Hide the Broom on Christmas Eve

 

I was doing some research on Christmas traditions, when I came across a charming tradition I'd never heard of before.  It comes from Norway, where at 5 p.m. church bells begin to ring.  People dress in traditional finery to attend the service.

Afterward, there is a big family dinner, which includes a bowl porridge with almonds for the children.  There are carolers, most of the time choirs of school children, who join hands to sing around the Christmas tree.  Later, children eagerly anticipate a knock at the door.  The Julenisse, with a sack full of gifts asks, "Are there any good children here?"  After opening presents--coffee and cakes are served.

But once the celebration is done and evening falls quiet and cold--all the brooms in the house are hidden!   This is because of an ancient belief that on Christmas Eve, evil spirits slip in to steal brooms from families in order to ride them around in the sky.

Another enchanting fact about Christmas in Norway is that white is the color of the holiday.  Not just the whiteness of the snow, but white lights are used for decorating and white candles light the tree.  Not one colored light can be seen.

It must be absolutely beautiful.  Someday I would love to visit Norway at Christmas time.

Have a lovely Christmas Eve, dear Friends.

Lighting the Christmas Tree

I have always adored Christmas trees and wondered how the tradition was started.  My research reveals the fir tree first appeared on Christmas, in the French city of Strasbourg in 1605.  It was decorated with artificial colored roses, apples, sugar and painted hosts and was said to symbolize the tree of good and evil mentioned in the book of Genesis.

For years our family decorated the house and Christmas tree just after Halloween.  In France, just a few days before Christmas, family celebrations begin with the decoration of the Christmas tree.   Candles and lights, tinsel and many colored stars decorate its branches.  I am not really sure about candles lit as they sit on the branches of the tree--that's a bit scary.  But many of the sites I visited seem to imply some folks actually still use candles on the Christmas tree.  Seems like it would be a fire hazard, but I can't help imagining how beautiful it would be.

Then, on Christmas Eve, when the children are fast asleep, little toys, candies and fruits are hung on the branches of the Christmas tree. What a beautiful tradition!

Merry Christmas and have a lovely weekend, everyone!