Merry Christmas
With Christmas two days away I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. Make the time to make memories and learn the stories in your family.
Traditions of Christmas: Santa Claus
The history of Santa Claus begins with a man called Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, now Turkey. Saint Nicholas was known for his charity and wisdom. Legends tell of him coming from a wealthy family and … Continued
Christmas is a Great Time for Family Memories
With Christmas approaching it is a reminder that this is a great time to make family memories. We’ve all heard the quote by Maya Angelou, “I’ve leaned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, … Continued
Traditions of Christmas: Gifts
Gifts were originally given to Christ by the wise men. Frankincense is the symbol of worship, Myrrh, was used for burial ceremonies, but was very rare and costly. The gift of Gold meant the gift was very important and the … Continued
Traditions of Christmas: The Christmas Stocking
There are many legends and miracles attributed to Saint Nicholas but the ones that give him his gift-giving role involves his love of children. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about … Continued
Traditions of Christmas: Holly
Holly is special because the early church leaders wanted to wipe out pagan myths. The red berries represent the blood of Christ and the green represents eternal life. It is also believed to bring good luck. In the pagan culture, Holly … Continued
Traditions of Christmas: Yule
Yule was a Viking word used to describe the winter solstice. They would cut a log and burn it to chase away evil spirits. It eventually spread to many countries and religions. The Christians viewed it as a way to … Continued
9 Ways to Enjoy Christmas with Family
[learn_more caption=”Merry Christmas” state=”open”] Merry Christmas[/learn_more] This is a great time to make family time and family history count. Some of these ideas include: Share your favorite Christmas memory—either from adulthood or as a child Share how certain family traditions … Continued
How did our Ancestors celebrate Christmas?
The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Oliver Wendell Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of … Continued
Traditions of Christmas: Candy Canes
Candy Canes were first used by a minister in Germany during the late 1600’s to quiet restless children during long services. The white is to represent the sinless life of Christ and the crook in the neck is to represent … Continued