Modern Thought Theories
  • Home
  • About ULRIKE
    • Introduction
    • Daily Quotes >
      • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Press
    • Interviews
  • Books by ULRIKE
    • Better Living through Right Thinking
    • "...Because you can!"
    • "The Seeds Will Sprout Somewhere"
    • "Inspire Your Day"
    • Book Reviews
  • Art by ULRIKE
  • Events
    • Ristretto
    • Writers Guild Book Fair
    • Desert Writers EXPO
    • Bonta, Palm Springs
    • Crystal Fantasy, Palm Springs
    • Mystic Journey, Venice, CA
    • Mind Seeds TV >
      • Videos
  • Contact Us

Remembering Holiday traditions from the “Old Country”…

12/13/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Every so often I still reminisce about the good old days, growing up in a country that literally gave birth to the Christmas tree. The custom of the Christmas tree can be traced back to the 16th century, in Strasbourg, Germany (now part of France), where devout Christians would bring trees into their homes, laden with fruits like apples, nuts, dates, and colored paper. Later, around the 18th century, candles were added to illuminate the tree. However, at the time this custom was largely considered to be a Protestant tradition and only eventually gained wider acceptance as immigrants moved towards other Catholic areas, including Austria.
 
After the practice had spread throughout Europe it was not until the Revolutionary War that German settlers hauled trees from surrounding woods and decorated them to enjoy the Holidays. Nowadays, the tree is more a symbol of goodwill, hope, and family togetherness and not exclusive to any one religion.
 
Of course, in modern times the trees are decorated with much more than food, besides the occasional American touch of Popcorn and Candy Cane. Imagination and the personal taste of all cultures in our beloved melting pot are incorporated into the decor, and of course the candles were replaced with electric lights. I still get a grin on my face when I think of my first Christmas in Los Angeles in the early 80’s. Not knowing any better and wanting to experience a little bit of ‘home’, I adorned the tree with real candles, which my girlfriend quickly extinguished and educated me on the danger of home fires, especially in California!
 
This year over 33 million American families will celebrate the holidays with a real Christmas tree and countless more with an artificial tree.
 
Today, countries like Germany and Austria, still being touched by long ago traditions, host a large number of ‘Christkindl Markt’s’ with handcrafted glass ornaments, beautiful arts and crafts, German foods (Lebkuchen, strudel, chestnuts, and special cookies) and Gluehwein (hot red wine with spices) as well as colorful toy Nutcrackers and Advent calendars. Blankets of glistening snow and below freezing temperatures won’t keep you away. It enhances the feeling of an era of a gentler, more tender society. The true spirit of Christmas still lingers in the cold winter air. To all of you, no matter what faith - Happy Holidays!
#inspiration
​#thoughttheories


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    ULRIKE, author and teacher of Modern Thought Theories.

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

www.facebook.com/modernthoughttheories