10 interesting 'must-know' things about Christmas

DNUM_CDZBCZCABG 11:22

(Baonghean.vn) - The Christmas atmosphere is bustling everywhere, people are excitedly preparing gifts, Christmas cards and decorating their houses. Everyone knows that Christmas has been in people's minds for a long time, but there are also things you may not know about Christmas. Let's find out these special things!

1. Christmas tree

Cây thông Noel đã bị cấm như một phần của lễ Giáng Sinh cho tới tận năm 1640. Xuất phát từ truyền thống cây cối màu xanh này mang ý nghĩa của phong tục ngoại giáo, bị cấm bởi Thiên Chúa, về sau này, tiếp tục đến Giáo Hội Sơ Khai cấm chúng.Trường hợp cây thông đầu tiên bị cấm ghi nhận tại thành phố Riga ở Latvia, người ta mang một cây ra quảng trường thành phố, trang trí nó và sau đó bị đốt cháy.Hiện nay, ở Mỹ mỗi năm có khoảng 35 đến 40 triệu cây thông Noel được bán ra.

In winter, all trees turn yellow and lose their leaves, but the pine tree remains lush and green. Therefore, the pine tree symbolizes vitality, resurrection and hope every Christmas.

Martin Luther was the first person to decorate an evergreen tree for Christmas. He brought a tree into his home and decorated it with candles and ornaments made of flowers, fruit and everyday objects, with the idea that the light would remind people of Jesus and the ornaments on the tree would represent the gifts of God's mercy.

2. Santa Claus

Ông già Noel được lấy cảm hứng từ vị Thánh Odin. Đa số người đều biết về sự hung dữ vị thần huyền thoại Bắc Âu Thiên Chúa, Odin, nhưng không nhiều người biết rằng ông là nhân vật thần thoại có ảnh hưởng lớn nhất về truyền cảm hứng cho sự ra đời của Santa Claus. Theo Pagan huyền thoại, Odin là nhà lãnh đạo của Wild Hunt mỗi lễ Yule - dịp tương đương của Giáng sinh cho Đức Pagan Tribes - và ông sẽ đi xe ngựa tám chân của mình là Sleipnir. Sleipnir có thể thực hiện khoảng cách dài trong một thời gian rất ngắn thời gian, giống như xe trượt tuyết và tuần lộc của ông già Noel.Theo truyền thống đó, trẻ em sẽ để bốt của mình với cà rốt, rơm và đường, và đặt chúng gần ống khói cho ngựa bay của Odin để ăn trong khi nghỉ ngơi. Odin sau đó sẽ trở lại với lợi và khen thưởng những trẻ em cho lòng tốt của họ bằng cách để lại quà tặng, đồ chơi, bánh kẹo trong giày.

According to legend, the Bishop of Myra, born in Türkiye in 279, was famous for his life devoted to charitable activities. In the 9th century, the Catholic Church canonized him as the patron saint of children. From there, the name Santa Claus (called Father Christmas by the British and Americans) was born.

On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus returns to earth, through the chimney into each family, leaving candy and gifts in stockings that children hang near their beds or fireplaces, bringing sweet dreams to their childhood.

3. Advent wreath

The Advent wreath is made of evergreen leaves and is usually placed on a table or hung high so that everyone can see it easily. The circular shape of the wreath represents the eternal nature and endless love of God. On the Advent wreath there are usually 4 candles (3 purple and 1 pink).

4. Christmas Star

The Christmas star symbolizes God's miracle. According to legend, when Jesus was born, a bright star appeared, its light spreading for hundreds of miles. Three kings were revealed to follow the star's light to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, and they witnessed a miracle (Three Kings' Day).

5. Candy cane

The candy cane is a symbol of Jesus' sacrifice. The white color of the candy represents the purity and innocence of Jesus, the three small red stripes on the candy represent the holy trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and the dark red stripe symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed to save mankind. Looking at the candy cane, we see that it looks like a shepherd's staff because Jesus is the shepherd of the sheep. If you turn the candy cane upside down, it becomes the letter J, the first letter of Jesus' name.

6. Hang up the stocking to receive gifts

Legend has it that there was a family of three young girls who were of marriageable age but no man came to them because the family was too poor. Bishop Myra felt sorry for them and threw gold coins into the chimney of the three girls' kitchen. The gold coins fell right into the socks that the girls were hanging by the fireplace and they were able to fulfill their wish. Since then, there has been a tradition of children hanging socks by the fireplace to receive gifts as the three girls wished from Santa Claus.

7. The cave and the manger

During Christmas preparations, churches often build a miniature model of a corner of the cave where Jesus was born, complete with figures of people and animals according to biblical legends.

The creator of this lovely symbol was St. Francis. On Christmas Eve 1224, he erected in the church in a village near Assissi (Italy), a nativity scene with a real person.

8. Poinsettia

Legend has it that a little girl had no gift to offer the baby Jesus, so she brought a bunch of leaves to the manger. Her friends laughed at her, but when she placed the leaves at Jesus' feet, they turned into beautiful, bright red flowers.

9. Christmas Cards

In ancient Egypt and Rome, people had the habit of sending New Year greetings carved on pieces of wood. In 1843, Henry Cole (England) was too busy to write letters during the Christmas season, so he printed some cards to send to his colleagues. At that time, thousands of cards were printed and sold for one "Shilling".

10. Christmas Buche Cake

Western ancestors often lit firewood in their fireplaces, believing that the crackling fire would keep evil spirits away. Nowadays, few homes still have fireplaces. Instead, a French baker created a cake shaped like a log in 1875 for people to enjoy on Christmas Eve, a tradition that has been passed down to this day.

Kim Ngoc

(Synthetic)

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10 interesting 'must-know' things about Christmas
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