There are 364 gifts in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'
Long before it was used as a "kiss encourager" during the Christmas season, mistletoe had long been considered to have magic powers by Celtic and Teutonic peoples. It was said to have the ability to heal wounds and increase fertility. Celts hung mistletoe in their homes in order to bring themselves good luck and ward off evil spirits.
During the Christmas/Hanukkah season, more than 1.76 billion candy canes will be made. |
| Animal Crackers are not really crackers, but cookies that were imported to the United States from England in the late 1800s. Barnum's circus-like boxes were designed with a string handle so that they could be hung on a Christmas tree. |
Many traditions associated with Christmas (giving gifts, lighting a Yule log, singing carols, decorating an evergreen) hark back to older religions.
Olive oil was used to light the candelabra in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem in 164 B.C. Today at Hanukkah, Israelis still light their oil lamps with the finest olive oil, and cook potato latkes and other traditional holiday foods with the aromatic oil.
Christmas trees are edible. Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition.
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'Wassail' comes from the Old Norse 'ves heill'--to be of good health. This evolved into the traditon of visiting neighbors on Christmas Eve and drinking to their health.
Christmas has different meanings in different countries. Christmas Eve in Japan is a good day to eat fried chicken and strawberry shortcake. |
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Dream Weavers |
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