Bring Back Old World Traditions This Holiday Season

(ARA) – In the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and travel, it can be easy to lose track of the traditions you loved as a child. A great way to make new memories is to bring back old world holiday traditions with friends and family.

Whether it’s buying a new ornament each year or gathering for a large family feast, drawing on old world holiday traditions is a great way to bring people together to celebrate all the season has to offer. A good way to start, and a great family activity, is to research your heritage and the holiday traditions that your ancestors practiced.

A few traditions you may wish to draw on include:

Austria
On December 24, presents are placed under the tree for the children. Kids wait in another room until they hear a bell then enter to see the tree decorated with candles, ornaments and candies. Everyone sings carols while wishing each other happy holidays.

Denmark
Each family has a special plate, used only during the holidays, that becomes a family heirloom. Families take pride in making their own decorations with bright paper and natural objects.

Italy
During holiday week, children go from house to house playing pipes, singing and reciting holiday poems. Their delighted listeners give them small amounts of money so the children can purchase gifts.

Scandinavia
Many people in Scandinavian countries celebrate Lucia Day on December 13. At dawn, the youngest child dons a white robe and a crown of (battery operated) candles. The other children accompany “Lucia” dressed as “star boys” and “hand maidens”. The children wake their parents and serve coffee and special Lucia buns.

USA
Modern holiday decorations can be just about anything. Get back to basics with traditional holly, mistletoe, Poinsettia flowers and evergreen boughs. Hang strings of popcorn, bells and candy canes from the tree. Start a new tradition and purchase a collectible ornament each year to pass down through generations.

The Glitteratzzi Gemstone Elite Collection from Jewelry Television (www.JTV.com) incorporates sparkling gemstones on luxurious, durable glass ornaments handmade in Europe. Each piece is created by artisans and takes seven days to make. Choose one featuring a loved one’s birthstone for a gift that will endure.

This holiday season, take some time to create a new tradition taking cues from the old world. The memories will make you smile all year round. Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Hanukkah (Dec. 22)Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the recapture of the Temple of Jerusalem from Syrian Greeks in 165 B.C.E.  The eight days of Hanukkah are celebrated with the lighting of the menorah (a ritual candelabra), symbolizing the light that burned in the temple for eight days.

Christmas (Dec. 25) The holiday of Christmas, honoring the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated by Christians throughout the world.  In 350 A.D., with the actual date of Christ’s birth in question, Pope Julius I decreed that the 25th of December would be acknowledged as the date of the Nativity. The customs of Christmas incorporate numerous cultural traditions shared by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Kwanzaa (Dec. 26) Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration started in 1966 to honor Americans of African ancestry. Each day is dedicated to one of seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green, and decorations include traditional African items, such as baskets and cloth patterns.