Scoop Issue 25: Celebration & Tradition

Celebration and Tradition
When we wrap our presents, turn on the Christmas lights, sit down to Christmas dinner, we become part of traditions collected over centuries from different places. Father Christmas is the English Old Christmas and the German Santa Claus who, in turn, is the Russian Saint Nicholas, giver of gifts to children. Christmas trees are from Germany, the lights a safer version of candles lit to dispel darkness and symbolise the sun returning. Holly, ivy and mistletoe belong to ancient British and Celtic traditions of decorating the home with evergreens, holding the promise of new life in the spring.