Why do we put up a Christmas tree? And what is the origin of the Christmas cracker? Is Boxing Day really about boxing up the unwanted presents? Amanda Hardy from Trafalgar Tours decodes the meaning behind some of our most beloved Christmas traditions.
They come in many sizes, colours and they could be real or fake but just about every household that celebrates Christmas will have one. But why do we even have Christmas trees? Where do they come from?
As with many traditions surrounding the festive season the humble tree has its origins in both Pagan and Christian beliefs. Christians believe that the fir tree, an evergreen, symbolises everlasting life with God, while the Pagans used them to decorate their homes during the winter solstice.
It is the Germans we have to thank for Christmas tree decorations. Gold covered apples and gingerbread men were the first décor items on record and this was soon followed by roses made out of colour paper. It didn’t take long for the nativity scenes, stars and angels to follow. Setting up a Christmas tree first became popular in England in the 1840’s thanks in part (as myth would have it) to Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert.
One of the most beloved traditions at Christmas is the pulling of the cracker. They also originate from around the same time as putting up a tree became trendy in the 1840s. A London sweet maker named Tom Smith started the craze based on bon bon sweeties he’d seen in France. These beautifully decorated and wrapped almonds with a little riddle or motto in them did not initially sell well and Tom needed to find a way to make them “pop”.
As with many excellent marketing ideas the solution came to him while he was sitting relaxing in front of the hearth. The crackle of the logs and the sparks they made attracted his attention and the rest, as they say, is history. With a new fan dangled sweetie that made a loud crack when pulled his “cosaques” were an explosive success!
Most Commonwealth countries or those that have a strong connection to the United Kingdom celebrate Boxing Day. In South Africa we know it to be the day the Cricket Test starts or when the Christmas sales start, but it actually has a far deeper meaning.
With origins going back as far as 800 years Boxing Day was a day when the alms box (used to collect for the poor) was opened. The poorest of the poor then were gifted with the contents, a tradition that lives on in many churches to this day.
