Why do people decorate at Christmas?

Question

I know many things we do for holidays started with something a very long time ago, i.e. trick or treating. So why do we decorate our houses with lights? Does that signify anything or do we do it just to show that we celebrate it?

Answer 1

My grandson no longer believes in "Santa Claus". While browsing for info on St. Nicholas, to be sure I had my facts straight...we all know this is where the legend of Santa comes from, right?, to be able to explain it to my grandson, I came across the origin of the lights. Whew!! Martin Luther, while on his way home one evening, noticed how the moonlight shown through the branches of the fir trees. He put candles on a fir tree in his house and, of course, lit them to replicate what he had seen. Hence, Christmas lights. Some say the lights represent the Christmas star leading us to the manger where the Baby Jesus lay. Most accounts I have read agree that the triangle shape of the tree represents the Christian Holy Trinity. I learned the legend hanging the stockings by the fireplace too but I had better stop or I will babble like a Chatty Cathy!!! Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Answer 2

Historically decorating for Yule started before Christmas. The Germanic peoples celebrated the Winter Solstice with gift giving and decorating in bright colors. Bringing greenery into the house when you were stuck inside because of the cold added cheer to an otherwise dreary time of year. The lights were because of the fact that winter is the darkest time of year. Candles all around also brightened things.

Answer 3

Look to the Celtic people as a major source who lived in harsh northern climes during winter.

Northerners who brought in evergreen trees and covered them with late harvest apples and treats signifies the coming of spring again.

You see, the sun travels farthest in the south on December 23rd, and stays in its lowest point in the sky every sunset for three days. It does not begin to rise from the East until December 25th north of the equator.

Thus, the evergreen tree and its smell gave promise of Spring which was life and death for those who depended upon crops in the spring to survive.

In ancient Rome, they decorated with evergreens and holly during the same time for the same reasons.

It was not until the 16th Century that the Germanic tribes adopted this tradition and incorporated it into their Christian traditions.

Later, royalty (which were all in relation with each other throughout Europe) influenced England. They adopted the tree.

Later, immigrants came to other countries and brought their tradition with them in the 1800's.

The candy cane represents the Shepard's crook and other symbols, if you google it can mean so many things.

I believe human beings take whatever traditions are beautiful to them and ornate ornaments bring the color and promise of spring colors indoors, which create excitement and feelings of good cheer and joy during a time of cold arid snow.

Answer 4

It begins with the tradition of using small candles to light up the Christmas tree.

The tradition of using small candles to light up the Christmas tree dates back to at least the middle of the 17th century. However, it took two centuries for the tradition to become widely established first in Germany and soon spreading to Eastern Europe.

Candles for the tree were glued with melted wax to a tree branch or attached by pins. Around 1890, candleholders were first used for Christmas candles. Between 1902 and 1914, small lanterns and glass balls to hold the candles started to be used.



In 1882, the first Christmas tree was lit by the use of electricity. Edward Johnson lighted up a Christmas tree in New York City with eighty small electric light bulbs. It should be noted that Edward Johnson created the first string of electric Christmas lights that were then mass produced around 1890. By 1900, department stores started using the new Christmas lights for their Christmas displays

Answer 5

Not sure, but I think that decorating with lights began because there is so much less natural light during the winter months. You know the long winter nights....

try google...might find a site that explains it

Answer 6

Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

Answer 7

The reason why we decorate for christmas is simple. When Christmas was started in approximately 800 B.C. there were no christmas lights. People had bare trees in their livingrooms and it seemed ridiculous to have a dying pine tree next to your hanging buckskins with no decorations huh? So when the wise men visited Jesus, (he was born on Christmas you know) they brought him stringed candles to put on his tree. Mary liked it and contacted Thomas Edison and urged him to create electricity. Who is to argue with the mother of God? He then created christmas lights for their tree. They were over produced and Kmart had them on sale so people were buying them faster than ornamental snowflake mugs. Over the years people have put them on their house, barn, garage, cars, body, pets, lawn, trees, etc and that is the story of christmas lights. I thought everyone knew that.

Answer 8

It's just to show that we celebrate Christmas. It's also fun and to see other people's houses and how decorated they are; it's really cool.

Answer 9

different decorations come from different traditions. the lights... I'm not sure what that came from. probably some pagan worshiping thing, like the christmas tree.

Answer 10

It relaxes me and gets me in the spirit of Christmas. I love passing by houses and seeing all the decorations...it makes me feel like a child again.