Around the Bluhmin’ Town: Finding the holiday spirit in traditions old and new | Opinion

There are only a few weeks of shopping left, so what are we to do? Stop spending money and start kissing! Perhaps we could linger under mistletoe with someone special. That ancient Scandinavian Goddess of Love, Frigga, might be considered the instigator behind this “kissing tradition.’ She evidently was so enthralled with the secret powers of what would happen when a couple stood under the mistletoe that it was almost considered scandalous. Christian priests banned hanging mistletoe, due to its idolatrous association and it was considered a “pagan ritual” to be avoided. Hence, holly replaced mistletoe, until gradually, romance (kissing) prevailed.

Have you wondered why you might have a tree in your house during the holidays? The Germans in 700 AD, started this tradition, picked up by the English and Americans in the 1800s. In 1880, Woolworths’s Drug Stores sold the first manufactured Christmas ornaments in the world — and they were a huge hit. It was better (and safer) than the centuries-old tradition of placing lighted candles on the tree. At the turn of the century, the first electric lights were designed especially for evergreens, and since then no tree has been complete without strings of lights. Today in America, 80% of all households will display a tree, and the vast majority are artificial. 

Yes, there really is a Santa Claus. That question, posed by those skeptics and Scrooges, has been answered eloquently numerous times. Santa is the distant relative of the fourth century saint — Saint Nicholas. His giving spirit and magical ways have become legend and gladdens the hearts of children all over the world. No population explosion, lack of chimneys, remote locations, inclement weather, or other obstacles can stop him from making an annual appearance. 

We are reminded that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of one small baby that changed the world. Born into treacherous times… wars, poverty, a madman (Herod) as king, the true “King of Kings” was the miracle of hope, causing the heavens to open, a star to shine brightly and the world to gasp slightly in anticipation. And so here we are, thousands of years later, hanging stars or angels at the tops of our trees. We light a candle on Christmas Eve, so that wise men may find their way to our home.

Not quite ready for the “Big Day?” Relax! Now is the time to celebrate the ending of another year. It’s never too late to get in the “Holiday Mood.”  Forget shopping and become a romantic — be daring and hang some fresh mistletoe. Believe again, for a few weeks, in the magic of Saint Nicholas, the spirit of giving, the birth of “greatness,” the beauty of a lit tree, and the wonder of all things kind and good that grace our lives. Don’t forget to light a candle. Kiss someone you love. Help someone who is less fortunate. Eat plenty of cookies.

Still not in the holiday spirit? You might try putting some spirits into the eggnog. Have a tree-mendous time decorating.