| The Twelve Days of Christmas: The Twelve | | | | door to door, singing favorites such as "Hark, the |
| Days of Christmas refers to the twelve days | | | | Herald Angels Sing", "O Come All Ye Faithful", |
| between the Christmas Day (December 25) and | | | | "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and many more |
| the Feast of Epiphany (January 6). Tradition has it | | | | ! |
| that this is the time taken by the Three Wise | | | | Holly Boughs: The boughs of holly are another |
| Men (the Magi) to reach Bethlehem to see the | | | | very important symbol of Christmas. These are |
| babe in the manger, Jesus. | | | | red berries with thorny leaves. To the Christians, |
| Mistletoe: Mistletoe is a plant hung on the doorway | | | | the holly berries symbolize Christ's blood and the |
| of every American household during Christmas. | | | | sharply pointed leaves stand for the thorns in His |
| The mistletoe symbolizes love, having been | | | | crown. Henceforth, the holly became part of the |
| closely associated with Frigga, the Scandinavian's | | | | Nativity tradition. |
| goddess of love. It's from this that the convention | | | | The Nativity Scene: The Nativity Scene includes |
| of kissing under the mistletoe originated. | | | | the scene at Bethlehem, when Jesus was born. |
| Hanging Stockings: The practice of hanging | | | | The manger, the swaddling clothes, the bright star |
| stockings over the fireplace on Christmas Eve | | | | in the sky, the shepherds surrounding baby Jesus |
| comes from England. The legend of St. Nicholas | | | | and the Three Wise Men (the Magi) form part of |
| has it that the latter was a kind saint who was | | | | the scene. |
| believed to have left gifts of gold coins in the | | | | The Poinsettia: Poinsettias are beautiful winter |
| stockings of three poor maidens, who badly | | | | blooms, native to Mexico. They've been named |
| needed the money for their wedding dowries. | | | | after the first US ambassador to Mexico, Joel |
| They hung their stockings to dry over the | | | | Roberts Poinsett, who brought the plant from its |
| fireplace, and to their great surprise, they found | | | | land of origin to America. Since the beginning of |
| bags of gold in them the next morning. Following | | | | the 19th century, poinsettias have come to be |
| this, children kept hanging Christmas stockings | | | | associated with Christmas. |
| over the fireplace on Christmas Eve in the hope | | | | Eggnog: Eggnog, a very popular Christmas drink, is |
| that Santa would drop gifts and toys in them ! | | | | prepared by mixing cream, milk, sugar and beaten |
| Christmas Carols: The first carols are said to have | | | | eggs with some kind of liquor. This has a close |
| been sung by angelic choirs at Christ's birth. | | | | connection to the Christmas holiday, and on |
| St.Francis of Assissi is also accredited as the | | | | Christmas Eve, it's fairly common to spot groups |
| 'Father of Caroling'. The word 'carol' comes from | | | | of people eggnogging at their neighbors' and |
| the Greek 'charaulein', a Greek dance, later | | | | friends' places. People also gather round the |
| replaced by song. By the 17th century, caroling | | | | Christmas tree, drinking eggnog and then move |
| was restricted to Christmas time, and now, it's | | | | from house to house caroling. |
| customary for kids to go caroling in groups from | | | | |