Traditional Christmas Decorations

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Christmas decorations vary across different cultures, but there are certain traditional Christmas decorations and customs that are common to a lot of cultures.

The custom of adding special decorations at Christmas has a long history. From pre-Christian times, people in the Roman Empire used to get branches from evergreen indoor plants during winter. Christian people soon incorporated such customs in modern practices.

Decorating the Christmas tree is possibly the most common traditional Christmas custom. This practice in fact originated in Germany and since then has become popular in many countries.

Christmas lights varying in color and designs are used as Christmas decorations on Christmas trees, in homes and even outdoors.

Balls and twigs of mistletoe that are normally hung over the doorway are traditional Christmas decorations. As the famous tradition goes, when people meet under the mistletoe they meet to kiss.

The pointy holly leaves and red berries are also popular Christmas traditional decorations. The holly leaves are said to symbolize Christ's crown of thorns while the bright red berries are a mark of Christ's blood.

Nativity scenes are known since 10th-century in Rome. A large variety of decorations developed across the Christian world based on local traditions. The very first commercially produced decorations were seen in Germany in the 1860s. These decorations were inspired by paper chains made by kids.

The use of nativity scenes, mangers with Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, the three wise men and shepherds, manger animals, a star and angels, are traditional Christmas decorations indicating Christ's birth as described in the Bible.

The Christmas tree is very often explained as a Christianization of pagan ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice. The ritual includes the use of evergreen boughs along with the adaptation of pagan tree worship.

The phrase "Christmas tree" is first recorded in 1835 representing an importation from the German language. It is widely believed that the modern Christmas tree tradition began in Germany in the 18th century. Christmas trees may be adorned with various types of lights and ornaments.

Poinsettia is a native plant from Mexico. Since the 19th century, this plant has been associated with Christmas. Other popular plants include mistletoe, red amaryllis, holly, and Christmas cactus. These plants not only act as a Christmas tree, but can also be used for decorating the interior of a home along with garlands and evergreen foliage.

In the United States, Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations. The red flowering plant bloom during the Christmas season and are available in other colors also.

In Australia, America, and Europe, it is a tradition to decorate the outside of houses with lights and illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures.

The display of Christmas villages has also become a convention in many homes during Christmas.

Other popular traditional decorations include candy canes, stockings, bells, candles, wreaths, snow flakes, snow villages and angels.

Santa Clause, reindeer, elves that are associated with the legend of Santa is also traditional Christmas decorations.

Christmas stockings are also extremely popular. It's traditional to hang stockings on the fireplace mantel in hope for Santa to fill them with nice goodies.