If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!St. Nicholas is important part of Greek tradition as the patron saint of sailors. Greek ships never set out on a voyage without having an icon of St. Nicholas on board. Greek tradition tells of his clothes being soaked […]

Centuries ago, long before the birth of Christ, the wreath was always a part of festive processions. The evergreen wreath has always been a Christian emblem of eternal life and God's faithfulness to all humanity because of its hardiness and ability to withstand the cold winter temperatures.
An advent wreath is a ring or set […]

In many Western cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths. Many of the hollies are highly decorative, and it?s believed that it and the green ivy that is usually used alongside it in decorating is why the colors red and green have come to be representative of Christmas.
The pagan Druids […]

Centuries ago many people, especially those of pagan origin, firmly believed by ringing bells they could ward off evil spirits. It was believed at that time that when winter came the evil spirits were very strong because it was so dark and cold, and would harm them and their families. People would have ceremonies and […]

Santa Claus hasn't always looked like the jolly old fellow we know today. Like so many other American traditions, he's a product of the great American melting pot - a blend of many different cultures and customs. But the most influential figure in the shaping of who we know now as Santa was a real […]

The tradition of the mistletoe dates back to ancient history and across many cultures. Ancient druids viewed it as a symbol of peace, goodwill and love. Warring tribes chancing across it stopped their battles observed a temporary truce, and people began displaying it the doorways of their homes as a sign of peace. The Druids […]

Though you are probably very familiar with the more traditional Christmas customs, you may not know how other cultures celebrate the holiday season.
Many African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa from December 26 to January 1. A harvest time ritual, it?s a holiday that originated at the time of the civil rights movement in the […]