Have you ever wondered why we hang up our stockings at Christmas time, burn a yule log, send Christmas letters, decorate with greenery, wrap packages in colorful paper, trim the Christmas tree, have creche miniature manger scenes, and what about Santa Claus?

Our Christmas traditions have become so routine that we never pause long enough to think about the "whys" of the legends or customs because we are in such a rush to get all of the shopping, cards, decorating, baking, and "everything done" before Christmas Day.

Customs and legends have been handed down from country to country, from grandparents to parents and now are being carried out in such familiar fashion that we do not stop to think how they came about.

Christmas Stockings

This custom of hanging stockings comes from an old legend. It is said that St. Nicholas, then a kindly Greek bishop, took pity on a poor man whose three daughters could not marry because he had no gold for their dowries. By night, the good bishop dropped a purse full of gold down the man's chimney. By chance it landed in one of the daughters' stockings. The next night the second daughter hung up her stocking and it, too, had a bag of gold, and the same was true of the third girl.

In time, because of this legend, children began hanging up their stockings -- hoping to find them filled with gifts.

Yule Log

The Yule log blazing on the hearth is said to bring Christmas light, joy and good luck, especially in northern countries where the winter is long, cold and dark much of the day. In France a huge log is brought in by the family with the youngest child walking last in line. Around the kitchen they go once, twice and three times before putting in on the hearth.

Christmas Cards, Letters

It is the custom to write a letter to Santa Claus, Kris Kringle or if children live in a country where the Three Kings bring toys, to write to them. Some letters are burned, and the wind blows the ashes and the wishes where they want them to go.

Christmas cards were first printed in England more than 100 years ago. Now the custom has spread around the world. The first commercially printed Christmas card was sent in 1843 by London businessman Henry Cole. Postage cost a penny. The idea of Christmas seals to help others was first thought of by a post office clerk in Denmark.

Christmas Wrapping

It is not really known when or where the custom of wrapping Christmas gifts began. Perhaps it was in Denmark, where every package must be wrapped so mysteriously that no one can possibly guess what is inside.

Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree had its origin in medieval Germany where the holiday included religious dramas presented about the story of creation. There are many legends about its origin. One tells that on the first Christmas Even, the winter trees bloomed as if it were springtime.

Another legend says that Martin Luther, a stern reformer, lighted candles on a small fir tree to show his little son how the starry heavens must have looked on Christmas Even.

Still another legend tells of a wandering child who was taken into the home of a poor forester, fed and tucked into a warm bed. In the morning, the child was seen to be the Christ Child. Before He left the humble cottage, He put an evergreen twig into the ground with the promise that it would grow to be a tall tree.

Christmas Ornaments

Like the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree ornament is a German legacy. Germany, which contributed more immigrants to the United States than any other European country, also contributed many of its native customs, including tree ornaments, with the first being very simple, usually homemade and always edible.

The first commercially made ornaments were of tin or wax. The most popular ornament by the turn of the century was the glass ornament imported form Germany. Credit for getting vast numbers of those ornaments on trees all over the United States goes to F.W. Woolworth Company.

Tree Lights

Candles and lights on the Christmas tree stand for joy and light of Christmas. The garlands of tiny flags used in Scandinavia stand for love of the country. Small animals made of tin in Mexico, straw in Sweden, and of delicate, shimmering blown glass in Germany, remind the people of the manger. Candy canes stand for the crooks of the shepherds.

The bright shining star at the top of the tree stands for the bright star of wondrous size that shone, alone, a long time ago above the stable in Bethlehem.

Christmas

Christmas Day is celebrated in many, many lands and in many ways. It all depends upon the customs and legends that have followed down through the years.

May you have a Merry Christmas with your family and loved ones!

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.