Christmas Treasures (7): Christmas Tree Decorations (3)
Written by Margaret Ikladious - Member of the American Press (USPA)
19+ Penguins and Bears:
This ornament symbolizes the meeting of creation in the birth of Jesus Christ.
The penguins that frequently appear as a modern element of Christmas are only related to their relationship to snow and the winter conditions of the season (the inhabitants of the Antarctic).
They are cuddly, and the same applies to other animals associated with snow environments, such as polar bears.
But in real life, the two species are from different poles, as polar bears are from the North Pole or the Arctic Circle).
Due to the distance in their lives from each other, they will never meet, as they happen in some Christmas cards or in the drawings of Christmas decorations.
This symbol symbolized the meeting between heaven and earth when Christ was born, and he is the living God on earth.
20+ Owl:
Decorations abound in the form of an owl bird and are placed in trees and near fireplaces, symbolizing the light of Christ that came to the darkness of the world.
Despite the difference in its acceptance by many peoples, it is loved by the European and American peoples, and they even consider it a symbol of insight and spiritual enlightenment crowned with an aura of wisdom and virtue.
Just as the Greek and Greek civilizations took care of this, it appeared in all ages.
And about the old stories or legends that link owls to Christmas, we find the diversity of stories that tell about them:
The first novel
His family did not go to the forest at night under the moonlight to cut down a tree to celebrate Christmas. They had to decorate it on the same night, put ornaments and decorations on it, and then go to sleep.
But this year was different from every year, as the Owl remained hidden inside the tree for nearly two weeks, and it is likely that she was going out at night to eat whatever she found in the house of dry and light meals or nuts placed in the house. For hibernation, which is a degree of sleep used by birds to provide food and energy to preserve life, but the family found her at the time of the landing of the zarakash, and there was one ornament remaining in the depth of the tree, and it was a shock to the family when they saw her looking back with her head back, and her head had two large eyes, which she quickly took to the veterinary clinic to restore her health And make sure they are safe!!
The second novel
So it happened in Florida, and this time the guest was a surprise for an oriental crowing owl, and instead of being in hibernation in the cold weather (this Owl is most likely hiding in a tree to avoid sunstroke) but when the family found it, it was found in a state of activity and quickly took it to the veterinary clinic, but the strange thing is that it smelled strong like marijuana..!!!
And we find that the two accounts confirm the same event: the Owl hiding in the Christmas trees.
It is known that the Owl has a visual ability capable of penetrating the darkness, which symbolizes the light of Christ, who descended into the night of the world with his birth and incarnation.
21- The Elf on the Shelf or the Christmas elf:
The character of the genie or Elf appeared many years ago in American, Canadian, Irish, and British cultures and folklore.
The Christmas elf is a small elf who lives with Santa Claus at the North Pole and works as his assistant in Santa's workshop to manufacture gifts for children.
The Christmas elf is often depicted as a green or red monkey with large pointed ears and pointed hats.
The Elf is often present with Santa Claus and continues to play in Santa Claus's workshop, takes care of his reindeer, and performs other tasks, such as helping him make toys and Christmas gifts.
The legend of a thousand evolved into a 2004 children's picture book written by Carole Ebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell in Georgia.
The book tells a story, the title (of Christmas), written in rhyme, explaining how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and kind among the children.
Once everyone goes to bed, the elf scout Elf flies to the North Pole to inform Santa of the kids' good and bad activities that have happened throughout the day.
And before the family wakes up each morning, a scout troll flies back from the North Pole and hides.
By hiding in a new place each morning around the house, the elf scout plays a constant game of hide-and-seek with the family, and the Elf on the Shelf explains that the Elf and his crew obtain the power of their magic by naming and loving children.
At the back of each book, families can write the name of their genie and the date they approved the purchase.
Once the Elf is named, the dwarf receives the power of his Christmas magic, which allows him to fly to and from the North Pole quickly. The book tells how magic can disappear if a dwarf is touched, so the Elf on the Shelf rule states. "There's only one rule you have to follow. So I'm back, and I'll be here tomorrow Please don't do it and touch me. My magic may go, and Santa won't hear everything I've ever seen or known."
Although families have been told not to touch their elf scout, they can talk to him and tell him all their Christmas wishes so they can accurately report to Santa...
The Elf on the Shelf is Santa's best friend - better known as St. Nicholas.
This story describes how Santa's "elf elf" hides in people's homes to keep an eye on events. Once everyone goes to bed, the Elf flies to the North Pole to inform Santa of the good and bad activities that have happened throughout the day; before the family wakes up family every morning, the Elf flies back from the North Pole and hides by hiding in a new place every morning around the house, and the elf scout plays an ongoing game of hide and seeks with the family. .
The story ends on Christmas Day with the Elf leaving to stay with Santa Claus for the rest of the year until the next Christmas season..!!
Visiting elves are with the children from Thanksgiving to Christmas, and then they return to the North Pole until the next holiday season.
The Elf on the Shelf comes in a box that contains a picture book with elf stories and a doll with the image of a young elf.
22+ reindeer or deer:
Reindeer and deer and their antlers in the tree or statues around it symbolize the strength of endurance and patience with hardships, just as the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph the Carpenter endured the difficulties of travel and travel on the Christmas journey..
And reindeer are not only associated with Santa Claus and his sleds, as reindeer represent trips, wanderings, safe travel, strength, and endurance, as I mentioned before..
23+ Pickled Cucumber:
It symbolizes life, as the Christmas pickle is a Christmas tradition for some Americans, so decorations in the form of holes are hidden in the Christmas tree.
On Christmas morning, the first child to find a pickled cucumber on the tree will receive an extra gift from Santa Claus and is said to enjoy a year of good luck.
There are two more distant stories linking pickled cucumbers with Christmas:
The first story:
She says that there was a fighter in the American Civil War who was born in Bavaria (a region in what is now Germany) and was a prisoner and was starving and begged a guard who was in prison to bring him pickles so that he would eat it as the last time before his death..!!!
The guard took pity on him and gave him some of the pickles. It is said that what he ate gave him the mental and physical strength to live!!
The second one:
The other story is related to one of the Miracles of San Nicholas as it is a medieval story of two Spanish boys who travel home from boarding school for the holidays.
When they stopped at a hotel for the night, the owner of a tavern attached to the hotel killed these boys and put them in a large cask of pickles. That evening St. Nicholas stopped at the same tavern and found the children in the barrel, and thanks to his prayers to God and his supplications, miraculously, they came back to life again!!
24+ Colored Strings:
These intertwined and colored chains symbolize the union and wrapping of all creation, which was found more wonderfully during Christmas.
If we look at the model of the cave, we find that the shepherds and magi, as well as animals such as cows, buffaloes, sheep, and deer, gathered around the manger in which the baby Jesus was, united together to bless that great event.
Continued ….
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