READ MORE: 30 Recycled Christmas Decorations & DIY Christmas Crafts to Make Holly, photo by Valeria Lu via Pixabay 4. As recounted in the most famous Bible story of all, angels appeared in the sky over Bethlehem to announce the savior’s birth.įor many faithful Christians today, the Christmas tree angel is the culmination and highlight of their most meaningful holiday décor. The angel represents the role of angels in the birth of Jesus. With Christmas being primarily known as a Christian holiday, it’s no wonder that one of the most recognized Christmas tree decorations is the Christmas angel tree topper. READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Spend Christmas in the USA Angel Christmas Tree Topper via Pixabay 3. Regardless, the light of the Advent candles symbolize Jesus Christ as “the light of the world.” New religious practices sometimes change the color of the candles to uniformly white. The other candle, which is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, is rose-colored. Traditionally, three of these candles are purple, standing for prayer, penance, and preparation. The four candles symbolize the number of weeks for Advent. In fact, the Catholic Church didn’t actually adopt the tradition until some time in the Middle Ages!
That being said, there is historic evidence that Germanic people used wreaths and candles in the time before Christianity to provide hope during the dark days of winter. Advent CandlesĪdvent candles were originally part of the holiday wreath tradition, and the two combined as part of a long-standing Catholic tradition. READ MORE: 20 Fun Christmas Eve Traditions Around the World Advent Candles, photo by Frankeh via Pixabay 2. While this type is still around today, versions made out of different materials and designs are widely used in homes all across the world. Lang later co-founded the Reichhold & Lang printing company, which printed cardboard Advent Calendars. He modified the original to include little doors, which have now become a staple of Advent calendars. Gerhard Lang is credited as the creator of the first printed Advent calendar, after being inspired by a homemade calendar his mother had made for him. It dates back to the mid-19th century, when German Protestants made chalk marks on doors or lit candles to count the days leading up to Christmas. The Advent calendar tradition is of German origin. Advent CalendarĪdvent calendars are special calendars used to count down the days until Christmas.Įach day (starting on December 1st and running until the 25th) coincides with a small door that can be opened to reveal a Christmas picture, and sometimes even a piece of chocolate or small candy. READ MORE: 90 Christmas Traditions Around the WorldĪdvent Calendar, photo via Canva 1. So read on for a deep dive into 30 symbols of Christmas and learn the meaning of traditional Christmas Decorations- such as mistletoe, twinkling Christmas lights, and more! It’s more a testament to the power of these ancient Christmas customs– evidence that we all want to commune, commemorate, and care for one another.Įach of those traditional Christmas symbols-evergreens, candy canes, wreaths, stockings- has a fascinating history that explains how it worked its way into the hearts of millions of people. This in no way diminishes the religious implications for those who observe the holiday for those reasons. Yet Christmas legends and Christmas traditions around the world vary drastically, with each culture adopting their own customs, their own holiday folklore, and their own Christmas dishes. Did you know that, while 70% of the planet’s population is not Christian, nearly 80% of the world’s countries observe Christmas traditions in one form or another? The holiday’s widespread popularity supersedes both its religious and pagan origins. Many of the traditional symbols of Christmas transcend cultures and continents, including Christmas trees, gifts, ornaments, and Santa Claus (who’s known by many names). Christmas has been celebrated as a Christian holiday dating back to A.D.
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