Yuletide is a pre-christian celebration associated with winter solstice. Winter solstice is that moment when the Earth is on that point in orbit when North or South hemispheres is inclined away from the sun.
Yuletide is a festival which was first celebrated in Germany. Later after the reformation it has become known as "Christmastide" Many of our customs have been derived from German paganism
The Christmas Tree legend has it a beginning in Germany when St. Boniface happened upon a group of pagans who were planning on sacrificing a young boy. He chopped down a small spruce tree and said "let this little evergreen be your symbol of everlasting life:.
Living room tree
Sunroom Tree
Christians adopted hanging evergreens and wreaths as symbols of their faith, peace and renewal. My Mary's Angels ornament wreath, 28 years of this collection!
Christmas cookies go back to celebrating seasons solstice. It often meant arrival of first frost. The oldest feasts included spices of the time-cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. I can think of many holiday dishes made with these ingredients.
Shenanigans is always involved.
Candles and lights have been used for centuries to show " the light of the world has come". One area in our city, The Country Club Plaza has a phenomenal show of lights at Christmas. One of our traditions is to go walk around, take in the beautiful colors and have our hot chocolate.
Praying everyone's holiday held all those family traditions for them.
Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY
Ann
