Christmas decoration
Advent wreaths, nativity scenes, illuminations, and Moravian stars are popular Christmas decorations.
[6] In the 2nd century, the "earliest church records" indicate that "Christians were remembering and celebrating the birth of the Lord", an "observance [that] sprang up organically from the authentic devotion of ordinary believers"; although "they did not agree upon a set date".
[10] These include angels, bells, candy canes, Christmas trees, doves, holly, nativity scenes, poinsettas, the Star of Bethlehem, and wreaths.
[10][11] For example, church bells are rung in order to celebrate feasts, such as Christmas, Easter, Ascension Day and Pentecost; with respect to Christmas, the use of bells as decorations symbolize the "proclamation of joy that angels sent to the people when Christ was born.
[15] Nativity scenes have been the center of the Christmas putz, a tradition of the Moravian Church that is "built to tell the Good News of the coming of the Christ Child" and "is the Gospel in miniature from Isaiah’s prophecy and Mary’s annunciation to the visit of the wisemen and the flight into Egypt.
"[1][16] For Moravian Christians, the nativity scene serves to celebrate "the story of the wonder of Christ’s birth so that the Son of God can be welcomed into the hearts of the home at the Christmas.
[10] The father of Lutheran Christianity, Martin Luther, is often credited with adorning a Christmas tree with candles in the 16th century.
[10] In the 1840s, the use of a decoration symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem became popular at the highest point of the Christmas tree.
[29] From Germany the custom was introduced to England via two German-born royal consorts, Queen Charlotte and Prince Albert.
[31] Figural glass Christmas ornaments originated in the small town of Lauscha, Germany in the latter half of the 19th century.
[33] For the American market, figures depicting comic book characters and patriotic subjects such as Uncle Sams, eagles, and flags were blown.
The first living nativity scene, attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, occurred in 1223 in the Italian town of Greccio, quickly spreading across Europe.
[37] Different types of decorations developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition and available resources, and can vary from simple representations of the crib to far more elaborate sets – renowned manger scene traditions include the colourful Kraków szopka in Poland,[38] which imitate Kraków's historical buildings as settings, the elaborate Italian presepi (Neapolitan [it], Genoese [it] and Bolognese [it]),[39][40][41][42] or the Provençal crèches in southern France, using hand-painted terracotta figurines called santons.
[43] In Malta, light-deprived vetches (ġulbiena) are placed next to the statue of the baby Jesus in the manger and static nativity scenes adorning houses and churches.
[44] [45][46][47] In certain parts of the world, notably Sicily, living nativity scenes following the tradition of Saint Francis are a popular alternative to static crèches.
[48][49][50] The first commercially produced decorations appeared in Germany in the 1860s, inspired by paper chains made by children.
[51] In countries where a representation of the Nativity scene is very popular, people are encouraged to compete and create the most original or realistic ones.
Several types of evergreen or even deciduous branches may be used in the same wreath, along with pinecones and sprays of berries, and Christmas ornaments including jingle bells.
From the 17th century, friars of the Franciscan Christian religious order in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.
[55] In North and South America, Australia, and Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures.
[56] In the Western world, rolls of brightly colored paper with secular or religious Christmas/winter/Hanukkah motifs are manufactured for giftwrapping presents.
Other traditional decorations include bells, reindeer, candles, candy canes, garland, stockings, wreaths, snow globes, and angels.
In many countries, a representation of the Nativity scene is prevalent, and people are encouraged to compete and create the most original or realistic ones.
According to legend, Saint Nicolas would creep in through the chimney and slip gold into stockings hanging by the fireplace.
Christmas decorations are typically put up in late November or early December, usually to coincide with the start of Advent.
However, this tradition has fallen out of favour as reusable and imperishable decorations made of plastics, wood, glass and metal became more popular.
