Why do people decorate for christmas

In fact, using lights as decoration dates as far back as the Yule, when Norsemen celebrated this midwinter tradition. It has been argued that Christian traditions build on the idea of the Yule log by using light during the holidays to represent Jesus lighting up the darkness.

As the years went on, candles were used during the winter months as a way to provide light and heat within the home, but also to welcome travelers in remote areas. Candles were used in the home long before the Christmas Tree ever made its way past the front door. In the Christian tradition, a candle is used to symbolize welcoming Mary and Joseph. Poinsettia, Mistletoe, Evergreen, and Holly There are few plants that are more ubiquitous with the holiday season than mistletoe, evergreen, and holly.

These nostalgic plants have a long and symbolic relationship with the holiday season. Boughs of evergreen, just like the colour green itself, are used to symbolize the continuation of life over the course of a long, dark winter. Mistletoe on the other hand was adopted by the Victorians as a way to steal a kiss during the holiday season.

Mistletoe could be hung anywhere in the home, and that anyone who stood under it was allowed to kiss. The catch was though, that there could only be one kiss per berry, and the berry must be removed after said kiss. Rumour has it, there was much Mistletoe tampering adding berries that went on during the holiday season! Poinsettias are also common Christmastime decorations.

These poisonous plants are enjoyed for their colourful hues as well as their incredibly long lifespans. As the story goes, a young girl was unable to buy a gift during the holiday season. Instead, she was inspired to gather a bouquet of weeds that she found alongside the road and give those to baby Jesus.

According to the story, these weeds sprouted gorgeous red flowers which were quickly adopted by Franciscan friars in Mexico as a part of the holiday celebration. The decorations are all part of capturing that old spark, and the way we put them up becomes almost like an incantation for a spell.

A bare house in midwinter is our blank canvas, and the lights are the paint. Before electric bulbs hit the scene, the only real lights for the holidays were the hazardous candles people hung on the branches of their Christmas trees. He wired 80 red, white, and blue lights by hand, and scattered them around a Christmas tree in the window of his parlor. The display was a hit with the press, and soon drew crowds to take in this incredible new decoration.

Today, this trend has birthed a competitive subset of Christmas enthusiasts, constantly lifting their displays to absurd new heights to win community contests and the envy of their neighbors. Just take a look at these insane set-ups to see the results. Christmas Designers. Skip to Content. Compare Products. The 1 Choice for Pros and Christmas Enthusiasts.

Symbols of Faith Long before we started propping up fake firs in our living rooms, the ancient Romans were decorating their homes with wreaths of evergreen as part of their raucous Saturnalia celebrations.

Traditions Passed Down Through Generations For others, lighting up the facade and hanging ornaments on the tree are nostalgic callbacks to the days of their youth. Posted By: Jason Woodward. Recent Posts. Light the Night with Holiday Blue and White. The Benefits of Twinkly Pro Lights. Parenting Humor. Parenting News. Book Swipe Shop. We're Hiring! Terms Privacy Policy. Don't Miss Out! Yes, Please No Thanks.