Christmas Customs & Traditions (4)

CHRISTMAS CARDS

The tradition of sending Christmas Cards is relatively new. In fact prior to one hundred years ago you would probably not have seen any Christmas Cards! In the same way that Christmas presents took the place of New Year Gifts, Christmas Cards replaced the idea of New Year Cards.

Although New Year Cards only contained a greeting about the New Year they often contained a picture of the Baby Jesus. One of the first of these cards, printed in 1467, can now be seen in the British Museum. These New Year Cards became popular about the time of the invention of the printing press.

The first cards with Christmas greetings in them were published about 1900 in Germany. They often had snow scenes, holly or Nativity scenes on them.

SANTA CLAUS

In the 4th Century there were three sisters who didn’t have husbands because their father was too poor to provide them with a dowry. Legend tells us that kindly Bishop Nicholas brought them each a bar of gold as they slept.

In the Middle Ages Bishop Nicholas became the legendary saint who rewarded good Dutch children with presents. The Dutch nick named him Sinta Klaas. Dutch settlers took this tradition to America where he became known as Santa Claus (or Father Christmas.)

In the 19th century an American cartoonist Thomas Nast, drew the first drawing of Santa Claus as we know him today. His drawings revived another St Nicholas good deed. To avoid being seen he dropped a purse down the chimney and it fell into stockings hung by the fireside to dry. So now the Father Christmas Legend has come full circle!

At this point it would be appropriate to mention RUDOLF THE RED NOSED REINDEER

Tradition tells us that Rudolf is the ninth and lead reindeer who possesses an unusually red coloured nose that give off enough light to illuminate the sleighs path through inclement weather.

The story is owned by The Rudolph Company and has been sold in numerous forms, including as a popular song, a television special, and a feature film. Rudolph was created by Robert L May in 1939 as part of his employment with Montgomery Ward Character Arts.

Johnny Marks, who was Robert L May’s brother –in-law decided to adapt the story and published it as a song (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer), which over the years has been recorded by many artists.

Oh! Just in case you have forgotten the names of the other eight reindeer, they are…..

Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen