There are many symbols and traditions associated with the upcoming holiday season. Most of these are traditions that have carried over from generation to generation with stories behind the custom. Did you know:
- Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that obtains water and mineral nutrients from its host plant, which are deciduous or evergreen trees.
- Most Mistletoe gathered during the holidays is wild-grown and originates from Oklahoma or Texas.
- Traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil as a reference to the miracle of Hanukkah’s beginning as a celebration.
- Hanukkah began during the second century B.C.
- Poinsettias are not poisonous. The Poinsettia originated from Mexico where the milky sap was used to control fevers during the 14th-16th
- The first printed reference to Christmas trees occurred in Germany in 1531.
- The first official Chicago Christmas tree was in 1913, with its’ home in Grant Park.
- Santa Claus has changed many times over the centuries to become the portly figure he is today. Many of the modern Santa traditions are traced to a poem published in 1823. The poem is now known as “The Night Before Christmas” and originally appeared in a Troy, New York newspaper.
- Christmas lights appeared as candles on the tree before the invention of electricity. After electricity Christmas lights began appearing on trees and the exterior of homes. Thomas Edison was the first to decorate the outdoors at Christmas with electric lights.
- Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
- Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer first appeared in booklets sold in Montgomery Ward department stores in 1939. The song was later recorded by Gene Autry in 1949, which sold two million copies the first year.
No matter what symbols you cherish during the holidays, remembering their origination is a fun way to enjoy the season!
Happy Holidays from Kramer Tree Specialists!