Christmas traditions
Lately I've been reflecting on the power of tradition. This time of year invites old rituals and traditions to resurface; looking unique yet similar in every household, worldwide. One of my most cherished family traditions is cutting down and decorating our Christmas tree. The drive to and from the Christmas tree farm, full of excitement, jolly music and the scent of pine; the inevitable tango the adults dance as they attempt to position the tree just so; the Charlie Brown Christmas music playing on the record player as we rediscover precious ornaments from Christmases past. All of these nostalgic memories got me wondering more about the origins of tree decorating.
Did you know that bringing a pine tree inside the home and purposefully decorating it dates back to the 17th century? We can thank the Germans for this one; the first “Christmas trees” explicitly decorated and named after the Christian holiday started in Strasburg in the beginning of the 17th century. It wasn't long before all of Germany took to this tradition, which was rich with thousands of years of history. The Romans decorated their homes with pine garlands and candles, and took a week off in order to celebrate winter solstice and a holiday they called Saturnalia, which paid homage to Saturn, God of time and agriculture.
In Norway, the place of origin of “yule,” people celebrated winter solstice and the return of the sun by lighting large logs in the home, feasting and celebrating until it burned out - approximately 12 days.
There are SO many incredible facts about the traditions that surround December and the New Year. If you'd like to learn more, click below to head to the History channel's website - it's a treasure trove of interesting facts.
(In no way am I affiliated with the History channel - I just love a good website with legit information that can be trusted!)
In learning about these interesting traditions, it only highlighted the importance of my own. This time of year has always been my favourite, as I deeply value the concept of tradition. I love being able to count on something, year after year, no matter how much the rest of my life and the world that surrounds me changes.
When I thought about what I'd like to incorporate in my art studio for the holiday season, ornaments was a no-brainer for me. In my eyes, ornaments symbolize tradition, adding beauty to your surroundings, and gathering with friends and family. Ornaments represent light during the darkest days of the year; a means of bringing comfort and meaning to what can otherwise feel like cold, long days.
I can't tell you how much fun I had decorating each and every one of these ornaments. The Christmas movies were on, the hot teas were a plenty, and the paints were a joy to work with. If you haven't checked out my ornaments yet, be sure to do so. There's still time to get yourself one in time for the holidays!
