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| Sunday, 25 December 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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"Merry Christmas to all our little friends!!! This is the day that people rejoice and celebrate the most popular festival, globally. Apart from enlightening you on Christmas traditions, customs and rituals, we would like to enlighten you about some of the interesting icons and symbols that are associated with Christmas." The Christmas Star For centuries scholars and laymen alike have speculated on the nature of the star that led the wise men from the east to seek out the Messiah (The Messenger). The Christmas star has traditionally been associated with the spirit of the celebration and there is something very special about it. The significance of the star can be found in the story related to the birth of Jesus Christ. One wintry night a new star came to visit the other stars. It was so radiant that its rays shone upon the grey hills and made them as light as day. The shepherds saw it and were frightened at its strange brightness; but an angel came to them and said: "Do not be afraid; the star has come to bring you good tidings of great joy, and to show you the place where a little babe is born, a little babe whose name is Jesus, and who will give peace and joy to the whole world." When the angels had gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said, "Let us go and see this child." So they left their flocks sleeping on the hill-sides, and took their crooks in their hands and followed the star. It led them to the little stable in Bethlehem, where Baby Jesus was cradled in a manger. Then, the star moved on again to a country far away, where some good, wise men lived. They saw the bright light, and noticed the star moving on and on, as if it was showing them the way. So they too followed the star till it rested above the birthplace of Jesus. The star watched over them, casting a peaceful light over all. At last, the dawn came over the hill tops, and the star went away, far back into the blue heavens, to tell the other stars the story of the Christmas day. The Christmas star symbolises high hopes and high ideals - hope for good fortune, hope for reaching above oneself. **** Mistletoe Mistletoe has long been a symbol of love, peace and goodwill. Mistletoe is an aerial parasite that has no roots of its own and lives off the tree that it attaches itself to. Without that tree it would die. Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. Even the warring clans would stop their battles and claim a temporary truce when they would chance upon mistletoe.They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. The tradition From the earliest times, mistletoe has been one of the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore. It was considered to bestow life and fertility; and was used as protection against poison. It was gathered at both mid-summer and winter solstices, and the custom of using mistletoe to decorate houses at Christmas is a survival of the Druid and other pre-Christian traditions. The story of mistletoe
It was lowly mistletoe. So Loki made an arrow tip of the mistletoe, and gave it to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who shot it, striking Balder dead. For three days each element of the universe tried to bring Balder back to life. Frigga, the goddess and his mother finally restored him. It is said the tears she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on the mistletoe plant and in her joy Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree on which it grew. The story ends with a decree that who should ever stand under the humble mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a token of love. *** Christmas toys Christmas toys are the key to a child's happiness, as nothing fills a child's heart with wonder like the joy of Christmas toys. These toys are a traditional gift, given for ages, to make children everywhere excited and joyous on Christmas day. Christmas toys are available in an almost infinite variety of choices. Anyone who has ever shopped for Christmas toys must have noticed that there are toys for every age of childhood, and there are many different kinds for each age.Christmas toys have lasting and charming qualities and help children appreciate the special occasion of Christmas. Christmas toys combine fun and the opportunity for children to grow, learn and explore. *** Holly
Mistletoe has apparently been used as a decoration in houses for thousands of years and was associated with many pagan rituals. The church forbade the use of mistletoe in any form, mindful of its idolatrous associations. As a substitute, it suggested holly. The sharply pointed leaves were to symbolise the thorns in Christ's crown and the red berries, drops of his blood. Holly became a nativity tradition. Another legend about this Christmas plant says that a little orphan boy was living with the shepherds when the angels came to announce the birth of the newborn king. Having no gift for the baby, the child wove a crown of holly branches for its head. But when he lay it before Christ, he became ashamed of his poverty and began to cry. Miraculously, Jesus touched the crown and it began to sparkle, while the orphan's tears turned into beautiful scarlet berries. Many superstitions surround the holly. It is a man's plant and is believed to bring good luck and protection to men while ivy brings the same to women. It was hung on the doors and windows to keep away witches' spells, evil spirits, goblins, and lightning. *** The Christmas Rose The Christmas Rose is an European evergreen plant with white or purplish roselike winter-blooming flowers. While the Poinsettia has become the preferred Christmas flower in the U.S. and other parts of the world, in Germany and some other European countries, the Christmas rose is frequently used with an evergreen branch for decorations. It can be found on table cloths, napkins, wrapping paper and Christmas cards. Part of the colour in celebration of the season is the blooming of Christmas roses. While a variety of plants over time have come to be called "Christmas Rose", they are all steeped in a legend that dates back centuries. Legend The Legend of the Christmas Rose speaks of a young girl named Madelon who wanted to worship the Christ Child. Seeing the gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by others who were drawn to the humble birthplace, she despaired that she had no gift to bring, for Madelon was poor indeed. In vain she searched the countryside for a flower that she might bring, but the winter had been cold and harsh - and there were no flowers to be found. Saddened, the girl began to weep. An angel passing over her stopped to provide comfort and smote the ground that was wet from her tears. There did spring a beautiful bush that bloomed of white roses. "Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold," said the angel, "is offering more meat for the Christ Child than these pure Christmas Roses." And thus young Madelon went her way and worshipped the Prince of Peace, bearing the gift of her heart and tears. *** Christmas wreath
Widely known, the customs of Christmas come from the traditional celebration of the birth of Christ, which was later on combined with the harvest and winter solstice festivals in ancient Rome. From ancient times, the celebration has involved in making offerings and decorating with evergreens with the wreath being one of the most popular forms. Wreaths that are displayed at Christmas time are in the form of a circle, signifying eternity. They also serve to wish people happiness in the New Year. Christmas wreaths are decorated with candles symbolising the sun at winter solstice, and with holly, evergreens, red berries, and pinecones, symbolising the harvest, which might have come down since the time of ancient Rome. Christmas wreaths can adorn any part of the home, inside or out. In many homes, this symbol of growth and everlasting life can be found both inside and out. Today, it is sometimes hard to remember the real meaning of Christmas. The wreath over the hearth brings warmth to people's hearts and helps them to reflect upon the true meaning of this very special day. **** Poinsettia One of the most delightful decorations at Christmas is the poinsettia. The usual colour of choice is the deep, vibrant red. However, there is a wide array of other colours, including pink, white, marbled, speckled and yellow. The colourful parts of the poinsettia, the bracts, are actually modified leaves. The poinsettia flower is small, green or yellow and situated in the middle of the bracts. The poinsettia is named after Joel R. Poinsett, who served as the USA's first ambassador to Mexico, from 1825-1829. He saw this indigenous plant with large scarlet leaves encircling small, greenish yellow blossoms, which was the Mexican Christmas flower. He sent specimens back to the USA, where they flourished. The legend
Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas, but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing. One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers as we see them today. *** Christmas stocking
These small items are often referred to as stocking stuffers or stocking fillers. Tradition says that a child who behaves badly during the year will receive only a piece of coal.Children all over the world continue the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings. In some countries children have similar customs, in France, the children place their shoes by the fireplace, a tradition dating back to when children wore wooden peasant shoes. By tradition, the stocking is hung near the fireplace, but, since modern homes often do not have a fireplace, it is hung in almost any location when no fireplace is available, under the assumption that Santa can find it wherever it is. Originally, children simply used one of their everyday socks, but eventually special Christmas stockings were created for this purpose. Today, stores carry a tremendous variety of styles and sizes of Christmas stockings, from small and conservative, to long and stretchy, to gigantic. Many families create their own Christmas stockings with each family member's name applied to the stocking so that Santa isn't confused about which belongs to whom. |
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The story goes that mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, goddess
of love and the mother of Balder, the god of the summer sun. Balder had a
dream of death, which greatly alarmed his mother, for should he die, all
life on Earth would end. Balder could not be hurt by anything on Earth or
under the Earth. But Balder had one enemy, Loki, god of evil and he knew
of one plant that grew neither on the Earth nor under the Earth, but on
apple and oak trees. 
The evergreen holly symbolises eternal life. Druids believed the holly
or ilex was sacred. They thought this plant stayed green all year round
because it was especially favoured by the Sun. Christian legend says, one
winter night, the holly miraculously grew leaves out of season, in order
to hide the Holy Family from Herod's soldiers. Since then, it has been an
evergreen, as a token of Christ's gratitude. 
A Christmas wreath made of mostly evergreen tree twigs, sometimes with
pinecones and a bow made of red ribbon is a common Christmas decoration.
These are in the shape of a ring made of flowers, leaves, and sometimes
fruits, used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a
table. 
The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl
named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always
looked forward to the Christmas festival. 
A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children
hang on Christmas Eve, so that Santa can fill it with small toys, candy,
fruit, coins, or other small gifts, when he arrives. 
