O is for Ornament

Since the Victorian Age ornaments on a Christmas tree have been a Christmas tradition in celebrating the most wondrous time of the year. O is for Ornaments in the list of Christmas traditions from A to Z written to add joy, love, laughter, beauty, nostalgia, comfort, sparkle, and meaning to the Christmas season. 

is for ornaments. 

Traditionally ornaments were used to decorate Christmas trees in England beginning in the reign of Queen Victoria. Shortly thereafter, the tradition spread to the United States. 

Ornaments vary from homemade to heirlooms and have evolved from just decorating a tree to decorating the house in other ways. 

N is for Noël

N is for Noël is part of a series of 26 posts of Christmas traditions from A to Z.  Noël is French for Christmas, and one prominent use of Noël in English Christmas traditions is in the  beautiful Christmas carol, "The First Noël."  

is for Noël.

Noël not only means Christmas. Noël can also mean Christmas carol. For centuries Christmas carols were sung in Latin or Old French. English speakers began using Nowell, an older spelling of Noël, to refer to carols in the 18th century. As late as the 20th century, the carol "The First Noël" was sometimes titled as "The First Nowell." 

M is for Merry Christmas

Cheerful Christmas greetings are exchanged with friends, family, and strangers throughout the Christmas season making M is for Merry Christmas the thirteenth Christmas tradition in my list of traditions from A to Z.  

is for Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas has been a traditional Christmas greeting for centuries. The greeting dates back to 1534 when one of Henry VIII's ministers sent the greeting to English King Henry in a letter. 

Scrooge"s nephew in the popular A Christmas Carol story greeted his uncle with, "A Merry Christmas, Uncle," which popularized the phrase in 1843 in the United States. The same year, Merry Christmas appeared in greeting cards. 

The phrase has fallen out of popularity in recent years in the United States, but I think it is still a wonderful way to greet people during the Christmas season.

L is for Lights

Light displays seem to be a bigger and brighter Christmas tradition each year with neighborhoods, cities, parks, and public gardens creating larger and longer periods for creative and sparkling displays. How can any modern day list of Christmas traditions for A to Z not include L is for Lights? 

is for Lights. 

Yet, I still enjoy the reserved, not so over-the-top, lights reminiscent of the traditional lights of my childhood. A time when the only Christmas lights were on our one-and-only Christmas tree in the living room. 

The history of Christmas lights begins with candles in the 17th century. From there lit candles on Christmas trees from German traditions became an English tradition in the Victorian Age. 

K is for Kris Kringle

Christmas traditions vary across the world, but one figure appears in many countries under different names. In a listing of traditions from A to Z, K is for Kris Kringle, one of many names for a person who brings gifts to children at Christmas.  

is for Kris Kringle.

Kris Kringle is the American name for Father Christmas and comes from the German word Chriskindl. Christkindl means Christ child. In Germany children believe the baby Jesus brings presents to children for Christmas. 

Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Frost, and Père Noël are just a few of the names used around the world for a person who brings gifts on Christmas Eve. Kris Kringle first appeared in English in the 1830s through the Pennsylvania Dutch settlers who were German Americans. 

J is for Joyeux

No other holiday season is more joyous for an extended period than Christmas.  Perhaps our greatest Christmas tradition is spreading joy and goodwill. From the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Day we greet everyone we meet, friends and strangers, with "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", and "Joyeux Noël".  

is for Joyeux. 

 

Joyeux is French and translates to merry, happy, cheerful, and joyful in English. And, Christmas is a season of being merry, happy, cheerful, and joyful! 

French Country style is my favorite decorating style which means I look for ways to incorporate French Country throughout my home and garden during every season of the year. Joyeux Noël adds joyful French Country to my Christmas decor and has become part of my Christmas traditions.  

I is for Inspiration

A tradition during the Christmas season for many is to be inspired by familiar annual events. I is for Inspiration is the ninth post in a special series from A to Z identifying Christmas traditions. 

If you are just discovering the series and want to read the previous posts, see the Blog Archive in the right hand column for a list of all previous posts. November 1 was the date the series began. Click on the title of the post you want to read. 

is for Inspiration.

During the holidays, inspiration is easily found with several annually occurring events with multiple venues. Many family Christmas traditions are to participate in the same events each year, and families often mark their calendars to insure they do not miss their favorite Christmas activities. 

Inspiration comes from different places for different people, but during the holidays there are three categories of kinds of inspiration we seek. 

Inspiration of the soul, inspiration of the spirit, and inspiration of the heart. 

H is for Heirloom

Christmas heirlooms are among families' most treasured Christmas traditions. And, dated annual Christmas ornaments are at the top of the list of Christmas heirlooms. Whether ornaments were handmade by grade school children or inherited from grandparents, Christmas is not the same without them.

is for Heirloom. 

Collectible dated annual ornaments often begin as gifts for special occasions. First Christmas for newlyweds, first home, or first Christmas for baby are among the top gifted Christmas ornaments with dates. 

Decorating a tree with ornaments began in Germany in the 1600s. By the mid-1800s, German artisans developed techniques to hand blow glass molds to create glass ornaments. 

G is for Gift Wrap

One of the Christmas traditions followed across the world is the exchanging of gifts wrapped in beautiful packages. G is for Gift Wrap is the seventh post in a series of 26 posts listing Christmas traditions from A to Z.  

is for Gift Wrap. 

Presentation, presentation, presentation.

Seeing pretty packages wrapped under a Christmas tree adds to the excitement and anticipation of the presents inside. 

A beautifully wrapped present takes extra time and thought which is cherished by the recipient. At least, adult recipients. Anyone around young children at Christmas knows they are so excited to see their gifts they gleefully tear open their presents and fling the gift wrapping aside.   

The first gift wrapping began in Japan in the 1600s. The Japanese began using a reusable wrapping cloth known as furoshiki when giving gifts. 

F is for Flowers

F is for Flowers is the sixth post in a special series about Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. Christmas is a time when our homes are the most festive in the year, often with exterior as well as interior decorations. And, flowers are one the most traditional forms for Christmas decorations. 

is for Flowers.

Poinsettias are sometimes called the official Christmas flower. The plant is native to Mexico and in the 17th century was first used for Christmas by Franciscan monks in Nativity processions in the town of Taxco de Alarcon.

Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist from South Carolina, visited Mexico on a diplomatic mission in 1828. As a botanist he was intrigued with the unfamiliar plant's red leaves. He shipped some plants back to his home to grow and cultivate in his greenhouse and gave the flowers to friends around Christmas time. 

E is for Evergreens

Can it be Christmas without decorations? Without fresh greenery? E is for Evergreens is the fifth post in Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

Perhaps evergreen decorations are a tradition for you. Or, maybe you will be inspired to add evergreens to your home as a new tradition for you! 

is for Evergreens.

Decking the halls with mistletoe, holly, and ivy has been a tradition in England since the late medieval period. Europeans decorated their homes in winter with holly and ivy long before homes were decorated for Christmas. Cut greenery freshened the air in winter homes and brightened people's spirits by reminding them Spring was coming. 

Decorating with fresh greenery for the Christmas holidays in the United States has its origins in the English traditions. Even today historic Williamsburg, Virginia has lavish fresh greenery wreaths, swags, and garlands for exterior doors, windows, gates, and fences for the Christmas holidays. 

D is for Dashing through the Snow

Christmas traditions make the holiday special for families. D is for Dashing through the Snow is the fourth post at a look of Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

May this A to Z  list, one letter per post, inspire a new tradition for you! 

is for Dashing through the Snow.

Dreaming of a white Christmas is high on many people's Christmas wish lists regardless of where one lives. And, regardless of age! We dream of dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh, laughing and singing all the way. 

C is for Cookies

This is the third post, C is for Cookies, in a series of posts about Christmas traditions that make the holiday special. Similar to an Advent Calendar, but with 26 days, each post is a look at Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

is for Cookies. 

Whether making cookies with children, baking cookies to leave for Santa, baking a special recipe for a cookie exchange, or for gifting cookies to friends, cookies at Christmas are a tradition in many homes. 

B is for Books

Christmas traditions make the holiday special for families. This is the second post, B is for Books, in a series of posts similar to an Advent Calendar, but has 26 days for a look at Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

May this A to Z  list, one letter per post, add some joy to your Christmas.

is for Books. 

Christmas books are the sources for many of our Christmas traditions. Foremost for many people is the Bible that tells the story of the birth of Christ with Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem. Angels, Wisemen, shepherds, the manger, stars, and gifts are parts of our Christmas traditions from the biblical stories. 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in 1843 is considered the first in a new literary genre of Christmas books. His descriptions of Christmas parties, singing carols, giving presents, Christmas trees, and the spirit of Christmas are the origins for many of our holiday traditions. 

A is for Angel

Christmas traditions make the holiday special for families. Today is the beginning of a series of posts, beginning with A is for Angel. Similar to an Advent Calendar, but one which has 26 days, the series is a look at Christmas traditions from A to Z that add sparkle, love, laughter, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and joy to the Christmas season. 

Different families celebrate Christmas with traditions for different reasons. For some the meaning of the season is built around their religious faith, for some the meaning is the focus on family gatherings, and for some the meaning of the season stems from the heritage of their community. 

May this A to Z list, one letter per post, add some joy to your Christmas. And, perhaps inspire a new tradition for you!

is for ANGEL. 

What better way to begin Christmas celebrations than with angels, messengers from God, who were the first to announce the coming birth of the Savior to his mother.