RetroLisa
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The Christmas Tree
Throughout history, most religions worshipped the evergreen tree as a symbol of life victorious over death. During winter solstice celebrations, homes were decorated with evergreen branches. In approximately 722 AD, the evergreen tree became a symbol of Christianity when St. Boniface, while on a mission to convert Germans to Christianity, chopped down an oak tree during a Pagan sacrificial ritual and discovered an evergreen sapling sprouting from the roots. The triangular shape of a fir tree was also used to teach early Christians about the Holy Trinity. In some areas, it became common to decorate a Paradise Tree with apples to represent the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden.
In the 1440s, the practice of decorating trees especially for Christmas was launched in Germany, Latvia and Estonia. The first trees were displayed in public buildings and town squares. In the 1500s, Protestant reformer Martin Luther popularized the tradition of decorating Christmas trees in the home.
Christmas trees remained largely a German phenomenon for the next 300 years. In the 1800s, the practice spread to the nobility of Austria, Russia, France and England. Decorated trees weren't seen much outside the social circles of the elite until the 1840s, when the practice caught on with British commoners. Prince Albert was German by birth and enjoyed celebrating the traditions of his homeland. This inspired the rest of the country to follow suit.
Christmas trees in America were introduced by German immigrants and Hessian troops stationed in the colonies during the Revolutionary War. Various towns in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Ohio claim to be the site of the first decorated tree in America. Again, the practice was more or less confined to German communities until 1850, when the magazine Godey's Lady's Book published an illustration of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's Christmas tree. This image captured the public's fancy and helped to popularize the tradition all across the country.
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Prior to the 20th century, most people placed their Christmas trees on parlor tables. Small gifts were tied to the branches, a holdover from the days when trees were decorated with food items. As the gifts became larger, it became necessary to place them beneath the tree. As the trees themselves became larger, they were moved to the floor. This practice was introduced in the 1880s.
Artificial trees also made their debut in the 1880s. At first, they were made of goose feathers dyed green. In 1930, the first trees made of brush bristles were introduced. Artificial trees became very popular during World War II, when a lack of manpower halted the widespread harvesting of real trees.
Aluminum trees were first produced in 1958 and remained popular until the late 1960s. Aluminum-coated paper was highly flammable, which made regular lights and electric wiring a safety hazard. Because of this, aluminum trees were lit from below with a spotlight and revolving color wheel. It has been said that the TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas, with its negative view of aluminum trees, was indirectly responsible for the decline of the industry.
Today, in addition to traditional trees, we enjoy fiber-optic trees and pre-lit trees, both introduced in the 1990s. In 2004, 58 percent of American homes had an artificial tree.
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| ________________________________________________ | ___ | ______________________________________________ | ________ | Christmas Tree Ornaments
Early Christmas trees were decorated with items of a symbolic nature. Roses represented the Virgin Mary, apples represented the Tree of Knowledge, food items were symbols of plenty, and paper flowers painted in red and white were symbols of knowledge and innocence. Trees were laden with candy, gingerbread, nuts, fruits, wafers, dates and pretzels. The edible goodies also functioned as Christmas gifts for the town children.
In later years, Christmas trees were decorated with ornaments made especially for them. By the early 1800s, typical decorations included tin figures, tinsel ornaments, small beads, silver wire ornaments, small toys, gilded fruits, and gilt objects such as butterflies and birdcages. Handmade paper ornaments included painted discs, quilled snowflakes, and baskets containing sugarplums and sugared almonds. Popular food items included chocolates, fruits, popcorn garlands, candy canes, and pastries in holiday shapes. The top of the tree was adorned with a flag, angel or tinsel star.
The first glass ornaments were produced in Germany in the 1840s. Known as kugles, these frosted glass figures and bead garlands were blown by hand, silvered and hand-painted. They were imported to England, where they quickly became a Victorian favorite. Glass ornaments were introduced to America in 1880 when F.W. Woolworth purchased a supply of kugles and put them on sale in his store. The lot sold out in two days.
When Germany halted the exportation of ornaments during World War I, Japanese firms picked up the slack. Exports to America ceased again during World War II, and the search was on for an American supplier. Corning Glass entered the industry, using technology previously used to make light bulbs. The Shiny-Brite company became a popular distributor of these ornaments.
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Hallmark introduced the first collectible keepsake ornaments in 1973. That year, the first edition of glass balls and yarn ornaments featured scenes by Currier & Ives and Betsey Clark. As of 2010, Hallmark has produced over 3,000 different designs in over 100 series, including Baby's First Christmas, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Barbie, Frosty Friends, Nostalgic Houses and Star Wars.
The glass-blown ornament fad was rekindled in 1986 when Christopher Radko introduced his first line of ornaments. After a Christmas tree mishap in 1984 destroyed nearly all of his family's heirloom ornaments, Radko traveled to Poland to recreate the collection. He went into business with a glassblower, acquired antique molds, created new designs, and the Christopher Radko line was born. Each ornament is blown and painted by hand, just like the kugles of the 19th century.
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| ________________________________________________ | ___ | ______________________________________________ | ________ | Tinsel
The word "tinsel" comes from the French word estincele, which means "to sparkle." When it was invented in Germany in the 1600s, it was made of shredded silver and was manufactured in individual strands known as icicle tinsel. According to legend, it was used on Christmas trees to represent the real icicles hanging from evergreen branches. Some historians also claim that icicle tinsel symbolized the dew-covered spider webs that hid the Holy Family from King Herod's soldiers shortly after Christ's birth.
Because silver tarnishes easily, tinsel makers experimented with alternative materials. Copper, brass, lead, pewter, pyrite, tin, and a primitive mixture of lead and tin were tried, but proved unsatisfactory. Most tinsel was made of silver until the 20th century. Naturally, it was very expensive, and was only used by wealthy families.
In the 1800s, thin ropes of tinsel garland were made by wrapping silver-plated thread or strings of tinsel around a central wire. It was draped on trees and used to make ornaments and stars.
In the 1920s, tinsel manufacturers switched to lead foil and aluminum-coated paper. Although both materials were resistant to tarnishing, aluminum was highly flammable. In the 1950s, it was abandoned for tinsel use and was adopted by the aluminum Christmas tree industry. By contrast, lead tinsel was fireproof, more attractive, and easier to drape over branches. It was the most common tinsel material until the 1970s.
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Metalized plastic tinsel was introduced in the 1950s. This product consisted of lightweight plastic strips coated with a non-toxic metal finish. Although not as popular as lead tinsel, it sold relatively well in the 1960s and 1970s, thanks to new health concerns about lead poisoning.
Aluminum, lead and plastic were considerably cheaper than silver, which made tinsel affordable for the average family. From the 1920s to the 1960s, the use of icicle strands was very popular.
Health concerns halted the making of lead tinsel in 1972. Today, old boxes of lead tinsel command high prices, due to its shiny nature and its tendency to lay better on the branches.
Today, tinsel is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is available in many different colors. Icicle strands have gone out of style, but garlands are as popular as ever.
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candles
In the 1500s, Christmas trees were a relatively new phenomenon. During this time, Protestant reformer Martin Luther popularized the lighted tree. While walking in the forest on Christmas Eve, he was struck by the beauty of the stars twinkling in the evergreen branches. Upon returning to his home, he used candles on his own tree to recreate the effect.
Small tapers were originally attached to the branches with melted wax, pins or wires. In the 1860s, a special candleholder was developed that looped over the branch and used a clay ball as a counterweight to keep the candle steady. Spring-clip candleholders came into use in the 1880s.
Needless to say, many tragic fires occurred because of lighted trees. A bucket of water was kept near the tree at all times in case of emergencies. Lighting the candles meant keeping a constant watch for smoldering branches and dripping wax. In England, candles were often placed in wooden hoops for safety. In the early 1900s, it became common to enclose candles in glass balls, glass cups and pierced tin lanterns. Candles remained the most common form of Christmas tree lighting until the 1920s.
electric lights
Thomas Edison developed the incandescent light bulb in 1879. In 1882, an employee of the New York City Edison plant decorated his parlor tree with 80 specially-made colored lights. This was the first tree to be decorated with electric lights. Soon, both the Edison Company and General Electric were selling colored light bulbs for trees.
Early lighting outfits were quite expensive. They arrived unassembled and required the services of an electrician to wire and install them. President Cleveland used electric lights on the White House tree in 1895, and this inspired wealthy families to make them a part of their holiday decor.
In 1903, General Electric introduced the first pre-assembled light strings. Although they were still very expensive, their use by wealthy families and merchants gradually increased. Shop owners in particular enjoyed using them to create window displays. Less affluent customers found it more economical to rent them.
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Some people still preferred the look of candles. In 1908, this prompted one man to wire his tree with artificial candles made from telephone switchboard lights.
In the 1920s, the use of lighting outfits increased as prices fell and more homeowners installed electric wiring.
The earliest Christmas tree bulbs were round or pear-shaped. They featured prominent exhaust tips until 1919, when tipless bulbs were introduced. Cone-shaped C6 bulbs made their debut in 1919, and larger C7 bulbs came along in 1934. Round bulbs made a comeback in the 1940s, but never sold as well as the cone-shaped bulbs. Figural lights were also popular during this time.
Liquid-filled bubble lights were introduced by NOMA in 1945. They were extremely popular in the 1950s, and still have a dedicated following today.
Miniature fairy lights became popular in the 1970s when an increase in the use of artificial trees made the older, hotter lights impractical. Lighting technology remained unchanged until the late 1990s, when the first LED (light-emitting diode) Christmas lights were introduced. LED lights use 85 percent less energy than traditional lights. Although they cost more than regular lights, and some say they lack the warmth and sparkle of regular lights, their use is catching on. In 2006 and 2007, the Capitol and Rockefeller Center trees both switched to LED lights.
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RetroLisa
| ________________________________________________ | ___ | ______________________________________________ | ________ | Santa Claus &
Modern Traditions
Santa Claus
In America, many ancient traditions and folk tales came together to create the legend of Santa Claus.
Before Christianity, most Pagan religions held festivals to celebrate the winter solstice. In Germanic countries, the Yule festival was presided over by the Norse god Odin, who flew through the sky on an eight-legged horse. Children left carrots, straw and sugar in their boots for Odin's horse, and were rewarded with candy and small gifts.
In the fourth century town of Myra, now part of modern-day Turkey, Nicholas was a bishop known for his kindness, piety and generosity. He became the patron saint of sailors and children, and many tales of gift-giving are attributed to him. Nicholas was a humble man who preferred to give gifts anonymously, often at night.
When early Europeans were converted to Christianity, church leaders tried to make the transition as smooth as possible. Many Pagan rituals and folk tales were incorporated into Christian rituals. The legends of Odin and other gods of the winter solstice were combined with that of Nicholas, and the Christmas gift-giver was born.
In Holland, Saint Nicholas arrived on his feast day, December 6th. He visited the homes of good children late at night, accompanied by his trusty donkey. Youngsters left hay for the donkey and were rewarded with treats placed in their wooden shoes. In Dutch, his name was Sint Nikolaas, which over time became Sinterclaas.
In other countries, the gift-giver adopted a more secular title, such as Father Christmas, Grandfather Frost, Pere Noel and Yule Elder. A beard and fur-trimmed robe became a standard part of his attire. His place of residence was the Scandinavian territory of Lapland, where a reindeer accompanied him on his travels.
Eager to develop their own traditions, Protestants in northern Europe moved the celebration from Saint Nicholas Day to Christmas Eve, and replaced Saint Nicholas with an angel representing the Christ Child. This was the Kristkindl.
The legends came together in the multicultural melting pot of the New World. Each version of the story had something to add: reindeer from Lapland, a flying sleigh from Odin, a beard and robe from Father Christmas, and stockings filled with goodies from Saint Nicholas. The Dutch and German names for Saint Nicholas and the Christ Child were Americanized....Sinterclaas became Santa Claus and Kristkindl became Kris Kringle. The first recorded use of the name Santa Claus was in 1773.
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The final details of Santa's story were added in the 1800s. Washington Irving's 1809 book A History Of New York established many Santa Claus traditions, including his secular appearance, reindeer sleigh and practice of dropping gifts down chimneys. In the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, Clement C. Moore gave each reindeer a name and wrote about Santa's fur suit and method of entry via the chimney.
In the 1860s and 1870s, magazine illustrator Thomas Nast made the first modern drawings of Santa and established new details, such as his home at the North Pole, his workshop, and his ledger of good and bad children. Santa's fur suit became red in the 1870s, and his lonely bachelor existence came to an end in 1890 when Mrs. Claus entered his life.
Apart from the addition of Rudolph in 1939, the legend of Santa Claus has remained basically unchanged since the 1800s. Even so, modern technology has made its way to the North Pole. Santa's workshop has become a modern factory, his letters arrive by e-mail, and his travels are tracked by radar and satellite. Still, he's the same jolly fat man who has given pleasure to so many children over the years.
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| ________________________________________________ | ___ | ______________________________________________ | ________ | Modern Traditions
Christmas Music 24/7
A new tradition was born in 2001 when a handful of radio stations decided to adopt an all-Christmas format during the holiday season. The recent 9/11 tragedy had shattered our morale, and we found ourselves latching onto things we knew we could count on....things that made us feel good and reminded us of better times. In response, the first all-Christmas stations were formed to bring the comforting sounds of holiday music to a weary and dejected public. The idea was very successful, and soon more and more stations were "flipping the Christmas switch" every year. Most all-Christmas stations feature adult contemporary and lite programming during the rest of the year. Although many listeners look forward to the holiday music, stations that choose this format run the risk of losing some of their core audience every December. As of 2010, approximately 400 stations in the United States play all Christmas music during the holidays.
The WPIX Yule Log
In New York City, fireplaces are about as common as parking spaces. With this in mind, the president of WPIX-TV created the Yule Log in 1966 to provide viewers with their very own virtual Christmas hearth. The Yule Log is a seven-minute film loop of a roaring fire in a fireplace, edited into a three-hour program and accompanied by classic Christmas music. Between 1966 and 1989, it was broadcast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with music simulcast in stereo on a local FM radio station. The Log was a very popular holiday tradition in the New York metro area. It was canceled in 1989, and remained off the air until an e-mail campaign brought it back in 2001. The original film was cleaned up and the original soundtrack was remastered, and today it's broadcast on WPIX and many other Tribune affiliates across the country. With the exception of a fourth hour of new music added in 2009, the soundtrack remains the same as the original version, and includes many songs no longer available in CD or LP format.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
In 1939, the Montgomery Ward department store in Chicago was in need of a new gift for Santa Claus to distribute to shoppers. Employee Robert L. May wrote a poem about a misfit reindeer with a glowing red nose and had it published as an illustrated booklet. That year, Santa gave away 2.4 million copies of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In 1947, the poem was set to music by May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks. It was a major hit for Gene Autry in 1949, and was made into a popular TV special in 1964. Most importantly, Rudolph is now an accepted member of Santa's team, making him the only new addition to the folklore of Santa Claus in the 20th century.
Re-gifting
You know how it works: you give a gift to someone that was first given to you....a gift that you truly appreciated but really had no use for. The practice has been around for years, but it wasn't officially known as re-gifting until the term appeared in a 1995 episode of Seinfeld. Is re-gifting a socially acceptable practice? The jury is still out, but thanks to Seinfeld we can laugh about it and enjoy it for what it is....a chance to make someone happy and recycle at the same time!
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Gold Coins in Salvation Army Kettles
The Salvation Army conducted their first black kettle campaign in 1891. Today, donation kettles and bell-ringing Santas can be found outside nearly every mall and department store in America. In 1982, a wonderful tradition was born when an anonymous donor deposited five gold coins in a Salvation Army kettle in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Gold coins were found in the same town nearly every year throughout the 1980s, and it became a highly anticipated event each holiday season. The tradition spread to Chicago in 1991, and soon other cities were the lucky recipients of anonymous gold coins. Today it occurs all over the country. As of 2010, the Salvation Army has collected over 400 gold coins of every type, including South African Krugerrands, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs and American Gold Eagles. Over the years, precious jewelry and gold teeth have also been found in the kettles.
Holiday Shopping
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, long recognized as the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The retail sector receives a hefty chunk of its revenue each year from Christmas sales, and they depend on this day to put them "in the black" financially speaking. When the term originated in the 1960s, it did not describe the joys of a pre-dawn doorbuster sale....it was used by the Philadelphia Police Department to describe the traffic jams and crowded stores associated with this day. Only in the last few years has the term become widespread and taken on a financial meaning.
At one time, Black Friday was the biggest shopping day of the year, but that's no longer true. In recent years, the Saturday before Christmas has overtaken Black Friday to become the biggest shopping day. This event is known as Super Saturday.
In 2010, the Saturday after Thanksgiving was set aside as a day to patronize local businesses. In 2011, Walmart made the controversial decision to launch their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Day. Several retailers have since adopted the practice, although public outcry has caused some chains to rethink the policy. These new traditions have been dubbed Small Business Saturday and Black Thursday.
When shoppers don't find what they're looking for on Black Friday, they go online the following Monday and order items from the Internet. Retailers coined the phrase Cyber Monday in 2005 after noticing an increase in online shopping on that day. Cyber Monday shopping first surpassed Black Friday shopping in 2012.
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RetroLisa
| _________________________________________________________ | __ | _______________________________________ | _______ | Christmas Music
MIDI music
Click here for a great selection of
Christmas music in MIDI format!
my YouTube playlist
Click here for an awesome playlist
featuring holiday songs and videos on YouTube!
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Lisa's Christmas Village 
