Weird Christmas Legends

The tradition of celebrating Christmas, as a world holiday, where a little old man in a red suit flies around world delivering gifts for kids is not very old. Yet, the celebration of Christmas Time comes from ancient days and some very old customs that various peoples have honored across the globe for centuries. Changing seasons and days of shorter light combined with the human search for purpose and meaning to their existence have all contributed to what we know today as Christmas.

Yes Ralphie, it has become a commercial Madison Avenue money rip off of the world’s rabid consumers, but it really has been something different in days now past. Even though many western world kids see Christmas as a gift feast of electronic goodies and high dollar fashion items, it has been a holiday where the best of humanity was celebrated through traditions that centered on family, peace, love, hope and goodwill toward others.

Here is my list of weird Christmas Legends that has sprung up in the past 100 years or so.

1. You must take the Christmas Tree down within 12 days of Christmas Day or back luck will fall upon the household with the tree still standing
2. The tradition of using tinsel when decorating a Christmas Tree is said by many to have come from the story of a poor woman in Germany who had no decorations for the scrawny little tree she found for her children. The story goes that during Christmas Eve spiders in the tree wove webs around the tree covering it in white strands. A “wise man” passing by the house saw this tree in the evening firelight and said a blessing over it and the house. In the morning the spider web strands had turned to silver and glistened on the morning sunlight to the delight of the woman and her children. Not only did they have a beautiful Christmas Tree, but the silver tinsel provided the mother the means to provide food and presents for her children.

1. Mistletoe is said to be a magical plant and was honored by the Druids as being sacred. Sprigs were broken from live branches and worn to protect one from evil spirits and sprites.
2. Using Holly sprigs and plants to decorate at Christmas has both Roman Pagan and Druid legends attached to it. The Romans believed the plant to be sacred and would adorn their heads with Holly Wreaths to protect themselves from evil. The Druids wore springs in their hair to ward off witches and keep lightening from striking them and their homes.
3. Children of the Netherlands have long put sugar and hay in their shoes on Christmas Eve, for St. Nick’s reindeer. Their payment for this kindness is a shoe full of toys on Christmas morning.
4. In Italy kids get gifts in a large jar, called the Urn of Fate. Legends says that La Befana, a good witch, flies down the chimney and fills each jar with gifts and goodies on Epiphany instead of Christmas.
5. Old legends state that the 12 Days of Christmas predict what the weather will be for the next year

1. Celtic legends believe that if a person is born on Christmas Day they are able to see “the little people” (elves, imps and sprites)
2. Across the British Isle farmlands and those of France and Belgium it is believed that all farm and barnyard animals kneel when Christmas Eve begins. In other lands it is said that bees and insects hummmm the 100th Psalm on Christmas Eve.
3. The Christmas Poinsettia originally comes from Mexico and is called by many “the Holy Night Flower”. Legend says it is poisonous to humans and animals. False! Every year at holiday time stories are written and circulated that Poinsettia plant leaves are deadly and if eaten will kill you or your animals. This is an urban legend myth that grew from a story in 1919 of a 2 year old child (in Hawaii) dying from poisoning, supposedly from eating a poinsettia leaf. This was a false tale that grew into a worldwide legend.

These are only but a few of the strange legends and weird stories to be found about Christmas and celebrations worldwide that are associated with this holiday.