Traditions and Origins........!

	The Christmas tree is of German origin. The tree was brought into the home for good luck and fertility. The white pine was chosen as the Christmas tree because it had limbs far apart for easy decorating with sweetmeats, almonds and fruits. The tree was illuminated with small wax candles, and toys were placed on the tree limbs. This was the original way in which presents were displayed on Christmas morning.
	The tradition of hanging stockings from the fireplace originated from one of the most famous Christmas stories of St. Nicholas. The story comes from the 1800's, when the father of three young maidens could not afford a dowry for his daughters to be married. From his castle, St. Nicholas heard of the poor misfortune of the maidens, and secretly threw three bags of gold coins down their chimney. It is said that the gold coins landed in the girls' stockings, which were hanging in the fireplace to dry. Later, in Holland, children would leave out their wooden shoes in hopes that St.Nicholas would fill them with goodies.
	In the time of darkness surrounding the winter solstice, in the long cold month of December, candles were an important source of light and heat. Ancient Romans lit candles to ward off evil, and to convince the sun to shine again. In Victorian times, candles came to represent good will for those less fortunate during the holiday season. Candles were often placed in windows during the Christmas season as a sign to passersby that shelter and warmth could be found within.
	Bells, particularly church bells, have remain a staple of the Christmas season. Today, the peal of bells still herald the coming of the holiday
	In 1828, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the United States Ambassador to Mexico brought the first Poinsettia plant into our country. At the time, the plant was called the "flower of the blessed night" because the blooming, red leaves on the plant were thought to resemble the Star of Bethlehem. And it was already being used as decoration during the Christmas Season in Mexico, since it survived and bloomed during the Winter months. After the plant became popular in the United States, it was renamed the Poinsettia.
	The tradition of sending Christmas cards is thought to have originated in the mid-1800's, when a few people began designing handmade cards to be sent to friends and family. But a man named John Calcott Horsely is often credited as being the first Christmas card creator.
	It is believed that in the early 1800's, Germans began shaping their Gingerbread into festive holiday creations. Gingerbread Houses soon became very popular, and remain so today. The Gingerbread House has now become a favorite Christmas tradition all over the world.
	It is believed that a man from Indiana who was a candymaker made the candy cane to symbolize the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. It was made in it's shape to stand for "J" which stands for Jesus and for the staff of the "good sheperd". The body of the cane is white, representing the life that is pure. The broad red stripe is symbolic of the Lord’s sacrifice for man.