Show Can lilea christmas tree candles date back to the very earliest times in the christian era the yule candle of goodly size lighted early nativity celebrations the lighting ot of candles candies is indeed a universal sl religious and national custom candle lighting featured the norse mid midwinter winter festival of the turning ot af the sun the jewish feast of or lights is also celebrated similarly tit at the same season cl sifts E A romans exchanged gifts during gay celebrations actions but giving of presents of course goes back much e earlier sr the romans however gave 1 it clearer identity as a part of their festival program christmas boxes and cards of today have a link to the ancient roman festivities la in france gifts are distributed to children new years eve instead of christmas in england germ germany iny italy and most everywhere else the th custom is like in the united states santa comes a visiting at christmas atmas in ancient times the regarded holly as a symbol of good luck the custom was widespread of hanging evergreens ever greens in the interior of dwellings later the legend was widely circulated that all growing things blossomed and bore fruit the night of the nativity holly came also to symbolize the crown of thorns worn wom by christ the puritans however regarded holly and mistletoe decorations as pagan in nature and they therefore were outlawed toadie st nicholas rides bodens horse borse on christmas eve in holland there the children put up their wooden shoes in the chimney corners as a stop signal for the merry fellow children of france followed the custom by placing their shoes for bonhomme noel by the hearth in england and the united states boys and girls improved on the idea by hanging up stockings these can hold more gifts V t Z the puritans predicted the disappearance pe arance of christmas carols and did what they could to discourage the custom of singing them but it has grown more and more a part of the he christmas tradition which began an in early christian days in rome the french noel dating to the eleventh century and the german weib have the same origin |