The Christmas Season has been an integral part of our beliefs and our lives for a very long time. I think you may find the following eight tidbits of information most interesting.

Most of the traditional Christmas Customs we celebrate today in the US were introduced to our country by the Southern Colonist based on their religious beliefs. These were aristocratic settlers from France, Germany and England. The Christmas celebration was based on the 14 Day Period known as “Christmas-Tide.” It started on December 24^th and ended on January 6^th.

The Puritan Colonist in Massachusetts forbid the celebration of Christmas. Offenders were charged five shillings per action.

Alabama was the first state in the United States to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1836. It was not until 1870, that Christmas was declared a national holiday in the United States.

In the ancient times of the Druids (50BC), mistletoe was seen as a symbol for peace and joy. When enemies met underneath mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day. It was not until middle of the 18th century that the idea began of kissing under the mistletoe. Legend states that a young lady left unkissed underneath the mistletoe could not expect to marry the following year.

The first Christmas card went on sale in 1843 and was designed in London by John Callcott.

St. Nikolaos of Myra (in Ancient Greece) was a real person and lived during the 4th century. He is the world’s most popular non-Biblical saint.

Thomas Nast, who created the donkey and elephant images for the United States Democratic and Republican parties, gave us our vision of Santa Claus today. Nast drew his version of Santa Claus for Harper’s Weekly magazine in 1860.

Christmas was also celebrated in the Southern Colonies with the Wassail bowl to make toast of good wishes. “Wassail” means, “be whole.” Remember this to this toast during your holiday celebrations. I love it!

May your Christmas Holiday be filled with love, laughter and light!