| - The Twelve Days of Christmas: The Twelve Days | | | | Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and many more ! |
| of Christmas refers to the twelve days between the | | | | - Holly Boughs: The boughs of holly are another very |
| Christmas Day (December 25) and the Feast of | | | | important symbol of Christmas. These are red berries |
| Epiphany (January 6). Tradition has it that this is the | | | | with thorny leaves. To the Christians, the holly berries |
| time taken by the Three Wise Men (the Magi) to reach | | | | symbolize Christ's blood and the sharply pointed leaves |
| Bethlehem to see the babe in the manger, Jesus. | | | | stand for the thorns in His crown. Henceforth, the holly |
| - Mistletoe: Mistletoe is a plant hung on the doorway of | | | | became part of the Nativity tradition. |
| every American household during Christmas. The | | | | - The Nativity Scene: The Nativity Scene includes the |
| mistletoe symbolizes love, having been closely | | | | scene at Bethlehem, when Jesus was born. The |
| associated with Frigga, the Scandinavian's goddess of | | | | manger, the swaddling clothes, the bright star in the |
| love. It's from this that the convention of kissing under | | | | sky, the shepherds surrounding baby Jesus and the |
| the mistletoe originated. | | | | Three Wise Men (the Magi) form part of the scene. |
| - Hanging Stockings: The practice of hanging stockings | | | | - The Poinsettia: Poinsettias are beautiful winter |
| over the fireplace on Christmas Eve comes from | | | | blooms, native to Mexico. They've been named after |
| England. The legend of St. Nicholas has it that the latter | | | | the first US ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts |
| was a kind saint who was believed to have left gifts | | | | Poinsett, who brought the plant from its land of origin to |
| of gold coins in the stockings of three poor maidens, | | | | America. Since the beginning of the 19th century, |
| who badly needed the money for their wedding | | | | poinsettias have come to be associated with |
| dowries. They hung their stockings to dry over the | | | | Christmas. |
| fireplace, and to their great surprise, they found bags | | | | - The Yule Log: The yule log is a huge log used to light |
| of gold in them the next morning. Following this, children | | | | up big fires during festive celebrations. It originated in |
| kept hanging Christmas stockings over the fireplace on | | | | Europe, where it used to be placed in the hearth and |
| Christmas Eve in the hope that Santa would drop gifts | | | | continued to burn throughout the year, till it turned into |
| and toys in them ! | | | | ashes. Bringing in the yule log was as much a custom |
| - Christmas Carols: The first carols are said to have | | | | during the Christmas holidays as was decorating the |
| been sung by angelic choirs at Christ's birth. St.Francis | | | | Christmas tree. The yule log is generally placed in the |
| of Assissi is also accredited as the 'Father of Caroling'. | | | | fireplace. It's from this yule log that Christmas also |
| The word 'carol' comes from the Greek 'charaulein', a | | | | came to be known as 'Yuletide'. |
| Greek dance, later replaced by song. By the 17th | | | | - Boxing Day: The day after Christmas is known as |
| century, caroling was restricted to Christmas time, and | | | | the Feast of St. Stephens. The alms box of the |
| now, it's customary for kids to go caroling in groups | | | | Church was opened on Boxing Day, and the contents, |
| from door to door, singing favorites such as "Hark, the | | | | known as the "dole of the Christmas box" were |
| Herald Angels Sing", "O Come All Ye Faithful", "God | | | | distributed by the parish priest among the needy. |