Design Crafters

During the Middle Ages in England
and France,
carols were actually dances that were accompanied by singing. For example, the
French Midi, the "Carol" was s kind of round dance. Over time, the
word "Carol" changed its meaning, referring only to certain kinds of
songs.

The Anglo-Saxon tradition favored gathering small choirs together on the village
green to sing carols and Christmas songs for the pleasure of those passing by.
A number of our currently popular American Christmas carols came directly from France
and England.

Over time someone came up with the idea and excuse for gathering a crowd of
friends in a neighborhood to go around and sing favorite carols at different
houses and end up an a host’s house for hot chocolate.

Some artists have taken the Christmas caroling theme and made some Christmas
cards featuring carolers all wrapped up in warm coats and knitted scarves.
While not real common, Christmas caroling is a tradition that is still alive
and well in the US.

"Yuletide" for "Christmastime" is a term
derived from the Yule Log, according to "Dictionary of Word and Phrase
Origins," by William and Mary Morris. In the old days, the Yule log was
used as the foundation of holiday fires. As recently as the 19th century,
bringing in the Yule log was as much a part of the pre-Christmas festivities as
putting up a Christmas tree is today. The word "Yule" can be traced
back as far as the Middle English "Yollen" which means cry aloud and
is thought to date from early Anglo-Saxon celebration of the discovery (after
the winter solstice) that the nights were getting shorter.

The custom of burning the Yule log flourished in England,
France, Germany
and among the South Slavs up until the 19th century.
Families carved a heavy wood block out of oak and would place it into the floor
of their hearth. It glowed throughout the year under the flames of household
fires. Gradually it became ash.

Most Christmas cards showing a roaring fire in the fireplace are showing off a Yule log even though the popularity has disipated since the 19th century. There are still references to it in old Christmas carols as well

If you had an alien visiting you or even just as odd, someone
from the "Bush" who had never heard about Christmas would you be able
to answer all their questions about it? If they showed up any time after
Thanksgiving, decorations would be up everywhere and I’m sure he/she would have
many questions.

First of all what is Christmas and why is it such a big deal? What’s with all
the decorations? Why do we "Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly? Why do we
exchange Christmas presents? Why do we have an evergreen or a "fake"
evergreen tree in our living room and why is it decorated with ornaments and tinsel?
Why do we have garland hanging over our mantel and/or staircase and a wreath on
our front door?

What is a nativity scene and why are there oversized stockings hanging from
your mantle? Why is mistletoe hanging from the doorway? Why are there
poinsettias on the hearth and a big log in the fireplace? Why is every radio
station playing Christmas songs over and over again all day long and why are
there people walking around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols in the
evening?

Who is this Santa person and this reindeer named Rudolph? What exactly are the
12 days of Christmas and why is Christmas Eve celebrated? Why so many fruitcakes
and why does everyone dream of a white Christmas? Why is Christmas sometimes
spelled Xmas, and why are the malls so crowded with people carrying heavy
shopping bags? Why are there Christmas cards lying all over the coffee table?

We will attempt to answer some of these questions for you in case you may need
some help duing the next few days.

Whether you teach your children to believe in Santa or not, is a personal choice.  Most do, and having to tell your child at a later time that it all was a fantasy is always hard on everybody and a bit of a disappointment and let down for the child, but they can still learn the concept and joy of giving to others as they have learned by example from Santa (their parents).

Be prepared for the fact that they will quickly be able to put two and two together and on their own after being told that Santa was not real, they will figure out that the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are also fantasy. It is one of the hard things to have to deal with in growing up. But many feel that the initial disappointment soon passes as their child has learned how much fun it can be to give anonymously.

Some families choose not to let
their children believe that Santa Claus is a real man. There are many reasons for this, but mostly
it is because they believe that the birth of Jesus Christ is the reason for the
season, and they do not want anything to diminish that truth. Just because children know that Santa is not
a living breathing person who will actually visit their house on Christmas Eve,
does not mean that these children will enjoy Christmas any less than children
who do believe in Santa. 

Remember the story about little Virginia who wrote to the New York Sun asking if there was a Santa Clause? Find the heartwarming answer at this Christmas site.