Five Heartwarming Christmas Traditions

Many heartwarming traditions in practice today are associated with Christmastime. Learn about five festive favorites that make the season bright!

1. Attending Midnight Mass: The tradition of celebrating Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is one of the Catholic Church’s oldest traditions. The practice has origins in the Middle East and Western world. It is believed to have started in Jerusalem in the fourth century. In Rome, Italy, around the year 440, Pope Saint Sixtus III erected a small chapel with a manger or “cave of the Nativity” in the Basilica of St. Mary Major and celebrated Mass at midnight. This became a religious tradition. Today, people attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to honor Jesus who was born “this day” – which scholars say means sometime between last sundown and next sundown – and possibly at midnight!
2. Building a snowman: The concept of “snowmen” has been around for a long while. Fox Weather shares, “After the snow falls, they rise. Made of powder and joy, snowmen greet us with earnest smiles and rotund-yet-fragile forms.” Per Bob Eckstein, author of “The Illustrated History of the Snowman,” one of the earliest records of a snowman was from 7^th century northern China. Followers of Buddha were given a blessing to build the man out of snow. Other references occur in old manuscripts, such as in a prayer book from 1308 depicting a snowman as a religious figure. While it’s impossible to pinpoint the origin of building a snowman, the act is part of history. Notably, in Brussels, Belgium, in the year 1511, scores of snowmen were created during a festival. This included politically charged ones created by town citizens. The concept of the snowman grew in popularity in the United States. With the advent of the 50s song “Frosty the Snowman,” these frozen figures became synonymous with “jolly” and “happy.” In the U.S., to the delight of many children, snowmen with rounded heads, carrot noses, and sticks for arms can be created come snowy winter.
3. Leaving cookies and milk for Santa: This tradition is beloved by children across America. Per History.com, leaving cookies and milk for Santa (insert our chocolate chipper cookie recipe here) took off as an American holiday tradition in the 1930s during the Great Depression. “In that time of great economic hardship, many parents tried to teach their children that it was important to give to others…” One theory ties the cookie and milk tradition to stuffing a stocking full of goodies for Santa. However, many experts state that the roots of this food tradition relate to Norse mythology, prompting people to set out food for the magical eight-legged horse Sleipner in hopes that the Norse god Odin will leave gifts in exchange.
4. Decorating the Christmas tree:  The use of evergreen trees to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Modern day Christmas trees originated in Western Germany, popularized by a medieval play about Adam and Eve that featured a fir tree with apples. The Germans began setting up these “paradise trees” on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. Wafers, and later cookies and candles, were put on the trees. The Christmas tree custom was widespread among German Lutherans by the 18^th century. Decorating the Christmas tree became popular in London and other places by the mid-19^th century. Decorations from the Victorian period included toys, candles, string popcorn, ribbons, fancy cakes, candies and more. Per Britannica, by 1890, F.W. Woolworth would sell $25 million in ornaments annually – with imported Lauscha glass ornaments becoming desirable.
5. Hanging stockings by the fire: This delightful tradition has been around for a long time. Per Smithsonian Magazine, it is tied to legend. Story goes that a widowed man and father of three females was having a tough time making ends meet. He worried that his beautiful daughters would remain impoverished and unwed. St. Nicholas came to town and heard their plight. Since the father refused charity, St Nicholas slid down the chimney to fill the girls’ freshly laundered stockings (drying fireside) with gold coins. This made the girls eligible for marriage and brought the father out of despair. Today, we fill stockings for one another as an extension of gift-giving.

Heartwarming traditions have special meaning

The Christmas season is a joyful time of year where longstanding traditions are observed. From attending Midnight Mass to hanging stockings by the fire, these practices provide opportunities to experience Christmas in spiritual, giving, and magical ways.