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History Of Christmas Traditions

There are many traditions associated with the Christmas season. How have these Christmas traditions evolved over time? Many of our Christmas traditions have a long and fascinating history. Christmas cards, Christmas trees, Christmas carols, and other traditions are still important parts of our festive celebrations. Our family holiday tradition is to bake together!

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Christmas Card

We have shared many of our favourite Christmas recipes on the blog including the Crème Brulée Gingersnap Cookies! Your kids will enjoy using a kitchen torch to make the Crème Brulée (parental assistance is advised)!

CHRISTMAS TREES

What’s the origin of the Christmas tree? There are various theories about the origin of the Christmas Tree. One suggestion is that is it derived from the old English Yule tradition of decorating houses with tree branches. Another story from the 16th century is that German religious leader Martin Luther was walking one Christmas Eve under a sky full of stars. He took home a small tree from the forest and decorated it with candles to remind him of the stars in Heaven.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

A London art dealer Henry Cole invented the first Christmas card in 1843 as a quick way to send greetings to friends. Cole tried to sell the cards to others, but they were not popular; however, as printing and postal systems soon developed, Christmas cards quickly became a tradition around the world.

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CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The word carol comes from an old French word carolet, which means to dance in a ring. The first carols were written in Europe around 1200. Christmas carols became more popular with the writng of many well-known songs during the 19th century, including “Silent Night” (1817), “We Three Kings” (1857), and “Away in a Manger” (1877).

STOCKINGS

European legend tells how St. Nicholas was concerned about the plight of three desperately poor sisters and so one night he dropped three gold coins down their chimney. The coins fell into the girls’ stockings hung by the fire to dry. The hopeful have been hanging up their stockings ever since!

WREATHS

Christmas wreaths are often intertwined with red ribbons and decorations. The wreath’s evergreen leaves represent the everlasting life that Christ’s birth promised, while the circular shape recalls the crown of thorns placed on His head.

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HOLLY

During the Middle Ages, the red berries from holly were believed to keep witches at bay and its evergreen leaves symbolized eternal life. The plant has also long been associated with Jesus Christ – the red berries representing drops of blood and the prickly leaves the crown of thorns.

BOXING DAY

A common explanation for Boxing Day is that it originates from Ancient Rome where apprentices were given boxes of money on the day after Christmas. Similarly in 19th century England, the servants of large households would receive boxes of money from their employers. Church goers also donated money into a box in the church. The funds were then distributed to the poor of the parish on December 26.

As you can see, many Christmas traditions are still well part of our holiday festivities today!

What are your favourite Christmas traditions? Share below!

Lyne Proulx
Lyne Proulxhttps://ottawamommyclub.ca/
Lyne Proulx is a Certified Professional Wedding Consultant and experienced Event Planner with a strong background in community engagement and large-scale event coordination. For eight years, she led the Annual Infant Information Day/Early Years Expo for the City of Ottawa. From 2013 to 2016, she was the driving force behind the BConnected Conference, Canada’s premier digital influencer and social media conference, held in Ottawa and Toronto. Lyne also served as co-chair of the Navan for Kraft Hockeyville committee from 2009 to 2011, organizing five major community events in just six months. Her leadership helped Navan become one of the top 10 finalists in the national competition. In recognition of her exceptional volunteerism and dedication to community building, she was honored with the City of Ottawa Mayor's City Builder Award in April 2011. In 2025, Lyne brought her passion for weddings and event planning to a new level by organizing the inaugural Tucker House Bridal Fair, showcasing local vendors and creating a unique experience for engaged couples.

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