Christmas. As the first rays of dawn filter through the curtains, children eagerly rouse their parents out of bed. The family hurries down the stairs in their pajamas, greeted by a winter wonderland just beyond the window. The quiet morning is interrupted by giggles of delight and anticipation as the children eagerly tear through festive wrapping paper to reveal the surprises underneath. The love and joy is palpable as everyone gathers around the tree adorned with twinkling lights and ornaments, sharing an unforgettable moment together. Have you ever wondered where your favorite Christmas traditions come from? Before the gift opening begins, let’s unwrap a couple of favorites.

The modern Christmas tree has its roots in Western Germany, where families set up a “paradise tree” on December 24th, the feast day of Adam and Eve. They decorated it with wafers and cookies, representing the Eucharist, as well as candles to symbolize Christ. Alongside this, they had a “Christmas pyramid”, a wooden structure with figurines, evergreens, candles, and a star. The two traditions merged to become the Christmas tree we know today. The custom was brought to England in the early 19th century and popularized by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband. These trees were decorated with toys, small gifts, candles, candies, cakes, and popcorn strings. German settlers introduced the Christmas tree to North America in the 17th century, and it later spread across the globe.

We all know the legend of Santa Claus, otherwise known as Kris Kringle. Every year, children all around the world hang their stockings on Christmas Eve, eagerly awaiting his annual return down their chimneys with a bright red sack full of wonderful gifts for them to delight in come Christmas morning. His image is a classic – a round, jolly old man with a white beard and red suit. His tale originally comes from Saint Nicholas, a Turkish monk from A.D. 280 who became known as the protector of children and sailors. His name is derived from the Dutch nickname “Sinter Klaas”. His current depiction is based upon the images drawn by cartoonist Thomas Nast, who drew inspiration from the 1823 poem “A visit from St. Nicholas”, and further popularized by illustrator Haddon Sundblum’s Coca-Cola advertisements in 1931. The poem created popular Christmas lore such as Santa’s eight reindeer, while Nast expanded on aspects including Santa’s elves, his North Pole workshop, and Mrs. Claus. 

Despite the many changes these traditions have undergone over the years, Christmas remains a magical time for many around the world. Each American family that observes this holiday has their own unique ways of celebrating. Some popular ways of enjoying this festive season include decorating the Christmas tree, searching for the perfect tree at a farm, visiting Santa at the mall, and posing for holiday cards to share with loved ones. “My family goes to Snowflake Lane every year, and we watch Hallmark movies all month.”, Tahoma High School student Arnaaz Saranda shares. A Maple Valley resident’s personal favorite is holiday baking. She says, “I love to spend an entire weekend whipping up lots of Christmas cookies. I make snickerdoodles, gingerbread, sugar, snowballs, and meringues to give out to friends and family.”