What are the rituals for Christmas.

A fairy-tale Christmas holiday has perfectly taken root in practically all countries of the world. But very few people remember where the custom came to celebrate it. With the passage of time, the number of different rituals increased, people's traditions changed. Christmas was a favorite holiday. And the diversity of customs that are customary to perform for a given celebration, is simply amazing.

Christmas wreath.

Evergreen branches were used to make the Christmas wreath. Usually it was spruce paws. The wreath was woven with 4 candles, lighting one for four weeks before Christmas every Sunday. And before the holiday itself, all four candles should burn, with the help of which the place of the Christmas wreath was lit. It could be a church altar or an ordinary dining table. Rituals for Christmas with a wreath and candles were a symbol of light that will illuminate the whole world at the time of the birth of Christ.

Bells ringing.

Folk traditions for Christmas, associated with the bell ringing, can be compared with the rites of pagan holidays. During the days of paganism, all evil spirits were driven away with loud noises and loud noise. At present, such a folk tradition at Christmas turned into a bell ringing, noisy festivities and the singing of Christmas hymns.

Spruce.

Rituals for Christmas are associated with the decoration of the Christmas tree. According to historical data, the very first fir-trees for Christmas began to be installed in Germany in the 8th century. But they were not decorated. But to decorate and light candles on Christmas trees began only in the 14th century. By tradition, it is customary to hang out a variety of toys, sweets and jewelry made of paper. Decorated Christmas fir symbolizes a tree decorated with apples. Much later, they began to hide gifts under the tree. In the 16th century, Germany issued a law prescribing the installation of no more than one Christmas tree in the house. Apparently, he was aiming to save the planting of coniferous trees, which were cut down before Christmas. The first Christmas tree, installed on the street and decorated with an electric garland, could be seen in 1906 in Finland.

The first guest.

Do you know what traditions for Christmas are associated with the first guest? From who exactly will be the first to knock on your house, it will depend on how life will turn out in the new year. For a successful year, the first guest should be a man with dark hair. And the arrival of a woman promises to fail. Therefore, in some countries for Christmas order a paid service - "first guest". His duties include coming into the house, holding a sprig of fir in his hand, from which it is necessary to go through all the dwelling, from the front door to the back door.

Kisses under the mistletoe.

Romantic rituals for Christmas, appeared much earlier than Christmas fir. Subsequently, in the houses at the same time set the spruce and hung a twig of mistletoe. The mistletoe branch was in the form of a double ring, on top necessarily decorated with ruddy apples, candles and colorful garlands.

Christmas log.

The folk tradition, according to which a large Christmas log should be lit in the hearth of the house or on the street, came to us from pagan rites. Fire has always been a weapon for the expulsion of all evil spirits. By tradition, the head of the family should cut down a log and put it into the fireplace with his own piece of last year's one. The size of the Christmas log should be large enough and burn throughout the holiday for 12 days. It was necessary to store ashes from such logs. It was believed that this ashen mass can cure all diseases and is an amulet against lightning strikes.

Christmas holidays and rituals for Christmas each person is sent to childhood and return the ability to believe in miracles.