Think Christmas is all about snow and santa? You aren’t wrong but then it is possible to have Christmas without them too!
There are certain stories which shall amuse you about Christmas. Apart from the birth of Christ, there are other aspects of Christmas that you need to know.
We have compiled some facts from different sources – books and internet for your reference.
The Ukrainians take a different approach to Christmas decorations, swapping fairy lights for spider webs. The legend of the Christmas spider explains that a poor widow and her kids once cultivated a Christmas tree from a pine cone but couldn’t afford any decorations. Then, on Chrissy morning, they woke up to see their tree blanketed in cobwebs, which sunlight then transformed into gold and silver. Nowadays, trees across Ukraine are decorated with little spider ornaments called ‘pavuchky’ and fake spider webs, which is said to be the origin of the sparkly tinsel that shimmers at Christmastime all around the world.
Each year in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, the days before Christmas are marked with an event known as the Night of the Radishes. It is basically a vegetable carving competition. Participants get remarkably creative, with everything from nativity scenes to fantastical monsters on display as thousands of visitors descend on the city to witness the fun. The radishes in question are grown specially and pumped with chemicals to grow immense, but it all seems a bit futile, as the carvings can only be displayed for a few hours before the fragile vegetables wither away.
One myth about the candy cane was that it was less a simple sweet than a way to pay homage to God. The white colour supposedly represented purity and the red, the blood of Christ, with the peppermint included due to its mentions in the Old Testament. The candy’s shape was meant to honour the son of God — “J” for Jesus. This is a nice story, but apparently the reality of the candy cane’s origin was rooted in practicality: In 1670, a German confectioner first made them per the request of a local priest, who wanted to shut up the kids in his church who wouldn’t stop making a Sunday fuss.
The term “eggnog” is likely a combination of either “egg” and “grog” (the rum that was often added to the drink); “egg” and “nog” (a strong ale in England in the 17th century); or “egg” and “noggin” (a wooden mug that held alcoholic drinks centuries before that). The original recipe called for curdling milk with alcohol and flavouring it with spices, resulting in a drink that was frequently used as a cold medicine.
According to Norwegian folklore, Christmas Eve is a time when witches will be around searching for a good broom to ride. Apparently, they are unable to walk on the ground and must steal a broom on this day to fly!For this reason, all brooms are hidden. Men might also go outside to shoot their guns in the air and frighten witches away.
Jolabokaflod, which translates roughly to “Christmas book flood” in English.
Jolabokaflod started during World War II, when paper was one of the few things not rationed in Iceland. Because of this, Icelanders gave books as gifts while other commodities were in short supply, turning them into a country of bookaholics to this day.
Want to read some books this Christmas? Try these –
- Star Bright by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds. It gives a futuristic look at heaven and an imaginative take on the origin of stars that appeared in the sky.
- Santa’s Favourite Story by Hisako Aoki and Ivan Gantschev. It narrates through Santa, the first Christmas story.
- Who is coming to our house? By Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolff narrates Christmas stories through animals
- The Birds of Bethlehem by Tomie dePaola is also another story book about Christmas narrated by animals.
- The Not-So-Wise Man by Alan Macdonald retells the story of the Three Wise Kings
- The Stone by Dianne Hofmeyr is a book about Persian Legends of the Magi
- The Story of Three Wise Kings is an illustrated book by Tomie dePaola about the three wise kings
- Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne and The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats are two books that reflect on the popular Christmas Carols.
- Baboushka by Arthur Scholey has stories from the traditional Russian Folk Tales
- The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola has stories from Italy.
Wish you all a happy reading with warmth and a Merry Christmas!
