Here is some history behind some popular Christmas traditions, and why they've become holiday mainstays:
Christmas Traditions Around World
• Mistletoe – The mistletoe hasn't always been the leaves and berries that you avoid at the annual office Christmas party. Time explained that the mistletoe became a Christmas tradition during the Victorian era when it was believed that if you kissed someone underneath the mistletoe it would result in marriage. This stemmed from the Celtic legend that the mistletoe brought good luck and increased fertility.
• Poinsettias – Whether they are displayed in your place of worship or decorating a store front window, the poinsettia can be seen all over in December. In another legend dating to the 16th century, FoxNews.com reported that a young Mexican girl was in need of a gift to give at her church and grabbed a bunch of plants on the side of the road. When she brought them to the altar, they bloomed into a bright red color. The metaphor is that this represents the suffering of Christ on the cross.
Christmas Traditions Around World
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