Christmas is celebrated around the world. And each country has its own traditions and legends. Here I have tried to bring you some of the legends of these different countries.
Legend has it that because it stays green all through the year, the evergreen tree is symbolic of the eternal life offered to Christians through faith in Christ. The treetop points heavenward. A star signifies the special star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem. The lights represesnt Christ, the "Light of the World." Gifts beneath the tree are representative of God's gift of His ony begotten Son, who brings Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.
As the legend goes, the candy can begins with a stick of white candy. The white symbolizes the purity of the Christmas season. Red strips are for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we may have eternal life. The candy is formed into a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus. It can also represent the staff of the Good Shepard. Its hard consistency represents the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church, and the firmness of the promises of God.
From Germany...There is even a legend about the pickle. It seems that the pickle brings good luck and was the last ornament on the tree. On Christmas morning, the first child to find the gherkin was rewarded with an extra little gift left by St. Nicholas. This tradition encouraged the children to appreciate all the ornaments on the tree, rather than hurrying to see what St. Nick had left for them.
From the Czech Republic....the legend of the spider. Legend says that once a poor woman was unable to provide the traditional decorations for the Christmas holiday. A spider, who had narrowly excaped the dust mop, made its home in her tree and began to spin beautiful webs. On Christmas morning, the first light of sun struck the cobwebs, turning them to silver. When the woman awoke, she found the tree covered with the silver treasure-the spider had brought her good fortune.
Mexican legend tells of a boy who had no gift to put by the figure of the baby Jesus in church on Christmas Eve. On his way to church, he heard an angel tell him to pick some dried weeds for his gift. As he laid them down besides the other gifts, the weeds turned into beautiful flowers. Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, brought the plant to the United States where it was named the "poinsetta."
Another legend from Germany, says that mushrooms are a good luck symbol Associated with the nature and beauty of the forest, finding a mushroom is considered to be very lucky and to mean good fortune is at hand. Mushroom oranments are displayed on Christmas trees in Germany in honor of the people's reverence for nature and in hope of good luck in the New Year.
Also from Europe, comes the legend of the pine cone which symbolizes enternity. Because of ther abundance in the forest, they were often used as natural decorations. Later molds were developed by the early European glass blowers to produce them as a glass ornament.
And the legend in Poland has it that if you are touched by a chimney sweep and he leaves you with a black smudge of soot, it will bring you good luck.
