Christmas Magic

Santa Claus hasn’t always looked like the jolly old fellow we know today. Like so many other American traditions, he’s a product of the great American melting pot – a blend of many different cultures and customs. But the most influential figure in the shaping of who we know now as Santa was a real [...]

In many Western cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths. Many of the hollies are highly decorative, and it’s believed that it and the green ivy that is usually used alongside it in decorating is why the colors red and green have come to be representative of Christmas.
The pagan Druids are [...]

The tradition of the mistletoe dates back to ancient history and across many cultures. Ancient druids viewed it as a symbol of peace, goodwill and love. Warring tribes chancing across it stopped their battles observed a temporary truce, and people began displaying it the doorways of their homes as a sign of peace. The Druids [...]

Centuries ago many people, especially those of pagan origin, firmly believed by ringing bells they could ward off evil spirits. It was believed at that time that when winter came the evil spirits were very strong because it was so dark and cold, and would harm them and their families. People would have ceremonies and [...]

A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children in the United States and some other cultures hang on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins, or other small gifts when he arrives. These small items are often referred to as stocking stuffers or [...]

The holiday fruitcake is one of the Christmas season’s great cliches. We’ve all heard jokes about the fruitcake that is gifted and re-gifted for years, or used as a doorstop. The truth is, holiday fruitcake is really very popular. But what exactly is a fruitcake? 
We all have our favorite Christmas goody that we love to eat.  [...]

When many of us think of outdoor Christmas decorations, yard signs and inflatable Christmas characters often come to mind. While many homeowners do choose to decorate their homes with inflatable Christmas characters and yard signs, there are others who feel that those types of outdoor Christmas decorations are too extreme. If you would like [...]

It’s been a holiday tradition to burn a Yule log even before there was a Christmas. It signifies that it is time for friends and family to gather near for songs, stories and fun, and until the Yule log burns out, there’s no more working.
In its beginnings, the Yule log was burned as a celebration [...]