CHRISTMAS DECÒR

Christmas decorations
There can be no Christmas without Christmas decorations! Decors evoke Christmas sentiments among children and grown-ups.

Christmas decorations date all the way back to the old Christmas markets in 16th century Germany. In those days, Christmas food, such as sugar rods, honey cakes, and other Christmas candy, were particularly used as Christmas decorations. In the 18th century, many other kinds of Christmas decorations became popular. Among them were glazed paper, colored paper, and those which contain candies, nuts, cakes, raisins, and fruits.

Today, many different kinds of Christmas decorations are known. Here are a few:

Angels:

As early as the mid-1880’s, using angels as Christmas decorations became widespread. Angles are associated with the Christian culture, but are also known in Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism, where angels or beings similar to angels are used as messengers.

Christmas balls:

As far back as three hundred years ago, glass balls were already used as Christmas decorations. Today, the big, shiny balls of thin plastic or glass are used. They were originally invented in Germany.

Christmas candles:

To decorate the Christmas tree with Christmas candles is a tradition that dates back to the 16th century – the time when the Christmas tree was first brought into a living room. The candle symbolizes life and joy in a dark time, and is perfect for Christmas

Tinsel:

In 1610, tinsel was invented in Germany and was made from genuine silver. Machines that shredded silver into thin tinsel-sized strips were invented. However, since silver tinsel tarnishes and loses its shine over time, people eventually created artificial replacements. It must be noted that the original inventor of tinsel remains unknown.

In many families, Christmas decorating traditions and decorations are passed on from generation to generation. However, every year, new decorations are purchased to replace the old or if new inspiration is needed.

Christmas Bells : Poem

Christmas Bells

This poem was written on December 25th 1864 during the American Civil War by one of America's greatest writers, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The references to this war were removed when the poem was rearranged and set to music by John Baptiste Calkin in 1872.

I heard the bells on Christmas

DayTheir old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth,

good-will to men!

And thought how,

as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth,

good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth,

good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth,

good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth,"

I said;"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth,

good-will to men!"