
8 minute read
Holiday Traditions
The of traditions
Christmas’ beauty is found in its many rituals by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT
Advertisement
Traditions. Today as we celebrate the holidays, we are reminded of many traditions that have been a part of our holidays, perhaps all of our lives. So many traditions are an integral part of our family holiday celebrations.
Many of these holiday traditions were brought to America by our ancestors as they migrated to the United States. Reluctant to leave all their traditions in Europe, they continued to share these traditions with their own and other families in the area.
Celebrating a holiday season is said to go back to pre-Christian days when the winter solstice and the god of agriculture, Saturn, were celebrated in a way similar to ways now celebrated at Christmas. This holiday according to History.com occurred in winter around Dec. 25 and included eating special foods, having singers perform in the streets and hanging wreaths on their home – traditions that continue to be part of our holiday celebrations. Our Christian traditions may have evolved from some of these early festivals .
The story of Santa Claus seemed to prevail across all of Europe, a kindly man who gave gifts to children although his name was different depending on the country. The tradition was believed to have begun with St. Nicholas, a monk from the 4th century known for giving away all his wealth to others.
In the Netherlands, children receive gifts on St. Nicholas Day Dec. 6. On the evening of Dec. 5, they place their shoes by the fireplace or near the door so that St. Nicholas will leave gifts for them if they have been
Holiday good. In the early days these were small gifts such as an apple or if they were really good a piece of chocolate or a small toy.
They story of St. Nicholas spread throughout Europe and various other European countries also adopted the celebration of St. Nicholas Day such as France, Poland, and the Eastern European Countries. A tradition they brought with them when they immigrated to the United States. While St. Nicholas brought good children their gifts, Krampus, according to folklore, was an alpine creature who lived in the countries around the Alps mountains and punished children who were not good. Over the years, this has evolved with parents reminding their children to be good to stay on St. Nicholas or Santa Claus’s good list.
While many of the families brought the tradition of leaving out shoes or in some cases stocking for St. Nicholas on December 6th with them to their new home, over the years
Visiting with Santa Claus is a childhood tradition as children let him know what they want to find under the tree.
the giving of gifts moved to Christmas Eve when Santa Claus left presents under the Christmas tree. Birth of the Christmas tree
The tradition of the Christmas tree in our homes is attributed to Germany in the 16th Century when Christians added the decorated tree to their Christmas celebrations. The early trees were decorated with lighted candles, and homemade ornaments causing many to catch fire. Evergreen branches were used to decorate the home in honor of Christmas, a tradition that we continue today.
Christmas trees were always live trees that were cut down and brought into the home to be decorated with a variety of homemade ornaments, cranberries and popcorn strings added by family members.
With the creation of electric strings of lights for trees in 1880, the first developed by Edward H. Johnson, a friend and business associate of Thomas Edison, candles were no longer needed to illuminate America’s trees. However, it would be many years before the public accepted these electric lights.
It was not until the 1890s that the beautiful hand blown glass ornaments from Germany made their way to the United States, first imported by Woolworths. These beautiful glass globes, which changed the way Americans decorated their trees, added beauty and sparkle to their tree. Around this same time the Kristkindlmarkts opened in Germany. In communities, especially along the Rhine River, small stands opened selling Christmas decorations and items for holiday gifts for family and friends.
The Kristkindlmarkts became “the holiday shopping centers” of the early days where tradesmen offered their wares. Stands offered food items to enjoy while shopping such as bratwurst, and potato pancakes which can be enjoyed while shopping. Of course, there were also warm cider and mulled wine to help keep the shoppers warm and music to keep the holiday spirit
Today these Kristkindlmarkts are still found in Germany and also scattered throughout the United States, keeping the spirit of Kristkindlmarkts alive. Many families make a yearly visit to the market to purchase a new ornament and enjoy the camaraderie of the season,
A German tradition is the purchase and hanging of the pickle ornament in a spot that is difficult to see on the tree. The custom is that whoever finds the pickle, will receive an extra gift from Santa. This tradition is now found in homes not necessarily of German origin. Let there be light
In 1895 President Grover Cleveland illuminated the family’s Christmas tree with the use of hundreds multicolored lights. It was not until 1923 that Calvin Coolidge illuminated the National Christmas Tree with 3,000 lights on the Ellipse south of the White House.
While many residents did not have access to Woolworth stores, especially those living in the country, nor perhaps the money to purchase them, homemade decorations continued to be used. For some early families here in the United States perhaps only one or two of the glass ornaments would be treasured by the family and handed down to the next generation. Today the combination of beautiful glass ornaments and homemade ornaments continue to decorate family trees.
Christmas tree traditions vary. Norwegian families often put up their Christmas tree on Dec. 23, known as Lille Jullaten or Little Christmas Eve. On this day Norwegian families decorate the tree together and bake or purchase gingerbread houses to be set up throughout the home.
For Norwegian families it is Christmas Eve (Julaften) when families get together and eat a traditional Norwegian Christmas meal. After the meal the family would hold hands and dance around the Christmas tree before arriving at the children’s favorite time, the opening of presents that are delivered by a short bearded creature named Julenissen.
Among the traditional foods that will be found at the table are Pinnekjett, dried or salted lamb ribs steamed, Ribbe, simple pork ribs and lutefisk, dried cod, soaked in lye and then boiled. They also enjoy A Kevitt a distilled Scandinavian drink with 40% alcohol.

Each year the official White house Christmas tree is found in the Blue Room. This beautiful tree is always professionally decorated.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes
Shout for Kringle
In Wisconsin, the Kringle is a special treat enjoyed not only by those of Scandinavian descent but by everyone. The Kringle is a sweet pastry, oval shaped and made by piling layers up to 81, of the buttery dough, shaped into an oval, and filled with a tasty filling from almond paste to fruit jellies or cheese and nuts and capped with a sweet white icing.
This treat became popular in the southern Wisconsin area due to the large Danish population, many of whom went to work as bakers in the Racine bakeries to provide the intensive work needed to create Kringle.
As they became popular with other residents of the state, the Kringle was named Wisconsin’s Official State Pastry in 2013.
In the Scandinavian countries, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and parts of Finland, Dec 13 mark the end of the darkest day and the celebration of St. Lucia Day.
The celebration of St. Lucia is a religious festival with a procession of young girls in white gowns with candles on their head signifying the bringing in of light after the darkest day of the year. It is a custom that is still observed in many churches and Scandinavian homes.
Swedish traditions are somewhat similar to the Norwegians but there are some distinguishing differences. Another tradition that has survived the year is the Advent wreath. The Advent wreath has four candles. Each week one is lighted and allowed to burn for a while then blown out. These candles are symbolic of the four weeks of advent and the coming of the birth of Jesus.
Many Churches today continue to have the lighting of the Advent wreath and many individual homes also light them at home as they prepare for Christmas
As you enjoy your Christmas activities, which for many of us are a combination of the traditions of our ancestors with the traditions we have learned from friends and neighbors over the years, be grateful for all of these traditions which make our holidays fun.
IF YOU WANT TO FIND ALL THOSE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL GIFTS THIS SEASON STOP IN AND SEE OUR AWARD WINNING SELECTION OF FRUIT WINES AND PICK UP A BAG OF APPLES WE HARVESTED FROM OUR FIELDS. THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERY TASTE TO DECORATE YOUR KITCHEN OR HOME FROM HAND CRAFTED SIGNS AND SAYINGS TO CANDLES THAT WILL LIGHT UP NOT ONLY THE ROOM BUT YOUR SPIRIT TOO. COME TO THE APPLE BARN ORCHARD & WINERY THIS SEASON AND LOAD UP FOR THE WINTER WITH JUGS OF OUR FRESH PRESSED CIDER HAND PICKED AND BOTTLED ONE AT A TIME. COME FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF A REAL WORKING FARM AND A PIECE OF AUTHENTIC AMERICAN HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1846 WHEN THE JACOBSON’S SET DOWN ROOTS IN HISTORIC WALWORTH COUNTY. NOW 6 GENERATIONS LATER STEVE & JUDY JACOBSON CONTINUE THAT TRADITION OF HOMEGROWN HOSPITALITY BY OFFERING FRESH LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND HAND MADE PRODUCTS THAT SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CRAFTERS AND NEIGHBORS THEY CALL FRIENDS. STOP IN THIS SEASON, FRI-SAT 10AM - 4PM & SUN. 11AM - 4PM FROM NOV. 4 THRU DEC. 11. DON’T WAIT TOO LONG OR YOU MIGHT MISS OUT ON THAT SPECIAL GIFT, BOTTLE OF WINE, WISCONSIN CHEESE, OR JUG OF CIDER. PICK US. PICK APPLE BARN ORCHARD & WINERY CLOSE TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AND FAR AWAY FROM ORDINARY.
dasdasdasd
sdasdasdasdasdf
1846
ELKHORN WISCONSIN
262-728-3266 WWW.APPLEBARNORCHARDANDWINERY.COM W6384 SUGAR CREEK RD. ELKHORN, WI 53121 FRI. & SAT. 10AM - 4PM • SUN. 11AM - 4PM ~ FROM NOV. 4 THRU DEC. 11 ~