Many people’s homes are sporting garlands and lights this time of year. Christmas time is practically synonymous with silver bells, candy canes, and mistletoe. But why do some of the things we decorate our homes with in December say “Christmas” to us? Let’s explore how these Christmas decor items came to be so commonplace.
Tinsel
Like so many other Christmas traditions, tinsel seems to find its origins in Nuremberg, Germany. At the time when people used real candles to light their Christmas trees (can you imagine?!) they discovered that hanging thin strands of real silver in the tree reflected the candlelight nicely. But silver was costly, of course, and not easy to come by. Eventually people started using tin instead, then aluminum. But today’s tinsel strands are factory-made out of PVC.
Mistletoe
Ever heard of Pliny the Elder? This famous ancient Roman had a lot to say about medicine and herbal remedies, and he pointed out that mistletoe had quite a few healing properties. And those mysterious Celtic Druids? They interpreted the blossoming of the mistletoe during the harsh winter months to symbolize fertility and “vivacity.” Over the years, mistletoe was simply associated with love. And it’s prevalence during wintertime probably explains how it became commonplace in Christmas decor. But nobody knows if the legend is true about a kiss under the mistletoe bringing good luck. Better safe than sorry!
Christmas Pyramids
It was suggested that Christmas pyramids were a predecessor to the Christmas Tree but that these pyramids were not limited to Christmas time. In fact, during Summer solstice, there was a custom of dancing around “St. John’s Tree” decked with garlands and flowers. Today, these pyramids (aka spinning candle carousels or candle spinners) come in different shapes and materials. The concept of candle carousels is the same as that of Christmas pyramids. When the hot air from the candle rises, it hits the rotary blade of the carousel and tries to “push it out of the way” and makes the ornaments move in a clock-wise direction. Science plus art equals one mesmerizing candle!
Wreaths
The ancient Romans famously used wreaths as a symbol of victory. We still see this today in all the symbolism surrounding the Olympics. But Christmas wreaths became popular only after people started celebrating the holiday with Christmas trees. In shaping and trimming their trees, they’d often have leftover boughs. Nothing was ever wasted in those days, so those boughs were used for “extra” decorations, and eventually became gussied up and turned into their own stand-alone Christmas decor.
Candy Canes
If you’ve ever been a parent or a child, then this bit of Christmas history is for you. It boils down this: every now and then candy makes a solid bribe for good behavior. Way back in the 1600’s, the German folks who wanted their children to sit still and behave nicely during Christmas services pulled out the candy bribe but put a literal twist on it. They bent candy into the shape of a shepherd’s staff to correspond to the Christmas message their children were hearing. It wasn’t until the 1900s that candy canes became peppermint flavored and striped.
Poinsettias
Here’s a bit of history that will probably surprise you. Poinsettias, as we call them, come from Mexico – specifically, the Aztecs called them “cuetlaxochitl.” Montezuma was so enamored with their beautiful shape and color that he created a booming local industry surrounding them. As it happens, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico happened to be something of a botanist. So when he traveled to Mexico and saw this beautiful plant that reaches maximum coloration right around the time of Christmas, he sent some home to cultivate in his own greenhouses. That man’s name? Joel Roberts Poinsett.
Holly
The history of holly as Christmas decor is a bit muddled, which as it happens, is perfectly appropriate. Basically the ancient European people noticed that holly, like mistletoe, thrived even during the coldest and harshest of winters. They attached various meanings to its hardiness, but used it prolifically in pagan celebrations of all kinds, and continued to use it decoratively once Christianity came on the scene. One thing’s for sure: holly is poisonous. Please keep it away from your children and pets!
Snow Globes
You’ve heard of building a better mousetrap. Snow globes come from an inventor trying to make a better light bulb! Austrian Erwin Perzy attempted to duplicate the light magnifying effects of a solid glass lens by filling a glass dome with water and floating light-reflecting particles inside. One of his early attempts was with simple semolina, which floated around in the water “like snow.” The rest is history!
A version of this article was previously published in Sass Magazine.
