The Origin of Christmas Decorations
We are all familiar with how Christmas should look like : the decked tree, the lights, the hanging stockings, the nativity, Santa. But this picture wasn’t always so. The elements and decorations we’ve come to identify with Christmas have been added and evolved slowly through centuries to be what we know nowadays.
Let’s take a look at how some of these traditions started.
The Christmas Tree
The absolute king of Christmas decorations, the Christmas tree has had a long evolution since its beginnings during the dark times of lower middle ages.
Back then, trees were sacred in the pagan religions of Norse and Saxon countries, said to be the source of all life. It was not uncommon that devotees of these religions would leave offerings on the base of the god tree, or hanging on its branches.
The advent of Christianity could not eradicate these deep-set beliefs, and they were instead adapted to suit the new religious festivity. In Church plays these trees were meant to represent the Paradise Tree, holders of the forbidden fruit, symbolised by apples.
By the 16th century in Germany, the tradition of having a decorated tree for Christmas became widespread, although only wealthy people could afford a tree, decorations and presents.
German immigrants to the United States brought this and other traditions along. However, due to its pagan roots, it continued to be frowned upon by Christian groups, until in the 18th century queen Victoria - whose husband was German - installed the first Christmas tree in Buckingham Palace and made it fashionable.
In more recent times, artificial trees have presented an option for those who can’t afford a living tree or don’t want to kill a tree for the sake of decor. Thus, the aluminium trees of the 1950s and 60s were replaced by tinsel trees in the 1970s, ever-realistic plastic trees in the 1980's, and even optic-fibre trees in the 1990s.
Nowadays, eco-conscious families prefer to skip cutting a living tree in favour of more creative, sustainable versions, or even use delicate wrought iron trees that double as home decor throughout the year.
Christmas Ornaments
These small decorative pieces set on the tree have seen the greatest transformations throughout the centuries.
Although natural boughs and garlands as home decor is a tradition that dates as far back as ancient Egypt, the first real decorations intended for Christmas trees only came to be during the middle ages, where small presents, ribbons, little bells, candies and biscuits would be tied from the branches of the tree.
It was not but until the 17th century when the first blown glass ornaments - in the shapes of apples, beads or globes - became available. These were made entirely by hand and were extremely delicate and precious, so not everyone could afford them.
Most adornments at that time were made of wood and cardboard paper, which made the tree highly flammable if candles were also included.
At the height of the Industrial Revolution, ornaments began to be made in other materials, such as blown-glass, aluminium, tinsel, porcelain, bronze, etc. Thanks to mass production, they became more affordable to all families.
Over the years these first materials have evolved to man-made materials, and the traditional motives (balls, stars, hearts, bells, icicles, birds, angels, etc.) have been replaced by a never-ending stream of creative options: from pets and little picture frames, to favourite characters from movies and TV series.
While in the 1960s and 1970s it was fashionable to ‘dress’ your tree in a single fashionable color, nowadays uniformity seems ‘passe’ and anything goes.
The tree decorations are meant to show the family’s personality, and they can be hand-made or commercially bought, ranging from Christmas cookies and felt or paper adornments, to precious heirloom pieces.
On an interesting note, in the United States there’s the tradition of the Christmas pickle - a little pickle-shaped ornament is hung on the tree and whoever finds it first on Christmas day is said to have a year of good luck.
Stockings
Have you ever wondered why a piece of underwear is considered a home decoration during Christmas?
The tradition is linked to the Feast of Saint Nicholas, celebrated mainly in the Netherlands. Legend has it that the Saint, known to help the poor and do good deeds anonymously, threw a bag of gold coins through the window of a poor man’s home, which landed on a stocking set by the fire to dry.
This charming story led children to hang their stockings (clean and without holes) or their shoes on the chimney’s mantlepiece on the eve of the Saint’s festivity, in the hopes of receiving a gift.
This tradition travelled to the Americas along with Dutch immigrants, and eventually it was moved from Saint Nicholas’ Day (December 5th) to Christmas Day (December 25th).
Over the years, special socks began to be created specifically for this purpose: they were bigger and sturdier to hold heavier contents. However, stocking fillers continue to be small tokens of affection.
A common ‘gift’ for naughty children is to leave a lump of coal in their stocking.
Christmas Wreath
Wreaths are an ancient symbol representing a continuous cycle. In the Western world, it was used first by the Ancient Greeks, and has since then been adapted by many other cultures.
For the ancient Nordic cultures, the evergreen wreath symbolized the eternal cycle of life throughout the year, and the powers of the tree god rolled into one. These wreaths were adorned with four candles to represent the seasons, and were placed either on doors and walls as protection, or on tables.
With the advent of Christianity, the wreaths were renamed ‘Advent wreath’, and mistletoe was incorporated.
These ancient traditions were brought by German, Dutch and Scandinavian immigrants into the United States, where they were adopted and adapted with endless creative variations - including the kitchen.
Christmas Lights
In the Nordic pagan tradition, on the eve of winter solstice, the god Ingvi Freyr rode over the Earth on his boar, bringing back light and hope, represented by the god Baldur.
The god was invoked during the solstice so that she would accompany men throughout the dark days of winter.
With the advent of Christianity, this tradition mutated into the Feast of Saint Lucia, patron Saint of light, and moved to the Saint’s day. Small candles were carefully added on this day to decorate the home.
However, according to legend, Martin Luther was the first to put candles on a tree, inspired by seeing stars twinkling through evergreens. In truth, this tradition seems to have been originated in Germany, from where it spread throughout Europe and later the rest of the world.
Candles were still used as decorations for the trees until the second half of the 20th century, when strings of tiny electrical bulbs proved safer and simpler to install.
This advance meant that not only the tree could be adorned with lights, but windows, rooms, gardens, balconies, and the entire house.
Nowadays, LED lights are favoured due to their satisfying brightness, ample range of colors and low energy consumption.
Garlands
Following the adoration of trees, people in Nordic countries dressed their homes with garlands and boughs of fresh evergreen during winter time to bring in the powers of the tree into the home, as well as its scent and healing properties.
Boughs and fresh garlands were used as decorations in multiple celebrations, dressed with ribbons and strings of beads.
In the middle ages, trees also began to be decorated with garlands, originally made with strings of beads, small fruits, ribbons and other materials.
Tinsel, as scraps of silver, was used since the 16th century in Germany to enhance the flicker of the tree candles. The original silver was later replaced by cheaper metals, until the introduction of plastic tinsel in the 1970s.
As tinsel became more affordable, its use in garlands became more widespread, but it can still be found in loose strands to mimic the glitter of snow on the branches of the tree.
Garlands are a fun, easy and creative way to decorate a home or space, with materials ranging from popcorn to beads, lights, tinsel, paper, ribbons, and more.
Nativity Scene
One of the oldest Christian traditions, the representation of the birth of Christ was said to have been originated by Saint Francis of Assisi in the 13th century.
Religious plays representing the life of the Christ were not uncommon in the Middle Ages, but Saint Francis was the first one to actually set up a living nativity scene, creating a small replica of the town of Bethlehem and populating it with small figurines in the Church.
The representation caught the imagination of the faithful, and it was soon copied - with the blessing of the Pope Honorious III, who saw nothing wrong with it.
Since then, nativities have evolved in an endless range of sizes and materials to accommodate myriad space needs and pockets. Some are life-size and comprise multiple pieces (the manger, the shepherds, the adoring Magi, angels, and even the accompanying animals), while others are tiny pocket depictions of the manger and its main characters.
Poinsettia
Also known as “Crown of the Inca” in Latin American countries, this plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is one of the latest additions to the Christmas decoration repertoire.
It was first introduced in the United States by Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1825, after returning to South Carolina from Mexico, where he was a U.S. Minister.
Although it looks like a big red flower, in fact it’s the plant’s leaves that turn red during the boreal winter season. Its bright crimson colour contrasts beautifully against the snow-covered northern lands, and it was instantly adopted to become part of the Christmas decorations.
However, the poinsettias’ connection to Christmas dates from far back.
According to a 16th century Mexican legend, a peasant girl was too poor to give any presents to the baby Jesus, but was inspired to gather weeds and put them in front of the altar as offerings, which later miraculously sprouted into crimson-color poinsettias.
The plant was already used by friars as Christmas decoration in churches from the 17th century in Mexico, some stating that its shape resembled the star of Bethlehem or the crown of thorns of the Christ, and its red color symbolized Christ’s blood at the crucifixion.
Nowadays poinsettias are part of Christmas decorations from the White House, to churches, stores and homes, and they’ve made their way into cards, gift wrap, tree decors and more.
Its cheerful bright crimson colour adds a touch of the season’s cheer wherever it goes.
The Christmas Log
A favourite of many children and no fewer adults, this dessert is both delicious and appealing, and so good looking that it may pass as a true Christmas table decor!
Also called the Yule Log, while its origins are traceable to Scandinavia (hence the name), it was in France and Belgium where this tradition took firm root.
Originally, the Yule log was an actual tree, carefully selected and brought into the home to bring heat and light for the long winter. The largest end of the tree would be burnt with the remainders of the previous year’s Yule log in a ceremony that symbolised the passing of fire and all its positive properties (warmth, life, etc.) from one year to the other.
As heating was incorporated into homes, the tradition of the Yule Log transferred itself to the kitchen, where skilled French and Belgian chefs confected a delicious spongy cake - or 'bûche de Noël' - that includes chocolate, vanilla, orange and buttercream, shaped and decorated with marzipan figurines to resemble an actual log.
Along with fruit cakes, Christmas pudding, Torta negra, Corona de Reyes, Panettone and Pan de Pascua, the Yule Log is one of the traditional Christmas desserts of the season, and is by far the most decorative of the lot.
Santa Claus
Whether called Santa Claus, Père Noël, Father Christmas, Viejito Pascuero or San Nicolás, the story of this ubiquitous Christmas character is so complex and fascinating that it merits an entire article of its own! Follow it here:
https://acc-2.blogspot.com/2017/12/santa-the-many-faces-of-christmas.html
To Learn More...
Still curious about more Christmas traditions? This site includes a wealth of information about everything related to Christmas: from the origin of Christmas crackers to Eggnog!
Also...
This article from the Financial Times gives a quick but comprehensive overview of Christmas decors throughout the decades, with plenty of pictures to go along:
Sources: Study.com, The Culture Trip.com, Wikipedia, YouTube.
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