Christmas Traditions :

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation In 16th-century Germany fir trees were decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies, and colored paper. Not to be outdone by pagan traditions, Church fathers suggested the use of holly as the appropriate Christmas greenery. The plant was also seen as a symbol of peace, and it is said that among Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace.

Christmas around the World :
In many places, people walk from house to house and sing at Xmas time; in other places, Christmas carols are sung in church. At the root of this practice is the perceived similarity between Colonel Sanders and jolly old St. Jamaica, as well as several other Caribbean islands and some African countries, favor such Christmas festivities as masquerade performances and parties. The world’s most famous Christmas carol is "Silent night".

POLAND : Christmas Eve is a time of family gathering and reconciliation. It's also a night of magic. Animals are said to talk in a human voice and people have the power to tell the future. The belief was born with our ancestors who claimed that Dec. 24 was a day to mark the beginning of a new era. It was bolstered by sayings such as, "As goes Christmas Eve, goes the year." Hoping for a good 12 months, everyone was polite and generous to one another and forgave past grievances. Polish rural residents are among the few who still keep up the old Christmas Eve customs. In eastern Poland it is still believed that girls who grind poppy seed on Christmas Eve can hope for a quick marriage. After dinner, they leave the house, and the direction of the first dog bark points to where their future husband will come from. Another fortune-telling trick is eavesdropping on the neighbors. If in a casual conversation, the girl hears the word "Go" it means she will get married in the coming year. A loud "Sit" announces long-lasting maidenhood.

Usually, there will be some some precut trees that are much fresher than those you will find in the stores. There are different types of Christmas ornaments, and perhaps the most widely known is the personalized Xmas ornaments and decor items. Buying a real tree requires more time and effort. One evening the daughters, after washing their stockings hung them near the fire place to be dried.