Bell Mirror & Glass, Inc.
1702 S. Seneca Street, Wichita, KS 67213
316-262-8642
People celebrate the holidays and show their spirit through various forms of decorating. Have you ever wondered where these holiday traditions originated? Check out these popular decoration items and the history behind them!
Holiday Lights: Lights are not just hung on a Christmas tree. Many people choose to string lights inside the house, outside, or both! The tradition dates back to a time when electric bulbs didn't exist. Instead, candles were burned in the windows of Christian homes, symbolically guiding the Christ child from heaven.
Wreaths: This holiday decoration can be spotted hanging from many doors in the neighborhood. Wreathes have not always been a holiday tradition! They originated in ancient Greece where they were made from olive branches. Different cultures have since adopted their own form of the wreath but the use of holly and evergreen make it a holiday staple.
Garland: Nowadays, garland can be bought in stores and in various colors. We often use it to decorate trees and brighten our homes. Originally, garland was made from evergreens that were woven together.
Christmas Trees: One of the most famous decorations during the holidays is a Christmas tree. It is a tradition that has been made infamous through Rockefeller Center in New York City. Every household can decorate their tree in their own unique way, with ornaments and lights and garland! The lighting of evergreens with candles originally celebrated the winter solstice.
Dreidels: This Hanukkah toy is known around the world, thanks to its namesake song. A dreidel is a four-sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side, representing the phrase "a great miracle happened here." The toy is used in a traditional Hanukkah game where players receive chocolate coins or other forms of currency.
Menorahs: A menorah is also an essential part of the Hanukkah celebration. The menorah is rich in history and is a tradition that has been passed down for centuries. In 165 B.C. the Maccabees, a Jewish liberation group, recaptured their Jerusalem temple from the Greeks and restored it back to order. The menorah that existed in the temple had been extinguished and the Maccabees only had enough oil to light a flame for one day. Miraculously, the menorah burned for eight straight days.
Stockings: No home is complete around Christmas without stockings hanging. Even if the home doesn't have a fireplace, it is still a tradition that is maintained. It is said that the hanging of stockings by the fire originated in the fourth century. A man, St. Nicholas of Myra snuck into the home of a family who had unmarried daughters due to their lack of money for dowries. The girls hung their washed stockings by the fire to dry and St. Nicholas dropped gold coins into each one, thus resulting in an international tradition.
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