burned it sent sparks out of the hearth and as the sparks flew out of the fire place, the family would count the sparks and each spark stood for a farm animal (a cow, a goat, a pig, etc) that would be born on their property that year. It is important to note that farm animals were signs of wealth back then. 

Saturnalia is a celebration of the Winter Solstice that occurred in ancient pagan Rome. Saturnalia was celebrated in honor of the god of agriculture, who was named Saturn. During the time of Saturnalia, the entire Roman empire is in a state of social disarray. Servants and peasants spend time with and celebrate the holiday with people of higher classes, which was a rarity back then. 

The Saturnalia festival in itself can last as long as an entire week in Rome. During that time, people rejoiced all over the country of Rome. The phrase ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ was played out to its fullest. Shops and businesses are closed during the Festival of fullest. Shops and businesses are closed during the Festival of Saturnalia. Following the first week of Saturnalia, the festival itself usually ends, but the Saturnalia period itself does not end. 

In addition to Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture, the Romans also worshipped an infant type god named Methra, who was carved out of a rock. On Mithra’s birthday, people also rejoiced, just as they did during Saturnalia. The day of this rock god’s birthday was one of the most sacred days of the year for the Roman people. It was a time for celebration and togetherness, and for family. 

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About the Author:
More Christmas Nuggets Here! Jamie Snodgrass is an online promoter for such companies and sites as: Meaning Of Christmas, Article Search and Article Blogs

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The Story of Santa’s Helpers

We all know about Santa’s helpers today. They are the merry elves who work building the Jolly One’s toys for boys and girls around the globe. But did you know that these Christmas elves got their start in Scandinavia? If you didn’t know that, you’re in for one heck of a story.

This tale starts long ago in German folklore. These elves were pranksters that caused diseases and gave people nightmares. As the notion of elves spread across Europe, countries like Finland, Norway and Sweden believed every house in the neighborhood had tiny little elves, or gnomes, guarding them from evil spirits. These gnomes were generally very trustworthy and kind creatures, but beware if you ever mistreated one of them! These elves could act absolutely spiteful and teach you a lesson. Some stories indicate children in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark often gave the elves a bowel of porridge on Christmas Eve to stop their pranks.

When Christmas again became popular in Scandinavia in the middle of the 19th century, these gnomes got out of the house-protection business and found their way into Santa’s good graces. After all, Norway, Sweden, and Finland are a stones throw away from Santa’s home in the North Pole. In fact, the folks in Finland say that Santa and his elves even live in Lapland in the off season. People of Scandinavia began talking less about house gnomes and more about Santa’s elves. It is here that Elves transitioned into Santa’s helpers.

Some experts say that there are now 13 main elves that help Santa to make his toys, some say 6, and some take the middle road and say 9 elves help Santa at one time. While some of these elves help with the day to day duties in the toy shop, some other elves have very special jobs that Santa relies on. For instance, one elf is a well-known inventor who is credited with building Santa’s machines that construct many of the toys. Another elf is very handy with wood and tools, and built Santa’s sleigh. He continues to take care of it and does any necessary repairs to make sure Santa has no problems on Christmas Eve.

Another elf is Mrs. Claus’ personal helper, and also the head chef of the North Pole. She comes up with some of the cookie recipes and treats that we Christmas lovers enjoy every year. There are also the elves that are in charge of keeping the secret of where exactly Santa and his helpers live! These elves act like the mayor of the town, making sure the town stays clean and its streets are swept clear of the snow.

Last but not least, there is an elf that is personally in charge of the naughty and nice list. He is, perhaps, the most important elf of all. It is because of this elf and his list that Santa decides who has been naughty and who has been nice. So, this Christmas Eve, you may decide to leave a bowl of porridge sitting out beside Santa’s cookies and milk.

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About the Author:
Randy Stocklin is the co-owner of Mail from Santa Claus. Mail from Santa Claus offers memorable letters from Santa Claus that help keep the Christmas spirit alive. For more information about Mail from Santa Claus and to purchase letters from santa please visit http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com/.

Article Resource: www.Articlebliss.com
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Santa Claus Around the World

Christmas is a worldwide phenomenon, and so is the holiday’s number one fan and symbol, Santa Claus. So it makes sense that because people all over the world celebrate Christmas differently, they also see Santa in different ways and have different traditions.

For instance, in France Christmas goes by the term Noel, and Santa goes by the name Pere Noel. Like the United States, the French who celebrate the holiday do so with a Christmas tree. Sometimes, the French decorate their trees in the traditional, which is with bright red ribbons and real candles, instead of the garland, electric lights, and fancy decorations used in the US. They also believe in decorating outside, especially the evergreen trees on their properties, which they cover with lights that they leave on all night long.

In Hungary, the Christmas tradition is a bit different than the French or American versions. In this Eastern European country, Santa Claus is called the “Winter Grandfather,” or Mikulas in their language. He comes not on Christmas Eve, but on December 6. It’s the job of children before this day to make sure that they are clean and that they have cleaned their rooms. For these good children, Winter Grandfather leaves candies and toys for them in freshly cleaned shoes or boots. For those children who don’t clean? They get a golden birch, which means they deserve a spanking! In Hungary it’s not Santa Claus (or Winter Grandfather), but Baby Jesus and the angels who brings presents and the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. To give him time to set them up, families usually go visit a relative’s house or go to the movies.

In Germany, the holidays are all about the decorations. They love putting electric candles in their lights, and covering their homes with all sorts of lights and colors. The German specialty decoration is the Adventskranz, which is actually a leaf wreath with four candles in it. And like many American homes, Germans like to decorate inside with a manger scene, the famous depiction of the stable, with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, animals, and the Three Wise Men. Father Christmas brings children from Germany presents on Christmas Eve, while St. Nicholas brings small gifts on December 6.

Kids should consider moving to Latvia along the Baltic Sea for Christmas time. There, Father Christmas brings presents for all of the 12 days of Christmas, with the first day of gift giving coming on Christmas Eve. Latvia also claims to be the home of the first ever Christmas tree, documented in the year 1510. Then again, you might want to check the menu before visiting this country. The traditional meal on Christmas is brown peas with bacon sauce, sausage, cabbage, and small pies.

Here’s a meal that sounds delectable and Christmas will still be a blast – it’s in New Zealand. Since Christmas arrives in the middle of summer for New Zealand children, their Christmas dinners usually include foods on the BBQ, like ham, shrimp and fish. Many towns enjoy Christmas parades throughout the holiday season. Similar to children in America, families open Christmas presents from Santa Claus on Christmas Day. However, some people love Christmas so much, they also celebrate this Santa-driven holiday in the middle of July, when it is cold enough for a proper English Christmas dinner.

Wherever you are on the map, you can obviously enjoy Christmas in one way or another. And don’t worry. With his reindeer-powered sleigh, Santa will find you no matter where in the world you are living.

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About the Author:
Randy Stocklin is the co-owner of Mail from Santa Claus. Mail from Santa Claus offers memorable letters from Santa Claus that helps keep the Christmas spirit alive. For more information about Mail from Santa Claus and to purchase letters from Santa please visit www.mailfromsantaclaus.com/.

 

Article Resource: www.Articlebliss.com

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A City Of 650 Bridges, Sauerkraut And 7 Christmas Markets…

Berlin, quite surprisingly, has more water surfaces and bridges (650 approx) than Venice, Amsterdam and Stockholm put together! This beautiful capital city and heartbeat of Germany, Berlin is a fascinating place year round with a vast array of attractions to entice all visitors to it again and again especially in the Winter months when its 7 Christmas Markets are out in full force. From traditional markets selling Christmas arts and crafts including hand-blown glass objects, jewellery to mulled wine and cinnamon buns, visiting these markets is a fantastic and fun lead up to Christmas for all the family. 

Sightseeing is intense in Berlin…from the remnants of the former Wall to the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie, there is a lot to see in Berlin. A short city break is usually not enough to take in all the historical sights of this legendary city and a second visit is usually imminent on any first-time traveller’s agenda. The transport system in Berlin is, justifiably, known as one of the most efficient in Europe and connects Berlin with the rest of Germany and European countries.

With so many airlines operating routes to Berlin’s main international Tegel airport and a whole crop of low cost carriers now flying to Schonefeld Airport too, it’s never been easier to visit Berlin. Berlin specialists, www.myberlin.co.uk offer fantastic, low prices for a city break to Berlin. They combine cheap flight and discounted hotel packages at top quality hotels including the 5 star Westin Grand Hotel. Check out the offers now as these prices are unbelievably excellent value for money and are not going to be around forever! 

As Berlin is just an hour’s flying time from the UK, it makes for the perfect city break, both midweek and weekend. Whether for shopping, sightseeing or for the Christmas Markets, Berlin also makes a great culinary break for food lovers. Try authentic sauerkraut, spicy sausages, schnitzels and pretzels washed down with one of the 800 varieties of beers found in the Bavarian region of Germany. I would recommend you visit Berlin at any time of the year but more so at Christmas when the city is lit up by thousands of twinkling lights and the air is crisp with a hint of snowfall beginning to cloak the city with its velvety texture – that’s the best time to go to Berlin!

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About the Author:
Mike writes about “City of bridges and 7 Christmas markets” http://www.myberlin.co.uk/berlin_christmas.htm. Get more information about Berlin, http://www.myberlin.co.uk

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Make Your Holidays More Enjoyable — Without Spending One Extra Dime

There are many techniques for improving your holidays. If you don’t believe it, just take a look at the advertising circulars in your Sunday newspaper or take a quick television advertising tour.

The perfect toy will make your child happy and will fill you with the joy of Christmas. A new set of bargain priced indoor-outdoor Christmas lights will make you the envy of the neighborhood and will give you a warm sense of holiday satisfaction.  Christmas, the jewelers tell us, won’t really be complete unless that special woman receives the gift that lasts forever (and takes nearly as long to pay off).  Even the simple notion of purchasing a holiday greeting card is imbued with heightened significance. Tear jerking commercials remind us just how important it is to buy the name brand cards if we really want to communicate our feelings for loved ones during the holiday season.

It is no wonder holiday stress has reached epidemic proportions. We receive message after message telling us just how important every single thing we buy and do is with respect to having a good holiday season. Simultaneously, we are bombarded with reminders that this is the most important time of the year.  Confronted with these messages, we look for a way out.  We look for a way to capture that elusive sense of holiday satisfaction—often with a wad of cash or a credit card.

There’s nothing wrong with spending within your means to have an enjoyable holiday. It is, after all, a time of giving and a time of celebration and some level of cost is probably inevitable. No one should begrudge another for buying that holiday diamond or eschewing cut-rate greeting cards.  However, there are ways to increase your enjoyment of the holidays without spending one extra dime.

One great piece of holiday wisdom is the simple reminder to “think about ideas and people instead of things.” Even the most free-spending Christmas shopper, when asked, will tell you that the holidays are a time to reflect on the messages of the season and to spend time with loved ones. The spirit of the holidays can be transmitted by proxy in the form of a shiny toy or even shinier ring, but the message is actually more clearly communicated by a simple hug or a quality conversation.

Too often, we use things as our means of expression instead of using ourselves. By retaining a focus on people and ideas instead of things, we find can begin to really communicate the message of love that underlies everyone’s understanding of the holidays. A hug, a conversation or a walk around the block with a loved one doesn’t cost a dime and can be the best way to build holiday cheer, pleasant memories, and an appreciation of the holidays.

Another free means by which you can enjoy the holidays more is by making a contribution of time to a cause you support. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making financial or material contributions to charities. In fact, those contributions are entirely necessary for most charitable organizations to stay afloat and are also a great way to celebrate the holidays. However, giving of yourself can really make the holidays matter and add a dimension to your appreciation of the holiday season.

Volunteering one’s time and energy to a charitable cause can increase one’s appreciation of the holidays and allows them to truly embody the spirit of giving that underpins the season. These simple acts of kindness can be truly transformative—not only for those who benefit from the gift but also for those who are willing to volunteer.

If you want another strand of Christmas lights and they fit into your budget, go ahead. Feel free to pick up that great toy for your child and the expensive knick-knack for your spouse. Buy only the best wrapping paper, if you so desire. If you feel like you can improve your holiday season with a few purchases, you can go ahead and try.

However, you should also remember that there are a few things you can do that won’t cost you a bit that can really increase the quality of your holiday season.  Remember to think about people and ideas—instead of things. Consider volunteering your time and effort to a worthwhile cause, too. Simple things like these can improve a holiday more than any gadget or gift.

 

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Forests, Trees, and Christmas: How Perspective Can Reduce Holiday Stress

When one suffers a lack of perspective, it said that he or she might be unable to “see the forest through the trees.”  In other words, their attention to small parts may prevent them from gaining an understanding of the whole. It is possible to get too bogged down in details and to allow the mind to exaggerate their importance. When it comes to the holidays, there are many of us who have a hard time seeing the bigger picture and it can lead to a great deal of stress.

By becoming too focused on smaller parts of the holiday experience, we lose track of the greater meaning of the season and create highly stressful situations. There are some of us, for instance, who may spend hours obsessing over outdoor holiday decorations.  Are those lights right?  Is that figure in its proper place? Etc. It’s find to take pride in one’s holiday decorations, of course, but it is possible to become so focused on the perfect display and to become so frustrated at the process that one begins to lose track of how that one aspect of the season fits into the bigger picture.

Another example, and one to which many of us can relate, is gift shopping. The idea of freely giving to others during the holidays should be a source of fun and joy. Too often, however, it degrades into a trying and frustrating exercise.  The simple act of giving somehow becomes a high-pressure activity that seems to consume us. Instead of enjoying this one component of the holidays, we allow it to consume a disproportionate amount of our attention and consideration. Finding the “perfect gift” becomes an intense process, devoid of pleasure.

The problem, in both instances, is the same. We lose track of the holiday forest as we become single-mindedly focused on one Christmas tree. We begin to see each part of holiday preparation and every aspect of holiday activities as ends in and of themselves, as opposed to small means to the greater end of a pleasurable holiday.

This loss of perspective is one of the greatest causes of holiday stress. We begin to believe that successful completion of every single holiday task or challenge is integral to having a successful Christmas. Every single part of the equation, from wreath hanging to making an extra pie is perceived as a matter of great importance. Not surprisingly, we find ourselves jumping from project to project in a state of high stress. Somewhere, amidst all of those individual tasks, we lose track of the essence of the holidays completely.

Some may argue that each step along the way is important. Perhaps, to some extent every little thing we do does have the chance to improve our holidays. However, if we reflect on Christmases past, we generally don’t remember the small mistakes or tiny incorrect details. Do you remember if every strand of lights on the tree were in perfect synchronicity on your favorite past holiday? Can you ever remember a year when the holiday dinner was completely ruined by one burned dish? Have you ever felt a holiday was ruined by a poor gift-wrapping job?  Generally, those smaller features—the individual trees of the Christmas forest—are far less important in building holiday memories than interactions between people.

By stepping back when we begin to feel stressed about any part of the holidays and trying to visualize the overall holiday forest, we can reduce our stress levels considerably. A sense of perspective allows us to realize that correcting a somewhat sloppy gift-wrapping job is not the highest of our priorities or essential to a great Christmas. By seeing the full forest instead of giving our attention to individual trees we are better able to relax, enjoy and celebrate the season.

If you start to feel particularly stressed this holiday season, take a moment to ask yourself whether the source of your stress is really an issue of great importance. Try to visualize your holidays as a whole instead of focusing on the single matter at hand.  Chances are that a bit of perspective will allow you to relax and enjoy the season a bit more.

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A Classic Christmas in Song

As Christmas approaches, there are certain songs that return every year to play in the Top 40 of the mind. These are songs that move from one to the next on the radio, in the elevator, over the speakers at the market, — in other words, almost everywhere you go. These are the songs that are the survivors of all the thousands of Christmas songs that have been written, sung, and recorded. Some have lasted over the decades, some for more than a century or two. What marks their longevity is that each has its own story. Some of these stories are sweet, some touching, some just ordinary. Here’s a short list of some of my favorites with a little history. They might be yours too.

Deck the Halls – This song is a carryover from the old British Yule festival, when people celebrated with Wassail Bowls and Yule logs. Its origin is Welsh and had already been around for a long time when Mozart included the melody in one of his compositions.

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen – This old English classic has long since lost its providence in obscurity, even though it is thought to be from the 16th century. In 1846, it was published by E. F. Rimbault. We are reminded by historians that the word “rest” means “keep”, and the comma in the title is often misplaced. It makes a difference!

The First Noel – Here is another carol whose origin is obscured by history. It is claimed by both Engalnd and France. Although first published in England in 1833, scholars have been able to trace the song back to the 16th century in France. The word “noel” or nowell, comes from the Latin “natalis” meaning birth. It has come to mean the birth of Christ over the last few thousand years.

Joy to the World – Did you know that this favorite Christmas carol was written because of a challenge given to an 18-year-old Isaac Watts by his dad? You see, young Watts complained to his dad (a deacon in a Southhampton church) that church music was boring. So his dad challenged him to write something better. He used the 98th Psalm as inspiration, and in 1692 wrote this wonderful, upbeat song.

O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fedeles) – Latin in origin, the roots of this hymn are clouded in Christmas mystery. Some scholars attribute it to St. Francis, some to St. Bonaventure. French monks used it in their midnight masses during the 17th century. The first person to write the words “Adeste Fedeles” appears to have been John Francis Wade in 1742, and it was called The Portuguese Hymn because its British debut came at the Portuguese Embassy. Around 1841, the carol crossed the ocean and Canon Frederick Oakeley translated it first to read Ye Faithful, Approach Ye. He revised it in 1852 to O Come, All Ye Faithful. This carol is thought to be the most universal carol – it has over 120 translations to its credit.

Silent Night (Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!) – This beloved carol was birthed out of necessity – the church organ at St. Nicholas in the tiny Austrian village of Oberndorf went on the blink the night before Christmas Eve 1818. Father Josef Mohr, the assistant pastor, visited with his organist (Franz Gruber) about the situation and showed him some lyrics he had written. Gruber read them, took them home, and two hours later, completed the melody for Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! That Christmas Eve, the church choir sang the carol, accompanied by Gruber on the Italian guitar. The following spring, Karl Mauracher met with Gruber to fix the organ, and was shown the piece and told the story. He asked for a copy of the piece, and from there, it spread all over the world, with no credit given its authors.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Written by Rev. Charles Wesley in 1739, this song is one of his most famous. Originally, the words were “Hark, how all the welkin rings, Glory to the King of Kings”, but were altered in 1753 to the words we know. A little over a century later, Dr. W. H. Cummings lifted the second movement of Mendelssohn’s For A Tercentenary of the Invention of the Art of Printing as the melody.

Away in a Manger – If you are looking for a mystery, here you go. The first two verses of this song appeared in a collection of Lutheran hymns entitled Luther’s Cradle Hymn. These songs were composed by Martin Luther for his children and are still sung by German mothers to their little ones. The confusion is that for 60 years, the public therefore assumed that these two verses were also written by Martin Luther. However, in the 1940s, Richard Hill proved that the author of these verses (and thus, the song) was actually music editor James R. Murray of Cincinnati, Ohio. The carol is unknown in Germany.

Jingle Bells – J. Pierpont wrote One Horse Open Sleigh for a Boston Sunday school choir in 1857. It is arguably the first pop Christmas song, and he managed to do the impossible: it never mentions Christmas!

White Christmas – The most popular modern Christmas song ever, this song was written in 1942 by Irving Berlin for Bing Crosby to sing in Holiday Inn. It won the Oscar for best song that year, and has sold more than 100 million copies since.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – This popular song was written by Johnny Marks for the reindeer with the henna-hued honker created by his brother-in-law/author/copywriter Robert L. May. May received the copyright to Rudolph in 1947, and wrote a book based on his exploits. In 1949, Gene Autry recorded it, and the rest is history.

Frosty the Snowman – Following on the heels of the success of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins decided to see what would happen with a snowman that comes to life. The result was this happy tune in 1951.

The songs of Christmas, whether from the 13th century or this year, are as popular today as ever although tastes have definitely changed. Whether we love the ancient Yuletide carol or rock out makes little difference. What matters is that the magic of Christmas’ greatest hits still offer some honest-to-goodness joy today. Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

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A Christmas History Lesson

The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of the most famous Christmas carols ever written. It has been sung for a great many years, and is known the world over. To most it is a delightful hymn, but it was originally created with a very serious intent. In England between the years of 1558 and 1829, it was illegal to practice Catholicism in public or private. It was essentially a crime to be Catholic in England during those years. The Twelve Days of Christmas was written to help preserve the traditions of the Catholic faith during the years that Catholicism was banned in England. The song is steeped in symbolism, and the fact that it is so well known throughout the world is a testament to the faith of the followers of the Catholic doctrine. The symbols contained in the song are as follows:

1st verse – “True Love” refers to God.
2nd verse – “2 Turtle Doves” refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd verse – “3 French Hens” refers to Faith, Hope, and Charity.
4th verse – “4 Calling Birds” refers to the Four Gospels or the Four Evangelists.
5th verse – “5 Golden Rings” refers to the first five Books of the Old Testament.
6th verse – “6 Geese-a-laying” refers to the six days of creation.
7th verse – “7 Swans-a-swimming” refers to the seven sacraments.
8th verse – “8 Maids-a-milking” refers to the eight beatitudes.
9th verse – “9 Ladies dancing” refers to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10th verse – “10 Lords-a-leaping” refers to the Ten Commandments.
11th verse – “11 Pipers piping” refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th verse – “12 Drummers drumming” refers to the twelve points of the Apostle’s creed.

I love this song. It is, by far, my favorite Christmas carol. I had no idea about the symbols contained in the song, until I Googled the song lyrics one afternoon. I find it very interesting that a song we all know so well could contain so many hidden meanings. I would never have guessed that it was anything more than lovely Christmas carol. It’s always nice to learn something new, especially about the wonderful celebration of Christmas. I hope you learned something, too. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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About the Author – 
Catherine Spelling absolutely loves spending Christmas with family and friends. When she is not counting down the days until Christmas, she writes for http://www.christmaslightsanddecorations.com/

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