Date: Fri 15-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Quick Words:

Holiday-Ornaments-Advent-Hicks

Full Text:

(meanings behind christmas ornaments, advent celebrations, 12/15/95)

Holiday Decorations Are More Than Ornamental

(with graphics)

By Shannon Hicks

Christmas is a holiday understood, if not observed, around the world in one

form or another. Christ's mass, or Christmas, has become one of the most

celebrated holidays of the year and some historians believe this was an

inevitability. Before it became so terribly commercialized, Christmas had a

beautiful meaning to every ornament and decoration, and even the placing of a

tree inside one's home.

Christmas falls during the darkest time of the year - the sun reaches its

lowest point in the northern hemisphere on the 22nd of December. Ancient

peoples, known to have been more closely attuned to the changes of the

seasons, celebrated the return of the heavenly light during the month of

December.

Hebrews first recognized the movement of the sun in relation to the earth with

their Festival of Lights (Hanukkah). With the spread of Christianity through

the western world, the celebrations assumed a different form. Whether the date

of December 25 is truly the date of Christ's birth will always remain a

mystery, not to mention fodder for heated debate between scholars, the timing

for such a season of celebration - with all its traditions and customs around

the world - is surely appropriate.

Many of the world's most cherished Christmas traditions come from Germany.

Recalling the celebrations of the return of light during the year's darkest

days, evergreen trees have always been brought into European homes during

winter as symbols of unending life. But it was in the Black Forest of Germany

where fragrant firs and spruces were first decorated with sparkling glass

balls and garlands of tinsel. Many of the glass balls, which would evolve into

more elaborate ornaments, have special significance (see section below).

Advent calendars, recognized by children worldwide, with little windows for

small hands to open, one during each night of the Advent in counting down to

Christ's mass, are also of German derivation.

The German Christmas begins with the Advent. A period of preparation for the

celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, Advent begins on the

Sunday nearest November 30 (St. Andrew's Day). Although a solemn season,

Advent is no longer kept with the strictness of Lent, as it once was. (The

Roman Catholic church, however, still forbids the solemnization of marriage

during Advent.)

In many countries, Advent is marked by a variety of popular observances, such

as the lighting of Advent candles. Again a favorite German-oriented custom, an

evergreen wreath with four candles is hung in many homes. Each Sunday until

Christmas Eve, one candle is lit.

Prince Albert is generally credited with introducing the Christmas tree to

England in the 1840s, which quickly made its way to America through photos and

depictions in popular magazines of the period, as well as stories by Charles

Dickens. The English may like to believe in the Prince Albert version of the

story; however, a Christmas tree had been lit for a party of English children

at least two decades prior, "by a German of Queen Caroline's household"

(Lawrence Whistler, The English Festivals ), and another three were recorded

by Princess Lieven, who was staying at Panshanger for Christmas in 1829... a

full decade before Prince Albert introduced his tree at Windsor Castle.

While the early trees were intended only for the children, the German custom

always extended to people of all ages. By 1840, William Hewitt wrote, "It is

spreading fast among the English ... - pine tops being brought to market for

the purpose."

Today it is the custom to purchase a tree - scant few families still trudge

into the woods to find their own tree, chop it down and drag it back home for

the Christmas holiday - and decorate it with any variety of ornaments. It is a

tradition most have followed since toddler days, but how many understand the

original meanings behind some of the world's favorite ornaments?

Following are brief explanations behind a few of the thousands of decorations

trees are adorned with:

Dresden Ornaments

Among some of the most scarce and lovely antique ornaments every holiday

season are the embossed paper and cardboard ornaments known as "Dresdens."

Manufactured primarily in Dresden and Leipzig, Germany, these ornaments were

made from the 1860s until World War I. Dresden ornaments involved numerous

time-consuming steps to reach completion. Finely detailed "positive" and

"negative" molds were set into a large press, then thin cardboard sheets,

moistened to make them pliable, were quickly stamped into the mold by a heavy

press.

When dry, the embossed pieces were given to cottage workers, who did the

finishing touches in their own homes.

The Glass Cottage Ornament

Germany also played an integral role in the modeling of glass cottage

ornaments. The quaint villages nestled in the mountains and forests of Germany

represented the heritage and culture of local glass blowers. The unique

architecture of each village was a source of pride, and glass blowers often

created images reflecting their day-to-day life. Because of this, glass

cottage ornaments have been styled after the humble cottages in which the

glass blowers lived.

The Glass Coffee Pot

Coffee pots are symbolic of hospitality. In Germany, it is custom to bring a

gift to hosts whenever entering their home, therefore the glass coffee pot

Christmas tree ornament quickly became a popular gift and party favor.

The Glass Ladybug

Ladybugs, or ladybug beetles, got their name about 500 years ago in Europe. At

that time, farmers were having serious problems with aphids, which were

sucking juices from their grape vines.

The farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help and soon lots of little red

beetles showed up and ate the aphids. The farmers thought their prayers had

been answered and named the helpful beetles in honor of Mary, also known as

Our Lady. Due to its helpful nature, the ladybug is considered a good luck

symbol.

The Glass Apple

Apples are the traditional Christian symbol of temptation. They hung on

evergreen trees for the enactment of the Paradise Plays during the Christmas

season in medieval times throughout Europe.

The Glass Grape

Grape ornaments are symbols of friendship. Not only is the giving of grape

ornaments a pledge of friendship, it is symbolic of sharing a friendly glass

of wine.