| Celebrating the birth of Christ, created the origin of | | | | The Christmas wreath was known in the Persian |
| Christmas. However, many of the traditions have | | | | Empire as a symbol of importance and success. |
| pagan origins. Some believe the celebration of | | | | Known as 'diadems', they were small in size and worn |
| Christmas was to lead people away from the pagan | | | | on the head along with jewelry. |
| festival of Saturnalia, the feast with which the | | | | A Christmas wreath is a symbol of eternity, with no |
| Romans commemorated the dedication of the | | | | beginning or end. Hang it on the door to welcome |
| temple of the god Saturn, which was on 17 | | | | visitors, or on the wall to complete a room's decor, it |
| December. | | | | is one of the lovely symbols of Christmas. |
| In northern Europe, many traditions that we now | | | | The English Puritans condemned the use of the Yule |
| consider part of Christian worship were begun long | | | | log, holly, mistletoe, etc. Oliver Cromwell preached |
| before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The | | | | against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, |
| pagans of northern Europe celebrated their winter | | | | decorated trees and any joyful expression that |
| solstice, known as Yule. | | | | desecrated "that sacred event." |
| Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, | | | | Condemnation of the pagan tradition of cutting down |
| being born, and was observed on the shortest day | | | | a tree, placing it in the home and decorating it goes |
| of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the | | | | back as far as the Bible, and Jeremiah 10:2-4: |
| days became longer and warmer. It was customary | | | | "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the |
| to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, | | | | heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of |
| to reappear next year. | | | | heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For |
| Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word | | | | the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth |
| Yule means "wheel," a pagan symbol for the sun. | | | | a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of |
| Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the | | | | the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver |
| custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a | | | | and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with |
| fertility ritual. Holly berries were thought to be food | | | | hammers, that it move not. |
| of the gods. | | | | |