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Origins Of 14 Christmas Traditions, Explained

This year, understand why you celebrate the way you do.

Origins Of 14 Christmas Traditions, Explained

December 22, 2020

Many Christmas traditions' origins have been inaccurately rewritten to reflect a Christian narrative. But Christmas is celebrated in the U.S. through a hodge-podge of different cultural histories, as evidenced by the following 14 traditions….

14

Candy Canes

Candy Canes WANTED AOY ANALL A HE THENKS WrO LICKME CAN Candy canes existed since at least the 17th century. They are thought to have been brought to — Source: Smithsonian Magazine

13

Gingerbread

Gingerbread Houses CRACKEDCO Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the idea of decorating gingerbread men, but gingerbread houses originated in 16th cent — Source: PBS

12

Gift Wrapping

Wrapping Paper CRACKEDCON Gift wrapping was first documented in ancient China. It was popularized in the U.S. when Hallmark founder J.C. Hall ran out — Source: NPR

11

Santa's Reindeer CRACKED COM The Night Before Christmas in 1822 kick-started the lore. But, in 1926, businessman Carl Lomen, tried to mass-market re — Source: CNN

10

Kissing Under the Mistletoe CRACKED COM Ancient Greeks might have started the tradition within their celebration of the winter festival Kronia. — Source: Dictionary

9

Nativity Scenes

Nativity Scenes CRACKEDcO St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223. He set up a manger with a live oX and donk — Source: Slate

8

Christmas Lights CRACKED CON Christmas lights were invented by Edward Hibberd Johnson in 1882, who was smart enough to think to replace fire-hazards-g — Source: Smithsonian Magazine

7

Merry Christmas

Saying Merry Christmas bno merny h Chris The phrase dates back at least to London, 1534, in a letter between Henry VIII's chief minister and a bisho — Source: Wonderopolis

6

Eggnog Medieval Britain had a drink called posset, a milky ale used to toast to good health. It led to eggnog, which became a holiday tradition with A — Source: TIME

5

Woolworths

Hiding Christmas Pickles CRACKED cO This tradition likely started as marketing gimmick. Woolworths made up stories about German customs to sell the im — Source: Atlas Obscura

4

Decorating Christmas Trees CRACKED.CO The Christmas tree originated in Germany in the Middle Ages. A guild decorated a tree with apples and tinsel in — Source: TIME

3

Advent Calendars Deibnadits Kalender CRACKED co In the mid-1800s, German Lutherans made chalk marks on doors to count the days leading up to Christmas

2

Christmas

Hanging Stockings 600'53 CRACKED C The legend is that a poor man couldn't afford dowries for his daughters, SO St. Nick snuck gold into stockings left — Source: Metro

1

Writing Letters to Santa 10 CRACKED CON Originally, Santa wrote letters to children, sending well wishes or notes on how they could improve their beha — Source: Smithsonian Magazine

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